Twilight and I stepped off out of the beast. The second trip back hadn’t been as bad as the first but I was still gripped fairly tightly by Twilight as we rode on. I was excited by my new bag of weapons and armor and I wanted to get back to Twilight’s home to begin shining and sharpening.
The smiths had been able to provide me with the weapons I needed and a pair of vambraces and armored boots, but they had to special make a cuirass, leather gauntlets to go under my vambraces and some armored breeches. All in all it was a good day. I would have taken out my new axe and played with it some but I needed a second hand for that. What I was really interested in was where they had managed to produce a claymore from and how they were able to hold and use weapons at all without thumbs.
The sun had set and the moon had come out shining brightly. Usually on a night like this I would sit by the fire with my son and tell him tales of the gods and boast with my comrades. I remembered the taste of mead and licked my lips. I would have to make some while I was here.
Finally we had arrived at Twilight’s home. I walked over to my cushion and slid beneath the blankets. Today had been an interesting day. I had been swallowed by a demon machine, been ordered to protect an annoying purple horse and given a new set of armor and weapons, what a day indeed.
The days would always start the same. Twilight would wake me up for a lesson of some sort. After a month I had the alphabet down and was starting to say a few words. I could communicate barely with Twilight. In that time all of her friends came about. I found the orange one who had kicked me was named Applejack, the blue one with the rainbow mane was named Rainbow Dash, the odd shade of red on was Pinkie Pie, she was the loudest of them all and it took me some time to get used to her. I remembered Rarity who was obviously the best behaved of them all. But the one that perplexed me the most was the yellow horse with wings whose name was Fluttershy.
She fit her namesake, obviously, but I was curious as to her blatant fear of everything. It had taken her a few weeks just to warm up enough to greet me. I had no idea I was that terrifying to a race of talking horses, that can fly and use magic the way they do, but I didn’t question it too much. Eventually Fluttershy was coming over every day to spend time with me which was nice considering she was the easiest to be around.
My arm was miraculously growing at an unprecedented pace. At the end of the first month I had at least two new inches of arm. Twilight thought that after another month I’d have an elbow stump. I was excited at the prospect of getting my hand back.
After the second month I could speak well enough to Twilight and her friends. I found it hardest to speak with the dragon however. I learned his name was Spike and that he was utterly terrified by me. I felt this appropriate as I was somewhat afraid of him considering the stories I had learned as a child. The only thing worse than the apparently hordes of dragons that lived in this land would have to be an ice giant, but Twilight had assured me that giants did not exist here.
Soon autumn came up. I asked Applejack where I might procure barley and other plants I needed to brew my mead. She had scratched her head.
“Now what in the hay do ya need that fer?” she had asked in her odd accent. I had patted her on the head with my stump which I found to be entertaining.
“I’m making something special from my home and I need to make a lot of it.” I had told her. The orange work horse had helped me procure all of the things I needed for making my mead.
The process took me a few days but soon enough I had several gallons of delicious golden mead in a massive barrel ready for the holidays that were sure to come. I was excited for the harvest feast and of course dressing up on new years and the burning of the log at the Yule.
I really wished to try out my mead as I had not made much in the past. I invited Twilight and all of her friends over to try it out.
I served out goblets to all six of them and raised my own in toast.
“To the gods.” I said ceremoniously. The rest looked at each other confusedly and then repeated after me and they all took a drink. Rarity spit hers out immediately. Applejack swallowed and stuck out her tongue. Rainbow cringed and Pinkie danced a little with the mead still in her cheeks. Twilight finished her full goblet with a smirk.
“More please.” She said handing me her goblet. I filled hers and mine again and we each drank deeply. I noticed Fluttershy hadn’t even taken a sip. I knew that mead wasn’t the easiest thing to drink at times but I had made it just how my father had taught me and it tasted just like his.
“What’s wrong?” I asked the yellow mare as in the background Rarity began to wretch, Rainbow had already flown off and Applejack had politely set her goblet down. Twilight was into her fourth goblet already and was beginning to slur. Pinkie had finished her first one but was determined to not be outdone by Twilight and began chugging goblet after goblet.
“It smells funny.” Fluttershy said, I smirked.
