//------------------------------//
// Chapter - 7 - A Truth Revealed 
// Story: Trojan Pony 
// by Hawker Hurricane 
//------------------------------//

I said nothing as Rainbow continued to look at me, blinking occasionally.

The awkward silence and my nervous looking around only convinced her further that I was who she thought I was.

"Rainbow?" I said, "Are you OK? You kinda creeping me out with your staring."

Rainbow stared for a couple more seconds.

"RAINBOW!"

"ARGH!" she yelled, jumping in fright and landing on her rump on the floor.

I hopped down and helped her to her hooves.

"Here," I said, pulling her up.

"Thanks," she replied, still in a little shock.

She turned around and walked away a bit, coming to a full stop in front of a bookshelf full of Daring Do books and turning around. She looked at me for several seconds once more.

"It's really you," she said, walking slowly towards me, stopping right in front of me, "But......you're a pony."

I could only nod slightly, looking down at the floor.

"Why are you a pony? Did Princess Celestia punish you?" she asked with distress in her voice.

"No," I answered, shaking my head slowly, "I......asked her to turn me into one."

Rainbow's jaw hit the floor in shock, "Why would you do that?"

"Because a certain lavender unicorn and a slack-jawed hill-billy took exception to me being different. I didn't want this, but it was the safest thing for me to do to be able to live what's become of my life in relative peace."

It's true I didn't want it. But that doesn't mean I chose it.

"I guess I can understand that," she replied, averting her look elsewhere, appearing to look deep in thought.

After a few moments of silence, she looked back at me with a determined expression.

"You do not have to fear any longer Apollo, I will help protect you and help you become the best pony a pony can be."

I couldn't help but laugh a little, "Thanks Dash."

"No problem buddy. Now, what do you say we head over to Sugarcube Corner for some sweet treats? We can talk more about you later if you want."

"Sounds great. Can you carry me down?"

"No, I thought I'd just throw you off my front porch," she sarcastically replied, "Of course I'll carry you down. Just let me put all of this away first."

Motioning to the projector she quickly removed the film reel and put it back in its case, and put the projector back in its box, and out them both in a walk-in cupboard in the front room, I just watched on as she did so.

I still didn't know how ponies could be so dexterous with hooves.

Rainbow shut the cupboard door and flew over to me and wrapped her forelegs around my barrel, "Come on Guy Egghead, time for muffins!"

"Guy Egghead?"

"Yeah, duh! Twilight is Egghead, you're an egghead but since calling you both Egghead would be confusing and you're a stallion, I'm calling you Guy Egghead."

"I'm not an egghead though."

"Of course you are! You're an alien! You must be super intelligent!"

I chuckled a little, "Well, I do have a Master of Engineering degree in Aeronautical and Aerospace Engineering from the University of Leeds."

"That sounds awesome!" Rainbow squealed in delight and flapping her wings.

"You sound impressed."

"Of course I am. Why wouldn't I be? I know how difficult aerospace and aeronautical studies can be."

"You have a degree in it too?"

"No, I did start studying it but I dropped out and switched to meteorology."

"Cool. What level degree did you get in that?"

"A 2:2 Bachelor's," she replied, looking a little ashamed.

"Hey now, that's nothing to feel bad about. You got a degree, and that's what counts."

The reassuring compliment lifted Dash's spirits a little, eliciting a smile from her, "Yeah, I guess you're right."

"Of course I am, now; how about those sweet treats?"

"You got it buddy!"

In the blink of an eye she picked be up and flew towards the door.

And promptly crashed into it causing us to land in a heap on the floor. I massaged my bruised forehead with my hooves and groaned loudly, "Rainbow, please stop flying into doors."





Within a few minutes the pair of us were entering Sugarcube Corner, noting the few ponies already inside. Some at the tables having their treats, others in line at the kiosk ordering their sweet cravings.

"What are you gonna get?" I asked Rainbow.

"The Rainbow."

"The Rainbow?" I repeated, raising an eyebrow in confusion.

"Yeah, it's a large muffin topped off with icing in the col-"

"Colours of a rainbow."

"You got it!"

"I take it they're your favourite."

Rainbow nodded, "Yep. What are you gonna get?"

"I think I'll try one of these 'Rainbow', I don't really know what they do here."

"Great, first one's on me!"

"Thanks!" I exclaimed, giving Rainbow a lung crushing hug.

A wheezed Rainbow staggered back onto her hooves, "Any time buddy."

As we waited in line, I noticed a few ponies taking a few looks at us, or more specifically.....me. I could hear them whispering amongst themselves about the incident with what's-her-face the day before. 

"If you lot have anything to say about me, say it to my face," I spoke loudly and firmly.

Almost instantly the whispering ceased and everyone averted the eye sight everywhere except in my direction.

Damn ponies.

Fortunately, we weren't waiting too long before we were at the front of the queue. 

"Hey there Rainbow Dash!" Pinkie exclaimed excitedly before turning to me, "Hey there newest-pony-in-Ponyville-pony!"

"Hey Pinkie," I replied, slightly amused at her antics, "Two Rainbow muffins please."

