> Travelers or Nomads?
>  by bigmacbush
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Volume One: The Beginning of a Tale
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


-------     Chapter One: I travel alone, no longer     -------

Though I have always traveled alone, I felt as if I needed a few friends in my life. Perhaps being a nomad did not help, having no real place to call home; and no "real" home equals to having fleeting friendships. Now that's not to say I never had friends, I just never knew them long enough to call them "friends", they were more ponies I just knew, and have now forgotten along my travels. Throughout my travels I have met a few ponies willing to come along, but they did not have the heart to leave what they called "home". However some were, I met a fellow stallion, whom of which I am still unsure of; being named Crazy Bread and all, and another named Smiley, who never said much, but smiled whenever he could. They chose to join me on an adventure. An adventure with no real end or story, but I'll tell it anyway.


-------     Chapter Two: Visits of Strange Detail     -------

Some time after my two companions joined, we debated about exploring caves, or searching and exploring ancient ruins with what we had, or finding a local town and resupplying on food and such. We chose the town option, though I never personally liked visiting towns; mainly due to mares giving me looks I was all-to familiar with.
We went shopping and we were sometimes "given" food to us instead of bought, strangely the other two were bitter about this, despite this being their idea and all. Filling up our saddlebags with supplies, I contemplated whether we should get a wagon or stick with the saddlebags, not knowing whether they'll agree with the notion; I ask. Turns out it was a good idea, since with three of us we'll need more room for supplies and more along the way. We've traveled for a few days before deciding on what we should do, either searching caves or finding nearly destroyed ruins for possible treasure.
It was already late, so we decided to camp out first and foremost, Crazy was still not used to camping, and Smiley, well he smiled either way, even while resting he still smiled. Tomorrow was another day, one we'd much later regret, and hope to forget.


-------     Chapter Three: Ruined by the Ruins     -------

In the morning we decided to check out the ruins, be it for artifacts or treasure, I don't even remember what it was for. Turns out these ruins were ransacked quite a bit of time ago, although some of the remains seemed to have been picked bone dry. Ignoring the remains of other adventurers or thieves, we still searched and found the reason of the remains, turns out the ruins also housed many quarry spiders, they're like normal spiders but huge and extremely dangerous.
Hoping we wouldn't attract it's attention, we sneaked away slowly. Which was a bad idea since we backed up into a nest nearby, alarming most of them. Now I have been through this sort of thing before, but it wasn't nearly as deadly as this. Running as fast we can, we left, only having a few of the faster ones following us as we ran. 
After getting a safe distance away from the ruins, we grouped up on the few that kept us with us, getting scratched and bit along the way, but it was nothing a couple of medicinal herbs couldn't fix. After the exhausting fight, I asked if the others packed any weapons of sort, not surprisingly, they did not. After keeping an eye for the quarry spiders throughout the night, in the morning we decided to find a town nearby with a forge, hopefully with a good blacksmith or I'll make them weapons myself. We did find a town nearby named Ponyville, hopefully they'll have what we need, otherwise it's back to the road for us.


-------     Chapter Four: Mine ore stay     -------

Upon arriving in Ponyville, I asked Crazy to look for provisions, and Smiley to find a place to stay if we need to spend a few nights here in town. After wandering and asking around I did find a forge, however it was mainly for horseshoes, but I could make this work. After meeting up with the others I asked what sort of weapons they would want to use, hoping for something not too heavy or they'll have a hard time carrying them. Afterwards I head back to the forge, hoping to fix up my blade as well as make them something, turns out the forge recently ran out of ore and the next delivery of ore will arrive in a few days.
Begrudgingly I decide to go mining myself for said ore, after asking where the nearest mine was, turns out it's quite a distance away, well being a pegasus helps with long distances. Deciding to leave in the morning we met up at where we would be staying a couple of nights, wasn't bad, nice beds and nicely decorated room, before going to bed I asked what sort of weapons they would want, Crazy Bread wanting a staff, despite not being a unicorn; to each their own. Meanwhile Smiley wanting a array of daggers makes this somewhat easier since they require similar materials, tomorrow I leave for the mine, alone. I wonder what they'll do in town? Oh well, probably nothing important.
Leaving with a satchel big enough for a couple of chunks of ore should be enough, they seemed to have something similar to oak back in town so the base of the staff is good. Hoping for something somewhat dangerous in the mine, I was disappointed to find nothing worth fighting, oh well whatever makes this trip easier for mining. Returning later than expected, got pretty sidetracked gathering gems for magical enchantment, fortunately I dabbed into that for a while a few years back, I'm a bit rusty but oh well. Decided not to make the weapons that night, shouldn't wake up sleeping ponies especially the blacksmith at this hour. Woke up at an unusual time; eleven o' clock, must be from the exhaustion from a few nights back and the lack of tent. Later the same day I made the weapons we needed, they came out decently well, could've done better; but oh well it's been a few years after all.
The other two have taken a liking to this town, strange as it may be; then again I haven't been around the whole time, so I asked what happened during my calm escapades. The stories they told we're quite a spectacle, but believable; I see why they like it here.


-------     Chapter Five: Occasional Real Estate     -------

After yesterday's events I decided to check out a couple estates, since I own a few homes here and there, though I rarely check on them. Ponyville seems to have a rather... robust history.
I found a nice home, empty for now of course until I get furniture, which is next on the list. Considering the things I find on my travels, it's no surprise that I have a lot of bits lying about and some interesting things to keep as personal favorite treasures. After getting new furniture, I checked on Crazy and Smiley, to see if they were ready to get back on the road, unless they want to drop some stuff off before leaving; or get combat training, either way I'd help.
Crazy seemed to want to learn magic, strange since he's a earth pony, but makes sense; with the staff and all. I happened to have a few ancient magic tomes, which took time to find but whatever he's patient, after I gave him the tome, he got right on it. He had told me he was a quick learner after all.
Later I asked Smiley about his daggers, apparently Heavy Levitation was not his forte, so many small daggers worked out for him. Again later I decided to ask them if they wanted to live together or have their own places, either way it'll involve renovations or looking for close by housing for the two of them.
After deciding to move in, it took roughly two weeks to renovate the house for the three of us, including an armory, library, a forge (work in progress), and a couple of extra rooms for future furnishing. The week after the renovation we decided to go back on the road, searching for and exploring the more unknown parts of Equestria.




-------       End of Volume One       -------

> Side Story One: Caring for a Wooden Dog
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


|||||||     Takes places after Volume One     |||||||


-------     Chapter One: Leaving for a Trek     -------

It was some time ago, not a long time ago, just some time. I had told the guys I was going for a trek into the Everfree, I don't know why but I just felt like going there. 
After about roughly 40-60 minutes I heard something growling at me, looking around I saw it, a Timberwolf. According to research notes from Twilight, Timberwolves of this size were commonly known as Den Mothers, guardians of the pups for the pack, but this one was alone. Upon noticing it, I took a defensive stance, but . . . . . it didn't seem aggressive, it looked . . . scared. It looked at me, hoping I would offer help, in turn I let my guard down, letting it know I would help if I can.
Slowly and carefully, it walked towards me, barely six feet away from it, it got something off it's back, a pup, not even a few months old according to Twilight's notes. It put the pup down in front of me "Do you. . . want me to take it with me?" I asked, it did nothing but nod.
Off in the distance I heard some howling, the Den Mother panicked, then it ran off to the opposite direction. Quickly I decided to carry the pup in my satchel and ran off, flying could prove hazardous with a live creature in my satchel. After getting home, I decided to keep the pup in my room, then went to research how to care for a Timberwolf pup.


-------     Chapter Two: Pet Projects     -------

After checking the library, the town's library, Twilight's library, I found nothing on caring for a Timberwolf, oh well guess I'll just have to learn how and take notes on the subject. Some time later I had told the guys and they were more than willing to help me with the Timberwolf pup, as long as they had armor before seeing him. . . . her? I'm not quite sure yet.
Knowing very little, I waited until it woke up, and when it did, it panicked, running around; looking scared, and staying as far away from me as possible, "Don't worry little buddy, I'm not here to hurt you. You can trust me." Strangely enough it understood me, slowly edging closer to me, extending my hoof out to it, it came up to me and licked my hoof, like a normal dog.
After figuring things out about Timberwolves, I took notes for myself for later confirmation before handing them off to Twilight for research. I found out that the pup was male, there's no obvious tell for stuff like that, but it seems to act like a normal male. After what happened earlier, I decided to find out for myself, "Hey, can you understand me?" I asked, and all he did was nod in understanding, I have no idea why that is, when the guys tried talking to him, he tilted his head and then turned to me.
I contemplated taking him to Fluttershy, but decided not to, she might freak out and run off to tell Twilight there was a Timberwolf nearby. Later the pup looked like it wanted to go outside, reluctantly I agreed, we went out the back and it went to the Everfree, excitedly it ran around, now that I think about it, what do Timberwolves eat? I followed him around, hoping for an answer about his food situation. When it found what appeared to be a bushel of mushrooms, it just started to snarf them all down with ease, Timberwolves eat mushrooms from the looks of it, what else? I don't know.
When we got home, it was already late, he seemed tired, so I carried him back to my room. Late at night I took notes on everything I learned about Timberwolves today, strangely I felt as though I should probably just ask him about everything, instead of experimenting on him, like some wild animal, because he wasn't just any wild animal, he was more than a pet, he was more like a companion. I think I'll name him Timby.


-------     Chapter Three: Like a Mother     -------

It's been a while since I've had Timby over at the house. I decided to go see Twilight to drop off some of my research notes on Timberwolves, not all of them for obvious reasons, what I failed to notice was Timby following me there. At some point on the walk to her castle, I heard a few ponies screaming yelling "TIMBERWOLF!!!" It was then I found out that Timby was with me.
Many of the Ponyville Protection Force showed up, showing hostility towards Timby, instinctively I took a defensive stance, one of the officers said "Sir, move away from the Timberwolf." I did nothing but hold my ground, and giving all of them the strongest glare I could give off, most of them saw the fire in my eyes and backed away. The rest that did not back away, slowly moved in for a offensive move, I moved to stay closer to Timby. When they got close enough, I had hit one of them with all that I could, and knocked him out cold, 
"Luckily it's just my hooves right?" The others backed away, 
not wanting any of this, "M-m-move along, j-j-just make sure it doesn't hurt anypony." They said, in which I replied 
"He's not an 'it,' his name is Timby, and I'm the one you should be scared about." 
Everyone backed further away, as a sign of fear, I said "Come on Timby, let's go." All he did was bark playfully, then we went to Twilight's to drop off the notes I had made thanks to Timby. I noticed something about my behavior regarding Timby, I defended him as a sign of protectiveness, like a . . . mother would. I guess I must be a new Den Mother to him. Twilight was really excited about the notes, though I barely noticed, keeping an eye on Timby. Twilight noticed and asked about him, 
all I could say was "I have a new buddy to go on adventures with."
in which she asked "A Timberwolf?"
I replied with "How do you think I got all these notes?"
She said nothing afterwards and I left shortly after dropping off the notes. Most ponies avoided me on the way, either scared of me or Timby, it didn't matter, they'll understand eventually, just not now.


-------     Chapter Four: Training for Protection     -------

The morning after yesterday's . . . events, I decided to train Timby to be a combat specialist, something those wild Timberwolves can't do. He's been doing well, for his first day of solid training, some of the other ponies were wondering if I truly had him under control, they asked about it, and I demonstrated by giving Timby precise orders and he pulled them all off flawlessly, proving that I had him all under control, but he still has his own free will.
He's gotten bigger over the last few days, I just recently noticed that he has little plant fibers on his legs, maybe he could use this to his advantage, in the morning I managed to make simple grappling hooks made from reinforced wood with tiny spikes to cling onto solid surfaces. It took a while to him to get used to it, but now he can freely launch them from his front legs, this could be very interesting, seeing what he would do with them, it may soon be time to go on another expedition, he could use real combat experience.


-------     Chapter Five: Unexpected Results     -------

After some time on our short expedition into the Everfree, we had run into a couple of Timberwolves, both Timby and I went to defensive stances, waiting for them to make the first move, after three of them ran towards me, Timby pinned one of them down and went for a kill, without hesitation, like a professional.
The other two went down fairly quickly, just a few swings from my blade to take care of them, it may need sharpening after this, the edges are a bit rough. A week after that expedition, a couple of ponies from town came to thank me, why? I never did anything to help them, after asking why they were thanking me, it was for protecting the town, from what? I never heard or saw anything dangerous recently, then I thought for a second, was it Timby keeping the town safe? I later asked him about that, apparently he has been going out on his own fighting creatures of ill intent nearby, to keep the town, or me safe. I felt worried and proud, but mostly scared. This explains his professionalism about killing, even his own kind.
The next morning I had asked him to spar with me, not anything major, arena rules; no killing, just make your enemy surrender. Either I'm getting rough or he's getting too good, he managed to get a few strikes in on me, and dodged most of my swings. I won, with just barely a few knocks away from passing out, his training has yielded unexpected results.


-------     Chapter Six: Taking a long-needed rest     -------

Thanks to Timby keeping up the good work, no one is scared of him anymore, he's considered a defender, even the PPF is okay with him now.
Though he's gotten considerably bigger since he's been here, it may be time to check if he wants to get reinforced, reinforcing wood takes time, and may hurt a Timberwolf, but it makes them significantly tougher and stronger. He agreed to the idea, but I told him he'll have to take it easy for a few weeks, which he's not too keen on.
So I decided to take a break with him, maybe get a massage, relax for a while and just rest. The Spa Ponies were especially excited to hear that I would be taking it easy, according to them, they were wondering about the muscle and stress kept in my wings. The massage felt amazing, I have never felt so relaxed and refreshed in my life, they seemed to offer "special services" to stallions like myself, but I refused for my own sanity, I would rather focus on my work.
I finally caught up own my books and training manuals for new skills for me to learn and eventually master. It is currently taking forever for me to learn tailoring, frustrated I handed it off to Crazy Bread, and left to go let out some steam by destroying something relatively small off in the distance.
Being unsure of myself, considering I'm more of a blacksmith and not a tailor anyway, after dealing with all this, we decide to plan out our next expedition, maybe in a few months we'll head out.


-------     Chapter Seven: Preparations for the Future     -------

After deciding to travel north next, we went over ideas for the future encounters, and coming up with a combat strategy, though we may not take Timby along with us, because Ponyville needs someone to defend it, and that's now his job.
For now in the meantime we went over house plans and discussed where should we keep our armaments, or weapons and armor for simpler words, and came up with keeping an armory in the lower floors of the house, maybe in the corner so we could have proper ventilation in there. Through blood (mostly mine) sweat (mostly Smiley) and tears (mostly Crazy) we finished it, though it took roughly three weeks to put it together. Finally finished we decided to take a break at the spa, remembering what happened last time, I decided not to, instead I felt like relaxing in the armory, for some reason I feel more comfortable in here, the smell, the heat, it's so relaxing here.
Suddenly, I fell asleep and when I awoke I had an idea, a hot spring in the house, perhaps at the back of the house, but that had to wait for another time, in the meantime while they were gone, I researched ores and materials in the north, turns out most of the things necessary for a hot spring could be found there. Upon their return, I asked them if a hot spring would be a good attachment to our house, they both agreed with no hesitation, apparently going to the spa ponies was really awkward for them, agreeing with the idea we decided to take the cart with us when we leave in a few months.


-------     Chapter Eight: Before the Departure     -------

We had been preparing for a while, touched up on battle strategy, mentally prepared for the worse case scenario, added a couple rooms to the house, just in case something comes and we need a new room, there's now a storage area A.K.A. the brand new basement, took forever to renovate for it, but it was worth every Bit.
It was a month before our planned departure, so we needed to get our things ready and in the cart, our weapons especially, so we don't leave underhoofed, and what appeared to be three months worth of provisions, in case we decided to extend our expedition, or meet some new ponies willing to work with us. A week later, Crazy wanted some new tomes, I told him that the ones not in the library are in the basement, and the "forbidden" tomes are in a lock box, aptly labeled "FORBIDDEN" and Smiley wanted something to do, so I just told him to go see Pinkie Pie, there's never a dull moment with her around.
All I did was attempt, keyword "attempt" to learn cartography (mapping) and I cannot figure out how other ponies manage to pull stuff like this off. Hopefully we'll find some sort of scout to hire for part-time cartography or something, but it's not likely that will happen to us out there, we'd never be THAT lucky.
We have two weeks before we set out and explore the northern borderlands of Equestria, we debated about whether or not we should ask one of our friends to go along with us, but decided not to since it seems a bit too dangerous. Today's the day we leave for the borderlands, but I'll save that story for another time, not today.
> Volume Two: Raids and Construction
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


-------     Chapter Six: Settling for Adventure     -------

Deciding to get back on the road, we had to discuss where to go, after a quick debate we decided to search the northern edges of Equestria, near the border between the Crystal Empire and Equestria. On the way we had talked about whether they had clothing capable of taking the cold, apparently none of us did, so we decided to look for a village to go clothes shopping, something I hadn't done in a while. After getting some clothes capable of travelling near the Crystal Empire, we searched for places of interest, we had discovered a few abandoned mines, ancient manors of unknown content, and what appeared to be an abandoned village, but upon closer inspection, wasn't. Upon arriving we were greeted with the most kind and heartwarming way possible, what was rather peculiar was how they were dressed, or lack there of.
The three of us knew that it would be freezing around here, but why do the locals around here seem to be alright about it? After some simple sightseeing, we were taken to the hotel of sorts with regulated heating, how? I decided to keep my warm clothes on anyway, since it didn't seem to make a difference. After some unsettling service, I wandered for a bit, then I found some records from way back when, I don't even know what year it looked like, yet these ponies look the same as those around here, realizing what was going on, I ran to warn the other two.
Thank Luna, I found them when I did, if I took any longer I would have lost them, and potentially myself. After getting them up to speed, we decided to high-tail it out of there, we were prepared for many things, but not exorcism. A while after we left we decided to set up camp as far away from that ghost town as possible, hoping to not go back we went to sleep and ventured off in a different direction in the morning.


-------     Chapter Seven: Unforeseen Raids     -------

The morning after the ghost town incident, we decided to go to a more warmer part of the border lands, when we ran into a little mare, asking us for food and directions, giving in we decided to give her some of our rations and some Bits for the village a few treks from here.
After giving her some of our resources she said "Thank you sirs for the directions."
In which we said "No problem, take care of yourself out there."
She said nothing in reply and just walked off, something was off about her,
I told the others, "Something's wrong here, come on guys I know a shortcut to where she's going."
It was a bit treacherous but we made it there before she did, we saw her again, from a different vantage, point, a few minutes away from the village I mentioned. She wasn't alone, apparently she was a recon pony for a group of bandits, looking to get intel from unsuspecting travelers, odds are she saw our weaponry and decided to not fight us. We decided to take refuge in the village in question, and hid out of bandit sight, we told the locals to remain calm and stay indoors, as we waited for them to attack. It was midnight, a fog was rolling over, it was the perfect set-up for a raid, silence was everywhere,
that was until they came yelling "CHARGE!!!"
Upon hearing that we rushed into action, with me in the lead and the others taking the rear, making sure they didn't get into the village, they weren't quite ready to be taking us on, the equipment they had were nothing short of simple. I won't go into specifics, but we managed to take care of most of them, with little to no casualties, in which they begged for forgiveness, there were roughly nine of them left. We decided to give them forgiveness as long as they become the village guards, in which they agreed, the little recon pony wanted to join us, weirdly enough, in which we decided to let her join, we have a warrior (me), our fast hitter (Smiley), and a mage (Crazy)? Now we have a recon pony named Maple Sight, quite a small rag-time group we have here.


-------     Chapter Eight: The Return Trip Home     -------

Since we have a new comrade, we decided to show off our place of residence, but we had to get back home, it's a shame we might not find those places again, I'm not a cartographer by any means. Later I found out our latest member already mapped out the area on her own time, she could be more useful than I thought. Luckily we made a couple of extra rooms, so now she can just move into one of the rooms we made way back when, however we noticed a complete lack of things she owned, as a new member of our group, I took it upon myself to get her some new things for her room, cue the huge shopping trip!
Despite my huge amount of Bits, that took a lot out of my wallet, well as long as there's enough for more food and such in the future. After getting her set in, I also had to give her formal combat training, she's not that bad for a small Earth pony, pretty quick, no wonder she's so good at doing recon work. While she was in freestyle training, I decided to give my blade a look-over, for adjustments or change in fighting style overall, maybe I should change to a sword and shield style, I'm not only fighting for myself after all. The four of us decided to stay in town a while, at least until we felt like travelling again, this however lead to the first they saw me in the morning, before, I woke up before them and got ready for the day in advance, cause I'm not a morning pony, not in the slightest. It happened one morning, when we were on our break, Maple got up before any of us, and found out we were low on food, and went to go wake me up, she'll never do that again after what happened. She came into my room, came up to me and tried to shake me awake,
"Leave me be." I said tiredly and angrily, she persisted,
in which I snapped at her "GET THE HELL OUT OF MY ROOM AND LET ME SLEEP!" I yelled at the top of my lungs, she ran off and I'm not sure but I think she cried and didn't leave the entire day.
Needless to say, things were going to start getting rocky starting today.


-------     Chapter Nine: Calming Terrors     -------

Despite what happened yesterday, everyone acted like it never happened, minus the obvious carefulness around me. Throughout the day, I seem perfectly normal and fine, because nopony sees me in the morning, unless they see me in serious combat or on the verge of snapping, in which they try to stay on my good side, assuming I have one. I spent the day shopping for wood and materials, I would like to attempt advanced engineering, make I could make an automatic grappling hook, one you don't need to throw to use. For some time, while coming up with a schematic, many ponies were making assumptions that I was coming up with an evil plot, being in my room for days on end and not talking to anyone, I still ate but none of the guys (and girl) asked me what I was doing, they must understand what I'm doing. After two weeks I finished the grappling hook, but it needed a test, so I used a mannequin to test it out, it works amazingly well, but could use some more tinkering.
Later after the tinkering, I gave a model of it to Smiley, Crazy, and Maple, being non-pegasi gave them a disadvantage in movement, so I decided to fix that, working it into their combat style could take a while though. Crazy in particular did not want to use the grappling hooks, it felt unnatural to him, so I decided to leave him be. Since only Smiley and Maple decided to use them, and I decided to use them for potential if my wings can't do the job, or if it's too windy, thinking about these kinds of things helps calm me down, thankfully we have the armory to help calm me down.


