A human from earth will have to learn how to live in a world that is not his own.
My name is John. I'm a normal, average guy with an average life. Or at least I was, in the blink of an eye, everything that I know and love is ripped from me. But it's not all bad. I get to be the first person to explore a whole new world never before seen by humankind... sort of.
This is a reboot of My New Life and a pseudo-sequel to The 7th Element. As of Now, My New Life is to be canceled and swapped out for this story which will feature a similar storyline while incorporating some of The 7th Element's narrative into the later chapters.
Also if you leave a dislike tell me why you don't like it. Constructive Criticism is always welcome.
John lazily watched the road before him, his eyes intently following the gentle curve as his mind wandered over, thinking of the day.
"Finally, I get to go home and relax." He sighed as his brain latched onto a particularly vivid event.
"I wonder what that lady was talking about?" He mumbled to himself as he eyed the small charm necklace hanging around his rearview mirror. It was a simple thing. A single strand of silver thread holding together a group of charms, each one representing an element of harmony from the MLP TV show, plus one extra. It was no secret to people who knew John that he was a brony, and he made no real attempt to hide his love of the show.
He, however, was lucky enough to come across several other lovers of the equine arts and had commissioned a special necklace with his O.C. Cutie mark taking up a pendant that was surrounded by the main six's own. It cost him a pretty penny and a trip over to the eclectic town of Sedona.
"Spiritual Capital of Arizona." He remarked as he gunned the engine of his car down the highway.
"Speed limit's 65." He noted as he passed a sign. Truth be told, he hated going on these long excursions alone but he had no choice in the matter on this ride. His parents were out of town with their friends on a several week long vacation. "Great to see them having fun." A smile graced his lips as he thought back to the day they left.
January, 10th, 2018. 7:45 A.M.
"Come on son! Your mother and I don't want to be late!" John's dad bellowed as he waited for his son to get to the front door. John just laughed as he crawled out of bed and threw on some clothes he had scattered around his room.
"Coming!" He shouted back as he hopped around, struggling to put on his pants. He finally got out of the room, cursing as he stubbed his toe.
"Oh damn! That hurts." He sucked in a growl of anger as he saw his parents standing at the door looking both amused and impatient.
"So you guys have everything packed?" He asked giving them both a hug. They both rolled their eyes.
"And why are you so keen to get us out the house?" His mom asked.
"Yeah, son... Got a hot date we don't know about?" His dad smirked. John just chuckled and shook his head.
"If I did, you two would be the first to know." He smirked as his parents grabbed the last of their bags and headed outside. John slipped on his outdoor shoes, grabbed one of the bags, and headed out to the one of the car's they were taking on their little trip. Once all was said and done, John's parents got into their car and started it up.
"Now remember, if you have any wild parties just be sure to have everything cleaned up by the time we get back. Oh and don't forget to hide the strippers if we come home early.
"Dad!" John laughed as his mother scolded John Sr. Sharing one last goodbye, his parents pulled out of the driveway in the blue Versa Note, and began their several hour-long trip to the Grand Canyon. John stood there and waved them off.
"Now what am I going to do?" He thought as he went into the now-empty house. Spying one of the main six plushies they had on display atop their collection of DVDs, John had an idea.
"I suppose I could go online and see if anyone is selling anything."
About a week, one hundred dollars, and a several hours long car ride later John was the proud owner of one of several commissioned pieces of jewelry to be made for bronies by bronies. He shuddered as a memory came back to him of the several people he met up in Sedona.
"Could've done without the creepy old lady tho." He was referring to an elderly woman who looked to be in her late seventies who latched onto anyone she could find, trying to get a read on their fortune. John was never one to believe in such superstition, thanks to his heavy Christian upbringing, but that didn't do much to dull the creepy factor for him.
"Damn woman had one hell of a grip." He smiled, "She should play baseball with an arm that strong." He nervously chuckled as his fear was soon washed away and replaced with happier thoughts as the soft jingling of his latest purchase continued to fill the car. He looked at the clock.
"9:30." He made a few calculations in his head.
"Still about 2 more hours to go." He said as he checked his GPS. Sure enough, his head was correct. Spotting a road sign in the distance he glanced at it as he passed it by.
"Good, I could use a restroom right about now." He snickered as he pulled off the side of the road and into the rest stop.
"Should not have eaten all those Sonoran hotdogs." He chided himself as he got out of the car and made his way to the dark musty bathroom. Soon he was back on the road heading home.
"Why did I have to meet that crazy old lady?" He asked as his thought's continuously traveled to what she had said.
"That amulet is strange boy! Guard it well for evil is afoot. It knows! It knows!" She wailed before he could wrench his arm away from the demented fortune teller. Afterwards he wandered off, taking in the sights. If not for the beauty than just to get his mind off of the creepy old womans voice running through his head.
"I hope she can get the help she needs." He huffed as he continued to keep his eyes glued to the road. In an instant his vision was blinded by an intense beam of light that shot out from in front of him.
"GAHHH!" He threw his head to the side out of reflex as his foot desperately slammed on the brakes. His blood ran cold however when he realized he couldn't feel the brake pedal.
"What the-" His curse died in the throat as he gazed around his surroundings. Where the road should have been was a vast expanse of white nothingness, a void for all intents and purposes.
"Come on everypony! This way!" Gadget shouted as he waved a hoof away from the town hall. It was mostly a smoldering wreck after Nightmare Moon was through with it so its position as a defensible position was shot to Tartarus.
"Come on now, I got to think." His mind raced as he looked around for any place that would serve as even halfway decent cover. His mind was drawing a blank.
"Faust above, this town doesn't have any place good enough to shelter all these ponies," he mumbled. Just then he caught sight of that new mare Twilight running off down the road in the opposite direction of everypony else.
"Hey wait!" He called out to her but she was already gone. Frantically Gadget looked around and spotted Thunder Lane a few feet away.
"Hey, Thunder!" He called out getting the pegasus’ attention. Thunder swooped down and gave him a swift nod.
"What's up?" He asked trying to shake off the lightning strike from the town hall. Gadget gave him a nod.
"Can you handle funneling all these ponies for a bit?" He asked giving Thunder a pleading look. Thunder nodded.
"Yeah sure." He flashed him a smile. As Gadget was about to gallop off a hoof touched his flank.
"Hey don't go off being a hero without me ok?" He smirked.
"Can't make any promises." Gadget grimaced as another explosion rocked Ponyville. Gadget managed to keep his footing and looked to the south, where a thick column of smoke was rising.
"I'll be back." He shouted to Thunder who gave him a nod.
Everfree Forest 8:27 A.M.
"Oh, my head." It felt like someone was tap-dancing on my skull. I opened my eyes to see, "Darkness?" I was confused. As my eyes began to adjust I slowly took stock of my surroundings.
"Ok, nothing feels broken. In fact, I fell fine for just having had a car accident." As I feel around I notice that I'm on the ground.
"Outside of the vehicle. Not the best case scenario but I'll bite that bullet when it flies by." Suddenly my hand grasps something made of wood.
"No way! This survived the crash?" My eyesight having fully adjusted to the ambient moonlight cascading down upon me, I look to my right to see one of my most prized possessions had survived the car crash.
"Thank God," I say as I hold up my sword to inspect it closer. I see that the scabbard has a few more nicks and some of the black lacquer is scraped off, but it's none the worse for wear.
"Let's see how well the blade fared." I grip the ray skin handle and the Hanwei blade from its sheath.
"A few scratches here and there, but nothing too serious." Sliding the blade back into its sheath I look around at my surroundings once more.
"God bless AZ knife laws." As I looked around this time actually looking at my surrounding I came to one conclusion.
"Where the hell am I?" Looking up I saw the moon was high in the sky and full. Then I sighed deeply.
"No use in panicking. Hopefully, I can get a signal." Reaching into my jeans I pulled out my phone and flipped it open, only to sigh.
"Great, no bars." Putting the phone back I decided to take a wild guess as to what direction north was. Looking up, I saw no stars to point in the right direction. So I just shrugged my shoulders, steeled my nerves, and headed hopefully in a direction out of this mess,
"What is this? A wood? A Forest?" I just didn't know. Neither did I care
"How did I even get here?" He looked around.
"One minute I'm traveling down the highway the next I'm lost in a forest." He shivered at the thought of being stuck here for the night.
"Please let there be somebody out here who can help me."
9:00 A.M.
Everfree Forest.
"Ok, so this must not be the right direction." I sighed as I walked along through the forest. Looking up at the sky, the moon was still full. I huffed again.
"HELLO!" I shouted out of the blue. "If anyone was out there they should have heard that." I sighed as I continued to stroll through the dark woods.
"Ok, let's not get too carried away." I looked around, noting the lack of noise all around.
"No need to panic." I tried to reassure myself. Just then I head something.
"Hello?" I called out as a rustle came to my ears.
"Oh thank god I-" My response to would-be rescuer died in my throat.
"That-that's not possible." My mind went numb at the sight before me. A pair of green eyes stared back my own hazel ones.
"That's not possible." My brain repeated. The eyes I could handle. The creepy forest? Sure, why not? Standing there right in front of me was what had me doubting my sanity.
"Timberwolf," I whispered. My hand was on my blade but I was too afraid to draw it.
"That thing is too thick for this." My brain screamed at me to run. My adrenaline had kicked in but my body was not trying to comply. Instead, the wolf looked at me, and I at it. We stood there as still as statues. Finally, the wolf had had enough. Slowly it backed away from me, blending into the bushes like a damn chameleon. Slowly very slowly my mind and body came down out its fight or flight mode. My grip on the sword lessened until the quietness of the forest was once again replaced with the rustling the night critters.
"Ok... stared death in the face and lived." I chuckled as I tried to make light of my second brush with death. I turned around and began to walk in the opposite direction.
"Guess I can cross that off my bucket list." I took a step but soon found my legs weren't cooperating. So I just collapsed onto the ground.
"Great so I'm In Equestria. Apparently in the Everfree forest, with no real way to defend myself. And it's night time." Not able to hold back the panic anymore I began to laugh.
"That's just great!" I shouted through a few measly chuckles while I tried to regain what little sanity I had left.
9:27 A.M.
"There it is again!" Twilight's ears swiveled as she and the rest of the girls made their way back to Ponyville. She turned to the others.
"Are you sure that none of you can hear that?" The rest of the group all stopped and listened. Sure enough there it was again. Now that they were actively listening for it they could hear the sounds of a pony shouting. They all looked at one another.
"That can't be good." Pinkie said as she put a hoof to her muzzle. Twilight took the lead and looked back to her friends.
"Well, let's go see who needs help." They all nodded as they set out back into the Everfree once more.
John watched as the sun crested over the horizon. From his vantage in the tree, he could see the breathtaking beauty that had befallen many a sunrise back on earth.
"Wow," he mumbled. Breaking his gaze away from the sunrise and casting his eyes down at the base of his tree caused him to sigh.
"At least somebody got some kind of sleep." He continued to stare down at the Timberwolves that were laying sprawled out at the base of his tree and decided to refocus his efforts. Standing on his branch he used as a bed, he grasped another branch above himself and stretched out his back. A satisfying popping noise reached his ears as he got his body limbered up.
"Ok time to see what I can see." Slipping his sword through his belt and tying it off with the provided length of cord, he set about climbing his way to the top of his tree.
9:15 A.M.
"Come on girls!" Pinkie said with a spring in her step as she and the other's headed back into the everfree forest.
"Is your Pinkie sense going off again?" Rainbow Dash asked as she lazily flew along beside her friends. Pinkie nodded her head.
"Uh huh." She zipped around the group as they all stared at the forest looming ever closer. All in all, only four ponies were going into the forest today, but that wouldn't be an issue. Pinkie stared at her friends. Dash looked a little sleepy, Applejack looked bright-eyed and alert, while Fluttershy looked calm and collected. She smiled.
"Don't worry girls. Today's the day we find our new friend. I just know it!" She zipped around them once more and then darted off down the trail that lead to the forest. All three of her friends chuckled.
"Nothing seems to keep her spirits down for long." Applejack chuckled as Dash and Fluttershy nodded.
"True. It takes a lot to keep Pinkie from smiling," Fluttershy commented as the trio trotted a little bit faster to catch up with their overenthusiastic friend.
A little while later, the four friends stood at the entrance to the Everfree forest. Silently, they all steeled themselves for what was to come. Even Fluttershy was a little nervous. Her eyes flashed a deep red color as she extended her senses to their fullest.
"Ok girls. Let's go find this pony and pray to Faust they aren't to badly hurt." The other three all gave her a nod as the set out into the forest.
9:30 A.M.
John scoured the horizon for anything that even remotely looked like a small town populated by talking technicolor ponies. Just as he was about to give up his eyes caught a glint of light off in the distance. Squinting through his glasses he could just barely make out what he thought was a tower.
"I hope that's the clock tower." He muttered as he made a mental note of its location relative to his tree and the sun in the sky. He rattled his brain and eventually brought a map of Equestria to the forefront of his brain.
"Ok, so Ponyville is to the north of the everfree forest." He looked up once more.
"The sun rises in the east-" He looked at the clock tower again, "- and sets in the west." He looked around once more.
"So north is that way." He pointed in front of him. His mind made up and his path sort-of clear, he set out to find Ponyville and hopefully meet up with somepony that could help him find out how he got here.
10:00 A.M.
"So Fluttershy, you sensing anything?" Applejack asked as the group made their way through the forest. She shook her head.
"Sorry girl's but I'm not picking up anything yet." Suddenly she stopped, her eyes narrowing to slits. Very faintly, she heard somepony.
"Wait, I'm getting something." She said as she focused her sight. Something was there on the very edges of her senses. Giving up on her sight, she closed her eyes and let her ears search for the traces of who they were looking for.
"Uh oh." Her muzzle hardened into a scowl as her eyes went red.
"Girls, follow me!" She took off through the forest with the others hot on her tail.
Same Time Across The Forest
"AHHHHH!" John screamed as he ran through the forest; right behind him a pack of timber wolves were hot on his tail, followed by a manticore, of all things. Chancing a glance behind him, John did the only thing he could think of.
"Nice kitty!" He shouted as he and the wolves tried to outrun the pissed off mythical creature. It roared in anger as it kept up the pursuit. As John's adrenaline began to fade, he frantically looked around for any way out of this situation. He snickered a little bit as he realized that the wolves had all scattered some time ago.
Looking back, Johns' face paled as he saw the manticore gaining ground. "Just great."
"Oh-" His words were cut off as he got real intimate with the forest floor.
"Shit!" He screamed as white-hot agony tore through his ankle and radiated up his leg. Trying to scramble to his one good leg while blindly groping for his sword with his right hand he flailed about with his one good leg and unencumbered arm until his back hit a solid wood truck behind him.
"Well, crap." He chuckled feebly as he got his blade out and held it in front of him. His breathing was ragged and shallow as he faced his death with all the dignity he could muster.
"Ok big-" His voice was cut off by a sound he never thought he'd hear again.
"Is that a jet?" His musings were cut off as a blue blur flew past him and tackled the manticore back a few feet.
"Looks like we were right on time." Rainbow Dash said as she came to a halt where the giant beast was once standing.
"Yeah sure looks that way." John jerked his head to the side to see Pinkie Pie standing next to him. She gave him a smile and a wave as she trotted past him. John was too shocked to really comprehend what he was seeing. His stupor was interrupted by a soft growling coming from his left. He looked to the side and yelped as a timberwolf melted from the tree he was leaning against and ignored him as it went and stood next to Rainbow Dash. She glanced at it but smiled when she saw it's red eyes.
"Oh, I hope we're not too late?" came a voice from above John, causing him to look up. Standing there perched on a tree branch was none other than Fluttershy.
"Wow." John squeaked as he looked around.
"Where did you guys come from?" Dash, Pinkie, and Fluttershy all looked at him with curiosity. His question went unanswered as a roar got everyone's attention.
"We'll talk later," Dash shouted as the manticore got back to its feet. The trio plus timberwolf got in a line between themselves and John who leaned against his tree, still too stunned to do anything other than stare. The manticore began to advance upon the little group but none of them backed down. Rainbow's eyes flashed a soft blue as electricity began to crackle around her body, Fluttershy's eyes flashed crimson once more as she summoned forth a bloody aura, while Pinky began to vibrate in place as she began to weave her hooves through the air drawing the very moisture from her surroundings and using it to cloak her body in a soft shell of water. Fluttershy heard a rustling from in front of them and grinned wickedly.
"Sure took your sweet time getting here." She called out. A soft chuckle caused the beast to look behind it, and as it did so, its face was met with a huge chunk of rock that looked like it had been ripped from the earth. As the manticore tried to get to its feet a lone mare trotted out of the woods behind it.
"Applejack?" John couldn't be one hundred percent sure, because the mare was covered from head to hoof in stone plates.
"Heard y’all could use a hoof," Applejack said as she trotted up to the group. Now that the gang was all here, they all began to eye the manticore that had finally managed to get to its feet all be it shakily as it tried to keep its balance. Once it was sure of its footing it looked at the assorted group. Then it looked at its potential meal behind all of the mares. It glared at them before snorting and deciding it was better to live another day it slowly began to retreat.
As soon as the manticore was gone the whole group gave out a collective sigh as their various powers began to recede.
"Woo, that was a close one." Applejack said as the stone plates she enveloped herself with began to fall off, no longer supported by her magic. They all heard a chuckle from behind them.
"You can say that again," John said as he slowly slumped to the ground carefully trying to not tweak his leg as he did so.
"I almost became a snack for some living Picasso." He said as he sat on the ground. The group of mares all converged on the strange creature and gave it a long look.
"Just what are you?" Dash asked as the lightning her body was giving off fizzled out into little sparks that danced across her fur.
"Yeah, you're new around here!" Pinkie Pie said as her water began to dissipate into thin air leaving her coat a little damp. John just chuckled.
"Well my furry, four legged saviours, I am a human," he said as he put his sword away. Fluttershy's blood aura had faded from view as she trotted up to John, glancing at his leg.
"Here." She said as she began to weave a spell through her wing's.
"May I?" she asked as she fully charged the spell, looking into John's eyes with an expression of pure concern. John just smiled.
"Sure." He said assured that he was in good hands. "Hooves. It's hooves now." He jotted that down in his thoughts for later. Feeling a cooling sensation running through his leg, he looked down to see that his leg was wrapped in a small current of air that was somehow solid..
"There. That should hold until we get out of the forest." She looked around at the others.
"Dash, do you think we can possibly make a detour to your house?" Dash nodded.
"Sure. I can get my trauma kit and help set his leg straight if anything is broken." She looked to the others.
"Pinkie? Applejack? Can you two go and get Twilight and Rarity? We may need their help if he-" She pointed to John. "-can’t walk around for a little while." Applejack gave the two pegasi a look. She knew there was more to their little story than they let on, but it was probably for the best that they not discuss their plans with this strange creature about. She nodded.
"Sure thing Dash. Come along Pinkie. Let's go get Twi and Rarity." She hustled off through the forest with Pinkie right behind her. When those two left. Fluttershy cast another spell.
"Wow!" John exclaimed as he was lifted onto her back by a soft cushion of air. Fluttershy gave him a sheepish smile.
"Sorry." She squeaked as she flared her wing's trying to keep Johns weight balance on her back while not putting any kind of pressure on his injured leg. John just smiled back.
"It's ok, Fluttershy." He said as he focused on keeping his balance. She noted the way he said her name.
"He seems so relaxed to see us." She noted as she scanned his facial features. True, she had never seen an animal like him before on all of Equus but in all her long year's alive she had gotten very good at picking up on body language. His was very relaxed and calm, almost as if he knew he was amongst trustworthy ponies.
"Curious." She mused filing that little tidbit away for later. "I better ask Twilight about this the next time I see her. Hopefully it’ll be soon." Dash, meanwhile, was scanning the area to make sure nothing snuck up on them. She turned to the two.
"You two ready to go?" Fluttershy nodded and looked back at John.
"Are you good to go?" she asked. John nodded.
"Yup." With that, the trio began their walk out of the forest.
"So mister human you got a name?" Dash asked as the trio trotted through the forest. John chuckled.
"My name is Manson You." He snorted as he failed to try and contain his laughter. Dash was confused.
"What's so funny?" She asked giving him a smirk. He just held his side's.
"Sorry just always wanted to use that." He let out a soft sigh as he got his composure back.
"But in reality my name is John." He said as he winced as his leg was jostled a little as Fluttershy hopped over a loose branch that had fallen on the dirt path.
"Sorry." She squeaked as she tried to give John a soft smile of comfort.
"Don't worry I'm good." He said trying to reassure her.
"Finally," Dash said as the trio began to break through the sea of trees. As soon as they got out of the forest they took a break as Dash stretched her wing's.
"Wow." John thought as he was lifted off of Fluttershy's back and settled on the ground as she too stretched out her wings.
"They are so beautiful up close." He sat there and watched as the two pegasi got the blood flowing into there wings once more. Afterward, they sat down in the grass next to john so as to provide him with some level of protection should the need arise. Dash's curiosity finally got the better of her.
"So John was it?" She asked as John gave her a grunt of acknowledgment.
"Yes?" He asked as he settled down in a comfy position so as not to disturb his leg.
"What kind of sword is that?" She pointed to his katana strapped to his belt.
"Oh, this thing." He unstrapped the sheath with the blade still in it and held it close.
"This is called a katana." He pulled the blade out showing them the subtle curve of the blade as it tapered to a sharp point.
"Its a blade from another country where I'm from and as you can see it is mainly used for cutting." He said as he put it back in the sheath. The two pegasi regarded the weapon with a small sense of fear but they both looked at the one wielding it.
"Any reason to have that?" Fluttershy asked as she pulled up a tuft of grass and began to flit it about in her magic. John watched with fascination as she did so but soon shook his head to get himself back on track.
"Um oh no. Not really." He said as he thought about it.
"I mean I carry it for self-defense but most people don't carry swords anymore for such purposes." Dash was confused.
"Wait if no one else has them then what weapons do they use?" She asked as John looked off into the distance. He was about to answer but was cut off as a blur of pink was seen streaking towards them.
"HEY!" Pinkie yelled as she sped towards them causing John to flinch when she came to a sudden halt right in front of the trio.
"Oh boy." He mused as she eyed him with a huge smile upon her face. He nervously tried to back up a little bit but stopped when his leg began to act up.
"Grr." He grimaced as he began to massage his leg just above his ankle. Fluttershy sensing his sudden bout of nerves fidgeted.
"Strange." She muttered to herself. Ruffling her feather's some Fluttershy got up and trotted over to pinky.
"Um, pinky?" She asked getting her attention.
"Yes?" She asked feeling positively gitty. Fluttershy cleared her throat before nodding to John.
"I think you're making our guest nervous." She said while Twilight, Rarity and Applejack made there way over the hill to the forest entrance. Slowly Pinky's brain began to chug away at the information she was given. Slower than before she looked from John to Fluttershy and back. Realization began to dawn on her muzzle.
"Ooooohhhhh." She drew out her conclusion as she gave John's frazzled face one more look of curiosity. Seeing Pinky come to terms with her own aloofness caused Fluttershy to smile. She then gave Pinky a pat on the back.
"Just take it slow with him ok?" She asked to which Pinky gave a salute.
"Yes, Ma'am." She then slowly trotted over to Joh who gave her a look of trepidation.
"He, he, Hey there," Pinky said nervously chuckling as she slowly brought a hoof up. John could see the restraint Pinky was using as her face began to sweat. Slowly he brought his own hand up and grasped Pinky's hoof.
"Hello." He saw the tension in Pinkys face melt away as they slowly shook hands.
"Oh, where are my manner's. My name's Pinky Pie." She introduced herself. John smiled.
"It's nice to meet you Pinky Pie." He pointed to himself. "My name is John." He said as he looked over to the last three ponies to arrive. John's breath hitched in his throat as at last the group was all assembled for him to see.
"Wow." He muttered as he took in the scene before him. Twilight gave him a look and then muttered to the rest of the group as she never took her eye's off of him. It kind of creeped him out a little. Slowly they all began to look at him. Now he was sweating bullets.
"They're all here. THIS! IS! AWESOME!" Fluttershy's mind raced as her ear's swiveled over to John.
"I'll definitely have got to talk to Twilight about this later." Finally John noticed they had all stopped muttering to one another and were intently looking at him.
Twilight gave the creature before her a look of contemplation.
"Where have I read about this thing before?" She just could not remember where she had read up on this being. It was tall by most ponies standards. Around five feet tall, had a skin tone that matched copper in its complexion, had eye's that matched the golden color of the guard's armor and had only a small bit of black hair on the top of its head and face. Realizing she was staring at it intensely she shook her head.
