Proteans walked into the shop (or boutique as the sign outside said.) His legs still hurt but he could drag himself through town quite easily making travel possible. Despite his leg healing, he was still covered in blood and cuts causing some ponies to give him weird looks as he passed but he was finally at the shop, and once his hat was placed firmly back on his head, he could leave society for good.
“Welcome to the Carousel Boutique where every garment is chic, unique and magnifi- AHH look at you! How COULD you go through Ponyville like THAT?”
“Nice to meet you too Rarity. I heard that you have my hat.”
“Oh THAT…”
“Wha-wha what’s wrong with it?”
“It’s just…. black is SO last season.”
“And how do you know it’s not SO next season?”
“Hmm… I never thought of that, maybe it will be so next season, I mean look at Obscuro he only wears black.”
“Actually it’s mainly dark red.”
“Trust you to know that, you’re OBVIOUSLY a big fan with your mane and tail like that. But that aside, his suit is simply divine, I bet once he comes back EVERYPONY would LOVE to wear some stuff inspired by him.”
Proteans was shocked, people actually LIKED what he did? When the cops came after him, he assumed they must all hate him for what he did but no, it seemed like everypony idolized him.
“So where were we? Oh yes, here’s your hat.”
Proteans didn’t even realise Rarity had placed his hat back on his head, as he was so lost in thought
“Oh thank you, I’ll be leaving now.”
“WHAT? You can’t go out like that!”
“Why not?”
“Look at yourself, you’re COVERED in blood. I’d be surprised if everypony in ponyville didn’t think you’d been mauled by an ursa major!”
“Well that is kinda what happened” Proteans muttered under his breath
“What did you say dear?”
“Oh nothing, nothing.”
“Ok, if you go upstairs and turn left you’ll find the shower. Go clean yourself up and I’ll see if there’s a first aid kit.”
As Proteans stood there cleaning himself and getting the last of the blood off, there came an almighty knock at the front door of the boutique and he heard a very lively mare coming through the door.
“Hey Rarity I’m having the biggest party EVER! We got games, drinks, food, and even music from Vinyl Scratch!”
Proteans’ eyes widened when he heard this. He dried as well as he could and with his mane still dripping, bolted down the stairs before his bad leg kicked in and he was forced to hobble the rest of the way.
“Wait a minute. Did you just say Vinyl Scratch?”
“Well yeah she’s a good friend of mine.”
“Where, When, Who else is going?” Proteans was practically interrogating the pink earth pony
“The high street, all day tomorrow, And ALL OF PONYVILLE!”
“Thanks miss…um”
“Pinkie Pie.”
“Thanks Pinkie.” And Proteans left the boutique with a still wet mane and a determined look on his face. Vinyl Scratch…
We meet again.
The next day Proteans woke in the barn again to the sound of Applejack and an unknown red stallion unloading buckets full of apples.
“Ah know I said ya could stay yesterday but I meant in the farm house not out here again in the hay.”
“Yeah but it’s comfy out here.”
“Oh Proteans ah’d like ta introduce ya to mah big brother, Big Mac.”
“Hey Big Mac nice to meet you.”
“Eeyup”
“So Proteans, Yah on the mend?”
“I don’t know, I only just got up.” He brought himself to his hooves and found his legs no longer hurt as much as they had the day before.
“Yah never told me what did yah do ta get yourself to be in that condition?”
“I was in the Everfree forest and let’s just say you shouldn’t sleep in an ursa major’s cave.”
“Yah decided ta sleep in AN URSA MAJOR’S CAVE?”
“Well… Yeah.”
“Dat’s mighty brave of ya sir but mighty stupid too.”
“You could say that about sleeping in your barn I had no idea who owned it, It could’ve been a mad stallion with a knife and a book full of torture spells instead of the beautiful mare I got instead.”
“Aww shucks.” Applejack turned a bright red that made Proteans chuckle under his breath
“Well you are the most beautiful mare in all of Equestria.” He threw a wink in Applejack’s direction causing her already bright red cheeks to go brighter than he thought possible.
“Well I’d better be going now, before you melt.”
“Are ya sure sugarcube? Do ya want some breakfast? We got everything from Cocoats to Celestios.”
“Nah I think I’ll pass I’ve really got to get going I have to meet up with an old friend.” And with that he turned and walked out the barn.
‘wow I’m GOOOD’ Proteans was satisfied of how he easily seduced that mare ’It’ll come in handy’ he thought to himself, his ability to seduce mares always had been his talent though never his cutie mark. It was the reason he decided his name should be Proteans in the first place as the word proteans means subconscious flirting like when a mare starts playing with her mane upon meeting a stallion. Proteans decided to stop congratulating himself and focus on his task for the day: Meeting Vinyl.
The street was done up with streamers, balloons and banners saying ‘WELCOME TO PONYVILLE PROTEANS’ He knew there was a party today but he had no idea who it was for and to find it was for him was quite touching, He’d never had any friends before and couldn’t believe that somepony that only saw him lying wounded on a bed would go to this much trouble just for him.
He got to the Town Hall and saw 5 ponies and a griffon setting up various pieces of equipment. A voice came from behind him and although it had changed from the last time he’d heard it he knew what mare it belonged to.
“HEY GUYS I’M BACK”
Proteans turned round, smiled the biggest smile he’d ever smiled and he threw himself on top of Vinyl
“Woah dude seriously” Vinyl playfully pushed Proteans off him. “I know I’m famous, and sexy, and all around amazing but you gotta keep control, I gotta mare friend ya know she wouldn’t be too pleased if she found out some other mare had been smothered on me!”
“First of all I’m a stallion. And second of all have you really forgotten me?”
“First of all I’m a fillyfooler nice ta meet ya second of all yeh who the hay are you?”
“Well at the moment my name is on literally every street.”
“OH so you’re Proteans always wondered when I’d meet ya. HEY GUYS.” He beckoned the 5 other ponies and griffon over. ”This is Proteans; Proteans meet Mic, Tombstone, Glaze, Bluskittle, Lulz and Jackleapp.”
“Hey” Proteans turned to face Vinyl again “Do you remember how the Ponyville Schoolhouse was destroyed 20 years ago?”
“Wow, that’s overly specific but yeh what of it?”
“How did it happen?”
“Well there was a fire in the cafeteria and then it reached a store of gas canisters being kept for the summer sun celebration and the whole place exploded.”
“Thanks that’s all I need to know.”
“Urrh it’s fine I guess now I’m gonna go finish setting up with those guys.”
Well that explains a lot, Celestia your little memory editing spell has taken away the one mare I ever truly loved and the only friend I ever had.
And now you’re going to pay…