-------     Chapter Ten: Remembered Renovations     -------

Roughly a week and half later I remember that we were planning to renovate a room into a hot spring of sort, to help us relax at our house. It took a while but after getting the area ready, and breaking and making a support for an open-air bath in the back of the house, it has the best view at night. Getting solid amounts of natural hot water took a while to and lead over to our house took forever to do, oh well it'll all be worth it after the hot spring is set up. Two weeks later the hot spring is finally set up, to celebrate we all decide to take the first bath at the same time, weirdly Maple was okay with being in there with three stallions, it didn't matter to me anyway, though Crazy Bread to be awfully sweaty and nervous about being in there, he decided to take his bath later, oh well his loss, don't worry nothing major happened in there, just normal bathing.
Bored I decided to head into the basement to find some things we could use in an expedition in the near future, I was extremely surprised by all the stuff down here, apparently Maple had a lot of things to bring with her and she put most of the things she doesn't want in her room in the basement. Over in my room, I don't know why but I wanted a balcony in my room, so obviously I went to go get the things I needed for that to happen, and it took another few days to get it made, Timby helped me by telling me where to get the most sturdy wood for the balcony, it looks amazing for something only made with wood, since painting it wasn't really necessary for the natural look I wanted for a balcony, after putting up a railing for safety reasons, I realized the amazing view only rivaled by the view in the bath, I could get used to simple peaceful life, instead of being a nomad with no place to be.
This is the beginning of regular visits here after travelling for months on end, now that I think about, I should ask the Princesses to allow me to check out the more ancient parts of Equestria, remnants of the old civilizations of the land, even before the founding of Equestria. It was at this point my life was going to take a more crazy and drastic turns of events after my first "ancient" expedition.
> Side Story Two: Squiggly Draggings
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


|||||||     Takes place after Volume Two     |||||||


-------     Chapter One: Fiery Expeditions     -------

After hearing of the Dragon Lands, a landscape full of Dragons of varying types and sizes, I felt like checking it out, apparently Crazy and Smiley did not want to go, they had been burned many times before (both figuratively and literally).
Wearing my flame-retardant armor, I ventured out to the Dragon Lands. A few hours later I ran into a few dragons looking for a fight, calling me a little "namby, pamby, pony." I showed them what I was capable of, well I didn't show them, they were unconsious. From what I've seen, most dragons are full of themselves, but I ran into a rather small dragon, it didn't seem to have any reason to, but it just came to me.
Immediately after this had happen a few more bigger dragons came to me, 
they said "Hey, little pony hand over the tiny dragon." 
"Why?" I asked, 
"That little dragon is a trouble maker, it goes all over the place, causing all sorts of mischief. It's probably a good idea to hand him over."
"But he was the one to come to me." 
They all looked shocked when I said that, apparently he just doesn't go to anyone to relax on their head. After all of this happened, they decided that it probably a better idea to let him go with me, since I seem to have a better handle on him. Before I left I asked what was him name, according to what they told me his name was Squiggles, and he hasn't learned how to talk yet. Maybe on the way back I'll see what I can teach him, if I can teach him anything.


-------     Chapter Two: Fiery Understandings     -------

While on the way back home I wondered how would everyone react to having a dragon around, I'm only worried about Timby being near him so I turned to Squiggles and said "I have a Timberwolf companion at home, are you capable of breathing fire, like most dragons?" 
He nodded and then shook his head because he doesn't breath fire, he shoots fireballs wierdly enough. Before getting back I had him promise to not shoot fireballs unless told to, especially so at the house as to not have to renovate the house...... again, I would rather not have to go over the last time we renovated the house for something major. 
I wonder if he would like it more in the forge, so I brought him to the room, and apparently he likes it a lot, I had to make a little bed for him to sleep on, he doesn't quite have feet, so he flew with me all the way here. I know that dragons eat gems so I had to go get some for him over in the gem quarry just outside the town, over in the quarry gems just grow at an unnatural rate, they form and grow in a matter of days, though rarely magical gems form and I mine those for enchantments, it's not easy to do but I figured it out.
Upon my return I found out that Squiggles was different, first he clings his one claw to objects to hold on, secondly he eats Firestones, that'd explain the fact that he shoots fireballs, thirdly he occasionly likes to hang out in the forge or the fire I guess, overall he loves the heat more than regular dragons, even Spike doesn't enjoy staying in the forge.
Unfortunately firestones are not the easiest thing to find in the mine, I usually find them in the mine a good distance away from town, but rarely those are almost impossible to find, curious I took him along to see if he can find them on his own, Squggles just became more awesome, I told him to take me to the firestones to mine them and he's allowed to eat some of them just not all of them. 
This is more than interesting development between the two of us, Timby is still a bit scared of him, maybe if they worked together for a while they'll get along.


-------     Chapter Three: Collective Agreements     -------

Though we all live in the same house, Timby and Squiggles have been trying to avoid each other for a while, Timby especially. The only thing I notice them having similarities about is keeping an eye on me when I go out, like they're trying to keep me safe from potential dangers, Timby nearby in a bush being the ninja and Squggles in the sky being the overwatch role in a team. Considering these two sets of skills they could be very deadly if they worked together, but they choose not do since they are both so different. It was the next day I felt like going into the Everfree to gather some mushrooms and some flora for the use of medicine, we need to restock and buying them from the hospital, they may need them more than we do, which is why I wanted to try my hoof at medicine making.
I made a mistake when I went a bit too far in, Zecora had told me to not go too far or I'll run into something a bit too much for me and my blade to cut down, when I ran into something even I didn't know about it was big and even though I had brought my blade, it wasn't enough to even faze whatever it was, I tried to run back for safety until it grabbed my hoof and pulled me towards it, I haven't panicked in a long time until then, I closed my eyes and hoped it would be painless.
As if by some miracle both Timby and Squiggles both came and started to fight it on their own, working together even, Timby binding it with his vines and Squiggles barraging it with fireballs, it had no idea what to go for first, slowly letting me go and getting me a chance to figure out how to fight it, I noticed that it's body was heating up, like iron or gold and decisively, I swung with all my might to see what would happen.
By the Princess of the Night Luna, it worked, it was just like handling ores, it cracked and chipped by huge chunks, although large spurts of flames shot out from the openings. Could this creature be a mass of firestones coming together, collecting magic to produce life? Choosing to think about it later I swung my blade at it some more hoping it would come to an eventual death, alas I was right, but it would take forever to do since it was still tough after a portion was cut open, I needed my forge hammer to do this but I didn't, so I backed away as much as I could before charging at with my blade, I did not swing, I stabbed and lodged it into its rock-like flesh, flew back and again charged at it with as much speed as I can and impaled him with the blade, hoping to impale its core, assuming it had one, luckily for us it did, killing it was nowhere near easy, but Timby and Squiggles worked together and are no longer afraid of each other.
Though bringing the ore and material back took the rest of the day, and I was exhausted afterwards and thank Luna I have a hot spring to go to upon getting home. Sadly there were no other sightings of Firestone Beasts after that, coincidence or bad luck? Oh well, not important.


-------     Chapter Four: Firestoners of Enchantment     -------

After what happened a few days ago Timby and Squggles have been getting along, they are no longer afraid of each other and now work together on a more regular basis.
Now with the ore that I had gotten from the Firestone Beast or whatever, I went into deep thinking mode about what design of armor I could make with it; finding no good answer, I gave the pitch to Crazy Bread and he came up with some interesting ideas for armor, even going as far as to design a set for Timby and Squiggles.
Timby's armor used firestone plates with hardened reinforced wood underneath it for Timby to be used to it, Squiggles on the other hoof uses very little amounts of lighter material so it's not too heavy for him, since he prefers to stay in close quarters and only scouts for longer travels. While making the armor I felt like giving the design a little bit of personal flair, applying a wood-like paint to Timby's set and a fiery burst on Squiggle's set.
Later I had an idea "Could these firestones be used for enchantments?" Wanting to test this idea out, I ask to borrow Crazy's staff to see if I can enhance the staff for fire magic, through time and the enchanting books I've read, there were no known enchantments made with firestones, regardless I decided to try anyway, and almost died in the process, but I managed to pull it off, the magic was enhanced and seemed about as powerful as Squiggle's fireballs
After the enchantments I went ahead to log it into my logbook to keep track of, maybe I'll experiment with it some time. I had noticed that I had been spending a lot of time in my room for book-keeping strangely enough, perhaps it's time I took a long-needed walk to refresh my brain.


-------     Chapter Five: Relaxing Moments     -------

It has been some time since I decided to ask the Princesses to allow me to search the more "ancient" parts of Equestria, be it for retro blueprints and possible inspirations for new ideas for the future. Although that was my plan I did not want to request that until I've calmed down and relaxed for a while, but I guess I should at least send them a letter requesting for the right to search some specific locations. 
My letter will read as follows "Dear Princess Celestia and Luna, my name is Techno Sparklers and though this may be unformal I would like to recieve permission to excavate and search the remains of the residents of the land before Equestria was known to be the mainland, I will be taking notes of things I find such as ancient blueprints and materials and will use what I find for the betterment of Equestria, though if any personal requests for certain objects are subject to change based on the usefulness and potential for use in Equestria. I will hope to recieve sanction to do so."
I then went to Princess Twilight and gave the letter to Spike to send to the Princesses, I could have gone there myself but did not want to, since I want to take some time to relax, hopefully I will recieve my answer in a matter of days. Upon my walk I stumbled into Maple she was going for a walk as well,
I came up to her and asked her what she was up to "Nothing much just going for a walk, you?"
"Same here." I said
"Wanna take a walk together?" she asked me this acting a bit shyly
"Sure, why not?" I answered.
It was rather strange since most of the ponies from town were staring at us, how did this look to them? Like a father and daughter? Special someponies? I was trying to relax so I didn't think about for that long, though most of the mares looked jealous and sort of glared at Maple I don't understand why though, we're not an item, we're two individuals taking a walk together.
"Wanna go shopping for a bit?"
I asked her since I needed some things from a couple of stores myself, after shopping we went ahead and had lunch, this is nice having a pony I could casually have a chat with, we hanged out all day and had long talks throughout the day, many mares and stallions giving us harsh glares, I didn't know she was so popular around town.
The next morning she came to my room and woke me up,
"Hey, you doing okay?" she asked me sacredly, clearly she remembered what happened the last time,
"Yeah I'm fine." I answered
"I'm glad, you seemed really tense recently and I thought you could use somepony to talk to, after all, you spent a lot of time in here." I didn't know you she was thinking about me so much,
so all I could say was "Thanks for yesterday, I had a lot of fun, I never really talked to a lot of ponies, it was nice chatting yesterday, it was really relaxing and I appreciate you being here, to talk to."
After I said that she blushed and said "D-d-don't worry about it."
She ran out afterwards and I got up and started getting back to work, waiting for Spike or the Princesses to give me the response I was waiting for, moving here for good was by far the greatest thing I could do, my life has changed for the better. This isn't quite what I had in mind for my lifestyle, but I wouldn't trade it for anything else. Maybe I'll get the answer I was waiting for soon.
> Volume Three: Ancient Exploration
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


-------     Chapter Eleven: The Condition     -------

Just another day at home, that was until we had gotten a visit from the Princesses themselves to give me the answer to my request, before that I keeled before Princess Luna "It is an honor Lady Luna." 
They had come to the conclusion that I was allowed to go on the expedition to the areas that have been known and blocked off. Though they had one condition "No one was to get hurt over the time of the expedition and no one is to get hurt from anything found and re-made from the expedition." Knowing full well of the condition, I agreed, and got multiple things ready, namely the armor, weapons, and extra baggage space for the possible blueprints found from the wreckage known as "ancient Equestria." 
The four of us planned to go next week after some preparations and some questions answered from the Princesses about some of the things we would most likely find while out there. According to Princess Celestia there are a lot of remnants of tools, objects, and mechanisms that belonged to Old Equestria and even remnants that existed even before the founding of Equestria, the times of wars and endless death that used to haunt the land, homes of creatures unknown to pony kind destroyed and only the remains lay still in the empty fields.
Regardless of everything we had heard we were ready for many dangers that may lurk there, 
"Even now we are unsure of what may be there, living and surviving in the desolate wastes that was our homeland." said Celestia, 
"Also if you find anything interesting you have to be sure to report back to us to see if it is worth the re purposing and manufacturing of certain tools and electronics." said Luna,
"That I will, my lady." I responded back with certainty.
With the time of departure being two days from now, we brainstormed about plans for potential combat, and had some solid plans, then we went over the cargo since carrying too much stuff will reduce the amount of loot we could bring back, since the things there have been around for potentially a thousand years they must be worth a lot. 
Now that the time has come we set off to the expedition site, marked by both Princess Celestia and Luna, we set out, excited for the things we may find out there and the possibilities that will no doubt come from the tools found.


-------     Chapter Twelve: The Discovery     -------

The abandoned site we given directions to was quite the sight to see, standing tall, filled with plant life, seemed beautiful, sadly among the plant life were puddles of blood droplets, dried and left behind by who-knows-what, yet despite all we saw we pushed forward towards the building and was forced to break through the big, bulky doors that was the entrance. 
After urging everyone to move over to the sides, I said "Stay low, stay hidden, we don't know what could be here after all this time of being in a state of decay." We laid low for a few minutes, expecting something to show up and something did, at the time we did not know what it was yet it was later revealed to be something called a Sentinel, a machine made to wander and locate possible threats to the land of Old Equestria, fascinated I studied it on site but stayed out of its sight. 
Later after the Sentinel left we went ahead and moved on through this for some reason abandoned site, myself hoping I would find a blueprint for the sentinel to take advantage of the technology that was left here, sneaking around as to avoid combat at every chance that presented itself to us, we had prepared for the worst before coming here but we did not expect to find something like this, whilst sneaking we managed to get to the second floor of this building and had only found out the first floor was the least fortified of this area, upon surveying we later found out that the security was only going to get more worse for us along the way. 
When we checked out the lower floors we had found out the place was already looted, sadly we had also found a couple of bodies which we also had to loot, the second floor on the other hoof was a bit more clean, seems like looters never bothered to come up here, as we were hiding from the Sentinels I remembered that the bodies from downstairs had weapons next to them, perhaps they attacked the Sentinels, curious I trotted in front of the Sentinel weapon still sheathed, 
when the Sentinel saw me it played a message for this situation "Lay down your arms if you wish to stay alive." 
I complied and dropped my things slowly but still keeping my armor on, 
in turn it took my weapons and played a different message "Your things will be returned upon your departure, please enjoy your visit to Castle Equestria."
This was both absolutely amazing, yet oddly terrifying, after the others followed suit and relinquished their equipment, we wandered through the building and was at some point reached the Engineering Department, 
where a machine that was not a Sentinel said "Welcome back, Mr. Sparklers, you are needed in the bio mechanical lab."
In which Maple asked "Does your father work here?"
The only response I had was "I honestly don't know."
Now that I had the time to ponder it, I have not seen my parents in some time, maybe I should head over to my hometown of Neighborton to check if they are there or not, and if not, maybe a visit to see how it's changed over the years in my absence, hopefully it's expanded a bit, well hope for the best I guess.
Back to the matter at hoof however, the machine led us over to the bio mechanical lab, where from the looks of it my father has been working on a machine that seemed remarkably close to current-day pony-kind, sadly though it looks rather..... simple in design, perhaps I should take it with me to ask my father about it, when I run into him at least.
As I was about to pick up the blueprints, I was stopped by a Sentinel,
the message that played said "Sir, what is it you are doing with your work?"
I replied, sounding as much like my father as possible "I am taking these home to work on and inspect on the designs for future contemplation."
After saying this, the Sentinel replied with "Very well sir, please take your time, you have no time limit for this project after all."
No time limit? Well for something like this it made sense, based only on design and concept, this would take forever to complete, well for my father at least, he was never really a serious kind of stallion, this seemed like a far too serious subject to expect him to do, even on his own time.
We gathered some more blueprints to go over in the future, assuming any of them would be worth the time at the moment, then we explored around for a bit longer being greeted as "Mr. Sparklers" not that it bothered me, but then I thought about it "Mr. Sparklers?" That's me, not my father, it would've been "Mr. Voltswitch" if it was him, yet it wasn't. Was this all expected of me to find? Well maybe so, but I won't find out until I see my parents again, so we quickly finished up our visit and left, 
After we got our things back and had a Sentinel send us off saying "Thank you for coming to work today, please come again soon Mr. Sparklers, we will be waiting for your finished projects in the future."
Immediately after leaving we got to our wagon and went on a return trip back to Ponyville, it took longer to get home than it took to get to Old Equestria, mainly due to my wandering mind overthinking and slowing us down, oh well we got home, that's what matters right now.


-------     Chapter Thirteen: The Return Trip     -------

Well, it's been a few days and we're not home yet, we've gotten to Old Equestria in less time than this. On the way back we went over ideas about why the things happened that they did, we never did come up with one other than my parents were waiting for me to come of age and discover the blueprints and plans that were there, literally waiting for me to find, become fascinated, and decide to work on in my own time. A week later and we're still not back yet, it's a little irritating knowing that our house was still really far away, but I digress, this time has been useful in me figuring this stuff out, though the progress is quite slow since I have in no way have seen this sort of technology, at least not in this manner or construct, needless to say I was fascinated by everything this sort of technology had to offer, the uses, the practicality, and the potential of the idea in the right hooves, sadly they were not my own, but property of Equestria, not for my personal uses, unless I chose not to report this, which would break my honor.
After two long weeks we had gotten home, and the first thought everyone had was to take a long-deserved bath, again Crazy Bread did not want to go in immediately, he chose to go in later, myself included, I had to see the boys and put the things I need in my room and most of the other stuff in the basement for storage, the boys were excited to say the least they practically pounced on me for the sake of a hug, I guess the research would just have to wait until later because I won't lie, I sorta missed the boys while we were out there, finding and looking for stuff to take back to the house. After a while of putting the things away I figured I should talk to the boys for a while and ask them about the things that have happened since we were gone, nothing noteworthy happened while we were gone, well except that apparently there was some sort of problem that befell Princess Luna, luckily it was dream-related and was solved relatively quickly by Twilight and her friends, had something to do with a being that Luna created called the Tantabus, luckily it was solved with no known causalities.
Remembering the Princesses, I went ahead and started writing my letter to inform them of all the things we gathered over at the Old Castle Equestria, and I mean everything, including the things we found that looked like it was left for me, hopefully they will have an explanation for me as to why my parents left it there, more so how long were they there for? After sending the letter I went back to my office, A.K.A. my room, and started getting to work on the bio mechanical plans, although I couldn't focus on my work I was too distracted by everything else to keep my mind on my work, maybe I'll get to it tomorrow.


-------      Chapter Fourteen: The Relaxation     -------

Roughly four days of relaxing after our return, I now decide to get to work, that was until I was disturbed by Smiley wanting some tomes to go over to try to learn new spells to use on our usual expeditions, so I told him to check the library and in the bookshelves in the basement, while exclusively telling him NOT to look in the forbidden lock box full of dangerous spells and items, luckily for my own sanity he did not look in there, later he thanked me for telling him where the tomes and started getting to work on them, hoping to learn what he can, which sadly is not a lot concerning his magic inefficiency.
Maple wanted something to do later into the day, I merely gave her the suggestion that she should go try to make some friends around town, she hasn't really done that in her time here in Ponyville, she doesn't really have that much friends, or any at all as far as I know, but then again I only talk to her on the occasion, or whenever she felt like talking to me, I'm sure most of the other stallions will be glad she's trying to open up to the towns-ponies. She's been with us a while but I noticed that her mane still looks similar to when she first got her, maybe I'll take her to Rarity's to get something done about it, she could be cuter if her mane wasn't so disheveled.
Meanwhile Crazy Bread wanted some time off, which I allowed since we have been really busy recently, there are apparently some books he wants to get caught up on and some ponies he wants to see, I forgot he had some friends in some of the nearby towns, he seems busy even when we're not on our expeditions, quite the busypony if you ask me, always has something to do, sometimes I wonder what he does on his own spare time, though I dare not ask that would violate what we have as individual trust, I don't pry into his life, and in turn he respects what I do in my spare time, then again I'm pretty open about what I do so it doesn't really matter.
While all this was going I went ahead and figured that the work could be worried about later instead of now, besides what if I can't finish these projects? Or what if some of the blueprints were to be abolished? With that in mind I decide to take a break and wait for the Princesses to send me a letter of confirmation or for them to visit to go over the blueprints and plans to see if any of them were worth bringing back, along with my guidance of course, and some of my notes on improvement since these appear to be very old, or ancient in other words. Since they looked so old, I thought about new designs to improve on the original model for efficiency and energy-consumption.
This relaxation period has been well worth it, while everyone was taking the time off I spent this time looking over notes I had taken off the blueprints from the Old Castle and went over just how to make the objects in question more better than the original. Sadly the versions I made designs for were too demanding to be mass-produced, unlike our stoves and lights, maybe in time this could change with allowed access to some of the old mines that were abandoned for safety reasons, perhaps if these projects were allowed I could do a survey with Maple to check if they're safe and have the resources necessary to make my plans come to fruition.


