> The great and powerful... Merasmus!?
>  by The Lutece twins
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Chapter 1
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Huzzah!" Merasmus yelled as a scout finally found him while he was hiding as a prop. The scout smiled eagerly as he raised his pop gun. But Merasmus swung his staff with a loud "Rarrr!" taking the scouts head clean off. He than laughed maniacally as he opened his bombinomicon. "Grenade!" He yelled laughing maniacally, tossing a large bomb at a group of engineers, killing them and seriously injuring a scout.

"Medic!" The scout yelled as he ran from Merasmus. Merasmus teleported and reappeared on the capture point, he looked at the timer and saw that there was 30 seconds left.

'I swear, this year's team sucked more then last year's team. I mean the only person who has even done the most damage to me, was that scout who's head I knocked off.' Merasmus thought as he sighed. He than rose into the air and and a giant wheel appeared. "The wheel of fate, spins!"  He yells as the wheel started to spin.

'Now this should make things interesting' Merasmus thought as the wheel started to slow down.  He gave a slight smirk as the wheel stopped on Ubbercharge. 'Finally, now things are getting to be fun' he thought.

"You are Gods!" he yelled before he lowered his voice into a sotto voce type voice. "I don't know why I put that on the wheel." he said. He teleports away and reappeared in a different location. He looked at the timer and saw that there was 15 seconds left. He smirked again as he saw everyone rush at him while Ubbercharged. He lashed out with his staff and bombs but it was to no avail. 

'Finally, their doing some dama- ow, some damage to me' he thought as he took a hit from soldier's rocket.  As he swung his staff he heard a loud Buzzer. He looked up and saw that the time has ran out. He laughs.

"I bid you, farewell!" Merasmus yells, then teleports. He returns back home and places the bombinomicon on a table next to a chair and sits in the chair and sighs. 

"I can't do this anymore, every Halloween is come out and fight, come out and fight, come out and fight. Well I have had enough!" He yells, slamming a fist on the table. He grabs his bombinomicon and flips through a couple of pages. He stops on a page with a spell for a portal to another world.

"Here we go, I will leave this world, and find a new one. One filled with peace. One that doesn't have soldier. One where I can finally rest and don't have to fight every Halloween and probably live a new life. Now let's see." He said as he used a finger to skim the page.

"Okay, here we go." He muttered as he closed the bombinomicon. "Porticalus Openus!" He yells. As soon as he said those magic words, a rainbow like portal opened up. "Finally, I can get out of here." He said. He grabbed his cane and bombinomicon, adjusted his skull hat and robes, and jumped through. 

"I wonder where I will go." Merasmus muttered. "But why did the portal had to be so... girly. And would someone turn that light down." He said, squinting a bit. But the light didn't dim, instead, it got brighter.  So bright that Merasmus closed his eyes. Then darkness.

"Uuugh," Merasmus grunted as he opened his eyes. He still saw darkness, but he could make out trees. Which mean that it still night out side. He got on to all fours and looked around.

"Wait a minute, all fours?" He said in confusion. He looked down and his eyes widen. "What has happen to my hands!" He yelled.  Instead of his usual hands, he can see hoofs. "Ok, just calm your Merasmus, you've seen weirder things. Just grab your staff and see where we are."  He reached for his staff and after a few minutes of trying to grab it, he managed to hook a hoof around it. 

"Staficus Lighticus!" He yells. The top of his staff lit and he could see clearly. He could see black and white fur on his hoofs. He looked at the rest of his body and could see that his body is some sort of equine of some sort, with black and white fur on his body. 

"I must be some sort of zebra equine of some sort." Merasmus muttered. "This is going to take some time to get used to. Walking on all fours instead of two." He sighed. After what seemed to be a while, which was actually 15 minutes, Merasmus could finally walk. 

'Ok, first objective is to find civilization, and get them on your good side.' Merasmus thought. But just as soon as he was about to walk. He heard screams. 

"Oh that's not good. Somepony is in trouble!" He yelled, galloping towards the screams.
_____________________________________________________

( POV: The CMC)

"Tell us again why we are in the everfree forest again Applebloom." A orange Pegasus named scootaloo asked.

"To talk to Zecora about telling a story on nightmare night tomorrow." A light yellow earth pony with a pink bow in her mane said.

"But do you think we should have brought Applejack or my sister with us?" A white unicorn named sweetie belle asked. 

"Don't worry, we'll be safe. What could go wrong?" Applebloom said. But as soon as she said  that, a growl came in front of them. 

"Wha... what was that?" Sweetie belle asked, just as another growl came. The CMC could see menacingly glowing yellow eyes stare back at them.

"TIMBERWOLVES!!!!!" The three fillies screamed. They ran as fast as their hooves can carry them. They ran past trees and bushes, but their ran came to a end when they are surrounded by timberwolfs.

"I guess... this is the end." Scootaloo sniffed as she hugged her friends.

"Yea, just think it is. But I want to tell you guys, that you were the best friends a pony could ever have." Applebloom said as she hugged tighter and closing her eyes. The timberwolfs were about to jump the little fillies.

"Bombicus Explodicus!" A voice yelled. There was a flash of light, and a loud BOOM! Apple bloom opened her eyes and looked, she gasped at what she saw. Standing in front of them was a tall zebra wearing a cloak of some sort, holding a glowing staff and some sort of book. 
__________________________________________

(POV: Merasmus)

"Are you three ok?"  Merasmus asked the three little fillies. The fillies looked at him with surprise and un hug each other.

"Who... Who are you?" The filly with the pink bow tie in her mane asked him.

"Nows not the time, huddle together!" Merasmus yells. The fillies hugged each other again. 

"Teleportis groupicus!" Merasmus yells as he grabs the fillies. In a flash of green light, they were gone. The timberwolfs looked at each other in surprise. Merasmus and the fillies reappeared on a hill next to a farm. 

"Hey! We teleported next to my families farm." The bow filly said. '

Wow, what a coincidence.' Merasmus thought. He put the bombinomicon back in the pocket in his cloak and than looks down at the fillies. "Are any of you ok? No injuries?" He asks the fillies. The fillies shook there head which made Merasmus sigh in relief. Then the fillies did something that made Merasmus's eyes widen, they hugged him. 

"Thank you. Thank you so much mister zebra." The Orange Pegasus said. Merasmus smiled and hugged them back. 

"Your welcomed" Merasmus said as the fillies let go of him. "Now then, since we got to know each other, let's get to know each other's names." He said. The fillies looked up at him and nodded.

"I'm Applebloom!" The pony with the pink bow said.

"I'm scootaloo!" The Orange Pegasus said.

"And I'm Sweetie Belle!" The white unicorn said.

"And we're, THE CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS!!!" All three fillies yelled, causing Merasmus to flinch at the volume. He shook his head to stop the ringing in his ears.

"Any way, my name's Merasmus. And it's a pleasure to meet you." He said. 

"Merwhatsits?" Scootaloo asked. 

"Merasmus. Mer-as-mus." Merasmus explained. 

"Oooooh." The three fillies said. 

"Umm, I do have a question." Applebloom said, looking at Merasmus.

"Yes, what is it?" Merasmus asked, sitting down.

"How come you don't rhyme like zecora?" She asked.

"Zecora?" Merasmus asked Applebloom, raising a eyebrow.

"She's another zebra like you, but she rhymes when she talks." Applebloom explains.

"Why would I rhyme, when I don't have the time?" Merasmus joked, getting a few giggles from the fillies.

"Applebloom! What in tarnation are you doing with that pony!" A voice yelled. Merasmus looked up and saw another pony heading their way. He saw a orange yellow pony wearing a Stetson hat with her mane tied in a ponytail, with a mark on her flank that shows three red apples heading in their direction.

' She reminds me of engineer' Merasmus thought. Just then, the Stetson hat pony walked past the fillies and put her face right in his face and snorted.

"Just what do ya think ya'll doing with my sister?" The pony said quite angrily. "Ya better not be casting some sort of voodoo on her. Cause if ya are, I will buck you all the way to stalliongrad, ya hear partner." She snorted.

'Yep definitely reminds me of engineer' Merasmus thought. The three fillies stood in front of the cowboy hat pony. Applebloom walked up to her.

"Applejack, wait! Merasmus here saved us." Applebloom said. Applejack looked down at Applebloom and saw that she was telling the truth. She then looked back at Merasmus and had a look that said "I'm sorry, I didn't know" strewn across her face. 

"Its true, I saved them from a pack of timberwolfs." Merasmus said.

"Yea! Merasmus was like "somethingecus Explodicus" and caused a timber wolf to go boom!" Scootaloo said, flapping her tiny wings.

"Yea, than he grabbed us, yelled something and teleported us out of the everfree and we reappeared next to the farm." Sweetie Belle said. Applejack looked at Merasmus and saw him staring off into space as if he was thinking of something. 

"Well then, Mr. Merwhatsits," Applejack said to Merasmus, which caused him to come out of his daydream and look at her. Than she walked up to Merasmus, and hugged him. Which made Merasmus gasp and causing his skull cap hat to fall off. "I would like to thank you. If... if you weren't there to save my little sister, I.... I wouldn't have known what to do." She sniffed.

"Need....air..." Merasmus gasped. Applejack released Merasmus, causing him to breathe heavily. But he managed to smile back and nod towards Applejack as he grabbed his hat and put it back on.

"Its no problem Ms. Applejack." Merasmus said, just as his stomach growled. Merasmus sheepishly looked at Applejack and she and the three fillies laughed.

"Well than, why don't you come on inside, it is about time for dinner." Applejack said. Merasmus smiled and nodded again.

"I would like that, I hadn't had a good decent meal in years." Merasmus stated.

"Well than, I guess you will love our cooking then. Now let's go before we catch a cold." Applejack said, walking back towards a farm house. Merasmus smiled again, grabbed his staff, slung it around his back, and followed Applejack with the three fillies following.

'I guess I am going to like this world after all.' Merasmus thought. 'Only time will tell. Only time will tell.' He thought.

TO BE CONTINUED


> Chapter 2
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

As Merasmus walked towards the farm house, following Applejack, he  looked around, noticing the many Apple trees on the farm. 

"I must say Applejack, you have a lot of Apple trees, in fact I've never seen so many Apple trees before." Merasmus said in amazement.

"Well thank you, sugercube. We do get good business with our apples here at sweet Apple acres." Applejack said. As they continued walking, Merasmus's stomach growled again. He looked sheepishly at Applejack again, getting a giggle from the CMC. "whooie! You sound hungrier than a caterpillar in an Apple orchard! Funny is how we're in one, hehe..." Applejack laughed. Merasmus chuckles lightly.

"Heh heh, yea, I am quite hungry, especially after saving the fillies from a pack of timberwolves." Merasmus said.

"Applejack, is he gunna be stayin' with us?" Applebloom asked. Applejack looked back at Applebloom.

"That depends if he has a place to stay or not. Or do ya live in the everfree?" She said, nudging Merasmus's side. " Oh wait yall don't know who zecora is...or do ya?" She asked.

"I don't live in the everfree," Merasmus said, shaking his head. "I left my home a while ago, so I don't have anywhere to go. And I don't really know who Zecora is, until Applebloom gave me a short description about her." He said.

"Then he's staying with me and rarity at the boutique!" Sweetie Belle suggested. Applebloom looked at Sweetie Belle and shook her head.

"No he's staying with us!" Applebloom retorted, grabbing Merasmus's right foreleg.

