//------------------------------// // Day Off // Story: An Extended Holiday // by Commander_Pensword //------------------------------// Extended Holiday Chp 14: Day Off Act 2 Matthew slowly woke up and looked around the grey lighted room as the blinds were closed. They had always kept the blinds closed, in fact Me-Me with Berry Punch’s permission had used some of her Changeling goo to seal the curtains shut to keep any accidental drop openings from happening, still he rolled over and pulled out a sheet of paper and made a note. “Twenty sixth of November.” he muttered as he stretched and he smiled as he felt a few joints pop in his back and toes. “Well another day,” he got up and blinked as he opened the bathroom door only to find hanging up on the back of the door was a new suit. “To replace your old one.” He muttered as he read a note, there was a fancy purple R at the bottom of the note. “Well, that is nice, I like my dress uniform more than the jungles.” He closed the bathroom door to get ready for the day. The noise woke up Mutatio and Me-Me who had taken to sleeping under Matthew’s bed, and Moonshade muttered but did not wake up. He pulled off the shirt that he had been wearing as a sleep shirt and stiffly moved his right shoulder and looked into the mirror. A think long scare with dots running along the length was there running under the collar bone. He grimaced as he looked over his chest in the mirror, down the front from roughly the soft part in the front of the neck down the sternum and ending midway between the end of the sternum and belly button was a long scare with other dots, and halfway down the scare on the left was another think scare with dots along the length of the said scar. Around the belly and other regions were scars that he could remember tubes sticking out of. He sighed and turned around turning on the hot water and went to do his morning hygiene. The shower was quick and soon, Matthew was finishing up looking into the mirror in the bathroom and straightening the uniform and noticed that the buttons were shined to almost glow. He smiled and opened the door and walked into the main living area only to pause and blink. There was no pony in the room, nor his friends he was the only one in the room and he suddenly felt very small and alone, he quickly turned to his bed and looked under the bed but it was empty, not even Mutatio or Me-Me were in the room. “Uh…” he turned around quickly and gathered up his weapons before moving to the door. He opened the door and looked both ways to encounter an empty floor and no noises. He shivered as his mind took him to a place he did not want to go, a Zombie survival game. He quickly moved to the stairs keeping his ears listening and his eyes scanning he did not encounter anypony nor anything when he reached the top of the stairs, he looked up the flight leading to a landing before doubling back to reach the third floor he gulped and decided to take the stairs quickly but silently and found himself on the landing. He moved to looked down a little but found nothing but a dark first floor, he paused shouldn’t the place be open for breakfast he wondered? He slowly walked down even more worried, what if there had been a changeling attack and he was the last one not captured. He slowly made it to the floor and slowly moved his head around looking and observing his surroundings. Matthew blinked and slowly moved to the counter and blinked as he noticed a scroll with his name on a tag that had been tied to the scroll by a ribbon. Said ribbon also held the scroll shut. He smiled a little as he saw that his name had been written with a flourish that would have made some of his friends be in awe at the style. He smiled as he thought that as he untied the ribbon and then unrolled the scroll to read it. ‘congratulations you have been given this coupon for a free cake, simply present this at Sugar Cube Corner to claim it.’ Matthew blinked and shrugged a little. “Well, why not.” he muttered as he looked around. “Nothing happening here.” he turned smartly and still holding the scroll while pocketing the ribbon and tag into his pants pocket. He had left his wallet and keys to a building he could never access again in the trunk of coins. He did have a small amount of bits in his pocket and three large coins from three points in his life. His Challenge coins. He walked out of the Tavern and looked at the clock on the outside of the Tavern. “Eight Am.” he muttered as he heard the school bell chime on the wind. “School’s starting.” he said to himself and started to walk to Sugar Cube Corner before deciding to go the back allies, as he needed to avoid a mint colored pony, he saw the lyre on her flank and thankfully she did not see him as he ducked back out of sight. He found himself after many twists, turns and a few startled alley cats at what was actually the back door of Sugar Cube Corner, he was now going to try and find a way around it that did not take him too close to the main street. He was not going to be mobbed by Lyra, not today at least. Matthew blinked as he looked around and sighed. He moved up and knocked on the back door. He just hoped that they wouldn’t mind him coming in this way. “Please let Lyra not see me.” He whispered to himself. The back door opened revealing a familiar pink face. “Oh Mattie why are you coming in the back silly?” “To avoid one Miss Lyra who I am not yet ready to meet just yet. If anything is like what I heard, from the banging on the door and her yelling Hands. I would rather take the long back way around so as to arrive here to receive the promotional cake.” he replied as he presented the scroll to Pinkie. “It would appear I am the last of my friends to get their coupon and I don’t want it taking up space when you have treats to sell.” “Ok!” Pinkie smiled “We just need you to come inside.” she said grabbing his arm with a hoof, the physics of which still puzzled him, and yanked him inside the bakery, where the lights where off. Matthew blinked and widened his eyes as he mentally knew what was coming, too much tv and reading had prepared him for this yet, for him to be at the receiving end, was, he was still surprised when it happened. inside his head he was getting a little hyped about what was going on. This was exciting in his mind. “Surprise!” Yelled the countless amount of ponies as the lights flashed on. Matthew looked surprised, mainly at the number of ponies in the room and how did they hide so well? he wondered but hearing those words, spoken to him just made him happy. He blinked as in the moment that the lights flashed on, a banner also appeared. “Happy Belated Birthday.” “Were you surprised?” Pinkie asked looking in his face hanging from somewhere. “Yes. Yes. Just please, stop defying gravity, can