Colors of Loyalty

"What are you doing?"

"I'm making use of my delicate hands."

"That doesn't go in there!"

"We've come this far, why not take it all the way?"

I pour the green liquid from its vial into a sweet smelling orange fluid. It pours almost like mercury, like it doesn't want to let itself fall apart. As the two chemicals meet the new concoction begins to smoke. I lean in close to notice any reactions.

Nothing happens.

I pull my goggles up to look at Twilight. "That was overhyped. What went wrong?" I stroke the brown stubble on my chin, not to think, more to occupy myself.

Twilight seems slightly irritated as she brings her hoof to her face. "I told you it wasn't ready. The burner wasn't on so there was no catalyst. Although it did have a stranger reaction than I thought, or rather a lack of."

She uses her magic to write down some notes like she's been doing all afternoon. I take my goggles off to put them where they belong. They are a little small for my head and I can see the red indentions on my face from them in a small mirror nearby.

"Ugh, there has been too much thinking for me today, Twilight. I'm gonna go for a little jog. It's not that late and I've been lazy the past few days." I say as I grab for my pair of running shoes that Rarity got for me. Somehow. "Do you need me to do anything else before I go?"

"I think you've done enough for today." Twilight says rolling her eyes. "I am going to start reorganizing some of the books down here. Would you care to send Spike down here to help?"

"I can always help, it's the least I can do since you let me live here after all."

"No, Spike has been lounging around all morning, you've helped me for the past few days anyway. It shouldn't take but an hour." She says with a friendly smile.

I can never help but get a huge grin every time I see her smile. She always looks so cute.

"Well, if you need anything I'll have my cell with me." I say as I grab a pair of olive drab shorts and a black tank top. I head upstairs to change and check my phone. Force of habit when it doesn't go off for awhile. It still shows the same old background with no new notifications.

When the door ends up stopping short I already know what just happened. "Aww crap, you okay, Spike?"

"Ow! What was that for, Swith? You need to be more careful!" Spike says rubbing his head.

"My bad, I wasn't expecting you to be right at the door. I figured you'd be napping, or making some kind of snack, or at Rarity's." I say as I help the little guy up.

"Hey, It's not every day I get to have some time off! Where are you going in such a hurry anyway? I thought you were doing some experiments with Twilight?" He says wiping the dust off himself.

"Well, we've been at it for hours. My head is starting to fry from all the thinking. I need to get back on my work out schedule since I've been lazy the past few days. Which, before I forget, Twilight wanted you to help her reorganize some books down stairs with her. She said it shouldn't take but an hour or so." I reach for the headphones that are hanging up beside the door and slip them around my neck.

"Oh, alright. Say, since you are going out, would you care to stop by Sweet Apple Acres? Applejack said she wanted us to have some of her apples since they ended up getting a lot more work done then normal."

"Can do, I'll head over there right before I come back. I shouldn't be gone long." I head into the bathroom to change and fold my clothes neatly for when I get back. I grab my Tiger Stripe backpack and head out the door.

I take a deep breath of the fresh air that always seems to feel good in my chest. I pull out my phone to turn on my music. The only reason it still works after three months of no charging is because of Twilight's magic. I didn't question how it actually worked, I was just thankful it was alive and where I put all my music.

It has been four days since I've done any kind of real work so I start off with a fast walk toward the park near the edge of town.

So, how was it that I made it to Equestria? All I can say is it was an experiment that the military was doing. I was still pretty low on the ranking ladder so when someone mentioned they needed volunteers I raised my hand before they even finished saying what it was. I figured it would be good for a bullet, ya know?

Guess I don't need to worry about that now, do I?

It isn't too bad really, living in this world of colorful talking ponies. I am still getting used to it though. It was pretty easy to make friends surprisingly. Once Twilight found out that a human of all things was teleported into her basement, she was all too eager to let me stay with her.

For science of course.

As my mind races about all this I realize I have already made it to the park and was already on the trail. I can feel the soft dirt underneath me. Running outside was always so much better then running on a track. Felt better on my ankles too.

I make a few laps around, judging it to be about two miles or so. I begin walking to cool down as a flash of multicolor rushes by me, hitting me with a blast of cool spring air. I smile as the flash loops in the air back toward me.

"Dash!" I say as I slip my headphones back around my neck, "Been practicing any new moves lately?"

"Of course! What else would I be doing?" She says as she glides down slightly above eye level.

"Sleeping like normal." I say with a smirk. I knew how much the pegasus enjoyed her naps instead of working.

"Those naps are to restore my energy! What would you know, you haven't even been outside in the past few days!" She says with that accusing glare she has.

"Keeping tabs on me now, huh? Maybe I was restoring some of my energy like you?" I instinctively start walking toward Sweet Apple Acres knowing I have an errand to run there.

Rainbow Dash laughs at me. "Well, somepony has to make sure you stay in shape. I am your personal trainer after all." She finally lands beside me, walking at the same pace as I am.

"Yeah yeah, I hear ya, Dashie. Self appointed trainer that is." I nudge her side, trying to stir her up a bit.

"Don't call me that! You looking for a fight, chump? I'll take you down in ten seconds fl-"

She was cut off by a voice with a southern twang to it. It was nice to hear since it was an accent I grew up around, one that sometimes slipped from my own lips now and again.

We both look between some of the apples trees to see Applejack and Applebloom both working not that far from the fence.