"No HES COMING WITH ME!" Sweetie Belle yelled, grabbing Merasmus's left leg and pulling it. They both tugged and pulled on Merasmus's legs trying to get him on their side, causing his skull hat to fall off his head. Merasmus looked towards Applejack with a look that said 'help me'

"Enough you two!" Applejack yelled. The two fillies let go of Merasmus and walked away, while scootaloo was laughing. Merasmus looked at Applejack and smiled.

"Thank you Applejack." He said, bending down and grabbing his skull hat. The bombinomicon that was in his robe fell out and hit the ground with a thud. Applejack stared at it with a confused look on her face.

"What's that duhiky?" Applejack asked. Merasmus put his skull hat back on his head and grabs the bombinomicon from the ground. 

"That's my bombinomicon." Merasmus said, putting the bombinomicon back into the pocket in his robe.

"The who da what now?" Applejack asked, shaking her head in confusion.

"The bombinomicon, my spell book." Merasmus said.

"Oh...but how do you cast spells, when you're a zebra? Only unicorns and alicorns, and pinkie pie can do things like that!" Applejack stated, sounding shocked. Merasmus looked at Applejack and raised a eye brow.

"Well... I'm a wizard, I can cast spells by saying magic words. And, who is Pinkie pie?" He asked.

"She's a good friend of mine. You'd be great friends seeing how she gone and befriended Anything that breathes!" Applejack stated.

"Unless she is like soldier." Merasmus muttered under his breath.

"what was that you said?" Applejack asked as they neared the house.

"Oh nothing, nothing." Merasmus said. Applejack raised a eyebrow, then shook her head as they were at the house. She opened the door for them.

"Well, welcome to mah home!" Applejack said, smiling. Merasmus smiled back and walked in. 

"Thank you." He said. As he walked in he looked around and saw pictures on the walls, a kitchen, stairway leading upstairs. Applejack saw Merasmus look around the house.

"I know it's not much, but you can stay here as long as you may need." She said. Merasmus looked at Applejack and nodded.

"Thank you, I will probably be staying for a while until I get a place to myself." He stated.

"Alright. Then uh, jus follow me and I can show you your room." Applejack said, going up the stairs. Merasmus nods and follows Applejack up the stairs. Applejack led Merasmus to the third bedroom on the left. As Merasmus walked in, he saw a single bed, a small wardrobe next to a small closet, and a window overlooking the orchard. Merasmus walks towards the wardrobe and takes off his skull cap hat and sets it down, along with his staff. He turns around, only to see Applejack very close to him, causing him to back up a bit.

"So, you can do spells and stuff, right? Well, just for safe measures, please don't be using any spells and such on any of mah friends or family, okay?" She asked. Merasmus nods.

"I promise." He said.

"Not regular promise, pinkie pie promise." She said.

"Pinkie pie promise?" Merasmus asked.

"Like this. Cross my heart," Applejack implied, crossing a hoof here her heart is.

"Cross my heart," Merasmus followed.

"Hope to fly," she continued.

"Hope to fly," Merasmus said.

"Stick a cupcake in my eye." Applejack finished.

"Stick a cupcake in my- OW!" Merasmus yelled as he poke his eye with a hoof. Applejack laughed a little at that.

"Good, now don't break that promise." She stated. Merasmus nods. "Now,  I don't wanna impose, but, do ya think you can show me somethin?" She asked. Merasmus raised a eyebrow.

"Um, I guess, what would you like to see?" Merasmus asked. 

Applejack thought for a bit. "Hmmm, I dunno." She said, than she had a idea. "Oh!" She exclaimed. She grabs Merasmus's right foreleg and drags him over to her room's door. She opens it and it squeaks loudly. "This thing is loose, and won't stop squeakin! No matter what we do, it still does it! Maybe you could do something to fix it?" She pleaded. Merasmus walks towards the door and looks it over. 

"Tis but a easy fix." Merasmus said. He raised a hoof and his staff appears. Applejack's looked shocked as Merasmus's staff appeared. "Dooracus Fixicus!" Merasmus yelled. His staff glows with light and then the light disappears as quickly as it appeared. He opens the door and not a single squeak is heard. Applejack smiles widely.

"Well I'll be damned! Thanks a lot, that darn door has been keeping me awake every night!" Applejack said. Merasmus smiles  and makes his staff disappear. He was about to speak when his stomach rumbled again. Applejack's ears perk up when she heard it and gasps.

"Dear Celestia I almost forgot! Well, we had breakfast a little bit ago, and there's a few haycakes left over in the kitchen, help yourself to those." She said. Merasmus nods and heads downstairs, towards the kitchen. He enters the kitchen and looks around. He could see that it almost looked like a normal kitchen, minus the electricity. He could see a stack of what looks like pancakes. But he wasn't alone in the kitchen, he could see a green pony asleep on a chair. He calculated that she was old, because he could make out the wrinkles and the aging hair.

Applejack walked into the kitchen. She walks towards the fridge and pulls out a bottle of syrup. She hands it to Merasmus who takes it.

"Thank you." He s aid, nodding. He than pours out a good amount of syrup onto the pancakes as Applejack sits in a chair across the table. "If I may ask, who is that?" He asked, nodding his head towards the old mare.

"Oh, that's Granny Smith. Believe it or not, when she was my age, she helped found the town of ponyville! With these!" Applejack said, getting off the chair, walking towards the fridge and taking out a rainbow Apple. Merasmus blinked multiple times.  "She worked ages to make pies, and cakes and jams as perfect as possible. Then she started to sell off what she made, and soon enough, ponies from all over Equestria were travling and settling here for these zap apple's. And within time, everything you see now, was built off of these." She said. She than handed the zap Apple to Merasmus. "Ever tried one?" She asked him. Merasmus shook his head no. 

"No, i havn't tried one." He said. Applejack smiled widely.

"Oh boy, prepare for the best thing you'll ever put in your mouth, then!" She said. Merasmus looks over the Apple. He takes a bite of it, and his eyes widen. He quickly devours the apple. 

' Th-the flavor, it's... it's... theirs no word to describe the flavor! It's the best thing I have ever eaten!' Merasmus thought as he devoured the apple. "Th-that was the best Apple I have ever eaten!" He yells.

"That'll be ten bits." Applejack said. Merasmus Looked at her like he was in big trouble. Applejack laughed. "Nah, I'm just kidding." She laughed, causing him to sigh in relief.

"So, if you don't mind me askin, what does a fine stallion like yourself do for a living? Besides all the magic spells, and such." Applejack asked. Merasmus swallowed a bite of haycake and thought.

"Well, I am sort of a entertainer if you'd like." Merasmus said, finishing off the last of his haycakes.

"Oh, then you'd definitely get along with pinkie pie!" Applejack said.

"And I also collect old artifacts and stuff as well." Merasmus added. 

"Like what?" Applejack asked.

"Well, like old tomes, books, and objects, that kind of stuff." Merasmus said. Applejack nods.

"Sounds very interesting. I'm sure I don't have to tell you what I do. Since its quite obvious that we raise Apple's and such." She said. Merasmus nods. He than yawns and felt really tired. 

"Tired huh?" Applejack asked, getting a weak nod from Merasmus. She get up and pats his shoulder.

"Well, you've got a bed that's waitin for ya, then." Applejack said, getting another nods from Merasmus. He gets out of the chair that he was sitting on and slowly walks up the stairs. "Sleep tight my friend." Applejack said. Merasmus walks into his room, takes off his robe, climbs into bed, and let sleep take over him.

TO BE CONTINUED
> Chapter 3
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

(POV: Applejack and CMC)

Applejack woke up to the sound of the crowing rooster. She sat up in her bed and stretched, until a horrid smell of burnt pancakes filled her nostrils. 

"Ugh..." She moaned. "Applebloom..." She moaned. She grunted as she threw off the covers and got out of bed. She shuffles her hooves across the creaky floor boards on her way to the kitchen downstairs. She yawns as she enters the kitchen and sees applebloom making batter, and sweetie belle is making the pancakes, and scootaloo is putting them on plates.

"What in tarnation are y'all doin' here at this time in the mornin'?" Applejack asked. 

"Well, we decided to be nice and make breakfast for our new friend...and the rest of us." Sweetie Belle said.

"See!" Scootaloo said, pointing a hoof at seven plates, each with three pancakes. 

"Won't rarity and rainbow dash worry where you two are?" Applejack asked towards Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo.

"Oh, I left a note in Rarity's forehead!" Sweetie Belle said.

"And I told rainbow dash I was coming here anyway. Even before we knew merasumusus....whatever his name is!" Scootaloo said.

"Well thanks for tryin ta help, but please leave cooking to us older ponies who cook the food and not the house the food is being cooked in..." Applejack stated. She looks at the pancakes and raises a eyebrow. "They aren't that burnt. Ah've had worse, so these will do." She said. She yawns as she grabs a plate. She brings it to the table and sees Merasmus walk in, still looking like he needs sleep. "Ah good mornin Mar. Mind if ah call ya Mar? We're just finishing up breakfast." Applejack said.
_____________________________________________

(POV: Merasmus)

'Uuuh, need more sleep.' Merasmus thought as he sleepily shuffled into the kitchen. 

"Ah, good morning Mar." He heard Applejack say. "Mind if I call you Mar?" She asked. "Were just finishing up breakfast." She said.

"I don't mind if you call me Mar." He yawned. "And ok." He said.

"How'd ya sleep?" Applejack asked as Merasmus sat in a chair with a plate of pancakes.

"Like a log." Merasmus yawned.

"Good." Applejack said, nodding. "Would you like some syrup?" She asked. Merasmus nods. Applebloom zips to the fridge, then to Merasmus with the bottle in hoof, and a wide smile. 

"You were totally awesome yesterday! Do you think you could do it again!?" Scootaloo yells, flapping her tiny wings.

"Yeah, maybe we could try to be like you!" Sweetie Belle yelled as they surrounded Merasmus. 

"Huh...wai...wha..?" Merasmus stuttered as he looked at the three little fillies around him.

"CUTIE MARK CRUSADER..." they began, causing Merasmus to flinch.

"Wait!" Applebloom interrupted. "What would that be called anyway?" She asked.

"Girls, please go play outside. It's too early to he screamin an' hollrin' like that with our new guest." Applejack said.

"Oh okay..." the three fillies said, lowering their heads as they head out the door.

"So..." Applejack started as she sat down in a chair. "What's on ur agenda for today?" She asked. Merasmus shook his head to get the ringing that has started, than thought. "Hmm... nothing really." He said, taking a bite of pancake.

"I see. I have a ton of chores to do." Applejack sighed. Merasmus looked at Applejack as he fixed his skull cap hat, he had a idea.

"Well, I can help you with your chores if you'd like." Merasmus said.

"No, ah couldn't make ya do mah hard work. You've been homeless for a while I'd assume, and you need your rest, alright, sugarcube?" Applejack asked. "Yeah ah know ya just woke up, ah don't me ya need ta go back ta bed, cause who am I to tell you what to do?" She chuckles slightly. "But in all seriousness, I wouldn't be able to allow it. But if you insist, then do something small, like the dishes, when there are dishes that need cleaning, alright?" She said. Merasmus nods.

"I want to help, it's the least I could do for you for letting me stay here." He said. 

"If you'd insist." Applejack sighed. "I hate it how ah'm so manipulative." She said sarcastically. "Ya can help me buck Apple trees if you think you're up for it. Also so I can keep an eye on you to not overwork yourself! Deal?" She said holding out her hoof. Merasmus nods, smiles and takes her hoof.

"Deal!" He yells.

"We start at noon, alright? If you really want to, you can help me with some of my other chores." She said, eating her pancakes. Merasmus nods.

"Ok." He said. 

"Sometimes I wish ah could sleep through a whole day," Applejack yawned. "You know what ah mean?" She smirked.