you please not defy Gravity for my party? Please?” he asked with a slight whine as he was trying to compute her hanging upside down. Pinkey did so if reluctantly. “When your friends told me you missed your birthday I just couldn’t believe it I was flabbergasted!” Matthew only smiled a little. “Thank you, You can be as random and gravity defying as you want tomorrow but, thank you for not… hanging from the ceiling.” He knew that she would most likely still show up randomly without warning but those, he could still handle, if barely now. “Also, I would say that it is a forgivable offense on forgetting. After all we did have the changeling invasion happening, things like this, can be celebrated after the fact, as part of a breathing out in that the events and stressful times are behind us at the moment.” The party began at that ponies dispersing to the food the music or other ponies to talk. “Pinkie do ok?” Taze asked approaching Matthew from the side. Matthew nodded his head as he watched the party a little and smile and thank the wishes from the ponies at the party. “Yeah, she did great, never, it makes me feel young at a party like this. I feel like a kid almost.” He sighed and shook his head. “Or rather the kid I never was.” He had a faint smile. “I always was sick for my parties I planned.” He smiled as he found a stool to sit on. “Just need to figure out what to do or go play first.” “Whelp it’s your party.” Taze said. “Tried to work in some more familiar music not sure if it worked yet.” he whispered. Matthew blinked and looked at his friend. “Oh?” he whispered back. “Like what?” he did smile and allowed Pinkie and Rainbow to drag him off towards the Pin the tail on the pony. “Heh, never played this at home, so, why not try it.” he muttered but Taze, Pinkie and Rainbow Dash all heard him. Still it felt nice to be, He liked the feeling of friends or at least folks coming out to visit and celebrate. He just smiled and nodded his head. As they made their way towards the playmat Matthew noticed a few ponies with instruments in the corner. On some unseen signal they began to play a very familiar tune. Matthew paused and looked at the group. “How in the world did you teach them to play Sing Sing Sing?” he asked in amazement. “A little friend of mine with an ear for music, you may know her as DJ Pon3.” Taze winked waving across the room to a familiar pony in shades. Matthew smiled and shook his head. “Wow, getting her to learn about the Big Band era… now that was music.” he muttered as he saw a few looks. Matthew only smiled and shrugged at those looking at him. “I’m old fashioned.” he replied and yet he couldn’t respond any more as Rainbow dash flew up and snapped a bandana around his eyes and she was the one to spin him around before releasing him as Ponies around him tried to direct him all over the place. All the while Sing Sing Sing played in the background until he found and felt a wall and with a small smile and some moving about he placed the tail to where he thought it would go. There were a few cheers and a few laughed as he walked backwards a little off balance to see just where he ended up. When the blindfold was removed, he was standing in front of Moonshade who was currently wearing the tail on her nose in a rather shocked expression. Matthew just stood still as he just looked at Moonshade and didn’t even stammer or anything just staring and then turned around as the entire room finally broke out laughing in full force. “Okay, who decided to do this?” She finally smiled and giggled a little. “Wrong place human.” She whispered and moved the tail and gently put it on his own nose with a bop as another song started up from the band, something that actually would have intrigued Vinyl. Matthew could only smiled a little. “Dancing on the Ceiling.” Once more he was just amazed at how his friend had gotten some of these ponies to learn such music so quickly. He smiled a little and moved to a small area of where a few ponies were dancing, and within moments of the chorus being belted out, the Pegasus took to literally dancing on the ceiling of Sugar Cube Corner. Matthew just looked up at what he was seeing and only chuckled lightly at what he was seeing. “Now… those would be some fun pranks to pull back home.” “So when the end of the month comes and it’s time to pay the players, Who gets the check?” Taze asked Shawn, the two were currently performing the age old skit for  a crowd of laughing ponies. “Every bit of it.” Shawn replied in his calm collected tone of voice “All I’m trying to find out is the fellow's name on first base!” Taze said in an exasperated fashion. “Who.” Shawn replied. “The guy that gets…” Taze replied and Shawn quickly interrupted him with the reply. “That’s it.” “Who gets the money?!” Taze asked waving his hands to emphasize the point. “He does, every bit. Sometimes his wife comes down and collects it.” Shawn explained. “Who’s wife?” Taze asked throwing his hands up. “Yes.” Matthew could only smile as he sat down from some dancing and the musicians were taking a break so he was enjoying the comedy, and frankly he did not mean to, but he was almost laughing and snorting a little to try and keep quiet as the two performed from memory the entire skit. Moonshade was sitting as well until the moment of Whose wife was mentioned and she laughed as she finally got it. She finally got the events of the skit and was soon joining the other ponies laughing along with everyone, it helped that Shawn and Taze were moving and being animated about the skit as well. The rest of the skit slowly blurred together as more and more ponies were slowly getting it. “He’s our shortstop.” Shawn finished. The assembled ponies howled with laughter mixing from attempts at polite giggling like Rarity to ponies being unable to breath from laughing so hard like Rainbow Dash, however one pony sat confused. Twilight raised a hoof slowly. “Who’s on first?” she asked. “Exactly.” Shawn said, giving a slight point to add emphasis. it was important to note later that night sounds of laughter echoed from the library well into the night. However at the here and now. A few ponies were concerned and looked at Matthew as he leaned against the wall as he literally was gasping for air as he laughed at the skit. Moonshade looked over at Taze and Shawn with worry and fear. “What happened? How many times has he heard that?” Shawn actually looked sheepish. “Actually, it was Matt who taught Taze and I the skit verbatim.” Moonshade looked from the two humans to Matthew and looked shocked now. “That means…” “I know it line by line, word by word and it never gets old.” Matthew gasped out between his laughing fits. “It was originally penned by two of the greatest comedians to ever live.” Taze said. “In the golden age of comedy.” “Have you got any more?” Pinkie asked “Sadly none of us are really actors.” Taze said, ‘Well I guess we are acting right now but they don’t need to know that.’ “My years of acting are behind me my friends.” Shawn joked with an over dramatic gesture, his left hand on his chest and his right hand making a sweeping motion. He chuckled afterwards. “Of course, things shall come over time, perhaps more jokes from me and Taze here…” He laughed a little. “And now it’s time to blow out your candles!” Pinkie called out as she wheeled a trolley with a rather large cake on it. The cake was iced in a large round blue circle with red rings in it and a large white star in the center, notably resembling a certain shield. Matthew made an actual sound that almost sounded like a certain game character who spoke in yells. He sounded like Link to Shawn and Taze’s ears. “That… How? Who gave you? How?” he asked in awe. “That is beautiful.” “When Captain America throws his mighty shield, all those who oppose the shield will yield.” Taze mumbled just loud enough for Matthew to hear. “Figured it was a good design to give her.” Matthew smiled and nodded his head. “Thank you.” He whispered. “This was a good choice.” “Well silly blow out your candles.” Pinkie said “Yes.” A mysterious crimson earth pony mare said beside him. “There’s chocolate in that cake!” Matthew blinked and looked at the strange earth pony before looking back at the Cake. He took a deep breath and Blew out twenty nine candles. He was shocked that as the wind from his mouth snuffed out each candle that he had lived twenty nine and soon he realized thirty years, and here he was in another land and may not live to see his grand nephews. He clamped that area of thoughts off as he had to take another breath, and then a third to get all the candles out. He smiled weakly. “Well no wish come true, didn’t get them all at once.” He smiled. “But it was fun to blow out the candles. Pinkie offered Matthew a knife to cut the cake with. Matthew blinked and slowly began to cut the cake into square pieces so as to try and keep everyone happy and everypony getting a piece. He found that the pieces were placed onto plates and then Pinkie handed him the first piece. “Come on Silly, the Birthday prince gets first dibs on cake and eat the first bite.” Matthew shook his head. Birthday Prince, then again with a royal system like he saw, why not he thought to himself taking a fork and took the first bite and his eyes widened and lite up. “Woah… this is, this is some of the best cake I have tasted.” he replied after he swallowed his first bite, what he soon saw were the ponies starting to eat from the cake and Pinkie started to pour punch as well for the guest. Matthew moved over to his three friends. “Anyone else noticed over the past month that… the food here seems, better? Or lacking on some subtle understated flavor?” “No preservatives.” Shawn replied without missing a beat. “No chemical herbicides or pesticides, no preservatives no chemical substitutes.” Taze agreed. “What we have been eating these last few weeks has been one hundred percent pure food, and any drug addict will tell you things are better pure.” Matthew blinked and stared at the food product in his hand. “The only thing is the process of enriching the food in a… we are eating food that has, that those in the Colonial days were eating, back with you could stay healthy just by eating a balanced diet.” he looked at the Ponies around him. “Amazing… I wonder if they know about crop rotations or means to replenish the nutrients in the soil?” He shook his head at Tazes comments on metaphors. “Yeah, but sometimes the drugs made for pain can be worse than the plant they came from. Morphine, and the heavy guns during the surgery were… I am just glad I never got addicted to them.” “Well after a lifetime of pretty packaged sludge.” Taze said taking a bite from his piece of cake. “It’s like we’re tasting for the first time.” “Agreed, but in a way, it is funny… Seeing what they would think of a Twinkie, and they a cupcake from this bakery.” He shook his head. “Sorry, but… The city sizes are smaller and… while I know the size of a nation is not directly correlated to the size of fight, it is just.” He smiled a little. “It is nice and peaceful here.” He took another bite of his chocolate cake. “I do miss home though.” He muttered softly. “Still,” He looked around. “We have the foundations of at least surviving here comfortable.” As folks wrapped up the eating and Pinkie smiled as she dragged Matthew once more into a side room and to a table with about ten gifts, why did he see ten gifts? Because Pinkie or someone or somepony or something had decided to leave tags with numbers on it. “Now.” Pinkie began, We all thought that it would be rather unfair for all of us to reveal who got you something so, we only used numbers to decide, that way you won’t know who got you what.” Twilight explained as Pinky Pie put Matthew in a chair and placed a small package into his lap. “Open up gift number one?” The first present revealed a large green book. the front held the title in gold embossed letters. “Ways to extend your life despite your condition a reference guide.” Matthew blinked and grimmiched at the thought of just what that book was, he did force a smile and nod his head in thanks, “Thank you for the kind book, I am sure their is something I can use to help give me a few years.” he did not want to cry or think. He did not want to think of what would happen if his blood levels got messed up or out of whack so he placed the book down and quickly got number two placed into his lap by Pinkie Pie, and while he hands did shake, he slowly undid the wrapping around the gift as if trying to save the wrapping paper. Me-Me looked to Taze. “Does he do this for everything he unwraps? He has done this twice now?” Taze only nodded. “Yeah, I saw him open a box I sent him once and he was very careful and meticulous.” This gift was in a slightly larger box and when he opened it he found three altered versions of the dress uniform he had seen Shining Armor in, the main colors had been altered the main body being a deep blue color. The shoulders where currently topped with gold thread that almost looked to have real gold beaten into it. The front had black unadorned buttons lining it formally. It had two pieces a finely made jacket and pants with a red sword belt made from some sturdy yet soft cloth Matthew couldn’t identify. also in the box where three hats, a beret, a simple blue cap and a large tricorn hat embroidered with more gold thread. Matthew smiled and put on the Tricorn hat and smiled. “Ah the hat of the American Army.” he muttered with glee. They placed the box next to the book and Pinkie Pie put number three in his lap as