"If it isn't Swith and Dash. How are ya'll doing today? Haven't seen hide nor hair of ya in a few days." They both walk toward us as I hop over the fence.

"Afternoon, Applejack, Applebloom. Sorry I haven't been around to help with the pickin'." I notice Applebloom hasn't said anything yet. She normally enjoys talking to me whenever I'm around.

"He's been to busy being an egghead with Twi. I'm here to remind him he has a strict regimen he has to stick too." Dash says matter of factly.

"I get it, I've been lazy, it won't happen again oh trainer." I say in a smart alec tone. "I actually stopped by because Spike mentioned you had some apples you wanted to give us, and who would I be to refuse such hospitality?"

"They'd be in the barn on the left. Ah reckon you wouldn't care to get them yourself since ah got work to do." AJ says looking back toward the field.

"Speaking of work, when would you need some more help? You haven't asked for any in awhile." I say with a curious tone. I've never have been able to do a lot. More or less just moving stuff, cleaning and the like.

"Ugh, can we hurry this up? I'm getting bored just sitting here." Dash says as she is once again in the air doing some spins.

"If you're so bored, Dash, why don't you help with the apples sometime?" AJ adds. Dash rolls her eyes. "How about you come around next Sunday, sugarcube?"

I nod. "Sounds great, I'll be here bright and early as always. Thanks again for the work, and apples, AJ!" I look down at Applebloom seeing she has been silent. "Let me guess, you didn't get your wrestler cutie mark?"

Applebloom sighs. "Nope. None of us got our wrestler cutie marks."

"Well, don't give up, you'll find your talent. Just keep your head up! How about I help you when I come over on Sunday?" I say with a smile.

Applebloom's eyes light up. "Would ya really, Swith? That'd be great!"

"Come on, let's go! I'm ready to tear my wings off!" Dash says shoving me.

"Alright, alright. No need to get pushy, Dashie. Take care you two." I say as I'm half pushed toward the barn.

"You seem really impatient today, Dash. You alright?" I ask

"I've been bored the past few days. Everypony has been busy. You and Twilight have been eggheads, Fluttershy has been taking care of peoples pets, AJ has been working like always, Pinkie is away with the cakes for some kind of party, and Rarity has dresses she's making for some Canterlot elite or something." She grabs at her face. "You can only imagine how boooored I was."

I nudged her again for fun. "I'm not busy now, we could always have a little match since you are so bored. Of course, unless you are scared I'll win again." I take my backpack off as we enter the barn and put my headphones and phone up knowing that Rainbow would never back away from a challenge.

"Oh, you are on!"

She flies toward me the second my backpack is on the ground. I see her coming and side step out of the way just in time to have her loop back around, knocking me down from behind. I fall to the ground catching myself with my forearms. I roll to my back and jump back to my feet.

"Lucky shot, bet you can't do it again!"

"Betcha I can!"

She rushes toward me again, but this time I'm prepared. I open my arms up like I'm about to catch a football and I grab her just in time as she clips me again, sending us both to the ground.

We roll around a bit trying to pin the other. Luckily for me I knew a few pins from the karate classes I took, even if I was never any good at them.

I can tell Dash is starting to get tired, but I am too from how I haven't done anything strenuous in the past few days.

She starts to slip out of my hold so I grab her around the front and lock my arms with hers. My face is leaned in close to her ear as I put more of my weight on her. We are both breathing pretty heavily by now. I lean in just a bit more and end up breathing directly on her ear. She makes a faint moaning sound and clams up quickly. I wonder for a minute if my ears heard exactly what I thought they did.

In my distracted state Dash is able to flip me on my back and pins my hands beside my head. I can see a small fire on her cheeks, which makes my cheeks burn just as much. We stare into each other's eyes for what seems like ages. I couldn't bring myself to look away from those beautiful shades of magenta.

Eventually Dash jumps up and turns away from me. "What are you doing, Idiot?!" She says slightly flustered.

"I didn't mean too. I just got caught up in the moment was all." I was staring at her the entire time. I never really noticed how tone her body was compared to others. Her athletic figure showed.

"Well, stop it!" She says still not looking at me.

I clear my throat and grab the box of apples. I put them away neatly and slip the backpack on. I turn to see Dash finally on the ground.

That was the single most awkward silence I've ever had in my entire life.

I clear my throat. "Hey, Dash. Want to walk home with me?" I say in hopes of spending a little more time with her today.

"Nah, I should really get going." She doesn't waste any time as she flies out the barn door before I can even open my mouth.

I'm not sure how to really grasp what just happened. Before any kind of thought can even process my phone rings which scares me. How it was able to do that without another phone was beyond me.

I fiddle with the backpack franticly trying to get to my phone in time. The caller ID has the words RESTRICTED on it. "Hello, this is Swith." I answer.

"Swith! It's Twilight. Everything alright? You've been gone for a lot longer then normal. I was starting to get worried." She says with what sounds like genuine care.

"I'm fine, I was just with Rainbow Dash for awhile. I'm on my way back now, though."

"ETA?"

I grin again as I know she was just saying that to try and remind me of my past life. "ETA thirty minutes, ma'am."

"Good, Spike should have dinner ready by the time you get back. See you then."

Click.

I put the phone in my pocket and grab my headphones again. I believe it's time to start thinking a little more about some of my friends and how much they really mean to me.