"That I do." Merasmus said. "Unless you have soldier disturbing you every day." He muttered under his breath.

"Who is soldier? A friend of yours?" Applejack asked.

"Well, not really, he was a roommate of mine where I lived. He was always talking about war and fighting. Let's just say, he was a little annoying, always bothering me when I'm practicing my spells and potion making." Merasmus said, looking a little annoyed.

"Ah see. At least ya don't gotta worry about him anymore, right?" Applejack asked.

"Yea, because I kicked him out when he failed to pay the rent for a long time. The last time I saw him, he was with eight other ponies in a mercenary team." Merasmus said.

"Well, ya don't gotta worry about all that stuff here, since every pony is friends with each other!" Applejack said. Merasmus smiles and nods.

"Need a hug?" Applejack said, holding out her forelegs and chuckling a bit.

"Never had a hug before, ever." Merasmus said. Applejack stared at him with a blank face.

"Ah find that hard ta believe. But if you're telling the truth, then I can he your first! ...That sounded weird..." She said. Merasmus laughs a little bit.

"That it did Applejack." Merasmus laughed. 

"Anyway..."  Applejack said. She walked up to Merasmus and hugged him. "Everypony needs a hug." She said. Merasmus blushes and his skull hat falls off his head.

"You know...it's customary to hug back heh heh." Applejack laughed. 

"S...sorry." Merasmus stuttered, hugging back.

"It's alright, ya didn't know." Applejack said, letting go. "So uh...have you been to ponyville before?" She asks. Merasmus shakes his head.

"I have not been to ponyville before." He said.

"Ah see." She said. "If ya want ah can take ya to sugarcube corner and pinkie pie can show you around!" She said, smiling.

'I guess I could give it a chance, see what the town is like.' Merasmus thought. He nods and smiles, putting his hat back on. "Sure, I wouldn't mind seeing the town." Merasmus said.

"Alright then, let's get going!" Applejack says getting up and heading for the door. Merasmus nods and follows. Applejack sniffs the morning air and looks at Merasmus. 

"Ready?" She asks. Merasmus checks to make sure he has everything, his staff and bombinomicon, than he nods. Applejack smiles and starts walking, with Merasmus following. 

"I bet your gonna love it here." She said.

"I'm sure I will." Merasmus said. ' And probably get some piece and quiet for once.' He thought as they made their way to the town.

TO BE CONTINUED
> Chapter 4 (Part 1)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

(POV: none)

Merasmus follows Applejack as they make their way towards Ponyville. "So tell me, where did you live before?" Applejack asked. Merasmus looked at her.

"Well, I used to live in a castle. A haunted castle to be exact." Merasmus said, slightly smiling. Applejack stops and looks at him, clearly shocked.

"HAUNTED!" She yells. Merasmus flinches from the volume. Than he shakes his head.

"Yes, a haunted castle. I liked living there, it wasn't so bad." He said.

"Well, I haven't always been the type to believe in such things, but just incase ah'm wrong, Ah'm sure the farm ain't haunted." Applejack said. Merasmus shook his head.

"It ain't, and hey, some ponies believe in ghosts, some don't." Merasmus said.

"It's not that ah don't believe in them, I'm just a bit suspicious about their existance." Applejack stated. Merasmus nods.

"And I don't blame you." He said." So, how far are we from the town?" He asked

"Oh, it's just up ahead!" Applejack said, pointing a hoof at a small town. Merasmus looks and his eyes widen.

"You have a castle made out of crystal in the town!" Merasmus said.

"Ah, my friend princess Twilight Sparkle lives there. She used to live in a library built inside a BIIG tree."  Applejack laughed as they walked into the town.

'This world gets weirder and weirder by the minute' Merasmus thought as he followed. He looked around, taking in the buildings and sights, but he didn't see any pony outside.

"Where is everypony?" Merasmus asked.

"I dunno." Applejack said as she looked around. She saw a pony duck into a building and facehoofed. 

"Ah see. Same thing happened with zecora. They hid cause they thought she was spooky and whatnot." She said. Merasmus sighs and shakes his head.

'Not again' He thought. "Shouldn't they be over this already?" Merasmus asked Applejack.

"Well, you're new, so they're just being cautious. It happens to any suspicious character who comes through." Applejack stated.

"Well I guess that makes sense. A town being cautious about someone new." Merasmus said as he continued to look around. He saw old thatched houses, some a little bit more modern, one building caught his attention, a house that looked like a gingerbread house. 'Must be a bakery." He thought as they neared it.

"Now, if you were a pony, they'd all be saying hi and trying to make friends." Applejack said.

"But it's because I am a zebra that they are being cautious." Merasmus said.

"Yeah. To be honest, I didn't think they'd react this way." Applejack stated as she knocked on the gingerbread house's door.

"What is this place?" Merasmus asked, looking at the house. "It looks like it can be eaten." He said.

"I know it does. Don't try though." Applejack said as no one answered. She walks in and holds the door. 

"Thank you." Merasmus said, walking in. As he did, he smelled wonderful smells. He smelled cookies and cakes that made his mouth water. He saw a pink pony look at him, before ducking behind the counter with a "eep". 

"Pinkie pie!" Applejack yelled at the pink pony. "You of all ponies, were the last I would expect to treat our new resident this way!" She yelled. Pinkie pie poked her head from the counter so only her blue eyes showed. 

"Wh-what if he is bad..." Pinkie pie stuttered.

"Pinkie-" Applejack said, sighing heavily. "Just stop." She said.

"Okay..." Pinkie pie said.

"Umm, what was going on?" Merasmus asked.

"I couldn't tell ya." Applejack sighed. Merasmus raised a eyebrow.

"Ok than." He said. He looks at Pinkie pie. "So your Pinkie pie, one of Applejack's friends." Merasmus said.

"You aren't going to...turn me into soup..are you?" Pinkie pie stuttered.

"If he was gunna turn anypony into soup, it'd have been me since ah'm right here. Now, can we stop all this nonsense?" Applejack asked.

"Yeah, sure..." Pinkie pie said, turning on the lights.

"Why would I turn you into soup, you would taste awful and I'm not that type of pony, or zebra in this case." Merasmus said. Pinkie pie stuffed some of her mane into her mouth. Merasmus shook his head in confusion.

"It's cotton candy flavored!" Pinkie pie said.

'She is random, just like pyro. There's always something going on with that guy.' Merasmus thought. "Okay than. Anyway, I am new to this town. So it's nice to meet you. I also heard from Applejack that your a entertainer." Merasmus said. Pinkie pie gives Applejack a disgusted face.

"APPLEJACK!! You know I'm not into that!" Pinkie pie yells. Applejack facehoofs.

"Ah meant entertainer as in making ponies laugh!" Applejack retorted.

"Oh, that's good." Pinkie pie said. Merasmus laughs at Pinkie pie's face.

"Now, we need to let everpony know merasmus isn't bad." Applejack said, sighing heavily. Merasmus nods.

"Pinkie, ah was hoping you could show our new friend around town." Applejack said. A huge smile appeared on Pinkie pie's face and she nodded.

"Sure!" Pinkie pie yelled, bouncing around Merasmus, who looked at pinkie. 

"Is she always like this? A energetic pink ball of fur?" Merasmus whispered to Applejack.

"You'll get used to it." Applejack whispered back, patting Merasmus on the back.

"Anyway, shall we get going Pinkie?" Merasmus asked.

"Sure!" Pinkie said, bouncing out the door with Merasmus following.

"Ah'll be at th farm if ya need me!" Applejack yelled.

"First of all! I'm pinkie pie! What's your name!?" Pinkie pie asked, grabbing Merasmus's hoof and shaking it so hard that he is bouncing up and down. His skull hat falls off his head, and his bombinomicon falls out of his robe.

"M-m-m-e-e-r-r-a-a-s-s-m-m-u-u-s-s." Merasmus said while he was bouncing up and down. Pinkie pie suddenly stoped shaking Merasmus's hoof. Merasmus staggers a bit, than shakes his head.

"What kind of name is M-m-m-e-e-r-r-a-a-s-s-m-m-u-u-s-s?" Pinkie asked.

"I meant to say Merasmus." Merasmus said, putting his hat back on and bombinomicon back in his robe.

"Oki doki loki!" Pinkie pie said, hugging Merasmus tightly and smiling widely.

"Need...air...again" Merasmus gasped. Pinkie let's go.

"Sowwy..." she said, hanging her head and her ears droop, before perking back up again.

"Let's go!" She yelled skipping down the road. Merasmus shakes his head and follows.

' She is so random.' Merasmus thought. "So Pinkie pie, where are we going?"

"Only everywhere around town!" Pinkie pie yelled.

"I see, where shall we start?" Merasmus asked.

"Here!" Pinkie said, pointing a hoof at sugercube corner. "Let me show you inside!" She hummed happily, trotting into the candy coated building. Merasmus shook his head in confusion and then pointed his hoof in different directions.

"Huh... but... wait..." Merasmus stuttered. "We just came from here. Why are we back?" Merasmus asked. He than facehoofs and follows inside. 

"Don't tell me ya showed him the whole town already?" Applejack asked.

"Nope! We just started!" Pinkie pie said. She turns towards Merasmus. "This is where I work and live!" She said.

"I see. You work at a bakery," Merasmus said. "Applejack works on a Apple farm." He said. She than grabs Merasmus's hoof and drags him upstairs into another room. Merasmus sees two baby ponies in a crib. He couldn't help but smile at how cute they where. He also saw that one was a Pegasus, and the other was a unicorn.

"This is pumpkin and pound cake!" Pinkie said.

"Hello." Merasmus said. Pumpkin and pound cake looked at him, causing Merasmus to smile warmly. Then Pumpkin cake's horn started to glow and Pinkie immediately knew what was happening. Merasmus was suddenly dragged closer to the crib and pumpkin started to suck on his head, while pound cake was banging Merasmus's head with his rattle. Pinkie gasps.

"Pumpkin, and Pound cake!" Pinkie yelled. "Put that down!" She yelled. Merasmus was quite shocked to see that The unicorn has magic at quite a young age.

"Magicus counterus" Merasmus whispered. The glow surrounding Merasmus ceased, but the babies where still on him. Pinkie pie pries the both of them off Merasmus and places them back in their crib.

"Sleep!" She yells. Both of them stare at her then instantly fall asleep. 

"They're just so energetic! Who knows where in Equestria they get their energy? " She said, skip-hopping out of the room. Merasmus looks at them and nods. He than follows pinkie pie. As he left the room, he felt something heavy on his tail. He looked and saw Pumpkin sucking on it. Pinkie saw it and started to pull pumpkin.

"Let go!!" She yelled, but pumpkin refused to let go. Merasmus shakes his head and chuckles.

"Only if fluttershy were here!!" Pinkie yelled, continuing to try and pull pumpkin off his tail.

"Who is Fluttershy?" Merasmus asked.

"A friend of mine!" Pinkie said, finally yanking pumpkin off Merasmus's tail. Merasmus flinches as pumpkin comes off. Pumpkin spits out clumps of hair from her mouth.

"Thank you.  And I see." Merasmus said. Pinkie zips back into the room, and back out. 

"Now, where were we?" She asked, putting a hoof on her chin. "Oh yea!" She says, trotting down the stairs with Merasmus in tow. "Sorry about that. They can be hoof-fulls." She said. Merasmus nods.

"Indeed they can." He said.

"Try babysitting them for a day!" Pinkie pie said.

"Well, i never babysat before, ever." Merasmus said.

"Oh, it's fun!" Pinkie said as they reach the front door. "At least it's what you think until the babies take control." Pinkie chuckled. 