"Great probably freaked it out." Taking a deep breath she studied its face trying to get a read on it and seeing that it was wearing a pair of glasses.
"Well here's hoping for the best." She gave it a soft smile.
"Hello there. My name is Twilight Sparkle." She said raising a hoof.
"Oh boy big first impression. Don't screw it up!" Slowly John got to his feet as Fluttershy came over and allowed him to use her body as a lean to. John hobbled over to Twilight and the rest of the group as Fluttershy wrapped a wing over his back to help steady his wobbly footing. Soon they were all together in a small huddle around the human as John thought of an idea. Slowly he began to kneel down on his knees being careful to not tweak his leg any more than he had to until he was now a least at eye level with the group of mare's baring all of the obvious size differences between them. Slowly he held out his right hand as he used his left to hold onto Fluttershy who had knelt down with him to keep him stable. John smiled as he grasped Twilight's hoof and shook it.
Just like that all of the tension in the air was broken as the whole group let out a collective breath.
11:07 A.M.
"So let me get this straight," Twilight asked as the group all made there way down the dirt path towards Ponyville. John was one more confined to Fluttershy's back as she carried him along the path. He and Twilight had begun to talk about the circumstances of his arrival.
"You went and bought this trinket at some store where you loved and whilst riding home in your vehicle there was a strange flash of light and poof you ended up in the Everfree Forest?" John nodded.
"Yup," He said as he fished around in his pant's pockets for said trinket.
"And it's not on me at the moment so either I lost it in there," He thumbed behind them "Or it just up and vanished after sending me here." Twilight and the other's all listened with rapt attention. Then Twilight shrugged.
"Well, it's not any harder to believe then the whole Nightmare Moon incident." She stated as she began to organize her thought's and file certain information for later. While she was doing that John was filtering through a million questions of his own. He settled on the one that was most important to him at this time.
"So not to derail the conversation but just what can you and Rarity do?" He asked out of the blue. It caught Twilight off guard which caused her to stop and in turn the whole group.
"What?" She asked no understanding his request. He laughed.
"You and Rarity?" He nodded to the two who were at the head of the group.
"I mean to say what super power's do you two have." He pointed to each of the others in turn.
"Pinky can control water." She giggled.
"Rainbow can become a living lightning rod." She smirked.
"AJ over here is a geomancer." She looked shocked at that statement but didn't refute it.
"And Fluttershy is some kind of sanguine magic user I would guess." He shook his head. Fluttershy just nodded.
Finally understanding the question Twilight nodded.
"Oh, that's what you mean." She then laughed.
"Well, they're not super power's." She air quoted with her hooves stifling a giggle. John cocked his head.
"They're not?" He asked feeling very confused. Twilight shook her head.
"Nope, they're just the natural talents that we as ponies have." She stated as if it was common knowledge. John was thoroughly confused now.
"What?" He asked as he took this all in. "You mean that everypony out there has that kind of power at there disposal at any given time?" He asked causing Twilight to nod.
"Yes," she said as she started walking causing the other's to follow. John sat on Fluttershy's lap mulling this over. Fluttershy couldn't help but smirk as he thought about this new bit of info.
"Well shit. I need to tread very carefully." Fluttershy giggled as she raised a wing up and patted John on the back. He gave her a look of nervousness as she turned her head and winked at him.
"What?" Was all he thought as he looked at the back of her head. He shuddered as he thought of the implications of that gesture.
"Please tell me she can't hear my thoughts." Fluttershy's giggle at that thought caused John to go livid. Only two words came to mind.
"Oh. Shit!" John sat there frantically trying to not freak out as he went over all that he had thought about over the course of meeting his biggest idles.
"Oh crap! Oh shit! I'm so boned it's not even funny!" He started to tremble as he closed his eyes and tried to stop the oncoming panic attack from overwhelming his body. He just started to do some deep breathing exercises until he felt a soft presence make itself known on his front and back. Peeking through one eye he saw a set of yellow wing's had embraced his upper body. Looking to there owner he saw Fluttershy giving him a look of remorse.
"I'm sorry." She said in a demure voice as she turned her head and gave his side a soft nuzzle. That brought a smile to John's face as all of his worries vanished at the sight that had no dought melted countless fear's from its sheer adorableness. Taking one last deep breath he settled a hand on Fluttershy's head and patted her.
"It's, it's ok." He said as he recomposed himself. Slowly he began to look at the rest of the group. Pinky was hopping along as happy as could be. Applejack was looking off down the road. Rainbow Dash was lost in thought as she flew above them. Rarity was humming a little toon to herself and Twilight was smiling as she made her way down the road with five of her closest friends in tow. John sighed as he thought about all that had happened.
"If first impressions are the last ones you get to make then I really need to come clean with all of this." His mind made up he decided now was as good a time as any to get things out of the way.
"Just like a band-aid." That one simple sentence got everyponys attention.
"What was that dear?" Rarity said as the group all gave John a quizzical look. He laughed as they all gave him their attention. He sighed as he steeled himself for the upcoming conversation.
"Girl's there's something I need to tell you all before we get to town." He said looking off towards the small hamlet. Applejack smirked.
"About time you told us the truth." She smiled as she settled down on the side of the road soon followed by the others. John was shocked at first but then burst out laughing.
"Yeah forgot that I can't hide anything from you AJ." He said as Fluttershy set him down on the grass. The other's all began to settle down as well forming a semi-circle around the human as he thought of how best to broach this subject. Suddenly Dash flew into the air.
"Before we get into anything too serious I need to get the first aid kit." She said zooming off in the direction of her cloud home. As she did so John looked to the rest of the group.
"So how's the weather been lately?" He asked letting out a nervous chuckle.
"So let me get this straight," Dash said as she wrapped John's ankle in gauze being careful as to not aggravate it. John blushed slightly as she did this but tried to not think too much into it.
"Why brain?" He asked as he continued to tell the group about their world from his point of view. Fluttershy snickered as she read his mind holding a hoof to her muzzle to hide her laughter.
"You can see us through this device called a TV?" Dash asked as John nodded his head. Twilight was mostly silent as she scribbled down notes her quill in her telekinetic grasp along with her notebook. Dash continued her question's as her friends listened in.
"And over there in your world we're like super famous? "She asked as her eye's lit up with excitement.
"Oh." John gasped as the wrap on his ankle was pulled a little too tight.
"Oops." Dash chuckled as she quickly fixed her mistake.
"Sorry about that." She said trying to hide her blush and failing. John just chuckled.
"To answer your question Dash, yes you all are very famous where I come from." He smiled.
"So much so that there are entire websites, books, movies, fan ideas, and dozens of other things all dedicated to your whole world." He said as Dash finished with his bandage.
"There almost done." She said rubbing the bandage with a hoof. John was curious. Just as he was about to ask he felt a tingly sensation make its way up his leg. The pain he had felt began to melt away.
"Wow Dash What was that?" He asked feeling as if he was given a shot of morphine. She just smirked.
"Good old-fashioned healing spell." She said as a smug grin crossed her features. John gave her a look of contemplation.
"So let me get this straight." He pointed to the whole group. "You all have access to way more magic than in the show." He stated as he tried to keep from fanboying.
"How does that work?" He asked as Fluttershy helped him to his feet. Twilight finally piped up.
"Well from what I can gather." She said going through her notes. "It would seem that your people can somehow take look through the dimensional aither and peek into one of many different worlds." She stated in a matter of fact tone. The girls all nodded there head while John scratched his.
"So my world can see only one of many alternate universes then?" He said feeling at least partially as smart as the rest of the group. Twilight nodded.
"Yes. That's why most of the knowledge you have is accurate but not all of it," she started shuffling through her notes.
"For example." Twilight pulled out one of her pages. "There are actually seven elements in this universe. Not six." She stated showing John a small diagram of the elements of harmony. He had to do a double take.
"What?" He all but shouted as he took a hold of the page and held it up to his face. The girls all flinched at his outburst and a few of them instinctually started up there magic. John continued to look at the picture Twilight had sketched oblivious to Dash and Rarity's magic flaring up causing sparks to dance across Dash's coat while Rarity battled with her subconscious mind trying to subdue the crystal's that had tried to burrow through the earth right below John's body.
"Wow," John said as he passed the picture back to Twilight who took it and delicately put it back in her book.
"This is a lot to take in." He stated as he got to his feet.
"You can say that again," Pinky said as she and the other's all got to there hooves. Pinky suddenly thought of something before she began to wiggle in place.
"You ok there pinky?" John asked as he slowly put pressure on his injured leg. Pinky looked at him with a soft smile on her face.
"Say, John?" She asked with barely constrained glee. He gave her a nod.
"Would it be ok I kinda sort of through you a welcome to Equestria party!?" She blurted out rapidly causing John to step back while he processed what she had all but spewed at him at high speeds. After having given it some thought he looked at the sun in the sky.
"Um well, are you sure that's such a good idea?" He rubbed the back of his head feeling very nervous about this sudden rush of information. Pinky smiled.
"Of course!" She said bouncing into the air.
"It'll be the perfect way to introduce you to the ponies in town!" She said as she skipped along the dirt road.
"Come on everypony!" she shouted to her friends. They all looked to John who shrugged his shoulder's. Smiling he gave them all a nod.
"If it makes her happy why not. Just got to treat it like a band-aid. Rip it off really fast and the pain will only last for a few short seconds." He said earning a nod from all the ponies present. Rarity, however, shook her head.
"Darling not that it is any of my business but you don't plan on going to your first party in that do you?" She cringed as she looked at John's clothes which had seen better days. He smiled.
"I thought fashion was your business Rarity?" He asked earning a deadpan glare from the mare. He just chuckled and waved a hand.
"To answer your question Rarity yes. This is what I planned on wearing. Don't really have anything else to wear so until I can get the bits together to buy some custom made clothes I'll just have to make due." He said. He stopped as the group neared the little bridge that lead to ponyville proper.
"Here goes nothing." He felt a hoof on his shoulder and looked up coming face to face with Rainbow who wore a smile.
"Don't worry about other ponies ok?" She said giving his shoulder a shake. He stood hoping his face didn't light up like a Christmas tree.
"Besides if anypony gives you trouble they'll have to deal with all of us." She waved to the group of six mares all giving John a look of sympathy. He got his emotion's under control enough to not stammer out a thanks and the group all continued to trot into town. All the while Fluttershy was tittering to herself as she read the human's thoughts.
"Oh, he's such a sweetheart." She thought as they all crossed the bridge.
Ponyville Public Libary. 11:30 A.M. Ponyville.
"So far so good." John thought as the group all made their way into Twilight's Libary. They passed through town without incident. Sure they got a lot of odd looks but Fluttershy held a wing around John as Pinky ran interference towards any question's directed their way by handing out a flier and telling anypony who asked to come to town hall tonight at 6 PM. All in all the group was more than happy to make it inside the confines of the library and then rest up.
"Whoo. Thank Faust that's all done and over with." Dash said as she strolled up the stairs to the huge loft and flopped down on one of several sofas that adorned the spacious living quarters. John meanwhile looked around at the many differences that held him captive.
"Wow. This place look's a lot different than in the show." He said noting the fact that the actual library was a whole section all its own. Twilight gave him a soft smile.
"Make yourself at home John." She looked at the clock, "Spike should be back any minute now."
"Oh yeah, Spike." He mumbled to himself as he shuffled up the stairs and flopped down on a sofa. The rest of the group all came up the stairs and looked around.
"Wow Twi." Applejack said as she looked around. "Only been here a day and already have this place feeling like a home." She trotted over to the last of the sofa's and took a spot on the far end of it leaving room for one other pony. All in all, there were three sofa's, two bed's, and several bookshelves all crammed into the loft area which still had enough room for several other pieces of furniture.
Twilight took a seat on Aj's couch while pulling out her notes, while Dash scooted over to allow Pinky onto her sofa. Meanwhile, Fluttershy went over to the sofa John was on.
"Um is it ok if I lay here?" She asked as John turned to face her. He smiled as he sat up.
"Sure." He moved into a sitting position as Rarity decided to sit with Rainbow and Pinky while pulling out a sketchbook.
"John, dear?" She asked as he turned his head to face her.
"Hum." He smiled as Rarity gave him a look of trepidation.
"Well, would it be ok if I took a quick sketch of you?" She asked and then hastily added. "For a new set of clothes of course." She said her face lighting up in embarrassment. John just chuckled.
"Sure Rarity." He said as he got comfortable while setting his leg down on the floor. A little while later Rarity's horn lit up and she teleported her sketchbook and saddlebags back to her house. As she did so Twilight got done with her notes.
"Ok, John so there are some things we need to discuss." She said getting everyponies attention. John gave her a nod.
"Ok. Shoot." He said.
For several hours Twilight and company asked him question after question about his world the show and anything else that came to mind for them. John answered them as best he could and he simply told them which ones he couldn't answer. After all, was said and done Twilight finish up her note's and sent them off with her magic.
"All done. Now I can submit my report to the princess and-" She stopped dead in her speech as Fluttershy gave her a death glare.
"Care to enlighten the rest of us Twilight?" She asked her voice laced with venom. Twilight just chuckled as she twiddled her hooves.
"Well, what else was I going to do?" She squeaked as Fluttershy gave her a deadpan stare.
"Well for one you could have told us of your intent to inform the princess's." She said giving John a look of concern. He, however, seemed oddly calm about all this. He just got up and waved it off.
"Don't worry Flutters. If Twilight want's to let the princess know about me that's fine." He smiled. "I think they'll be pleased with how she handled the situation and beside's I think it's best to take care of these situation's sooner rather than later." He said as he stretched and looked around sheepishly.
"Well not to sound a little pushy but now that I'm done getting grilled-" He gave Twilight a smirk to which she just giggled sheepishly- "can somepony give me directions to the nearest hotel?" He asked fishing in his pockets. The girl's all gave him a look of confusion. Rainbow flopped over on her sofa.
"Um not to be a buzz kill dude but do you have any bit's?" She asked making John groan.
"Crap your right." He said as he fished through his pockets. "Let's see." He pulled out his wallet.
"Hah nope still normal American currency." He sighed.
"Ok then that's fine I'll just-" He stopped as he noticed the glare's he was now on the receiving end of.
"What?" He asked as he got increasingly nervous. Fluttershy hopped off her sofa and fixed John with a fierce glare of her own. He shrank back a little bit as the small pegasus made her way over to him.
"Don't you even think of trying to spend the night outside Mr." She scolded him as she stopped in front of him and flew up to meet him at eye level. John just chuckled.
"Well, whatever gave you that idea?" He mumbled as he tried to laugh off there concern. They all scoffed at his blatant lie but chuckled as he sat back down on the sofa as Fluttershy lead him to it all but forced him to sit back down.
"Now listen here." She started as she gave him a stern glare.
"We may not know all that much about you and you may know a lot about us. Some thing's that even we don't want you to know." She said as the whole group nodded.
"But we're going to take care of you." She said letting her stern mask breakaway into a soft smile. John just shrugged.
"Why tho?" He asked feeling genuinely confused. Sure the tv show was all sunshine and rainbows but that had to be apart of the show, right? Fluttershy and the other's all laughed.
"Because it's just who we are." She smiled even bigger now. She then gave Twilight a look of concern. Twilight caught her meaning and nodded her head.
"Well, John if you need a place to stay you can alway's use my guest bedroom." Twilight piped up. John looked from the door to Twilight and then over to the rest of the girls. Fluttershy nodded her approval and John just sighed rubbing his head.
"Ok sure why not." He said breaking into a smirk.
"But mark my words Twilight I will find a way to repay you for this." Twilight just shook her head.
"Don't worry about it." She smiled. "After all isn't that what friends are for?" John just stared.
"Us? Friends?" He just shook his head.
"Yeah, I suppose it is." He looked around at all the other's they all nodded. He just shrugged.
"So Twilight were shall I hang my head tonight?" He asked as Twilight lead him through out the libary.
"I just don't understand?" Dr. Hoffman pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration. He looked over his patient's charts again.
"There's nothing wrong with you." He scowled while looking over to the trauma ward of St. Mary's Hospital.
"So why aren't you responding?" He mused as he put the file back on his desk and headed out the door of his office.
Dr. Hoffman's gait was strong and you'd be hard pressed to find the slight limp in his step that belayed his war wound. Still confused as to the cause of his patient's condition Hoffman trudged on praying that by some miracle that the man would wake up while he was on his way there.
"This is going to be a long day." He sighed to himself as he took the elevator down to the main lobby.
8:03 A.M.
John's mother and father sat in a pair of chairs they had pulled into his room from outside.
"How could this have happened?" His mother thought as she sat there looking at the comatose form of her son. John Sr. wasn't faring any better.
"Come on son pull through for us. Please?" He looked around the room at his eyes fell on the only thing even remotely normal about there situation. Scowling John Sr. went over and flicked on the T.V.
"Maybe that'll wake him up." Both of them looked up at the T.V. as the static white background bleed away to give rise to the currently scheduled program. They both let out a chuckle as the My Little Pony logo danced across the screen.
"That should have him up and about in no time." They both smiled as the episode started up with a dream sequence.
"Hello?" The voice that emanated from the T.V. made John and his wife stiffen. "Is anybody there?" It asked as the T.V. began to pan around a darkened background. Finally, the camera settled on a figure the two parents knew only too well.
"Son?" They both said as the camera came to a rest on their son stuck in the black voided confines of a nightmare.
"Is anyone there?" He asked again as he slowly wandered around his dream realm. Suddenly there was a bright flash as John found himself now in what looked like Sugarcube Corner. Spotting his new found friends caused John to smile as he made his way into the establishment. Hearing them laugh made john quicken his pace. In a little while, he was at there table and took a seat. His smile faltered however when they all gave him look's of contempt.
"And just what are you doing here?" Fluttershy asked her voice dripping with ice. John chuckled weekly.
"What do you mean Flutter's?" He asked as he leaned back into his chair from the six glaring females. AJ snorted.
"We mean what do yall think you are doing just sitten down with us?" She asked as the other's all nodded. John was puzzled.
"What are you talking about?" He asked feeling out of the loop. He smiled trying to get rid of the feeling of not being welcome.
"We're friends right?" He asked as they all gave him a look of surprise. They all let out a sinister laugh at his own expense.
"Y-y-you thought I was serious?" Twilight said between giggles. John felt like his heart was cracking.
"W-hat d-do you mean Twilight?" He asked fighting to hold back tear's as they all continued to laugh. Rarity chimed in while holding a hoof to her mouth.
"Dear, you of all people should know how outsiders are around here." She said as her horn flared to life.
"Which remind's me I'm going to need my clothes back, deary." She said as John's clothing flew off of him leaving him naked and exposed to the world. To John's horror, they all got a good look at his body before he could cover himself up.
"What has gotten into all of you?" He asked as he scrambled to find something to cover himself up with. They all laughed even more at his feeble attempt's to hide his nudity.
"Well I can tell you one thing," Rainbow said raising a hoof and pointing to his crotch. "No mare in her right mind is going to want to spend a night with you buddy." She said as John's face lit up and he whimpered a little as he tried to desperately keep from bursting into tear's at the torture he was enduring.
"This has to be a dream." He cringed as they all laughed again. "More than likely a nightmare." He shuddered as they all continued to throw verbal slander and abuse his way. Try as he might he couldn't help but flinch at there words. A lot of what they said hurt him deeply even tho he knew it all to be in his head.
Back in the room, all john's parents could do is sit and watch as the horrible event's unfolded.
"What the hell is going on?" His mother finally said as she got up and walked over to her son while staring intently at the T.V.
"That both look's and sound's like our son but he's right here." She said as she gave his face a soft shake. His dad went over to the T.V. and turned up the volume a little bit.
"Luna are you there?" John asked as his tormenters began to encircle him.
"Weak."
"Useless."
"Pathetic."
Soon all of there voice's and insults began to blend into one voice. Just as John was about to reach his breaking point a bright light flashed once more.
"ENOUGH!" Came a cry from above causing John to huddle within himself as he hit the ground from the force of the voice. All at once his assailant's vanished as did the gloomy atmosphere that permeated his dreamscape.
"Our deepest apology's Sr John." Came the voice of one Princess Luna. John peeked out of his fetal position and saw the princess of the night giving him a look of genuine concern.
"Art thou alright?" She asked extending a hoof. John looked at it hesitantly but took it regardless.
"U'm I think so." He answered not entirely sure himself. While the two of them got acquainted with one another John's parents were flabbergasted.
"How is our son in there show?" His father asked as he sat back down on his seat. They both continued to look at the screen.
"I don't know." His wife said as she looked to there son.
Chapter 5: Apple's Orchard's and Awkward Shower's.
The first week in Equestria has been a blast. Twilight gave me this journal to write in and so far everything has been just peachy. Got back into my work out routine much to the enthusiasm of Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, and Applejack. Those three are a load of fun to have around at any given time. After a little time to recuperate and adjust to this new way of life, Twilight took me on a tour of the town while introducing me to the rest of the townsfolk.
Oh, that's right the party! Pinky through me a welcome to Equestria party and just like the show says it was amazing! There wasn't a whole lot of pony's there but that was ok. I found it to be just as much fun with the six and there extended family consisting of Spike and the C.M.C. Let me tell you those three little fillies are the epitome of the term diabetic coma.
All in all, it's been smooth sailing so far. I'm trying to enjoy these day's of normalcy while they last. The show and this world may be linked but this world is vastly different from the one on the show. The normal show was hectic at the best of time's so I can only imagine what's in store for me now that all of the ponies have suped up magical powers. Hopefully, I can survive this crazy world that I now find myself becoming a part of.
"That should be a good place to stop for now." I closed my eye's and took a deep breath.
"Man it's still hard to believe I'm here." I sat up from the desk Twilight had provided for me and closed my journal. Today was set to be a long day as Applejack had to ask Twilight if she could head over to Sweet Apple Acre's and help out with the year's harvest. I volunteered to help and luckily AJ agreed to let me tag along.
"Here's hoping that the show was purposefully blowing AJ's stubbornness out of proportion. I stretched out my limbs and looked over at the clock on my desk.
"7 o'clock. Perfect." I said as I grabbed my long sleeved button up and slid it over my t-shirt. I then hopped down the stair's and grabbed my shoes at the front door and with a turn of the knob I was out in ponyville proper. I took a deep breath as I entered the center of town and was instantly reminded of just where I was. I'd like to think that after a week of living amongst the ponyvillians I wouldn't be quite so intimidating to them. Apparently not.
Sure I got a few smiles and waves from time to time. But more often then not I got a few skittish eye glances and looks of nervous trepidation. Even a few scowls for good measure. Still, I tried to show them I was of no threat by smiling and waving back no matter what form of greeting I got. Twilight's Libary was situated on the other end of town so unfortunately for me whenever I had something to do in town I had to go through it.
"Please lord let this day go smoothly." I prayed as I continued my trek to the dirt path that lead to Sweet Apple Acres.
7:37 A.M.
"Well howdy, John," AJ shouted as John made his way up the dirt path to the main house. He smiled as he hopped over the gate with one hand and waved with the other.
"Hey AJ." He said as he landed on his feet and made his way over to Twilight and company as she bucked an apple tree causing a rain of apples to fall into some basket's that had been arranged around the base of the tree. Twilight gave him a soft smile.
"Hey took you long enough." She said as she levitated the baskets onto a small cart she had hitched up next to her tree. John smiled as he made his way over picking up apples as he went.
"Well, I had to put something down in that journal you gave me." He chuckled as he handed them over to Applejack who looked them over and put them into the keep or give away pile's she had stacked up behind her. Twilight shook her head.
"Oh, by the way, are you sure you don't mind me telling the Princess's about you?" Twilight asked as she made her way over to her next apple tree. John just waved it off.
"I'd rather talk to them now than later." He said as he hauled Twilight's cart over to her tree.
"Thanks." She said as she got into position and with a mighty buck had apple's raining down upon them. John caught a few of them on the way down and set them in the back of the cart.
"So when can I expect this grand audience?" John asked as the trio moved from tree to tree. Twilight thought about it.
"Well, you already met Luna earlier in the week." She thought about it.
"So I would say at most we have a week top's before we get a letter back from Celestia asking all of us to meet her in Canterlot." She looked at John with some pity.
"Are you sure you don't want to talk about it?" She asked placing a hoof on John's side. He looked at her and smiled before patting her on her head.
"It's ok Twilight." He said with a huff as he hauled a basket full of apple's onto the cart. She just gave him a smirk as she trotted over to her next tree. The three of them settled into a steady rhythm of Twilight bucking the apples, while John hauled the cart around and AJ checked for any stragglers. At half past noon, Big Mac came over from the northern field's to tell the group about lunch.