he went to work once more unwrapping the gift to find out what was inside. He was smiling as he looked a little silly wearing a World War II uniform with a Tricorn hat with gold embroidery. The third box was wrapped with rather soft coloured wrapping paper and mysteriously had holes on the side. As soon as he lifted the lid, something fuzzy lept into his lap revealing a small fennec fox which stared up at him quizzically. Matthew blinked and found that he had to now push down a rather curious fennec from not just sniffing his chin but trying to lick it clean of any frosting that might still be still clinging to his whiskers as he had not shaved that morning. “Wha? What?” he asked as he moved to try and keep the kit calm only for him or her he was not sure to curl up and fall asleep in his lap. He looked at everyone in the room. “What?” “Your friends told me about how you love foxes but they're not allowed as pets where you come from, but this little one is the last of his litter and he seemed to like the idea of being a pet so I thought you’d enjoy him, if thats ok that is.” Fluttershy said the whole time hiding behind her hair. Matthew found he could not yell or argue with Fluttershy and he looked at her. “Uh, only if you tell me what to do, in our world… Foxes are wild animals and shouldn’t be good pets… but, different world.” He sighed and smiled. “So… what his or her name?” “His name’s Rommel” Fluttershy said. “Don’t worry I’ll tell you everything you need to know” Matthew looked at the desert fox. “Rommel. What, did you come up with it or did one of my friends suggest it?” he asked as he looked down at the fox. “Still, a good strong name. Do you understand what I am saying?” he asked half wondering only to get some bark like sound that made him unsure just what level of intelligence the animals had in Equestria. What Fluttershy did was shake her head to his question. “I didn’t name him, it just, I,” She paused as Pinkie Pie leaped around a little with joy. “She said you might like a name like that.” Fluttershy pointed to Pinkie Pie with a small smile. Matthew only smiled. “Well, I do, but I think I shall save that story for when I tell the children about a great duel between two generals in the great African desert.” He smiled a little as he remembered the movie Patton. Rommel was soon on the floor eating some food that Fluttershy had brought and Pinkie Pie had placed the next gift with the tag four printed nicely on it. So Matthew repeated the same process as before and was soon opening up the package to reveal what was inside. The box opened to reveal a large piece of what appeared to be quarts or some other type of translucent stone, inside was what seemed to be pure liquid rainbow, the effect when the refracted light struck the rainbow was rays of multiple colours shooting off the stone and surrounding the room with rapidly changing colours. Matthew was enraptured by the spectacular and actually raised one of the translucent stones up and looked through it and was smiling at the way the lights was played with by the stone. “What is this?” he asked in awe. “I mean… I’ve never seen anything like it before.” He was just in awe at what he was seeing, as parts of it made no sense to his mind, except that Equestria was really doing wonders at tearing down his concepts of reality. “It’s called a Rainbow Diffuser” Rainbow Dash explained “The light through the crystal causes the colors to slowly come out through the light creating the effect. Matthew just stared in awe and smiled and placed it down gently as Pinkie cleared away the empty wrapping and boxes and place number five in his lap. “Thank you he muttered as he glanced back at the stone. “I take it is a Pegasus made item?” He was just amazed at how they could have liquid rainbows. the box was both long and wide. when he opened it in front of him was a guitar, it seemed to be constructed from apple wood and bits of metal. the guitar seemed to be older but ridiculously well maintained, and there was evidence of recent modifications for human hands. Matthew just blinked and slowly took it out reverently and strummed a few cords and smiled. “In tune even.” he smiled and looked around a little. “Can I play a little refrain?” he asked to a few chuckles and  stomps of hooves. Matthew grinned and launched into a small song using the guitar as background. “Just sit right back and you’ll hear a tale, a tale of a fateful trip, that started from this port.” He grinned as he sang the theme song to Gilligan’s Island to the ponies before smiling and standing up and slowly and gently placing the guitar safely on the table after some space was cleared away for it. He could see a few Ponies starting to hum the bars to the song and he moved back to find gift six on his chair, he picked it up and sat down before unwrapping it as well. This was getting to be fun he thought to himself as he lifted the lid. Inside the box simply put somehow immaculate was a plate of cupcakes swapping between red and blue icing with white star shaped sprinkles. Matthew blinked and looked over at the guests and was starting to see a theme before smiling and took a cupcake out of the box and ate the cupcake and blinked as he looked at the half eaten pastry. “Wh. woah.” he muttered after he shallowed. “That is just, wow. You really are a good baker.” He smiled and placed the cupcake tray on the table and finished the one that he had taken out of the box. He blinked as another box was placed into his lap and he shook his head. He actually looked at Pinkie who was hopping up and down while keeping her hooves on the ground and looked more excited than Matthew was on opening the gifts. “Okay, okay… just… try not to vibrate to invisibleness, okay?” Matthew replied with a chuckle at Pinkie’s antics. He turned and started to open gift number seven. Inside the box was a piece of pure well polished jade, shaped with great care in the form of a four leaf clover. There was a card next to it that read “I thought maybe you could use a bit of extra luck, PS don’t tell Twilight!” Matthew smiled and a few others saw but thankfully Twilight did not see the gift as he put it onto the table, still in the box and so not really able to see what it was. “Thank you.” Matthew muttered as he smiled and found that yet again he did not have time to breath or bask in the thoughts as Pinkie used her speed or universe bending skills to have another gift in his lap. He smiled softly and was guessing that things were dragging on, but he could not help that he liked the paper and the boxes and so once more he was meticulous removing the wrapping and then opening the different sized box as well. The fair size box opened to reveal something wrapped in a piece of bright red fabric with a familiar symbol on the