I Once Was Lost, But Now Am Found

The truck rolled up in front Carousel Boutique before coming to a halt as Paul turned off the engine and stepped outside. 'I hope Rarity gets it taken care of quickly.' He thought as he shut the door to the truck and walked over to the purple front door of the Boutique. Before he knocked, a devilish idea passed through his mind as an evil grin broke across his face. 'This'll get her.' He thought he rapped on the door loudly.

"Who is it?" A sing-song voice asked from within.

"Police, Madam!" He replied in stereotypical Irish Cop voice. "We have reason to believe that there are illegal substances being housed at this location! We have a warrant to search premises! Open the door please!"

"What!? Officer there are no such substances being housed here. You must be mistaken..." Rarity replied now becoming slightly worried.

"Madam, either you open this door now or we are coming in by force!" He said, continuing in his accent.

"What!? Now Officer I assure there are no illegal substances here. There is no need to resort to force!' She replied in a worried tone as she approached the door.

"Alright Madame you leave us no choice!" Paul announced before saying "Clancy, get the battering ram." Quickly as he mimicked the sound of a stallion leaving and returning with a battering ram.

'They're coming in! They're going to ram down my door!' Rarity thought. 'Of all things to happen now, this is the WORST! POSSIBLE! THING!'

"Alright colts! One!...Two!....." He said with a large grin on his face.

"NO! WAIT I'll open up!" She yelled as she flung the door open. "Please officer I....Paul?" She gasped

"Hey Rares what's up?" He asked casually as he walked past her into the Boutique.

"But...But I...Where are the police?" She asked as she looked left and right outside.

"Police?.....Oh I was just fuckin' with ya. I'm just here to get my coat and the rest of my clothes." He replied, wearing a shit eating grin before doing his best impression of the Joker's laugh. "Ahhh.... Let the good times roll!" he replied with a grin.

"Hmmph! Well in all my years, I've never met such an impudent stallion with no respect for a lady or his elders! Why I have a good enough mind to..." She said before she was cut off.

"I like how you did your mane today...." He said with a smile.

"To...what?" she asked confusedly.

"Your mane... I like that style... Looks good on you..." He said with a sincere look on his face.

"Well I... decided to put in some extra curlers today... but flattery will get you nowhere young stallion...I...!" she said before he interrupted again.

"I also like that dress your wearing. White really is your color. Does a nice job accentuating your figure." He said in a charming manner.

"I..I...I...well thank you. That's very kind of to say..." she said blushing heavily. Paul just smirked, 'A little flattery and she falls like a house of cards.'

"Well.... Let's get your jacket and clothes shall we?" She said, leading him to where they were located ,fanning her face all the way. Paul confused her, at one point he could be a foalish, immature cretin and at another he could be a perfect gentlecolt. She picked up the coat and showed it to him. "I think you'll find it to be in peak condition as of now." she said with an element of pride in her voice.

"Wow Rare. You managed to do a flawless patch job. That corner was shredded like an Iran-Contra document." He comented.

Rarity just stared at him with a confused expression on her face. "Just referencing prior Human events, it means it was shredded really badly." He informed her.

"Oh...." She replied, trying comprehending him. "And here is your shirt and pants, completely blood free." She stated proudly.

"No one gets blood stains out quite like you Rarity! You should contract out to organized crime." He laughed smugly.

"Speaking of blood... how did you damage your coat and bloody your clothing?" she asked curiously.

"You heard about that bar fight at Lefty's last night?" He replied

"Yes?...."

"That was me and Joe......" He said matter-of-factly. "Joe ran into an old friend of his..... it escalated quickly.... I mean it really got out of hand... I'm not sure but I think Lucky stabbed a guy with a trident... speaking of which I need to call him and tell him he might want to find a safe house or stay with relatives because he's probably wanted for murder.... and then Snowflake, the obviously steroid juicing stallion, tackled us out the window. I nearly beat him to death, Joe clocked me to stop me from doing that, had a high speed chase with the cops, lost 'em and.... went to Twilight's for medical treatment. And that's the true meaning of Christmas. With Onions. Yes." he said with a creepy smile on his face.

"Yes.....well......anyway your clothes are ready. Come back anytime you need anything." she replied

"That's why I love you Rare!" He said giving her a peck on the cheek.

"Oh ho....... I bet you say that to all the mares...." She replied blushing heavily.

"No.... just to ones I really like.... and especially Apple Bloom.... speaking of which I have to go home. I need to take a shower before dinner with her and her family. Have to tell them that we're dating. I'll let you know if shots are fired..." He said grinning as headed to the door with his jacket and clothes.

"Good luck...." She said hesitating to say something, "Paul..."

"Yeah?" he said.

"If things don't work out.... maybe… you could pay me a visit?" She asked, batting her eyelashes.

Paul just chuckled and said "Keep dreaming Mrs. Robinson... but I will give this... me... walking out your door." He said with a wink as he did so.

Rarity stood there awe struck before quickly running upstairs. She had........ business to attend to.

* * *

Paul stood in the shower as he bathed, contemplating what was about to happen. After all, he was going to dinner with his fillyfriend's family to reveal that he was dating their little sister.

'Times like this make me wish I could ask my Mom and Dad for help....' He thought sadly as he looked down at his dog tags. In all the time he had been in Equestria he had never once removed them, not even to take a shower. He looked at the gift from his father as he silently read the stamped print details of who he was:

LINFOR

PAUL R

06-17-1996

B NEGATIVE

LUTHERAN

He sighed deeply before letting them go as they fell against his chest. He finished bathing and got out before drying off and going to put on his clothes. He chose a nice outfit for the evening: Plain white T-shirt, with a buttoned up collared shirt, his father's now-repaired jacket, Khaki's, and his usual Nikes.

He went back to the bathroom to finish prepping himself: Deodorant, Cologne, brushing his teeth, and finished by combing his hair.

Before he left he took a look at the family picture he had hanging on the wall near the door to the garage. In it stood himself, his older brother Kyle, his mom Laura and Father Jon, his maternal grandparents Gary and Marilyn, and his cousins. Two cousins: the older one Preston and the younger one Lee along with their mother and his aunt Julie. 'Well at least they still have Kyle, and Lee and Preston....Wish Uncle Mike was still alive for them...' He thought. "Wish me luck everybody.... I'm gonna need it." He said kissing the picture before walking out the door to his truck. He got in and started the engine and before he drove off he thought, 'Well, into the breach'............