"Coming right up, there's a fresh batch that's just been iced."

"Great, in that case we'll take half a dozen."

"Half a dozen?" Rainbow repeated, seemingly perturbed that I would order more when she was paying.

"Don't worry Dash, I'll pay for them."

"Nah, don't worry about it," she replied with a pleasant smile, "After what you've been through, a few cupcakes on me are the least you need."

"Thanks Dash. We can have one each now and save the rest for another Daring Do film if you like?"

Rainbow's face lit up with glee, "That's an awesome idea! Pinkie can join us!"

"I'd love to!"

Rainbow turned to me, "What do you say Apollo?"

"The more the merrier I suppose."

"Great, we can get some more food and booze in. Maybe invite a couple of other ponies over."

I started feeling a little uneasy at this. Not all ponies knew who I really was, and if the 'wrong' pony got wind of it and blabbed to Celestia's Pet Twilight, then I would be done for. Twilight would take be down into her lab, tie me to a chair, interrogate me and not let me leave until I gave her the answers she wanted to hear.

Probably.

Rainbow must have noticed my apprehension as she quickly followed up, "Don't worry though, since you're the new guy, you can invite some guests. Keep the numbers down though; too many ponies could spoil things for a small do."

"Sure," I replied, quickly pondering who I could invite, "How about we invite Fluttershy?"

"Sure," Rainbow replied, "Anypony else?"

"Vinyl Scratch, Lyra, Thunderlane, Bon-Bon and Octavia."

Rainbow blinked in surprise, "Wow, they're.....oddly specific."

"I have my reasons."

Rainbow must have been on the ball as she seemed to understand what I was getting at, "Well we'll ask them, and if they say yes then we'll talk more tonight."

"OK, any idea where they might be?"

"We'll go and look for them afterwards if you like?"

I nodded, "Why not? I've nothing else to do."

"Here's your half-dozen Rainbow muffins," Pinkie said, bouncing back into view, "That'll be three bits please."

Three bits for six muffins? Bloody hell.

But I supposed it's not that bad for home-made stuff, and not mass produced crap. Rainbow hoofed over the bits and we both quickly left the store, Pinkie merrily stating how much she was looking forward to later. Rainbow grabbed a couple of muffins out and asked me to hold onto them while she flew back to her place and put the remaining ones away for later. 

I wasn't alone for long before I had unwanted company.

"Apollo."

"дерьмо," I muttered, "What does she want?"

I remained positioned how I was and pretended I didn't hear her.

"Apollo!" Twilight yelled slightly, stomping in front of me and looking grumpy.

"What?"

"Don't 'what' me Apollo! I was talking to you!" she said angrily.

"I didn't hear you."

"Really? Then why did I hear you say something in that strange language you speak, followed by 'what does she want?'"

Bugger.....

"Maybe you imagined it. You do hate me after all."

"I don't hate you, what makes you say that?" she asked, looking confused and slightly hurt.

"You insult my intellect, intrude on my personal space, invade my privacy and went tittle-tattling to the Princess like the little grass you are."

Twilight's look on confusion and hurt soon turned into one of anger, "I have done none of those things! I have never insulted your intelligence!"

"I have a Masters Degree in Aerospace and Aeronautical Engineering and you have the nerve to say I have no talent in those areas."

"Then why isn't your cutie mark engineering related?"

"Maybe it is and you're just interpreting it wrong. Besides, I don't like cutie marks anyway, I don't see the point in them."

I felt like vomiting whenever I even thought of the words 'cutie mark', never mind actually saying them. Twilight though, reacted as I thought she would at my different opinion.

"You don't see the point in cutie marks! HOW CAN YOU SAY SUCH A THING?!"

Her yelling was beginning to draw a crowd of nosy ponies.

"One does not need a mark on their butt to know what they're good at," I replied.

"But then how would ponies know what their special talent is?" Twilight asked smugly, thinking she had somehow checkmated me with an unanswerable question.

I looked around and saw some ponies nodding in agreement to Twilight, muttering amongst themselves crap such as 'she's right, how would anypony know?' and 'why would anypony not want a cutie mark?'.

Such stupid questions made me feel like my brain was having an aneurysm. 

Sighing deeply and with a growing amount of grumpiness, I turned around to the stupid ponies.

"They would know what their special talent is because it would likely be something they're really good at, and probably enjoy doing. And as to why someone would not want a cutie mark, maybe they just don't want some ponies assuming that that's what they like doing, and assume that that's all they can do. My crappy cutie mark bares no relation to my true passion. I do not need a stupid mark on my flank to identify me and what I do."

There was a few moments of silence as everyone seemed to take heed to what I said.

Until one pony spoke out, and from the sound of it, a filly's voice that sounded eerily similar to the hill-billy.

"Ya don't like Cutie Marks? Ya think they're silly?"

"Correct."

"Ah don't understand," Hill-billy junior replied, shaking her head, "Why d'ya hate cutie marks so much? Me and mah friends have been tryin' our hardest tah get our cutie marks. You have somthin' you don't want or like, yet me and mah friends can't get ours no matter what we do."

"Get used to it kid, life is like that."