front. As Matthew removed the fabric he noticed the gold fabric lining the inside and as he held it out he came to recognise it as a human sized cutie-mark crusader cape. Matthew blinked in shock and looked at the four small CMC who were staring from their small conversation and piles of plates and cake remains. Matthew smiled and nodded and stood up and placed the cap around his shoulders and tied the straps around his neck before sitting down. Before noticing that their was something else in the box. He reached in and pulled it out. Matthew looked at the items and looked behind him and quickly placed the slightly rough but sturdy stand that fit the guitar perfectly. He smiled and grinned a little before realizing something. “The bottom has tree sap on it I think.” Needless to say that cause the room to laugh a little and Rarity had a cloth and something lathered on it. “Tree sap removal, I, I know to keep some with me at all times due to… what I find in Sweetie Belle’s fur.” Matthew only nodded his head before using the substance on the cloth to remove the tree sap from the base of the guitar stand before putting the stand and Guitar back together behind him. “Rarity.” Sweetie Belle cried out with alarm and red checks from being embarrassed. She still couldn’t hide a slight sheepish grin. Matthew only smiled and nodded again to Rarity and Sweetie as he sat down to find Number nine there waiting for him. He once more slowly opened the gift still wearing the cap and he had no plans on taking it off anytime soon. “Storm Hammer seemed a bit hurried so it’s not a great replica.” Taze said as Matthew pulled out a rather familiar looking dagger from the box. “But under the right conditions it will glow blue.” Taze grinned. Matthew blinked and looked at his friend. “Thank you, this looks awesome, and I will be on my toes if it glows blue, a nice warning system.” He smiled a little, “Now, I believe it is tradition to name a blade, and I shall name you NORAD.” He looked around as his smile grew bigger. “Thank you all for.” he paused and saw the last gift. He smiled a little. “Well, I don’t want to keep you all from your lives any longer, so one more and you can go afterwards, I don’t mind I know how life can be.” he called out to the crowd before opening the wrapping and the box carefully like all the others. Upon removing the wrapping, what was inside was a very well crafted wooden case that seemed like it was meant to hold something. Its edges were lined in silver, and the wood seemed to be very sturdy. There was a lock on it and it, at the moment, was unlocked, something slightly poking out. Matthew looked at the box and then down at Rommel who was making some odd noises before he looked back at the box and opened the lid to look at what was poking out of it. “How odd, and… what is it?” he asked himself as he pulled out a note, yet, why did he see some type of.. He shook his head, it couldn’t hold what he thought it was shaped like. He glanced at the note again to read it fully. ‘Hey Matt,         By the time you read this, I bet you didn’t notice I’m gone already.-’ “Whoa! He was like a ghost.” Taze said looking around, not that Shawn could hide well in a room full of knee high brightly coloured ponies but still. “He’s a ghost? That explains so much!” Pinkie shouted. Matthew blinked and looked at Pinkie. “I sure hope not. Otherwise he is a solid ghost and I saw him punch a few changeling out.” he muttered and looked down to finish reading the note. “Still, just how can you not… be noticed, that is a scary trait to have.” ‘On that note, I left for a specific reason, that reason being my gift comes in two parts, One of them is that case you are holding, It took me some time to figure this out and in all honesty, I’ve been talking with the smiths over this for a couple days now.’ “So that’s why they were so busy.” Taze said scratching his head. ‘And so, to collect the second part you just have to come to where I am, but no worries, the smiths don’t mind me being in here. ~Shawn O Viginti.’ Matthew smiled a little. “Oh, a very nice adventure, a journey to finish, a Quest even.” he stood up and looked around. “Uh, Taze, you like to help transport these items back to the room? I am off to complete my quest of the final gift.” he chuckled a little and looked around. “Can I head out back again? I still want to avoid Lyra.” He turned around and bumped right into said mint green unicorn. “Deep breaths Lyra.” Bon Bon said from behind. “Slowly like we talked about.” Matthew looked at the Unicorn and then to Bon Bon, then back to Lyra. “You promise she won’t jump me or something? She sounded rather… rabid a few nights ago at the tavern doors.” He replied looking a little nervous at the hyperventilating unicorn, at least it was what it looked like to his eyes. Mentally he was preparing for anything, even a fan girl scream. “She had way too much cider.” Bon Bon explained. “Sorry about that.” Lyra said wincing. “I didn’t mean to scare you.” Lyra said her head lowered a bit. “I, I guess I can forgive that, just… Try not to do it again, I was a little jumpy, but…” He sighed and sat down. “I know you have questions, so, let’s hear them.” he was smiling trying to calm Lyra down at the moment. “Thank you.” She said, “I hope maybe sometime I could ask you a few questions? For my book?” “Your writing a book? May I know the topic at least?” Matthew asked as he smiled a little, he liked the idea of books and writing. “Anthropology.” Lyra said simply. “The study of Cultures and civilizations?” he asked with a blinked and a confused look, it was ringing a bell for something else but for him Anthropology was the study of ancient humans in his mind. “What era of history and development of Culture and civilization?” “Thats Equology.” Lyra explained. “Here anthropology refers to the study of humans, technically it’s a term I invented.” she said Matthew smiled and stood up and picked up the tricorn again to place upon his head, he didn’t remember when he took it off but he had and now he was going to wear his eclectic look outside. “Just to let you know, from my world, Anthropology is what we use to describe what you would call Equology.” He smirked a little at the surprised look. “I took an Anthropology class in High School. You keep writing, and I’ll be sure to buy a copy when you publish it.” “Thank you” Lyra said. “You better run if you're going to catch your friend.” Matthew nodded his head. “Adieu my friends.” he turned and left out the front door this time. Happy to have had a better response with Lyra then what he had feared. Now, now he had to find the blacksmiths, but which ones? Might as well try the ones near the camp. He just hoped he did not get ripped for wearing the cap, but still, still he promised to wear