Dusk walked through town with no issue. He didn't see anyone around, probably because it was still early in the morning. As he approached the inn Dusk thought about meeting Fluttershy's friends, I wonder what they will be like, I already know Twilight and I met AppleJack briefly this morning but what about the other three... His thoughts trailed off upon entering the inn, he approached the front counter where an older mare sat sipping a cup of tea or coffee.
"Yes, can I help you?" She asked with a hint of irritation in her voice. It was probably too early to be working too much.
"Yes, I have a room that was reserved by Princess Celestia three days ago." Dusk replied, watching as the mare flipped through a notepad.
"Ah yes, our top room, it has a balcony that overlooks most of the town, I hope you enjoy your stay." As Dusk received the key he gave a smile and a nod as the mare return to her drink, and headed up to his room.
He opened the door to find the room was mostly barren, the only things that sat in the room was a large bed with beige covers, a small bookshelf against the far wall and a large writing desk next to the bookshelf. A grandfather clock stood in the corner next to the balcony doors. Not exactly the homiest of places, but for his purposes it would do, Dusk turned to the balcony doors and pushed them open to enjoy the cool morning breeze and see how good the view was, he could always inspect the rest of his home later. The golden rays of the sun were cast across the town, nothing short of beautiful.
After a few minutes of fresh air, he turned to the desk and pulled a piece of parchment, quill, and jar of ink off the shelves on the desk:
Dear Mentor,
My apologies for the delay of this letter. My time here in Ponyville has been very eventful. Before I could even leave the forest, a pack of timber wolves chased me and caught me. One injured me during the fray, but only slightly. When I actually entered the town a mare ran into me. Blood from my injury transferred onto her coat and she immediately dragged me to her home outside of the town. It was then that I learned that her name was Fluttershy, as she was treating my wound. She is a really amazing pony, Mentor, pretty, talented, all around amazing. When I found out she was a friend of your student Twilight, I was really glad. She helped me find the library at around Twilight, get it? Ha. Anyway, she was less than happy that I waited so long to go there. She put Luna's Canterlot Voice to shame. But after that unpleasantness, things became eve more unpleasant for me. She asked me a few questions, nothing too personal. Then, she started asking about my parents. She asked me if they were alive. I kept saying 'I don't know.' She started asking me questions why, I kept saying that I don't know. I just broke down and told them that I put them in the hospital. Immediately after, Fluttershy dragged her into another room and scolded her about what she did. I heard everything pretty well there. After a few more questions handled by Fluttershy, she decided that it was time to leave and asked me to accompany her when she walked home. I, of course, agreed and made a very important decision on the way there. I decided to tell her what happened that day. She was so understanding, so supportive. I'm glad I told her, I'm at the inn now. I hope to hear from you soon.
Sincerely, Dusk
He walked out onto the balcony and used the spell that Celestia taught him to send his letter. The parchment was turned into a fine powder and carried by wind to Canterlot.
With nothing else to do, he placed the books on a nearby shelf and laid down on the king sized bed that took up most of the room. Eyes closed, he tried to mentally prepare himself for the rest of the day. An hour later, a letter landed on his chest. He levitated it up to his eyes, it read:
Dear Dusk,
I'm sorry to hear about your trouble in Ponyville. I sent a letter to Twilight this morning explaining to her why what she did was wrong. Please don't judge her for what she did. Sometimes, she let's her desire for knowledge, supersede her duties. As for Fluttershy, I have met her a number of times and can agree that she is a good pony. It also sounds like you found a special somepony there. Though, I feel I must warn you, don't let your task distract you. Love is a powerful gift that everyone deserves. I know you want to meet them again, but in case it doesn't happen, you should have someone that you really care for to help you get through that storm. I can't tell you what to do, though. So, do what you think is best. I hope things go more smoothly for you from this point on.
Your Mentor, Celestia
Immediately after reading the letter, a knock came from the door. Dusk jumped a little and stashed the letter underneath the covers. He walked up to the peep hole and saw a nervous pegasus standing there. He opened the door and greeted them. "Hello Fluttershy, is everything alright? You're early. Not that I'm complaining it's just... curious."