"Don't talk to her like that!" Twilight scolded, stomping between me and the crowd, positioning herself in front of hill-billy junior.

"I gave her some advice on what life is really like."

"She goes to school to learn, she doesn't need lessons from you."

"You only complain because you don't like hearing the harsh realities of life. I learned from a very young age how tough, brutal and bitterly unfair life is."

"Maybe where you're from," Twilight replied, putting a comforting foreleg around hill-billy junior, "But here in Equestria, we live in a paradise where there is opportunity for everyone to succeed in anything they want to do, where everyone has a home and food to eat."

"And freedom to speak my mind I presume?"

"Of course......well, mostly. So long as you don't criticise the Princess."

I couldn't help but laugh. I just had too. But it was an ironic laugh, not a joyous one.

"What's so funny?" Twilight asked.

"Oh Twilight, I heard the same Soviet propaganda crap in my childhood."

"Soviet propaganda?" she asked confused, "What's that?"

"Pretty much what you said just now. You're told you live in a paradise where there is opportunity for everyone to succeed in anything they want to do, where everyone has a home and food to eat. Whilst the latter two are somewhat true, the vast majority where given free housing in small apartments and given very little food to eat."

"But it's free, so why complain?"

"A hoof in the face is free, would you like one of those?"

"No! Why would I want that?!" she replied, recoiling in horror.

"Just because something is free, doesn't mean it's a good thing."

"Fair point, but why do you hate cutie marks?"

"Doesn't it strike you as odd that your cutie marks conveniently match with your names? I also don't like how it seems everyone seems perfectly content doing their 'special talent' without ever trying anything else. When I was in Canterlot, I saw some ponies with cleaning related cutie marks who seemed perfectly happy cleaning up other ponies' mess."

"Well," Twilight began, "It is their-"

"For the rest of their lives," I added quickly, "Where I'm from, cleaning is considered to be a dead-end job. Having a cutie mark that ties you down to a dead-end job for life seems more like slavery to me."

The crowd of ponies gasped so much they could have deprived the local area of oxygen.

"How can you say that?!" Twilight once more demanded, now consoling a crying hill-billy junior.

"I'm exercising my right to speak freely without punishment."

"What?"

"Exactly as I said. I'm exercising my right to speak freely without punishment."

"What does that mean?" Twilight asked, her stupid face looking confused again, "Who would punish you for speaking your mind.....no matter how much I disagree with you?"

"You would if I criticised the Princess."

"But you can't criticise the Princess!"

"Why not?"

I have ample to reason to.

"Because she's the Princess!"

All this talk of not being allowed to criticise those in power brought back horrible memories from my childhood.

"To find out who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticise," I spoke, thinking aloud.

"What was that?" Twilight asked.

"Oh I was just thinking aloud."

"What does it mean though, what you just said?"

I sighed deeply, are ponies really this stupid? Can they only see and think literally?

"In that if you want to know who controls you, keep criticising certain individuals until the secret police come and take you away. Then, you have a good idea as to who you weren't supposed to speak ill of."

"Why?"

"Because those who rule over you would have you killed. Like my grandfather was."

Silence was all I could hear, so I continued, "One day, before I was born; he foolishly criticised a member of the politburo."

"Politburo?" Twilight queried.

"They're Executive Committee's for Communist Parties."

"What's a Communist Party?"

"A political group that enforces communism."

"What's communism?"

"A vile ideology that oppresses personal freedoms and liberties, silences any who dare to speak or think differently and enforces its ideology with an iron hoof. But, back to my grandfather. He was arrested and taken to a gulag where he was forced to work in Siberian salt mines for eighteen hours a day, every day. After two years, it was decided he was to be put on trial."

Looking around it looked like a lot of ponies fur had lost their sheen. Maybe hearing what a shitty childhood I had was too much for them.

"Surely people saw he was innocent," Twilight suggested.

"He wasn't though," I replied, "He was guilty of criticising a member of the politburo and was subsequently sentenced to death by firing squad."

"SENTENCED TO DEATH!"

"Would you mind shouting a little louder, I don't think Canterlot heard you," I sarcastically replied, "But yes. He was executed for daring to say something someone in power didn't like. And just to add salt to the wound, would you like to guess who had to fire the killing shot?"

Twilight gulped nervously, "Y-y-you?"

"No. I wasn't born at the time."

"Then who?"

"My father. My father was forced to execute his father or be forced to watch as his entire family be killed, and then he himself be imprisoned in a gulag for the rest of his life; after which, all records of him and his family's existence were to be erased from history."

Even more colour seemed to drain from the ponies' fur, but a carried on regardless.

"My father went through with it, and was rewarded for his 'loyalty' by being allowed to marry the westerner he had become infatuated with, my mother. But what he was forced to do destroyed him. He descended into alcoholism and eventually died of liver cancer shortly after the dissolution of the Soviet Union. My mother returned to her homeland a few years later, with me going with her. I spent the first half of my life growing up in my father's homeland, and the second half in my mother's."

"What happened-"

"She died of leukaemia a few years ago. A horrible cancer that begins in bone marrow and causes abnormal white blood cells to develop in high numbers."