“It’s an acquired taste, just try it, if you don’t like it don’t worry.” I assured her. I put my stump on her back and she tensed up immediately. Why I found using my stump to make the girls feel uncomfortable I had no idea as I was not one for humor. The mare took a tiny sip. I could see her face contort just a bit at the taste.
“Ooh.” She said and drained the rest of the goblet in one go. She handed it back to me with a smile on her face. I smiled back and took her goblet in my hand. I went back to the barrel and filled both goblets and handed Fluttershy’s back to her.
At this point Pinkie and Twilight had been going at it pretty hard and had obviously never had anything like this before as they were both on the floor holding each other.
“I, I love you Twilight.” Pinkie said.
“No man,” Twilight answered. “I love you Pinkie, you’re like my bessht friend and you throw the besssht partiessh.” Pinkie waved Twilight off.
“You’re jussht ssshayin’ that.” Twilight pulled Pinkie closer.
“No, n-no, I mean it Pinkie, with my soul.” I set my goblet down and scooped Twilight up.
“Looks like you had too much.” I said.
“Hey, wait put me down you made the room spin Ol!” Twilight cursed and struggled weakly. I moved up the stairs and set Twilight in her bed. She curled up into a ball and immediately began to snore. I chuckled. These girls had no tolerance.
I went back downstairs to see Pinkie still lying on the floor. Rarity had gone and Fluttershy and Applejack were standing over the pink horse with concern.
“Is she okay?” Fluttershy asked. I waved her off.
“She’ll be fine she just had too much to drink way too fast.” Pinkie rolled over and looked at me. Her eyes were glassy and she had a faraway smile plastered on her face.
“That stuff needs to be at every party.” She said with a hiccup. I smiled.
“That good huh?” I looked at Applejack. “Could you make sure she gets home?” Applejack nodded.
“Yeah, I’ll get her there. Come on Fluttershy.”
The two scooped their friend up between them and walked out the front door.
“Wait.” Commanded Pinkie, I cringed, knowing what was coming. Pinkie dived out of her friend’s grasp and dashed out the door and turned. I could hear her vomiting onto the bushes.
“Oh Pinkie!” exclaimed Fluttershy. I laughed, it reminded me of the first time I had had too much mead.
The three horses left and I closed the door. I went and sealed the mead barrel and managed to move it over with the three others waiting to be cracked in the future.
Time went on and eventually the rest of my armor arrived from the palace. Twilight help me put it on. My forearm was still too shriveled to wear the vambrace around it yet so I had to make due.
The armor fit like a dream. I could still move fluidly and deadly. I strapped the claymore across my back and put both my axes in my belt.
“Now all I need is a horn and I’ll be set.” I said. Twilight cocked her head.
“What do you mean?” she asked.
“Well,” I began. “In my land some of us would carry war horns for sounding before battle or if something important was happening.” I explained.
Twilight nodded. She frowned and put a hoof to her chin in thought. She raised her hoof in delight and dashed away up the stairs.
I could hear her clamoring about and an indignant Spike protesting about something. I heard a cry of triumph and Twilight made her way back down the stairs bearing a massive horn.
I took the beautiful thing with my hand and examined it. It was about two feet long and white as a pearl. The ends were coated in sliver and intricately carved to show pictures of horse battling each other. I pressed the end against my lips and blew one long loud note. It sounded beautiful. Twilight had clapped her hooves over her ears and looked at me angrily.
“Don’t ever play that in the house again.” She commanded. Spike stuck his head over the edge of the stairs.
“What in the name of Celestia is going on down there?” he asked. I held up the horn.
“Just testing out my new horn.” Spike snorted and fire came out of his nostrils.
“Well keep it down, I’m trying to sleep.” I ignored the little dragon.
“Thank you Twilight.” I said. Twilight nodded.
“Anything for a friend.” She said politely. I frowned and my brow furrowed.
“I’m your friend?” I asked her.
“Well, yeah, what else would you be?” she asked.
“Your prisoner, bodyguard, I did not expect to be your friend.” Then I paused and looked back at the last few months I had spent in this strange land.
I did not miss my family anymore and my arm was truly growing back. I had been happy these last few months like I had never known before. I looked down at my stump. It was pink and itched madly most of the time but it was still coming back. And then I thought about all the differences between me and these horses. The biggest challenge had been learning to speak like they did with their funny runes and I had done it, no one else I knew spoke another language. I had also tried my best to adapt to a vegetarian lifestyle. I had found that one rather difficult as I enjoyed meat quite a bit.