"Come on Y'all," AJ said as she wiped the sweat from her forehead and trotted up the dirt path to the old farmhouse. The trio made some small talk as they walked and John learned one that day.
"So Twilight I have one very important question for you?" He asked to which she nodded.
"Go right ahead." She gave him a soft smile as he thought about his next words.
"Why are you afraid of quesadilla's?"
12:52 P.M.
John groaned as he hauled himself off the ground and walked through the streets of ponyville.
"Ok never ask her about quesadilla's ever again." He thought as made his way to the local gym.
"I really need to get a work out routine going." mused as he felt the burning in his leg's return.
"Helping out on the farm?" Came a voice from up above. John looked up to see Rainbow Dash hanging in the air as she swooped down ahead of him and landed just off to his left. He nodded but was curious.
"How'd you know?" He asked as she joined him on his treck to his destination. She smirked.
"Because you smell like apple's and sweat." She smirked as he smelled himself. Sure enough, Dash was spot on. John just chuckled.
"Wow with a nose like that Dash you could be part bloodhound." He smirked as she swatted at him with her wing laughing as he ducked out the way. She smirked as she continued to walk next to him.
"Say's the shaved diamond dog." She shot back sticking her tung out. John just laughed as he waved her off.
"Take's one to know one Dash." He said. Dash just giggled as she trotted next to him. Slowly she began to extend a wing and the only warning John got was the hair on his ass standing on end before a jolt of electricity wound it's way up his tailbone and through his spine.
"Gah!" He stuttered as he swatted at Dash's wing while she retracted it and began to snicker. John chuckled and waved her off.
"Sure laugh it up fuzzball." He smirked at her. "Just you wait. Payback suck's and with pinky on my side we'll be able to get you sooner or later." He vowed. Dash smirked right back.
"Oh, I can't wait for that day to come." She said as the two kept walking in silence as John took in the sights of the town around him.
"So how was your first week in Equestria?" Dash asked trying to keep the silence at bay. John just smiled even wider before he burst out in a fit of giggles.
"It has been just-" He paused trying to find the right word. "I dare say it's been heavenly but that's the closest I can get without going overboard." He said as they got to there destination. Holding open the door he let Dash in first, she trotted in and looked around.
"Perfect." She said as she noticed the place was barely even occupied. Looking around she noticed an untouched set of wing weights. Trotting over to them she set to work adjusting the weight on them until she got it just right. She looked over to John who was looking around the place. She chuckled and waved at him motioning for him to come over. He obliged.
"If you're looking for something to do they have a set of weights for minitour's over there." She said pointing to the back of the gym. He looked back and saw the gear.
"Thank's but for right now I just need a shower and then a nice heaping helping of protein," he said as he continued to look around for the showers. Dash nodded and pointed to what John had thought was a dressing when he first saw it. It was a fairly big doorway covered over by a red cloth of some kind.
"Thanks, Dash," John said as he made his way over to the door. Dash smirked.
"Oh and John?" She said catching his attention. He looked back at her just as he got to the curtain. She smirked.
"Whatever you do don't drop the soap." She laughed as his face lit up and he shook his head most likely trying to not think about anything lude.
"Thank's for the mental strain Dash." He said as he opened the curtain and walked in.
"Any time." He heard her call out as she continued her work out.
1:00 P.M.
John had taken a while to get up the courage to walk into the public shower's completely naked but as soon as he did he made a beeline for the nearest unoccupied shower which thankfully was a few feet down from the doorway. Taking a deep breath he took his clothes and put up on the top rack before he turned on his shower trying to shut out the fact that there were no wall's to hide his nude form from everypony here. He noticed several other ponies in the shower's who all gave him a once over as he entered but then went back to there own business as they saw who and what it was.
"Thank God no pony I know is here." He said as he turned the hot water on and stood there. Slowly he began to relax as the water seemed to wash away all of his worry's. Just as he was starting to relax however he began to feel like he was being watched. Slowly opening up one eye he scanned the room bearly taking more than a passing glance at the occupants of the various shower's. Not really knowing what to look for he just shrugged it off as his mind playing tricks on him.
"Never should have told her that one about the soap." He mumbled as he grabbed a bottle of what he thought was shampoo. It was hard to tell sometime's with the difference in some of their everyday item's being as plain as day while other's took some getting used to and other just didn't make any sense whatsoever. Taking a scrungy from the shower wall he began to lather himself up. Just as he reached his chest, however, he felt a soft tickling sensation as the hair's on his body began to stand on end.
"Now what?" He asked as he rinsed the lather from his hand and then off of his face. Looking around he didn't see anything out of the ordinary. Just more ponies. Some wet, other's drying off and still others chatting as they sat down and let the water run over themselves.
Meanwhile Outside In The Gym.
1:00 P.M.
"And 100!" Dash said as she undid the wing weights and let them fall to the floor in a heap of metal and velcro. The feeling of her wingtips burning with the flow of oxygenated blood really got Dash going in the early afternoons. As she put up the equipment a stray thought entered her head.
"I wonder if the big guy has a work out routine." She mused. "I'll have to ask him when he comes out." She said as she to made her way to the showers.
"Until then time to go and cool off." Popping her head in the entrance she spied her human friend not too far from the door. Smirking she grabbed her towel from the rack full of them and trotted over to a shower right next to his.
"So how's it hanging?" She asked obviously scaring the daylights out of John who squeaked and spun around to face Dash. His face was as about as red as it could get. Thankfully for him, this kept the blood from flowing to other places. To his credit, he tried to forgo his kneejerk reaction to hide his body and just tried to play it cool.
"Oh hey there Dash." He asked feeling about 90% more awkward than usual. Sure the ponies ran around naked all the time and John had to force himself to not stare when a mare happened to pass by with her tail to high or if it was shoved to one side. But now here he was being reminded of why he forsook dirty thought's as one of his newest friend's and longtime cartoon character crush was talking to him while he was in the buff. Dash meanwhile was smirking up a storm as she lathered up her cyan coat while causing her newest friend to become a stammering pile of mush. This was one of her favorite pass time's now in the week she had come to know this strange new creature.
"So have a good work out?" John asked as he sat down on a provided bench and let the water fall over him while he rangled his mind from the gutter. Dash just chuckled.
"Yeah as much as I can have when I can't get out there and tear up the sky." She said as she used her wing to grab a bottle of shampoo. Looking over to see her friend using his hand's gave Dash an idea.
"Hey, John?" She asked as she dunked her head under the shower to the soap out of her eyes. He looked over to her with one eye open.
"Hum?" He asked back. Dash then turned on her puppy dog eyes.
"Would you mind getting my back for me?" She asked her voice filled with a fake innocence that any stallion not worth there weight in salt would fall for. Unfortunately for John, he loved salt, and just like the raw sodium chloride dissolving in the water, he found his will to resist her magenta irises eroding with every beat of his heart.
"Ok." He relented as Dash came and sat down in between his leg's while he sat on his bench. Slowly John began to rub in little amount's of shampoo as Dash leaned back. Looking around John couldn't help but feel a little nervous. No pony even batted an eyelash at the two but John couldn't help but feel dirty.
"Um, Dash is this ok?" He asked feeling very self-conscious right now. Dash sighed in content as she felt John's hand go to work on her back.
"Uh huh, you're doing great big guy." She said as she closed her eyes and let John's fingers go to work.
"Wow, this is really nice." She thought. "If all else fails he could get a job at the spa as a masseuse." She thought about it some more.
"I'll have to ask him if it's crossed his mind." She thought as she leaned back even more. To Dash's great annoyance, however, she felt John's hand's leave her as he reached her lower back.
"All right, all done." He said as he stood up grabbed his towel and quickly, although being mindful to not knock Dash upside her head with his legs, got out of his shower and headed out to the gym. Dash watched him go as a worried look crossed her face.
"Well, crap." She mulled her choices over in her head. "I hope I didn't cross some kind of line." She asked as she let the water wash off her back. Then she finished with the rest of her body ending with her wings. She gave a slight shudder of ecstasy as the warm water hit the base of her wing's but with all the willpower of a saint she held her mind on the hear and now and with the last of her body now thoroughly clean she grabbed her own towel before she thought better of it and draped it back on the rack. As she went through the doorway to the gym she slowly let her magic trickled throughout her body. Soon she had a small field of electricity crackling around her using the electromagnetic field around her body to heat up and dissipate the water into vapor.
"Ah much better." She said as she spied her bipedal friend standing off to the side of the front counter as he dug through his little money pouch. Dash cautiously made her way over studying his face for any hint of his mood. Sadly his guard was up and not even a trace of his embarrassment remained. He looked her way and smiled as he paid for there impromptu shower and workout.
"Hey wait a minute," Dash said as she fished around for her own pouch. Then she remembered. "It's in my saddlebags." She said as she stared at the ground in shame. John just laughed.
"Don't worry about it Dash. I got this." He said as the mare at the counter counted out the correct number of bits and hoofed over the rest. John thanked her and the duo trotted out of the gym. After a little while of walking in silence, Dash looked over to see John lost in thought.
"So." She said trying to break the tension still lingering from the shower.
"Hum," John said indicating that he was listening. Dash chuckled.
"I take it that you have different way's of taking showers were your from?" She asked as John just laughed. He waved his hand as he talked.
"Oh yeah, Dash. To say the least." He said as the two walked to the outskirts of Ponyville. Dash was curious.
"How so?" She asked as she noted their path and extrapolated were they could end up from this one little dirt road.
"Well for starters we don't have public shower's." He said holding up one finger.
"And we don't all shower together like that." He held up another finger.
Third, males and females don't shower together like we did unless there intimate with one another." He noted her face turning a tinge of red at that.
"And that's about it." He said as Dash began to mull over her previous action's.
"Oh man." She huffed.
"I knew this kind of stuff made you flustered and all but I never thought it was that big of a deal." She winced as she felt her face heat up.
"Hey, it's not your fault our cultures are so different about all of this." He held out a hand and panned it to the town.
"Every man, woman, and child in ponyville constantly walks around as naked as the day they were born." He smirked.
"That took me a whole week to get used to and I still need to work on it." He said as they continued to walk along the dirt road.
"It's not like we aren't going to make a mistake about the other's race, culture, and habits at some point and time." He stated as they slowed down a little. Dash just grumbled.
"Yeah well, I wish I could take it back now seeing as to how uncomfortable it made you." She said. John just laughed.
"Don't worry about it Dash. Think of it as a learning experience." He said as gave her a pat on the back. She gave a soft sigh at his touch and that reminded her.
"Oh yeah hey you still need a job right?" she asked. John thought about it.
"Well I'm still working at Sweet Apple Acre's and Fluttershy could use my help from time to time." He stated as the pony's house in question came into view. Dash smirked.
"Well let me tell you those hand's of your's are just perfect for a massage." She gave john's hands a stare that began to creep him out a little.
"Hello, you two!" Fluttershy smiled as she greeted the two guests at her door. John smiled while Dash waved. Fluttershy let them in and closed the door behind them. Then giving john a comforting smile she sat down on her sofa and beckoned her two friends to do the same.
"So are we going to have company for this session?" She asked John as he sat down and took a sip of tea. He looked over at Dash. She just shrugged.
"If you two are ok with it." She said as she got comfortable on the second sofa in Fluttershy's living room. She and the other's always did wonder where John got off to in the week he had lived here. He would disappear for hours on end sometime's. They didn't freak out all that much mostly because after the first time it happened Fluttershy had come over and told the other's that she was keeping close tab's on there new bipedal friend. As they all got settled into various state's of relaxation john propped himself up on Fluttershy's recliner and took a deep breath.
"Ok so to begin where we left off," Fluttershy said as she took a cup of tea in her magic and took a sip. John mulled over her statement.
"Home." He answered. Fluttershy nodded.
"Good." She then took out a notebook.
"And what about home?" She asked as she took up a quill.
"I mostly wonder if I'll ever be able to get back." He said as he reclined the chair and took another deep breath. Fluttershy jotted down some notes for later.
"And what do you think would happen if you couldn't get back home?" She asked noting how a small scowl made its way across John face for a split second. It was gone as he huffed out a sigh.
"Honestly I don't know. I mean don't get me wrong I like it here beyond belief but I just don't know about living here long term." He said feeling like he was leaving something out.
"And what would be so bad about living here in the long term?" John just sat there thinking it over.
"Honestly the only thing I can think of is finding someone to settle down with." That got both of the female's attention. John just sighed.
"I feel like its stupid to worry about that at this point in time." He said as he rubbed the sweat from his face as it began to heat up. Remembering who he was with tho calmed him down. He was in the presence of Fluttershy one of the sweetest, kindest, and gentlest of ponies in all of Equestria.
"So why do you feel the need to think about this?" She asked as Dash began to shift around on her sofa. Fluttershy eyed her a little bit noticing how uncomfortable she was getting. She held out a hoof.
"One-sec dear." She said as she turned to Dash.
"Is there something wrong Dash?" she asked concern evident in her voice. Dash just looked around the room.
"Um yeah, I just remembered that I have an appointment to get to." She said not at all convincingly. Fluttershy nodded and just before Dash bolted out the door she looked over to John.
"Hey big guy I'll see you later ok?" she asked. John gave her a thumbs up from his position on the chair. Dash then nodded to Fluttershy who gave her a smile and nodded back.
"Hey, John I'll be back in a sec ok?" She said as she gave his cheek a soft nuzzle.
"Ok." He said as Fluttershy went outside with Dash. Once they were a few steps away from the door Dash let out a breath she was holding.
"Ok, so I might have run afoul of his custom's earlier today." She said as she began to fidget a bit. Fluttershy fixed her with a mild glare.
"How so?" She asked in a level voice. Dash just chuckled nervously.
"Well, I might have sent him to the shower's without telling him they were open to the public." She said and winced as she expected Fluttershy to be in her face. Instead, she looked at Fluttershy who was tittering a little bit.
"That's all?" She asked as Dash stood there dumbstruck.
"You're not mad at me?" She asked now feeling out of the loop. Fluttershy just smiled.
"No. In fact, I've been suggesting that he take a step outside of his comfort zone so he can understand our culture a bit better." She said feeling relieved. Dash let out a sigh of relief.
"Good for a second there I thought I was going to get a lecture from you about violating his personal space." She muttered under her breath."
"What?" Fluttershy asked not quite hearing her. Dash laughed nervously.
"Oh, nothing Flutter's nothing at all." She said as she looked around Fluttershy's cottage. Fluttershy, on the other hand, was scanning the surrounding forest. She felt the telltale signs of an intruder and no one trespassed in her territory. Her eye's narrowed.
'Hey Dash can you go and tell John that I'll be right back. I need to go check on my perimeter real quick." She said as her wings snapped open. Dash gave her a nod.
"Sure." She said as Fluttershy took off. Dash let out another sigh.
"Well, Dash you dodged a bullet and didn't make a complete fool out of yourself in front of Equestria's first human. Good going." She smiled as she entered Fluttershy's house and saw that John was still sitting in the chair. She trotted over and sat down on the sofa next to him.
"Hey, there big guy." She said as she got comfy.
"Fluttershy said -" She stopped when she heard a light snore escape John. Leaning closer she saw that he had fallen asleep. She smiled and then smirked to herself.
"Let's see he's asleep. Does Fluttershy have any ink around here?" she asked herself as she looked around. Her smirk turned into a devious grin as she spotted a writing desk nearby.
"Oh, he is so going to kill me later." She cackled as she made her way over and grabbed a bottle of ink.
2:00 P.M.
Fluttershy landed on the outskirt's of the everfree forest scanning the tree line as she did so. Her eyes detected the heartbeat of a pony who had concealed themselves in a tree. Ever so slowly Fluttershy landed a few trees away and looked around the clearing she found herself in. Scanning it once more she soon found a family of squirrels that looked none too pleased.
"Oh hello there." She said making her way over to them. They chittered a greeting back before they slowing looked over to the tree same tree she to was focused on, angry scowled adorned there little faces.
"Oh, what's the matter?" Fluttershy asked as she played it cool.
"Don't want them to know that I'm on to them." Meanwhile the P.I. hiding in the tree was livid with fear.
"Don't find me, don't find me, don't find me!" She silently begged as she looked around for a way out. Luckily for her, she was near the forest line of trees.
"Yes!" She silently cheered to herself as she began to scramble her way down the tree. Her plan in mind she set about making it a reality. That was until she looked over and saw that Fluttershy was now carrying the squirrels on her back and walking towards her tree.
"SHIT!" Her brain screeched as she tried to high tail it out of there. Unbeknownst to her Fluttershy began to wore a sinister smile as she picked up on her quarry fear.
"Now let's see what brings her all the way out to the edge of my forest." She smiled to the squirrel family as she trotted over to the tree. Looking up to it's top she smirked as she saw the pony who looked as if she had tried to camouflage herself. It would have worked if she was a normal pony. trotting over to the base of the tree she knelt down to allow the squirrels to scamper off her back and sit next to there home. Giving her little woodland friends a wink she trotted up to the tree.
The pony inside of it gave an involuntary shiver as Fluttershy's gaze swept over, and past her.
"All right you three can go on home now. Whoever was there is gone now." Fluttershy said as the little family scurried back up the tree. Fluttershy smiled at the family as they ran up the tree and turned around to leave. The pony in said tree let out a breath she was holding and let out a little laugh as Fluttershy continued to trot off.
"That was a close one." She sighed as she continued her decent of the tree only to suddenly get violently thrown from said as it was hit with an unimaginable force of strength. A cry of surprise graced Fluttershy's ears as the pony was thrown out of the tree and lay there sprawled out on the ground. Slowly the bespectacled unicorn rolled over groaning as she did so.
"Oh, my snout." She rubbed it oblivious to the presence of Fluttershy as the latter scanned her thoughts.
"Oh no. The Boss is going to be furious!" Fluttershy raised an eyebrow. Putting a smile on her face she held a hoof out to the pony.
"Oh, I'm sorry were you the one that poor family of Squrral's was talking about?" Fluttershy asked faining ignorance. The pony in question finally got her thought's straight as she looked up at Fluttershy.
"Uhh?" She couldn't fathom how Fluttershy had known she was in the tree nor could she figure out how she had hit it with such force. To say that she was scared was an understatement, but a small part of her was curious as well.
"Oh uh yeah sorry about that?" She said as she took Fluttershy's hoof and pulled herself up.
"So what's your name?" Fluttershy asked still wearing her false smile.
"Oh um my name's Joy. Joyful Spring's." She said thinking up a name on the spot. Fluttershy smirked.
"And you are?" Joy asked Fluttershy. Fluttershy gave her a snide grin as her fangs began to pop out of her mouth. She then chuckled as she smelt Joy's fear grow.
"Oh, I'm just the last pony you want to lie to Ms, Silent." She said as Silent Entry began to back away from Fluttershy who now sported a pair of crimson eyes and bat-like wing's. Silent's scream's of horror rang out throughout the forest before suddenly being cut short.
3:00 P.M.
Dash had left Fluttershy's as soon as she was done with John's face. As much as she wanted to see his reaction she really was behind schedule and decided to ramp up her usual routine to compensate for her late start. She started off with a quick lap around ponyville as a warmup and then went straight into her advanced curriculums. With all of her focus spent on perfecting her routine for the upcoming airolympacs Dash hadn't noticed her little group of admirers until she was done and in a panting state of euphoria settled back down on the ground.
"Wow dash that was amazing!" Came the voice of scootaloo. Dash fell into a heap as Scootaloo and the rest of the group of filly's and colt's all dog piled her. Laughing all the while Dash tried to stand up and found that she was still being used as a mobile jungle gym by the kids.
"Ok, ok so what are all of you doing here?" she asked as she trudged back to Ponyville. Pipsqueak piped up as they crossed the bridge into town, Dash getting a load of smirks from all the passing mare's and stallions as she opened her wings to help balance out all the little foal's clinging to her.
"Well, we were all going to the park when we saw you, Ms. Dash." He said as he steadied himself on her left wing. Dash just chuckled.
"So you all stopped to see me in action huh?" She smiled as they all nodded.
"Well, who could blame them when the one and only Rainbow Dash is putting on a free show?" The voice from above started Dash who thanks to her lightning reaction time avoided dropping anypony.
"No way!" She exclaimed as a yellow coated, red-maned pegasus shot out the air and landed right in front of Dash and her group of admirers.
"Well Dash I know it's been a long time but I never thought I see you speechless." Hot Shot smirked as he strode up to the little group. Dash meanwhile got her voice back.
"Yeah, it's been what 4 years since you went off to go join the guard?" Dash said as she trotted up Hot Shot who gave her a soft nuzzle. Scootaloo then piped up asking what all the foals were thinking.
"Hey Dash who's the boy?" She asked as Dash giggled as Scootaloo found a new perch on the top of her head. She leaned down so Scootaloo could get a better look.
"This everypony is the one and only Hot Shot." She smirked as he struck a pose causing the foals to giggle and Dash to roll her eyes with a smirk as the two began to trot and talk.
"Hey care to join me for a bit of an after workout snack?" She asked out of the blue. Hot Shot laughed.
"Sure thing Dash." He said as he fell in step with his friend.
"He and I went way back in junior speedster's flight camp," Dash told the group as Hot Shot chuckled.
"Aww, the good old day's." He said reminiscing about his time there with Dash and Gilda.
"You still haven't changed a bit Dash." He said shooting her a smirk one that Dash returned.
"Oh yes, I have." She said as all of the foals jumped to the ground.
"Oh, really how so?" Hot Shot challenged. Dash just smiled as the foals oohed. Hot Shot paused and held the door open.
"I've gotten better." She said as she trotted into the diner Dash's cargo of foals in tow. Hot Shot caught a glimpse of her perfectly toned ass as she entered and smirked.
"I have no doubt about that Dash." He said as he followed Dash and her entourage into the sweet's shop.
August 7, 1000, C.E. Ponyville, Equestria. 3:00 A.M.
"He Know's!" The cry of the old women gave John a jolt as he bolted out of bed.
"Sweet Jesus what is with that creepy old lady." He muttered under his breath as he calmed down his erratic breathing. Looking around at the darkness surrounding his room he surmised that it was still early in the mourning. Grabbing his glasses and phone from the side table next to his bed he popped on his speck's and flipped open his phone.
"3 A.M. Just great." He said shutting off his phone and settling back into his bed. As he lay there trying to sleep his mind began to wander.
"Still a few hours till sunrise." He mused as his thought's drifted to the meeting taking place later on today. As he stifled a yawn his mind finally beginning to get back to sleep he had one final question on his lips.
"I wonder what Princess Luna is up to?" Taking a deep breath and fixing his mind for more sleep he, at last, dozed off, his thoughts consumed with the image of Equestria's blue-hued pony princess.
7 Hours Later...
"Twilight you're going to pace a hole in the floor if you don't calm down," John smirked as he watched the unicorn continue on her nervous trotting in circles.
"Are the floor's clean enough?" She mumbled to her self as she held her checklist within her magical grasp while scanning over the room with a critical glare at anything that might even look like it was out of place. Slowly Twilight began to calm down. Taking a deep breath she held it in before raising a hoof to her chest and letting it out with a huff.
"Better?" John asked as Twilight trotted over to her dining table. Twilight gave him a sheepish smile as she nodded her head.
"Yeah. Everything is all set for the sister's." she looked at her clock.
"They should be here by noon." She said as she got up and looked over to her front door.
"Spike should be back soon with the other's so we can just sit back and relax for a little while." She said as she took a seat on a chair and levitated a cup of tea over to her from the kitchen. John took his own cup from the kitchen counter and sat down at the table. He had been up early to get a head start on baking some sweet's for the aftermentioned royal visit.
"Blueberry Bliss." He said as the taste began to send him down memory lane. He was brought back to Equestria by a knock on the library door.
"Come in!" Twilight said as she took a sip of her own tea. The door opened and in the rest of Twilight's friends came into view.
"Howdy, Y'all!" Applejack smiled as she trotted up to the group only to stop and smell the air.
"Who cooked?" She asked as Twilight pointed over to John with a hoof. John just smirked and waved it off.
"I baked a little something for this meeting." He said as the girl's all looked into the kitchen.
"It smell's really nice," Fluttershy said as she got a good whiff. John just sat there and smiled as the group all took a piece of bread and gave him a good case of ego boost.
"Wow with skill's like that I'm surprised you don't open up your own shop." Rarity said as she finished her piece. Dash just smirked.
"Hear that Pink's looks like you have some competition," she said giving her friend a jab in the ribs. Pinky just giggled and then leveled John with an intense stare.