Before Twilight even had chance to respond, I continued, "You wanted to know more about me Twilight Sparkle, and you just have. Is that satisfactory for your friendship quest or would you like to hear about how Nazi soldiers raped my grandmother and great-aunt?"

Twilight vigorously shook her head, looking thoroughly worse for ware after my little family history lesson.

"Then I bid you good day."

I picked up the two Rainbow cupcakes in my magic and walked away, the crowd of ponies making way and not saying a word to me. The only pony to approach me was Rainbow. She landed softly next to me and walked with me, not saying anything until we were out of earshot of the crowd.

"How much did you hear?"

"Pretty much all of it," she replied looking sad, "I'm sorry about all of those things happening."

"Thanks. Fortunately, things in my father's homeland have improved, but there's still a long way to go."

"I thought you said you were from Russia?"

"I am. The Soviet Union was the name of the collective group of communist states that made up the Soviet Union."

"How many states?"

"Fifteen. Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Lithuania, Moldova, Latvia, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Armenia and Estonia."  

"What happened after the Union broke up?"

"They each became their own independent state once more. Before the Bolshevik Revolution, Russia was a monarchy ruled by a Tzar, but due to reasons I'll go into another time, the Imperial family, the Romanovs, were killed; including the children."

Rainbow looked a little pale at hearing that, but then; who wouldn't be? Especially when innocent children are involved.

"But hey, let's not get all sad with what happened a century ago," I said, levitating her rainbow cupcake to her, "Here, eat up."

"Thanks," she smiled, taking it.

"Where are we headed?"

"I thought we could go over to the music store," Rainbow replied, taking a bite out of the cupcake, "If Vinyl or Octavia are anywhere, they'll be there."

"Do they work there?"

"They own the place, in addition to their first jobs as a DJ and concert cellist. They hired a few ponies to run the place though."

"Cool. I'll have to play you some of my music when I get the chance."

"Awesome!" she yelled, hugging me tightly.

She quickly came to her senses and let go, albeit blushing profusely, "Don't ever tell anypony I hugged you."

"Why not? Don't want anyone to know that the fast, awesome and cool Rainbow Dash is actually a softy who likes hugs and cuddles?"

Rainbow scowled and blushed even more, "Shut up!"

Yeah she is. Rainbow definitely likes hugs and cuddles.

We walked for a little longer, finishing our cupcakes in record time, and reached the front of the music store.

"They were great," I said, "I'll have to go to Sugarcube Corner more often."

"I'd go more often but if I eat each too much, then these fine flanks of mine would hold me back."

"I was never the sporty type."

"Really?" Rainbow asked in 'surprise', "An egghead not into sports? Imagine my shock."

I rolled my eyes, "I didn't say I wasn't into them, I just said I wasn't the sporty type, in that I don't play them."

"Why not?"

"'Cause I'm an egghead."

"So what kind of egghead things do you do?" she asked as we walked into the shop.

"Before I came here I was an engineer with British Airways, the largest airliner of the United Kingdom in terms of fleet size. I worked on the Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engines of the Airbus A380."

"Awesome!" Rainbow replied enthusiastically, before looking confused, "But what's all that eggheady stuff you mentioned."

"Rolls-Royce is the name of the company that built the Trent 900, a type of jet engine. The Airbus A380 is a type of commercial aircraft, Airbus being the company that built it and A380 being the model number. With me so far?"

Rainbow nodded.

"Jets are types of engines that suck in air through turbines, mix it with jet fuel, which is ignited which creates thrust which moves the aircraft forward. My job, was to make sure the engines worked as they should."

"Did you ever fly these aircraft?"

"No. I don't have the necessary licence or ability. But I have flown several times in them."

Rainbow's enthusiasm seemed to grow and grow and soon she was firing off questions like a cowboy shoots bullets, "How big are they? How fast can they fly? How high can they go? How far can they go?"

I couldn't help but smile at Rainbow's interest and enthusiasm, she was like a kid at Christmas.

"It all depends on the type of aircraft, but the A380 is big. Really big. I'd have to do the conversions to your units of measurement but I can do that later. For now, let's look around, see what there is."

"Sure thing," Rainbow replied, clearly struggling to hold the little filly inside of her just desperate to know more about my world.

As I looked around the store, which was fortunately empty of shoppers, I saw rows upon rows of vinyl records. 

Maybe this world isn't so bad after all.

You don't get Justin Bieber in Vinyl format here.

Or even in Equestria at all thank fuck.

Fortunately, I had many of the greats on my phone and tablet including Elton John, Pink Floyd, Tony Christie, Michael Bolton, Meat Loaf, Metallica, Billie Joel, Bon Jovi, Def Leppard, Dragonforce, ABBA, the Bee Gee's, the Beatles, the Eagles......Aqua.

Don't go knocking Aqua, they're a guilty pleasure.

I had a nosey around and had a look to see what there was. I had no idea who was any good or who was the most famous, nor did I care. If I like it, I'll listen to it, regardless of how big and famous the band/artist is.