"Oh, sorry Dusk, it's just, I'm nervous." He gestured for her to come inside and take a seat on the bed.
"Nervous? About me meeting your friends?" He sat down next to her.
"No, well, not really. I'm worried about Twilight."
"Why did something else happen?"
"No, it's just, I feel like I'm being a bad friend for leaving her out of this."
"Fluttershy, you can't be a bad friend. I've only known you for a day and I can say that in the utmost confidence. I personally think I can talk to her later."
"Do you want me to be there with you?"
"Well, I don't think that it's necessary. The Princess already scolded her about it."
"How do you know that?"
"She sent me a letter before you knocked."
"Oh, I'm glad I waited, then."
"Waited?"
"Oh, you see, I was, um, trying to knock on the door and I didn't want to seem...."
"Seem what?"
"Um, attached."
"Attached?"
"Well, we spent the entire day together, yesterday. Then I asked you to walk me home last night, then to stay the night, and now, here I am no more than a few hours after you leave."
Dusk couldn't help smiling, "You won't hear me complaining."
"Really?"
"Really, I love spending time with you." Her nervousness melted away to reveal a beautiful smile. "Are your friends waiting for us?"
"No, it will be a little longer before they get to the meeting place. I can leave if you want." She stood up.
"What? No, stay, please."
"Are you sure? I don't want to impose."
"Sit, I promise you that it is no imposition." She sat back down. "So, what do you think?"
"About what?"
"My home."
"Oh! I think it's... nice."
"Just nice?"
"Y-yes."
"Well, it's enough for me. No where near your cottage, but for my purposes, it works."
"My cottage isn't that great."
"Yes, it is."
"If you say so, Dusk."
"I do." The clock in the corner struck noon. "Should we get going?"
"Yes."
With that Fluttershy led Dusk outside a few blocks down the street to a large bakery. It appeared to made of sweets and smelled like it too. A cyan colored pegasus waited by the front door, her mane and tail were rainbow colored.
"Come on! You set the time, Fluttershy!"
"I'm sorry, I lost track of time!" The cyan pegasus rolled her eyes and walked inside. "I hate being late."
"Hey, it's okay, it happens to everyone."
The two walked inside the bakery and saw three mares were sitting at a table and waiting for them. "Dusk I'd like you too meet my friends," Fluttershy directed to the other mares at the table. "Rarity, Pinkie Pie and last but not least...Rainbow Dash."
A unicorn with a pure white coat and a well maintained, curled mane and tail of a royal blue, presumably Rarity. A pegasus with a cyan coat with a less maintained mane and tail of red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple, presumably Rainbow Dash. The third was an earth pony with a pink coat, puffy pink mane and tail, she had to be Pinkie Pie. Two open seats sat at the table and were soon occupied by the late arrivals.
"This is Dusk, he's the one Twilight asked us to help," Fluttershy explained.
"Wait, aren't we going to wait for Twilight and AppleJack?" The cyan mare asked.
"Twilight isn't coming," Fluttershy answered.
"And AppleJack informed me that the job on the farm was more daunting than predicted. She won't be able to make it either." The White unicorn stated.
The three ponies looked Dusk over, he hadn't had this many ponies staring at him so intently in years but he maintained his composure. "Dusk is the name," he gave a small bow. "It's a pleasure to meet you all.
The white unicorn was the first to reply, "Oh my, such a gentlecolt, my name is Rarity and I can already tell by your manners that we will be good friends."
Dusk smiled, that was easy I wonder what the other two will say. The cyan pegasus was next with an introduction, "Rainbow Dash is the name, Daredevil Extraordinaire." Not exactly what I expected, he thought.