-------     Chapter Fifteen: The Review     -------

I sent the letter roughly a week ago, personally I was expecting a response a lot more faster than this, though I can't blame them, the letter was of moderate size and they must have a lot of royal duties to take care of since they have to take time off just to come here to see the plans and that could take a good while to go over since it's me that found it.
The very next day the Princesses sent a letter, I was outside when I read and what was written was "Look up"
Then I said "Look up?" knowing they were above me.
Immediately I looked up and saw nothing, then I said "Where in Tartaru-"
"We're here." said suddenly, then I looked down and saw the Princesses in front of me.
"Really, Princesses? We're going this low today?"
"Forgive me, this was Luna's idea, she spent all day yesterday coming up with this plan." that would explain why it took longer to do this.
"Is that true Lady Luna?" I said with an unamused tone.
"Yes, though I took no pleasure with this, I hope you will forgive me." she said with a sad and dejected tone.
"Well as long as you feel sorry about it, then I guess it's fine. Come in if you wish to discuss the plans and blueprints." I said, feeling bad for Lady Luna.
After giving a quick tour around the house and showing them Timby and Squiggles and at the end of the tour we went over to my room and went to my workbench to show them the original designs and then my brand new redesigns, this was this moment I was waiting for. After looking at the designs and materials needed to make this a reality they said,
"These designs are remarkable Tech, when did you design these?" asked Celestia with amazement, as if these were brand new.
"Just last night." I replied with a confident attitude.
"Last night? These are absolutely astonishing for a mere night's work." said Luna with a strong sense of amazement.
"And these weren't the only ones I found, I found some "Entertainment Machines" along the blueprints, they look pretty final, but could no doubt be enjoyable with some redesigns, since they don't seem usable by modern standards" I said hoping they would be approved.
"Entertainment Machines you say? I have never heard of that, where did you look to find those?" She said with uncertainty, while questioning the legitimacy of my claims.
"I found them over in the quarantined area of the site, I went over to check in the middle of the night while everyone else was sleeping, there appears to be no radiation or signs of immediate danger, so I was under the presumption that it would be fine if I checked the area for anything salvageable." I said sounding cocky about my risk-taking endeavor to find those blueprints.
"Would it be possible for me to..... go over these designs?" asked Lady Luna, sounding shy and unsure of her question.
"Very well Lady Luna, allow me to get them, they're somewhere around here." I said while essentually scavenging my workbench.
After finding the blueprints in question I bring it up and say "Here they are, they don't look very usable to ponykind, but I could try to redesign it to be usable while maintaining the original look."
Princess Celestia went over and was not sure of herself but said "We would much rather see a prototype to see if it can be enjoyable."
"Very well Princess, I'll see what I can do, hopefully I could learn the way it operated based on these designs alone, but if not, I will look for the manual at the site where I found the blueprints for it."
"Sir Sparklers, if you can make a prototype for all of these within a month, we will come back to see if any of these are worth bringing to modern day Equestria with the hope of bringing forth new insight on the technological front, I wish you the best of luck and will hope for the best in the meantime." said Princess Celestia, with a strong sense of power behind her voice.
Meanwhile Luna, standing meekly inquired "Sister would it perchance be alright for me to..... stay here and ensure the progress of these projects?" while holding one of the blueprints of an Entertainment Machine still unnamed at the time.
"I am sorry Sister, but we both know we have royal duties to attend to back at Canterlot, come we have much to go over at the Castle." she said with force, almost demanding even.
After that they both left the house to go back to Canterlot with the expectation that I will have the prototypes done within a month. In the quiet alone I said out loud
"One month huh? Not a lot of time for these. But I do like a good challenge!" I said with vigor and excitement as I got right to work on of the prototypes on my work bench after putting most of the blueprints away.
Some time after the assignment I was surprised by something I would never have though would happen, but that can part of the story could wait for another time, not today.
> Side Story Three: Splitting in Two
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


|||||||     Takes place after Volume Three     |||||||


-------     Chapter One: The Backfire     -------

It was a few days after the Princesses came to go over the blueprints, but this happened when I was taking a break for a few hours. While I was relaxing for a while in the hot spring, taking a quick bath to calm my nerves, Smiley came in the bath, not to bathe, but to ask
"Hey Tech, do you think you could help me with some magic training?" he asked hoping I would say yes.
"Sure, just give me a while to finish my bath." I said in a calm manner, not knowing what would happen in the coming events that took place.
Smiley wanted to get better at using magic, so we tested an ancient tome, it was hard to make out based on the text used but it essentially splits the object hit in half. After some preparations we tested the spell "Equinious transforus!" We had aimed for the table as practice, but it ricocheted and hit me instead, I was unconscious for a few minutes, but when I woke up, I was shocked and amazed to see that it worked, and to meet my (technical) sister.
According to the others, she was extremely friendly and they almost immediately became friends with the others that they were more than fine to have her around, as she was pleasant company.
She was..... like my opposite, she seemed bombastic and hyperactive, for no real reason I asked "Do you know your own name?" Almost as if she was prepared to answer she said "My name's Ballistic Voltswitch!" in an extremely excited voice. Then I remembered that my parents told me if I was a mare my name would've been Ballistic Voltswitch, this blew my mind, "does she have her own memories?" was the first thing I thought after realizing that,
yet when I asked she looked down and said, in a sad tone "No, I just appeared, I know that I'm not actually real."
then she excitedly said "At least not yet!"
"What do you mean not yet?" I asked curious about the situation.
"The spell used to create me only lasts a few months, unless a stable life source or flow of magic prolongs my existence." she answered perfectly understanding her current existential being.
"How do you know all of this, despite just getting created?" again I asked with a need for a good sense of understanding.
"Everything I just told you is common knowledge for artificial beings like myself, we are not meant to last long, unless strong magical ability is used to create us then we can last quite a long time." artificial beings? Perhaps I'll try to talk to her later to get to know my artificial sister.
Even if it's only for a couple of months she's still family and if I can find a way to keep her around for good, it would definitely be worth it, maybe she'll get along with mom and dad. Later the same day, I asked her about having a place to stay, making sure to offer a spare room, we keep a lot of those in this house just in case of situations not quite like this, but similar in reasoning. She was hesitant at first but decided that it was probably for the best that she stay with us, after showing her around the house, she seemed to be somewhat amazed at the sheer size of the house that we live,
in her amazement she said this out loud "Wow, you sure have a big house for only four ponies."
"Well yeah, we need extra rooms in case something like this happens or for storage if we get too many things stuffed in the basement." I pointed out with pride with my sense of architecture.
"There's a basement?!" she exclaimed as if she's never heard of a house with a basement before. Then again the tome she came from was created a long time ago, she must have the mindset of the past instead of the current time.
"Yeah, of course we have a basement, why wouldn't we?" I asked wondering why that was weird.
"Well I've never seen a house with a basement before. So if you have a basement, what do you guys do for a living?"
"We travel and search for things to sell or keep in the many ranges of Equestria, sometimes looting and occasionally doing mercenary work, though I haven't been contacted for mercenary work in a while." I explained feeling strong and proud of my lifestyle.
"You're a mercenary? How long have you been like this?" she asked feeling a tad afraid of the things I may have done.
"Since I was a teenager, though like I said I have not had any contracts in a long time, dangerous pony sightings have started slowing down for a while now, reducing the amount of contracts I get." I told her, making sure she knows that I have been doing this for a long time.
"Since you were a teenager?!" again she said shocked by the amount of time I have been a mercenary.
"Yeah, I was recruited by a guild called the Moonlight guild, but I'll tell you that story another time, now's not the time for it, it's shows a darker side of me I would rather not have a lot of ponies know about quite yet.
After that we remained silent, not wanting to indulge into my only slightly dark past and youth, though like I said that's a story for another time. After showing her to her room though,
she had this to say "Which room do you sleep in?"
I answered with "Why do you want to know where I sleep?" I asked with a need for confirmation as to understand her motives for her questioning.
"O-o-oh I was hoping we could share a room, we are family after all right?" she answered and asked while blushing slightly.
"Sure, but no funny ideas got it?" I answered with strong and stern expression, including a unamused attitude towards the idea of sleeping together.
"Are there any leftover beds?" She asked hoping there was no extra bedding so we would have to sleep in the same bed.
"Of course there are, I'll go get it from the basement, I'll get it ready within the hour, since it's not assembled yet." I again answered knowing what she wanted to happen tonight.
She sighed, disappointed about what I told her since she wanted us to sleep together, I would be fine with it any other time, but she's technically my sister so I did not want to delve into that, at least not until she met my... no our parents about it before hoof, by Luna I hope this sort of thing isn't allowed.
As the night came, my sister was hoping I would go to bed early, however I don't go to sleep until it's about three or four in the morning, I work until then and sleep for roughly five hours. It's quite strange that my sleeping arrangements have changed so much in the time we have lived here in Ponyville, not that I would change it either way, I feel at peace at night, it helps me work.


-------     Chapter Two: Finding Good Points     -------

The very next morning I found myself in my bed, and it wasn't just me, my sister decided to sneak into my bed while I was asleep, she laid there with a huge smile on her face, probably just happy to just sleep in the same bed as me, however as I was about to get out of bed and get to work, she clung onto me, most likely awake and just doesn't want me to get out of bed just yet. Regardless I force myself out of her grip and get out of bed,
when I get off she says "What, is it morning already?"
"Of course it is, now get up, there's work to be done today." I ordered with a tone of command, not wasting any time.
"So, what's the plan for today?" she asked, wondering what today would foretell in terms of events.
"First: Figure out how to prolong your existence in this world, so we can begin to have a five-pony team instead of four. Second: Find out what skills you have, since you and I are different so we can determine what abilities you can bring to the team, as I already mentioned. Third: Try to find out where mom and dad are so we can get them to meet you, so you can become a legitimate member of the family." I answered, putting emphasis on my words so she knows the points for today's primary work.
"Wow, that's a lot for one day, are you sure we can do all that in one day?" 
"Again of course, that's actually sounds easy unlike some other days that I have experienced in this house."
After our little conversation, we left the room to go get started on point one, figure out how to prolong her existence, so I went back to the tome to find out a plan for this. My sister on the other hoof decided to go to the kitchen to get something to eat, then she turned to me, having forgotten where it was
"Go down the stairs, down the hallway, second door on the left for kitchen, opposite door for the dining room." I told her, figuring she'd forget just in case.
After telling her that I continued my trot to the upstairs living room to look over the tome, hoping to understand the spell better enough to find a way to prolong my sister's existence in this world, though the language as old as it is is not making this in any way easier, perhaps I'll send a letter to the Princesses to ask for assistance in the language they used to speak in Old Equestria.
I took the tome over to my room and figured I should do a side-by-side in the text to try to translate the original into modern day Equestrian, it was at this time my sister came into the room to check what I was up to, curious as to why I was going over the tome, even though I had already told her what I was going to do while she was around.
She saw what I was doing and asked "Why is this so hard for you to read? It pretty cut and clear what it means."
"What do you mean? This is not modern Equestrian, it uses a different vocabulary than what we speak today." I said, frustrated about how difficult this was to try to translate.
"Well, since I came from this tome, in a way. I could give you pointers about how to read it and figure out what it means." she offered, hoping I would accept her help, since I was the only relative she had at this point.
"Well you offered, so I'll accept your help, this isn't easy to read anyway." I said humbly and thankful for her help on the tome.
Not going into specifics, we made decent headway on the tome and deciphered the meaning, apparently she needs life and a flow of magic to keep her shape and form, though the magic and life she needs is different from the current day equivalents. It requires life from other ponies and internal magic that flows from within ponies that are not unicorns. It's more clear why this spell was considered "forbidden" it would appear that this was made from the times of the long-past Race War, the one that pitted the three races against one another, and this spell was one used by non-unicorns to help kill them by creating a pony of immeasurable power, this makes more sense why it backfired, we misread it and tried to use it on a object and not a pony, creating such a unknown product.
Attempting to keep her around may prove to be trickier than I had anticipated, I wonder if I can create a new spell to change the conditions of the original spell? I may need to go see Twilight about this sort of thing, since it wouldn't be easy to create a new spell made to change an already existing spell. On second thought, maybe showing this to Twilight would only prove to be a bigger hassle than I think it would be, since I don't think she would be okay with an artificial being made from magic, from what I can remember she has already dealt with the Mirror Pool, or lake, or whatever it was, taking my sister to her could also be hazardous to her life, not that I'd let Twilight kill her without repercussions anyway.
Before getting started on the spell alteration I took a break to get a chance to get to know my sister to see what she was capable in combat, one on one against me obviously, since I understand her better than the others. She's shockingly sociable despite having only just got into this world, although she hasn't left the house yet, which is good since I don't want her leaving the house just yet for she is not considered a resident of Equestria quite yet, after I solidify her existence I'll help her become a legal citizen, which will require me to get mom and dad for this as well.


-------    Chapter Three: Confrontation     -------

We had to make some room in the basement for my sister and I to have a quick fight, luckily Crazy Bread was at home since I could count on him to make a magic barrier (from one of the barrier tomes in the basement) to make sure nothing gets damaged in the middle of the fight. I went with my sword and shield style, she on the other hoof went with claymore style, which surprised me, I had touched up on that style but never really went far with it, too complex and weighty for a traveler, not my style. I went in well armored and she only used light armor, which made sense because the style she's using is not good for someone with heavy armor that I usually end up using whenever we head out for travels.
After the fight started she rushed me, wrong move, as she swung her claymore, I immediately block and repelled her sword and pushed her back in the process, stumbling I went for another shield bash, which she in turn also blocked, which was impressive since it's not easy to even attempt to block with a claymore with the length she was using, in turn I went on the aggressive and tried to go for a quick match, putting as much force as I can into the swings that followed to keep her on the tips of her hooves, which worked since she seemed to be a tad panicked and flustered about what to do against my onslaught of attacks. After a minute or two of my onslaught she took a breather, exhausted from the difficulty that was to block my sword,
feeling cocky I said this "How about this? I'll drop the sword and only use my shield."
"Please do, you are too rough with your fighting." she said, panting and tired from having to block so much.
Immediately after that I decided to try out something I had not practiced all that much in the past, fighting while bipedal, I had heard it was something that never caught on in the past, but was apparently used in ancient times. Doing so made it somewhat awkward to stand but understandable for combat, using my hooves would prove to be harder to block, so I went ahead and moved my shield strap that binds it to my hooves and moved it over to my left wing, this seemed a bit more natural when bipedal, this way I could use my height and posture to my advantage, since I was pretty strong to take the swings, which would only be more manageable if I use my body as a counterweight to take the force.
With my brand new understanding of this style, I again went on the aggressive, with my shield attached to my wing. Pushing forward was awkward to say the least, considering I haven't practiced walking bipedal all that much in the past, noticing my unease, she recuperated and went on the offensive herself, swinging a large two-sided blade so quickly is not an easy feat, especially so since she has to use both her mouth and hooves to support the blade by itself. The force of her swings alone were almost enough to knock me down, but I maintained my footing by buckling down and crouching slightly, it stung to do, but it was nothing compared to everything else I have been through so far. It wasn't long 'til she ran out of breath again, makes sense considering how hard she tried to knock me down and get the advantage on me, though I was never one to give up that easily, after she exhausted herself I gave a quick sideways shield bash and knocked her claymore away, making it obvious that I would win.
"Well, you done now?"
"No, not yet, I have to win!" she said with a somewhat aggressive tone.
"You can keep trying, but it'll only end the same way."
"Fine then, you know, you are way too tough."
"Well I have been traveling for quite a long time, this is nothing to me in all honesty."
Through this small conversation, she lowered my guard, making me less aware of my stance as I was about to lower myself to walk on four hooves again, that was at least before she shouted this out.
"Now you finally lowered your guard. Take this!"
"As if this would be that easy."
Immediately after I said that I got back on my hind hooves and crouched as low as I can to gather force. As she swung her claymore with all her might, I in turn went to deflect her swing with all of my might, hoping to make her lose her grip, I was right to do so since after the deflection, her claymore went flying behind her as she dropped to the floor, it would seem the force was a bit too much for her to handle, as she was barely conscious, she only had one thing to say.
"Good fight, big bro." she said as she immediately passed out.
"What are we going to do about her now?" asked Crazy since he was here to watch.
"I'll take her up to the room, she could use some rest, she seems exhausted from that fight. Claymores are not the easiest weapon to use after all." I said as I took off both of our armor and placed her on my back to carry her up two flights of stairs, since we were in the basement.
After taking my sister up to the room, I went back into the study, taking the tome with me, hoping that I would manage to figure out how to reconfigure it within the next few days, shouldn't take long, I have messed around with a couple of tomes in the past, though not one like this.


-------     Chapter Four: Homecoming     -------

The very next day, whilst taking a break from the tome, I figured I should take some time to go back to Neighborton, maybe my parents are there, and if they are, I should ask them to visit sometime or to come back with me to see their brand-new daughter, I'm sure they'll be confused, but happy none-the-less, they have said they wished they had time to have another baby but couldn't due to reasons they refused to tell me about before they left spontaneously. Deciding to leave tomorrow, I told everyone about it and where I was going, in which my sister asked.
"You're going back to your hometown?! Can I come?!" she gasped.
"No, I'm sorry but it's too risky to have you going anywhere, you don't have official citizenship and may be arrested on the spot. At worst you'll be mistaken for a Changeling, also there's a good chance mom and dad may not be there in the first place"
"Awww, I wanted to come along and meet mom and dad, and see the town where you grew up."
"Don't worry, you'll be better off here. The locals in the area may still look at me as a possible threat and may attempt to kill me."
"What, why would the ponies from your hometown try to do that?"
"Not entirely sure, though odds are I may be completely wrong. The condition of Neighborton could perhaps be better than I imagined it to be"
"What will you do upon your arrival?"
"Don't know, haven't thought about it yet, I'll figure it out when I get there. Either way I'm leaving tomorrow regardless."
Leaving it at that, I continued to get my things ready, answering any other smaller questions that followed, and denying requests to have anyone else come along. Bright and early in the morning, I went ahead and put on my traveling clothes, since armor would only cause a burden, since it would be too hot to walk there otherwise.
Before setting out on my trek to my hometown, I figured I was going back into the local area in the process so I went ahead and applied my Guild Badge onto my clothing, it was strange since I had not worn it in years, yet it still looked brand-new. Still has my name and the name of the guild I was a part of, the Moonlight Guild, upon looking at the back I saw the title I used to yield "Second-in-Command" I wonder if I ran into them, would they still remember me? Meh probably not, I don't expect them to remember me after all these years.
Throughout my travels I have come across some of the locations I used to take on jobs for in my days in my old guild, ahh memories. Along my travels back to Neighborton I ran into a couple of villages for food and such, remarkably some of the locals in the area seemed to recognize me, guess my Guild Badge is still in effect in this area, at that time I pondered whether anypony in the guild would recognize me after all this time, or would my rank in the guild still be the same? Oh well those answers would have to wait until I run into them again. Also along the way I ran into some ponies who I seemed to have forgotten about since I took some requests back in my day of the guild and never got around to finishing them, in light of this I paid them back the old quest reward at least tenfold to repay the old debts after all these years.
Alongside my travels I ran into a mare who seemed to show an interest in Crazy Bread, but he's never mentioned having a marefriend,
in vie of I ask "How do you know Crazy Bread?"
She responded with "Oh he's just an old friend." while looking away from me.
"Really now? If he knew someone like you he would've mentioned it by now." I said with disbelief.
"Oh trust me he's and old friend, we go back a long way." she pointed out with a suspicious look in her eyes, as if trying to find out more from me.
"Well, if you're truly a friend of a friend, then I'll have you know he happens to live with myself and three others in Ponyville."
"Are there any mares involved?!" she said with a jealous sense of rage.
"Only two, but I am not sure if he is interested in either of them, he always shies away when they are a bit too friendly around him."
"Good, good I still have a chance." she said as she smiled and drooled a little bit as she was most likely thinking about him.
"Okay I'm leaving, good day to you ma'am." I said as I was turning and leaving while she was chuckling in a strange fashion, somewhat creepy if I had to say, if I was more sensible in a way I would've said nothing.
As I was making my leave, I felt this sense of unease, almost as if I was being followed, though I never seemed to see anypony behind me, must just be my imagination. This feeling is strange as I never seemed to see anyone behind me, despite there being only road behind me, nothing to hide behind.
After some time, while still somewhat uneasy, I saw Neighborton off on the horizon and felt a sense of nostalgia wash over me as I approached my hometown, hoping mom and dad would be there, as I had gotten closer I was stopped by the towns-ponies.
"Halt! What is your name, stranger?"
"My name is Techno Sparklers, and I'm not a stranger, I grew up here."
"That is a lie and you know it! Techno Sparklers died here many years ago defending the village from bandits."
"Well I'm not dead and here is my Guild Badge to prove it."
"Is that a badge for the Moonlight guild?"
"Yes and I'm the second-in-command."
"Please excuse me." he said just before he left.
"COMMANDER MOONLIGHT!" I heard off in the distance as he yelled out for his commander.
Shortly after meeting up with his superior came a stallion in what would appear to be heavy armor, I am uncertain why but he seemed to be extremely familiar to me, strange as it was.
"Well if it isn't good old Second-in-Command Sparklers. How have ya been ol' buddy ol' pal?"
"I have been fine Commander, how have the times treated you sir?"
"No need to be so formal Tech, it's your ol' buddy, Moonlight Eclipse. We practically built up this guild to what it is now."
"Though it has been a few years since I have decided to travel the world and go on my own, by the by how is Darkest Crescent?"
"Still feels down but empowered since he got his flank handed to himself from you, with just your shield no less."
"And I was only a colt back in those days, wasn't even in the guild yet, I needed to prove to all of you that I was capable of joining. Anyway, you guys managed to convince everyone in Neighborton to become a Guild-Town?"
After asking that question we had moved over to where their headquarters is to discuss what had happened in the time I have been gone. According to them they had been planning to go from a regular guild to running a Guild-Town, the town where I grew up was apparently the best place to petition for this sort of thing, after my initial questioning, I went ahead and asked if my parents were around, allegedly they were just here a week ago, they left to go in search of something, probably going on a resource-hunt. While I was here, I had asked Commander Moonlight if he could give them a message telling them their son asked them to come by and visit Ponyville their's a surprise for them on their arrival.
"Really you live in Ponyville now?" asked the Commander.
"Yeah, what's so wrong with that?" I stupidly answer a question with another question.
"I heard that their seems to be a significant rise in beast and creature occurrences in that area, are you and the other villagers fine living there?"
"Yeah, everything gets handled by the local Police Department, and if everything gets worse, they send us in or ask Princess Twilight to handle it."
"Really? You guys can handle that sort of thing?"
"Well yeah, honestly I can take care of stuff like that on my own, it's just faster if me and the others work together."
"You have your own guild now?"
"No, I have no need to make my own guild, besides making a guild would require me to leave this guild first."
"Then what is your plan regarding the Moonlight guild old friend?"
"I intend to stay in rank and help spread the name of the Moonlight guild to get you guys more jobs, I'll start wearing my guild badge more frequently from now on, perhaps I'll request my friends back home to join."
"That's very nice of you Tech, not something I'd expect from a stallion of your stature. In your departure you have been known as the "Vanquisher" many tales of your feats of destruction has been spread throughout Equestria."
"Really? I saved a few villages here and there, what if I inspired them to travel and help those in need all the same as I have?"
"Perhaps, though the title of Vanquisher has spread pretty far, maybe the Princesses will catch wind of it and make it your official title"
"One can only hope right? Anyhow I guess I'll look into my old house and see what I can take back to my new home."
"Wait don't!" he yelled suddenly like his life depended on it.
"Why?" I asked hoping for a reasonable answer.
"Your parents have made it clear that they a gift to give to you themselves and would not forgive me if I just let you ruin their surprise like that."
Understanding that meant that they still live in the same house, I go ahead and begin my travel back home to Ponyville, telling my sister the sad news that she'll have to wait for a while to see mom and dad. Upon my departure, Moonlight gave me a gift of ingots of rather valuable ore,
with a note attached "These bars are one of a kind made by us, may time tell if we can send you more in the future."
With a slight smile I begin my trot back to my home and friends back in Ponyville, with both good news and bad news that I hope they'll take well. It had only been a few days, but I can tell that I am not that far away from home, I felt as though I was actually excited to be home and with friends again, but upon my arrival my heart soon sank as I learned what had happened in my absence.