"I see." Merasmus said. "So, where to next?" He asked. Pinkie looked as if she was thinking.

"AH! The boutique!" She yelled.

"The boutique?" Merasmus asked.

"My friend Rarity works there." Pinkie said.

"I never been in boutique before." Merasmus said.

"Well, let's go!" Pinkie said, trotting out the door. Merasmus nods and follows. 

'This is quite nice, even though pinkie is a little bit weird. Oh well, the more friends, the merrier.' He thought as they made their way through town towards the boutique.

TO BE CONTINUED
> Chapter 5 (Part 2)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

As Pinkie pie and Merasmus walked, pinkie bounced alongside Merasmus, giggling all the while.

"So, pinkie," Merasmus said. "Who is Rarity?" Be asked

"A poonyyy." Pinkie pie said, getting a  facehoof from Merasmus.

"You don't say." He said flatly.

"She's a biiiig fashion designer and has her own shop!" Pinkie said. "She's even got customers begging at her hooves all the way up from canterlot!" She said.

'Canterlot? That sounds a lot like Camelot.' Merasmus thought. "I see." He said. "What is Canterlot?" He asked. Pinkie pie stopped bouncing and stared at Merasmus with a blank face.

"Have you been living your entire life under a-" pinkie pie started.  "A rock?" A dark grey mare with purple hair asked while walking by.

"I was going to say marshmallow." Pinkie said, putting a hoof to her chin to think. Merasmus watches the mare walk by than looks back at pinkie. He points a hoof towards the mares direction.

"Who was that?" Merasmus asked. The mare stops and looks in their direction.

"I'm Maud." The mare said in a monotone voice. Pinkie pie hugs Maud tightly.

"And we're sisters!" She yelled. Maud reaches into the satchel around her waist and pulls out a small rock.

"This is my friend boulder." Maud said. "Say hi to the nice zebra, boulder." She said.

"That's just a bloody rock!" A quiet, certain familiar voice rang out.

"Your stick says some mean things about boulder." Maud says.

"Its not from my staff." Merasmus said, taking out his bombinomicon from his robe. "It's coming from him." He said. Maud stares at the book for a second before placing boulder back in her satchel.

"Come boulder, we have things to do." She said. She walks off. Merasmus sighs and places bombinomicon back into his robe. As Merasmus looks back at Pinkie, he saw that she had her hoof going through her ears. He raises a eyebrow.

"Ooohhheeee this feels weeeiiird..." Pinkie said.

"Why do you say that?" Merasmus asked.

"I can feel my braaaiiinnn." Pinkie said.

"Oookay than. Are we supposed to continue with our tour?" Merasmus asked.

"Yeah!" Pinkie said, pulling her hoof out of her ear and continues to trot.

"How far are we to the boutique?" Merasmus asked.

"Hmmmm," she said, stopping in front of a door. "Maybe a few millimeters." She giggled as she walks in, causing a bell above the door to ding. Merasmus shakes his head and follows. As he entered, he could see pony like mannequins with articles of clothing on them.

"Do I have customers?" A feminine voice said gleefully from a back room. As Merasmus looked, he could see a white unicorn with a purple mane. He could see three blue diamonds on her flank as well. "Oh hi pinkie, who is your friend?" The mare asked.

'Let's see, depending on her physique, she likes things to be clean and tidy, as well as perfect. She reminds me of spy.' Merasmus thought. "Ah hello, my name is Merasmus." He said.

"I see. are you new in town?" The mare asked. Merasmus nods

"I am. And if I may, I never got your name." He said.

"Oh, my name is Rarity, Darling." The mare said. "It's a pleasure to meet you!" She said, sticking a hoof out towards Merasmus. Merasmus raises a hoof and places it on Rarity's hoof.

"Same." He said. As he looked at Rarity, he could see that she was eyeing his robe.

"I bet you'll at least want better clothing?" She asked. Merasmus was slightly taken aback at what she said.

"No, I have always worn this robe." He said.

"So I see. Never mind then, and I seem to have offended you, and for that I am sorry." Rarity apologized.

"He came from the everfree!" Pinkie said.

"Why am I not surprised?" Merasmus heard Rarity mumble.

"No, you didn't offend me, it's just that nopony has ever said that to me before." Merasmus said.

"Oh, then maybe you'd like to try something different?" Rarity asked. "Maybe like another robe that isnt tattered and torn like yours, no offense, im just trying to offer something better for you to wear. I-I could make you something darling." Rarity offered. Merasmus sighs than nods.

"I guess you can, I don't want to disappoint you." He said. Merasmus saw Rarity's ears perk up and she smiled.

"Really?" Yay!" She yelled happily, zooming off back into the back room again.

"She'll need a few seconds. She's really fast when shes excited." Pinkie said

"I see." Merasmus said.

"Rarity, who's there?" Merasmus heard a familiar voice say from upstairs. But no answer came as she walks downstairs. When she sees Merasmus, she has a wide smile sprawled across her face.

"OH MY CELESTIA YOU"RE HERE!!" Sweetie Belle yelled, tackling Merasmus to the ground and hugging and nuzzling him.  "So you chose to stay with us instead?!" She asks. Looking at him with her wide smile. Merasmus chuckles at the adorableness.

"Well, pinkie pie here is taking me on a tour, and we decided to stop here." Merasmus said.

"Soo you arent staying?" Sweetie Belle asked, her smile fading. Merasmus started to worry, than he had a idea.

"Well, I do have a idea. But let me ask you this first, is Rarity your sister?" He asks Sweetie Belle.

"Yea, how did you know?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"Well, you both have the same colored fur and you came from upstairs, which I believe is the living area." Merasmus said.

"How does fur color have anything to do with it?" Sweetie Belle asked. "I guess im sisters with Vinyl Scratch, Nurse Readheart, Princess Celestia..." she said.

"Wow, that's... not what I meant. How would I put it, ahh, you both have this vibe that says that your sisters." Merasmus stated.

"OH! But...whats a vibe?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"Hmmm, how should I put it, ah, do you have any bullies that pick on you or your friends?" Merasmus asked.

"Well, there is Diamond Tiara who picks on us for being blank flanks." Sweetie Belle said.

"Blank flanks?" Merasmus asked.

"Ponies without their cutie mark." Sweetie Belle said.

"Ah ok." Merasmus said. He than raises a eyebrow. "If I may ask, what's a cutie mark?" He asked.

"Its a mark that shows what your special talent is." Sweetie said.

"Ok, thanks." Merasmus said.

"So what are you doing now?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"Besides getting a tour from pinkie, I don't know." Merasmus said. He heard the sounds of hoofs and sees Rarity coming back out carrying a purple cloak in some kind of blue aura.

'Is she, using magic?' Merasmus thought. 

"I'm done!" Rarity said, showing it to Merasmus. Merasmus could see a yellow trim and tribal markings with encrusted jems along the hood with a red ribbon to tie it closed at the neck.

"What do you think?" She asked. "Try it on for me would you?" She asked. Merasmus didn't know what to say. He smiles and nods, than takes off his robe, setting it on the floor. He takes the other robe and slips it on, but he has trouble tying the ribbon.

"Like this darling." Rarity said, using her magic to twirl the two ribbons together, pulling it tight. "There ya go. What do you think?" She asked.

"I... I don't know what to say. Nopony has ever done this for me. Thank you." Merasmus said.

"Think of it as a welcome to ponyville gift!" Rarity said. "I do this for all new comers who come through here! Even if their just a passerby. So do you want it? Free of charge!" She said. 

"Want it? I love it!" Merasmus said, grabbing his robe opening it and taking out his bombinomicon.

"Hey, I dig the new duds." The book said, before being placed into the pocket of Merasmus's new robe.

"All though im not one for wearing the heads of deceased animals on my head, i do say it looks simply divine with that robe on you!" Rarity said.

"Thank you rarity, I don't know what to say." Merasmus said.

"Um..if you dont mind, could i experiment some new style's i've been thinking of on your mane? nothing girly. Pleaasee???" Rarity pleaded. Merasmus smiles and nods.

"I don't see why not." he said. Pinkie leans in.

"You should have said no." she whispers.

"wait what?" Merasmus asks.

"YAY!" Rarity yells, pulling Merasmus into a back room and begins to 'experiment' on his mane. She makes his mane curly like her mane. "How about this?" she asked before giggling. "Just kidding." she said, undoing, and making it spiky like Soarin's mane in a way. "How's this?" she asks, turning him towards a mirror.

"Not bad. What do you think?" Merasmus asks.

"I say the curls were better, they remind me of me if you know what i mean," she giggled. "But yes, you look good like that." she said.

"Than i will keep it like this." Merasmus said.

"Wait, do you want the black and white separate like this, or a pattern?" She asks.

"If you like it like this, than i will keep it like this. If you want to change it, be my guest and surprise me." Merasmus said.

"I think it looks good!" Rarity says. "Just one more thing." she said, making a twirly bang appear in front of Merasmus's right eye. "There!" she says.

"I like it, thank you Rarity." Merasmus said.

"Wait, wait, wait!" she yells, making another twirly hair, this time a white hair fall over his left eye. "Sorry, I just can't help it." Rarity said.

"It's okay, Rarity." Merasmus chuckled.

"Now you look simply SMASHING! I'm soo glad you like it!" Rarity said with glee.

"I am too. It's been far too long since I had a wardrobe change." Merasmus said.

"Now go and show Equestria the handsome new you!" Rarity yells. Merasmus nods and smiles.

"I will, Rarity." Merasmus said, walking back into the main room.

"Come back anytime if you need anything, darling!" Rarity yells.

"Will do!" Merasmus yells. As Merasmus entered the main room, he saw Pinkie pie had her hoof in her head again.

"Oooh are we leaving?" Pinkie asked.

"That we are pinkie." Merasmus said. Pinkie removes her hoof from her head.

"Okie!" She says, before flopping onto Merasmus's back holding on to his staff, causing him to grunt under pinkie's weight. "Pony ride!" She yells.

"Magicus Strengthicus." Merasmus whispered. He stood up straight and walked out of the boutique as if pinkie weighed nothing.

"YAAAAY!" Pinkie yells, throwing her hoofs up into the air.

"Where to next pinkie?" Merasmus asked.

"Hmmm..." Pinkie said, looking around. "There!" She yells, pointing in a direction. "Fluttershy's cottage!" She said. Merasmus nods and walks in the direction that pinkie pointed to.

TO BE CONTINUED

> Chapter 6 (Part 3)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Hmmm, where should we go next?" Pinkie pie asked, putting her chin to her hoof. "OH OH OHH!! Fluttershy's cottage!" She yelled, bouncing up and down on Merasmus's back, causing him to grunt with each bounce.

"Okay," Merasmus grunted. "And pinkie?" He asked.

"Yesss?" She asked, stopping her bouncing. 

"Please get off my back. I don't think it can take much more of your bouncing." Merasmus grunted.

"Oki doki loki!" Pinkie said, getting off Merasmus's back. Merasmus stretches and a snap is heard. Merasmus smiled as he relaxes.

"Thank you." Merasmus said.

"No problemo, sir!" Pinkie said.

"So if I may ask, where does Fluttershy live?" Merasmus asked.

"By the everfree forest!" Pinkie said.

"I see." Merasmus said.

"Let's go!" Pinkie yelled, trotting towards the direction of the forest. Merasmus nods and follows pinkie.

"WAIT!" Pinkie yelled. She trots over to a mail box, and reaches inside, and pulls out a cupcake. "I almost forgot about this one!" She said. She shoved the vanilla frosted strawberry cupcake into her mouth, smacking slightly as she chews. "Om nom nom nom!" She said as she chewed. Merasmus raises a eyebrow.