"If that's how it's going to be then we-" She pointed a hoof at him, "- should have a bakeoff!" She announced with a dramatic flailing of hooves as she jumped on top of Twilight's table and pointed at John just sat there and stared. Eventually, he smirked, which then turned into a fit a laughter as Pinky slid off the table and back into her seat, a smile adorning her muzzle as she and the other's soon joined in. John having gotten most of his composure back just sat there giggling as he tried to form a coherent thought. Taking a deep breath his laughter subsided and allowed his brain to think up a reply.
"Well, Pinky as fun as that sound's I would much rather be your partner in crime than a rival." He said giving Rarity a smirk.
"Hence the reason I haven't opened up my own bakery." He frowned. "Plus I don't think it would be all that well received." He used his finger's to emphasize his point. The girl's all gave him a look of concern.
"Why ever not dear?" Rarity asked as the group all sat down at Twilight's table. John fidgeted under there scrutiny feeling rather put off by all of the eyes on him. Clearing his throat he looked around and sighed.
"Well, I haven't exactly had the best of time's mingling with the townsfolk." He stated as they all nodded.
"Well yeah, they aren't too thrilled with you yet but just you wait!" Dash said as she flew over beside him and slapped a hoof to his back causing him to flinch and wince in pain.
"As soon as you open up a place to eat, ponies and other races from all over Equestria will be flocking to your door's like ants to sugar!" She said using a hoof to pan around the scenery of her imaginary exotic restaurant. The whole table nodded while John tried not to laugh. He was mostly successful as Dash went and sat back down and only a faint chortal escaped his lip's.
"Well, girl's as awesome and grandiose as that all sound's," He pulled out a napkin to dry his pent-up tear's of laughter, "I think It would be best if I just got a job within the local community." He thought about it.
"Yeah, something that would allow me to interact with them on a daily basis so we would all get to know one another." He said as they mulled his idea over. Then Pinky shot a hoof into the air.
"OH oh! oh!" She danced up and down in her seat as the other all chuckled at her antics.
"Yes, Pinky?" John asked as he took a sip of his tea.
"You can work with me!" She said as the table all thought about it. John smirked.
"Well, that sound's great pinky but will the Cakes be ok with that?" He asked as Pinky fiddled with her mane. She gave him a vigorous nod.
"Of course they'll b-" Her sentence was cut off as the front door flew open. A yellow coated red-maned stallion entered and cleared his throat.
"Announcing the arrival of Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, Diarchy of Equestria!" He shouted as he stepped aside in order to let the royal sisters through. Everyone at the table flew out of there seats and stood at attention as the Princess's entered the library. As soon as the two sister's entered everyone bowed. Not wanting to be rude John got down on one knee and knelt with his head down low.
"Rise young ones," Celestia said, a soft motherly tone in her voice. When all present had gotten up there was a pause in the air. All eyes went over to John who began to sweat a little bit. Celestia slowly trotted forward until she looked down upon the humans face. John for the most part's was equally scared and fascinated that he was finally meeting the princess's face to face, sort of. Celestia smiled.
"So you're the human that my sister has been so enthusiastically regaling me about for the past few weeks." She said as Luna approached the group and gave them all a slight bow.
"It is so very good to finally meet all of you." She said beaming to the whole room. Twilight squeaked as she gave them both a look of trepidation.
"Um princess's." She said getting both ponies attention.
"Yes, Twilight?" Celestia asked as she gave her a look of concern. Twilight fidgeted around a little bit but then settled down when she used her breathing exercises Cadance taught her as a foal.
"Well I don't mean to be rude,"- She glanced at the clock on the wall, -"but your two hours early." Celestia craned her neck around and gave the clock a stare. Turning back to the group with a chuckle she smiled at them all.
"It would appear that we are very fashionably early then." She said as she fixed her gaze upon their reason for this impromptu visit.
"It is nice to make your acquaintance young one." She said giving John a slight bow as he stood there.
John let out a nervous chuckle as he tried to think of something to say. As his brain began to work overtime he felt something soft wrap around his hand. Looking down he saw Fluttershy giving him a soft smile as she held his hand in her wing. Glancing to the other's he saw them all giving him smiles and nods of encouragement. Twilight made a motion with her hoof lifting it to her chest and then letting it go with an exhale.
Dash gave him a wink, Applejack gave him a nod, Rarity stood along with the other's as she fixed his attire with a glance. Pinky smiled as she began to trot in place and finally Spike gave him a thumbs up. All of this a the blink of an eye. John burst out laughing which caused Hot Shot to tense up at first until he saw the sister's beaming with smirks on their muzzles.
"Sorry Princess's." He said as he got control of himself meanwhile the air around the room seemed to relax as everyone had a smile upon there face, even if Hot Shot had to keep his hidden under his mask of stone-faced vigilance. After letting out the last chuckle John got his face settled and his mind at ease.
"So I would assume that you two are here to see me?" He asked as he straightened up and looked the Princess's in the eye as much as he could. They both laughed and then motioned for the group to take a seat. They did so and twilight conjured up several more chairs for the Princesses. Taking their seats at the head of the table the two princesses' set to work on getting to know there newest resident of Equestria.
10:39 A.M.
The Interrogation had been much more pleasant than John was expecting. Mostly because the royal sister's had asked the assembled group about his two-week stay and how thing's had been going since his arrival. The group gave him glowing reviews without having it seem like they were sucking up to the sisters. Finally, the sister's gave John a soft set of smiles.
"So John was it?" Celestia asked.
"Yes, your highness." He said causing Celestia to chuckle.
"Oh please just call me Celestia and my sister Luna." She said to which John nodded.
"Ok then." He said as he relaxed even more. Celestia smiled.
"So John do you have any way of knowing how you got here and if it is at all possible for you to get back home?" She asked as John flinched a little bit.
"Honestly prin-" He caught himself. "I mean Celestia no. No, I don't." He smiled a little.
"However I don't think I'd want to go back. At least not yet." He said as he smiled. Looking around he smirked as Twilight's eye's lit up.
"This world has so much more to see and explore I feel like it'd be a crime to not see all that it has to offer." He said as Twilight grabbed one of her notebooks and jotted down his little speech. Celestia smiled.
"That seems fair. "She said as she got up and stretched. Glancing at her sister Luna let out a yawn causing Celestia to chuckle.
"Well, it would seem that we have overstayed our welcome." She said as Luna let out another yawn, this one she tried to hide behind a hoof.
"Nay dear sister. We are- I am simply not used to having a set sleep cycle yet." She said as she got to her hooves and stretched. Twilight and the other's all giggled as the two sisters gave the group one last bow.
"Until we meet again dear subject's," Celestia said as the group all made there way outside were the Princess chariot awaited them. Hitching himself up to said chariot Hot Shot scanned the group and found Dash. one he established eye contact he gave her a sultry wink as he stood there waiting for the Princesses. Dash just rolled her eye's and smirked. Her look plainly said in your dreams to which he just laughed.
If only you knew Dash. He thought as the Princess's said there final goodbyes. As the sister's made their way to the chariot Hot Shot saw John whisper into Dash's ear. She stifled a laugh as she slugged him in the arm. Hot Shot let it slide off of him as he stood there.
Huh, interesting. He smiled at the group. Waiting for the princess to get closer he unhitched himself and gave them both a bow.
"Princess's." He greeted them. They both bid him rise.
"Yes, Lieutenant?" Celestia asked as she and her sister sat down. He fidgeted around nervously as he glanced over to the group which all watched from afar. Steeling himself he gave them both a soft smile.
"Would it be ok if I had a quick word with them?" He asked pointing a hoof to the group. Luna snorted as she held back a laugh.
"Are thee sure it is just word's tho wish to have thine fair maiden miss Dash?" She asked causing Hot Shot to blush and stammer as he tried to regain his stone face. Not able to respond verbally Hot Shot just nodded. Celestia chuckled and nodded her head.
"Go on Lieutenant." She looked to the skies. "We still have a little bit of time before we must return to Canterlot." Ecstatic Hot Shot mumbled a soft thank's before he zipped off to the group which had now turned around and began to head back into the library.
So today is going to be jam packed. First I have to head over to Aj's and help out on the farm. I have to admit two weeks worth of work can really change a person. Granted I'm not ripped but I have been getting my toned physique back that I had in high school. Next on my list is to stop by Suger Cube Corner to give the Cakes a demonstration of my culinary skill's. Here's hoping I can impress them and finally land a job here in Pony Land. Afterwords Rarity told me to stop by so she can fit me for more clothes. I swear she never stops sowing whenever I see her. Then It's over to Dash and the gym. Like I said jam packed. The only real consolation is that Twilight decided to take the day off from grilling me about earth.
Until my next entry signed John Joseph Allison II
John closed his journal and smirked.
"Guess I better get to it." He got up from his little desk and headed out the door.
10:47 A.M.
"Man that never gets old," John said as he stretched out on a bench at Aj's. Applejack meanwhile was sitting in a chair as she and, Twilight, Dash, Pinky Pie, and Rarity all sat around the table.
"What doesn't?" Twilight asked as she waved a hoof over at Spike who came waddling up the dirt path to see the group.
"This," John said as he used a hand to pan around the farm.
"All of it. It's just so beautiful." He said as Applejack smiled.
"Well thank you kindly, John, for some nice words." She looked around the farm. It wasn't in the best of shape. In fact, AJ would call it dilapidated at the moment. AJ Smiled even more. She too thought the farm was beautiful. The fact that an alien being from another universe also saw the farm in the same light really touched Applejack. She looked over at John and smiled just as spike got to the table, just a little out of breath from his little jog up the hill. John and Dash both gave him a look of concern.
"Hey, their little buddy you doing ok?" John asked as Spike held out a hand.
"One..second." He said between gulps of air. As he got his bearings Spike looked at the group and smiled.
"A letter came from Canterlot." He said extending his clawed appendage, sure enough, a letter signed by the royal sister's was clutched in his little fist. Twilight smiled.
"Thank you spike." She gave him a pat on the head as she took the scroll in her magic. Twilight unfurled the letter and read it aloud.
"Dear Twilight Sparkle." She started.
"As you may know the grand galloping gala is being held in Cantarlot in several month's time." She looked up and thought about it.
"Oh yes! December!" She said as she stuck her muzzle back into the scroll and continued to read.
"As such is the case enclosed within this letter are several tickets to the grand galloping gala." She read as indeed several tickets materialized out of thin air. She caught and held them in her magic as she continued to read.
"I hope to see you and your friend's there this year." She looked at the end and saw an extra bit scrolled at the bottom.
"P.S. with your tickets you can bring one guest so choose them wisely." A little smiley face at the end of the letter winked as said letter began to disintegrate. Holding the tickets in her magic Twilight began to divvy them up between her friends.
"One for Pinky Pie," Her ticket hovered over to her. Pinky giggled as it began to orbit her head
"One for Applejack." Aj's ticket hovered over and settled into her hat. She gave it a look of bemusement but then shrugged.
"Weird alicorn magic." She mumbled to herself as she sat back down with a smirk.
"Next is Rainbow Dash." Her ticket zoomed over and slapped itself to her forehead. She scowled at it as she pried it off of her face and tucked in into a pair of saddlebags she had at the table. She saw Pinky and John stifle a set of giggle's and smirked.
"Don't you two start." She said raising a hoof and smiling.
"I know where you two live." They both laughed.
"So?" John said waving a hand.
"And that mean's?" He asked causing Dash to grin evilly.
"Who's the best prankster in ponyville?" They both clammed up at that causing Dash to grin.
"I thought so." She said as Twilight continued to give out the tickets.
"Rarity here's your's." She said as said ticket hovered over and settled in her mane. Rarity gave it a look and then pulled out a mirror.
"Well at least it doesn't clash with my coat," he said with a smile.
"And lastly is Fluttershy." She said as her ticket made its way over and settled down next to her saddlebags. Fluttershy giggled as Dash glared at it.
"Well, that's it." She said as she grabbed her own ticket and sat down. As she did so Rarity suddenly bolted to her feet.
"Oh my gosh!" She yelled as she bolted off down the road.
"Rarity were are you going?" Spike asked as she continued down the hill. She looked back.
"I have to get started on our clothing for the gala!" Her voice faded as she ran down the dirt path and off to ponyville. Spike held his head low as he watched her go.
"But I just got here." He mumbled as he sat down with everypony else. Twilight giggled.
"Don't worry spike." She nudged his side. "There'll be plenty of time to see Rarity when she's done." She said wiggling her eyebrow at her little brother. Spike flushed as he tried to hide underneath the table. The whole group snickered at this as spike glared at them all.
"Oh laugh it up all of you." He said crossing his arm's. Soon the group was on to other detail's and since lunch was on the way they all decided to go there separate way's for now.
12:00 P.M.
John walked through the town with only one thing on his mind.
"Who is she going to invite?" He thought as he headed towards the gym. His interview with the cake's had gone about as well as he could have hoped. He ended up just making some breakfast for the couple and Pinky who ate it with gusto. He was then told that they had to deliberate about it and to give them a day to decide if he was a good fit for the bakery. He smiled and waved as he left, a little bag held in one hand while his other supported his duffle bag full of work out clothes and weights.
"I bet it's Scootaloo." He smiled as he thought of the little trio of mischievous fillies. He had seen them around town at one point or another in his month of being here and he nearly had a heart attack every time he saw them. His smile deepened as he saw the gym was just up ahead.
"Yeah. If anybody deserves to go with Dash to the gala it's her." He smirked as he thought about it.
"Really do wonder what it'll be like." He thought about it.
"I'll have to ask them when they come back." He pulled open the door to the gym and smiled as he saw his friend was already here. And she had company.
"Hey, John!" Dash shouted while waving him over with a hoof. John smiled back while waving and made his way over to the duo. When he got there he saw that Dash was conversing with a yellow coated red-maned stallion. The male looked over at John and stood there wide-eyed.
"Wow, you're tall." He remarked causing John to laugh.
"Yes, I get that a lot." He smiled.
"I'm John." He said holding out a hand. The stallion looked at it then shook his head.
"He he sorry about that." He held out his own hoof.
"The name's Hot Shot." He smiled as the two shook and then John thumbed to the showers.
"Hey Dash I'll be right back, have to go get changed real quick." Dash just smirked.
"You sure you don't want any help this time?" She wiggled her eyebrow's as John just chuckled.
"Nice try Dash." He held out a hand and motioned to his body.
"But this is not for sale." He said as he walked over to the shower. He stopped halfway there and struck a seductive pose that just came off as very awkward for the ponies. She just laughed and wolf whistled as he walked off leaving the whole gym in stitches. Hot Shot was confused.
"Is he alway's so.." He waved a hoof.
"Flirtatious?" He finally asked. Dash gave Hot Shot a smirk.
"Yes." She smiled. "And it's hilarious every time." She said snickering as she went over to a bar and loaded it with weights. Hot Shot glanced back at the showers.
"I'll have to keep an eye on him." He thought as he went over to Dash and grabbed a bar like her's only loading it with considerably fewer weights. As the two began to work out John was just about finished getting changed in the showers.
12:15
"Ok next is... the..." He stopped when he began to hear heavy breathing. Turning around very slowly he found that he wasn't the only one in here like he had once thought. Standing there looking very red in the face and with a wild purple gleam in her eye was none other than Lyra Heartstrings. Giving her a wave and fixing her with a nervous smile he spoke.
"Um hello there." He said as he made to hide his bulge with his hands. Lyra's eyes were fixed at where his dick was as she seemed to be in a trance. She didn't answer just stared. John was beginning to feel very uncomfortable.
"Um hey, Lyra everything ok?" He asked waving a hand in her face. Lyra blinked her eyes flashing back to gold and then gave John a look of confusion.
"Huh, what?" She asked looking around.
"Where am I?" She asked as her eyes settled on John. Her face went from of confusion to one of deep embarrassment. Her horn lit up and in flash of light that blinded John and caused him to real back in surprise.
"So Hot Shot how are thing's going in the guard?" Dash asked as she lifted her bar up and down at a steady pace. Hot Shot grunted with some effort as he held his bar in place after lifting it up.
"Well..eg..there..ho..going...ng..great." He said as sweat patches began to appear along his fur on his face. Finally, he let his weight down gently and set it on the rack. His wings began to burn but he held them out instead of tucking them in. He smiled.
"Honestly it's been a blast." Dash sensed a but coming. She snickered as the thought passed through her brain. Hot Shot gave her a look of contempt. Noticing his scowl she smirked and waved a hoof.
"Sorry not laughing at you, just something else that popped into my head." She said waving her hoof again.
"Go on. You were saying how much of a blast it was in the guard." She smirked as his face went from a scowl to a smile.
"Yeah. It's been a great four year's getting to serve the princess." He smiled some more as fond memory of his time in the guard flew through his head. He shook his head as he folded up his wing's and went over to a hoof machine.
"But my contract is almost up." Stated as he strapped a hoof to a pulley system that was hooked up to a set of weights and began to pull.
"Now I'm thinking of settling down and ever since I came to ponyville with the princess's this place hasn't left my head." He looked over at Dash.
"So I figured why not settle down here." He smirked as Dash continued her wing lifts. She looked over at him. studying his body.
"Good aerodynamics. Not a bad set of wings. More muscle than the average but four years in the guard will do that." She thought as she went over the mental checklist of qualities for a weather pony. Noticing her eye's upon his Hot Shot smirked and struck a seductive pose, his wing's outstretched as he widened his hind leg's just a little bit while keeping his balance on three hooves. Dash stopped her analysis and blushed as she saw him. Hot Shot smirked.
"See something you like Dash?" He asked feeling assured in his answer as the tip's of Dash's primaries began to twitch.
"Um well." She said as she set her weight down on the bar holder and sat up, all the while trying to hide the rapidly expanding blush on her muzzle. She coughed and was about to answer when a commotion broke the two out of their private conversation.
"Lyra wait up!" John came stumbling out of the shower, still naked.
Rainbow and Hot Shot continued to snicker as John followed them down the street. John scowled and rolled his eye's.
"Laugh it up fuzzball's." His face was still tinged a light crimson as his face refused to cool off. Hot Shot cackled as he jabbed John in the ribs with a wing.
"Come on dude you have to admit that was pure gold." He snickered as John let out a low grumble. Dash slowed down some and joined in on the conversation.
"Cheer up big guy." She smirked.
"At least half the gym got an eye full of your "gear" and I saw some mare's who liked the show." John just heaved out a sigh as he sped up his pace quickly leaving the two behind to share in a laugh at his expense. Dash gave off one last chuckle as she watched John storm off.
"Uh oh." Her ear's drooped as Hot Shot trotted over to her.
"He really needs to loosen up." He stated causing Dash to sigh.
"Or we just took it to far." She stated as John rounded the corner and disappeared from view. Now a frown adorned her muzzle.
"Me and my big mouth." She stated as she tried to fly after John only to have her tail yanked on.
"Hey what gives?" She spun around to see Hot Shot smirking. He nodded to the street that John disappeared down.
"How about we give him some time to cool off eh?" He said waving a wing over to Sugar Cube corner.
"Beside's I remember somepony telling me that they wanted to go eat out afterwards." He said as he turned around and trotted off to the bakery. Dash cast one last glance back to were John disappeared to and shook her head. Fixing Hot Shot with a smirk she trotted off after him.
"Hey wait up!" She zipped over to her longtime friend and the two set off to Sugar Cube Corner.
5:04 P.M.
Hot Shot let out a chuckle as Rainbow Dash regaled him with yet another tale of her stunt routine's going wrong.
"So Rainbow Crash is still around huh?" He smirked as Dash stuck her nose up.
"Well, at least I can go down with some style." She jumped into the air and struck a pose causing some of the other patrons of Suger Cube Corner to look there way. Pinky zipped over to the two her bouncy demeanor causing Dash to smile while Hot Shot had to hold back a cringe as her smile threatened to tear her face in two.
"So you two how was your food?" She asked as she handed Dash the check. Dash gave Pinky a smirk.
"Like you have to ask us Pink's." She nodded to there plates.
"There's not even a crumb left." She said as she pulled out the necessary bits plus a little extra.
"Here and keep the change this time," she said as she and Hot Shot got up and stretched. Pinky scooped up the bits and handed the two a goodbye bag.
"See you later Dashy, oh and Hot Shot don't be a stranger!" She waved as the two made their way out the door. Dash gave Pinky a wave.
"See you later Pinky!" The two Pegasi trotted down the street there mind's dwelling on separate issues.
"I really hope I didn't screw things up with John." Dash smirked as she thought about her tall friend.
"Nah he has skin as hard as stone." Her smile faltered a little bit.
"At least he chuckled a little at first." She looked over at Hot Shot who had a grin plastered on his muzzle as he whistled a little tune.
"Hey Hot Shot see you tomorrow?" She asked as she spread her wings. Hot Shot gave her a smirk.
"Sadly no. My leave is almost up and I promised my mom and dad I'd visit them the next time I got time off." He chuckled.
"So I'm off to Cloudsdale and them back to Canterlot." Dash smiled.
"Well, it was nice seeing you." She waved as He took to the air. Throwing her a salute Hot Shot speed off towards his hotel room. Dash smiled to herself as she lept into the air.
"Gotta go see how the big guy is doing before I go into work." As quick as her wings could take her Dash flew towards Twilight's Libary.
5:05 P.M.
Rainbow Dash made it to the Libary in record time and knocked on the door.
"Hello? Anypony home?" She asked as the door swung open. Peaking inside she heard the sound of voice's coming from Twilight's basement.
"Interesting." Her curiosity peaked Dash slowly made her way to the door leading downstairs. As she did so she caught faint mumbles of what was going on.
"...I'm.....so sorry...I swear....." The closer she got the more she could hear what sounded like crying. Suddenly John's voice broke through the wailing.
"Hey Twi listen it's fine. Both of us forgive you right Lyra?"
"Lyra?" Dash thought about it as the conversation continued.
"I am so so so so sorry." Twilight wailed again as she flopped down in front of John and Lyra. Both looked equally uncomfortable but considering what had just gone on they were both grateful to have it all done and over with. John knelt down and cupped Twilight's muzzle in a hand.
"Twilight look at us." He said raising her face to look at both him and Lyra. She flinched when they both gave her a bright grin.
"Everything is ok." They both said in unison. This caused the two to have a slight giggle fit. Their laughter was infectious as two more ponies joined in.
"Twilight there both right." Celestia's motherly tone reached her student's ear's. Luna trotted over and draped a wing over Twilight.
"Tis not the first time one has unintentionally 'sleepwalked' in the hoove's of another Twilight." She smiled as she patted Twilight on the back.
"In fact tis, not the worst case of sleepwalking we have had to rectify." Luna mused as she traced back the precise date of history that was ingrained in her mind. Twilight continued to snivel as she lay there sprawled out on the ground. John sat down and held her head in his lap as he gave her muzzle a pat.
"Trust me Twilight. This whole thing could have been a lot worse off than it was." He chuckled to himself.
"Could you imagine what would have happened if me and Lyra hadn't bumped into one another." He smirked.
"I would have been avoiding an awesome pony for no real reason what so ever." He gave Twilight's head a scratch that she nuzzled into, her snivel's had died down some now only coming every so often. She looked up at the both of them.
"Are you sure you're both still not mad at me?" They both nodded.
"We never were Twilight," Lyra said as she sat on her haunches, tail lazily swaying to and fro. Twilight felt Luna's wing lift and the two sister's gave the group a short bow.
"Please excuse us all of you but we must be on our way," Celestia said as she cast her gaze up the steps. She smirked as she got down and whispered,
"I believe Rainbow Dash is here to clear the air between you two," she said winking at John who had to try very hard to not let his face turn beet red. Swallowing his embarrassment he took a deep breath. Smiling he got up slipping both hands underneath Twilight as he did so bringing her up with him.
"Woah!" she said as she was suddenly hefted into both of John's arms. He gave her a smirk as he began to bridal carry her up the stairs.
"Too heavy! Can't keep this up for much longer." His brain screamed as he made it to the final step and, grasping the last bit of self-control he had, gently placed Twilight down on all four's. Twilight gave each of her legs a little shake to get the blood flowing back to them and gave the whole group a solemn look.
"I know we're all friends here but is this really ok?" She asked as she began to fidget around. Lyra just huffed and trotted over to Twilight and hugged her.
"For the last time Twilight yes. we're good." Then she leaned in and whispered into Twilight's ear.
"Beside's I've been dying to see what he's got down there for week's." She giggled as she let Twilight go now seeing her face turning a deep shade of red as she began to paw at the floor. In a flash, both princess's had vanished back to Canterlot leaving the trio alone. Lyra gave out a yawn as she made her way to the door.