-------     Chapter Five: The Life Taker     -------

Just before I had arrived at home, I saw Crazy Bread at the front door panicking and waiting for me to come back, when he saw me he started waving his hooves hoping I would rush, which I did and got back as fast as I possibly can.
When I got back Crazy said "Tech, you gotta go see your sister." he said sounding worried, which at the time I was unsure of why.
"Why?" I asked somewhat scared.
"It's the magic, she doesn't have enough life energy to stay with us any longer, if we don't do anything she'll fade away from existence!"
"Where is she!?"
"She's upstairs in your room, she hasn't waken up yet."
After hearing that I rush upstairs and see her in bed, motionless, but breathing, she's exhausted and can't do anything.
"Balli! what happened to you!?"
"it's the magic that binds me here, it won't allow me to stay here any longer than this. I'm sorry big bro, but it's time I left you guys alone."
Quietly everyone was here waiting, knowing there was nothing we could do as we slowly waited for her to disappear from our live forever.
"No." I said quietly, but loud enough for everyone else to hear.
"What do you "no" big bro?"
"No, I won't just let you disappear from us forever like this! You are family now, mom and dad were gonna hear about where we live and visit, and I wanted you to meet them and become a legal citizen. I will not let something this amazing to just go away like this!"
"Can't we just use the same spell to make another one?" asked Smiley.
"No, we can't just do that, because they won't be the same pony we know now."
"Smiley, use your magic to make sure she has enough life energy to maintain her form, Crazy and Maple, I'll need your help to find something downstairs in the basement." I said as it appeared she was about to disappear.
With the three of us in the basement, I commanded "Look for any spell labeled "Life Drainer" that's our only hope of keeping Balli with us right now."
After what felt like eternity, we found the tome were looking and rushed upstairs back to the room, when we got back in, we saw an exhausted Smiley, clearly drained from having to use his magic to keep Balli around as long as possible.
"What are you going to do big bro?" Balli asked as she looked she was slowly dying, which sadly enough she was.
"I'm going to use a Life Drainer spell to take the life energy from to give to you, so you can live on."
"What!? No you can't do that to yourself, you'll more than likely die!" she yelled after mustering up her voice to bring it to yell.
"Yeah, more than likely, not guaranteed, at least this way you'll live."
No one stopping me, they just stood back and watched it as it happened.
When I was ready I caste the Life Drainer spell while she was still in bed, even now I don't remember what words we used to cast the spell, but it was not easy to pronounce in the slightest.
At first I exclaimed in pain as it was taking my life energy, though at some point I don't know when the tome that was used to make Ballistic Voltswitch appear out of nowhere, what seemed strange after thinking about it was that it was keeping track of how much life energy she had. I don't know how much time had passed since I started the spell, I just know that I was slowly dying due to it. After an unknown amount of time, there was a voice, it never came from any of us, but rather the tome itself.
"The spell is complete."
Immediately after that I fell over, nearly dead, barely conscious. While I was in this state, Balli came over to me.
"Why!? Why did you do all this for me!?"
In a exhausted and barely audible voice, I said "Because you're my little sister, I don't want to see you die in front of me."
"Well I don't want to see you die in front of me! Why do you have to go so far just for me!?"
Barely conscious, exhausted and about to pass out. There was only one thing I knew would make this better, well to make her calm down and think rationally. Putting on the most genuine smile I could, I said.
"Boop"
After that I passed out and was not able to make note of what happened, but based on what I had heard from the others I will continue this story based on what they know of the situation.


-------     Chapter Six: The Aftermath     -------

At this point, I will be telling this story based on I heard from the others, according to what I heard,
after I booped Balli on the muzzle, she screamed "NOOOOOOOOOOO!" and picked me up and flew straight to Canterlot.
Even now not breaking the law, she went to the front gate to the castle,
she went to the guards-ponies and was freaking out "Please get some help, he's dying!" 
"Who is this individual in need of help?"
"His name is Techno Sparklers, I'm his sister, Ballistic Voltswitch. Please he needs help, please let me see the Princesses!"
At some point the Princesses had heard of what was going on, and came to find out what the ruckus was about.
"Hello, my little pony, who might you be?"
"My name is Ballistic Voltswitch, I'm a being made entirely of magic, but that's not important, please save my big brother!"
After look at who it was that needed help, they realized that it was me,
afterwards Princess Celestia said "Guards, get the Royal Emergency Room ready, he needs immediate magical help. Now!"
It took some time for the others to get to Canterlot, but they got there shortly after the news that I would be fine with time, though whether or not I could continue to go on adventures and expeditions would be an entirely different matter in and of itself.
Later according to Balli, she had a meeting with Princess Celestia, and Princess Luna, primarily to discuss what had happened to have had created Balli out of magic, then later to discuss why I had been in the state that I was.
"So, first and foremost, you are truly a being made of magic?"
"Yes ma'am, the tome I came from was made a few centuries ago, some time before you came into rule I'd imagine."
"Would you please use some of the words used in this tome?"
After that they had started conversing in ancient tongue, it had been some time since Princess Celestia has spoken in this dialect, this was a breath of fresh air to her. Luna on the other hoof, had no real idea what was being said, due to her banishment on the moon of course.
It was some time after this had occurred that Celestia had suggested making her a legal citizen of Equestria, in which Balli was more than happy to become a legitimate citizen, it was shortly after that Celestia had found out what spell she came from that she went ahead and checked out whether or not she would be able to live the rest of her life like an ordinary pony living in our world.
Immediately after this they went ahead and went to go check on me, they had heard that I could live, if only I was able to get the amount of life energy back into my system that I had lost to maintain Balli's existence, fortunately the magic that was needed to bring me back, was not as dangerous as the magic used to keep her around, it was in fact easier to make than what I had done. Knowing this they had decided to attach me to an magic exhibitor, which would apply and maintain the magic in my system, hopefully in time bring me back to the conscious world and not in a dead-like state.
The day after they had confirmed that I would need time, Celestia prompted everypony to leave, everyone agreed except my sister, she had told them that she felt like she was necessary, which was later found out to be true in every sense of the word during the first night.
My sister had decided to stay with me throughout the first night, though I wasn't conscious at the time,
I swear that I heard her say "Please don't die on me. I don't want to lose my only brother in this world."
After that she fell asleep, it was later found out when a guard was making their rounds that my sister was in fact glowing alongside me, almost like she was providing me with magic from her own emotions, this was later told to the Princesses, in vie of this she had prompted my sister to keep her there to make sure my recovery would be swift and safe.
In the morning when the doctors came by they had found out that I was actually in better condition than I was the day before, the day before I could barely breathe properly, but now my breathing was a bit more regulated, rugged but regulated, my heart rate appeared to have stabilized, though the amount of time required for my recovery would largely remain the same, this continued for many days and months.
I know that at some point they had brought in my two companions, Timby and Squiggles, they noted that I smiled when they here with me, helping me feel secure and safe, they were also allowed to stay at the castle, they too spent the nights watching over me and they had shown the same glow that Balli had shown the first night she was here.
My recovery was going smoothly, they had kept me under close surveillance to make sure that nothing was wrong with my internal systems, everything had seemed to be fine, almost as though my body was adapting to the feeling of magic entering my system, must of been because of an old curse, but that story can wait for another time, not now.


-------     Chapter Seven: Recovery Period     -------

I had waken up after what felt like an eternity, as my eyes awoken, I could feel someone close by, then felt two others, I tried to move but couldn't,
the only thing I could do was say "W-w-who is here?" while sounding weak and exhausted.
"You're awake?! Oh thank goodness you're alive!" I heard from a familiar voice, sadly I was too tired to move.
After that was said out loud, many more were on their way to come to see me. One by one I heard more voices welcoming me back, as though I have been gone for a long time,
what I said at this point was "Who's all out there?" my voice only a tad strained.
Again one by one, I had heard many voices, though I couldn't place any of them, I was too tired and exhausted, not only that my ears were still slightly ringing from waking up from what had felt like a coma.
There was another voice, this one I could hear clearly,
I can hear them say "Don't worry you're going to be okay, you may require a few more days in bed to recover back to your former self, but you'll be okay."
A few more days in bed huh? I don't mind taking a break for a couple of days, I only wish I was able to know who was here to greet me back to the world of the living.
After that, I could barely hear the sound of ponies leaving the room I was, I could also hear wings flapping and wood clanking against the solid floor in the room, must be Timby and Squiggles here to watch over me while I was in my coma.
The very next morning I was again greeted by familiar voices saying "You feeling better today champ?"
While squinting I replied "Yeah, my eyes are not quite up to speed, but I'm getting there, I imagine that I'll be able to see later today.
"Well don't rush yourself alright sweetie? You don't have to worry about us going somewhere anytime soon, we'll stick around until you're feeling all better, but we'll leave your gift right here. Honey would you please get our boy's gift from our rooms?"
"Y-y-y-yes dear, I-I'll go get it now, be right back sonny."
I knew who it was based on that alone, it was mom and dad, they must've found out I was hospitalized and came to visit.
I may be unable to see, but I still had to ask "Hey, have you guys seen Balli?"
"Oh you mean our really late daughter? Of course we have! We're glad she's apart of our life now, I'm also really proud of you sweetie, you put your life on the line for family, luckily you never died from it. I knew you had magical potential inside of you, I was going to wait for a better time than now to tell you though, not when you're on a hospital bed like this."
Shortly after mom was finished talking my dad, came into the room with this to say "H-h-here it is, n-now son you won't be able to use this immediately, b-b-but when you're able to I know you'll be capable of amazing things, we'll leave the case right here, and we'll see you again tomorrow."
After that they left, I was still in bed, trying to open my eyes properly, though try as I might, I couldn't. Later the same day after taking a nap, I was able to open my eyes, everything was still blurry though however. After some time of rapid blinking I was able to see, not as blurry, close to clear if anything. As I was looking around in the room I was in, I noticed a somewhat large case, still unopened next to my bed, must be mom and dad's present.
Now this was something that was not easy to do, but I tried to get off my bed, most of the things that were attached to my body came off, and I fell out of my bed and fell right onto the floor, I never yelled out of pain, but I was hurt none the less, it would appear that most of my muscles have not yet recovered, perhaps that was the reason why what appeared to be IV's were attached to me, to provide a way to restore my muscles after being in a short coma, or so I think it was short.
No one was around when I fell, while no one was around I tried to get myself up, it wasn't easy but I was able to, walking was a different matter, luckily it didn't take me a lot of time to get myself coordinated enough to walk around properly. As I was almost like my usual self, I went ahead and tried to leave my room, again not easy, I was wobbling and swerving as I left my room, I heard some chatter off to the left, so I decided to go in that direction.
Upon getting to where that chatter was, I ran into my sister, who was ecstatic to see me get out of bed, but was worried for the same reason,
she came up to me and said "Big bro are you feeling better?!"
"A bit, but I think I'll manage. Just hold on to me alright sis?"
"Sure, but do you think it's okay for you to be walking around like this? You're still hurt after all." she said then she held onto me, making sure I don't fall over out of nowhere.
"Yeah I should be fine, I just need to take my time getting used to walking around again, by the way, where are the others?"
"They're over in the main room, we're in the Health Ward over at the castle right now."
"So, while we're trotting down this hallway, why don't you fill me in on what's been going on since I've been unconscious? I mean you're here in Canterlot after all."
After that she filled me in on what's been going, the situation with her citizenship, the first time she met mom and dad, and everything else that's occurred in these last four months.
After our little talk we got into the room where everyone was waiting to see when would be a good time to see me in my room, that I wasn't in anymore. Upon seeing me up and at 'em they were all coming to give me a hug and were overall really glad to see me doing so well, apparently I was supposed to stay in bed for another week, but I guess I got better faster than expected I guess.
After everyone was congratulating me for a healthy recovery there was only one thing I could say due to all this.

"It feels good to be back everyone. Now let's go home."

> Volume Four: Changing Perspectives
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


-------     Chapter Sixteen: Plenty of Discussions     -------

Shortly after my recovery, we had went ahead and decided to head on back home, back to Ponyville, ponies back in Ponyville had heard of my soon-to-return, and had gotten something ready for me, a surprise party welcome home party I would imagine, hosted by the one and only Pinkie Pie, it was strange I had not gotten many chances to talk to her, but at the last welcome home party she threw for me, she practically knew what I liked even though I never had many chances to converse with her about what I liked, strange but I'll take it.
Just before we left, we had to have a carriage prepared for us, since I was basically a vegetable for roughly four months, which was nice, since there was no way to carry the case that my parents had brought for me. They had come along to see our residence since they only saw the size before they heard that I was hospitalized and were called to Canterlot for visiting. On the carriage ride back they told me.
"By the way sweetie, there was another surprise I had forgot to tell you about."
"Yeah? What was that mother?"
"Sweetie, you're supposed to call me mom, remember? Anyway what was something we told you in your youth?"
For a moment I paused to attempt to remember what that was about, eventually realizing what it was. "Oh right, that if I ever left and lived in a house, you would find somepony to become a maid or butler of sorts."
"Right, and we believed that we had found somepony for the job, we had told them to come by in the following days, however they may already be at your manor, most likely waiting for their master's return."
"But mom, why do I need a maid or butler? There are five of us there, we could do the cleaning and such by ourselves."
"Yes, I know that dear, but I also knew that since you were young, you have a bad habit of going out and coming back after a long period of time, who's going to clean up after you when you're not around?"
"You bring up a valid point, but wouldn't that require a live-in caretaker?"
"Precisely, which is why we had to find somepony willing to become a live-in caretaker in case something like this happened."
"Well you're my mom, so odds are you already did all this before I was ready for it to happen, so got any details about who will the new caretaker?"
"Nope, you'll just have to see her when we get back. Whoops, looks like I already let a detail slip out." I know for a fact she told me that on purpose.
After our little discussion, my mom and dad had started talking to Balli, no doubt getting to know what kind of pony she was, since she was basically their brand-new daughter they had never heard about until recently. Everyone else on the other hoof staring at me now knowing that I essentially have a maid waiting for us at the manor, wait when was our place considered a manor? I never thought about that 'til now. Choosing not to dwell on it, we continued our carriage ride back, all the while everypony was chatting along the way, I won't lie, ever since we moved into Ponyville, everything's gotten more exciting, even if it wasn't for the best.
A small trip from Canterlot to Ponyville doesn't ever take long, we just left a little later than I was hoping to, just as the sun was setting we saw Ponyville just barely on the horizon, it'd be nice to be home again, sadly I don't think there will be a lot I can do for a while, at least until I have a solid recovery, I'll just have to take it easy for a few days. Unfortunately that means Pinkie may have to hold on throwing a welcome back party or a welcome to Ponyville party for the new maid I happen to be getting, this may not go well when we all get back.
Everything seemed to be just the same, though it felt strange coming back knowing that I haven't been around in a couple of months, I felt slight chills, must be the beginning of Autumn, either that or it's almost time for Winter, I wasn't quite sure at the time, it wasn't the time for a lot of thinking, only going to bed and relaxing was the only thing on my mind, couldn't even bring myself to think about work, this isn't good, since I made the promise four months ago, and now I won't be able to work on the blueprints until I get better, oh well I hope the Princesses will forgive me for the delayed delivery.
While the carriage was going through town, the towns-ponies had saw me and was about to cheer due to my return, though they stopped shortly after seeing me in my condition, exhausted, beaten, and looking the most frail I've ever been, some were worried, but some of them know I'll be better after a couple of days in bed. Most of them started feeling better when I showed them a smile signaling that I'll be fine. After that they started cheering again, some even shouted some kind words to make me feel better, which did help.
Through this little ride, we got closer to the house, as we got closer I began to notice a mare standing ready at the door, almost like she was waiting for us to make our return, as the carriage slowed down she came over to I presume take our things and bring them inside, what I did not expect was her to rush to my side calling me master, it would seem that my parents informed her of who I am.
"Good evening Master, please allow me to take your baggage. Greetings Miss and Mister Sparklers, how was your day?"
Just before I manage to say anything, I attempt to get off the carriage, which in ended in vain since my muscles had not recovered and I fell off the carriage muzzle-first, after that the maid rushed to my side to help me.
"Master Sparklers, are you alright sir? Here allow me to help you up."
She was a unicorn, however she only used light levitation to literally help me up, not lift me in the air, she only lifted me up to aid in my return, however I also noticed that she was also using her magic to lift up the crate from my parents. As we were being led inside the manor she told me something.
"Master Sparklers, I appreciate what you did for me in the past, in return I shall be your medic if you ever need me. I specialize in medicine, I have a doctorate in Medical Magic, I'll be of aid to you if you ever need it."
I still felt a bit weak, so I wasn't able to say anything in response, as I was slowly losing my consciousness I heard someone from behind us, sounded like my mother telling her to go put the crate down in my room, and to do so gently so the contents don't get damaged in the process. As this was happening I felt someone, seemed like Balli helping me return to the room, for a moment I wondered if she would be considered the Missus? That'd be weird.
Bright and early in the morning, my maid came into the room asking me some questions, and informing me of what had occured after I passed out last night.
"Good morning Master Sparklers and Lady Voltswitch. Lady Voltswitch please come to the dining room for breakfast, Master Sparklers, please remain so that I may apply medicine and provide food for today. Given your condition you will need three days in my care to recover your strength."
Though I was tired there was still one thing I needed to know. I had decided to ask after she was done injecting me with medicine.
"Excuse my rudeness, but who are you again?" my voice sounding more clear and less forced. Must be the medicine she was talking about.
"Oh, Master; now is not the time for that, since I am relatively sure you wouldn't remember, since I never spoke my name, even when we first met, however you did save my town from getting destroyed, so in a way I owe my life to you, which is why I will serve you with every fiber of my being."
"Very well, I suppose it shall wait until another time."
"Now Master, you must rest, I will awaken you when it is time to eat, due to your muscles not being ready for much yet, I will provide a medicinal meal made to help aid your muscular recovery."
Choosing to follow her advice, I went ahead and went back to sleep and waited until she came back with the meal she had in mind. Maybe, just maybe I'll be able to go and trot around by myself before the day is over, though I don't count on it happening today. If I ever got hurt too bad, it took me longer than most to recover from it.
Sometime later, I had felt the door open, it would seem my senses have not dulled in the time of my absence, I only pondered why it took until now to kick back up. Then again the answer was obvious: I had not felt endangered recently so I had my gaurd down the entire time, upon checking who had entered my room, I found out it was only my maid, whose name I had not learned yet, shockingly.
Just as she was approaching me, my mind needed confirmation "There has been something I have been meaning to ask."
"Yes? What is it Master Sparklers?"
"You told me you have a doctorate in Medicinal Magic, why is it that you chose to work for me instead of aiming for higher employment?"
"I have already told you Master, you rescued me and my hometown, gave me inspiring words and left. Since then I have decided to find out who you were and devote the rest of my life to serving you, either as a maid or a go-to doctor."
"Yes, but that was back in my wandering mercenary days, back then I didn't care who got hurt, I only went there due to work and attempting to climb the rank ladder in my guild. There was a group of bandits in the area with a high bounty on their heads, I took their heads and left. Simple as that"
"But Master, back then I had asked you what is it that makes you strong. I remember your words from back then,
you said "I never chose to be strong, but what I do makes me stronger, only by following what it is that you love, you'll find your own strength, possibly one you never knew you had." 
Then you turned to look me in the eyes,
then you said "You have a lot of potential, it's a shame you may never put it to good use. You have only done what you were told, not what you wanted, your life is dull and unfulfilling. Find a passion, and if you can truly enjoy it, then make that your lifestyle."
"Those words still haunt my dreams sometimes, but I now know why you said them. You wanted me to explore and find a real reason to live, not an excuse to stay and do what I was told. That's why I chose to follow you, to find you and devote everything I have into making sure you see why I chose to follow you and no one else."
"Well, you are both right and wrong. Yes you needed to expand your mind, to see a bigger picture, knowing that the world is bigger than you can comprehend. And no, you were supposed to find a reason to live, not a reason to live for someone else, even now, you live for me and would do anything I tell you to. Tell me, is that something you actually wanted, or was it something you were merely enforced to do by your mind?"
She paused, she hesitated, for even a small moment she was unsure of herself, it was at this moment that she was questioning her lifestyle, however she shocked me with what she replied with.
"YES! I have spent my whole life since you saved me into finding a way I could be useful to you, and now here you are, in front of me for the first time in my life and now you're telling me it was all for nothing?! I will stay and help you even if you don't want me to! That is why I came here in the first place!"
That wasn't the answer I was expecting, yet I felt satisfied with the way she presented herself; in her own way. After her little fit, I chuckled and had a smile on my face, when she looked over to me,
I told her the proper response to something like that. "Good answer, now I know for a fact that this is something you really want to do, I hope you'll do a good job serving me for the rest of your life. Now you should probably get some more food, odds are the bowl has gotten cold by now."
She had tears in her eyes, they weren't sad tears I could tell by looking at the smile on her face, while she was beaming she gave me her own response to my request.
"Yes, Master! I will return with some food in a minute, please excuse me."
After she left my room, I voiced my opinions to myself.
"I'm proud of her for being herself and not so stiff with her mannerisms, and with the way she is, she could prove to be more useful than I had thought. It's a shame I still haven't learned her name. Oh well, we'll cross that river the next chance I get."
While I was waiting for her return, I had some time to think, this time while I was thinking I subconsciously got out of bed, sometimes for no real rhyme or reason, I trot back and forth while thinking, being mobile and moving helps keep my brain in check, though this rarely ever happens, only when I'm thinking about something big or major. Even to this day I can't recall what it was I was thinking about for the life of me.
However when she got back it was priceless, she flipped out and panicked about the fact I was out of bed, if she really knew me, she would've known that I'm tougher than most, then again she only met me yesterday for the first real time.
"Master! What are you doing out of bed?! You should know of all ponies that you need rest, please return to bed."
"Huh? Oh I never noticed that I got out of bed, excuse me, I was lost in thought."
"But Master, are you sure that you should be out of bed?"
"Actually, yes I feel fine, in fact I feel the best that I have been since I woke up, strangely enough. Now excuse me I have some work to do."
"Well, if you must work Master, I will request that I stay by your side to make sure that you do not lose consciousness while you are working."
After agreeing to her request, I got straight to the work that was left on my workbench, it was nice having her around, whenever I felt a tad sick, she offered a drink to help calm my nerves and fix my ailments, she had her med-kit with her, she keeps herbs and mixtures to make with tea, despite the medications, tasted really good.
While this was happening, the others were still downstairs eating their breakfast, while they were eating, some conversations were happening, most of which were about what to do while I was incapacitated. Balli was the first to ask this.
"So... what are we going to do about big brother?"
"I... I don't know, how long do you think he'll be unable to work?" asked Crazy, concerned about my condition.
"Come on everypony, don't worry, he'll be fine in no time!" said Smiley with beaming smile on his face.
"You know what? You're right Smiley, he'll be fine in no time at all, we just need to support him if he needs our help." Maple said, supporting Smiley's words.
"But uh, hey, don't you think that his maid has been up for a little bit too long now?" asked by Crazy, now suspicious about the new maid that we had, believing that she had planned to kill me.
Without another word said, everypony rushed upstairs to see what was going on in my room, believing that either something wrong was going on, or I was secretly assassinated while everypony thought everything was fine. However when everyone got upstairs, they soon realized that what they thought was wrong, they were both shocked and amazed by the sheer speed that I recovered, I was out of bed and was already back to working, and we only got back yesterday, after everypony was relieved they had come in to ask some questions about why I'm already back to work.
"Hey, big bro? What are you doing out of bed?"
"What does it look like Balli? I'm working on the blueprints that we collected some time ago, due to my illness I haven't been able to work on them."
"Well don't you think that it's a bit too early for you to be getting back to work? You were exhausted yesterday and couldn't even stand."
"Yes, I am well aware of that, but thanks to... uh, now that I think about it, I never actually got your name."
"Oh, I apologize Master, my name is Scratched Mirror, but please, call me Mirra. I am sorry if I never spoke of it before today, please forgive me for my insolence."
"Don't worry about it, at least now we can be a bit more casual with one another, however I doubt that you'll call me by my first name."
"Oh, Master would you prefer that I refer to you on a first name basis?"
"If you don't want to, you don't have to, just do what you want. Now everypony, would you mind leaving? I must get back to work, I have a lot to do."
"Alright then, see ya later big bro. Let's go everypony."
"Not you Mirra, I may need you for medicine and drinks if I need any."
After that everypony started to leave the room and let me get back to work, at this point in time, I was left alone and had nothing major to do besides from work and keeping myself conscious enough to keep myself awake to keep working. From here on, everything will be about the others and what they do with their own free time.