'Did she just make heavy's chewing noise?' Merasmus thought. Pinkie pie pulls out another cupcake, and brings it towards Merasmus.

"Want one?" She asks. She shoves the cupcake into Merasmus's mouth before he says anything. 

"Mmmph!" Merasmus said. He blinks multiple times, before chewing the cupcake. His eyes widen at the deliciousness of the cupcake.

"Like it!? Despite the dust that had built up on it i bet it was good, right!?" She asked. Merasmus nods as he finishes the last bit of his cupcake.

"I... I never had a cupcake that good before. In fact never had a sweet that good before!" He said.

"I know! Celestia sometimes begs me to send HER some, because they're so good!" Pinkie yelled. "Now shall we be on our way again?" She asked. Merasmus nods.

"Yes." He said. 'I got to know who this Celestia pony is.' Merasmus thought.

"She's a wonderful pony who cares about everypony." Pinkie said.

"Huh?" Merasmus asked.

"You heard me!" She said. Merasmus raises a eyebrow. 

"Oookay than." He said, shaking his head, then looking up. As he did, he saw a blue blur with a rainbow trail behind it fly through the sky. "What was that?" Merasmus asked.

"Oh! HIIII RAINBOW DASH!!!!" Pinkie yelled, waving her hoof in the air.

"Rainbow Dash?" Merasmus asked. The blue blur changes towards their direction and it stops in front of Merasmus and pinkie. Merasmus could see a blue pegasus with a rainbow mane and tail. He could see a rain cloud with a rainbow lightning bolt on her flank.

"Hey, Pinkie Pie, what's up? And who's the dude with the awesome threads?" Rainbow Dash asked.

'Hmm, from her tone of voice and her physique, she's just like scout. Always acting before thinking.' Merasmus thought. "My name is Merasmus." Merasmus said.

"I take it Rarity made that for you, since it's got all those jewels and stuff?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"YEP! And he tried on of my mailbox cupcakes. He said it was the best thing ever!" Pinkie said. Merasmus nods.

"It was. I never had a cupcake that good before." Merasmus said.

"Meh, it becomes just like every other cupcake you eat. So. Where are you two love birds headed?" Rainbow giggled.

"Yeah, where ARE we going, merasmus?" Pinkie said, leaning against Merasmus's side, before rolling around on the floor in a laughing fit. Merasmus facehoofs and shakes his head. 

"Pinkie, remember that you were going to show me Fluttershy's cottage." Merasmus said.

"I know, lets go!" Pinkie said, sliding along the ground on her back, unaided.

"Hey, can I tag along?" RD asked.

"I don't see why not." Merasmus said.

"Sweet!" RD yelled. She landed with her hooves on Pinkie's, as she was on her back still. She fluttered her wings, pushing them along faster. 

"We are so weird dashie." Pinkie said. Merasmus raises an eyebrow.

"How far are we from Fluttershy's cottage?" Merasmus asked.

"Not too far. maybe three seconds if i flew, but this might take a few minutes." RD said.

"I see. Can you tell me about yourself, rainbow?" Merasmus asked.

"I'm only the fastest pegasus in all of Equestria! The wonderbolts asked me to join them, but i turned them down since they couldn't compete with me." She said.

'Interesting. She said that she is the fastest pegasus ever. I may like this world after all.' Merasmus thought. "I see." Merasmus said. Suddenly rainbow dash presses her head against Merasmus's.

"I'm gonna get one thing clear, okay? Hurt any of my friends, dont expect me to not find you and throw you a butt whooping you wont forget." She said, pulling her face back. "Other than that, we're cool!" She said, patting his head. Merasmus blinks multiple, then laughs. RD walks besides Merasmus.

"So , how about you tell me a bit about you." RD said.

"Well, I can cast magic, which I am pretty good at. I also collect artifacts as well. Old ones, like tomes, books,  relics, etc." Merasmus said.

"Then I'm sure you and twilight would get along quite well!" RD said.

"Twilight? Who's Twilight?" Merasmus asked.

"The princess of friendship, a magic slash book geek who has a baby talking dragon, and lives in that crystal castle. That Twilight Sparkle." RD said.

"I see." Merasmus said. Merasmus sees what looks like a cottage ahead. "Is that it?" He asked.

"Nope!" Pinkie said, trotting up to the cottage door and knocks on it. The door opens and Merasmus could see a butter yellow pegasus with a pink mane. He could see three pink butterflies on her flank.

'So this must be Fluttershy.' Merasmus thought.

"Oh, hi Pinkie. Hi Rainbow. What brings you guys here?" Fluttershy said quietly. Merasmus looks over pinkie and rainbow at Fluttershy.

"Hello." Merasmus said. 

"H-hi." Fluttershy muttered, hiding behind her mane.

'I guess she is shy and likes to be alone. And from the looks of it, she takes care of animals, which means that she knows first aid. I can see her as medic.' Merasmus thought. "Oh, sorry, I didn't mean to scare you." Merasmus said, backing up, before tripping over a rock. Merasmus lands on his flank, causing his skull cap hat to fall off, and bombinomicon to fall out of his new robe.

"What are those?" RD asked.

"His skull hat and bombinomicon." Pinkie said.

"Hey! You got to be careful, I'm precious cargo here!" Bombinomicon said. Merasmus stood up and places his skull hat back on.

"Well sorry, it's not my fault that I tripped over a rock." Merasmus retorted. Merasmus picked up bombinomicon and saw Maud walking by.

"Sorry. I must have forgotten about that one." She said in her monotone voice. "Boulder wanted me to find him some friends." She said.

"Sorry about that, he has a mind of his own, literally." Merasmus said.

"I hope I wasn't in the way." Maud said, before walking off.

"She's such a silly pony, but she's my sister!" Pinkie said.

"So...now what?" Fluttershy asked.

"Well, only other pony I havn't meet is Twilight." Merasmus said.

"Oh, um...I'm Fluttershy...

"I'm sorry, what was that?" Merasmus asked.

"I'm...I'm Fluttershy..." Fluttershy whispered.

"Its nice too meet you Fluttershy." Merasmus said.

"HEEEELLLLP!!!!" A voice screamed. Merasmus and the others look at where the voice screamed. Merasmus saw a lavender unicorn running towards their direction. His eyes widen when he sees wings on the unicorn. 'That must be Twilight.' Merasmus thought. But he frowns when he sees a pack four timberwolves chasing after her.

'Not these guys again.' Merasmus thought. "Ready bombinomicon?" He whispers.

"Born ready." Bombinomicon said. 

"Get inside!!" Twilight yelled, running inside Fluttershy's cottage. Merasmus was pulled inside by pinkie, and rainbow followed.

"Whaa!" Merasmus yells as he was pulled inside. As he was released he was sprawled out onto the floor. Twilight quickly closes the door as a timberwolf stuck it's head in.

"Take this!" Rainbow yelled as she turns around and bucks the timberwolf out the door. Merasmus stood up and shook his head.

"What's going on?" Merasmus asked.

"Timberwolves, that's what!" Twilight yelled, placing herself against the door as the timberwolves tried to break the door down.

"But why are they attacking?" Merasmus asked.

"I stepped on a twig...but it was a pup's tail! They're reeeaaaalllly mad right now!" She said.

"Bombinomicon, we may have to get a friend." Merasmus whispered.

"Oh, you don't mean..." Bombinomicon whined.

"Yes him." Merasmus said.

"But he's a jerk." Bombinomicon said.

"I know he's a bit grumpy, but we need his help." Merasmus stated. Bombinomicon mumbled something then sighed.

"Fine." Bombinomicon said.

"Are you...talking to a...stick?" Twilight asked, tilting her head in confusion. Merasmus takes out bombinomicon from his robe.

"No I am actually talking to him. And we both have a plan to get rid of the timberwolves." Merasmus said.

"How is a book going to help us? Are you just going to throw it at them, and expect them to run?" RD said.

"Well, no. I can summon a friend of mine to help us get rid of the timberwolves." Merasmus said.

"How, when you don't have a horn." RD said.

"I'm a magician, I can cast spells." Merasmus said.

"That would explain it." RD said. The sound of the timberwolves ramming the door stopped.

"Wait, I think they're gone!" Twilight said. She peeked her head out the door, and pulled it back narrowly getting her head chewed off. "Never mind!" She yelled.

"I need a few minutes to get ready." Merasmus said.

"Do what you can, I cant keep them back much longer!" Twilight yelled as the timberwolves rammed the door again. Merasmus nods and begins to flip through the pages. 

"Heelpp meeeee!" Twilight pleaded.

"Magicus Wallacus!" Merasmus yells. A green wall blocks the front door, preventing the timberwolves from entering. Twilight moves away from the door with a sigh in relief. 

"Found it." Merasmus said, placing a hoof on the page and begins to mutter the word on the page. Suddenly, there was a crash as one of the timberwolves was smart enough to smash through the window. The rest followed, growling as they got  closer to the ponies, closing them in. Merasmus closes his eyes, then reopens them. They start to glow green as a green energy surrounds him and the ponies, protecting them from the timberwolves. He than starts to float of the ground, chanting louder. The wolves stopped and stared, one whimpered slightly. Merasmus stops chanting and there was a flash of light. The light dissipates, revealing a purple spinning portal on the floor.

"Wh-what's that?" Twilight asked.

"A friend." Merasmus said as he landed back onto the floor. A big black hoof pops from the portal, then another, the hoofs push from the floor revealing a big black stallion with a smiling pumpkin for a head, and a giant axe on his back. RD, Twilight, Pinkie, and Fluttershy scream in unison, while the timberwolves back away from the strange creature. Merasmus points a hoof at the timberwolves.

"Attack." Merasmus ordered. The pumpkin headed pony stood on it's hind legs and pulled out the axe from behind its back, then charges at the timberwolves at unbelievable speeds. The wolves dodge the attack and a couple pounce, biting at it. But it did nothing as the pony shook them off and swung his axe at them, chopping one timberwolf in half. Fluttershy gasps and looks away, tightly shutting her eyes. Rainbow Dash watches in awe, with a wide open smile. The wolves see their friend had been cut in half, and they all begin to whimper and scamper out of the broken window.

"Yeah, you better run!" RD yelled. The pumpkin headed pony laughs before returning it's axe back around its back. It then turns towards the ponies. A low whimpering was heard outside. Fluttershy slowly approached the window, seeing all the wolves running into the everfree, except one pup, who waited for the last one to leave, who had been cut in half.

"Ohhhh..." She said. She went out the door, slowly approaching the pup who backed away, whimpering. "Hey, it's okay, little guy. Fluttershy won't hurt you." She said, patting the pup on the head.

"Wh-where's mommy?" The pup asked in a language that only Fluttershy knew. "She didn't come out. I heard so many noises..." it said. Fluttershy thinks back to the timberwolf that has been cut in half. 

"Oh...um..." She said. She began to tear up, until she pulled the pup into her, hugging it close as she started crying. Merasmus nods at the pumpkin headed pony.

"You may go back now." He said. The pumpkin headed pony nods, then dissipates in a cloud of black smoke. As Merasmus put his bombinomicon back in his robe pocket, he heard crying. He walks towards the sound and sees Fluttershy crying, while hugging a timberwolf pup.

"Fluttershy, what's wrong?" Merasmus asked. Fluttershy held the crying pup tightly as she cried.

"You're pumpkin headed pony is what!!" Fluttershy yelled.

"I'm sorry you had to see that, but I had no choice, it was that or... or.... I don't want to talk about it. But you know what I mean." Merasmus said, looking down. Fluttershy covered the pup's ears and whispered.