Looking around, I did notice some posters on the wall, and from the records on the shelves I noticed there were more of some artists than others. Some of which were Sapphire Shores and Countess Coloratura.

Pop stars by the look of things.

So long as they're not like Earth pop stars and celebrities where they're full of their own shit and importance, then I should be able to tolerate them.

There was also some vinyl record players.

Genuine vinyl record players.

I had to have one.

I trotted over to them and had a look at what was on offer. Looking at them it was easy to deduce that they were of high quality. And had a price tag to match. One in particular, that had a retro 50's look, was made from a hard plastic in red and had aluminium fittings and spindle, and was complete with built in speakers and radio. 

I looked at the price tag and saw it was two hundred bits.

Pricey.

"See anything you like?" asked a familiar voice.

I turned to where the voice was coming from, "Hey Vinyl."

Vinyl walked up to me and we bumped hooves, "Hey Apollo. How's things going?"

"OK, more or less. Just having a look around, but I came to see if you were interested in coming to Rainbow's later for a film night, Octavia too if she's interested."

"Sure, will I need to cast a cloud-walking spell?"

"No, Rainbow's house has marble flooring so we'll be fine."

"How do you know what type of floor she has?" she asked inquisitively. 

"I was there earlier watching the first Daring Do film."

Vinyl smirked in delight. I knew that look all too well though.

"Getting friendly with Rainbow are we?" she asked teasingly.

I rolled my eyes, "It's not what you think. She pretty much forced me to watch it after I may have asked if Daring Do was an intergalactic hussy."

Vinyl couldn't help but let out a laugh, "One of these days your gonna say something that will get your plot kicked."

"I sort of was by the dumb country hick."

"Oh that," Vinyl replied, "How are you by the way? I was gonna visit but then I heard you were discharged."

"I'm OK. Still a little sore though."

"Cool. I've never seen Applejack act like that though."

"She's impossibly stubborn and narrow minded."

"I remember how she reacted when she first saw you."

"Aye, despite clearly being injured and not completely coherent in thought, she looked at an injured and bloody me and a visibly uninjured and unconscious Dash, and somehow her inbred hill-billy brain came to the conclusion that I attacked Rainbow. She didn't even try to ascertain the details."

Vinyl came up a bit closer and gave me a reassuring and comforting nuzzle, "And then things got worse."

"Aye, they did."

Unbeknownst to us, Rainbow had been listening in.

"What actually did happen after you knocked me out....accidentally? Certain others have told me their version of things but I don't believe them."

"I can't imagine why," I muttered. I looked up and saw Rainbow and Vinyl looking at me, Rainbow in particular looking a little annoyed.

Maybe they heard me. Oh well. I shook my head and continued speaking, "Yes, I don't mind filling you in. After I knocked you out, completely unintentionally, I staggered around for a little longer not straying too far from your body. Unbeknownst to me, a pony saw what happened and went running to the nearest pony she could find which just happened to be Crapjack."

I noticed Rainbow scowl a little at my name calling of Applejack. I knew they were friends but I won't let that stop me from doing it. 

"Before I could even speak, she launched into her accusations, screaming 'you vile monster, you attacked Rainbow Dash' and 'you're going to pay for that'; things like that though in her slack-jawed drawl. Coming slightly more aware of my surroundings I tried to explain myself but she immediately tried to attack me, so I ran for it; not being in any state to fight."

"What happened afterwards?" asked Rainbow.

"She chased me, all the while screaming at the top of her lungs that I attacked you. Several more ponies, hearing her, joined in the chase and your dixie friend somehow got hold of some rope and lassoed me. After being tied up I once again tried explaining things but I was gagged and hauled off to her barn to 'await punishment befitting a monster'."

"Then what happened?"

"I was dragged into her barn and tied tightly to one of the posts. Twilight 'Teacher's Pet' Sparkle arrived and began saying the same shit, of how I was a monster and would be punished severely by the Princess. I pulled at the ropes in an attempt to free myself and escape but all that got me was a buck in the abdomen from you know who."

I sighed tiredly at the unpleasant memory, just thinking about it made me angry and exhausted. But Rainbow deserved to know what really happened and I wouldn't allow my feelings get in the way of that.

"Twilight took the possessions that I still had, the others had fallen off during the chase and were fortunately recovered by Lyra. The possessions Lyra recovered where returned to me by Celestia, Twilight still has the ones she stole in her lab."

"Stole?" Rainbow repeated, "She stole your possessions?"

"Well yeah, she took them without permission with no intent to return them, i.e. she stole them. Don't worry though, I'm getting them back."

"How?" asked Rainbow.

"I'm going to break in and take them back."

Rainbow looked conflicted. Part of her looked like she was all for it, but on the other hand she felt uncomfortable with breaking into a friend's home.

"Look Apollo, I know you want your things back but if you do what you say, she will hunt you down and take them back again, maybe even the other possessions she didn't get first time as well."

"What do you suggest then?" I asked.

"I don't know. Twilight can be very stubborn and driven to the point where only Princess Celestia can talk sense into her."