-------     Chapter Seventeen: Change of Perspective     -------

After me and the others had left big bro's room, I didn't know what to do, usually me and big bro hang out, train, or he teaches me a bit more about modern Equestria, either that or tell me stories about his time back in the Moonlight Guild, actually he never had a chance to tell me about the others in the Guild. Slightly bored I sat in the living room, thinking about what to do, well I was thinking before mom had come and gave me a spontaneous hug, and dad had given me a pat on my head.
"What's wrong my little girl?"
"Oh nothing mom, just a little bored at the moment."
"Really? What is your brother doing?"
"Big bro is busy with work tasked to him by the Princess Celestia and Luna, he was at first told to finish a couple of blueprints but you know what had happened to him."
"And yet our little boy is already back on his hooves, it's no wonder he's our son."
"What do you mean mom?"
"Well your brother has always been a bit more... capable than other ponies, in almost every regard, even murdering foals and fillies if he had to."
"What!? Why would he have to do that!?"
"Back when he was still young he was recruited to become a mercenary for the Moonlight Guild, that's when everything getting more serious for him, even we did not expect to hear of some the stories that's been told about him."
"What have you heard about him?" I asked sounding excited and scared.
"Well honey, your b-big brother was accused of many c-c-crimes back in his youth, once he was considered the youngest murderer known in Equestria, he was just a l-little colt back then, not much older than the filles and colts in the school run by Cheerilee, most colts his age wouldn't be capable of m-m-murder without having a second thought like he was."
The story about his youth went on for so long I didn't know that it was almost bedtime, in a way throughout the stories mom and dad told, I have a newfound respect and fear for my brother.
"Well, thanks mom and dad it's about time I went to bed, see you some other time maybe?"
"Of course sweetie, we'll be in Ponyville for a couple of weeks then we'll head back to Neighborton, we are leading a Guild-Town after all."
"Wait, you two run the Guild-Town over at Neighborton?"
"Yes, we help lead Neighborton with the help and protection of the Moonlight guild, they rely on us to understand the needs and development of the locals to maintain happiness."
"Wow, that's really impressive mom and dad, what else do you two do in your spare time?"
"Well, we'd love to tell you more about the things that we do in our spare time, but you got to go to bed sweetie, see you in the morning."
After they said that, they went ahead and left, but before they left mom gave me a kiss on my forehead and wished me a good night. I went ahead and went upstairs to go to bed, when I got back I saw Mirra quietly take him to his bed.
"Master Sparklers had fallen asleep, please have a good night Lady Voltswitch, here is your warm milk."
"Oh thank you, how did you know I like warm milk before bed?"
"Understanding the Master and Mistress is the norm for maids of my expertise. Please have a good night, I will be returning to my room, please excuse me."
The very next morning, I had been awoken by Mirra with a cup of fresh tea, in just the way I like it to boot, which was nice since I haven't had a nice cup of tea in a long while, while I still lay in bed, she placed it next to me on the night stand.
"Good morning Lady Voltswitch, when you are able to, please come downstairs for breakfast. Master Sparklers will remain for a moment, I will prepare his coffee. Please excuse me."
With that said, I took a sip of my tea and went downstairs for breakfast, everypony else was also in the dining room, what appeared strange was the meals they all had which were different.
"Mornin' everypony, what 'cha eatin'?
Maple was having pancakes, she said she hadn't had any in a long time, so she was excited when she found them on her plate, Crazy was having noodles, he loves the stuff and was happy since they were prepared to his liking. Smiley had... something, I don't even he knew what it was aside from the fact that he was enjoying it, still with the smile on his face. With a cup of tea and my plate she used her magic to carry both and put the plate where I would be sitting,
then she said "Here is your breakfast Lady Voltswitch, now I will be bringing Master Sparklers his morning coffee, please excuse me."
Shortly after saying that she proceeded upstairs, while we were still in the dining room we were gushing about how useful she is around the house.
"It's amazing how well she handles everything about us isn't it?" said Smiley with a mouth full of... what appeared to be food.
"She is! I l am loving these pancakes she prepared for me, I haven't had any in so long, but I don't remember telling anypony what foods I liked."
"Don't you think she understands us a bit too well?" I asked with concern.
"A tad, but isn't sort of what her job entails of?" said Smiley with optimism.
"Shouldn't we just ask her about it?" Maple pointed out with no regard for our sense of safety.
"Yeah, let's ask her about it when she comes back downstairs."
Quietly we never noticed that she was already back downstairs, just trotting by to make big bro his breakfast,
it was at this point she said "If you must know how I understand you all so well, Master Sparklers has requested that I know all of your likes and dislikes so that I may do my job better, now please excuse me, the Master intends to continue working so I must make and take his breakfast upstairs."
She then went into the kitchen to make big bro what I imagine would be his favorite meal, while we were still eating we remained quiet not to be rude to Mirra, which we now know is a bad idea.
"Well then, what's everyponies plan for today?" I asked the others at the table.
"I'll probably go see Rarity to get a manecut, this ol' bandit 'do is not going well for me now-a-days, so I need something new to work with." said Maple, putting emphasis on her mane.
"And I'll probably just go over to Twilight's Castle and see if she'll allow me to borrow books from her library, I have been a bit behind on my studies. And I need some new books to enjoy in my leisurely time." Crazy pointed out while holding a book while finishing his noodles.
"Alright then, I guess we'll see you later, my mom and dad are coming back here soon and are going to tell me some more stories about big bro's colthood."
After I said that, almost on cue, mom and dad came in with a collection of books in their hooves, looking prepared to tell many stories, some of them even appeared to be photo albums, hopefully some of the photos they have are of his colthood and him growing up.
"Hey, sweetie you ready for today's story time?"
"Yeah, of course! I always wanted to know about big bro's colthood. Also see you two when you get back"
"Laters." Crazy Bread said casually, as he left for Twilight's Castle.
Seeing as how Balli would now be busy the entire day, we will now be following Crazy Bread on his day out, however we're not the only ones following him.
Finally, now I have a chance to get some new books to read, I already read most of the ones we have in our library, I wonder what I should try out since I haven't been to Twilight's library recently.
As I was trotting along minding my own business, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was being followed, but I haven't felt this sensation since... oh no. Understanding now what was going on, I galloped and made it seem as though I was in a hurry, trying not to peek back to seem suspicious to whoever it may be that's following me. While I was galloping I had forgotten my original task of seeing Twilight. Desperate I tried to find a place to hide when I felt like I got of out the pursuer's sight, I was wrong... everything went dark.
When I came back to, I was in a really dark room, tied to a chair while there was a figure of another pony over in the corner. They did not move, they merely stayed there watching me in the darkness, as much as I wanted to I couldn't let the fact that I was a changeling get found out just yet. So I stayed put waiting for a chance for me to get out on my own. That was when I found out that they already knew what I was, when whoever this was first said.
"Go ahead, change your form, I already know what you are. But that won't change how I feel about you."
"Who are you and why would you assume I'm a changeling?!"
"Oh, I'm just somepony who's been looking for you and hoping I could get you to fall in love with me. Regardless of whether or not you're a changeling."
Whoever this mare was, they remained in the corner the whole time... just watching me, after roughly what felt like thirty minutes I felt tired. While I was in here I had never seen them, I can't remember or recognize their voice, the only thing I know was that they sounded like a mare. Despite the silence, I couldn't bring myself to fall asleep knowing there was a mare that I never knew just watching me, so I fought to stay awake as best I can.
After some more time of silence, she seemed to be getting bored at how I never decided to change my form, it's almost like she was waiting for me to change my form, but regardless I must keep my composure, I cannot change forms now, I don't want to scare everypony.
"Come on 'Crazy Bread' I know what you've been doing for some time, you may have escaped from me for a few months. But no matter what I'll always find you again and... well I'm sure you wouldn't want this to happen again."
"This time, I'll make sure that you never forget about me."
Shortly after she said that the only light in the room, which was above me went out, then I passed out, I don't know how long I was out, the only thing I know was that the last time I saw the light was an extremely long time ago, it felt like days, perhaps even weeks, however I didn't know, there were no windows or lights in the new room I was in. The only thing I could hear in this room was the squeaking of the floorboards made by mare in the room whenever she trotted near me, either I was blindfolded or it was just that dark in here, again I couldn't tell.
"Well? What do you think of our temporary housing, my changeling love?"
"I don't know how to feel about being tied and blindfolded in what is considered my 'home' darling"
"But my love, you don't need to see to live a happy life with me. If you want I could remove your eyes and I could be your eyes instead."
"Thanks for the oh so kind offer, but I'd rather keep my eyes in my head."
"Oh well, can't blame a mare for trying. Anyway, would you like some dinner?"
Before I even had a chance to respond she shoved a fork's worth of noodles into my muzzle, expecting me to be able to eat it. Which I did not, this was badly made and did not have any proper flavoring. What made me regret having to eat it was what she said after she force-fed me.
"What do you think? The flavoring is one of my own personal recipes, however it did take me some time to make it, it's not easy making the juices to add to the noodles, but thinking of you made it a lot more easier."
I immediately spat out a little bit, but then she made me finish what I had in my muzzle by placing her hoof on top my muzzle and later made me keep eating by force-feeding me some more. I don't... want to talk about it any more. What happens afterwards is not something that I like to remember.
Since this part of the story is not something that Crazy Bread wants to go over, we should probably have Maple go ahead and tell everypony what happened when she went over to Rarity's Boutique for a mane-cut, she apparently had a couple of things come up, however she didn't want to be specific, with me at least.
"Hello, Rarity?" I asked almost as if I was a bit shy about getting a mane-cut, since I used this bandit mane for a while now and have not changed it since.
"Yes, darling, what do you need?"
"I'm here for my appointment for my mane-cut."
"Ah yes, of course darling. Please come in I have some preparations to do before I cut your mane."
After she showed me the way inside, I trotted in, ready and kinda nervous about having a mane-cut since I never really had a mane-cut before. I can only hope that she can cut it in a way that I would enjoy. Hopefully something that could catch Tech's eyes.
"Alright now, what sort of style would you like darling? *GASP* I have the best idea for your mane colour, how about I put this side down, comb this back and I give you a little side-swept on the front, then of course we HAVE to put this little bit to the other side?" she said with sheer excitement on her face
"W-well do you think that it will be able to catch Tech's eyes?" I asked while blushing bright red.
*GASP* "Is that what you wanted all along?! Oh I know just the best look that will catch your special someponies eyes."
"O-oh we're not special someponies, but I would be lying if I said I didn't want that to be a possibility." I told her, blushing more than I was earlier.
At this point in time she had already started cutting my mane, yet regardless we still talked about the odd chances but still chances of me and Tech becoming special someponies, hopefully soon but it's only a hope.
"Now, enlighten me darling, what is it about Techno that drives a little pony like yourself to fall in love with him?"
"Well, his strength, his kindness, that strong look in his eyes when he gets really serious, I don't know what it is Rarity, it's just something that I feel towards him, we only became a group because he needed somepony that could do well at mapping, but as we started being together, I just... started having feelings for him. I guess something like that is natural don't you think?" I said, trying to act natural while gushing over the kind of stallion he is.
"Yes I do darling, he certainly seems rather dashing, but he's a bit too rugged for my tastes, though I suppose that a mare like yourself would come to a natural conclusion like that."
"Isn't it just though? I honestly never thought that I would learn to speak fancy if I hadn't met him, I really am glad I met him, he's changed my life for the better. I'd probably be dead by now if he hadn't come around."
"Has he really changed your life that much, darling? It's no wonder that you and the others here in Ponyville have a thing for him."
"Wait, it's not just me? Are there things he does when he goes around town? Who else has a crush on him?" at this point, I started sounding jealous.
"Why yes, of course! He donates to some of Ponyville's charities, he also lends a helping hoof to ponies that need, why quite some time ago he helped me get some gems since Spike seemed to be preoccupied. Saying it was 'guy's night' or something along those lines. Anyhow he takes his time to help others around town, though the mares seem to ask him for help more frequently." she pointed out nonchalantly
"Well, isn't that something? Anyhow, how is my mane-cut going Rarity?" I asked while seeming impatient.
"Oh, I already finished some time ago, darling, I just happened to enjoy my little chat with you, especially the parts where you were talking about your special somepony."
"Really?! I never noticed, and how could you?! Those thoughts were very personal to me." I said, while the blush was slowly coming back.
"Well, it is rather nice knowing that you have a cute side to you, maybe Techno will notice how you feel about him in due time." she said so casually.
"I doubt it, he's always so stoic and wouldn't go on a date with somepony unless they ask him to, I mean I'd do it, but I'd probably be too embarrassed to finish my sentence."
"Well then, you could try getting yourself ready by privately practicing what you're going to tell him in front of a mirror, then when you tell him your feelings, steel yourself then pull off your best brave face and tell him how you feel."
After she tells me that, I get up from the chair in which I was seated and get ready to leave, at least before I turn back to her.
"So, Rarity how much will it be for the mane-cut?"
"Oh, please darling, after all this juicy talk? Don't you worry your little head about paying."
"Oh, well thanks Rarity, see you some other time then."
After saying that I leave her boutique and head back for the house, with a new mane-cut and hoping that Tech will notice and hopefully giving me a compliment on it when he sees it, though it likely won't happen. Knowing him he likely won't even notice it. However when I got back, something I never expected happened while I was away.
Upon getting closer I saw Tech outside the house looking around for something, or rather someone. When I returned he seemed to be irritated and frustrated.


-------     Chapter Eighteen: The Blade Maker     -------

"Maple! Have you seen Crazy Bread anywhere?!"
"What?! What happened to Crazy?!"
"He's been gone for a long time, he said he was only going to see Twilight to borrow books from her library, it shouldn't have taken him that long to get some books and leave."
"Well, I was at Rarity's Boutique the whole time so I don't think I saw him there."
"Hold on, I'm gonna go see Twilight to check if he went there today."
After I said that I spread my wings and flew straight over to Twilight's Castle as fast as I can, in the meanwhile Rainbow Dash interrupted me.
"Hey Tech, now are you down for a race? I want to prove to you that I'm the fastest."
"Not now Rainbow, I'm busy with something important. I believe that Crazy's been ponynapped, I don't have time to mess around."
"That a fact? Or are you just making excuses so you don't embarrass yourself?"
I stopped, even though I shouldn't have, just to make this clear. I beaned her in the muzzle while making a serious face.
"Ow! What was that for?!"
"I don't have time to mess around Rainbow, pester me anymore and I'll make sure you never fly again."
She remained quiet and looked scared, she backed away, then slowly started going back on the ground below, all the while staring at me. After that I started rushing back towards Twilight's Castle, hoping that Crazy Bread was there. Upon reaching her castle, I knocked on her doors with as much vigor as I possibly can, to make sure that she can hear me, despite I this I should've just barged in.
"Y-yes? Who's there?" she asked sounding scared, almost as if she was expecting some sort of great evil to be on the other side of the door, upon confirming that it was me, she lightened up. "Oh, it's just you Tech, what brings you here today?"
"I don't have time for this right now Twilight. Have you seen Crazy Bread at all today?" I said with a serious tone in my voice while staring at her with a stern expression and a slight sense of impatience.
"Well no, then again he might've just came in and go straight to the library, which I don't mind of course. Even though he should've asked first I am okay with anypony coming in and going to the library, I welcome open education to all."
"I'll say it again. I don't have time for this, have you seen him?"
"Uh, no but I'll go check the library real fast though, please give me a minute."
Before she even left, I interrupted her. "No you'll take too long, I'll check, it'll only be a second."
After saying that I bolted into her castle, checking every known room to look for Crazy Bread, under the pretense based on what I know about him and did not find him in the castle, upon this happening I returned to Twilight at the front door of her castle to give her the news and return to my search elsewhere.
"Yeah, I just checked everywhere he would be in your castle, it turns out he's not here, so I apologize for taking up your time. Please excuse me."
"Oh, uh no problem I guess?"
I left again to continue my search for Crazy Bread, to make this process somewhat easier, I went ahead and started some of the locals where he last was, some say he appeared to be galloping away from something. I know for a fact he puts a lot of force when he gallops, so I went to where he was last seen galloping, his tracks were obvious so I started following them to see where he was headed before he suddenly disappeared, that's when I noticed that his tracks just stopped, then I started seeing a different pair of tracks, these ones really dug into the dirt, so I started following those tracks instead at least until they stopped at one of the abandoned residences just outside of town, the place was rather big. This was the most likely place he would be, with this newfound knowledge I went back to the house and got the others to investigate the house he was last seen.
"Alright here it is, based on what I found out, he should be here."
"Wait, you haven't confirmed it yet?" said Maple, unsure of the process I went through to find this place.
"Well, if big bro said he's here, then I'll believe him."
"Thanks little sis, alright we'll break and breach the front door, if we get into any conflicts, I'll take care of it, you four look for Crazy Bread and try to get him out of here as fast as you can. Got it?"
Collectively they all agreed on that notion, then without any hesitation, we all broke in and breached the front foyer and saw no one, at least until they revealed themself.
"Hello there, are you here to take my one and only love away from me?" this mysterious mare said oh so elegantly as if he belonged here.
"Well if your 'one and only love' happens to be our friend Crazy Bread, then yes. Now either we'll take him quietly and leave or we'll have to fight and take him back with force. May I suggest the former option?"
"DO YOU THINK I'LL JUST LET YOU TAKE THE ONLY PONY I LOVE AWAY FROM ME THAT EASILY!?"
"Well, no. I expected you to freak out sometime later, but I suppose now is  a valid option. Alright you four, I'll take care of our headcase here while you all look for Crazy Bread, when you find him get him out. Remember the plan."
I heard no noise, but I knew that they all knew what was going to happen, so they all went around this deranged mare. She was about to take a swing at one them with what appeared to be finely sharpened daggers, but I intercept her, using my hooves to get her attention, by hitting her in the muzzle instead.
"Hey don't pay attention to them, I'm the one you're supposed to fight."
She looked in my direction, sensing something bad, I back up, a lot further than I anticipated. It was at this moment that I realized that this was a mare that I couldn't fool around with, if I was going to fight her one-on-one, I had to be serious, and show no restraint. I took a pose with my sword ans shield that both keeps my sword close-by and keeping my shield close to make sure that I was protected, she noticed how I was holding my pose and got ready herself. However I could not tell what she was using, she concealed herself in a long dark robe that covered her entire body.
"I should warn you, I don't intend to fight fair, I won't let you take my one and only love away from me without a fight. I can and will kill you if I must.
"Well, be glad that killing you is entirely up to Crazy Bread."
"You mean your little CHANGELING friend?!"
"Please I already know he's a changeling. I've known for a while, I just didn't want to make a big scene or a problem for him, since he happens to be our friend. He'll let us know when he's comfortable with it. Unlike you, you deranged stalker."
"HOW DARE YOU CALL ME 'DERANGED'?!" she said just before rushing up to me.
Still uncertain of how she intends to fight me, I block and back up after she makes contact with my shield, strangely I felt four stabs despite there being only two visible daggers, regardless I remain on the defense. She backs up after I do and conceals herself once again, making sure I see as very little as possible, sneaky but noticeable. I once again wait for her to come to me, which she does and when she goes for a full frontal consecutive stabs, I bash her with my shield before she makes contact and knock her back a little, in the process I see her face. Nothing but scars and cuts, with one of her eyes whitened out, as though she can't see out of it. This is making more sense as I back up once again.
"Well you saw my face, no point in hiding myself anymore." she says that, then immediately she throws her robe to the side, to reveal more of her scars and cuts, some still fresh, but not from me.
She had a dark coat, with large smears of blood tracing outlines on her body, her mane light-colored, but bloody all the same. Some of the blood appeared dry, yet some appeared fresh, most likely from her open cuts. Signs showing a cutiemark, but it did not seem like it was present, it appeared to be non-existent. She reeked the sense of 'danger' almost like she'd kill for no reason what-so-ever, yet she spared Crazy Bread, why?
"Now, I am going to bet that you would like to know my name, correct? Not that it matters, this is going to be first and last time we meet. My name is Iron Forgeries, as you might've guessed, my body was cursed to expel blades at an irregular pace, henceforth the cuts and scars."
I remain silent, I have traveled Equestria and never seen anypony like this before. I've heard of curses before, they usually end up killing the castor due to the intensity of dark magic, the curse in turn is extremely powerful as a result. However this does not clear anything up, why did this cursed mare decide to take Crazy Bread? It just doesn't make sense.
To keep myself from thinking about this too much, I focused on her again, what I saw horrified me, she started spitting out a large sword, a claymore, it was new, still red, as if it just came out of the forge, as the sword was leaving her throat, the areas with the new open cuts, were steaming and burning hot white, this curse of hers is not something that anypony could mess with. WIthout any other chance to witness this event happening in front of me, she rushed to strike, this time with the brand-new claymore that she just spit up. Surprised I attempt to prepare to block when I see her rushing to me, that was not a good idea, upon her claymore coming into contact with my shield, I could feel the burning heat come from the blade, nearly burning wing, since I was still using my wings for combat, I had to back away as fast as possible, unless I take the chance and burn the feathers on my wings, using my other wing I go for a sudden strike to her side, to get her off of me and take the chance to back up. The shield, still hot and burning, I drop to the floor, my shield would only hinder me at this rate. While we were a good distance away I took this chance to ask.
"Why? Why did you choose to take Crazy Bread? If you already know he's a changeling, why would you ponynap him?"
"Why? It's pretty obvious. I did it for pleasure, he reminded me of the stallion who cursed me. He even has the same name as he did. But the original died centuries ago, and I have had this curse since he died. I ponynapped him for revenge and pleasure, the original Crazy Bread was my special somepony, and the one who cursed me, he did it to give me a chance to live forever, but had to curse me in the progress, which in turn killed him as well." she said seeming perfectly calm and relaxed.
"Which is WHY I intend to have him for myself and do all the things I missed out on the first time through and this time, I'LL BE THE ONE DOING THE CURSING! HE'LL BE FORCED TO BECOME MY CRAZY BREAD AND NO ONE ELSE WILL HAVE HIM!" she started yelling out, driven with crazy intents and does not seem like backing down from that idea.
"AND THAT IS WHY I'LL KILL YOU AND YOUR LITTLE BITCHES TO MAKE SURE THAT NONE OF YOU WILL TAKE HIM AWAY FROM ME!"
"Well good luck, because I don't intend to give up on one of my friends, once they find him, they'll leave and then I can go all out against you. Fucking psycho."
Almost as if on cue, they arrived, they went ahead and snuck around to stay out of her sight, then went behind me, Crazy looking unconscious and everyone else looking exhausted from something. This place must be bigger than I first thought. Either that or something was chasing them here.
After seeing them getting close to the front door which was behind me, she tried to rush towards them, in which I interrupt her and pull her back and push her back to where she was.
"Sis, give me your claymore and get my stuff out of here." she hands me her claymore then she picks up my sword and shield.
"Good, now get going, all of you, I'll take care of this deranged psycho."
She reacts much the same way as usual, but with more scowl on her face, in the meanwhile I take a position I haven't taken in a long time; the duel stance, she notices this and switches accordingly. I may be a bit rusty since I haven't used a claymore in months, but it's not like I'll forget how to fight.
While remaining in the duel stance, we both slowly edge closer to one another, keeping our guard up to give less openings. What I was not expecting was her next move; she threw her weapon into the air to throw me off my guard, then in that moment that I looked away, she closed and started force-kissing me, I have seen her spit a claymore out earlier and do everything in my power to get her off, hitting her with the pommel of my sword was enough to knock her off. Just after she got off of me, she licked her lips, in turn I spit out was what put into my mouth, a tiny chunk of iron.
"You know, you don't taste too bad. For somepony who's not Crazy Bread, be it the new or the original."
"Good to know, sadly I don't enjoy the taste of iron, so I wouldn't bother trying that again."
After I finish my sentence, the sword she threw in the air came back down, which landed right back into her hooves, the tiny chunk of iron sitting still in-between the two of us. We both go back into the duel position, doing the same thing that happened earlier, this time without her randomly trying to inject iron into my throat. Once again we meet up in the middle, the distance being only a matter of feet, if either of us extended our blades the reach could cut our necks, but it would only be a cut.
Taking a chance, I lunge forward and attempt to stab my sword into her throat, she performs a nicely timed parry, but it's not enough, I get prepared and continue my stab, which lands right into her throat, more than the edge makes it in, I push forward, and force the sword to come out the other end of her throat. After that I spin to propel force to slice her head off, but it didn't work, my sword stuck and couldn't cut her head off. Acknowledging this I pull back, to see the steam coming out of her open wounds, she created iron to keep her head from coming off. My sword was also covered in her blood, which was white hot, she must've burned it enough to make my sword more tangible. I swing it around to enforce cooling, which works but it was slow.
Knowing that my blade was still forge-hot, she herself lunged forward, expecting to get me since I can't use my sword in it's current condition, she didn't know that I trained casually in the art of hoof-to-sword combat, so I tossed my sword aside to remain agile, she didn't go for a stab, she went for a swing; horizontal to try to cut my head off, I duck, for somepony of my size is not the easiest thing to do, after she misses I force her sword out of her hooves and hit in the eye with the handle, she backs up and I swing at her hooves in return, one of them cuts clean off, she was expecting me to go for her head again. Now I back up to try to keep my distance. What sickened me what she did afterwards.
She picks her hoof back up, still bleeding an intense amount of blood, then eats it, well more like ingests it, for it slowly started burning, turned into a puddle of iron, then as she slowly ingested it, started leaking out the hole that I cut from her hoof, then slowly reformed into a slightly more thin but working hoof. When it happened I was disgusted that this was how she stayed alive for so long, eating herself slowly then reforming what she ate into new pieces of her body.
With the both of us on edge, she decided to calm the both of us down.
"You know, I used to be around your size, many centuries ago, of course back then I was just considered The Lady of the Forge, an expert on forging, weapons, armor, and everything in-between. Heck my name; Iron Forgeries, is only my second name, my birth name is Iron-Coal Sparklers."
Putting my guard down, I felt the need to ask.
"Wait, you're a member of the Sparklers family?"
"Yes, however I never did leave a lot of descendants, I left my first husband, after our only child was born, shortly after I ran into my true love; Crazy Bread, the original."
Having the sword in my hooves practically touching the floor at this point. There were some things I needed to know.
"Do you by any chance... know any of your descendants?"
"Not a lot, only a few that I can name off the top of my head."
"What was the name of your only child?"
"His name was Crushing Sparklers, he was miner, which was miraculous since he wasn't a unicorn."
Crushing Sparklers. He's one of my ancestors. Thinking back to when I went over my heritage, he was alive around 700-800 years ago, there were no documentation on who his mother was, even he never knew, when he came of age his father was killed. Finding all this out, I drop the sword I was holding, startling who could only be described as one of the origins of the Sparklers name.
"Who would've thought that I would run into one of my ancestors like this?"
"What are you talking about? Are you a member of the Sparklers lineage as well?"
"Yes, my name is Techno Sparklers, son of Techno Voltswitch and Ballisitic Sparklers."
"Well, I suppose that would explain why you're using the style that you are, your other ancestor also used that style, he was a champion that none could stop. That was one of the reasons why I left him. His power was too demanding."
"Do we honestly need to fight anymore? I don't think I could bear to swing a sword at somepony who's family."
"I suppose not, I may not have any ties to the Sparklers name anymore, but I suppose you are family."
We were both in a familial bliss, so much so that she never noticed that I still have her sword with me, we slowly came together and hugged each other, in a way that only family, she felt like my mom, warm and comforting in a strong sense."
"I'm so glad I got to meet one of my ancestors, even if you're only alive due to a curse."
She never expected it, how could she? She most likely never had a chance to see any member of her family line even since she left her first husband, with a heavy heart and tears in my eyes. The last thing I said to her was.
"Well, it was nice to meet while you were still alive."
Quietly I shoved my sword into her head, making sure she wouldn't get out of this one alive, afterwards I started swinging wildly at every piece of her body, making sure she no chance to make it out of this regardless of the curse that was placed upon her.
All was quiet after she died, the only thing that could be heard was the words that went through my ears, even now I remember exactly what I heard after she died.
"I'm glad my lineage finished me off. I no longer have any regrets."
What laid left of her body was nothing but iron, however this iron was engraved.
'Take what's left and use it for a weapon, make me proud to be a member of the Sparklers family.'
I hesitated, but turn back to go pick up what's left. Then stop. She wouldn't want me to just leave any bit of it behind. So I bundle it all up and started carrying it on my back, using my wings to provide support, as it was uneven.
Pushing the doors open, I saw everypony else rushing back to the house that I was just in, they offer to help, but I refuse. I'm going to go back and forge weapons for both me and my sister, on the way I asked about Crazy Bread, they said he'll be fine, but he'll need time to himself to recover from what happened. Balli wanted to know what happened and why I was carrying raw iron back to our house. The only response I had was.
"I'm going to carry our legacy back myself, it's what she would've wanted. Our ancestor that is."
Saying nothing else, I continued trotting back with the iron on my back. Everypony else looking confused about what I meant by that, but none of them seemed like wanting to ask any more about it.
It was a tiring walk back, but well worth it. I go the forge and start getting to work. While I was heating the iron, I felt something telling me to make another claymore, and for some reason... a halberd. Perhaps this is what she would've wanted. Believing in that I continued my work until the weapons were finished. Both were excellent, edges that seemed sharp yet tough, just after they were finished they were engraved. The claymore saying my name, and the halberd bearing my sister's name. Before I knew it, a red like energy was flowing from both of them. Suddenly my claymore was sporting a lighting bolt that went from the hoofguard to the edge. The halberd, having a flame-like design encompassing the blade end of the halberd, the spear tip holding a strong red that looked hot to touch. Whether or not our ancestor planned this or not. I'm glad I met her. Even if it meant having to kill her.