it for the rest of the day. So, he decided to head out to the blacksmiths in town first. They might have Shawn hiding in their shops. So with an about face he started to head towards the town blacksmith. Matthew finally found the blacksmith towards the outskirts of the town down a second main street and found from a distance that it was a roof over a half building while parts were enclosed he could see some ponies and Shawn in an open area under the room. He raised a hand and smiled as he saw Shawn wave him over. “Coming, coming.” Matthew replied as he continued up the slight hill. Upon reaching him, Shawn gave a nod. “Happy Birthday.” “Thank you, I was, I was not expecting any of this, what with the changeling invasion, the royal wedding, events of ceremony and thanks, moving to Ponyville gathering out supplies to move into the Everfree, I am just… shocked at what has happened.” “Things have been pretty active.” Shawn chuckled. “Nice cape by the way.” He gave a nod off to the side, a gesture to the cape. “Who gave you that one?” “Well I am guessing it was a group pool together of four young fillies looking for what they are to be good at.” He replied as he moved and he saw the logo sewn at the side. He gave a light chuckle in response. “Kids. But, enough of this, you came here for something I have for you.” He smiled, then turned and began to pace slightly.. “I spent a while getting all this down, wrote and drew countless nights just to make sure this was right, and then something came to me…” Shawn noticed that Matthew stood and waited for him to finish, he was patient and Shawn knew that Matthew was not going to pressure him at this moment. He stopped and faced Matthew. “A bit over a month ago you told me something. You were supposed to get something in the mail around this time. Of course we can’t get your mail, but.” He reached into his coat and pulled out a small wrapped object, with a grin he held it out for Matthew to take. “Remember that conceal carry permit?” He questioned. Matthew nodded his head. “Yeah, kind of mute now, I mean the closest thing I have is a crossbow and those are a little hard to conceal.” He muttered as he took the wrapped gift and slowly unwrapped the cloth around the slightly heavy object. He looked up at Shawn with confusion before returning to looking at the object in his hands, he had a small idea of it with how he was holding it but he was not going to jump to conclusions. After removing the final layer his eyes were greeted by a dark red wooden handle with a polished metal gold round end that lead up with the wood slightly. The underside had some as well, but eventually it pulled up and around a metal trigger, leading on to the underside. The barrel of it was a polished, sturdy iron. On the underside of the barrel was the ramrod, it was a simple rod made from the same polished wood as the handle with a golden end expanded slightly. “Again. Happy birthday, your very own Flintlock Pistol and case.” Shawn said with a smile. Matthew smiled a little and promptly placed it in his belt. “I will have to commission a holder for me at my side, I rather not carry it around like a pirate.” he replied with a smile. “But I look forward to setting off a few balls in practice.” He smiled again wider. “Well, I am going to have a nice time, and hopefully scare the enemy a few times. Who knows, we may just have this as an element of surprise.” Shawn chuckled. “The ammo will come later, I already got that planned out. But until then, enjoy your birthday. I’ll pay for the holster and to get you the ammo, think of it as a full package.” He said as he smiled. Matthew smiled and nodded his head. “Thank you, I am grateful and I look forward to firing off your gift when I can.” He smiled and surprised Shawn with a tight hug that he could give, which was not that strong. “Thank you.” “No problem, you should probably step inside and tell Steel Weaver that as well, teamwork and all.” He chuckled. Matthew released Shawn from the hug. “Very well.” He replied as he entered the blacksmith proper and felt the wave of heat and saw Steel Weaver standing a little off to the side sipping a mug of water. Matthew looked at him and nodded to her. “Thank you.” he called out, He only nodded his head in reply and raised his mug of water. Matthew nodded again and left the forge and into the now cool outside air. He blinked and looked around. “Shawn? You around back?” he turned around looking and found a note. “Wha? Again?” He shook his head. “How can someone move so fast. I wasn’t gone that long.” Matthew muttered as he went to look at the note wondering where he went. ‘Sorry, remembered something I needed to do, got to make a run of the camp. ~S’ Matthew sighed and shook his head and making sure he still had his cap and his tricorn and after that and his pistol he started back toward Sugar Cube Corner to make sure he could help clean up anything left to do, and then, back to the Tavern to rest, he felt tired already and it wasn’t even the noon hour yet. He wondered if he was getting the sleep or rather the deep sleep he was needing to function. With the party finished and no real wood runs for the day Taze finally set down to something he’d been planning to start for a few days now, weapons training. Both for his trainees and for himself. That being said with no formal training himself the best he could do was work on the little facts he had picked up from hours of internet research. “Come on guys it’s all about your footing.” Taze said placing his own feet carefully. “Back home we called these movement sets dances so don’t feel silly.” Taze said working on making his swing precise. Fortunately the trek to the castle wasn’t going to be incredibly dangerous so he hoped he could get them to at least be able to use their weapons without hurting each other. The guards currently were working with short swords, the reports said they either couldn’t seem to get a grasp for the spear or simply didn’t like it. The short sword was easier to use and more universal. it could work alone or aided with a shield. However that being said while the unicorn certainly enjoyed it, the two earth ponies seemed to be having trouble getting a stable grip with their hooves or their mouthes. The thestrals weren't doing much better with their wings, well the pegasus had the sword alright she did not seem to be getting used to it. Taze sighed as he heard the clatter of metal and a loud thump as another guard fell over. at this rate they’d need to stay in ponyville another week, it was just fortunate the blades weren't sharpened yet. Matthew sighed as he stood in a familiar location. Ponyville Library and the single desk that had been set up in the middle, he nodded silently towards some of the Ponies where were browsing