But in the past few months I had grown used to these horses and their odd ways and maybe they were becoming my friends.
After six months snow began to fall over the land. I would wake every morning before sunrise and train in my armor. It mainly meant just axe swings while wearing the heavy plate, but it was good exercise and I had begun to gain weight somehow in the short time I had been there. My arm had grown past my elbow joint and to about midway through my forearm, soon enough I would have a wrist and fingers again.
Twilight would always wake up as I finished the end portion of my training regimen which was one handed swings with the claymore. At first that had been the hardest but soon enough I was able to use the massive sword with one hand as deftly as if it had been a simple long sword.
I removed my armor and sat on my bed. I removed a bucket of rags and from underneath and began to polish and clean my armor as. That had also been a difficult task with one arm but my stump could be made useful. Twilight came down the stairs yawning.
“Good morning.” She said.
“Good morning.” I replied not looking up from my work. Twilight headed into her small kitchen to get some breakfast for the two of us. She came out with a tray of wheat toast, tea and fruit. She set the tray down on my bed and sat next to me.
“Today is Hearth’s Warming Eve.” She said. I raise an eyebrow at her.
“What is that?” I asked her.
“It’s a holiday where we celebrate friendship and being together.” She said. “We have it on the solstice.” I stopped and looked at her.
“The solstice is tonight?”
“Yes, it’s one of my favorite nights.” She said. I smiled.
“In my home we have a celebration on the solstice as well.” She cocked her head curiously.
“What’s that?” she asked. I went back to cleaning as I spoke.
“It’s called Yule. We all would gather in the hall and celebrate the coming of winter. We would usually have a massive tree cut down and we’d burn it and dance and drink until the flames went out.” Twilight nodded.
“Sounds fun.” I nodded. She ate as I cleaned in silence. I would take my breakfast after my work was done.
“I was wondering Twilight,” I began. She perked up. “If maybe you would like to help me celebrate my way. I mean we could have the others over, you and Pinkie could get really drunk again and we could sing the night away.” I had stopped cleaning and looked at Twilight.
Twilight thought about it as she chewed her toast.
“We could do that, but I don’t want it getting too crazy.” She stated obviously remembering the Nightmare Night party that had gone on here. I laughed.
“Then maybe you shouldn’t have so much mead.” She blushed.
“I don’t drink that much.” I scoffed.
“I’d have half of a barrel more if you and Pinkie weren’t determined to drown yourselves every time I open the things.” Twilight laughed.
“You forget Fluttershy, she isn’t exactly shy about getting into that stuff.” I chuckled.
“She’s not, but she doesn’t turn it into a competition like you and Pinkie do, the whole reason Nightmare Night got out of hand is because Pinkie was so far gone that she tried to pry off and use Rainbow’s wings remember? Oh yeah, you don’t.” I said looking at Twilight. She blushed even more.
“Well I think it’d be a great idea to celebrate your way, how do we start?” she asked. I smiled.
“We need a tree.”
The tree was massive, almost too big to fit into the house. I looked to Twilight.
“This tree is wonderful and all, but how do expect us to burn it?” Twilight smiled.
“Come with me.” She said. Together we went into her basement. I had never been in her basement before.
The room was large and nearly empty. There was a massive amount of metal plates that were just lying about like useless junk.
Twilight elevated the plates and began to move them up to the main floor. After she had moved all of the plates we went back upstairs where she began to arrange them into a massive trough big enough to fit the tree.
“This’ll do.” I said nodding in approval.
“You haven’t seen anything yet.” Twilight said. Her horn began to grow brightly. The metal began to light up and shift. There was an intense amount of heat and a bright flash. I covered my eyes. When I lowered my hand the metal had all fused together into one solid piece. My jaw dropped.
“Amazing,” I said “simply amazing.”
“Now let’s get that tree in here.” Twilight lifted the massive thing into the trough. I had taken the time already to remove all of the branches and leaves so all that was left was one massive log.
Twilight set the log down gently in the trough
.
“When do we start the fire she asked.” I smiled.
“Right now.” I called for Spike. The little dragon came down the stairs.
“Yeah?”
“Come here Spike.” I said. The dragon was cautious as usual. No matter how much time we spent together neither of us would ever be truly at ease around each other but I needed him for this.