I pondered what Rainbow said, but I wanted my possessions back without having to go to Celestia. She's done enough as it is. I pondered the legal ramifications and Twilight's possibly hyper-insane reaction. But after a few seconds of mulling it over, I reached my decision.

"I'm getting my things back Dash, one way or another."

"But-"

"But nothing. Twilight has stolen my property and I want it back. Besides, I think I know how to....assuage her anger over it as well."

"How?"

"I know how it all works. That is something that I can use to my advantage. I show Twilight and in return she doesn't re-steal it all or murder me."

Both Vinyl and Rainbow gasped in shock. Rainbow quickly stomped a hoof down, "Dude, Twilight is not a murderer! She could never do such a thing!"

"Maybe not, but if you went and deliberately tried to harm Celestia in any way.....she would certainly try, or at least think of all manners of unpleasant things she would do to you."

"Apollo," Rainbow said firmly and looking slightly angry, "Twilight is not a murderer nor is she going to torture anypony, not even you."

I huffed and rolled my eyes, "Fine, she's not going to hurt me or anyone else. She would certainly lecture me to death though."

Rainbow surprised me with a chuckle, "Yeah, that's more likely. I once got a three hour lecture on the importance of cutlery placement at a formal dinner party."

I blinked in astonishment, "Three......hours."

"Yep."

"On the importance of cutlery placement."

"Yep."

I blinked again, "What did you do to piss her off? Return a book late?"

"Yeah, I did actually. By one hour."

"One hour? Twilight has book returns done to the hour?"

Rainbow nodded, "Of course she does. She wouldn't be Twilight of she didn't."

"I'd have told her to piss off."

Rainbow's and Vinyl's eyes widened in surprise.

"Wow," Vinyl said, "You really don't take any crap do you?"

"Of course I don't. I'm Russian......Well, half-Russian and half-Yorkshire."

"Yorkshire?" queried Rainbow.

"A county in England. England being a country in the United Kingdom. My mother is from Yorkshire, specifically a city called Leeds. It's part of the reason why I chose to go to University there."

"You went to University?" asked Vinyl, "What did you study?"

"I studied for a Master of Engineering degree in Aeronautical and Aerospace Engineering."

"Is that what this workshop thing is about I heard the other day?"

I nodded, "Yeah. It seems Celestia wants me to recreate some technology from my world."

"Can you do it?"

"Well," I began to reply, whilst I had the knowledge it would be a huge undertaking and not something I could do on my own. The only downside was the lack of computers. Whilst I has mechanical knowledge, I was no computer scientist and the only computers I had where my phone and tablet. I did not have the knowledge on how to recreate those. But there's time yet, fortunately, my tablet had plenty of ebooks on such topics and I'm sure Twilight would love to transfer that knowledge to Equestrian scholars.

"I suppose I could. I would eventually need to educate others, and it would take years and cost a lot....but it's doable. You certainly won't be landing ponies on the moon any time soon though."

Vinyl and Rainbow looked at one another before turning back to me.

"Princess Luna has been to the moon," Rainbow stated, "She was there 1,000 years."

"According to Celestia; Luna, or Nightmare Moon, was imprisoned within the moon, not on it."

"Semantics," Vinyl stated, "But can you really send ponies to the moon?"

I nodded, "It's been done before in my world six times, twelve men in total. It would have been seven times and fourteen men but Apollo 13 ran into some technical issues, I'll tell you about it sometime."

"Sounds awesome!"

"If you like the sound of that, then you'll definitely like the rockets I'll be building."

"Rockets? You mean like fireworks? How fast will they go?"

"They'll be like fireworks in that you ignite a fuel source to launch the vehicle, and as for  how fast......the Saturn V, the rocket that helped take men to the moon, can reach several thousand miles per hour."

Rainbow stood frozen in shock, prompting Vinyl to start laughing, "You should see your face Dash!"

"S-s-s-everal th-thousand........"

"I think you broke her Apollo."

"I think I did, anyway.....you coming tonight?"

"Sure. What time?" 

"When do you close?"

"4.30pm."

"I'll pick you up outside the store then if you like, Octavia too."

"Sure thing. I can ask Lyra and Bon Bon if you like?"

"Why not? We'll pick them up too."

"Why not ask Pinkie if you can use her hot air balloon?"

"Pinkie has a hot air balloon?" I asked nervously.

"Yeah, but don't worry. She knows how to use it."

I breathed a sigh of relief, "Thank fuck, Pinkie's nice and all but she's a little.....crazy."

"That's Pinkie Pie for you, but you'll get used to it.......hey Rainbow, you still with us?"

Rainbow didn't respond so I gave her a nudge in the side with my elbow, causing her to jolt.

"WHAT?!"

Vinyl and I jumped a little at Rainbow's sudden outburst but quickly recovered.

"We were just discussing Vinyl coming to your place later for another film. I said we'd meet her here when she shuts up shop at 4.30."

"Yeah, that's cool."

"She's going to talk to Octavia, Bon Bon and Lyra. We can go and see Fluttershy if you like then Pinkie."

"Why Pinkie?"

"To see if we can use her hot air balloon."

"Sure, makes sense. It'll save several trips back and forth carrying all of you."