the shelves for a book before he sat down at the desk and reached forward for the quill pen and the ink well. He took a deep breath and went to work on self improving one of his skills. He smiled a little as he lifted the pen and slowly began to write on the parchment, already smearing the first line as his left hand moved over the still wet ink. He sighed and moved again and placed his hand in hopes of fixing the next few words. It did not work so he had to clean up his hand before he switched his hands and slowly went to work with writing with his non dominant hand. “This feels weird.” He muttered as he slowed down and began to work on trying to make eligible words. “Well, look’s like I am going to become a right hand writer.” He shook his head. “Heh, Unless we can invent a ball point pen.” He sighed before returning to his focus and attention. Before pausing and using a ink removal sponge for his hands and rolled up his left sleeve and returned to working on a way to write with his left hand. “Just feels wrong writing with my right hand.” He muttered again. In a corner Twilight Sparkle sat behind the desk where she was keeping an eye on the books that were being returns or checked out, she looked up and shook her head before looking down. “Why did he refuse the pencil?” She sighed, one thing she had learned was that humans were a bit stubborn. She smiled a little. “Hello Dinky, oh? Are you checking this book out for your dad?” She asked as she picked up out of her grasp a large tome. “Nah, it seems like an interesting time.” Dinky replied as she smiled a little. Twilight looked down at the book and frowned a little bit. “Are you sure you want a book on the String Theory of Magical Interconnection of the World?” She looked at Dinky who nodded her head with an eager look. “Uh… okay, just, if you have trouble you can come talk to me if you want.” “Okay Miss Sparkle,” She replied as she walked out of the room and Twilight looked down. “That is… I should talk to Derpy or her husband about this. That is the fifth book she has checked out that is advanced college courses.” She shook her head and returned to her own writing after giving Matthew a small smile. “Well now,” Matthew replied with a slightly shocked look. “I wish my grandpa was still alive, he would have found that book wonderful.” He jumped as he heard a voice beside him ask why. He looked sideways to find Silver Spoon looking up at him. “Why would your grandfather be interested in those boring books that miss Smarty Pants checks out.” Silver Spoon muttered in a slightly condescending tone of voice. Matthew smiled a little. “Because he could tell you in detail of the events that will happen in the sun that makes it hot and light up.” He replied. “He helped test and do research on a technology and became the heart of power plants in our world. He, is a smart man that taught classes that were as advanced as the book checked out by Dinky.” Matthew smiled a little as he returned to his paper. “He knew stuff that my dad, brother, and he would talk about that I never understood.” He paused and sniffed a little. “I miss him.” Silver Spoon only shook her head and walked away toward the checkout desk. “One more book on the upper Canterlot Society Guide for Fillies Volume Two.” She replied as if trying to show off her high class tastes. Matthew shook his head as he paused to let some ink dry. He was getting a little better at his attempts with his left hand. He sighed a little as he looked up at ceiling and where Spike was napping he was hoping he would be awake to help but maybe when he woke up he would get some help. Still, he had to focus and continue to write. At his feet Rommel was snoozing a little in the library as he had his walk with Fluttershy when Matthew had gone to pick up his gift from Shawn and now Matthew and Rommel were both in a library and working, well one was working on improving himself, the other was taking a nap. “Come on now… Didn’t hit you that hard.” Shawn said, helping one of the guards up. At the time he had seven guards before him, he had picked them specifically. Right now he was doing something unexpected, having them spar with him, one on one. Right now he had just finished a round and was about to take a break, he had just taken on the fourth one. He had taken on the earth ponies of the group first, and shortly into the first round he had learned that he could not pick up an earth pony, but he could redirect them. The third and final earth pony of the seven had tried to throw a buck at him. Only for him to step back and pull on his legs, throwing him off balance and putting him into submission. He had put his coat off to the side, didn’t want it getting dirty. Out of the seven before him three were earth ponies, one unicorn, one thestral, and two pegasi. The fourth one he sparred was the unicorn, which finally ended with a well placed hit. As it turns out, enough force pushed on a telekinetic grab can break it. After a few minutes he stood back up and looked to the last three before him, the thestral and two pegasi, he determined them to be the lightest of the group, flying and all. The only problem before him was the fact they had a flight advantage over him. Pointing to the thestral he stepped back into the area designated for their fight. “Come on, your next Private Lilly Moon.” Giving a quick roll of his shoulders and cracking his neck, he took a stance with his legs apart and his fists up. The mare before him also put herself into a fighting stance. Looking to his right he called out. “Countdown if you would.” He said to one of the others. “Five.” Shawn returned to looking at the pony before him. “Four.” Lilly squinted and slowly sunk down, her wings twitching. “Three.” His fists tightened. “Two.” “One.” There was a pause. “Fight!” Within that moment, Shawn had discovered that Lilly had an amazing reaction time. In the blink of an eye she had launched herself straight at him, aiming to tackle him to the ground. Sliding his foot further back he didn’t move as she hit. His foot slid back a bit more from the force but he did not fall over. “Oh, got a fire in you.” He chuckled. “Good.” He returned the action by grabbing her and pushing her off him. With a pause he only smirked. “This is going to be interesting…” Up in the air Rainbow Dash was directing the small group of Pegasus that were flying about as they were slowly preparing the sky for a rainstorm. She was smiling a little as she was directing the light drizzles and outskirts over Sweet Apple Acres, he had gotten the letter from Granny Smith that the farm was doing well on the water and a light rain would be fine. She looked to the reservoir and where Mayor Mare had requested more water for the coming months. She sighed, before she smiled as she looked