"That was her mother it killed!" She said through gritted teeth, before hugging the wolf again.

"Wh-what happened to mommy?" The timberwolf pup asked Fluttershy.

"You tell her what happened!" She said. Merasmus looks at the timberwolf pup. 

"My friend... killed your mother." He said. He looks down again as a tear runs down his face as he grits his teeth.

"N-no..." the pup said, backing away, tears streaming down her cheeks. "You're lying!" She yelled. Fluttershy grabs the pup again. 

"It's okay. Fluttershy will take care of you." Fluttershy said. 

"But...but..." The pup stuttered. The pup could no longer keep it in, as she buried her face crying into Fluttersy's chest. Fluttershy rocked back and forth slightly.

"It's okay...it's gonna be okay..." Fluttershy said with a tear dripping down from her chin. "I'm so sorry..." She sniffed. 

"I hate it..." Merasmus muttered.

"Hate what?" Fluttershy asked.

"Me, I bet..." the pup said. Merasmus shakes his head no.

"The killings, I hate it. I hate death. I've been blamed for ponies deaths so many times that they labled me insane. I've lost my castle, my apartment, and I've been sent to jail because I got blamed for my roommates death. When it was my old roommate that killed him. I hate it!" Merasmus yells.

"Well, we've got a little one to take care of, now." Fluttershy said, looking at the pup. "What's your name little one?" She asks.

"S-sky..." the pup said.

"I'm sorry about your mom, and the others seem to have left you behind, so would you be alright with it if me and my friends took care of you?" Fluttershy asked. The pup nods and hugs Fluttershy.

"Actually, may I take care of the timberwolf pup? Since it was my fault that my friend killed her mother. I think it would be a good way to repay her. And say that I'm sorry." Merasmus said.

"Oh, you're right. Wanna go with the nice Zebra, Sky?" Fluttershy asked. Sky shrugged, then walked over to Merasmus and stood by him, letting out a long sigh. Merasmus hugs the timberwolf pup.

"I'm so sorry, I didn't knows that I killed your mother."  Merasmus apologized.

"She's...really gone?" Sky asked.

"Ye...yes. I'm so sorry." Merasmus said as a tear falls from his face.

"I didn't even get to say goodbye..." Sky said. Merasmus let's go of the timberwolf pup.

"I'm sorry." Merasmus said. Sky sniffs  and looks down. Twilight and the others come out of the cottage to see what happened.

"What happened? We heard crying!" Twilight said. She sees the timberwolf pup as it was hugging Merasmus. "Umm..." She said.

"That thing killed her mother, so Merasmus agreed to take care of her." Fluttershy said. Merasmus looks at Twilight and the others.

"I didn't know that I killed her mother. I will make sure that she will be happy." He said. 

"But...how are you gonna take care of a timberwolf!" Twilight yelled. Sky stuck close to Merasmus for protection, hiding behind his right foreleg.

"I am responsible for her mother's death, so it would be best." Merasmus said.

"That's gotta be the coolest thing!" RD yelled. "But...a really bad thing too." She said. She tried to pat the pup on the head, but Sky retreated to hide behind Merasmus. 

"Don't let her hurt me!" Sky whimpered. "I don't wanna be here anymore..." She said.

"I think we should go now, Sky is getting nervous and scared." Merasmus said.

"Can I come with?" Twilight asked. Merasmus could see sky shaking her head a little.

"I'm scared..." she said.

"Shh, it's ok." Merasmus whispered to Sky. "I don't think so, Sky is quite scared, and I don't want her to be anymore scared." Merasmus said to Twilight.

"Where are you gonna take her then?" Twilight asked. Merasmus saw Sky climb onto his back and hid in his mane.

"I will take her with me, wherever I go. I will make sure that she will be happy." Merasmus said.

"Okay, then." Twilight said, looking down. Sky hugged Merasmus around the neck.

"Can we go? I've never been one to like being surrounded..." Sky said. Merasmus chuckles at how cute it is.

"I'm sure that you will get used to it soon Sky." Merasmus said.

"Okay." Sky said as Merasmus started to walk. She laid down on his back. "Th-thanks for...taking care of me." She said. Merasmus smiles and nods.

"It's... no problem." Merasmus said.

"I'm gonna miss my mommy..." Sky said. She sniffed before she started to cry again. Merasmus stops and pets the timberwolf pup.

"Shh, it's ok, I'm here." He said. Sky hugged him tight as she continued to cry. Merasmus sighs and continues to make their way back to the town.

TO BE CONTINUED
> Chapter 7 (Part 1)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"S-sorry, I'm a cry baby..." Sky said, wiping her muzzle as she and Merasmus continue to walk.

"It's ok Sky." Merasmus said.

"So...where are you taking me?" Sky asked.

"Well, were heading back to were I am staying. At Applejack's farm." Merasmus said.

"O-okay. Why did your friend kill my mamma?" Sky asked.

"I wanted to protect the ponies around me. I didn't know that my friend killed your mother." He said.

"Your friend is a meanie..." Sky sighed.

"Yea." Merasmus said, sighing as well. As he walks, he sees Applejack's farm. "Hey, were almost there." He said.

"I dont know about this...what if they freak out and try to hurt me?" Sky said, sounding scared.

"I will make sure none of that happens." Merasmus said.

"Okay." Sky said as they neared the farm house. Merasmus could see Applejack on the porch.

"Hey Applejack!" Merasmus said. Applejack looks at Merasmus and waves.

"Howdy!" Applejack said. She looks and sees the timberwolf pup on Merasmus's back. "Uhm...ya got a little something on your back..." She said.

"Promise me that you won't hurt her." Merasmus said.

"Uh...sure...why do you have a timberwolf with ya, though?" Applejack asked as Sky hid behind Merasmus's mane.

"A friend of mine killed her mother." Merasmus said, looking down.

"Awww, poor little thing, she must be so upset..." Applejack said. She looks at the pup. "Hi there!" She said. Sky tried to back away, but only to fall off of Merasmus's back. 

"Owwww..." She whimpered. Merasmus picks Sky up.

"You ok, Sky?" Merasmus asked. Sky shakes her head.

"Wait...you named her?" Applejack asked. Merasmus shakes his head as he places Sky back on his back.

"No that was her name originally." Merasmus said.

"Oh, its a cute name." Applejack said. She reached out to pat Sky on the head, but she flinched. "It's okay, little one. I wouldn't hurt ya." She promised. She tried again, Sky let her pet her head. "See?" She said. She gently ran her hoof along sky's back. Merasmus could see that Sky likes it. 

"I like her, she's nice." Sky said.

"Sorry, little one. I don't speak timber wolf!" Applejack said, chuckling slightly.

"Sky said that she likes you. That your nice." Merasmus translated.

"Awe, well that's nice, but how did you understand her?" Applejack asked as Sky licked her cheek.

"I can understand some animal speech." Merasmus said. Applejack giggles from being licked

"That's interestin'. Are ya keepin her, or something?" Applejack asked.

"You're keeping me, right?" Sky asked as she hugged Merasmus. Merasmus nods and smiles.

"I am. I will make sure that your happy." He said. Sky smiles slightly.

"Thanks." She said.

"So, how was the tour?" Applejack asked.

"It was nice, I got to see the town. Something caught my attention though. I saw some decorations out in the town. Is their a holiday coming?" Merasmus asked.

"Nightmare night! Tonight is Nightmare night!" Applejack said, just as Sky let's out a big yawn. "Awe, is the little puppy tired?" Applejack asked, getting a nod from Sky. "She can sleep up in my room for now if she wants, since I'm doing chores right now." She said. Merasmus nods.

"Okay." He said, walking inside.

"Can you stay with me? I don't like being alone..." Sky asked. Merasmus nods.

"Alright, I'll stay with you." Merasmus said as they enter Applejack's room. Sky gets onto the bed.

"Ooh this is a lot better than a pile of leaves!" She said happily, before covering herself in the blankets. "Smells like apples too..." She said. Merasmus chuckles at how cute it is, then crawls onto the bed trying to be careful of Sky.

"That it does." He said, laying down next to Sky. Sky snuggled next to Merasmus, yawning cutely. 

"Nighty night." She said.

"Night Sky." Merasmus said, falling asleep next to Sky. Sky slowly fell asleep a few seconds later. Merasmus smiles. Applejack came up later to check on the two, seeing them snuggled in her bed. 

"Daw, ain't that just cute." She said. She smiled and closed the door before going back downstairs to finish her chores.


Hours later


Merasmus opens his eyes sleepily.  "Huh?" He sleepily says. Sky was still sleeping, snuggled into his chest, snoring softly. Merasmus looks out the window, and sees that it was almost sunset. 

"Hey, Sky." Merasmus said, lightly shaking Sky. Sky wakes with a snort.

"Y-yeah, mom?" She asks, looking up and sees Merasmus. "Oh...yeah..." She sniffed as tears leak out of her eyes as her ears droop. 

"Hey, hey ,hey. Shhh, I'm here." Merasmus said, hugging Sky.

"I miss her so much..." Sky said, hugging Merasmus tight. Merasmus pats Sky's back.

"Shhh." Merasmus hushed.

"And the others just...abandoned me...its as if my mom was the only one who cared about me, and now she's gone!" Sky yells as a tear falls down her face.

"I'm here for you sky, I promise." Merasmus said.

"Thank you..." She sniffed, wiping her muzzle, then hugged Merasmus.

"Now, let's go downstairs. The sun's setting." Merasmus said.

"Okay." Sky said as she got up from the bed.

"You want on my back, Sky?" Merasmus asked as he got off the bed.

"I...I can walk." She said as she got off the bed and following Merasmus out of the room. Merasmus sees Applebloom come out of her room and stare at Sky.

"Uuuummmmm...." She said.

"Hello Applebloom." Merasmus said as Sky hid behind Merasmus's leg. "Sky it's going to be ok, she's friendly." He said. But Sky stayed still with fear. 

"When Applejack said there was a timber wolf that was going to be staying with us, I thought she was joking, but she's s cute!" Applebloom said, grabbing Sky into a tight hug. Sky whimpered and looked at Merasmus.

"Help me..." She pleaded.

"Ok, Applebloom, you may want to let her go, your scaring her." Merasmus said.

"Okay." Applebloom said, letting go of Sky. Sky runs back and hides behind Merasmus.

"She seems to really like you!" Applebloom said. Merasmus chuckles.

"That she does. And also, happy nightmare night, Applebloom." Merasmus said.

"You too! I'm heading over to Rarity's to get my costume, wanna come with?" Applebloom asked, smiling. Sky tugs at Merasmus's leg, getting his attention.

"We're...going into..." She gulps. "Town?" She asked, trembling.

"I will make sure that nopony will hurt you, Sky. Besides their friendly." Merasmus said.

"Promise?" She asked. Merasmus nods and smiles.

"I promise." He said, patting Sky.

"Can we go with, then?" Sky asks.

"How is it ya know what she's sayin'? All ah hear is barkin'" Applebloom said.

"Yes we can go with Applebloom. And to answer your question, I can understand some animal speech." Merasmus said.

"That's cool!" Applebloom said happily. Sky tried to climb onto Merasmu's back, but has a bit of trouble doing so.

"Here." Merasmus said, helping Sky up.

"Thanks." Sky said, laying on Merasmus's back.

"Come on, lets go!" Applebloom said, trotting down the stairs. Merasmus nods and follows down the stairs.

"So where are we going?" Sky asked.

"Where heading for a boutique that is owned by a pony named Rarity." Merasmus said.

"Okay." She said. Applebloom trots into the kitchen, and dumps a bowl of candy into her pumpkin basket.