“I need you to light this tree on fire.” I said plainly. Spike raised a scaly eyebrow at Twilight. The purple horse nodded. The dragon shrugged and exhaled flames onto the wood. The tree caught light and slowly began to burn. Twilight looked worried.
“How long is this going to last?” she asked.
“Don’t worry,” I assured her. “We’ve got a least a good day out of this thing. Now come on we need to get ready.” We both set about preparing for the small party we were going to have. I moved the casks of mead out and managed to get them onto a low table and I set out a series of mugs. In consideration of our guests who were not fans of my mead I found some juice mix that Twilight had sequestered away and made as much of it as I could.
Twilight left to go out shopping for food. I had Spike help me setup a long table and put out plates. I went into the kitchen and had the dragon help me begin baking bread.
“Are you seriously going to start baking now?” he asked. I laughed at him.
“It’ll be done by the time the others get here.” I told him. He shrugged and began mixing. I prepared several loaves and placed them in the oven. That was one contraption that I would never trust truly. It could heat up to temperatures that were insanely hot and didn’t use fire, I didn’t like it, but it got the job done.
Soon Twilight had returned and began preparing fruit and vegetable salads. She had brought several cakes with her of various flavors.
“When will the girls get here?” I asked her. I had changed into my nicest set of clothes for the evening and I was overjoyed that they were going to celebrate with me.
“In about twenty minutes.” I looked out the window. The sun was beginning to set and the light played off the snow beautifully. I sighed as I thought of home. Would it be the same time there? I wondered about my wife and if she had been scooped up by one of my friends. It wouldn’t have surprised me if she had, that son of mine needed another man in his life teaching him the ways of things. I felt a twinge in my heart. That man should be me. I pushed the dark thoughts from my mind, tonight was going to be fun.
I turned from the window to see Twilight smiling as she set the food out for tonight’s celebration.
“Everything is set. I think I’ll have a little drink before things get going.” She said innocently making her way over to the casks of mead and getting herself a nice big goblet. I shook my head at Twilight. That pony would never learn. Soon enough Pinkie showed up with Applejack.
“Hey Twi, hey Ol!” she said excitedly throwing her arms around both of us in quick succession.
“Hi Pinkie.” I said happily and handed her a cup filled to the brim with mead. She took it and had a tiny sip. She smiled widely and took another small sip.
“My new favorite drink!” she proclaimed. I laughed and sat down at the table closest to the burning tree. Applejack pointed at it confused.
“Uh, Twilight?” she asked.
“Yes?” Twilight replied.
“Why is there a big burning tree in the middle of your house?” I answered.
“This year we’re going to celebrate my way. We don’t have hearts warming eve where I am from, but we have the Yule, this is one of our traditions.” Applejack nodded understandingly.
“Oh I see.” She commented. I nodded back.
“Help yourself to something to drink.” I told her.
“Don’t mind if I do.” She sauntered over to the juice and poured herself a cup and came to sit next to me and enjoy the blaze.
After another few minutes Rarity, Rainbow and Fluttershy arrived. I smiled happily as Fluttershy came and sat on the other side of me. I smiled at her and she blushed back at me. I stood up and poured her a drink and brought it back to her.
“Thank you.” She mumbled into her drink. It felt odd that she was acting so shy towards me. I thought we had overcome her general nervousness around me, I shrugged my shoulders to myself and drained my drink.
Everyone seated themselves and Twilight began to serve the food. I stood holding my mead.
“Now since this year we will be doing things my way we’re going to do a little ritual.” I held up my mug.
“Usually we use a horn but the only I have is for sounding. Now I’m going to toast the gods and send the horn around and you all will make a toast to your gods or god and take a drink or small sip. Then I’m going to toast the ancestors and you will all take a sip again and make a toast yourselves and lastly I’m going to send the mug around one more time but you may toast as you please.” They all nodded in agreement and understanding. I took a deep breath.
“To the gods of my home, may they find me here and take me to where I belong when I pass from this mortal shell.” I drank from my mug and handed it to my right where Fluttershy was sitting. The yellow pegasus stood.
“Uh, I guess hail Celestia.” She took a sip and passed it on to Applejack.