"Well as interesting as all this was I must be going. Have to go see how Bon Bon and the candy store are doing in my absence." When she got to the door she stopped and turned around a smirk adorning her face.
"Hey, big guy don't be a stranger ok?" She said giving John a sultry wink as she opened the door and trotted out into the afternoon sunset. John just coughed into his palm as he gave her a slight wave.
"Sure no problem." He muttered as Lyra's tail disappeared from view. Twilight heaved out a sigh as she rubbed her head.
"I can't believe I'm saying this but I need to go take a nap." She trotted over to John and was about to give him a hug goodnight but she hesitated. Seeing her apprehension John leaned down and hugged her instead.
"Don't worry about it Twilight. Trust me it did more good than harm." He smiled.
"There was a fir of laughter that overtook the whole gym and I got way out of my comfort zone." He beamed down at Twilight who still looked unsure.
"But--" John put a finger to her lips.
"Now listen here, missy. I would've had to have come strolling out of there butt naked at some point in time if Rainbow Dash continues to have thing's her way." He smirked as Twilight still a little red finally began to giggle. John stood up and smiled.
"Oh get a room you two!" Rainbow hopped over the upstairs railing and landed on all four hooves scarring the duo.
"Jeeze Dash a little warning next time," John said as he recomposed himself after his fright. Twilight just coughed into her hoof dismissing Dash's rib at there expense. She gave the pegasus a swift nod.
"Well, I really should be off to bed see you both tomorrow." In a flash, she was gone, off to her own room. John went and sat down on a nearby couch.
"Boy, what a day." Dash trotted over and flopped down on her own side of the couch. She glanced over to see John sitting there seemingly lost in thought.
"So." She said feeling a little awkward about her role in John's discomfort. John opened a single eye and looked her way.
"So." He shot back grinning to himself as he sat there. Dash just huffed as she thought about the events of the day.
"I came by to apologize," Dash said as John still sat there. Slowly he snaked a hand over to Dash who was so lost in staring John in the face to see his response that she hadn't noticed. She saw John's smirk and that threw her off.
"Why are you so-" Her sentence died off in a shreek as John pinched her underbelly. She stumbled off the couch and fell onto the floor in a heap of hooves and feathers. Meanwhile, John gave off a deep laugh that reverberated throughout the library. John leaned down and watched as Dash lay there on her back staring at the ceiling. John took his finger and booped Dash on the nose.
"First, apology accepted." He saw Dash slowly begin to come to her sense's. She glared at his finger as she got her motor function's back.
"Second off that is more than enough payback for laughing up a storm about earlier today." He said Dash by now had rolled over and looked him over. He sat there smile on his face and smiled.
"Ok, I accept that I deserved that." She hopped onto the coach and gave him a wing tap to the shoulder. No matter how much he worked out that still stung whenever she did it. By now tho he had gotten used to it and the only sign he gave of it affecting him was a wince.
"So how'd the day go after I left?" He asked as Dash flopped down into his lap her belly exposed to his tender finger's. Dash hummed as John started to give her blue fur a soft comb through.
"Well, not much happened." Dash smiled as John continued to run his finger's along Dash's belly.
"We went to Sugar Cube Corner and had a feast." Dash let out a content sigh as John brought up his other hand and used both to rub little circle's along Dash's belly starting from her neck and working his way down.
"After that, we sat there and caught up with one another." As John worked his way down her belly he stopped just shy of her hind legs. Giggling Dash opened an eye and smirked.
"Sure you don't want to cop a feel?" She asked swishing her tail about as she spread her leg's a little wider. John's face went red but he held his mind and body in check.
"Over." He ordered as Dash just smirked, obeying his command she rolled over and splayed her wing's open draping one over the side and onto the floor and the other over the back of the sofa.
"You have really got to loosen up a little you know that," Dash said her smirk still adorning her face. John just smiled as he began to massage her back.
"Yeah well, I still need some time to get used to all of this." He said as he thought back to the past month. Dash just snickered.
"Well your not going to get another chance to take it or leave it." Dash giggled as John made it to her wings.
"Careful there big guy don't want to give off the wrong impression." She said as Dash let out a soft sigh as her back muscle's turned into jello.
"Oh, that's a relief." John just smiled.
"You know I've been thinking about that masseuse job at the spa." He said causing Dash to groan with pleasure.
"Well if you took that job up you'd have all the mare's in ponyville after you." John just laughed.
"Not my first thought but none the less I don't think it'd be all that fun to beat off mare's with a stick." Dash just snorted.
"Is that what they call it these day's?" She wiggled her eye brow's suggestively as her tail whipped about and flicked John in the face. John just smiled as he continued to work his way down Dash's back.
"So what brought all this on all of a sudden?" John asked as Dash laid there with a goofy grin on her muzzle.
"Well, It's that time of the month for us mare's." She giggled as John hit a ticklish spot but soon noticed he had stopped.
"Is this a good idea then?" He asked as he began to get increasingly nervous. Dash rolled over once more grin still plastered on her muzzle.
'Don't worry big guy." She raised a hoof to his face. "Not all of us end up as sex-crazed zombie's." She whipped her tail about and spread her hind leg's open. John kept his eye's glued to her's. She giggled.
"But some of us can get a little," She thought about it, "horny from time to time." Her tail then wrapped around John's arm. He gave it a glance and then made up his mind.
"Ok then so now that I'm done we can go our separate way's for tonight." Without waiting on a reply John hefted Dash off of him and sat her down on the couch.
"I will see you tomorrow Dash." He said as he made his way up the stairs. Meanwhile, Dash just sat there. Then she flopped down on the couch and groaned.
"Why can't I get through one day without making an ass of myself." She held her head in her hooves.
So the past three weeks have been nothing short of a nightmare.
John looked around the still dark library and shivered as he pulled his cloak over his shoulder's.
Thank's in part to the town being two third's female their estrous cycles have all but synced up. So if you were a male your best bet was to stay off the street's as much as possible. Luckily some mare's had taken a pill to help reduce the effect's of their heat but not all of them were that foward thinking.
John's thoughts slipped back to three weeks ago when Rainbow had made a pass at him. He chuckled as he continued to scribble in his journal.
To say that Dash was embarrassed was an understatement. She had left that night and immediately taken her pill as soon as she got home. The next day she stopped by to apologize. I let her know that I wasn't mad at her and we parted with a hug. Over the next few weeks, I saw her less and less and figured that she was dealing with her cycle the best way she knew how, by practicing for the wonderbolts.
John smiled as he thought about the past few weeks.
Still, the whole ordeal hasn't been all bad. If anything the ponies have become a lot more affectionate than usual which is really cute when I stop to think about it. Granted it's been awkward a few time's when a mare would hug me for longer than was appropriate or rub up against my thigh without warning but I made due. Now things are starting to settle down and more stallion's are roaming the streets of ponyville. Applejack has gone back to work at Sweet Apple Acre's and Pinky had asked me to come back to work for the cake's. I'm just glad things are getting back to normal.
John gave off a yawn as he set his quill down on his desk and looked out the window towards the rising sun.
"Good mourning Princess Celestia." He smiled as the sunlight that bleed into his little room got a little bit brighter before diming back to normal as he sat up and made his way to his dresser.
"Hum what to wear today?" He said as he studied his meager wardrobe. He picked up a shirt that rarity had made. It was a simple black t shirt that she had made while copying the old one that he still had hung up in his closet. As he looked at it he noticed a rather bland problem with all of his clothing.
"I have to ask Rarity if she can make me some clothing that isn't black." He loved the color as much as the next guy but he still had other taste's in clothing beside's being a gothic metal head.
"Speeching of metal." He grabbed his phone and scrolled through his music. He smiled as he looked upon the last remnants of his home.
"Can't go wrong with a little Dragon Force in the mourning." He said as he popped in his ear bud's and turned the volume up. The first song from Reaching Into Infinity graced his ear's as he went about his mourning routine. By the time Astral Empire was through he had his teeth brushed, his hair combed took his shower, had a new set of clothes on and was on his way down the stairs to see about breakfast. Checking the clock on his phone.
"7:30." He looked around and listened for the tale tell sounds of Twilight. She was up that much was certain as the sounds of a shower met his ear's.
"Perfect." He made his way into the kitchen and smiled.
"Let's get cooking." He muttered to himself as he flipped a switch to turn on the lights.
Twilight hummed a little tune to herself as she gripped a scrungy in her magic and scrubbed the last bit's of sleep from her coat. Trotting out if her shower she levitated a towel over and began to dry herself off. She stepped out of her bathroom feeling fresh and ready to tackle the day. Trotting over to her desk she grabbed her notebook full of checklist's and grabbed her saddlebags on the way out of her room. As she came down the stair's the smell of breakfast hit her like a truck.
Her stomach grumbled as she picked up her pace and made her way to the kitchen. Poking her head in she saw John standing there fully dressed and ready to tackle the day as he went about flipping a pancake in a skillet. Hearing her come down the stair's John looked over and smiled.
"Hey there Twilight." He gave her a small wave as he flipped the pancake once more before setting it on a plate that had a stack of them. Twilight had to stop her mouth from watering at the sight.
"So what's for breakfast?" She asked feeling her face heat up as her thoughts began to cloud over. Shaking her head she held out a hoof.
"Hold that thought." She trotted over to a cabinet and took out a bottle of pill's popping one into her mouth she looked around for a glass and was pleasantly surprised to see John holding one out for her.
"Here you go." He said as he went about cleaning up his mess in the kitchen. She gave him a nod and took the pill which had begun to dissolve in her mouth. A wave of relief came over her the moment the pill entered her stomach, it's magic working to instantly suppress the last throe's of her heat cycle from flaring up. As her mind began to clear up she took a look at all that John had made for breakfast. Bacon and egg's, with pancakes and grits. she smiled and gave John a hug that he was not expecting.
"Thank's for this." She said as she held him in her hooves. John just chuckled as he wrapped his arm's around her and patted her head as she leaned it on his chest.
"No problem Twilight." He looked around at the clock.
"7:50" He muttered. This caught Twilight's attention as she looked over at it. Letting go of John she trotted over to her side of the table and grabbed her plate full of food.
"So Twilight, if my math is correct today, is the last day of heat for all of you right?" He asked as he stuffed a pancake in his mouth. She adopted a look of scientific calculation as she brought up her mental calendar. Then she smiled.
"Yes." She said as she used her telekineses to scoop up an egg and stacked a bit of bacon on top of it. She wolfed it down all in one go as John thought about his own schedule.
"Great." He said thinking about the past few weeks.
"I can't wait for thing's to get back to normal." He said as he polished off his pancakes. Now he set his sight's on his egg's and bacon.
"Prepare to be destroyed." He said as he grinned at his food evily. A snicker from the other side of the table cut off his food devourement. He looked over and saw Twilight trying to stifle her laughter.
"What?" He asked wondering what was so funny.
"Did you just threaten your food?" She asked as he thought about it and looked down in embarrassment as he tried to save face.
"Well... um... I." He stammered as Twilight finally burst out in a fit of laughter. Soon however John joined her as he thought about how silly it must have looked. As the two's laughter petered out they looked at the clock and soon continued eating. When all was said and done John gathered up the dishes and set about cleaning them up. Meanwhile, Twilight went over her checklist for the day and was pleasantly surprised when a scroll popped out of thin air.
"Ooh yay!" She exclaimed as she grabbed it and opened it up. John heard the magic and looked over from his stack of dishes.
"Is It from spike?" He asked as he went back to work. Twilight nodded.
"Uh huh. It says here that he'll be back by the end of the night." She continued reading and laughed.
"Oh, and Princess Celestia bid's you good mourning as well." She said as John smiled. As soon as she was done reading it, Twilight wisped the letter off to her room and stretched as she got to her hooves again.
"So what are you up to today?" she asked as John finished up the last of the dishes. Drying his hands on a towel he turned around and looked off into the distance as he went over his own list of things to do today. He shrugged his shoulder's.
"Not much. First, I have to go back to work with Pinkie, then I have an interview with the Spa Twins." He looked up in thought once more.
"After that, I'm pretty much free for the rest of the day." Twilight gave him a nod.
"Good." She looked at the clock once more.
"Can you meet me here at around 4 in the afternoon?" She asked him out of the blue. John gave her a look of cautious scrutiny.
"Ok." He said eyeing her face as he tried to discern whether not she was up to something. She just smiled.
"Great." She then trotted over to the door.
"I'll be gone for a little bit, have some errands to run so I will see you later." She chirped as she opened the door. and stepped out. Just as she was about to shut it however she poked her head back in.
"Oh and don't forget to lock the front door this time." She reminded him as she slipped out into the early mourning sunshine. John just snickered.
"I only forgot that one time Twilight." He smirked as he went and grabbed his backpack and pulled out his key ring.
"I swear you make one mistake and you never hear the end of it." He smiled as he jokingly complained to himself. With a twist of the key, the front door was thoroughly secured and John walked into the bubbly streets of Ponyville proper.
8:17 A.M.
Hot Shot trotted through the streets of Ponyville with a visible spring in his step and a smile a mile wide on his muzzle as he weaved his way through the small town.
"Can't wait to get back home and see how Cloud Kicker is doing." His smile faltered a little. "Today's the last day of heat." He smirked.
"Hopefully she's down for a ride when I get back." His smile redoubled its efforts to plaster itself permanently on his face. He shook his head as confidence surged throughout this body.
"Eh how can she say no to this," He thought as he suddenly struck a pose in the middle of the street. A group of mare's giggled at his as they trotted past while grinned at them and gave the group a sultry wink.
"I'm available all this week ladies." He grinned as they all giggled even more while they went along there way. As they passed he caught the tail end of there whisper's.
"He's so sexy."
"Do you really think he's available?"
"Who cares look at him." Hot Shot smirked as he caught the pheromones still clinging to the air around the mare's and as he gave them one last look at the group going along there way one of the mares raised her tail and gave him a wink with both ends. That sent a shiver throughout his body ending at the base of his cock which began to twitch as his mind became lost in the haste of his lust.
"Man what I wouldn't give to be off of work today." He struggled to keep his libido under control as he continued his treck to work. A little while later he was mostly composed enough to fly up to Ponyville's weather station positioned just above the town hall.
"This place really hasn't changed all that much." He was greeted by the same grand sight that had alway's been there. Once he was on solid hoofing he gazed up at his new job. The building wasn't all that bigger than the town hall. In fact, he thought it was marginally smaller than the earth pony constructs below. It was still as grand looking as ever with it ancient looking architecture, high archway's and grand columns made from densely packed grey storm cloud's, a feature he felt complemented the off white tightly condensed nimbus clouds that made up the floor of the building, both inside and out. He broke out of his stupor and decided that he had trotted down memory lane long enough.
As soon as he landed his cocky grin was back and his mind was focused. Heading through the door's he was greeted to the high vaulted ceilings of the main lobby and made his way to the daily schedule board.
"Now let's see. Where is s- Ah Ha!" He smirked.
"She's back on duty." He smiled as he trotted out the door and unfurled his wing's. He was scheduled to work the evening shift today so that left him with plenty of time to head on over to see his best friend.
Rainbow Dash proceeded to go through her morning routine as she stretched out her leg's and extended her wing's out to there fullest. Once that was done she trotted downstairs to her kitchen and grabbed a protein shake she had made the night before.
"Hm, what else?" She wondered as her eye's drifted over her surroundings. Her eye's lit up as they fell on her saddle bag's sitting next to her door propped up against her side table. As she reached for the bag her eye's glanced over at the table and she stopped mid step. She looked at the picture on the small table and smiled. She grabbed her bag with one wing and the picture with the other. She sighed as she slipped the saddlebag's on her back and set the picture back down.
"I've got to go and see how the girls are doing." She vowed as she opened her front door and was greeted with a nice soft breeze that alway's blew up at her house's high altitude. A smirk adorned her muzzle as she stepped out into her front porch and let the wind blow through her mane sending her ponytail fluttering in the breeze as her bangs were pushed aside and plastered to her forehead. Her eye's scanned the airway's as she trotted to the edge of her front porch and looked down at Ponyville below. Her house like all other cloud-based construct's had drifted some during the night.
"I can take care of that later." She pushed the future work out of her mind as she lazily trotted over to the edge and began her freefall to the earth below. The rush of wind passing her by greeted her ear's as she dived through the air. Slowly she flexed her primary's getting a feeling of the air space around her.
"All's clear." Without a second thought she spun around and snapped her wing's open causing little sparks of electricity to cascade throughout her wing's as the friction began to pile up upon them. With a mighty flap and a crack of thunder she dissipated the build-up of electron's that had found themselves clinging to her wing's and she set off toward's the town below.
"First off gotta stop by pinky's." She smiled as she thought about her mourning routine.
"Gotta get that back in order." She skimmed across the air wave's as she glided through the sea of wind and spotted her destination off to her left. As she landed in front of her friend's place of work a familiar scent tickled her nose. Recognizing it's owner she allowed her self to chuckle.
"How could I forget to say hey to the big guy." She smirked. She opened the door and was assailed by the many smells of Suger Cube Corner's confections and pastries. Pinky Pie meanwhile was helping a customer with there order, balancing on her hind hoof roller skate's while she held a note pad in one hoof and a pencil in the other.
"All right so that'll be one French Vanilla stack of pancakes with a large coffee hold the sugar and add several creams, and for the little guy," She smiled at a little colt who blushed from the attention of such a bubbly mare, Pinky smiled as she continued to list off there order. "He'll have the short stack with a side of orange juice and a small helping of hash brown's, is that correct?" she asked. The father and son both nodded as Pinky ripped the order off of her pad and gave the two a big smile.
"All righty you two just wait here and your order will be out faster then you can say supercalifragilisticexpialidocious." The father and son gave her an extremely puzzled look as she rolled off toward's the kitchen's with there order tucked into her hat. As she rolled past the counter her smile grew even more when she saw Rainbow Dash standing there. Dash waved as Pinky rolled past her and vaulted over the counter landing in front of the cash register. Dash just whistled in amazement.
"Wow Pink's where do you find the time to learn all those crazy gymnastics?" She asked as Pinky giggled.
"Well the past few weeks have been a bit boring so I decided to teach myself a little thing or two." She beamed at her friend who raised an eyebrow.
"How could you do that?" she asked as Pinky held up a hoof.
"One sec Dash." She turned around and put her head through a little window behind the counter.
"Hey, Johnny we got a father and sone who want a number 7 and 17 respectively." She called out. John chuckled as he alway's did whenever he saw Pinky's head sticking through the wall. He gave her a soft pat as he took the order from her hat and hung it up with several other's that he had to work on.
"Ok will do Pink's." He gave her a thumbs up to which she gave him a salute. As she began to retract her head her eye's went wide.
"Oh and by the way your favorite customer's here." She said waggling her eyebrow's at him. John just laughed.
"Oh, and who would that be?" He asked as he flipped a pancake in one skillet while he stirred some egg's in another. Pinky just giggled. She managed to squeeze both of her forehooves though the window along with her notepad and pencil and quickly jotted down an order. she then handed it over to John who looked it over.
"When you get done with that order bring it to table six and find out." She gave him a playful smirk before pulling her self out of the window and back to the cash register. John just chuckled as he set the order on his line and continued cooking for the other customer's.
8:20 A.M.
"So Pinky how have thing's been going for you over the past few weeks?" Dash asked as Pinky rolled herself over and sat down with Dash at table six. Pinky grinned as she brought a pastry up to her face and took a bite out of it. She swallowed it before she answered her friend a fact that Dash was thankful for.
"Well, there's not a lot of mare's or stallion's at the gym during the heat so I just went and signed up for some gymnastic classes while it was empty." She said taking another bite out of her muffin. Dash nodded.
"Yeah, I bet it was empty." She smirked. "I bearly saw a single pony out and about when I went out to practice my aerobatic routine." As she was just about to get up and grab a napkin from the front counter she was stopped by a tray of food being put in front of her.
"And here are your order's lady's," John smirked as the duo gave him huge smile's.
"Hey there stretch!" Dash hopped up and wrapped John in a hug. He chuckled as he gave one back.
"Hey, there fuzzball. Long time no see." He smirked as Dash gave him a light tap on the shoulder.
"So how was your first heat?" Dash wiggled her eyebrow's as John just smirked.
"Any mare catch your eye?" She teased while John just laughed.
"Hah fat chance of that happening." He said as he pulled up a chair. Dash just smirked.
"Come on you can't tell me you weren't even the least bit curious?" Dash asked faining shock. John just grinned.
"You forget I live with Twilight. Any curiosity I had was beaten out of me the moment I got here by the extremely thorough and detailed questioner that she had on hand." He then sighed and pulled out his checklist and crossed off one line below the others.
"Beside's I highly dought I'm on any ponies radar as far as becoming a potential coltfriend." He smiled as he leaned back in his chair keeping his balance so as to not fall over. Dash just smirked.
"Just you wait for it big guy, one day some mare is going to come and sweep you off your feet." She giggled as his face split into a grin.
"Then what are you going to do?" She asked as she leaned on the table to get a closer look at her friend. He was starting to get some hair on his face. He just kept up a cool casual face and shrugged.
"Don't know really. I'll have to cross that bridge when I get to it." He smiled as Dash rolled her eye's.
"Stallion's don't you all ever get tired of not having a plan?" She ribbed as John just smirked.
"Nope. I don't know about other guy's but I personally like to plan as far ahead as I can and then for the rest of the time I just wing it." He smiled as Dash snickered. Meanwhile Pinky was just sitting enjoying the conversation between two of her best friend's. The two kept on talking as Pinky slinked away to go take care of a customer that had come up to the counter. As soon as she was done taking her order the bell for the door opened and in came the sex on a stick that was Hot Shot, or so he liked to believe.
"Hello, Pinky!" He smirked as Pinky visibly cringed at him calling out her name. She put on a front of a smile and greeted him like any other customer.
"Hey there Hot Shot." She said glancing over at Dash and John. They were lost in catching up with one another and Pinky meanwhile was trying to not gag Hot Shot with a wooden spoon.
"So what'll it be?" She asked while trying to be polite. Hot Shot grinned as he began his order in a rather sultry tone.
"Oh you know the usual black with several pumps of cream, hold the sugar." He said as he leaned on the counter that confident smirk never once leaving his muzzle. Pinky gave a forced giggle at his rather lewd tone of voice and went into the back to get Hot Shot's order.
"Sweet Celestia please let Dashy be ready for him today." She prayed as she went about getting the perverse stallion's beverage ready. Meanwhile, John and Dash were all caught up.
"So how's practice going?" John asked. Dash just shrugged.
"Eh it's going." She said causing John to smile.
"I smell a butt coming." He interjected. Dash snickered as she rolled her eyes.
"Ha ha very funny." She then sighed. "But," She glanced at his face and smirked as his grin made itself known to the world.
"I haven't exactly been a great friend recently." She said mulling over the last few weeks as John sat there thinking.
"How so?" He asked causing Dash to look at him funnily.
"What do you mean how so?" She asked back.
"I haven't seen any of you in a little over three weeks." She said as John sat there thinking things through. Then he shrugged.
"So." He said causing Dash to give him a look of confusion.
"So? That's all you have to say?" She asked feeling let down. John huffed in amusement.
"Dash sometime's people back where I'm from and ponies to it would seem," He motioned to her. "Just need some alone time. The amount of time varies from person to person and I would assume pony to pony." He then set his chair back down on all fours and leaned on the table looking Dash in the eyes.
"What happened with you and your heat was your's to determine." He smirked as Dash mulled his word's over while he continued.
"You needed to deal with your heat in your own way. If that means that you spend it alone with nothing but yourself and the open air then that's your choice." She gave him a look of curiosity.
"So don't go beating yourself up for not spending your heat with your friend's." He stated. Dash sat there and then huffed in embarrassment letting out a hollow chuckle.
"Wow, I stuck my hoof in my own mouth again." John snickered.
"No, you just felt bad for not being with anypony for three weeks." He said giving her a reassuring pat on the head. She let him get away with this one, mostly because it felt so soothing after all the negative feelings she had come out over the course of the last few minutes.
"Trust me Dash all of our friends will be happy to see you." He smirked. "And I'll even bet you that they'll all understand your reason's for wanting to be alone for the past three weeks." He grinned as Dash did the same.
"You bet? What are the stake's then?" She asked as her fiery spirit was lit up once more. John thought about it and then grinned.
"Well the--"
"Well well look at what we have here!?" Came a voice from just behind John causing him to jump into the air a little. John spun around and came face to muzzle with Hot Shot. Dash got up and walked around to see Hot Shot grinning from ear to ear. Her smile reappeared.