Directing his eyes to the pink mare who had been quiet up to this point, but before she said anything Fluttershy spoke. "Remember Pinkie this pony hasn't been out anywhere in a few years, so take it slow." The mare simply nodded that she understood, and took in a big breath,
"HI MY NAME'S PINKIE PIE AND I CAN ALREADY TELL WE'LL BE THE BESTEST FRIENDS EVER DON'T YOU?" Dusk didn't know what was more astonishing, the speed at which she could talk or the fact that she could say that in a single breath. Not knowing what else to do he simply nodded in agreement, the sudden volume hit him almost as hard as when he first met Twilight at the library... almost.
"Well, know that introductions are out of the way, any questions?"
"I have one," Rarity stated.
"Go right ahead."
"Do you have any plans tonight?"
"Beg pardon?"
"Are you planning on doing anything tonight?"
"Why do you ask?"
"Well, I know this little cafe down the road we could go to." Is she asking to go on a date with me? He glanced at Fluttershy, with a look that screamed 'help'. Her mouth gaped open in shock, she was just as, if not more, speechless than Dusk was. He wasn't getting any help from her at that moment.
"Geez, Rarity, even I have more class than to try that." Rainbow Dash announced. To which, Rarity just held her head up and turned away.
"I'm going to have respectfully decline, Ms. Rarity."
"Oh, have your eye on someone else?"
"Why would you say that?"
"Oh, no reason. Anyway, I must get back to my Boutique. Good day, to you Dusk." She left, and Fluttershy snapped out of her shock.
"What just happened?" She asked.
"Rarity just asked Dusk out, then left." Rainbow explained
"That's what I thought."
"Can I ask a question now?" Dash asked, impatiently.
"Are you going to ask me out?"
"You wish."
"Then go right ahead."
"Those bandages, why are they there?"
"On my way here from the Everfree, I ran into a pack of timber wolves. Things got a little out of hand."
"Whoa, you took on a pack of timber wolves and they got one swipe on you?"
"That's what happened."
"Maybe I should have asked you out."
"Dash, please tell me your kidding." Fluttershy pleaded.
"Yeah Flutters, I'm kidding." This elicited a sigh a relief from the pegasus.
Every pony turned to Pinkie Pie as she had been silent this entire time. She must have been thinking long and hard about what she wanted to ask him, finally she broke the silence, "Do you like parties?" The question was one of the simplest he had ever heard, but Dusk kept those comments internal, but then he realized something.
"I don't know, I haven't been to a party in a number of years, even before I moved to the Everfree Forest," He answered plainly. Pinkie Pie had a look of both complete disgust and disbelief the idea of some pony not being to a party in that long was too much to bear.
"WELL WE HAVE TO FIX THAT! WE'LL THROW YOU THE BIGGEST, BADDEST PARTY THIS SIDE OF EQUESTRIA!" Pinkie Pie announced. "THERE WILL BE CAKE, GAMES, PUNCH-." The description was halted when Fluttershy covered Pinkie's mouth with her forehoof, the idea of such a party gave Dusk an unsettling feeling.
"Um, Pinkie, I don't think that's a very good idea." Fluttershy pointed out.
"Why not?"
"Well, he doesn't like parties." The yellow pegasus explained.
"But that's because he never went to a Pinkie party!"
"Pinkie, look, if I promise to try one of your parties, will you let me pick when?" Dusk saw it as the only option.
"Promise?"
"Promise."
"Pinkie Promise?
"Pinkie Promise? What's a Pinkie Promise?"
"Cross my heart and hope to fly,
Stick a cupcake in my eye."
She drew a cross over her heart and covered her eye to illustrate.
"I Pinkie Promise.
Cross my heart and hope to fly,
Stick a cupcake in my eye." He followed the motions that she demonstrated.
Pinkie nodded, this gave Dusk a sweet relief, he didn't like parties when he was a foal, he doubted that would have changed at all. "Well, if that's all the questions I will take my leave," he announced. "I could really go for a nap right now."
"Music to my ears. Later Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Dusk." Dash pushed through the door before Dusk even reached it.
With that he gave a bow and took his leave, he had so much to think about but his lack of sleep had started to take it's toll. He staggered into his room at the inn, laid down on the bed and fell asleep before his head made contact with his pillow.