"Dont take that all just so you can eat it okay?" Applejack stated.

"I won't!" Applebloom said. Merasmus laughs.

"Kids, they never change." Merasmus said.

"Are we leaving now?" Sky asked.

"I guess we are." Merasmus said, nodding. "Ready Applebloom?" He says. Sky trembled slightly, hugging Merasmus tight.

"Promise you will protect me?" She asks. Merasmus nods.

"I promise." Merasmus said as he follows Applebloom outside.

"Promise you wont leave me either?" Sky asked.

"I promise." Merasmus said. Sky hugged Merasmus tighter.

"I know mommy is gone but at least I have you to take care of me." She said.

"That you do. I will make sure that your happy." Merasmus said. Sky smiles and nuzzled his cheek.

"Thank you so much!" She said happily.

"How did you get her anyway?" Applebloom asked.

"It's a long story." Merasmus said. Sky smiled slightly as she rode on Merasmus's back.

"Ya know, I wonder who was the one who decided to make a holiday where we just leave candy by a statue?" Applebloom asked. Merasmus raises a eyebrow.

"Why would you leave candy by a statue?" Merasmus asked.

"WE gotta leave it by a statue of nightmare moon, or she'll eat us. so me and the crusaders just go to our hut and we just eat all the candy." Applebloom said.

"What's candy?" Sky asked.

"Well, Sky, candy is a treat that is sweet, sour, or spicy." Merasmus said.

"Oh, okay." Sky said.

"Applebloom, if I may ask, what are you dressing up as?" Merasmus asked.

"A ninja!" She said. Merasmus raises a eyebrow.

"Why a ninja?" Merasmus asked.

"Because I know some karate!" Applebloom said. She jumped up into the air, and kicked a hind leg out as she spun in the air, barely missing Merasmus's nose. Sky giggled slightly.

"You ponies are funny." Sky said. Merasmus chuckles and nods.

"Yea." Merasmus said as they neared the town. "Were nearly there." He said.

"I'm scared..." Sky said, ducking behind Merasmus's mane again for safety.

"Is she alright?" Applebloom asked. 

"Its going to be ok Sky." Merasmus said, then looks at Applebloom. "She's just scared that she'll get hurt by the other ponies." He said.

"Nopony will hurt you. you're just a pup." Applebloom said, patting Sky on the head. Sky looks down.

"I will protect you Sky." Merasmus said.

"I know." Sky said, licking Merasmus's cheek. As they entered the town, Merasmus looks around the town and sees fillies and Colts in costumes running around happily.

"I must say, this is one happy holiday." He said.

"It is. You should have been here when Luna first visited. Everpony was so scared!" Applebloom said.

"I hope Luna doesn't come..." Sky said.

"Don't worry sky, if she harms you, I will protect you." Merasmus promised. Sky hugs Merasmus. Merasmus pats Sky as they neared the boutique.

"There it is!" Applebloom said, running to the boutique, before trotting inside.

"Everypony is staring at me..." Sky said.

"It's ok, they probably never seen a timberwolf before. I will still protect you Sky." Merasmus said.

"Okay." Sky said. She closes her eyes from the light inside the botique as they entered, and the bell rang once again above the door. Merasmus could see Rarity look over at his direction.

"Oh, Merasmumus...dear..." She said, blushing. "Sorry, your name isn't the easiest to remember..." She apologized.

"It's ok, Rarity. And it's pronounced, Merasmus." Merasmus said.

"Got it, and..." She said, looking at Sky. "And, do you not know there is a timberwolf on your back?" She said, backing away a couple of steps. Sky hid her face in Merasmus's mane, which Rarity noticed.

"Did you tame it or something?" Rarity asked.

"She's just scared that you may hurt her. And I am taking care of her, since her mother died." Merasmus said.

"Awe, I could never harm such an adorable little thing!" Rarity said. Sky looked curiously at Rarity. "Can I pet her? As long as she doesn't try to bite me." Rarity asked.

"Sky, would you like Rarity to pet you?" Merasmus asked. Sky doesn't say or do anything, but eventually nods. Rarity smiled and softly ran her hoof along Sky's back.

"What a little cutie she is! Wait...you said her mother died!?" She yells. Merasmus nods.

"Yes." He said. Sky looks down sadly.

"That must be so sad. I see she's put her full trust in you already." Rarity said.

"That she has." Merasmus said. Rarity sighs.

"I could only imagine how I would feel if I lost my mother..." She said.

"I miss mommy..." Sky sniffed. Merasmus pats Sky.

"I know you do. But I will make sure that your happy." Merasmus sighed.

"I just wanna go home, and pray mommy is there and this was all just a bad dream..." Sky said. Merasmus takes Sky off his back and hugs her.

"I know." He said. Sky hugged him back, softly crying and whimpering into his chest. Applebloom comes out of the back room with her black and white ninja costume on, and sees Sky crying and trots over.

"Hey, what's wrong with Sky?" She asks.

"She misses her mother." Rarity said.

"What happened to her mom?" Applebloom asked. Rarity looked to Merasmus with a worried expression. Merasmus looks at Rarity and mouths "Should I tell her?" Rarity shrugs, as Sky continues to cry in Merasmus's chest.

"She didn't deserve to die..." She sniffed.

"Applebloom... Sky's mother... is dead." Merasmus said.

"What!? Oh, poor little Sky." Applebloom said. She hugged Sky again, but gently this time. Sky hugged back, sniffling a few times.

"Were here for you Sky." Merasmus said. Sky let go of Applebloom.

"I feel I'm just gonna get in the way with my silly crying..." Sky said.

"It's ok, Sky. You needed to get it out, and that's fine." Merasmus said. Sky sighs and looks down.

"I should just go back to the Everfree. I dont belong here..." She said. Merasmus puts a hoof on her.

"No, nopony said that they didn't want you here. And if you do go back to the everfree, how will you take care of yourself?" Merasmus asked.

"Mamma told me she did it when she was pregnant with me. Timberwolves dont belong around ponies...I'll just end up causing trouble..." Sky said.

"What's she saying?" Rarity asked.

"Sky is saying that she wants to leave, that nopony wants her here. That she will just cause trouble." Merasmus said.

"I don't know if you can understand me, but if you can, I can see that you're a sweet little pup with a strong heart, and I'm sure ponies will get used to used to you. I for one think you're one of the most adorable little critters ever! And if anypony ever mistreats you, Rarity will be here to cheer you up, okay, darling?" Rarity said, kneeling down to Sky. Sky listened to what Rarity had said, and hugged her tight around the neck.

"Thank you." Sky said. Rarity smiled and hugged back.

"Thank you Rarity. And Sky, how do you feel?" Merasmus asked.

"A little better." She said, she jumping back on Merasmus's back. Rarity looks to the door as it rings, and Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, Diamond Tiara, and Silver Spoon walk in.

"Oh, hi girls, I've got your costumes in the back, alright?" Rarity said.

"Thanks!" Scootaloo said, sipping off to said room. Sweetie Belle stopped and stared at Merasmus for a second.

"Hi." She said.

"Hello Sweetie Belle, how are you doing?" Merasmus asked.

"Just great! um...I like your new...pet?" She said as soon as she saw Sky.

"Isn't that one of those timberwolf things?" Diamond tiara asked.

"Well, duh, it's kind of obvious! But what is she doing on your back?" Silver spoon asked.

"I'm taking care of her." Merasmus said. He then looks at diamond tiara and silver spoon. "And if in may ask you both, who are you?" He asks.

"I'm Diamond Tiara, and this is Silver Spoon. What's your name?" Diamond tiara asked.

"My name is Merasmus. So your the two bullies that I heard from Applebloom." Merasmus said.

"It was more me than Silver Spoon. She just went along with me, but, the cutie mark crusaders made me realize I was wrong, because my mother wanted me to feel better than others, and I became who I was..." Diamond tiara said, looking down shamefully.

"But you pulled your self together is what counts!" Sweetie Belle stated. "Now lets go try our costumes on!" She said.

"Yeah!" Silver spoon said. She began trotting towards the back room as Scootaloo came out in a Wonderbolt costume. Merasmus nods.

"I've seen families like that diamond tiara. Were the parents want the kids to be above the others. And who are you supposed to be Scootaloo?" He asked. He sees Scootaloo put on a rainbow wig.

"Rainbow Dash of course!" She said.

"We're probably going to have the coolest costumes ever!" Applebloom yelled. Merasmus laughs.

"'I hope so." He said.

"Well Im gonna go put my costume on!" Sweetie Belle said. Merasmus nods. Sky yawns as she's on Merasmus's back.

"I'm kinda sleepy..." she said.

"If you'd like to take a nap on my back, Sky, you may." Merasmus said.

"Are you sure?" She asked. Merasmus nods.

"I'm sure." Merasmus said. Sky yawns again and lays on Merasmus's back.

"Nighty night." Sky said, falling asleep.

"Night Sky." Merasmus said.

"Aweee, that's cute!" Diamond tiara said. Merasmus smiles.

"It is cute." Merasmus said

"Night Daddy..." Sky mumbled in her sleep. Merasmus blinks multiple times, then warmly smiles. She snores lightly while she sleeps. Sweetie Belle came out of the back room in a vampire costume with Silver Spoon in a fancy outfit.

"We're ready!" She yelled. Merasmus slightly shush's and points to Sky sleeping.

"Aweee..." Sweetie Belle said, smiling.

"That's just to cute." Rarity said.

"It is. Anyway, are we ready?" Merasmus asked. The diamond tiara, silver spoon, and the CMC nod, indicating that they were ready. Sky slept peacefully in Merasmus's mane.

"Let's get going." Merasmus said, walking out the door. Sky smiles as she slept. The fillies all followed Merasmus, ready for a night of scares.

TO BE CONTINUED 
> Chapter 8 (part 2)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sky was snoring away as she slept on Merasmus's back.

"Wanna just head with us to the club house, Merasmus?" Applebloom asked. Merasmus nods.

"I don't see why not." Merasmus said.

"nnngh..." Sky mumbled in her sleep. She rolled over, and ended up falling to the ground. "mmpf!" She grunted as she continued to snore. 

"Whoops! She fell down!" Sweetie Belle said. Sky open her eyes.

"Wha...?" She asked.

"You ok, Sky? You fell off my back." Merasmus said.

"yeah, I'm okay." Sky said, getting up and dusting herself off. "I can walk now. Unless you want me to ride on you." She said.

"If you'd like to walk, then that's fine." Merasmus said.

"I can walk." Sky said. She stood next to Merasmus, and hugged his leg. Merasmus smiles and lightly pats Sky.

"So Applebloom, where is your tree house?" Merasmus asked.

"This way!" Applebloom yelled. She began to trot towards a patch of woods, and the rest followed. Sky stops Merasmus.

"Hey, did I say something before I fell asleep? I swore I said something, unless I was just hearing things..." Sky said. Merasmus looks at Sky.

"You did. While you where asleep on my back, you mumbled 'night daddy'" Merasmus said.

"I did that?" She said, blushing. "I'm sorry that must have been really weird for you..." Sky said

"It's fine Sky. I didn't mind." Merasmus said.

"But im not your daughter...and my daddy was never there for me. Mamma said he left because she had me..." Sky said, looking down. "which means i dont have parents anymore...and i dont think you want that responsibility of me..." She said, pawing at the ground, sighing softly. Merasmus kneels down.

"Then I guess I will have to take that responsibility then." Merasmus said.

"What are you saying? You're adopting me?" She asked. Merasmus nods.

"Yes." He said. Sky smiled and hugged him tight.