"Hey, dude!" She said trotting over and giving Hot Shot a hug that he gladly returned.
"Hey, Dashy!" He exclaimed as the two broke the hug. Hot Shot glanced over at John.
"Hey there furless!" He raised a hoof as John gave him a bump, a soft smile upon his face.
"Hey to you too." He smirked as Hot Shot joined the duo. John glanced at his watch and shook his head.
"Crap." He glanced at Dash.
"Hey mind if I give you a rain check on that bet?" He asked as he got up and pushed his chair in. Dash just laughed.
"Sure but we've got to hang out later on today." She said as he gave her a thumbs up.
"Definitely. What time are you off work?" He asked as he leaned on the back of the chair. She thought about it.
"Today is a light shift so from nine in the mourning to three in the afternoon." She answered. John nodded.
"Alright. Twilight wants me to come over at four so once I'm done with that I'll see about heading over to the park." He looked at the clock.
"Does five work for you?" He asked as Pinky came out of the kitchen a smile plastered to her face as she skated up to Dash's table. Dash gave him a nod.
"Sound's great." She said giving him a winged salute. John gave his own two-finger salute and headed back to the kitchen.
"So Dash how've you been?" Hot Shot asked as he and Dash left Suger Cube Corner. Dash just smiled.
"Oh, the usual." She let a cocky grin come over her muzzle.
"Training for the upcoming Aerolympics and the Wonderbolts of course." She said as the two took flight. Hot Shot smirked as the two of them banked around a wall of cloud's as they made their way to the weather station.
"Say Dash I hear that your head weather mare for Ponyville correct?" She gave him a smirk.
"Yeah. Who else is going to manage all the air space between here Cloudsdale and Canterlot?" She said her cocky grin getting the best of her.
"So does that mean that you make the schedule's for the employees?" Rainbow laughed.
"you trying to play hooky on me today?" She asked to which Hot Shot snickered.
"Who me?" He pointed a hoof to himself. "I would never dream of it." He said snickering as the two came within view of the weather station. Dash just smirked.
"You do know I that I'm friends with Princess Luna right?" She smiled as Hot Shot blanched a little bit.
"Oh uh really?" He asked feeling very nervous all of a sudden. Dash flashed him a sly grin.
"Don't worry there buddy. I'm not about to go traipsing around in your head while you sleep." She said as the two made for a landing on the outcropping of cloud that was right outside the front door of the weather station.
As the two made their way inside the pony at the front desk looked up and gave Dash a slight nod as she and Hot Shot trotted past. Dash nodded back as the two made their way to Dash's office space. As soon as they reached the door Dash held it open for Hot Shot. He smirked as he entered.
"Thank you, Dash." He said as he scanned the little room. She stood there for a second thinking.
"Huh, where'd that come from?" She wondered as she entered. She trotted over to her desk and sat behind it. Then her face went from one of a friend to that of an employer.
"So Hot Shot you've seen the schedule I've had posted up out front and you feel that you should be switched out in favor of some pony else." She asked. Hot Shot nodded.
"That is correct." She thought about it for a second.
"Why should I grant this request?" She asked as Hot Shot pushed down a snicker. Hot Shot adopted a neutral face as he spoke.
"Well to be perfectly honest my reasoning is selfish in nature." He said causing Dash to raise an eyebrow. He looked her in the eye's and told the truth, a smirk crossing his muzzle as he spoke.
"There's an old friend I would like to hang out with but right now our schedule's conflict." He paused as Dash let a smirk of her own crack her professional visage.
"Oh really?" she asked as Hot Shot smiled and continued.
"Yeah. We haven't really gotten to hang out all that much in the past few months since I came to live here and I would like to make up for lost time." The two of them stared at one another for a while until Dash cracked a small smile.
"Well, I can talk to her for you and see what I can do." She smiled. "I hear that she has a rather busy day later but I think she'll be rather ok with trying to fit you in there." They both smiled as Hot Shot got up and Dash made her way from behind the desk.
"So yeah in a non-professional sense I do have some prior obligations today but I'll see if I can bring you along." She smiled.
"Trust me I know you and John haven't really hung out but he could use some stallion friends." Hot Shot smirked.
"Well, he's friends with you so he can't be all that bad." He smiled.
"I'll see you later Dash." He opened the door but stopped and turned around.
"And thanks for seeing me today." Dash smiled and nodded.
"No problem Shooter." She said bringing a Smile to Hot Shot's face. Soon he was chuckling as the two made their way to the front door.
"Haven't heard that name in year's." He smirked. They both stopped at the door and Hot Shot gave Dash a hug, one that she returned with a soft smile.
"See you later." The two parted way's and Dash turned back to the schedule board and sighed.
"Well, at least my old friends will get to meet my new ones."
4:03 P.M.
John's day had been rather uneventful, a fact that he was grateful for. Now that he was free to do as he pleased he headed back to Twilights. As he walked through Ponyville John heard the local hustle and bustle of various ponies at work and play that he had become so accustomed to over the few long months he had been here. Soon however he tuned them all out in favor of letting his mind wander onto other things. Things he had not really given much thought to in quite some time.
"I wonder how my family is doing?" His thought's continued to drift down memory lane as he walked through the town. Then a smile graced his face as he settled onto his current situation.
"I know they'ed be worried but I really wish they could see me now." He chuckled to himself. "At least they would know I'm safe." John cleared his head as he reached Twilight's front door and took a deep breath. Knocking several times he was delighted to see a purple glow envelope the knob.
"Hello and welcome to-" Twilight stopped as she saw who was outside. Her look of professionalism was then replaced with one of confusion. that was quickly overtaken with fear.
"Oh hey there John." She put extra emphasis on his name. John raised an eyebrow and looked around making sure there were no ponies hiding in the tree branches above. His eyes settled back onto Twilight who looked like she was starting to sweat a little bit.
"Is everything ok there Twilight?" He asked feeling concerned as to what could have his friend this worried. Twilight craned her neck out and looked around. Not seeing anypony else she held up a hoof and motioned for John to come closer. He did so after giving the surrounding area one more once over.
"There's something I have to tell you and you have to promise me to not tell anypony else." She whispered as John nodded.
"Ok. what is it?" He asked feeling very awkward all of a sudden as Twilight held him close leaning her head on his shoulder. Hiding her muzzle from John Twilight began to grin to herself.
"Can you keep a secret?" Twilight asked as John began to sweat.
"Of course I can." He said as he felt Twilight starting to shake all of a sudden.
"Twilight is every-" He stopped as he grabbed Twilight and held her face up to his. He was puzzled as he saw her squirming in his grasp giggling like crazy.
"What's so funny?" He asked feeling like he had missed a very big joke. Twilight continued to giggle and eventually, she roared with laughter. John slowly put her down as he looked around. His eyes, however, were glued to the cobblestone road that lead from Twilight's house/library to the rest of town were another mare that looked a lot like Twilight was now trotting from.
"What?" He vocalized the confusion permeating his mind and body as he did a double take, twice. Once to the Twilight o the road and another time at the Twilight in front of him as he looked at the giggling mess of a mare that was supposedly his same friend fro this mourning. All of this was suddenly swept under the rug however as a stallion's voice filtered from within the tree house.
"Hey honey bun's what's the holdup?" Soon giggling mess Twilight was joined by a big burly looking unicorn stallion that looked like he ate Big Mac for breakfast. John was at a loss for words.
"Shining Armor?" He said under his breath, or so he thought. The stallion looked up from the twilight on the ground and looked toward's the human that had been living with his sister for the past few months.
"Oh hey there." He said extending a hoof. John gave it a look but flinched as Twilight from down the way came up to the tree house. She looked around at all the people standing outside her tree house and then looked over to her brother.
"Don't tell me you two ruined the surprise!?" She pouted as her brother rubbed the back of his head and gave his sister a sheepish grin.
"Well, he kind of surprised us." He said as he let out a muffled yawn. Twilight squinted at her brother as she huffed.
"Well, the cat's out of the bag now." She began muttering to herself as she gave the Twilight on the ground a soft stare. Twilight had stopped rolling on the ground and gave her sister in law a look of bearly contained glee.
"Hey there Twily." She said as she erupted into green flame's causing John to once more flinch and even jump back a little. Standing there a hand length taller than her boyfriend was none other than Princess Mi Amore Cadenza herself, well mostly. John was flabbergasted.
"Y-y-y-you-your." He stammered as Cadance giggled into a hoof. His confusion was exquisitely amusing to her and she could see why her sister liked to have him around if he was this much fun within her first few minutes of meeting him. Cadance draped a hoof over Shining and the two cuddled as Twilight got John under control. As she was doing this the rest of her friends decided to show up.
"Howdy there Twilight!" Applejack shouted as she came sauntering over a hill to the south. Her red handkerchief flapped in the breeze as she held onto her father's stetson. She looked up to see a prismatic mane fly past. She smirked as she held onto her hat once more as Dash made another pass this time followed closely by red and orange blur.
"Oh my." Came a voice from beside AJ causing her to smirk. She glanced over at Fluttershy who seemed to fade into existence from Aj's shadow. Fluttershy watched as the two pegasi danced about in the sky until they finally came in for a landing just on top of the tree causing the whole thing to sway from the sudden force exerted upon its base. John had come out of his stupor and looked around at everypony assembled.
"Well, should we go in or wait for the other's?" He asked still trying to wrap his head around the fact that a princess of equestria was, in fact, a changeling.
"Cadance!" The group all looked over to see Rarity trotting up the road with a bubbly Pinky Pie in tow. Rarity immediately made a beeline over to Cadance and the two trotted inside the tree house leaving the other's outside. Pinky bounced over to the group and smiled as she gave everypony a hug.
"So are we ready to get this party started!?" She asked. John just stood there pondering.
"So what exactly is this party all about Pinky?" He asked as they all funneled into the library. Her response, however, was drowned out by the loud cheer of what seemed like the whole town that had somehow shoved itself into the small tree house. The group all walked over to the stairs and ascended to the loft getting some space from all the hustle down below. As soon as John plopped down on a coach Pinky was there by his side ready and waiting for belly rubs. John just chuckled as he obliged her.
"Oh, that feel's good." She said as she began to drift off into a blissful state of being. Rarity snickered.
"Please tell me you've been by the spa and asked the sister's for a job?" She asked while all of the other's got comfy. John smirked and wiggled his finger's for all to see.
"Well I've just had an interview with them today and I think it went pretty well all things considered." He stated as he went back to rubbing Pinky's belly. Rarity smiled.
"Good for you dear." She said looking over the rest of the group. She noticed Applejack was scanning the party down below.
"Applejack?" She asked getting the farm mares attention.
"Hum?" Aj looked over at Rarity.
"Yeah?" She asked as Rarity to look over the crowd.
"Looking for anyone special?" She asked as she spotted her little sister hanging out with her friends. Applejack spotted her own sister hanging out with Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo. She smiled as the trio mingled with the townsfolk. She then looked over at John and smiled.
"Looking for my brother." She said as she leaned up against the wooden railing of the loft and letting out a sigh. She scanned the crowd once more.
"He needs to make more friend's and John over there could use a stallion or two to help him get out of the house and just go do guy stuff every once and awhile." She said as she turned around and leaned against the wood. As Rarity and Aj talked Dash and Hot Shot sat off to the side and conversed.
"So what do you think about Ponyville so far?" Dash asked as she Hot Shot sat down on a cloud sofa. Hot Shot laughed.
"It's nowhere near as exciting as the guard." He said as he sipped on a drink he procured from a table down below. Dash smirked.
"Yeah, I can see that becoming boring real fast." She said causing Hot Shot to snort.
"Oh, it's not all bad." He smirked as he wagged his eyebrows. "Beside's I get to spend my day's surrounded my hot mare's." He said causing the whole group to look his way. Some in disgust, others with smirk's adorning there muzzles and blushes upon there cheeks. Dash herself chuckled as he continued.
"In all seriousness however I really don't mind all the peace and quiet." He laughed out loud.
"In fact the past few weeks have been to most exciting of my life." He thought back to the lovely earth mare he ended up plowing into the hotel bed he had been staying at all this time. His face lit up as he remembered his past sexcapades.
"Yeah, the last few weeks have been good." He said as he finished off his drink. "How about you Dash?" He smirked.
"Have your eye's set on anypony around here?" Dash just snickered and waved it off.
"Huh! No." She took a sip of her glass as she continued.
"Not at the moment. Can't really focus on a relationship right now with all that I have to d around here." She thought about it.
"Sucks to be alone, to be honest," Aj snorted. "Now now sugar cube don't you go stealing my element of harmony now yeah hear!?" She said as Dash snickered and stuck her tongue out.
"Oh haha AJ." She said as she put her now empty glass down on a side table.
"Like I'd give up my element of loyalty anytime soon." She laughed as Pinky trotted over and refilled their glasses.
"Thank's Pinks," Dash said as Pinky beamed. Nodding her head she let out a small giggle.
"Anytime Dashy!" She trotted down the stair's and waded through the sea of mingling ponies below. Meanwhile, Fluttershy was calmly sitting down next to John who was absentmindedly stroking her mane. Fluttershy commonly did this to her animal friends to help them relax and it was having the same effect on the little yellow vampony.
"If those spa sister's turn you down I might have to hire you for myself." She said purring as John just chuckled.
"Well, Mistress Fluttershy if it would bring you this amount of comfort and joy then I would be happy to give away my services free of charge." Cadance perked up at this. She snickered.
"Be careful what you say there, John." She smiled. "There are plenty of mare's that would love to take advantage of that offer." John just laughed.
"I'm sorry to say it princess but I'll have to disagree with you there." He gestured to himself.
"I fail to see how any mare can see this as attractive." He smiled even if it stung himself to here the truth. Rarity just giggled.
"Oh don't sell yourself short dear." She winked at him and continued. "Mares love the exotic and unknown." she pointed a hoof at John.
"And you are both of those wrapped up in an enigma." She smiled at him causing him to blush profusely. He cleared his throat a few time while trying to gt his heavy blush under control.
"Well either way I don't think I've been here anywhere near long enough to really get to know anyone all that well." Cadance however was curious.
"So just how long do humans normally take to court one another?" She asked. John nearly choked on his drink but a few pats from Fluttershy solved that issue. He looked around and saw all of the eyes in the loft on him. He chuckled nervously as he rubbed the back of his head.
"Um well, I don't know about most people but I personally think that six months to a year is a good time frame." He felt all of the eye's go wide.
"Really that long?" Rarity asked as Twilight counted off on her hooves.
"So then in about three to four more month's you'll find a nice mare to settle down with?" She asked smirking as John blushed even more. He smiled as he groaned.
"Even the book worm is making fun of my non existent love life. Oh how my life is one big joke." He laughed.
"So how long do you ponies take to seal the deal?" He asked. All eyes went over to Cadance who smirked.
Well dear that all depends on the couple." She smiled. "Some couples can instantly meet and click." Then she stopped to think about it.
"The longest courtship I've ever had a part in lasted a little over two month's." She said feeling rather proud. John just whistled.
"Wow you guys sure move fast." He said downing the last of his drink and sitting the empty glass down on the table. Feeling more than a little uncomfortable with the topic of conversation John quickly got up and looked around.
"Oh hey anypony else need a refill?" He asked as he made his way down the stairs. Fluttershy just sighed.
"I really thought we were making headway there." She sighed while glancing over at Rainbow and Hot Shot.
Got a good night's sleep. Didn't dream about the old lady for once. I think Luna was there though. Note to self don't let dreams wonder while the princess is there. I know that she's been around a long time but I really don't want her to walk in on a wet dream. Ever!
I'd die of embarrassment right then and there. Now that that's all over with however I can focus on what's important today like the big carnival coming to town. Show ponies from all over Equestria will be flocking to Ponyville to show off there skill's and talents as well as there being a huge influx of tourists from all over. Pinky and I have been really busy with all of the food prep the past week so the cakes gave us the day off.
Whoo! Get to spend some time the girl's and catch up on all of there latest adventure's! It's been a while since the last episode from what I can remember but I really hope things don't get too out of hand. I've been lucky the past few months but I don't know how long that luck will last. Thing's are going to get crazy around here soon I can feel it. I just hope I'm ready.
7:07 A.M.
Several minutes later and with a clean mouth and freshly washed face John descended the stair's ready to tackle the day. Or so he thought.
Looking around he noticed the note taped to the front door. Grabbing it in one hand he read it as he made his way to the kitchen.
Dear John.
Spike and I have gone down to the town hall to help with the preparations for the upcoming festivities. Help yourself to whatever you can make. We'll be back soon. P.S. don't forget to lock up.
John grinned as he tucked the note away in his shirt pocket.
"Never change Twilight." John hummed a little tune to himself as he went about his work in the kitchen.
7:34 A.M.
Twilight trotted throughout the streets of ponyville at a brisk pace as Spike took up his scroll and quill jotting down notes about the various stall's and ponies who ran them. Spike was lost in focus and Twilight trotted around in deep thought.
"Let's see." She looked around her surrounding's and then back to her little map of the town, jotting down her own notes about the changes being made to the small town. Both creatures were so focused that they didn't notice another soul around them until Twilight came to an abrupt halt via the rear end of another being. She looked around as she picked herself up off the ground.
"Oh, I'm so sorry about that." She said as she looked around for the creature she plowed into. She gave off a soft squeak of fear as she locked eyes with a griffon. Said griffon was giving her a look of curiosity.
"No worries." She said in a slightly gruff voice as she held a claw out for Twilight to take a hold of. Twilight gave the griffon a soft smile as she used her claw to haul herself off the ground and padded herself off. She then looked around.
"Spike?" She asked looking around for her little brother. A soft moan from behind them both caused both of them to turn around and behold a spike shaped indent in the ground. Twilight let out an eep as her cheeks went crimson.
"Oh, my gosh spike!" She said using her magic to lift the baby dragon out of his hole in the ground. Cradling him in her forehooves she turned around and thanked the griffon before bolting off towards the library. Gilda just stood there watching the strange duo go while she scratched her head in confusion.
"Why are ponies always this weird?" She looked back to her map of the town as she looked around for one specific tent.
"Let's see Pinky Pie said I could find her at the end of Second Borrow Street." She looked around and spotted the sign she was looking for.
"Going in the right direction." She walked down the busy street minding all of the ponies and other creature's setting up there stall's for the festival. Humming a small tune to herself she looked at the signs outside each tent she passed. Finally, at the end of the cul de sac, she found the pony she was looking for. A small bell chimed as Gilda ducked into the rather spacious tent and a voice rang out from the back of the tent.
"I'll be right with you!" Gilda chuckled.
"Take your time miss." She looked around. "I'm in no rush." She huffed to herself.
"Who am I kidding. I need to make a quick bit so I can get out of this town and on my way to Cloudsdale ASAP." Her thoughts were interrupted by a blue unicorn that came trotting from the back of the tent. She waved her cape in a dramatic fashion as she trotted over to the Gilda.
"Hello, customer." She said as her hat appeared upon her head from nowhere.
"And welcome to the Great and Powerful Trixie's Illustrious house of Illusion!" As Trixie smiled her figure suddenly vanished causing Gilda to look around.
"Wow! Ok, that's cool." She remarked causing Trixie to appear right next to her.
"Thank you, miss?" Trixie asked as Gilda looked to her left nearly having a mini heart attack. When Gilda's heartbeat slowed back down she gave Trixie a pleading look.
"Um well there's really no other way to ask this so here it goes." Starring Trixie in the eye's she squared her shoulder's.
"Miss Trixie I'd like to ask you if you could use an assistant for the duration of your stay in ponyville." There it was out in the open. Trixie was at a loss. She wasn't expecting this to happen when she had woken up this mourning. Slowly she began to circle the griffon who remained stock still.
"I'll have to think about it but you should receive my answer before my show later on tonight." She looked at the griffon.
"Is that ok miss?" Trixie asked as Gilda let a faint smirk adorn her beak. It quickly faded as she focused on the rest of the tasks at paw for her today.
"Gilda." She replied extending a claw. Trixie took the claw in her magic and the two parted ways.
8:07 A.M.
John paced around the library constantly checking thing off of his list as he went. Looking around he took stock of all that he'd taken care of in the treehouse.
"And done!" He said ticking off the last item on his list as he finished up with the trash can. Heading over to the sink to wash his hands his thoughts began to wonder.
"I wonder if anypony needs help today?" He dried his wet hands on a nearby towel, put his notebook in his pocket and grabbed his phone, wallet, and keys before heading out the door.
8:34 A.M.
Twilight had gotten Spike over to Rarity's house and the two unicorns used various spell's to help make Spike comfortable while also speeding up his healing process. Spike meanwhile sat there with a frown on his face.
"Seriously Twilight I'm fine." He said for the tenth time that day, waving a claw in the air for emphasis. His claw was suddenly engulfed in a purple glow and forced down to his side.
"Spike stop that!" Twilight ordered as she paced around Rarity's shop with a book about dragons in her face. Spike just rolled his eyes and crossed his arms with a huff of annoyance. Rarity meanwhile was in the kitchen whipping up something light for all of them to eat. Looking around she pulled out several bowls for the trio and began to prepare their salads. As she did so she also grabbed a small mineral shaker form a nearby cabinet and proceeded to sprinkle little bit's of crushed sapphire shards onto spike's salad which already had a few other gemstone pieces put in for flavor. Humming a little tune to herself she carefully levitated their food into and then through her living room, up the stairs, and into Spike's temporary abode.
"Alright, you two." She said shuffling into the room with a flourish bringing the food with her. She gave each of them their respective dishes and sat down with Twilight on a sofa next to Spike's bed. His mood brightened up a little as he ate and Twilight took some time off from babying Spike. Now that everypony was fed and they all had some time to cool off Spike asked a question.
"So what are we going to do for the festival?" This caught the attention of both mare's who looked at one another in shock as they remembered what they had planned. Rarity shot up from her seat and ran down the stairs.
"Twilight darling I'm sorry to eat and run but I have an order to finish by tonight!" She shouted from downstair's.
"That's fine Rarity!" Twilight shouted back as she scooped up her saddlebag's and hauled spike out of his bead and settled him on her back carefully while she trotted down the stairs at a brisk pace. Both parties got to the door at the same time. Twilight trotted out first followed by Rarity who locked her door behind her. Spinning around she gave Twilight a hug.
"Take care you two." Then she leaned over and gave Spike a soft kiss on his cheek.
"And you Mr better stay out of trouble." She gave his cheek a nuzzle as Spike fought off the blush that was pushing through his scales.
"Uh sure. Thank's for the help Rare's." He stammered as he used her nickname causing Rarity to giggle through a hoof as she trotted off in the other direction from them. Twilight turned around and headed off to a small dirt road.
"Ok now on to Sweet Apple Acre's." She said as her magic grabbed Spike and held him in place. He just sat there accepting his fate as he pulled out his own checklist and began to mark stuff off.
8:43 A.M.
Fluttershy was worried. Frantically looking around her simple hut of a home she zipped around in a frenzy tidying up the place. As she did so Angel looked on his face a mask of both pity and loathing.
"Why are you so flustered Mistress?" He asked as he hopped down from a nearby window and leaped on top of Fluttershy's back. Vaguely recalling her plan's for the day Fluttershy stopped and looked around. She focused her power's upon the cottage looking for any hint of dust, dirt, or grime she let out a heavy sigh of relief when she came up negative.
"Well, Angel today is a special day for ponyville. Today creature's from all over Equestria are going to be coming to our little town for the annual Talent Festival of Wonders." She said having summoned up a chair for her to rest on while she directed a swarm of mice to get her a cold drink. Angel was at a loss.
"And this mortal festivity concerns us why?" He asked not quite getting it. Fluttershy chuckled as she levitated over a piece of paper. Angel grabbed it and opened it up.
"Dear current resident of blah blah blah exetra exetra." He skimmed through the note until he reached a part that stopped him dead in his tiny familial tracks.
"WHAT!?" He screeched at the mear thought of what his master was about to put them both through.
9:07 A.M.
John waved to a few passing ponies as he walked around the town square helping out where he could. By this time however most of the stall's were up, the performers were all rehearsing for the big opening show tonight and all in all the whole town was in good spirit's. And then John lost in thought ran into some pony. Landing on the ground with a groan john quickly recovered and looked at who he had hit.
"Sorry about that." He said as he looked at a sky blue pegasus. At first, he thought he'd ran into Rainbow but then he noticed their mane wasn't the right color with his being jet black.
"Um?" He looked again. The pony in question quickly got to there hooves casting John a sidelong glance.