"Will Pinkie be there as well?" asked Vinyl.

"I'd love for Pinkie to be there," Rainbow said happily, "It can hardly be a party without Pinkie Pie."

"Great!" I said, before turning to Vinyl, "Now that that's settled can I talk to you about this record player?"

I pointed a hoof to the record player on question, the red retro 50's one.

"Oh that one?" Vinyl said, smiling in delight, "They're a damn fine make, worth every bit. This particular model got rave reviews."

"Could you set one aside for me? I don't have the money just at the moment."

"Sure thing. I have some in the back still in their boxes. I'll get one out for you and put your name on it."

"Thanks."

"No problem. Have a look for a few records, if you find any that interest you bring them over and I'll put them aside too."

"Sure thing, Rainbow can help pick a few out."

Vinyl went off into the back leaving me and Rainbow. I began browsing and looking at the posters of Sapphire Shores and Countess Coloratura once more, decided to give them a try. After a quick search I found the records of Sapphire Shores and began flipping through them with my magic.

I grabbed a few including her newest release, and a few older ones before moving on to Countess Coloratura; and did the same with her. Amongst some albums I picked out where some classical, metal and rock.

Rainbow wasn't too enthusiastic about classical, but had been looking through a few other records as well.

"Hey Apollo, get these."

I looked and noticed she had two of certain albums. I grabbed the second records and browsed through them.

"'Songs inspired by the Wonderbolts', 'The Official Soundtrack to Daring Do and the Quest For the Sapphire Stone' and Songbird Seranade's 'I Can't See You'. Who the fuck's Songbird Serenade?"

"Who is she?!" Rainbow replied in shock, "Only one of the biggest pop stars in Equestria!"

"Like Sapphire Shores and Coloratura?"

"Yes, and like me she's a pegasus," Rainbow boasted proudly.

"Are all pegasi this boastful?"

"Not all, but most."

I chuckled a little and looked back at the albums, "I'll have to see the Wonderbolts perform sometime. Any idea when they're next performance after next is?"

Rainbow looked at me like I'd gone daft with my daft question, "What?"

"Tickets are all sold out for the next performance, so I was wondering when the next performance after that is."

"Oh, about a months time I think. I couldn't get tickets either to their next show."

"Good to know, I'll try and get tickets if I can."

I looked to Rainbow and saw she had stars in her eyes and hooves in her mouth. Signs she was beginning to fangirl over the Wonderbolts again.

"Why not come with me?" I asked, "You can give me the history of them and see if we can get a backstage tour."

I suddenly felt my lungs being crushed by an unbelievably tight hug from Rainbow; who, judging by her reaction, liked my suggestion.

She let go and allowed me to get my breath back.

"That an AWESOME IDEA!"

"What's an awesome idea?" asked Vinyl, returning to the shop floor.

"Going to see the Wonderbolts and having Rainbow give me a history lesson on them, and see if we can get a backstage tour."

"At their next show in a fortnight?" asked Vinyl.

"No," I replied, "There's no tickets left, so we'll be going to the one after that."

"If you want to go to the next show I may be able to help you both."

That got the attention of myself and Rainbow.

"I sometimes perform live with the Wonderbolts in providing a backing track, and I'll be doing so again in Vanhoover. I can arrange for you both to get  all-areas access passes if you like."

"You'd really do that?" I asked, shocked she would get us something so valuable and difficult to get.

"Sure. After what you've been through, you could do with a little fun and enjoyment."

I smiled a little, "I guess I could. What do you think Rainbow, should we-"

I stopped when I saw Rainbow. She was stood frozen solid on the ground again, on three hooves with the fourth holding the records. She wasn't moving a muscle or even appearing to breath. Concerned, I walked up slowly and gently shook her.

"Rainbow."

Nothing.

"RAINBOW!"

"GAH!"

That got her attention.

"Sorry, but I was going to ask if you were interested in Vinyl's offer?"

"Of course I'm interested!" she said excitedly, "To be able to meet the Wonderbolts backstage before and after a performance."

"And free access to an all you can eat buffet in the VIP lounge."

"All you can eat?" I repeated, "Free?"

"Yes and Yes," replied Vinyl, amused at what I was getting at.

"I'd go for the free food alone. So long as it's real food that is, and not the dreary, bland wall paper paste like slop only rich, snooty nobles call food."

Vinyl let out a hearty laugh, "Don't worry Vlad, it's real food. The Wonderbolts make sure of it."

"I've already met Spitfire, she gave me a few training sessions when I first became a pony to get me used to my new legs."

"Does she know about.......?" Vinyl trailed off, she didn't need to say what exactly. She knew I knew what she meant.

"Yeah, she knows. I don't think the other Wonderbolts do though."

"Do you plan to tell them?"

I shook my head, "No. At least not yet. Anyway we should be going, we need to see Fluttershy and Pinkie. See you here at 4.30?"

"Sure thing. Until then," Vinyl replied giving me a hoof bump and nuzzle.

Getting used to pony nuzzles and hugs was still an odd feeling. As a human I seldom ever had any physical contact, so getting it on a regular basis was a strange experience. Albeit a nice one.