-------     Chapter Nineteen: Sudden Events     -------

Some time after the little debacle that had occurred, things had calmed down, I decided to not tell Crazy Bread about where I got the material for both me and my sis' weapon. Crazy Bread also refuses to go anywhere outside the house without some sort of guard, which is not a bad idea, since things around Ponyville have also calmed down, this just means that Timby and Squiggles are now Crazy's guards whenever he goes out. Whenever they're around, they seem really clingy with me, I guess it has been a while since they got a good chance to take a break from their job of help keeping Ponyville safe, Squiggles seemed to be the same, Timby on the other hoof seems to be slightly bigger and glows a dim green light from time to time, I don't know what that means but oh well.
One day when I finally got back to work on those old blueprints, which I know took way too long to work on, it's been way over a month and I only finished around... eight of the eleven that we procured, and that's not including those that are labeled 'video games' I don't even know what the hay those are, but I'll finish those after I'm done working on the rest.
Two and a half hours later, I finish the blueprint that I was working, I just need to go over what materials would be best then they're finished and I could put the new blueprints with the rest. It was at this point that I remembered that my parents gave me something quite a while ago, I believe they told me it was pretty important to them and that it would be important to me. The case is in my room, so I decide to open it up, what was inside astonished me. It was a fresh set of armor, tailored to both my and my sister's sizes. I guess they planned on some things happening, either that or they already met Balli before I got out of my four-month coma. After I took out the armor, I found something else, a sheath for a claymore with my name on it. It even had one of my nicknames on it, it was labeled: "Techno 'Breaker' Sparklers."
I cried only a little just knowing how much they cared and the detail on this piece of work. After I took it out of the case, there was a note.
"We didn't know which nickname or title to use when making this for you sweetie, but we hope that you'll fulfill the role of 'The Breaker.' Love mom and dad."
My claymore has sort of been sitting in the corner of the room for a while, I was planning on making a sheath myself, but I needed to work on the blueprints so I never got a chance. Turns out it was a perfect fit. I decided to keep my new claymore in my new sheath as it was perfect as it was. However the armor was a different they know that I prefer lighter armour, yet they chose to give me heavier armour, yet when I checked it out, some parts were removable so the armour they gave me could be adjusted to my likings. The same was applied to Balli's armour, yet they looked less customizable than mine were, they most likely know she's the one with the heavier armour.
"Hey, Balli could you come up here for a minute?" I yell out to get her attention.
In less than five seconds she was here.
"Yeah bro? Is is something important?" she said, clearly not winded from what I would believe was rushing here.
"A bit yeah, could you try this on? It's a set of armour from mom and dad."
Without hesitation she threw her armour on excitedly, some of the bits just clicked into place and some others required her to just put it on, it was simple, quick, and easy. After she put the set of armour on, she seemed more majestic and alluring, it seemed as though it accented on her good points, which was moderately strange as it was armour.
"Well? What do you think big bro?"
"Well to put simply. It's very alluring despite it being armour. Other than that, it suits you well.
With a blush she replied "Oh! Well thanks bro."
"Well, now to put it all away, we need to keep these things prepped and ready in case something happens again.:
We both continue downstairs to place our semi-new things in the area we use before we head out on our little treks into the unknown when I noticed that the saddle bags we keep in handy looked a little... run-down I take notice and suggest something to the group whom of which were not in the building, so I decided to voice my opinion at a later time. Actually I haven't seen everypony else in a while, I wonder what they're up to.
Well, it's been a while but I finally got a chance to go hang out in the Caves of Eternal Darkness outside Ponyville, hopefully none of the others will find out I'm here, I haven't been somewhere like this since I was only a colt. I usually find myself coming to dark places like this, everypony else says it's too dark, but it's not that dark from what I can tell. I would usually trot for about five to ten minutes before I saw the light that tells me my friend is close.
Just when I saw the light, the light went out, right, she doesn't know that it's me that's here, at this point I just end up saying who I am, she can easily tell it's me when she hears my voice.
"Hey! It's me, Smiley!" I gave a small shout to let my friend know I'm here.
The light went back on, I guess she figured I wasn't lying, that and I came back to visit, which if I recall the last time I visited was about... two and a half weeks ago, I hope she doesn't feel lonely since I wasn't here in a while. In which I was wrong.
I came closer to the light, which prompted my little friend to come out of hiding when she knew that I was alone and didn't bring anypony with me to come here to see what she was, a moderately large spider. Who could talk.
"Hey Smiley! It's been a while since you last came. I was getting a little lonely when you stopped coming by."
"Sorry! I was busy with something, one of my friends got out of a coma and then one of my other friends got ponynapped. Overall it's been rather crazy recently."
She was a spider, however she never really seemed that dangerous.  She's clingy, affectionate, and... kinda like a little kid. You know for a spider. She did however say that she was a pony at some point in time, she also said that she's been a spider for roughly a century or two, she's not quite sure at this point, she doesn't go out much for obvious reasons.
We usually spend some time together, she would tell me stories of the past, times where she was still a pony, and times she wandered around after other ponies have found her in the caves that she's lived in, and about how she would terrify them and then scurry off. In return I would tell her about the things that I have done in my time with the others, however when we talked she seemed somewhat... depressed. Curious I asked why
"Hey, is something bothering, wait we're you found out?!"
"No! No, it's not that, I just feel... held back, living out my life in caves and hiding from society... I just don't like it. Anyway listen I was wondering.-"
"What is it?" I asked cutting her off in the middle of her sentence, I kind of had a feeling that I knew what she was gonna ask.
"Do you think that... I would be able to go back out into the world? And not hide in a cave?"
"Yeah, of course! Ponies would totally accept you!" I blurted out, without knowing what the final result would be, I just said it to make her feel better.
"Yeah, I figured, you're lying, you overreact and respond immediately when you're flustered, I've known you long enough to know that Smiley."
"Ok. you got me, I am lying, but how about this, I'll bring one of my friends, and we'll see if he can accept you, if he does, I can guarantee that you'll be accepted."
"What makes you say that?" she said depressed about me lying.
"Well, he managed to convince all of Ponyville that it's okay that he has a pet timberwolf, that and that he has it under control."
"Wait a timberwolf!? Those things are terrifying!" she said scared for her life, even though she's never seen a tame timberwolf.
"Well, he's been raising one since it was little, look my point is if he can convince ponies that a timberwolf is safe, he can convince others that you're safe to be around."
"I don't know, do you think he can really  help?"
"Of course, he supports everypony, and everypony else will take his word for it."
"Well, alright I suppose I can take a chance on this, when do you think it would be a good time to go and see him?"
"Well, I'll go talk to him and see when is a good time, I guess while I'm at it I'll ask him where would a good place. I don't think the house would be a good idea."
"Well come back to let me know ok?"
"Yeah of course, I'll see you later."
As I say that, I continue to take my leave, making sure to wave goodbye like I usually do. After a couple of minutes I get out of the cave and make my way back home, to ask Tech if he would meet her and see if he would be able to convince the ponies in town that she was safe to be around. The cave however was a decent distance away, roughly twenty minutes away before I get back to town, so it was obviously going to take some time before I get back.
I decided to go see Twilight today, making sure that Timby was with me as I went there, from what I can guess, Squiggles wouldn't want to come, he stayed in the forge and refused to leave, but at least Timby wasn't busy. As I approached I noticed someponies were keeping an eye on me, I hope none of them are like 'her', however when I looked, I also noticed that they were eyes of concern, the ponies in town are worried about me, have I truly been here that long? I don't think I can just leave either, the others will become curious about me just leaving them on their own.
I thought about this up until I noticed that I was at Twilight's Castle, when I knocked Spike answered the door, I usually come to expect Twilight to answer the door, but I suppose this should be no different, I asked my usual question concerning my visit to Twilight's Castle.
"Hello there Spike, I take it Twilight is not here?"
"No she's not, she's out on some 'friendship quest' again, so I'm here, taking care of the castle, again. So let me guess, you're here to use the library again? If you are just come in."
"Well thanks I suppose, you seem depressed, is there something wrong?" I asked as I trotted in, genuinely curious about his problem.
"Nothing, I just have to clean the castle by myself, organize the library by myself, and the guys are not around for Guy's Night, and if they were around they would be busy."
"Well, would you like help in cleaning and organizing?"
His face lit up as I said that, it seemed as though he doesn't get help that often, which didn't matter I was going to offer my help anyway.
"Really, you'll help?! Nopony has ever offered to help before, well if you don't mind, but I think that it'll still take all day to take care of everything. Are you still okay with helping out.?"
"Yeah, sure I don't mind."
After saying that he let me into the castle, I however thought that Timby would not likely be allowed in the castle so I asked for quick confirmation, and since Twilight was not here, Spike was okay with it since he trusts Timby to not be like a wild timberwolf, so we came in and after being shown to a couple of rooms, he showed Timby and I some rooms we could hang out in, and then he showed us the rooms that needed to be cleaned, he had already cleaned some of the rooms before we got here, so we didn't need to worry about those particular rooms. We later got the tools and the other things we needed to get started on cleaning, then we got started on that. I should probably have Timby get going to tell the others that I would be here all day, oh well they should already know that I would be here. I'll probably be here the rest of the day so I don't think anything all that interesting is going to happen while I'm here.
It's been a while since I seen the others, oh well, it's been a while since it's just been me and big bro home alone, maybe now I can take him by force, but then again he might already know that I would do something like that, but that won't stop me! The only problem is that I don't know where that maid is, she's always with him and keeping an eye on him to make sure he's 'taken care of' maybe the next chance I'm alone with her I will question how much she cares about my big bro.
Whenever I'm home, I usually don't know what to do with my time, I suppose I should be training, I am still unsure about how to use a halberd, big bro says I should use a regular halberd instead of the one that was made for me, maintaining the proper balance while wielding a halberd, of course big bro has given me some tips on using one, but I still can't use it properly. Usually I practice inside, but I decide to practice outside today, having fresh air to breathe seems better than working inside. I leave outside in my usual armor, to stay familiar with the use of armored combat with a halberd, big bro also said that I should stand biped to use this, makes it easier he said, unlike him I'm not a natural in fighting while biped.
Just as I start training outside, my big bro comes outside with me, likely to judge my style in combat as I train, what surprised me was when he came up to me as I was getting into position, he wasn't watching, he was giving me some tips on how to fight.
"You're pose is incorrect, you need to reduce your tension in your hooves, you ruin your balance by doing that. Keep the halberd tip lowered, but be sure to be ready to raise it when necessary. Keep your eyes forward to maintain focus on your enemy and let the halberd follow behind you."
"Look bro, your tips are useful but I don't think they're going to help."
He said nothing, but he left to get a training dummy, most likely to prove himself right. He placed it right in front of me and made sure that it was stable.
"Now, using your style, pierce the dummy."
I stabbed using the style that I tried to develop, the stab proved itself to be weak, the tip barely pierced the training dummy.
"The dummy was made using synthetic materials made to resemble the feel and durability of pony flesh and bone. If your halberd cannot pierce the dummy, you will be more of a hindrance than you will be help."
"Well then I can just use what I always used, my blade is always ready and I can use it the most efficiently!" I started yelling, trying to make my point.
"This halberd was made by me, specifically for you, are you telling me that the weapon that I made for you, with love no less, will be laid for waste?! Do you think that our ancestor, whom of which had to die for us to have the material to make these weapons would want it to go to waste?!"
I sat down as he raised his voice at me, he had never done this before, well he has, but he never had to raise his to me. I was scared, there were tears running down my face, then I noticed him making a face I have never seen him give anyone before, I knew he was furious, while he was furious there were only a few select words that I could bring myself to say.
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I'll learn how to use this, please just don't be angry with me big brother."
He breathed deeply, as he calmed himself down he went back to the house, shortly after he returned, in full armor and with his own halberd to use.
"Now, do you want to learn how to use a halberd, or are you just going to lay on the ground and cry?"
After he said that I started to slowly bring myself up, with the tears still in my eyes, I picked up the training halberd that I was using. When I turned back to him, he wiped my tears away.
"Good choice sis, now, let's get to training, later we'll spar, for now you need to get better at your stance, now then you still remember the tips I gave you earlier?"
"N-no, sorry bro but I forgot, could you tell me again?"
"I'll do you one better, I'll teach you the proper steps in maintaining your form, now come here."
As I went towards him, I noticed that I was right behind him, and he was basically right behind me, this caught me off-guard, and I was more distracted than I was focused.
"Hey, you keeping your focus or what?"
"O-o-oh right, sorry bro, continue on."
"Right, now then like I said reduce the tension in your hooves, lower the tip of your halberd, but be sure to keep your grip tight, don't look at me, focus on your enemy. Now focus your muscles and pierce."
I then stabbed with the most force that I could muster, I closed my eyes when I thrusted the halberd forward, when I open my eyes again, I noticed the dummy's head had come clean off, then my brother seemed satisfied with my performance. He shocked me with the words he said afterwards.
"Wow. I'm impressed, I don't think that even I could cut off the dummy's head that easily, even with all the force that I could bring myself to do. Now then get training, unless you'd rather come in and help me relieve myself. The choice is yours."
"I think I'll keep training. Wait what was that?!"
"Don't act like you didn't hear me, if you're coming along, you know where the room is. I'll most likely expect you in a few minutes."
He said that then I rushed inside the house, getting inside before he does and put away my armor and equipment, then immediately rush to our room, fully expecting him to come along and do the deed when he gets in here.
The door opens and there he is, knowing that I was excited for this, before he came to the bed he had only a couple of words to say.
"Had a strong feeling you would've came along, oh well maybe a few rounds is enough for you. Hope you're ready for a long hour."
I squee after he says that, I laid in bed extremely excited, I don't know if big bro has done this before, but I don't care, he's choosing me right now. The door closes and he gets closer and the next hour were the most amazing hour of my life, of course I won't go into detail about what happened, just let your imagination run wild.
Now then, Master Sparklers has requested that I get some materials and restock the food storage, which took me some time, along the way I run into Sir Smiley, in which I went ahead and informed him of the task that Master Sparklers wanted him to do, he has requested that I relay the info to him if I happen to come across him.
"Greetings Sir Smiley, I take it you are returning to the manor?"
"Huh? Oh hey Mirra I didn't see you there. Yeah I was heading to the house. Why is there something I need to do first?"
"Yes, Master Sparklers would like you to go to Town Hall, he heard there were some documents that concerned a certain house that we had visited, he also requested that you and I go together, so that Mayor Mare, would know that we went in his stead."
"Alright then I was hoping to ask something of Tech myself, but if this is important-"
"It is, it concerns housing from what I gathered, now then shall we?"
He goes along and we trot to Town Hall, not knowing entirely of what would await both myself and Sir Smiley, but I only hope that it won't another pointless wild goose chase that always happen in this little hick town, I only hope that Master Sparklers would come to his senses and choose to move somewhere with a little more class and where his sense of royalty could become more recognizable, I swear it's at times like this is when I could use a quick fling.
As I pondered that thought, I take another look at Sir Smiley, he didn't appear to be too bad, maybe if it was for a quick fling, he would most likely be the best tool for stress-relief that I could find around here. Deciding to use Sir Smiley, I pulled him into a alley and went ahead and knocked him down on the ground.
"W-w-w-what are you doing?!"
"Shut up you little worm, you are nothing more than a tool for mere stress-relief, think nothing of this, and if you tell Master Sparklers I will cut your tongue out, and don't think I won't."
After that he remained quiet, which was nice, I'd rather that he not talk right now, I took advantage of him on the spot and let the stress melt away as I took him for quite a ride, he didn't have the length that I wanted, but he'll work.
Both me and Spike had been cleaning for a while, in the time we've been cleaning, we cleaned up like roughly twenty-to-thirty rooms, but judging by the way he reacts to this, there should be many more rooms to take care of, Timby on the other hoof just hung around and merely search for mushrooms to enjoy, what was strange was he did in fact find some to eat, he must have a good sense of where to find them.
"Well, seems like we're done here, let's move on to the next room."
"Okay then, which room should be next Spike?"
"Next should be the map room, it takes quite a bit of work to clean that up, mostly thanks to Pinkie Pie making a mess of things whenever the map calls for her. But that's Pinkie Pie, you gotta figure this stuff out right?"
"I suppose you're right, she does get a bit out of hoof."
As we make our way to the map room, a bit of dust makes it's way up my nuzzle, must've been a bit that never got caught properly, when it goes up my nuzzle, I sneeze and never noticed that my Changeling disguise stopped working, I never noticed until Timby started growling at me, and when he did Spike decided to turn around and saw me instead of Crazy Bread.
"You're a changeling?!"
After he reacted I bolted, sadly Timby knew and started tailing me, with Spike on his back no less, either they really wanted to catch me or they wanted to discuss, but they saw me without my disguise, which left me little to no options.
While I was still flying away, I noticed that Spike was coming straight at me, Timby must've launched him in the air or something, and I didn't want him to get hurt, so I go back to catch him.
"Why're you running away?"
"I'm a changeling! I know I don't belong in Equestria, so I ran away, I don't want to go back to the hive."
"Don't worry about it, I'll keep your secret, I have a friend named Thorax, he's also a changeling, but he lives in the Crystal Empire, he comes by on the occasion and we hang out and play some games."
As we descend, there was a question that I wanted answered.
"Wait, does he live in the Crystal Empire as a changeling, or does he have a disguise that he uses?"
"Oh he doesn't need a disguise anymore, the ponies in the empire have accepted him, he's a legal citizen there now."
"You're... not gonna tell anypony about this are you?"
"No, you're not evil like the other changelings, you don't force others to feed you love... do you?"
"Of course not, I just love eating noodles, if anything I prefer noodles than love, noodles is more filling."
"So, you're not a bad changeling, how about this, when Twilight gets back, I'll tell her I know another changeling that doesn't seem bad, hey she might even enjoy having you around more, since you also enjoy reading like she does."
"Thanks Spike, now then how about we get back to cleaning this giant castle?"
"Sure, this castle is actually a lot more smaller than it looks, it was just the map room and about forty more rooms, before we were done, Twilight prefers cleaning the library herself, it gives her a chance to reorganize and add the new books to the shelves."
After that I change back into my disguise and we get back to cleaning, Timby must've recognized me, otherwise he wouldn't be so calm after seeing me change back into my disguise, I'm glad that Timby can trust me after all this. After some time, Spike suggested that it was okay for me to not use my disguise, an idea in which I did not want to do, I just feel... used to my disguise of Crazy Bread, my only thought is when will I be able to tell all this to the others, well there will be a time.
After roughly ten minutes of taking advantage of Sir Smiley, we continue proceeding over to the Town Hall, surely this Mayor Mare had expected us sooner, but then again, whatever she wanted was most likely not important, there's nothing important about Ponyville, then again Master Sparklers wishes to stay here for the time being, so whatever he wants is the most important thing as far as I know, I do however wish that Master Sparklers was a bit more... ambitious in his goals and lifestyle.
"Hey, uh what was that about?" asked Sir Smiley, being somewhat ignorant as to what we had done just minutes ago.
"Well Sir Smiley, I may ask that you think nothing of the actions that had just occurred, I was merely a tad stressed and needed some relief, I hope you will forgive me for my rude behavior and speech while performing the action." I reply, using as minimal concern in my voice as I reaffirm him that it meant nothing.
"Well, uh sure then, I was only surprised by all the harsh things you said to me while you were, um... doing what you were doing."
"Some things had to be said, if not me, then and there, it would've been somepony else. I was merely reducing the pain of the future, by telling you this now."
"Well, you could've took it a bit easy, I'm still a bit sore from that."
"I understand that I did not need to be so rough, it just helps relieve stress for me, and again Sir Smiley please think nothing of it."
Upon finishing my sentence, we arrive at Town Hall, both me and Sir Smiley enter the building where Mayor Mare's secretary greeted us, then showed us to where Mayor Mare wanted to meet us, apparently she thought it a good idea to keep us waiting, even though we are merely a few minutes later than when we were supposed to be here. After another two minutes Mayor Mare showed up, about time, I was starting to get impatient.