"Thank you so much!" She said happily. Merasmus smiles and hugs back.

"Now then, we can't keep the others waiting." He said.

"Okay, Daddy." Sky said, smiling and looking up at Merasmus. Merasmus nods and continues to walk. He looks at Sky.

"I will make sure I will be the be-" Merasmus was cut short when he bumped into someone and falls on his flank.

"Oops, sorry..." he started looking up at who he bumped into and saw a creature made up of other creatures, causing his eyes to widen. "about...that." he said. The creature looked back to who had bumped into him.

"Oh, sorry about that. Must not have been paying attention where I was standing." The creature said. The creature laughed and helped Merasmus to his hooves, his face showing in the light of the moon. Sky hid behind Merasmus's leg.

"It's ok Sky." Merasmus said. He looks at the creature. "If I may ask, who are you?" Merasmus asked.

"Okay..." Sky said.

"The name is discord." The creature said. The creature stood tall with the head of what appeared to be a goat's head, a snake like body, a dragon's tail, a donkey and pony leg, and a lions leg and paw for an arm while the other was that of a bird, with talons for fingers.

"My name is Merasmus, wizard and keeper of the bombinomicon." Merasmus said.

"You? I've heard tell, if put in the right hooves, it can be pretty powerful, and you say you're a wizard, huh? That's interesting. I happen to be the god of chaos! I'm sure you've heard of me. Tried to take over Equestria, until the mane six came along and foiled my plans, and I was turned to stone." Discord said, with slight distaste.

"I'm not exactly from around here, so I actually don't know you. Sorry." Merasmus said.

"Oh, so I see. And who might this little one be?" Discord asked, picking up Sky. "Do you know this little timber wolf?" He asked.

"Yes I do, I'm taking care of her since her mother died." Merasmus said.

"So you're her guardian or something?" Discord said. Sky whimpered.

"Can you please put her down, your scaring her. And I am actually her father. Since I'm adopting her." Merasmus said.

"Oh, isn't that sweet." Discord said, putting down Sky, who ran behind Merasmus again.

"Daddy, he's scary." Sky whimpered. 

"Shhh, I'm here. It's ok." Merasmus said as he pat Sky.

"Well, I'd love to chat more, but I am quite busy, tending to so many ponies. So, I must be on my way now. Ta-ta!" Discord said. With a wave of his fingers he vanished. Sky climbs onto Merasmus's back.

"He was weird. Shall we get going again?" Sky asked. Merasmus nods and resumes walking.

"Yes". He said.

"So...you really wanna be my daddy?" Sky asked. Merasmus nods.

"I do." Merasmus said.

"But why, though?" She asked. Merasmus sighed.

"When I was living at my castle before I came here, I was not happy. I mean, I got everything, except one thing. Someone to take care of." Merasmus said, looking down.

"So I'm that someone?" Sky asked, blushing. "Aww." She said. She then hugged Merasmus and smiled. "You have me. I love you daddy." Sky said. Merasmus looks up and smiles.

"I love you too, Sky." He said. Sky nuzzled Merasmus's cheek. Merasmus could see the tree house that Applebloom was talking about.

"Hey, that must be the tree house they were talking about!" Sky said, watching Scootaloo disappear in the tree house.

"Yep, that's it alright. Let's go!" Merasmus said, walking a bit faster. Sky jumps down from his back and trots into the house. 

"Hey, Sky, what took so long?" Applebloom asked. Scootaloo waved hello to Sky. Merasmus pokes his head through the door.

"Boo!" He said. All three of them wave hello towards Merasmus. Sky runs up and hugs him, smiling. Merasmus smiles and hugs back.

"So, what are we going to do?" Merasmus asked.

"I just wanna be by you, daddy." Sky said, licking Merasmus's cheek.

"Tell spooky stories and eat candy till we're full!" Sweetie Belle said. The cmc dump their bags full of candy onto the floor.

"This could last us a week!" Applebloom said. Merasmus chuckles.

"Kids, they never change" he said. Sky sits in Merasmus's lap. 

"So, who wants to tell the horror story tonight?" Diamond tiara asked in the dark. "And where is that dang flashlight!?" She yelled.

"Here it is!" Scootaloo said. She tossed the silver stained flashlight over to Diamond Tiara.

"Oooh, spooky stories." Merasmus said. 'I have one that will probably scare them.' He thought.

"Maybe our new friend would like to tell one." Silver spoon said, smirking at Merasmus. Sky snuggled into Merasmus. 

"Can you hold me daddy, I dont really like scary things..." Sky said.

"Sure thing, Sky." Merasmus said, petting Sky. He looks at the girls. "And are you sure?" He asked.

"We' have just been telling the same stories for a while now, so maybe you have something different?" Applebloom asked. Sky smiled as Merasmus pet her. Merasmus nods.

"I do have one, that's quite scary." He said. Sky hides in Merasmus's robe. Merasmus grabs the flashlight.

"So our story begins years ago at a castle. A little colt was looking for a job, trying to find out what he's good at, and to help out his family. He walks along a path and finds a castle. He walks up to the castle and meets the castles owner, a zebra" Merasmus said, looking at the fillies.

"Don't make it too scary, okay daddy?" Sky asked. She hid further into his robe, looking up at him with pleading eyes. Merasmus looks at Sky.

"I will make sure" Merasmus said. He than continues to tell the story. The fillies listened eagerly as they munched on their chocolate and other candies. Merasmus tells the fillies about how the zebra allowed the young colt to work at his castle, but tells him not to look at a certain book in his library. Sky was sort of quivering in fear. Merasmus lightly pats Sky. 

"YAY a book!" Scootaloo said, giggling.

"One day, the young colt was cleaning the library, he heard a voice. He looked around, but saw no pony. He ignored it and continued to work. He heard the voice again, this time calling him. He looks around, and sees a book in the middle of the library." Merasmus said.

"Meh, Somebody dropped their book and was calling to him to get it?" Scootaloo asked. Diamond tiara gave a firm punch to Scootaloo's side as well as a deep glare. "Heh, sorry..." She said.

"So then what happened?" Applebloom asked. 

"The colt walked towards the book, hearing the voice get louder. He saw what looked a book that had what looked like a bomb being held by a mouth. The title of the book, the bombinomicon." Merasmus continued.

"Oooooohhhh!" Sweetie Belle said. Sky saw the very book in Merasmus's robe. 'Zebra, colt? Bominomicon book?' Sky thought. She looked up at Merasmus, before muffling her scream with her paws.

"The colt was warned about the book, but his curiosity got the better of him and he opened the book. The bombinomicon sent a spell at the colt, managing to hit his left eye, causing the colt to scream. That caught the attention of the zebra and he ran into the library.  He saw what was happening and rushed to the colts aid. He took the colts left eye out in time, cause the bombinomicon was trying to take control of the colt. The eye turned into a giant evil eyeball. It dissappeard without a trace. The zebra tended to the colt. The colt awakened, remembering what has happened, and ran out of there screaming, never to be seen again." Merasmus finished. 

"Was he okay? D-does that mean there's a one eye-d colt running around." Sky asked. Merasmus looks at Sky. 

"Yes the colt is fine, he made a full recovery. In fact the last time I saw him, he was with eight other ponies in a mercenary team. He went by the name of Demoman." He said. 

"O-okay, but...are you the Zebra from the story?" Sky asked, holding up the bombinomicon. Merasmus sighs and nods. 

"I am. But that was many years ago." Merasmus said. Sky looked at the book.

"You said the eye was evil, so...are you an evil wizard since it makes evil magic?" She asked. Merasmus sighed 

"Someponys called me evil because the book was. Some even called me insane. All I was was caught in the crossfire." Merasmus said. 

"I'm sorry daddy..." Sky said, hugging Merasmus. 

"I am gonna show them the bombinomicon and see their reaction." Merasmus whispered to Sky.

"Okay daddy." Sky said. Merasmus looks at the fillies. 

"So, how did you like my story?" Merasmus asked. 

"Not as scary as the headless horse Dashie told, but it was good!" Scootaloo said.

"Oh, let me show you something." Merasmus said, showing the fillies the bombinomicon. They all stare in amazement for a few seconds.

"Is that the...?" Scootaloo asked. Sky licked Merasmus's cheek. Merasmus nods. 

"Indeed it is. It's the bombinomicon. " Merasmus said. 

"What's up?" Bombinomicon said. They all squeal, backing away.

"They're pretty scared, huh, daddy?" Sky asked. Merasmus chuckles. 

"Indeed they are." Merasmus said.

"Hey I am not gonna bite." Bombinomicon said. Sky hugs Merasmus. 

"Love you dad." She said, licking Merasmus's cheek.  Merasmus smiles. 

"So, you think it's more scary now?" Merasmus asked the fillies. 

"Were...you the Zebra?" Silver spoon asked. Sky nods.

"EEWWW! You took out that colt's eyeball!" Silver spoon yelled. Sky jumped out of the robe and tackled Silver Spoon, and began to lick her face.

"Sky, that tickles!" Silver spoon said, giggling uncontrollably. Merasmus laughs at the scene.

"Sky, you're tickling me!!" She yelled, continuing to giggle as Sky licked her.

"That's so cute." Diamond tiara said.

"Ok, Sky, I think she's had enough." Merasmus said. Sky giggles and trots back over to Merasmus, and sits in his lap.

"Love you daddy!" She said. Sky licked Merasmus's cheek. Merasmus smiles.

"I love you too, Sky." He said.

"I love you more, though!" She said, licking Merasmus's cheek some more. Merasmus chuckles. Sky looks Merasmus in the eye with a smile.

"Do you really love me?" She asked. Merasmus smiles back.

"Does this answer your question?" Merasmus asked, hugging Sky. Sky nods.

"You love me." Sky said, hugging him back. Merasmus could see the fillies stare at him.

"Why are they staring?" Sky asked.

"How is it you can talk to her?" Scootaloo asked.

"To answer your question, I can understand some animal speech." Merasmus said.

"Wow so you know what she's saying that is so cool!" Scootaloo said. Sky yawns.

"Daddy I wanna go home, I'm sleepy..." Sky said. Merasmus nods.

"Alright, Sky." He said. He stands up and places Sky on his back. "Were going to go. Sky is tired." He said to the girls.

"Awwww." The girls said. As they left, Sky gave them a wave and yawns again. Merasmus walks back towards the farm house. Sky falls asleep on the way. Merasmus opens the farm house door and walks in. Applejack saw Merasmus walk in.

"Oh, howdy Merasmus! " She said. She could see that Sky was asleep on Merasmus's back.

"Aww she's really taken a liking to you hasn't she?" She asked.

"That she has, Applejack." Merasmus said.

"Ah know I let you sleep in my room before, but ah'm about to go to bed, so take the guest bedroom okay?" Applejack asked. Merasmus nods

"Will do, Applejack." Merasmus said. He walks up the stairs and into the guest bedroom. Merasmus walks to the bed and places Sky on it. Sky wakes as Merasmus puts her on the bed and she let out a small, but cute yawn. 

"Hi daddy." She said. Merasmus smiles as he takes off his robe.

"Hello, Sky." Merasmus said.

"Are we going to bed?" Sky asked. Merasmus nods.

"We are." He said. Sky smiled and held her forelegs out to him. Merasmus takes her and hugs her. Sky snuggled into him.

"You're the best daddy ever!" Sky said happily. Merasmus smiles as he gets into the bed.

"That I am." Merasmus said. As Merasmus laid on the bed, Sky laid on top of him, and closed her eyes with a slight nod.

"Night daddy." She said, and was soon asleep.

"Night, Sky." Merasmus said, falling asleep.

TO BE CONTINUED