//------------------------------//
// Chapter 5 
// Story: A New Beginning in a New Land 
// by REDACTED99999 
//------------------------------//

	“NOPE!” Jax shouted as he held his hands over his head, on his way down the stairs. Fluttershy wasn’t happy with his reaction to the information she had just given him.
“But I’m sure Pinkie just wants to throw a party for you.” She said again. She wasn't big on parties either, but his reaction was not what she expected. “I mean, no one’s going to hurt you or anything, I promise. After the misunderstanding with Zecora, ponies are more careful with judging too fast. Umm… I mean it was some time ago, and a lot have happened since then, but I'm sure everypony will try their best to welcome you…”
Jax turned around to face her, and since they were on the stairs she was approximately in eye-height with him. He placed his hands on her whithers, looking very serious. “Fluttershy, you don’t understand. Parties where I don't know anyone are bad enough, but parties in my honor where I don't know anyone are a big nope. Everyone will look at me and judge me, and expect things from me, like smiling, but I’ll be too nervous to smile and they will be like ‘oh he doesn’t smile he must not enjoy himself’ and I’ll be like ‘no it’s not like that’ but they won’t understand that! And then I'll stand around awkwardly because, again, I don't know anyone!”
***
It wasn't that Jax wasn't big on parties, if it was with the right people. A party with a bunch of strangers was something completely different, especially with how much he would stand out. Fluttershy looked at him with a confused expression, so he went on. “I would honestly rather have them chase me out of town with pitchforks. At least then all I’m expected to do is run. It’s much less awkward.”
Fluttershy shook her head. “Well… I umm… I understand how you feel, I’m not too good at parties either… but I don’t think anypony is going to chase you out of town. Twilight wouldn’t allow it, and now that she’s a princess, ponies respect her even more.”
Jax looked at her. They had a princess in this little town? Why? He quickly shook himself out of it. He didn't know how big towns were around here, why was he judging it so fast? He hadn't even been in there, maybe it was a big town that just looked small from Fluttershy's window.
“Well be that as it may, I’m going back to the forest. Thank you for saving my life, I will return the favor one day.” He finished as he made his way down the stairs and walked toward the door. 
Fluttershy didn’t seem content. Was she going to nag him all the way to the forest? At least he didn’t think she would follow him in.
“But….” She began, as she started following him. “You’re wounded. You really should rest some more. And how will you survive in the winter?”
He... hadn’t considered that. He didn’t even have his t-shirt and sweater, he had used them for bandages, along with most of his pants. The Everfree was many things, but forgiving was not one of them. Still, even if he stayed for the party… what after? He didn’t have any local currency, he couldn’t stay and parasite off someone. Especially Fluttershy, who had saved his life. 
“Ehh… I’ll survive somehow.” He answered, as he exited the house. It was easier to just run off to the forest anyway. Looking toward the small town he noticed a pegasus with a rainbow trail, however that was possible, flying towards them. He had a bad feeling….
“Now, Jax, I know that you-“ Fluttershy started but cut off as Jax started a full sprint toward the Everfree, jumping over her fence like it was nothing.
Jax was determent to get the hell out of there before the rainbow pegasus could get close. He made it halfway to the forest before he was swooped up by said pegasus. She was FAST.
“So you’re the new face Pinkie was talking about." She looked down at him with a cocky smile. "Twilight wants to talk to you, so no running off just yet.” She flew him back to Fluttershy.
So Princess Twilight knew about him now. Great. How fast did this Pinkie organize this party? Or did she run straight to Twilight? And how strong was this rainbow-maned pegasus anyway, being able to fly with him?
Fluttershy looked disapproving at him, starting her sentence over. “Now, Jax, I know that you must be nervous, but we just want to get to know you. There is no reason for you to run off into the forest.” Jax wasn’t convinced. He was still trying to think of a way to bail without being scooped up by the rainbow pegasus. If he could time it correctly he could dodge her… probably.
Fluttershy could probably feel that he wasn’t convinced, so she went up to him, and placed her hoof on his shoulder by standing on her hind legs. She wasn’t exactly in eye-height, but the gesture was enough to get his attention and he looked down on her with surprise. “Please?” she asked simply.
Jax didn’t expect Fluttershy to be so insistent. Why did she care so much? As he looked down on those unnaturally big eyes, glowing with the hope that he would accept, he realized something. This was an offer he couldn’t refuse. It seemed like he would just have to accept it.
“Fine.” He said to her obvious joy. “I really don’t like how this is progressing. Are you sure this Twilight isn’t going to just imprison me?” He asked skeptically.
The rainbow pony started laughing. “Twilight would never do that.” It answered for Fluttershy. Now, where Fluttershy was obviously female, judging by voice, appearance and behavior, this pegasus was a bit harder to make out. Its voice wasn’t feminine, but not very masculine either. It had the same height as Fluttershy, but also a lot more muscle. Transgender? How do you ask something like that… “And you are?” he said in the end. Maybe it would drop a hint.
“Name’s Rainbow Dash!” ‘Oh great, their names tell you nothing about their gender’, “fastest mare in all Equestria.” ‘Oh thank god. I almost embarrassed myself there.’ As far as he could remember, mare was a female horse. So she was female.
“I agree. Twilight would never do something like that. Not unless you’re dangerous… You aren’t dangerous are you?” Fluttershy chipped in.
“Well, I don’t have malicious intentions.” He said, avoiding the question. How do you define someone as dangerous? He did kill that manticore, but it almost killed him. But that reminded him of something…
“Actually, there is something I have to take care off in the forest. You have a shovel?” He asked Fluttershy, who started blushing for some reason.
“Umm… If you need to go… you know… There’s a toilet in the house… If you wou-“
Jax raised his hand, cutting her off. Rainbow Dash was already laughing her ass off.
“No. I meant to go bury that manticore. If we have a couple of hours?” He turned towards Rainbow Dash, who looked confused.
“What manticore? Twi didn’t give me a deadline to bring you back, but I’m coming with you. Pinkie’s party will be the deadline I guess”
Jax was a little surprised. She wasn’t as trusting, or as afraid of the forest as Fluttershy was.
“You aren’t afraid of the Everfree?” he asked to make sure.
“There is nothing in the entire Equestria that scares me.” She stated with confidence. She seemed to be full off herself, and Jax had to spent the next couple of hours with her. He didn’t see this going well.
“Two shovels then?” He asked Fluttershy. He wasn’t going to argue but this put a damper on his plan. Some sleight of hand was going to be needed to get his spare dagger of indestructible power from the camp. Or a good lie. He would have to think about it on the way. He needed his mighty stick of awesome as well. No way was he going to let himself be imprisoned, even if these two were convinced he wasn’t going to be. Fluttershy came back dragging two shovels with her mouth, he didn’t even notice her disappearing.
“Well… let’s go then.” He stated after getting directions from Fluttershy.