"Hello there, sorry for the wait, I was otherwise occupied, now then allow us to get to business. *ahem* It would appear that there was some sort of unfiled documents in the housing department, while the deed and rights to the house, er, manor that resident Techno Sparklers owns, there appears to be a rather old building that belongs to the 'nearest Sparklers heir' the document also came along with a genealogy tree, and judging from the looks of the rather old parchment, it would seem that Techno Sparklers now owns the property, please alert him about this newfound discovery."
"Very well, would that happen to be everything Mayor Mare?"
"Well along with the deed came a note, it is still enclosed, but I trust that you will bring it to Techno Sparklers, since you both happen to live in the same abode as him, now then that is all, please excuse me, their is some work that I must attend to." after finishing her sentence, she left the room and handed us the enclosed note that is for Master Sparklers.
"Ah! Before I leave, Smiley, my secretary has a letter for you, I would've gave you the letter myself, but I have work to get to, now then please excuse me."
After hearing that piece of news, we both start leaving once again, except this time, I leave Sir Smiley on his own, as he has a letter to receive and take some time to read said letter. Before I even manage to leave the room, I hear the sound of somepony behind me fainting and hitting the floor, I turn and see Sir Smiley lying on the ground, choosing to use magic to levitate him off the floor, making sure to take the letter that he was clutching on to in the progress, when I prepare to leave, I give some words to the secretary.
"Please excuse his rudeness, please excuse us." I turn and take my leave, alongside Sir Smiley, whom of which was still unconscious and return home, to give Master Sparklers the news and to return Sir Smiley back to his bedchambers.
Along the way back to the manor, I run into Miss Maple, whom of which Master Sparklers also needs something done with the help of her skills, I approach her and give her the briefing on what Master Sparklers asks of her.
"Miss Maple, may I have a moment of your time?"
She turns her head in my direction. "Yeah, sure what is it?"
"It would appear that Master Sparklers has need of you."
"Cool, what does he need?"
"He would like you to gather these herbs, mushrooms, and plants. Details of which are written down here." I say as I pass along the note that Master Sparklers requested that I make a list of.
"All this? Sure why not, it should only take me roughly an hour and a half for all this. Do you have a saddle bag that I could use for all this?"
"Yes, of course, Master Sparklers insisted that I pass this to you, should you accept the request." this time, I pass her a saddle bag that she will be using to gather all the necessary materials.
"Alright thanks, I'll be home in an hour and a half."
"Yes, please return safe Miss Maple." she waves goodbye and she departs for the Everfree Forest, out of all of us, she understands those crazy woods the most.
Despite how quick she was to leave, she did not seem to show concern when it comes down to Sir Smiley, wouldn't surprise me, she doesn't even as so much as look at him, then again, I am quite surprised at how little presence that Sir Smiley holds.
Without distraction, I return to the manor, finally to give Master Sparklers the news and to bring Sir Smiley back to his bedchambers, upon my entrance, I had seen Master Sparklers leave his bedchambers, strange since I know that he was awoken this morning at an early hour, stranger even so was that Lady Voltswitch was nowhere to be seen, there was no way she would be in bed.
"Hey there Mirra, what took you so long?"
"I apologize Master, but circumstances appeared before us, but I have relayed both messages that you wished to send out, Miss Maple is out gathering the resources that you requested, and Sir Smiley here accompanied me to Town Hall, he has received a letter, but fainted shortly after reading it. Also there was something that I must tell you."
"Really? Well then, what would that be?"
"Well sir, you recall the estate that Sir Crazy was taken to correct? Well, it would appear that now that estate now belongs to you Master, would you perchance like to live there instead?"
"No, I would much rather stay here for the time being, I do however have a plan for that building, tearing it down would be disrespectful to my ancestors, so instead I would much rather see it as a memorial to my ancestors, starting with Iron-Coal Sparklers, I would like a monument built for her placed there, in her memory."
"Very noble Master. Now, please excuse me, but where is Lady Voltswitch?"
"Oh, she's upstairs. By the way, when you get a chance, be sure to clean her and the room up, we made quite a mess. Now then if you'll excuse me, I have some work to do. If anypony asks for me, tell them I'm at the mine, getting iron and coal for a statue." I pick up my pickaxe and head out the door, getting a cart ready and went on ahead for the mine that I usually go to, there's never any short supply of ores there.
Now then I have been in this forest for about thirty minutes, I've already gathered about everything except a few bunches of herbs, honestly these woods are really easy to navigate, but Tech is much more better at scavenging than I am, I always forget what it is I'm looking for, oh well if he wanted me to do this, he most likely has faith in me, knowing that I can't fail him now!
It's hard to recognize the herbs that he wants, I don't even know what he needs them for. When I go over the details, it says that it can only ever truly bloom in the darkness, yet remains so when lit. Seems very vague, but I bet I could find it if I really look, there are some dark areas, but from what I can remember there were only a few areas that are truly dark.
Despite how I was raised, I could never get over my fear of the dark, being a bandit does not help when it comes to confronting your own fears. I was especially scared when I couldn't see what was hidden in the darkness, like where I was going, I could see the herbs in the distance, it was in a dark cavern, with only a little bit of light shining right on top of it. I stopped just before getting in the cavern. I needed a source of light, there was no way I was getting in there, I looked over what was nearby, nothing. Checked my saddle bags, nothing. Looks like I gotta brave it. Which I know I am gonna regret.
I thought only good thoughts, tried not to think of the darkness, and when I was able to, I galloped all the way to the herbs that I needed, and when I opened up my eyes again, I noticed that I was past the herbs that I came here for, then I trotted towards, keeping my eyes only on the herbs and not the darkness surrounding it. Gathered what I came here for, and counted it out, I have enough, so I galloped out of there, looked back and found out the cavern was lit up after I picked up the herbs.
After making sure that I gathered everything I needed, I started heading back to the manor and hand everything over to Tech, he said that he needed some of this stuff, as I trotted back, some of the ponies in town were giving me the stink-eye, what, do they think I stole it from somepony? Deciding not to think about it, I resumed heading home, where I dropped everything off, apparently Tech wasn't home, so Mirra just told me to leave it in his room and he'll deal with it later.
I don't know how long I was unconscious, but I do remember that I read what was in my letter before I fainted. I just cannot believe that my parents are coming over, luckily they wrote that they'll be here within the coming months, I can only hope that they'll send another letter before they leave home, in the meantime, I should be getting prepared for when they do get here.	
Immediately after I start getting food rations that'll last, there's a knock on the door, I'm too busy getting food ready for when my parents come by, I hope one of the others can get the door.
Ah there's a knock on the door, but I'm busy putting away the herbs and such away in Tech's room. I noticed some time ago that there was a strange smell in the room, it's not one that I can recognize, meanwhile Mirra is also in here, from the looks of it trying to get rid of the stench, when I asked her about it, she didn't want to respond, she just rolls her eyes like it's supposed to be obvious.
After I was cleaned up by Mirra I was told to go to the baths to clean myself off, even though I didn't want to, I wanted to make sure I can smell big bro the entire day. After I got out of the bath, I heard a knock on the door, from the looks of it, the others were busy doing other things, I answer the door shortly after drying myself, when I answer the door, I saw somepony I never met before.
"Hello there little pony, have you seen my personal coffee maker? I had a feeling that he was here recently."
"Oh... uh I don't think so? Could you give me some details?"
"Well, he's also a changeling, he likely took some other form knowing him, do you know anypony who's good at making coffee?"
"Well, we do have somepony, but she's busy upstairs cleaning up a mess that I helped make."
"Yes, I know. I can smell the fresh love off of you. Oh well, is there any fresh coffee?"
"Sure, please come in." I say while presenting her the inside of the house.
"Nice place, you got here. Wouldn't mind making a local hive here. Now then tell me about who it is that makes the coffee around here."
"Well she knows how to make the best coffee that we have."
"May I have some?"
"Oh, please go ahead."
Despite how this mare looks, she gently lifts her cup of semi-fresh coffee using her magic, she must be quite the coffee-lover. However I did not think she would react to the coffee the way she did.
"Ugh, who makes this trash?" she said with clear harshness in her tone.
"WHAT WAS THAT?!" I heard Mirra yell out from upstairs.
"Well, this is pathetic, do you have any coffee that this other coffee maker made?"
"Well, I wouldn't know, he usually just makes his own pot of coffee in his room, here I'll show you where it is." I say as I lead her upstairs, to where Crazy Bread's room is. When we enter his room, she takes a big sniff to smell the coffee that Crazy Bread made earlier today.
"There's also a ton of books, this room seems like it would belong to him. Little pony, do you mind if I take a cup of this coffee?"
"Well, I don't mind, and I don't think Crazy Bread would either."
After I say that she takes a cup of coffee, much the same as earlier, except that this time, she finishes her entire cup in a single gulp.
"Yep, this is the one, now then where is this 'Crazy Bread'?"
"I don't know, I think he said he was going to Twilight's Castle. Something about reading and borrowing a couple of books."
"Does Twilight happen to be around?" she said, seeming somewhat anxious while she asked.
"Uh, no I don't think so, I think she left on some sort of friendship mission, then again I don't really go see Twilight often. But if you need me to, I can go over and see if he can come back."
"Yes, I would like to have a word with him."
"Well, then in the meantime, please enjoy yourself in the living room I suppose, I'll be back with Crazy Bread in a few minutes."
After that I take my leave to go get Crazy Bread, I'm sure that he's in the library, but if he's not, I'll look around for him. I trot casually over to the castle, when I notice Crazy Bread, with a saddle bag full of new books to read, I wave to him when I see him and he notices me. After I wave, Timby rushes over to me, nuzzling up to me, waiting to be pet, he may get bigger, but he's still just a giant dog. Remembering the reason why I went looking for him I tell him that there's somepony waiting at the house for him.
"There's somepony at the house for me? Do you know who they are?"
"No, I just met them, but they seem nice, she's pretty tall, but that's about all I know."
"Wait, did you see any holes on their hooves?"
"A couple but that I never asked about it." after I say that, I could see the color from his face fade, then he starts galloping away, but he comes back when he notices that Timby is staying by my side.
"Timby come on, let's go we don't wanna go home today." he says trying to get Timby to follow him, regardless of what he says, Timby stays by my side, seems like he does want to go home.
"Well, looks like Timby made up his mind. Come Crazy, let's just head back, you don't have anything to worry about, big bro might be back soon, so you don't have to worry about anything." I say reassuringly, trying to convince him to come back to the house.
*sigh* "Fine, just be glad you have such strong social magnetism." he says unwillingly, as he starts trotting back. Timby being in-between the two of us.
It was most likely going to take a few minutes to get back, since his saddle bag has some holes in it, so some of the books he has started falling out. I offered to help, but I never had my saddle bag on, so instead we just started balancing them on my wings, they were pretty heavy, but I could handle it.
While Miss Maple was still putting away the herbs and such that she gathered for Master Sparklers, I finished cleaning up Master's bedchambers, after which I return downstairs, to my surprise I see a changeling. I start approaching this changeling, when I noticed that it was Queen Chrysalis. While remaining wary, I ask.
"What is your purpose for being here?"
"Hello, little pony, worry not, I'm only here for someone who used to work for me."
"Very well, as long as you don't appear to be a threat to Master Sparklers or Lady Voltswitch, I will allow you to be here. I do not however appreciate how you reacted to my coffee."
"Well, I won't lie, your coffee was pretty bad, it didn't have that taste I was looking for, now you seem like a professional at what you do, but there was no love in the coffee you made, which was the reason for my reacting to your coffee. It's nothing personal, trust me."
"Now, I take it you came alone, but if you were here for any real reasons, what would those reasons be?"
"I only came here for my personal coffee maker, and if my suspicions are right the one that the tall one is getting is the right one."
"The tall one?"
"Yes, the tall mare, the one that reeks of fresh love."
"I see, you're talking about Lady Voltswitch. Was she the one that let you in?"
"Yes, she was very kind, I see her being a great source of love, you however seem like a source of unaminous love, not true."
"Yes, well, I am not a mare that believes in 'true love' that idea is vague at most, I would much rather find somepony who's capable of loving, doesn't matter who or what, just as long as they're capable of helping me relieve stress."
After I finish my sentence I hear both Lady Voltswitch and Sir Crazy come back home, Sir Crazy cowering behind Lady Voltswitch, it would appear that Sir Crazy knows this changeling.
"Sir Crazy, do you perchance know this changeling?'
"He will lie, knowing him. He knows me, he used to be my personal coffee maker, however I do not know why he chose to take a disguise that he did."
"H-h-hey, my queen."
Everyone was in shock, finding out that Crazy Bread was in fact a changeling, some fell in shock, others mouths were agape instead, while this was happening, Techno Sparklers returned.
"Hey, what's going on?" I notice Queen Chrysalis, and think nothing of it.
"Hello, I take it your the Master of this household?" she asked nonchalantly, almost as though she expected me to be okay with her here. Which I was, I was expecting her to come, but not this soon.
"Yes, I am. I take your here to take back Crazy Bread? I did not expect you to be here so early Queen Chrysalis."
"Wait, you know who she is?" asked Crazy Bread.
"Well yeah, I was a wanderer for a while after I took a break from my guild, the hive, namely Queen Chrysalis, was one who made personal requests for me. She was one of the few rulers that I know of that made requests of random wanderers. You may have saw me, since it was about two years ago."
"And your services were well paid, I would like to add. Now then, about the reason I came here, you see-"
Before she even got to finish her sentence, there was a knock on the door, after allowing whoever was there to come in, we found out it was Twilight, with a good bit of books, clearly for Crazy Bread.
"Hello? I'm here to drop off some books for Crazy Bread-"
She pauses when she sees Queen Chrysalis, just hanging out in our house, after she notices, she begins readying her magic, like she did before the last time she saw her.
"Don't worry you little pest, I'm not here to invade or attack, I don't even have any more followers, I only came here for some coffee, personally I find that even more important than dealing with you again."
"Twilight, chill out, from what I can tell, she doesn't seem to be planning on doing anything evil, right Chrysalis?"
"Yeah, as far as I know I just want coffee, so I may come by more frequently, perhaps I'll come by when I'm not looking for a place to start a new hive."
"You're starting a new hive?!" Twilight exclaimed, as if she never wanted a new hive to be made.
"Don't worry little princess, I don't intend to do anything evil, I would just like a new place to call home, I still feel some evil, I just know that if I was evil, you would come to stop me once again, you'll also use your new tool, who you call Starlight to stop me."
"How can I be sure of that?"
"I have no followers, no hive, and no source of love. What do you think I can do, with no real source of power?"
"Well, you could uh... nevermind. Tech could and your friends keep an eye on her while she's here, actually how long are you going to be around Chrysalis?"
"As long as I want, 'Princess' I only plan to be here for a while, just to find my bearings and find out what I want to do from here on."
"So... you're considering not being evil?" she had asked with genuine curiosity and concern.
"No, well... it's a possibility. There's no guarantee, let's just say that."
Twilight nodded as she looked at her, then looked to us to make sure that we know that she still wants us to keep an eye on her. I nodded back to confirm what she wanted, even though I was planning on heading somewhere soon. There are some things I still need to do, mainly getting resources for my ancestors memorial statue, and if I can, find out about my other ancestors find out who else I should make statues for.
After Twilight left, there was a small silence, Chysalis seemed more relaxed when she left, as she sat in her seat, she finished her coffee and was about ready to go, but as she was about to leave, she turned back around, looked at all of us and only said.
"I guess I'll be back, make sure that 'Crazy Bread' is ready to make me some more coffee when I return." she said just before she left our house.
Crazy Bread still being only a little bit loyal to Chysalis agreed to the idea regardless about whether or not he would join her if she started a new hive.
"Well that was certainly something that happened. Welp, I'm gonna go get back to mining, I still need some ores for something I'm planning. Later everypony." I announce before making my leave, at least I was going to leave before I was interrupted before Smiley kept me from leaving.
"Wait! When do you think you're going to be back? There's some... pony that I need you to see."
"I'll most likely be back late, most likely late in the night."
"Um, if that's the case, do you mind staying around until I can bring her around?"
"Well, sure I don't mind, just bring whoever it is you want me to meet. Mining can wait until tomorrow morning I suppose."
"Great, I'll be back in about thirty minutes, just hold on." just as he was about to leave, he turned back to us. "Oh yeah there was something you need to know about her. She's uh... not like other ponies. Just thought that I'd let you know."
"Alright then, how about you go and bring her here quickly. I have to get to work on those blueprints sometime soon."
"Alright then I'll be quick." he said just before he rushed out.
"Well now then, I should be getting dinner ready, please excuse me Master Sparklers, Lady Voltswitch." Mirra said as she went over to the kitchen to get started on making dinner, no doubt making the usual for all of us.
After that everypony went ahead and started doing their own thing. I quickly went to the room to grab one of the blueprints that I needed to work on and brought it over to the living room to look over it. Balli started being a bit more clingy since what we've done earlier. It looked like Maple was going to the bath, it seemed like she'd gotten pretty dirty when she was gathering those herbs and such. Meanwhile Crazy Bread was just enjoying a book, seeming to disregard Chysalis' request to keeping some coffee ready, for now at least.
After a rough forty minutes, Smiley returned. Looking somewhat flustered and scared, I guess he's still a little bit worried about whoever his friend is. As he stood in the doorway, he urged whoever it was outside to come in, after a little bit of time, his eight-legged used-to-be-mare-friend came inside. To the shock of everypony in the house, since she was a rather big spider.
"H-h-hello, please don't be scared."
Being the stallion that I am, I responded with; "Why would I be scared? Throughout my time in the rather unknown parts of Equestria, I have seen creatures much more worse and by default, more scarier than you are."
While I say that, everypony else was slowly backing up away from the big spider. Balli on the other hoof, was on the ground, unconscious. It's pretty obvious that she had never seen something like this in her somewhat short life-span. Meanwhile Mirra remained unfazed, which was somewhat strange, since she looked as though she had seen this sort of thing before.
"Do not worry Master Sparklers, I will return Lady Voltswitch to your bedchambers. Afterwards I will supply relaxants to ensure that she remains calm."
"Why are you all so calm about this?!" Smiley yelled out, expecting her to freak us all out, even though he had been with us long enough to know what we do and know the things that we as a group has seen.
"Well then, are you going to come in or what?" I point out, since she hid away in the doorway, trying to avoid our sights, she seems shy oddly enough.
"O-o-ok then, please excuse me. Uhhhh... where do I sit?" she looks around worried as she asked her question, shortly after she notices Crazy Bread, and asks another question; "I-i-is he gonna be okay?!"
"Don't worry about him, he's just scared of spiders, regardless of their size, in fact he passed out after seeing an extremely tiny spider."
"O-oh, well okay then." she says before she goes over to the living room, and sitting herself on one of the chairs.
"Now then Smiley, why is it that you wanted to me to meet miss uhhh... I just remembered I never got your name." I say trying to sound casual and attempting to have her open up to me, which worked to say the least.
"W-well my name is Greenhoof and I was hoping that you would be able to convince the ponies of this town to accept me as a proper member of the community, I had heard that you convinced everypony to accept a timberwolf."
"Well, that's a pretty big order to fulfill, but I suppose that it is doable, first things first, how comfortable are you with walking around town?"
"N-n-not that comfortable, it kinda scares me thinking about it."
"Well, you and I walking around together will give everypony the idea that you are something that can be controlled, however if I can have you around me without me having to keep an eye on you would mean you can be on your own without being watched, perhaps a walk tomorrow will help."
"Do you think that will work the way you will want it to?" Smiley asked, looking concerned for his friend, clearly wanting her to be accepted.
"Look, do you want results, or would you rather that this takes much more longer than it needs to be?"
Smiley stood, remaining speechless, entirely unsure of the plan that I had made, but with my experience, it will most likely work, just like the way it went with Timby, perhaps it will take even longer than back then.
"Alright then, now that the plan had been put together, where do you intend to have your little friend sleep, Smiley?"
"... I never thought about that until now. Hey Greenhoof where would you like to sleep tonight?"
Just as he had turned over to her, she had already fallen asleep on the chair that she sat on, it would seem as though, her sense of fear had gotten her tired and she had decided on going to sleep on the chair.
"Well, it is getting pretty late, I'll stay here to keep her safe, in case somepony visits and thinks she'll eat them. Either that or become convinced she's evil or something."
Starting tomorrow, I'm going to start going on walks with Greenhoof to try to get her used to Ponyville and the ponies that live here, I think I know some ponies that are perfectly okay with bugs, perhaps I'll try going to them first.