"Um, should somepony go and tell one of the circus's that there shaved diamond dog got loose?" John was not amused.
"Why does everypony think I'm a diamond dog." He asked as he got to his feet and glared down at the pony and his entourage. The pony just smirked at him.
"Well, it can speak to." His little group laughed as he looked around.
"Seriously though who's freakshow did you escape from?" He asked as John's glare got harder.
"I'm going to pretend you didn't say that." He said through clenched teeth.
"Instead how about we start over." He set his hand out. "My name is John. I'm Ponyville's resident human." He said as the pegasus stood there looking him up and down. Finally, he smirked as he flared his wing's.
"Well, then Mr human your in luck." He said rearing up on his hind leg's and giving John's hand a shake.
"For you are talking to the one and only Soarin Sky's!" John's eye's widened.
"No!" His brain screamed.
"NO! Soarin is a douche in this universe?" He said as he mentally facepalmed.
"Figure's." He said under his breath. Soarin smirked.
"So I see you've heard of me." He asked as John just chuckled to hide his ever growing disappointment.
"Yup. Hard not to when your friend's with the next up and coming wonderbolt." This caused Soarin to recoil.
"Excuse me?" He asked now feeling very confused. John smirked.
"Oh no can do buddy." He winked. "Don't want to spoil the surprise." He dusted himself off and pointed over to a small stadium still under construction.
"If you want to know then just stop on by there at around 5 in the afternoon." He said as he set out to go and help out Pinky Pie. Soarin meanwhile was ecstatic.
"This new wonderbolt better be good." He muttered as he signaled for his entourage to follow him.
John sat at one of the table's inside Sugar Cube Corner and smiled. The CMC had found John tagging along with Soarin and decided to join them at the restaurant where they then proceeded to grill the wonderbolt about everything they'd read about in various magazines and newspapers.
"All right you three settle down." He chuckled as the cutie mark crusaders all stopped swarming Soarin and sat back down at there table. Soarin chuckled as the three fillies sat down and ate their food. John smiled as he sipped on a cider.
"So Soarin what brings you here to good old Ponyville?" He asked as Pinky flitted about on her hind hooves. Soarin looked up from his pie, a little drop of drool hanging off of his bottom lip as he was brought back to reality from his pie induced trance. Shaking his head for good measure he cleared his throat.
"Well, the rest of the wonderbolts and I are here for security reason's." He stated as he grabbed a nearby knife with his wings and sliced his pie into fourths. John was once again reminded of just how dexterous a pony's wings could be. He was then reminded of just how ravenous their appetites could be as Soarin wolfed down a single piece out of the four he had in one go. Patting his stomach Soarin sighed with relief.
"Ahh, that hit the spot." He stated as reached for another piece with a wing tip. John looked amused.
"Security? For the festival?" He asked wondering just what could possibly need security around here? Soarin nodded as he polished off the last of his pie.
"Yes. Security. The Royal Sister's are going to be making an appearance here today so the palace hired us on as an auxiliary security measure." John nodded as the C.M.C. got up, their plates clean.
"Hey, John we're going to go and check up on Applejack," Scootaloo Said as she and the girl's headed to the door. He gave them a nod.
"Ok, you three. Take care and tell her that I'll be around the farm later this afternoon." Applebloom nodded and the trio left the bakery. Soarin smiled as he got to his hooves and stretched out his wings.
"So just how good is your friend?" He asked feeling out of the loop. John just smiled.
"Well not to give her a bad rep but in my humble opinion, she's the best there is." He stated as he took one last sip of his drink and threw the cup in a nearby wastebasket. He got up and headed to the door with Soarin in tow. Once the two were outside Soarin took to the air hovering in front of John at eye level.
"If you see Dash before I do then let her know that the wonderbolts are interested in an interview." John gave that some thought.
"Why would he want me to tell her that?" He thought about it some more. Then his face hardened into an unreadable expression.
"But you haven't even seen her fly yet?" He asked having a feeling of where this was going. Soarin smirked.
"That's the idea." He said cryptically before he took off. John definitely didn't like this worlds version of Soarin. There was something really off about his whole demeanor. John sighed.
"Great now I'll have to keep an eye on him." He thought about it.
"On second thought why don't I get several sets of eyes on him." The said as he headed off towards Sweet Apple Acres.
12:37 P.M.
Twilight wiped her forehead with a small rag she had tied around her neck. Looking over at Applejack she gave the farm pony a smirk.
"All right AJ I've gotten done with the last shipment of barrels from the fields." She looked around. "So what's next?" She asked as Applejack whistled in appreciation. Looking around the barn she saw that not only had Twilight gotten all of the barrels from the field neatly tucked away she had also arranged them in order of type of apple as well.
"Well, Twi I reckon you've done enough to for now." She said looking at the sun in the sky. She looked around and saw that the rest of the farm worker's were done with there task's as well. Lifting a whistle to her lip's AJ gave it a mighty bellow as all of the workers gave her their undivided attention.
"All right folks that's a wrap for today." She said receiving a chorus of appreciative hollers and hoots. As she and Twilight left the barn AJ turned around and locked the barn door's while Twilight trotted over to the farmhouse where a small group of workers was still gathered around. Looking around she saw the group mostly consisted of her close friend's. Spike was sitting on the front porch chatting with Big Mac while the C.M.C all swarmed around Dash who was flapping in the air with a small towel around her neck. Looking over at Twilight Dash sent her a smirk.
"So Twi how'er your hooves holding up?" She asked as Twilight trotted over. Twilight wiggled each appendage as she walked.
"Eh, they feel like jello but no worse for wear." She said as Spike hopped off of Big Mac's back and went into the house. A second later he came out with a tray full of water and handed each pony a glass. They all gave him thank's as they all decided to go inside to hide from the midday heat. Upon entering they were all hit with a wave of overwhelming smell's and taste's that made there mouth's water.
"Oh wow, who's cooking!?" AJ asked as she made her way into the kitchen. There at the stove was none other than John and Granny Smith who looked to be watching the human cook up a nice homestyle breakfast big enough to feed a whole platoon of ponies. Granny smirked as John flipped a pancake and then with a flourish of hands he picked up a plate and slid it underneath the finished cake before it could fall back into the pan.
"Woo, haven't done that in a while." He smirked as he turned around to see the group of worker starring at the plate.
"What?" He asked as he grabbed a stack of pancakes and put them on the plate with the last pancake and set in on the table. The group all smirked at him and just smiled.
"That can't have been that cool to see." He gestured over at Dash.
"I bet Dash could do that and a whole lot more with her speed." He said as they all rolled there eye's as they headed down the hall to the family table.
"Dude that's not the point," Dash said as she and the other worker's all took a seat at the Apple family's table which was big enough to fit in all of their extended family on a good day. Dash smirked as John went about serving each individual a stack of pancake's while those at the table passed around a pitcher full of apple cider.
"You really have a knack for food," Dash said as she wolfed down her stack of pancakes. John looked over the group. Dash along with AJ, Twilight and the C.M.C all nodded in unison. Big Mac and Soarin both smirked as they happily ate their food. Hot Shot was to busy eating to say anything and meanwhile, Spike, Pinky and the rest of the girl's all gave John an appreciative nod and smile.
"Yeah AJ I think you really stuck your hoof in it this time," Pinky said as she devoured her own stack and then looked around eyeing everyone else's stack. John chuckled as he went over to the oven and opened it up.
"Don't worry everypony I made sure to plan ahead." He opened up the oven to reveal several more heaping helpings of pancakes, eggs, and grits.
"Eat up everybody." He pointed to Rainbow. "Especially you Dash." He smiled as she stuck her tongue out at him.
"Yes, dad." She retorted as John went and served everyone again. Soarin watched as the group all ate his eye's lingering on Dash for a few seconds more than the other's.
"So this is the newest wannabe huh?" He smirked.
"Well she's got a good flank." He smirked as he went back to his food. He looked over at John next.
"They seem to be on friendly terms." He mused. "I wonder if she's single?" He thought about it.
"Even if she fails the exam's she's still a nice piece of ass." His smirk returned.
"Yeah, I bet with her stamina she'd at least be great in the sack." His face contorted into a smug grin as he chuckled to himself. This caught the attention of the table and Dash being one of the fastest ponies around cut right to the chase.
"So Soarin what are you doing here?" She asked curious about the wonderbolts presence at the small town farm. She had wanted to ask him earlier but circumstances prevented it. He smiled as he puffed out his chest a little bit.
"I'm here as an auxiliary security force." He started feeling a tad bit smug. Big MAc whistled.
"Well, you must be one of the hardest working wonderbolts I'd done ever seen." He started nodding to towards the fields. Sorin just smirked.
"Well, I would hope so." He smiled. "My parents were a part of the circus and so was I. It wasn't an easy or comfortable life by far but we made due." He looked around the table and his eye's settled on Pinky.
"What about you Pinky?" He asked and as the premiere party pony of ponyville regaled the whole table with her exploits on the rock farm John leaned against the door frame between the kitchen and the living room and watched, a smile upon his face and a warm feeling in his chest.
"Man I haven't felt like this in a long time." He sighed as he set about the task of cleaning up his mess. His mother had alway's taught him to clean as he went but it had yet to stick. As John went back to scrubbing a plate he was startled by the sensation of water hitting his hand. He had yet to turn on the faucet. Immediately he stopped and stared off into space.
"Am I crying?" He wondered as he looked into a nearby mirror. Sure enough, there were tear's streaking down his face. He shook his head and grabbed a towel.
"Wow. Can't believe this had to happen now of all times."
"What happened sugar cube?" The voice made John jump and nearly drop the dish in his free hand. Spinning around he saw Applejack looking around the kitchen.
"Jesus AJ worn me next time." He chuckled as Applejack trotted over to a nearby cabinet. She gave him a smirk but it faltered as she got a good look at his face before he could hide it.
"Wow now, what's wrong there John?" She asked as John shrugged.
"Nothing AJ just my head playing tricks on me." He said as he turned around to finish up his work. A hoof on his shoulder, however, stopped him in his tracks. Looking over he saw Applejack standing on her hind legs one forehoof on his shoulder the other on the counter. John briefly pondered the health issues present with Applejack having her hoof on the counter before a stern look brought him back to the now. He just chuckled as he patted AJ's shoulder.
"I just can't get anything past you huh?" He smiled as Applejack nodded and gave his shoulder a nuzzle.
"Come clean now sugar what's bothering you?" Applejack asked as she got back on all four's while John just stood there. Finally, with an exhale he just shuddered as he gave her a look of slight panic.
"Well this might sound wired but just now at the table, I began to feel like I was part of a family." He smirked. "One big weird happy family." He went quiet after that not really trusting his mouth anymore. Applejack stood there and thought about his words. Finally, she smiled and wrapped her front hooves around John's neck and pulled him into a hug.
"Well, Glad I'm not the only one." She said into his ear. John stood there.
"What?" He thought.
"What?" His statement caused AJ to chuckle. She dropped back down and hip checked him.
"You've been here for what two going on three months now?" She asked. John thought about it.
"Going on two and a half." He muttered. Aj gave him a playful shove.
"Ok, Mr. Technical." She chuckled as John stood there still feeling lost.
"So what does this have to do with family?" He asked as AJ gave him a stern look.
'The way I see it you ain't going to be seeing your real family anytime soon right?" She asked as John thought about it. He then nodded. She smiled.
"So that back there." She trailed a hoof to the family room. "That was your first real taste of something you've not had in over two month's." She then went and gave him another hug.
"That's not something that just happens to anyone." She said releasing him from his hug. He just gave her a perplexed look. She just snickered.
"Fine, I'll just say it straight then." She motioned for him to follow her. He did back into the family room. A conversation was abuzz around the table but that came to a halt as Applejack cleared her throat. All eyes were on her now. She smiled as she gave her Granny a smirk. Granny, in turn, shook her head with a laugh as she looked to Big Mac. He then looked over to Apple Bloom who looked confused.
"Well as some of Y'all may or may not know," She pointed over to John, "John here ain't from around here." She stopped as several ponies snickered.
"That's a bit of an understatement," Dash said as the other girl's all nodded. AJ nodded, a smirk adorning her face.
"So seeing as our friend here is going to be without his home and kin for a while I've decided to see if he would like to be a part of our's." She said looking over to John who was too stunned to speak.
"What?" He asked as the situation began to sink in. The apple family all laughed as the rest of the group snickered minus Soarin who now looked confused. Granny Smith got up from her seat and took over the conversation.
"My granddaughter just asked ya if'in ya want to be a part of our family youg'in." John once again looked off into the distance. He shook his head as he came to terms with what was being asked of him. He looked to the rest of the family.
"Are you two ok with this?" He asked Big Mac and Apple Bloom. His answer was a yellow missile to the chest as Apple Bloom flew from her seat and planted herself in John's chest. He was sent sprawling to the ground as Apple Bloom began to dance around in his chest.
"Are you kidding!?" She asked as she let out an excited squeal.
"Of course we'd be ok with it!" She shouted as Big Mac got out of his seat and trotted over to the two. He sat down as John sat up shifting Apple Bloom to his lap. Big Mac was now at eye level with John who looked more than a little apprehensive.
"If you decide to join our family can I trust you to watch over our little sister?" He asked. John looked down at Apple Bloom who gave him a smile and a nuzzle. He then looked around at the rest of the family. The two other mare's both had grins on their muzzles. Finally, he shook his head, letting out a chuckle.
"You know what why not." He looked at Big Mac.
"Mac, AJ, Granny I can promise you that without a shadow of a doubt that I will do everything in my power to keep your sister safe." He said, a feeling of conviction sweeping over him as he spoke the words. Big Mac smiled and nodded.
"Ok then." He said as he got up and extended a hoof to the fallen human. John took it and tucked apple Bloom under an arm as he got to his feet. He then took Apple Bloom and set her back down but not before she gave him one last nuzzle.
"Awesome!" She exclaimed as she bolted over to her chair.
"I can't wait to go to school tomorrow." John hiked up an eyebrow.
"Really why?" He asked getting a chair for himself. Apple Bloom grinned.
"Because now I get to tell everypony that I have a new big brother!" She exclaimed. John stared at her for a few seconds before he smirked.
"Yeah, I guess you do, Little Sis." He said for the first time ever. It felt good to say that.
Rainbow Dash paced about her room backstage as her thoughts drifted to her show in half an hour.
"Ok deep calm breaths." She said as she took a breath held it and let it out with a soft sigh.
"Woo better." As she sat down a knock on her door made her smile.
"Took them a while." She trotted over to the door and opened it to see her friends all there.
"Hey girls!" She said as the girls plus spike funneled into her room. A little puzzled she stretched her head out and looked around and then back to the group.
"Hey, not that you all are not cool enough but where's John?" She asked making Fluttershy scowl.
"The bouncer wouldn't let him backstage with us." Her face hardening as Dash looked around.
"What? Why?" She asked as she sat down on a chair as the rest all took a seat of there own. Rarity shook her head.
"It would appear that our esteemed fundraiser for this event Mr. Tooty Fruity," She gagged at the name.
"He's not very disposed to certain species here in Equestria and that, unfortunately, includes our dear human friend who has a passing resemblance to one of those foul diamond dogs." She said. The other's cringed at her statement, for various reasons. Applejack gave Rarity a soft sigh.
"Come now sugar." She said giving Rarity a hoof of support.
"What happened with those diamond dogs was a whole moon back." She stated as Rarity shivered.
"I know AJ dear but it was not at all comfortable." She sighed. Spike piped up.
"Hey don't worry about it Rarity." He said as he went over and gave her a hug. She blushed before reciprocating the gesture. Rarity gave Spike a long look.
"Oh Spiky don't worry about little old me." She giggled.
"Beside's this isn't about me." Her face to went to stone as she thought about her one friend not here right now.
"It just really burns me up to think that Tooty is throwing this festival as a fundraiser for charity and yet his own security force is racist." The others said nothing as they all stood there. Then Dash let out a small chuckle. The other all gave her a look of confusion.
"What's so funny?" Pinky asked. Dash just chuckled.
"Oh, I just had the perfect idea about how to get back at Tooty." She laughed as she began to explain her plan. Soon they all began to laugh as well.
"Well dear, this seems to be almost foolproof." Rarity said as she grabbed a quill and parchment from her saddlebags and scribbled down some of her own notes.
"However if I could make some suggestions." She hoofed over the paper to Rainbow. She took it passed it around and they all began to smile.
"Now it's perfect." She stated as she looked at the clock.
"3:45." She sighed and took a deep breath closing her eyes so she could focus on her breathing. When they opened her normally magenta irises glowed a soft iridescent blue as electricity began to dance across her body. Turning around she gave her friends a smirk.
"Ok girl's let's give them a show they'll never forget." She said as Twilight began to charge her horn. Soon the group all disappeared in a flash of violet magic.
Meanwhile Across Ponyville...
Ponyville Amphitheater.
Gilda peeked out from behind a curtain, looking at all of the ponies present, waiting for the show to begin. She inhaled and then let it out.
"Just like coach used to teach back in flight school." Looking back at the rest of the creatures present, she gazed across a plethora of talent for the upcoming show. Suddenly a horn sounded and she peeked out the curtains once more.
"That must be the show at the colosseum starting up." She mused about her past for a sec.
"Heh I really wish Dash was here right now." Gilda was about to withdraw her head but as she did so a commotion at the ticket booth caught her eye. Her hawk-like eyes retracted when she set them on none other than Princess Luna.
"Holy cow what is the princess doing here!?" She retracted her head and bolted to Trixie's dressing room.
"Trixie!" She shouted as she threw the door open. The unicorn in question squeaked in surprise and lost her concentration. This in turn caused her drop a blob of water she had been levitating in her magical grasp. The blob fell out of the air and drenched Trixie from mane to tale in water. Parting her wet mane she sent a willowing glare the griffon's way. Gilda shrank back chuckling as she did so.
"Yes, Gilda?" Trixie asked hiding the frustration that roiled through her at the moment. Gilda just chuckled some more.
"Hey not to bother you," She said rubbing the back of her head while twidling her for paws, "But the princess of the night is here tonight." She waited and watched as Trixie digested this new information. Trixie soon went wide-eyed and began to frantically race around the room.
"OH HORSE APPLES!" The curse let loose from her mouth as she flew around the room trying to get herself back into her personas makeup. Gilda just sat there astonished at the pony before her.
"Wow. She'd give Dash a run for her money at the rate she's going." Gilda slowly backed out of the room closing the door behind her.
"Wow. I really hope Dash's night is going better than mine." She mused as she walked down the hall to the backstage entrance.
4:00 P.M.
"Ok Dash you're up." Fleetfoot gave Rainbow a hoof's up to which Dash gave her a grin. Trotting over to the portcullis separating the inner colosseum from the arena and consequently the many adoring fans outside, Dash took another deep breath and smirked.
"Ok girl's show time." She gave the signal and Fleetfoot handed Dash a small headset. Fleetfoot hit a switch and the big iron gate began to slowly ascend into the ceiling. When the gate was fully gone from view Dash waited for a little while. After about a second of letting the crowd wonder what had happened Dash rocketed out from the entrance much the shock and immediate joy of the crowd who whooped and hollered as Dash zipped around the stadium once in a lap before rushing into the air at a blistering pace performing a corkscrew maneuver while she ascended into the night sky. Once she was at a significant altitude she used a small burst of magic to turn the headset on.
"HELLO PONYVILLE!" She shouted, her voice becoming amplified thanks to a few well-placed speakers. The cheers of the crowd met her as she slowly began to drift down to the stadium floor.
"How is everyone this fine evening?" She put a hoof to her ear as the crowd once again cheered. She chuckled as she scanned the crowd twirling around to see all of the ponies that showed up. The place was packed to the brim and there were even a few cloud bleacher's constructed and brought in for more seating. Seeing a few familiar faces in the crowd she giggled as she gave them a soft wave and went back to her little announcement.
"Ok folks as you all know we have a big show prepared for you all tonight." The crowd let out a roar of approval as Dash zipped into the air once more. As she did so another portcullis opened up and a group of red spandex clad ponies flew out from both sides. Six of them in all flanked Dash from both sides. The crowd cheered as the group began to fly around in several choreographed aerial maneuvers before coming to a stop on the stadium floor. Dash hovered above them as the crowd settled down.
"Filly's and Gentalcolts I present to you The Crimson Knockouts!" Her voice reverberated around the stadium before being drowned out once more by cheers. As the crowd died down another gate opened up and this time a crew of ponies in yellow flight suits entered the arena.
"This crew has been around for almost a century. Folks I present to you The Lightning Brigade!" Two more iron gates opened up and this time the last two teams zipped out into the open air.
"And last but not least we have our next two acts for the night." She looked to the blue clad pegasi and smirked.
"We have the honor of hosting this year's batch of Wonderbolt Recruit's here to perform some of there routines before the big show in Cloudsdale later on this month!" The crowd stomped their hooves as the recruits flew around in perfect synchronization doing a few warm-up laps. Dash then flew over to a group of violet clad flyers.
"And this year we also have the honor of hosting a group of famous flyer's all the way from Trottingham we give you The Shadow Bolts!" The crowd went wild as the thestral troupe swooped down from below blasting through some prearranged thunder clouds causing them to become overcharged with dark lightning before exploding in a furious blast of magical energy. As Dash began to settle down on the arena floor once more one last group came out of another gate. The crowd paused at this until Dash started to chuckle.
"Oh silly me I'm sorry to say that I forgot we had one more group to go." Dash once more blasted off into the air however this time she rocketed past the other groups and soon she was joined by four other flyers in the air as they all flew around in a semi formation. As they did so however they all soon began to glow a soft green color as they came in for a landing the green color intensified until in a bright flash of emerald light the once naked crew of flyers now sported a set of green flight suits all with a stylised P on them.
"The last group for the night will be the Ponyville Weather Patrol!" She said as her own suit flashed a soft shade of blue as electricity crackled all around it, the rest of the patrol's suits lighting up as well.
5:00 P.M.
"Wow!" Gilda said as she watched the light show going on at the colosseum from across the town. Trixie was to busy dazzling her audience to focus on the events at the colosseum and so was her audience. Trixie currently entrapped there attention with a rainbow she'd produced from a cloud. With it stuck in her magical grasp she commanded it to perform a variety of tricks and acrobatics dazzling the crowd including the princess herself.
"We have been stuck on the moon for a millennium," She whispered to Good Read, her personal bodyguard who had drifted off to sleep on more than one occasion during the show. As the princess of the night regaled her bodyguard with the thrilling feet's of magic that had permeated the evening Trixie tapped her mic.
"Alright, every creature now it is time for Trixies most daring event yet!" She looked off to the side of the stage as Gilda gave her a nod and grin. As quick as she could Gilda grabbed a hold of Trixie's cannon and began to roll it out on stage. The crowd oo'd and aah'd as Trixie helped heave the huge piece of artillery into the center of the stage. After quickly fiddling with a few switches and knob's Trixie reappeared in a puff of smoke and light much to the amazement of the crowd.
"Alright every creature," Trixie flicked a switch on the side of the cannon and trotted over to the end of the stage. "This is the last show for the night and it's also the most dangerous." Her horn glowed and in a flash of light, a manticore with a chain around its neck appeared on stage. It looked at the crowd and snarled however once it set its eye's on Trixie it settled down.
"Good boy Galiant." She stroked the creatures chin causing it to purr and give her an affectionate lick. The crowd all gave out a small collective ahh at the adorable display. Trixie trotted over to the edge with Galiant in tow.
"The Great and Powerful Trixie will now perform The Great Escape!" She announced as some of the crowd looked on confused while others gasped and held there breath. Trixie smirked to herself.
"Great! Right where I want them." She cleared her throat.
"Trixie will now have her lovely assistant," She waved over Gilda who bowed to the crowd and trotted over carrying a helmet for Trixie in one claw all the while looking at Trixie like she'd lost her mind. "Help Trixie to prepare for this death-defying feat of intrigue." Trixie bowed to her as Gilda handed the helmet over and went backstage to grab a latter. After securing one she wheeled it over to the cannon and set it against the side and waited for Trixie.
"Thank you, Gilda." She trotted over to the ladder and began to climb up.
"For this last act of the show, Trixie will load herself into this cannon." Her horn lit up and the cannon began to glow a soft blue hue all over.
"And when she is done her great assistant will then use that crank on the side," She waved a hoof to the side of the cannon that had a lever sticking out of it.
"Using that lever her assistant will adjust the cannon until it is in alignment with Galiant's mouth." Galiant stood still as if he was at attention. The smirk he gave the crowd was enough for some to snicker and others to freeze up in fear.