“Hail Celestia!” Applejack said. The other’s toasts sounded much the same as they passed the mug around. Rarity hesitated obviously unwilling to drink something we all had drank out of but complied and took a small sip. I took the mug back.
“Hail my father and his father as they sit on high with the gods, may their spirits join us on this day.” I took a drink and passed it.
The girls were a bit confused on what to say so they all ended up toasting their parents or some distant relative. I took the mug.
“Hail my new friends. I thank you for taking me into your lives and making my own life here enjoyable.” I sighed and drank. I passed the drink.
“Thank you my friends for helping me as well and thank you Ol for coming here and making my life more enjoyable as well.” Fluttershy said as she smiled at me and drank.
“I would like to toast you guys as well for giving me such wonderful friendship.” Applejack said. I could see how these were going to go, but what Fluttershy had said stuck in me. Why would she single me out like that? I pushed the thought from my mind as the mug came back to me. There was a little left at the bottom. I drained the dregs and looked down at my friends. I smiled.
“Let’s eat.”
The food was excellent even it was only fruit and vegetables. Together we ate and told stories. I challenged Rainbow to a brag. Everyone cleared the tables and we sat near each other. I explained how it worked. She was to go first and tell a story of some feat she had accomplished if I could not best her story I would drink but if I could she would drink and I would then tell the first story. We began.
She started with some story of how she had flown through a massive and dangerous gorge without getting a scratch. She used incredible detail to tell about the creatures that dwelled within. Some were massive and scaly and could gobble a pony up in one bite while others were tiny and stuck in the fur and went without notice until you fell and died from loss of blood or infection they brought. I nodded but I had a better one.
I told them of the time I had scaled the dangerous mountain north of my home. It had been in the middle of winter and we were on a raid when we were ambushed by a much larger force of enemies. I had had to fight my way free of enemies, claiming six kills at least, and I had to scale the mountain to find refuge from a coming storm. I climbed and climbed as the sun went down and eventually found a cave. I moved into it and started a small fire and began to wait out the night. Little did I know that the cave was home to a massive bear. I had to battle with the bear and ended up killing it with my axe. I took the night to skin the thing and ate some of the meat. I came back to the village the only one alive and with a new pelt to boot. By the time I had finished the story all of the ponies had their mouths agape.
“Did you really do that?” Rainbow asked me. I nodded. She drained her whole mug in one go.
“I quit.” She said.
“Oh come on.” I urged.
“No, if that’s the lamest story you have then you already outdo all of mine.” She said. Twilight put a hoof on her shoulder.
“What about the time you kicked that dragon?” she said.
“That’s Fluttershy’s story though, not mine.” I raised an eyebrow.
“Dragon?” I asked looking to Fluttershy.
“Oh it’s nothing.” She said lowering her head bashfully. Twilight stepped forward.
“Oh don’t be so humble Fluttershy,” Twilight looked at me. “Fluttershy told off a dragon who was causing a massive smoke cloud to cover Equestria and would’ve blacked out the land for a hundred years.” I looked at the yellow pegasus.
“Really?” I leaned back and drained my mead. “Looks like you win that round then.” Fluttershy blushed even more.
“I-I don’t have any other stories though. Twilight what about the time you charged the Hydra?” Twilight shook her head with a smile.
“Oh that’s not that impressive.” She said meekly.
“Hydra?” I asked her. Twilight nodded and told me.
I was aware of Pinkie’s odd ability to be able to predict small things coming with her body and to be honest it scared me, but this was something unheard of. Apparently she had been able to tell that something terrible was going to happen at some bog not too far from here. Fluttershy had been taking some frogs to live in a new home and there she was ambushed by a hydra which was some sort of wyrm with multiple heads that could grow back if cut off, I had scoffed at that, but Twilight went on. Apparently they had run from the hydra and while they were trying to escape over a gorge Twilight had charged the thing to buy time for her friends. I poured myself another drink and drained it.
“Wow, incredible.” I told her. She smiled.
That night they told me many stories that had yet to come up. There was a group of hounds that dug underneath the earth and had abducted Rarity. Rarity then proceeded to annoy the creatures to the point where they, almost literally, rolled over and gave up. Not to take away from the other’s efforts, especially Spike’s who managed to get them to Rarity where they charged in heedless of their own well being. I had never known any such loyalty amongst my own people.