down at the town of Ponyville and her home. “Okay,” her voice cracked a little. “We need to have Ponyville be the in between place, as you can see the Ponies already closed the market early so get to work and remember this storm has to last all night long.” She called out as those under her moved out and started to herd clouds to create the storm that was slated for the day. She smiled a little as she worked as well pushing clouds in and, well having to help Derpy who seemed a little distracted about something, still even with that small hiccup the storm broke as scheduled and even those new guards were running back into the tents and out of the rain. Inside the library Matthew looked up as he and Twilight heard both thunder and a knocking on the wooden door. Twilight got up and using her magic she opened to door to see Moonshade with an umbrella held in her batwings, her draconic eyes looking right at Twilight. “Miss Sparkle, I feel that I must ask that you release one Matthew Conner to my care, I must have some things to discuss with him.” Twilight looked over at Matthew and smiled as he was cleaning up the desk. “One moment let him finish his work and he’ll be with you shortly. Care to step in?” Moonshade only shook her head. “Thank you, but no. I am fine out in the elements.” She smiled as Matthew stepped outside and his first movement upon stepping outside was to pull the Crusader cap around him a little tighter, Rommel was following and was actually enjoying the rain a little. As they left the library and Matthew took the umbrella to cover both of them, it was Moonshade who spoke to break the silence. “So, I hear that the Fennec Fox was named Rommel, As well as the fact that it has a meaning to you, what is the story?” Matthew smiled. “Rommel is named after a Enemy General during World War Two, who many americans actually admire a little in that while the nation he fought under was ruthless and not a nice group of leaders, he actually worked in making his prisoners comfortable, and followed conventions that were signed on the treatment of those taken in war.” He sighed and looked to the horizon of grey clouds and chilly air. “The leader of that, empire,” he used the word as if he could not think of any other word at the moment. “Was a ruthless man, and one that was destroying the nation, as a military leader he actually joined a plot to assassinate the leader and sue for peace before the nation was overrun by another nation that hated them just as much as they hated some of their own people. It didn’t work out.” Matthew finally finished after a pause. “The nickname he had,” He continued with a small smile after another minute of silence as they walked in the rain, “His nickname was called the Desert Fox, and as the Fennec is a more arid and desert dwelling creature, I can really see no real reason to dispute the name Rommel. He paused and smiled, however let’s just protect some of those that were in on naming my pet and say I named the fox, okay?” Moonshade actually smiled. “You named your pet after a general you admire, an interesting way to surround yourself by signs and symbols of your old world as you make due in a new world that may not be to par with what you are use to.” She smiled. “An admirable trait.” She paused as they settled in a small park on the edge of town under a gazebo. Matthew sat down slowly as Moonshade turned to pull from a saddle bag a crudely wrapped gift. “I heard it was your birthday from the Element holder of Laughter. So I went and bought this from the market, I know it will never replace your bunny, but I thought you might enjoy it.” Matthew looked confused before opening up the gift and almost laughed as he saw the stuff animal. IT was a white rabbit wearing the armor and helmet of the Lunar Guard. “Let me guess, you got something from your own branch?” Moonshade only smirked and showed a little of her fangs. “It will be a strange day indeed if I ever willingly buy an item with the markings of the Solar Guard.” She waited a pause before breaking out in laughter. “I hope you do not mind a… poor attempt at replacing a treasure you lost.” Matthew only smiled as he picked up the rabbit and actually cuddled it a little giving it a nice hug. “Reminds me of a rabbit my mom got me, that is a story,” He muttered. “Only it was wearing the jungle camo of my nation’s military, I called him Sgt. Bunny.” He looked at the rabbit standing upright in the guard armor. All fabric. “I shall name you, Night Bunny.” He replied with a smile and solemn voice as he looked up to Moonshade. “Could you?” He began only for Moonshade to smile and placed the stuff animal into the saddlebag. “Of course I will carry the animal to the tavern so he doesn’t get wet.” She replied with a mock salute that caused laughter to come from Matthew’s lips. She smiled a little. “There you go, I must say you look better smiling, it brings out those twinkles in your eyes.” She paused and shook her head. “Great I’m sounding like my own mother now.” Matthew only smiled and put both hands on the table. “Never anything wrong with sounding like your family. That is a legacy you have, family.” He looked to the top of the inside of the gazebo and sighed again. He blinked in confusion as his eyesight wa suddenly blocked by her grinning face. “Well then I will have to bring you to meet my uncle and aunt when I visit them next, to use your own words against you, everypony needs a family and I am sure they wouldn’t mind taking in a lost human.” Matthew only looked at Moonshade. “Thank you, I have no clue why you are going out of your way to help a lost human like I, but, I appreciate it.” Matthew looked down at his folded hands and sighed. “Not sure what I did to deserve it.” Moonshade laughed and landed across from him and tried to mimic his movements. “Because you kick some serious flank in the Canterlot invasion, and you did tactics that I doubt even my commanders would have thought of in years of having that scenario ran through their heads.” Matthew shook his head. “I only did what I thought was right, small arms tactics, small squads and buddy systems.” Moonshade pounded the table at that. “Exactly, we were use more to fighting in large aerial battles against Sombra’s horde, or rogue dragons, not splitting off into groups smaller than ten and fighting and causing more mayhem.” She sprang to her hooves here and quickly brought Matthew to his feet. “Come on, you’re starting to shiver and turn a little blue in the lips, let’s get you inside and next to a fire I am sure Mrs. Punch has going at the moment. Matthew only nodded his head as he clutched as the CMC’s cap around his shoulders and Rommel moved from under the table and followed the two down the muddy path to a warm fire and some hot vegetable stew.