-------     Chapter Twenty: Making new Friends     -------

With no events happening throughout the night, mainly nopony coming by. Now that it is bright and early in the morning, putting my plan into motion would be what I'd be doing, but Greenhoof was still asleep, I suppose being the hybrid pony-spider that she is made her be more nocturnal than normal, based on that assumption, I would believe she used to live somewhere mostly dark.
Upon the usual breakfast time coming around, Mirra had gotten downstairs to get started on making breakfast, she noticed me and nodded her head, acknowledging the fact that I was here and was now going and getting me some coffee, she returned in a few short moments and had passed me my coffee.
"How was your night Master Sparklers?"
"... Interesting, I have had enough time to contemplate some things, though I am somewhat tired. Thanks for the coffee though, I needed it, my eyes are pretty sore."
"I can see that Master, here put these on your eyes for a minute. It should help to make your eyes feel better." she says this while passing me a set of tea bags.
I put the tea bags on my eyes for a minute like she asked, however within that minute Mirra went ahead and explained why I had to put them on my eyes.
"Now then Master, as a unicorn with a doctorate in Medical Magic, I took the liberty in enchanting these to help invigorate your eyes, this will help ensure that your eyes will not tire throughout the day.'
After she finishes saying this, I take the tea bags off my eyes and feel better than I did earlier, no longer feeling tired with sore eyes. I thank her and begin drinking my coffee to begin my morning. Upon taking the first sip, Mirra leaves and moves towards the kitchen, no doubt to begin on making breakfast for everypony in the house, and our guest who was still asleep at the time.
Placing my trust in Mirra I proceed to go upstairs, to my room, mainly to look over the map. It had been some time since I had went out on my own, perhaps it was time I went ahead to go somewhere I had never gone to. On my own, but then again I already made arrangements to help with Smiley's spider friend, oh well going off on my own can wait until then.
After checking on the map, I check the time and remember that the bug experts in the local area should be waking up, hoping that they would be awake, I get ready and head over to go over some things. Before leaving I drop by Mirra to tell her that I will be back later, so she could just make my breakfast last, if not later.
The time was just around past six in the morning, it was around this time that the bug experts usually wake up, however instead of going and seeing one of the the only three available at this hour, I go for a small walk. As I walked around, I wondered if I should even see any of them, knowing how ponies see me, they may just trust her if I'm the one that recommends her, they seem to believe that I have some credibility.
After walking around and later sitting on a bench to contemplate what I should do concerning Greenhoof. At some point I was flirted with at some point, not that I minded and I was not entirely paying attention, but apparently, according to what she came back to tell me later that day, I had a date next week, she must've been on of those mares going on a early morning jog. Oh well live and learn I suppose.
After about twenty minutes later, I return home, to my surprise everypony else was awake, it wasn't even seven thirty, yet everypony was awake. Mirra filled me in, telling me that Crazy Bread got up early and saw Greenhoof then passed out screaming again. Waking everypony else in his stride, I guess being a changeling would make him afraid of spiders by themselves. I was also told that he was taken back to his room.
"A-am I really that scary?"
"Don't worry about him, he's a changeling, being a spider, he is most likely just scared of you until he gets used to having you around."
"O-oh, what can I do to make it up to him?"
"There's nothing you can do, just deal with it until you no longer terrify him."
She remained quiet, knowing that full well she would have to get used to hearing a grown stallion scream at the sight of her. While sis went back to sleep, and Smiley going to and from the kitchen to gather food into his room. I remain in the living room, talking to Greenhoof while Mirra was in the kitchen, attempting to get to know her a bit better before we go out for a walk.
"So, how old are you? I know that asking a ladies age is not something I should do, but I can't help but wonder."
"O-oh no, don't worry yourself about it, I am in fact over two hundred years old. I stopped counting after I hit two hundred and twelve."
"Over two centuries old, I can imagine all the things you've learned in that time, anything arcane? Or perhaps something else?"
"N-no, I never really bothered leaving the caves I was in, it was too risky for me to go out, lest somepony finding me and reporting me."
"Yeah, I can see that, however we can hope that ponies will accept you as a part of the community as long you and I are together whenever we go out."
"A-a-a-are you flirting with me?!" she said while her face was getting red, and she seemed to be getting flustered.
"What?! No, you're a friend of Smiley, personally he needs more mare-friends. If stallions weren't busy flirting with him, he would've been fine otherwise."
"What do you mean 'he?' I thought that Smiley was a mare."
"No, he's a pure stallion, despite what he looks like. Trust me I know."
"W-w-w-w-what?! I never knew he was a stallion!" she said getting more red than she was earlier.
"Well, I've known him for some time, and it took me less than a day to find out he was a stallion. I would also rather not talk about the day I met him."
"W-why, what happened on that day?"
"I'd rather not talk about it, rather, you seemed kind of flustered when you found out about he was a stallion, could it be you have new-found feelings about him?"
Before responding, she looked away from me, it would seem I hit a sweet spot concerning Smiley. "W-w-w-w-what!? I-I-I-I don't have f-feelings for him!"
"Well, you're fighting the point quite strongly, I bet you do, and don't lie to me, I can tell a lie when it's obvious. Going around Equestria helps one learn to read faces for lies, even from a spider like yourself."
"H-how would you know?! You never seen anyone like me before."
"True, but you were a pony at some point, the tells are still the same, regardless of how you look now."
"W-w-well since we're going for a walk later, would you mind telling me about yourself?" she had asked, making it obvious that she was trying to change the subject.
"Very well, I'll indulge and ignore your obvious attempt at changing the subject. Well then, I was born and raised in a rather small town called Neighborton, my parents left for reasons unknown; I really should ask them about that, anyway, I became a mercenary and worked for a guild, then I eventually left for my own reasons to explore the rather unknown parts of Equestria. Fast forward a couple years, here we are. Is that enough for you, or would you rather I go into more detail?"
"N-no, that's okay, that was quite enough." she said this while looking amazed yet somehow confused about the entire story I told her in less than two minutes.
"Well, Mirra should be finishing making breakfast sometime soon, is there anything you would like to eat in particular?"
"Oh... I'm not sure I haven't eaten much in quite a while, whatever you think is good, I suppose."
"Alright then, hey Mirra?" I asked knowing full well what would happen if I called out her name.
Mirra coming out of the kitchen, had come out to ask "Yes? What is it Master? Is there anything you require?"
"No, not really, but our friend would like something to eat 'whatever's good' is fine."
"Of course Master, please excuse me while I return to the kitchen." she bows as she says that just before she starts trotting her way back to kitchen.
"Well now, let's talk a bit more about you shall we? What was your life like before being turned into a spider?"
"W-well it was not all that exciting, I was a regular earth pony working on a farm, a rather small farm on the outskirts of the town I grew up in. For a couple of years, I had worked the farm, I was well-liked by most ponies, I was even courted once, but I declined." she says all this while eventually looking more and more depressed as she told me her story.
"Well, it seems like something happened. Would you care to tell me more?"
"I-I'd rather not talk about it. At least not right now."
"I see, you would also not like to talk about your past. I understand, the both of us would rather keep something secret, there we're even."
"O-oh, okay then, that sounds fair."
Just after we were done talking, Mirra called out from the kitchen, telling everypony that breakfast was ready, Balli rushed downstairs, Smiley came down after a couple of seconds, after they both went, Mirra brought Crazy's meal to him upstairs, since he wouldn't be able to eat downstairs with Greenhoof in the house.
We spent some time eating and enjoying eachothers company, since she was new we all tried to get along with her, minus Crazy Bread, whom of which could not even look at her, let alone talk to her since he would most likely pass out again.
After every... pony had breakfast, I figured that it was about time that Greenhoof and I should go on our little walk, after putting on my casual clothes and keeping one of my weapons is within hooves reach, we head out, remaining only a little close, to give off the idea that I have known her for a while.
While we walked, I felt ponies eyes watching me and Greenhoof where ever we went, they didn't seem scared, they seemed... jealous? Which was strange, at least until somepony from the PLPD came up to us.
"Uhhh, hello again sir. May I assume that your friend is no threat to us?"
"Well, yeah she is of no threat."
"Thank you for your time in clarifying this before this got out of hoof."
After the officer leaves us alone, everypony that was keeping an eye on us, were no longer shooting daggers at us, instead some looked curious instead, some even came by to talk to Greenhoof. Many questions were asked, only a few were answered. She was really shy and had to take a break from the questioning, after a few minutes of questioning we went ahead and moved on to my friend that I have not seen since my three month-long coma.
As we approach the residence that my friend owns, I noticed something, a note on the door. The note read "Moved out, the local insects around Ponyville no longer interests me, I'll most likely not come back unless reasons are found."
"Oh well, I guess my friend isn't in town anymore, well what do you feel like doing?"
"O-oh, I don't know maybe we could talk a-a-about S-smiley for a while?"
"I see, your a bit curious what kind of stallion he is?" I point out to her, putting emphasis on the word 'stallion'.
"N-nevermind then! What would you like to talk about?!" she exclaimed, getting more flustered as the conversation continues.
"I don't know, however we should be heading back soon, unless you feel like joining me in going to honor my ancestors."
"How do you mean?"
"Well, some time ago, I had an... incident with one of my ancestors, and since then I have been using the residence to accommodate statues to honor the lives of my ancestors."
"That sound quite lovely, I would like to join you if that's the case."
"Very well, let's go, it's not all that far."
After finishing our discussion, we head over to where I made the statues, along the way making small talk, while avoiding the topic of her feelings towards Smiley, as to avoid embarrassing her all too much.
We approach the building in only a few minutes, all the while enjoying each others company, as we enter, I notice that she seems to more comfortable here than at the house and out in public, I figured that she was pretty shy but not that shy.
"W-wow, you sure put a lot of detail in these statues, how long have you been working on these?"
"Not that long, perhaps three weeks, maybe four, I only just started on the third statue, I mostly intend to make statues of the more prominent members of the Sparklers family."
"Hold on, the Sparklers family?"
"Yeah, didn't Smiley tell you my name? Oh well if he hasn't my name's Techno Sparklers, son of Techno Voltswitch and Ballistic Sparklers."
"Sparklers... Sparklers, I think I can remember tales told of your ancestors, though I might get the details wrong."
"Oh no that's fine, I'll only use what details I find out about on my own, I know you were most likely there, but I don't wish to impose."
"O-oh, okay then, if that's what you want."
"Yeah, oh right, thanks for coming, I'm usually here by myself, since nopony else wants to come here, I appreciate you being here."
"Y-yeah, don't worry about it."
"Anyway, how's Ponyville doing for you?"
"O-oh the towns ponies are very nice, some of them looked scared, at least until that stallion came up and talked to you."
"Don't worry about him, we know each other, however last time we talked it ended with him unconscious."
"Oh, uh, should I ask?"
"No, it's just that he tried to take away my timberwolf, when he was only but a pup, so I knocked his dumb flank out, to prove a point."
She seemed a bit scared of me after I said that, she was unsure of whether or not what I did before was justified. She immediately remembered that I only did it to keep my little Timby safe and alive, which changed how she thought about the situation.
"Well, I'm sure you had your reasons."
"Well, that was quite some time ago, now that I think about it, it wasn't even a year ago, that was back in the beginning of spring. Alright now that should be enough for now. Come on we should head back to the house, you are still a guest in my house."
"Okay then, actually what time do you think it is?"
"Well we weren't here that long, so it should be about lunch time, Mirra should have made lunch by now, so we should head back soon to make sure we still eat a warm meal."
After finishing my sentence we leave and start heading back to the house, at least not before I lock the doors to the muesuem as I would call it. After I finish locking the door, we continue to the house, only to see a strange mare standing at our doorstep, what was the most strange was the fact that she looked like she had been there for some time, however her reasons were unknown.
When we return she freaks out at the sight of us, however she must've just been terrified of Greenhoof, then seeing a stallion-sized spider would scare most regular ponies. However, and I'm not sure how, but this mare seemed familiar to me. weird.
Instead of just leaving her there in the doorway, I lift her and place her on my back, and carry her inside, upon coming back inside the house, everypony in the living room were giving me curious stares. Well everypony except Crazy Bread, whom of which passed out upon seeing Greenhoof once again, this is like the third time already.
"Sis, would you mind taking Crazy back to his room?" I ask of my sister while making a somewhat unamused face, since he has to get used to her at some point.
"Sure thing bro, but first who's your friend?"
"Oh, her? I don't know, we were on our way back when we saw her at the door, but she fell unconscious upon the sight of us."
"Really? Well what are you going to do with her then?"
"Well, it's only lunch time, so I'll keep her here in the living room, I'll ask her what she wanted when she wakes up."
"But bro, weren't you planning on going for a little expedition sometime soon?"
"Well, things have changed, finding out who this is, and why she's here is more important."
"Alright then bro, your call. C'mon Crazy, if you're gonna stay unconscious, you may as well stay in your room." she says before placing Crazy Bread on her back, which wasn't hard as we are both of similar stature.
While she was heading upstairs, I get ready to put our guest on the single chair we have in the living room, at least I was until I was stopped by Greenhoof, it seems like she got really defensive about the chair since that's where she spent most of her time. I suppose in the mean time I'll keep her on the couch.
Since it was still lunch, sis comes back downstairs and heads to the kitchen, Mirra was still in the kitchen finishing up lunch, Smiley on his way downstairs was also heading to the kitchen, at least not before sharing an awkward stare with Greenhoof with her getting more and more red, the longer they looked at one another.
"Uhhh, Smiley? Lunch is gonna get cold." I say out loud to break the silence and the awkward tension between the two of them. Upon finishing my sentence I go to the kitchen all the same, only to grab my lunch and eat in the living room, making sure to bring Greenhoof's lunch with me.
"You still holding back your feelings huh?"
"W-w-w-what are you talking about!?" was what she said, but she had food in her mouth, making it sound a bit more garbled than that.
As I swallow the food in my mouth I begin to reply, "Don't talk with your mouth full, and honestly, the way the both of you were looking at one another, it's pretty obvious that the two of you like each other." I get back to eating after I'm done talking.
While sitting there with Greenhoof there was only silence as she insisted on taking the longest bite she could to keep herself from talking about her obvious blatant crush on Smiley, whether or not she would admit it was another question entirely, I may not know a lot about her, but I feel as though she really wants to tell him, but is too shy to say it.
"You do know that he must've had a reason to see you in those caves. Smiley isn't the kind of stallion to just wander into caves for no real reason."
When she hears me say that, she started thinking about it, and when she did she started blushing a deep crimson. However she never noticed that I said it with no concrete evidence, heck I don't even know why he went down there in the first place.
We sat there throughout the lunch time talking to one another, me making her blush whilst talking about Smiley, there were some times where there was nothing but silence, but we had a good chat none the less. However while we were talking I found myself giving glances towards our still-unconscious guest, there was something about her that seemed familiar, she was quite clothed, so there was nothing for me to recognize.
Shortly after we were done with lunch, we went ahead and put the plates away, everypony went out, I never bothered asking where everypony was going, I was the only one home with the mare that still never woke up, at least that's what I thought at first, when I noticed that she was awake the whole time, listening in on everything we had been talking about.
"Well, you gonna keep pretending or what?" I say unamused since she seemed conscious for quite some time.
"I was only waiting until everyone left, I was waiting for us to be alone, there's so much that I wanted to talk about."
When she finished saying that, I assume the stance for a fight, which is the one thing that does not happen.
"It's been years hasn't it? I know you've been travelling, but I had to find you again, even if it was only for a few minutes."
"Who in Equestria are you?!" I yell out to try to get an answer out of whoever this mare this.
"You don't remember me? Has it been that long Techie?"
"Only one mare has ever called me Techie, and I lost her a long time ago."
"Who ever said you lost me? You just never came back to get me." when she finishes her sentence, in that moment I was shocked when I found out who she was.
"G-goldie? Is that really you? W-where were you all this time?" I say to her, almost breaking into tears at the sight of her.
"Yeah it's me, I know it's been a long time my sweet Techie, but now that I finally caught up with you, we can finally catch up." she says with a sweet face, knowing that there's no way for me to say no to her.
We start reminiscing about the past, going over what happened when we were split up, and later came to terms with the things that we have done recently. I was skeptical at first, but I believed her after she started getting all the details right about specific events that happened to us. Before we knew it, we found ourselves talking for a little over an hour.
While we were still talking everypony else had come back, some later than others, but that did not change the introductions since I had asked anypony who came home early to wait until the others got back. Even later still, everypony came back, Crazy Bread was the last to come back, he was probably with Twilight, going over books and maybe even Changeling things.
"Alright everypony, now that our friend is awake, I think it's time we introduced who she is and what she means to me."
Everypony had gotten curious at this point, since they had never seen her before, and were most likely wondering what she meant to me.
"Now then, this is my ex-wife, Golden Crown." everypony was shocked, some jaws were dropped, questions were about to be asked, but I wasn't expecting Goldie to ask the first question.
"Ex-wife?! Excuse me, but as far as I'm concerned we're still married, in fact where's your ring?!" she said, looking angry, since she noticed that I wasn't wearing my ring the entire time.
"Look, Goldie, I think before I go and get my ring, we should tell everyony about how we came to be married, okay?" I say that, she gives me a nod, then I get started telling the story.
"Alright it was roughly eleven years ago, just after I started my guild work-"
"Wait, how old are you exactly? I never noticed how I never asked."
Just before I respond, Mirra answers Crazy Bread's question for me.
"Master Sparklers is twenty three years, seven months, and twelve days old. Master's parents informed me of his age beforehoof, I merely took the liberty of going the extra mile."
"Thank you Mirra, anyhow, just after I started my guild work, I was confronted by a mare, thinking I was older than I was, since I was quite tall, despite being only twelve. This mare came up to me with a job, these are considered 'personal quests' and since the others in Moonlight had a tradition, in which if somepony gets their first personal job, they have to accept it, so I had no choice."
"When are you going to get to the part where you two fell in love?" asked Smiley, legitimately curious about how we got together.
"Well, there's quite some time before we get to that part, just listen to me tell the story alright?" 
"Yes, just be patient. Smiley is it? Quite a perplexing name."
*ahem* "Anyhow, when she came up to me, the job was to take care of the pony she would bring later that day, whom of which was Goldie here. At first she treated me like paid-for trash, I on the other hoof, had to act professional to hold up reputation. We did however talk, if only a little bit, until we got distracted by her would-be busy schedule. She was a member of a high-class family after all."
"Wait a minute, 'was'?" Balli asked, understanding that if I implied that, she was no longer considered royalty.
"Yeah, she's no longer part of royalty, sis."
"Hold on a minute Techie, you never told me you had a sister!" she goes off to give her a hug, at least before I stopped her.
"Well, she's technically just another version of me, in short, if I was born a mare, she would've been it. I'll tell you about it later Goldie."
"Alright then my sweet Techie."
"Anyhow, we had a formal gathering to get to, which was over in Canterlot, we were in a guild building a half-day away from Neighborton, so it wasn't that far away from Canterlot, it would take about two or three days to get to Canterlot, she however needed to get there in one. Upon learning that piece of info, we rushed to get to Canterlot. Well... more like we rushed for about two hours, when she found out her mane was messed up, since I was carrying her on my back, flying as fast as I could at the time."
Me telling the story of how both me and Goldie, came to be together goes on for quite a while, I'll spare most of the details, as I'll tell those stories some other time, eventually we reach the end of the story-telling and by the time I'm done telling everypony about our time together, it's around bedtime.
Everypony looked at the two of us, knowing that this was a time in which I was really happy, which is something everypony (except Greenhoof hasn't seen that often. No one wanted to take this away from me, since I was a stallion not to be messed around with. Together me and my wife went upstairs to turn in for the night.
"This is the room, also my sister sleeps in here too."
"How, nice, now then have you slept with her yet?"
"What do you mean by that?"
"Oh, please, back then you were all about yourself, it would make sense why both you and your technical sister have 'slept' together."
"Well, would you hold it against me if I did?"
"No, in my book that would be the same as masturbation, besides it meant nothing right?"
"Well, I suppose you could say that, I did it as a reward for getting the hang of using a halbard for fighting. But that doesn't matter now, shall we?" I say as I make gesture towards the bed.
"Of course, my Techie. I know the kind of stallion you are, so I imagine that you must've learned many things in the bedroom." she says to me, while making a moderately seductive face, knowing that I did indeed learn some things in the time that I have not been with her.
Not going into detail on what happened, know only that Balli did not get much sleep, then again neither did I. The morning came, and there were some things that we all needed to go over, such as what could Goldie do for us as a group? How many things has she learned in the years we haven't been together? All of these answers would become clear in the next following days, and yet even more questions would later be asked.