I left the records with Vinyl, as did Rainbow leave hers as well with her, and we left the store. We decided to head to Fluttershy first before going back to Pinkie.





Rainbow and I were just outside Fluttershy's cottage, walking up the path.

"I hope she doesn't dress us up again as one of her animals," I said.

"Same here," Rainbow replied, shuddering, remembering the awful memory from earlier.

"Will Rarity still be there?"

"Maybe, are we inviting her too?"

"Your decision, it's your house after all."

"Yeah, but Rarity doesn't know about you though."

"No, but she'll find out eventually."

Rainbow looked down to the ground, seemingly deep in thought. After a few moments of silence, she looked back up to me, "Maybe.....not tell her yet. Enough ponies know already as it is."

"Agreed. Speaking of ponies knowing, does Pinkie know?"

Rainbow shrugged her shoulders, "Only Pinkie knows what Pinkie knows."

"True."

We trotted up to the door and knocked. After a few seconds the door opened revealing the Demon Seamstress. Looking at us, an devilish smirk formed on her face; clearly she was still feeling delighted at what she did to us earlier.

"Hello darlings," she said, smirking devilishly, "Eager to be fluffy little bunnies again?"

"NO!" we both yelled, our eyes widening in fear.

"There's no need to yell," Rarity replied, seemingly un-fazed by our reaction, "But regardless, why are you two little bunnies here?"

Bunnies?

"We're not bunnies," Rainbow replied through clenched teeth.

"Pity," Rarity sighed, "You both looked so adorable in those costumes."

I'm pretty sure Rainbow's blood was boiling as much as mine at this very moment.

"May we please come in?" I asked, holding in my increasing irritance, "We'd like to ask Fluttershy something."

"Very well," Rarity replied, stepping aside.

Rainbow and I walked in and Rarity closed the door. Looking around, Fluttershy was nowhere to be seen.

"Just wait here, Fluttershy's in the kitchen," Rarity said, trotting past us, "Fluttershy darling, two little bunnies have come to see you."

Both Rainbow and I scowled and clenched our teeth at the un-amusing nickname. I leaned in close to Rainbow and began whispering in her ear.

"I think Rarity is long overdue a mud bath. A real mud bath."

"I hear you buddy, a real mud bath," she whispered back.

We both began snickering quietly to ourselves, oblivious to Rarity and Fluttershy re-entering the room.

"Would you two care to share your joke with the rest of us?"

The pair of us turned around to see an unamused Rarity and a sheepish looking Fluttershy.

"What joke?" Rainbow asked, "I know not of any joke. Do you Apollo?"

"I haven't a clue Rainbow Dash, maybe Rarity's just hearing things."

Rarity stomped up to us, clearly not impressed at our behaviour, "So hearing about being given a 'real mud bath' was just my imagination was it?"

Busted.

Before I could try to diplomatically get myself and Rainbow out of the sticky situation, Rainbow's conscience got the better of her and she pointed a hoof accusingly at me.

"It was all Apollo's idea!"

I stood opened mouthed looking between Rainbow and Rarity, trying to piece together what just happened. So much for Rainbow's loyalty. I tried to verbalise a reply but could only manage stuttering utterances.

"Thank you Rainbow, " Rarity said delightfully, "For your honesty, you will be spared."

"Spared what?" asked Rainbow.

Rarity didn't answer and instead turned to me, looking extremely pissed off and pointing a hoof aggressively at me, "But YOU!"

"Yes Rarity," I whimpered, becoming terrified of the pissed off seamstress.

"You're coming with me!"

She picked me up in her magic and took me away. I was too scared of how she'd react if I tried to escape.

"Fluttershy dear, I'm afraid there will be a change to our plans. Apollo here, needs to be taught a lesson or two."

Rarity trotted merrily out, her nose stuck up in the air, taking me with her. 

"Where are we going?" I asked nervously.

"To the Spa, little bunny. Where we will both have a mud bath."

"A mud bath?" I repeated, gulping in fear.

"A mud bath darling, and a host of other beauty treatments. A big rugged stallion like you could do with a pampering to soften you up."

"I don't want a pampering," I whined.

Rarity laughed, "Well you're getting one."

"YOU SHE-DEMON!" 

"My my, somepony's a little grumpy."

"I have a right to be! After all I've been through."

A few moments of silence lingered. Not a normal silence though. A silence which gives you the feeling that the other person is about to say something you might not like to hear. 

"Indeed," Rarity replied, in such a way is was a cause for concern, like she knew something she wasn't letting on, "Your introduction to Ponyville wasn't exactly ideal."

Uh oh....I don't like the sound of this.

"What are you talking about?" I asked, feigning ignorance.

"Don't try to hide it, I know who you are."

"So does most of Ponyville," I replied, trying to not let on who I really was, "I'm Apollo. They found out when the Princess personally spoke to me in public in front of the whole town."

Rarity let out a laugh, a sort of laugh that indicated she wasn't at all fooled, "Oh Apollo, I didn't get to where I am today without having an eye for detail."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"No of course you don't............






















......Vladimir."