I was astounded to hear of their exploits and journeys. They told me of the battle at Appaloosa. They told me of Nightmare Moon and how they stopped her by using the ‘Elements of Harmony’ which were magical necklaces that enhanced their personalities to the point as to become incredibly powerful magical weapons capable of defeating even the most powerful opponents.
My jaw had dropped by this time and I had drained at least six mugs of mead and my head was buzzing.
“You all win.” I stated. The girls all laughed aloud. Pinkie was already beginning to slump over and Twilight had sat down to keep from falling over. Fluttershy herself was on her fourth mug. Rarity, Rainbow and Applejack looked at us and laughed amongst themselves at our drunkenness. Twilight stood up on wobbly legs.
“Let’s put on some music.” I chuckled to myself. I had learned long ago that no matter how much drink I had had I was never going to be a famous dancer or singer but these ponies had yet to learn such lessons. I positioned myself with my back to the table so I could watch the fun.
Pinkie’s head shot up and she dashed out onto the clear space next to the fire and began to shake and roll herself about like she was ablaze. Twilight began to kick her forelegs about and twirl. I knew who would be vomiting first out of all of us. Flutteshy stood but instead of moving to the impromptu dance floor seated herself closer to me.
I took a massive pull on my mug and belched aloud.
“Oh,” Fluttershy covered her mouth. “Excuse you Ol.” She scolded. I chuckled.
“Yes, excuse me.” I said slurring a bit. Twilight had started to teach me things called ‘manners’. Apparently I was supposed to behave in odd ways like when belching I was supposed to say ‘excuse me’ or if someone sneezed I was supposed to say ‘bless you’. It was all somewhat overwhelming but I did my best.
I sat there next to Fluttershy watching our friends make utter fools of themselves. The night couldn’t have gone better. The food was good, the drink flowed like a river and I was sharing then night with, what I hoped, were my friends.
Fluttershy scooted herself closer and closer to me as the night went on and I drank more and more. On the dance floor the girls all began dancing together and playing dancing games. They would beckon to me and I would casually wave them off saying things about how I could not dance, I had one hand, and that I had to take my drink with me from here on out. They would all laugh and dance away.
I drained my twelfth mug and I felt solidly drunk. Fluttershy set her head on my chest.
“Ol?” she asked me.
“Yes Fluttershy?” I replied.
“Do you miss your wife?” I should have been thrown off by the question, but I was impaired.
“I did.” I began. “But being here, with all of you has made it easier for me to get over my loss somehow. I’ve known men who have lost their wives and could not bear it. Some head off into the woods to find a bear or fell on their spears, but those were extreme cases. Sometimes though,” I stared into the flames remembering my wife. She had been beautiful and sturdy, a good combination wrapped up with just the right amount of tenacity. I had met her when I was barely fifteen summers past and she thirteen. We had made love under an old oak tree in the middle of a summer day. I had claimed her maidenhead and she promised to let no other man into her bed.
After a few months I had staked out a plot of land for myself and began to farm. After a few months I had had a small crop planted and a horse and a cow. I went to her and asked for her hand. We were wed within a month and within six months she was heavy with child. My son was thirteen when I had been taken, almost a man.
“I do think about her.” I finished my thought. Fluttershy picked up her head and pecked me on the cheek. I looked at her.
“What was that for?” I asked, somewhat curious and reviled. She was still a horse. She moved a little closer.
“Kiss me.” She said. I slid away from her.
“No.” I stated. I could feel adrenaline shoot into my system. Fluttershy gasped a little and a small tear came to her eye.
“Why not?” she quietly sobbed, I checked the dance floor. All the others were occupied with Twilight who had begun to vomit violently onto the floor and was rolling around in her own sick, out of her mind with drunkenness.
“Because you are a pony and I am a man it does not work.” I told her. She pointed to Rarity.
“But Spike likes Rarity and he’s a dragon and she’s a pony.” She squealed.
“I am not a dragon and even if I was I have no feelings for you in such manner.” I told her as I set down my mug and stood. She stood as well. There were tears in her eyes as she took off from the table. I watched her go silently as she ran by her friends and out the door. I heard the wood slam and felt no sympathy, what she had wanted was not natural. I was here alone and that was the way it was going to stay.
I wobbled a bit on my feet. The other five looked at me and Applejack spoke.
“What’s with her?” Applejack asked. I shook my head and shrugged.