"Then when Trixie gives the signal Gilda will light the fuse and the countdown will begin!" Trixie said as she flailed her hooves about in a dramatic fashion. Unfortunately, the flailing caused Trixie to overbalance and send her tumbling head first into the barrel of the cannon. The whole crowd gasped at this but none moved as they were rooted to there seats in shock.
"Oh no!" Gilda screeched as she hastily made her way to the back of the cannon after a few she hit a few buttons however she came back around looking very worried. She came over to the side of the cannon and raised her voice.
"Trixie, how are you doing in there?" She asked. Trixie looked around and hit a switch in the back of the cannon.
"Trixie is making due." She felt a rumble as the cannon began to move on its own. Gilda was really worried now.
"Trixie, what's going on?" The crowd grew panicked as the cannon's barrel had now lined up with Galiant's mouth, the manticore letting out a soft sigh as it opened its mouth with a lazy yawn.
Trixie why is this thing moving on its own!?" Gilda shouted down the barrel.
"OW!" She shouted as she tried to hide her snicker's.
"That's not good." The barrel then began to rotate and glow as if it was powering up.
"That will make Trixie very sick if it keeps up." She said as she began to charge up her horn. The crowd was still to shocked to move and so the grisly scene before them continued unabated. The silence of the event was soon shattered as a loud beeping made itself known.
"Uh oh!" Gilda looked up. "The count down started!" She shouted down the barrel. As the crowd looked on the clock had started at ten but swiftly scaled down to five.
"Gilda cover your ear's!" Trixie shouted as the cannon went off. There was a huge flash of light, a blast of smoke and just a hint of ozone as a burst of magic was discharged at the last second. After all, was said and done The crowd was brought out of there stupor as they saw Galiant slowly chewing away at something in his mouth. They continued to stare on as he soon swallowed the huge bulge in his mouth. They soon began to scream their little heads off.
"He ate her!" One pony shouted as they all soon began to sift around in a panic. Soon however they all stopped. And that was only because the sound's of laughter could be heard over the speakers.
"Oh come now you all really didn't think that The Great and Powerful Trixie! could ever be bested by a malfunctioning cannon?" She stated as she began to float down from the roof of the amphitheater, a soft glow enveloping her body. The whole crowd gasped as Trixie floated to the ground unharmed and unblemished by the smoke or fire of the cannon blast. The crowd was speechless as Trixie trotted over with her assistant and Galiant in tow.
"Thank you all for coming and remember The Great and Powerful Trixie shall see you all next year!" She, her assistant, and Galiant all took a bow, the crowd still too stunned to talk. And with that, the trio left the stage and went back to there respective rooms.
Back at the Colosseum...
Soarin was hard with anticipation. His eyes never left Rainbow Dash's sleek majestic form as she danced through the night sky with her squad.
"Sweet Celestia I think I'm in love." He muttered under his breath. A voice broke through his concentration, however.
"Yeah!" Soarin looked over to see John cheering Dash on. While most ponies and pegasi couldn't even see it with hoe fast DAsh truly was, he was a cut above the rest. He could see the smirk's and smile's Dash flashed the human as he cheered her on. Now Soarin was livid.
"I have to get rid of him somehow." He smirked as he began to plan. One way or another he would make Dash his mare.
Life has taken on rather chaotic normality around here. The festival had made enough money to keep the orphanages from here to Canterlot open for a whole nother year. Man, I still can't believe the show that all of the groups had put on. The Wheater Patrol was awesome in terms of single flights but I have to admit I think the Lightning Brigade stole the show when it came to synchronized flying. All in all, it was a spectacular performance and a great night for everyone. Afterward, I even got to hang out with everypony. For some reason, the backstage bouncer was nowhere to be found but they found him a little while later dazed and confused. Afterward, the girl's, spike and I headed over to Sweet Apple Acre's for some nice food and rest. My sister's and I got into a bit of a scuffle but it was all in good fun. The night ended on a high note for all of us. Dash had even been able to talk with a talent scout for the wonderbolts. The look on her face could light up the palace in Canterlot. Today we're all going to get together at Aj's for a sleepover. Little sis wanted to join and AJ told her to invite the rest of the C.M.C.
8:34 A.M.
"Howdy there Twilight!" Applejack called out as Twilight hauled an empty cart out of the barn. Twilight gave her a nod.
"Hello." She returned as she set the cart on the side of the barn. Her horn lit up as she lifted up a tarp and began to tie one end off on top of the side of the barn and then tie the other end down over all of the farm equipment stacked up beside the barn wall. Wiping some sweat from her brow she looked around. The other's were all off making preparations for the upcoming rainstorm later on today. So far it was just her, Spike, John, and AJ moving all of the farm equipment out of the barn and putting it either in a shed across the way or leaning it against the barn.
"Hey, you two." John waved the two mares down as he walked out of the farmhouse. They both stopped and gave him a nod.
"What's up, Bro?" AJ smirked as John shook his head.
"Well, Sis breakfast is ready." He looked over to Twilight.
"Granny wants both of you to go clean up and meet the rest of the family in the kitchen." The duo made their way into the house with John shutting the door behind them. He struggled a little bit as he fought the wind and shoved the door closed.
"Man the weather team is really not going easy with that storm." He said as he lacked the door shut. AJ smirked as she trotted over to the kitchen.
"Dash told us to hunker down for this one." She said as she grabbed a plate of food and sat down on the table. Twilight trotted over and did the same while John went upstairs.
"Applebloom?" He called as he walked up the steps to his sister's room. He chuckled as he did so.
"Don't know if I'll ever get used to that." He mused as he got to her door. Knocking a few times he was greeted by a soft green glow from the door. He gave the green glow a look of happy bemusement but it was cut short as he felt something snaking around his ankle. Looking down he was greeted with what looked like a thorny plant vine crawling up his leg. Calmly he knocked on the door again.
"Hey sis, it's me." He said as he stood there while the plant continued it's way up his leg. Applebloom sprang to the door and opened looking a little flustered.
"Huh yeah?" She said looking up to see John patiently waiting for her. He took a finger and pointed down. Applebloom followed his finger and then gave out an eep.
"Oh, horseapples!" She said as her hoof glowed a soft green. She touched her hoof to the vine and at once it began to recede from around John's leg. He just laughed.
"Still having trouble with AJ just barging in?" He asked as Applebloom flushed a deep red. She nodded as she came out of her room. John just smiled.
"Hey don't worry about it." He looked around and then leaned down to Appleblooms level.
"She does it to me too." He smiled as Applebloom giggled. John scooped her up with a hug and began to walk downstairs. As he got to the last step John spotted Big Mac coming in from the south fields through the front door window. He smirked as he got to the kitchen and deposited his little sister in her own seat before taking his. A little while later the group was joined by both Big Mac and Granny Smith. At the head of the table Granny bowed her head and said a prayer to the great Faust above and the group all began to eat. As they all ate Twilight looked around and noticed another pile of food all prepared and sitting out on the counter.
"Hey, John what's all that for?" She asked she shoved a piece of bacon in her mouth. John looked over and smiled.
"That's for the slow pokes who were supposed to be here but had other priority's." He winked at her. She thought about it but then laughed.
"You know that Rainbow is going to get you back for that right?" She smirked as she ate her food. John just chuckled as he thought about it.
"Yeah well, I'll cross that bridge when I come to it." He stated as he ate a spoonful of grits. Soon the table was alive with the sounds of conversation that was only interrupted by the arrival of the rest of the gang.
"Hello, darling's!" Rarity sang as she made her way into the dining room Sweetie Bell in tow. Pinky hummed a happy little tune along with Fluttershy as the duo made their way into the house. Lastly Rainbow showed up with Scootaloo completing the guest list and officially kicking off the festivities for the storming weather ahead.
12:00 P.M.
As the thunder and rain began to pick up the group had moved there plans to the barn. The large group of 13 had plenty of room in the spacious building and soon they had all selected there sleeping spaces and brought over all their food for the night. John mused at the hustle of the group as he moved from the house to the barn via a small hallway connecting the two buildings.
"Man I can't wait for this to really get into full swing." He was interrupted from his thoughts by soft thump on his leg. An eep forced him to look down. He saw Fluttershy with a slight blush on her face as she looked up at him with a soft smile.
"Hello." She muttered as she stood there.
"Hey there." He said as he leaned down and picked her up. She giggled as she leaned back into him as he carried her back to the barn. The two were spotted by Rarity who giggled.
"Really darling must you use him as a shofur?" She asked as she held back a laugh as Fluttershy just held onto John even tighter and stuck her tongue out at the fashionista.
"Don't be jealous Rarity." She quipped smirking as Rarity scoffed a smirk adorning her face.
"Oh, I'm not dear." She smiled. "I do just wish you'd share the loveable giant that is currently cradling you like a foal." The whole group laughed as John sat Fluttershy down on her sleeping bag.
"Thank you, John," Fluttershy said as she got comfortable. John just nodded and walked back through the hall leading to the house. Once he was gone Rarity let out a squeal. The other all gave her a look of confusion but she motioned for them to all gather around. They did so and she looked at each of them with a smirk.
"So have any of you noticed how our little friend has been over the past few weeks?" She asked causing the group to wonder.
"Um, what?" Dash asked what everypony was thinking. Rarity rolled her eyes.
"Really dears? How are you all not at all interested in our dear humans love life?" This news got a lot of mixed reactions. Fluttershy and the apple family all stiffened. Twilight looked a little shocked but felt happy for her friend. Pinky was ecstatic at the news. Meanwhile, Rainbow felt a twinge of something but shoved it off as she smiled.
"Wonder who the lucky mare is?" She smirked as she thought of John finding somepony special.
"Took him long enough." Her smirk vanished as she saw the look of fury on Fluttershy's muzzle.
"Excuse me Rares but what kind of huwey is that?" AJ asked feeling more than a little apprehensive. Big Mac shook his head.
"Ain't no way our little brother's got himself a fillyfriend." He stated rather matter of factly. Applebloom piped up as well.
"Yeah we'd at least know about it and if not us then Fluttershy would." She nodded to Fluttershy who was using all of her might to not pounce on Rarity and beat the information out of her. She took a few deep calming breaths and then eyed Rarity intensely. The mare stood her ground only slightly shivering at the look of murderous rage she was receiving from the usually demure pegasus before her.
"Rarity where did you happen to hear this little rumor?" She asked as Rarity thought back to the day's prior.
"Well dear, I happened to be at the spa one day when I overheard some of the patrons wondering if our dear friend was single." She smiled.
"He has been here for almost three months now so I figured I'd give him a little boost in the romance department." She smirked. Fluttershy took another deep breath and spoke in a soft tone that unnerved Rarity a little bit.
"And you didn't think to ask him what he would like to do in this situation?" She asked as Rarity thought about it. Her smirk twitched a little as she thought about it. She'd started the rumor that he was looking around but just terribly shy about it all on account of him not being from here. The mare's at the spa had all giggled thanked her for the information and left looking chipper.
September 19, 1000, C.E.
Ponyville Spa.
12:34 P.M.
"Did you hear that Sis?" Blaze asked as she trotted alongside her big sister. Spitfire smirked as she trotted along the small towns dirt road leading to the train station.
"I sure did sis." She smiled as she thought of having a human as one of her herd.
"I sure did." She muttered to herself.
"Soarin wasn't kidding when he said the human was exotic." She said catching a glimpse of the human out of the corner of her eye. She stared at him as he walked by chatting with a butter yellow pegasus and a pink cotton candy earth pony. The trio trotted on by with not a care in the world.
John walked throughout the small farmhouse triple checking everything he had on his little checklist.
"Toothbrush. Toothpaste. Sleeping bag. Clean-" His thought's were interrupted by a fierce knocking on the front door. He looked back to the barn and figured they wouldn't have been able to hear it anyway. He quickly made his way to the door and looked out the peephole. He was startled to see both a familiar face and a new one sitting there huddled together on the front porch weathering the storm outside like champs.
"One sec." He shouted as he undid the plethora of locks on the front door and swung it open. Imidietly the two pegasi scrambled indoors as John struggled to shut the door behind them. He eventually got it closed and latched shut, replacing the big wooden barricade as well as locking all of the locks. The wind howled outside as rain battered the door all the while John was looking at the new impromptu addition's to there little get together.
"So Hot Shot who's your friend?" John asked as he walked over to a nearby closet and grabbed two big fluffy towel's and began to rub the two ponies down. Once that was done the two shook themselves to help get the blood flowing throughout there body's once more.
"This is Blaze." He stated as the pegasus in question flared her wings out and began to fan herself with them. She looked over to the two and smiled.
"Hello." She waved a hoof as Hot Shot trotted over to John and gave him a hoof bump. He returned it but any further conversation was halted as Applejack came by.
"Hey, John what's taken yeah?" She asked as she trotted up the hallway.
"Oh well howdy there." She extended a hoof to the duo. The two gave AJ a friendly shake.
"So what brings you two here during a raging storm?" John asked as he grabbed a few more blankets for there guest's. Hot Shot laughed.
"Well, I was flying around like usual when out of nowhere she," He motioned at Blaze, "Came out of nowhere and crashed into me." Blaze blushed profusely and laughed as she rubbed the back of her head.
"Hey I told you my goggles fogged up and I couldn't see a thing." She nervously giggled as she looked at the goggles slung around her neck. John laughed a little at the incident but AJ felt like something was off. She cleared her throat to get everyone's attention.
"Well, Y'all are more than welcome to stay the night here." She said as she gave John a sideway's glance. He knew that look. He handed the duo there blanket's and pointed them in the direction of the barn.
"Just go down the hall and enter the second door on your right." He smiled, "The other's will get you both set up for the night." As the two trotted off John gave AJ a look of concern.
"So what's got you all bothered?" AJ just shrugged.
"Can't rightly tell." She glanced off in the direction of the barn.
"That mare just don't feel right." John looked off towards the barn as well. Then he smiled.
"I wouldn't worry about it too much Sis." He smiled kneeling down and patting her on the head. She feebly swiped at his hand as he laughed.
"Beside's she can't do anything with all of us in there." He said as he thought about his sister's worry. AJ got up on her hooves and wrapped her little brother in a hug. John hugged her back.
"Yeah well, I'll still be keepin an eye on her." She huffed. "I don't like to assume but something about her story just don't add up to me." John just nodded.
"Fair enough." He said as he picked up his sister who gave out a squeak of protest before she leaned into his chest and sat there as John took his time walking down the hall.
"I'll let the other's know and I'll even keep my own eye's peeled for anything suspicious." AJ nuzzled his cheek as the duo made their way into the barn. Once there John gently put his sister down and joined the other's as they all began to chat up a storm big enough to rival the one pounding into the sides of the barn outside.
5:47 P.M.
"Oh come on!" Sweetie Belle yelled as Scootaloo had once again gotten one of her red checker pieces over to Sweeties side of the board.
"King me!" Scootaloo yelled as she gave the air a hoofpump. Meanwhile, John and Apple Bloom were playing hide and seek.
"Come out, come out, wherever you are," John said as he looked around the huge barn. Apple Bloom giggled from her hiding spot as John looked past the bale of hay she was using to conceal herself while the other's all chatted or looked on in amusement as the various antics taking place before them. AJ had informed the others of her suspicions about Blaze not being on the up and up. Meanwhile, Blaze herself was asking any pony who'd listen to her various questions about John wanting to know as much about him as she could. Finally Pinky got tired of her insistent nagging and before she could blow a fuse or two she grabbed the yellow-maned pegasus and tossed her over to John who caught her with a grunt and looked over to Pinky with confusion.
"Uh hey there," Blaze said feeling sheepish as she was put back on the ground. John smiled at the mare.
"Hey." He said he scanned the room for his hiding sibling. Blaze looked around as well.
"You want some help?" She asked. John shook his head.
"Nah. Can't have outside help." He said as he motioned for her to follow him on his hunt. After a good fifteen minutes of searching, he found her.
"Huh, I wonder where my dear sister has gone to." He smirked as he stood in front of her hay bale. A soft chordal emanating from said hay bale solidified his latest theory of where she'd hidden. Slowly he got to the straw covered ground and slowly began to slink around the hay bale.
"Da,da,da,da." He made the most arbitrary jaws theme he could think of as he shimmied across the floor to his sister's hiding spot. Her giggling increased as she hopped on top of the hay bale and looked at him with glee.
"Oh no." She swayed in mock concern.
"Look's like I'm going to need a bigger boat here sis." She called out to AJ who just shook her head.
"Sorry, there sugar cube. Can't help you this time." She gave Apple Bloom a wink. Dash, however, had other plans. Zooming over to the duo she gave them both a mirthful smile.
"How about an airlift?" she said as Apple Bloom hoped onto the last hay bale on top as John slowly made his way up the haystack.
"Well, that's just not fair." He pouted as he reached the top only to have Apple Bloom hop into the waiting hooves of Dash who head up to the rafters. John looked on in amusement.
"Have I ever told you guys about the land shark?" He smirked mischievously as he jumped over to a support beam and began to haul himself up to the rafters. Dash was wide-eyed but she to had a smirk as she grabbed Apple Bloom and zoomed off to the other side of the barn sticking her tongue out as she whipped past John who made up to the second story of the barn. Sitting down as he looked over at the to he simply began to do an old crones voice impression.
"I'll get you my pretty!" He called out shaking a fist for emphasis causing the group to all laugh.
9:44 P.M.
"Ok, every pony!" Granny Smith called all of them together. Once everyone was present Granny cleared her throat.
"Now that we're all here let me lay down some ground rules." She looked around at the group who all gave her smiles or smirks. She in return beamed at them all like a mother would her children.
"First thing's first don't make to much of a racket." She as she looked around.
"Then again that there storm is causing so much of a fuss I doubt I'd be able to hear much of anything over it with how thin the walls are around here." That got a chuckle out of Hot Shot. Granny gave him a smirk as she continued.
"Second this is a slumber party so we ain't doing anything tomorrow but restin up." She eyed her family and gave a pointed look over to John who held his hand's up in surrender.
"Ok, ok I understand." He smirked as he sat down with everyone else. Granny smiled as she stifled a yawn.
"And thirdly don't do anything I wouldn't do." She began to trot off but then added. "Again not that I'd hear much of y'alls screaming anyway." This caused everyone to blush profusely as they all looked around the room. With that, she bid them all a good night and trotted off to the main house. Once everyone's breathing settled down John stood up and asked the one question on his mind.
"So how are we going to get this party started?" They all looked at one another and Pinky trotted over to a small saddlebag she'd brought with her.
"We start with a classic!" She shouted as she pulled out several bottles of cider, a spinner and even a few rolled up blankets.
"Spin the bottle!" She said as she hopped over to the rest of the group. They all shook their heads in amusement. John, in particular, was vastly amused.
"There's a first time for everything." He muttered as the C.M.C made a gagging noise.
"Well, yall have fun with the germ bottle." Apple Bloom said as Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo joined her on the second floor where they had a little tent set up. The other's all giggled as AJ smirked at her sister.
"Just you wait for it sis. One day you'll be wantin to get more than a kiss from a special somepony." She winked as Apple Bloom flushed while she shook her head.
"Ewww." She moaned as she and the other's all ran up to the second floor to escape the teasing looks of the adults. Spike looked from the adults to Apple Bloom and the C.M.C. Finally, he shook his head and settled with the adults.
"All right let's get this party started!" He pumped a fist into the air as the other's settled down in a circle. Twilight shook her head with a smirk.
"Spike don't get any idea's." She chortled as Spike gave her a huff.
"Please Twilight. I'm 16. I'm almost old enough to join the guard if I wanted to." He said with a proud smirk adorning his face. The other's all nodded as Rarity piped up.
"Twilight you know he is correct." She said as she grabbed her own saddlebag and levitated it over.
"Our dear spiky is almost an adult." Spike meanwhile was trying to not blush from Rarity's quick defense of his maturity. Twilight shook her head in defeat.
"Fine." She conceded. "But!" She screeched as she raised a hoof to Spike's chest. "You are not to drink any of the alcoholic cider and we are going to keep the dares down to a mature level got it?" She eyed everyone else who laughed at her outburst.
"Yes, mom!" John shouted giving Twilight a fake salute as the other's all giggled at Twilight's deadpan face. With fun natured ribbing from everypony and with two more friends to make the game more interesting the long night ahead had begun.
"Ok Pink's truth or dare?" AJ asked as the empty cider bottle settled to a stop in front of the party mare. Pinky brought a hoof to her muzzle in thought.
"Hmm." Her eyes lit up. "Dare." She smirked as AJ rolled her eye's as she thought of a suitable dare for Pinky. Aj gave it some thought but eventually shook her head with a smirk.
"I dare you to go the rest of this game with this on ya," She said pulling a bell out of her saddlebags. Pinky giggle and hopped on over.
"Ok, Dokay!" She said not bothering to hide the enthusiasm in her voice as AJ affixed the bell to a collar and put it around Pinky's neck. With the bell put on the elusive pony, Pinky trotted over to her spot and sat down. The whole group looked at the next in line to spin the bottle.
"Your up bro," AJ smirked as she slapped John on the back. He was glad he had spent the better part of his stay in Equestria working out nearly every day. His sister was strong and it showed every time she gave him an encouraging 'pat' on the back. It used to feel like a truck was slamming into his shoulder at high speed but now it was little more than a loving pat on the back. He gave her a smirk as he returned the favor.
"Sure thing sis." He looked around the circle. To his left was his older sister and brother. Next to them was there guest's, Hot Shot and Blaze. After them came Pinky, Rarity, and Fluttershy. And lastly was Twilight, Spike and then Rainbow Dash filling out the circle leading back to John. With a slight smirk to the rest of the group and a swift flick of the wrist, he spun the bottle.
"Ok who'll be the lucky one?" He muttered as the bottle slowed down. With a final spin and a soft rattle as it scraped against the paper mat, the group had laid down on the farm house's rustic floor, the bottle stopped. It pointed squarely at Fluttershy. She smiled as John smirked.
"Finally!" He said as Fluttershy began to giggle.
"Ok, mom, truth or dare?" He asked as Fluttershy thought about it.
"Truth." She said as a smile broke out on her face.
"Ok, just how old are you?" He asked. Fluttershy smirked as she thought about it. Rarity, however, let out a gasp.
"John dear!" the group all looked at her.
"Surely you know to never ask a lady her age!" She said as AJ face hoofed while Twilight let out a snicker. Dash rolled her eyes and settled back down on her little cloud pad she'd brought with her. Pinky let out a snort as she tried to contain her laughter at Rarity's outburst. Meanwhile, Big Mac shook his head as Hot Shot full on laughed. Blaze, however, was puzzled. Her question would get sidetracked however as Fluttershy cleared her throat.
"Rarity thank you for being concerned about my dignity." She smiled as Rarity nodded. "But the rules clearly state that we have to answer any truth asked of us and complete any dare we are challenged to." She smiled.
"Beside's this is one question that's been bothering John for some time now." She smirked as she leveled her red eyes on John who rubbed the back of his neck, a sheepish grin adorning his face.
"Well it's true I have been wondering for some time now." He said as the group wound down. Fluttershy let out a soft sigh as she thought about it.
"Let's see." She muttered as she retreated into the recesses of her mind.
"The furthest thought I can remember was the cold biting wind whipping around outside our cave." She said as the other's looked on. She smiled as she began to remember the fragmented visions of her past.
"Then there was a roaring fire that drove the cold away." She smiled as she trotted down the annals of her memory.
"I remember Clover the clever, Commander Hurricane. I went by Private Pansy back then." Everyone stopped and starred at there friend.
"What!" Twilight shouted causing the others to all look at her. She shrank away from there look's of contempt.
"Sorry please continue." She nodded and motioned for Fluttershy to continue. Fluttershy smiled.
"It's all right." She smirked. "It happens whenever I tell the story." The group calmed down once more and Fluttershy continued.
"That all happened in a time before we really recorded our history but it was several thousand year's before the royal sister's ascended to there celestial sphere's." She thought about it some more. "Then they both returned after a thousand year's to rule the land of Equestria and the rest is history." She smiled but it soon faltered as she looked around.
"Oh um did that answer your question dear?" She chuckled nervously as John gocked at Fluttershy. His face went from one of amazement to one of deep thought.
"Um yeah very much so." He said thinking about it some more. The whole group looked at Fluttershy with wonderment now.
"I have got to talk to you more after this," Twilight said as she began to vigorously jot down notes.
11:00 P.M.
"Ok so now that the kids are thoroughly asleep." Blaze said as she looked to the second floor. The group all looked at her to which she just grinned.
"What's say you all to ratcheting up this little game of our's?" She asked as the others all looked around. Dash grinned.
"What exactly are we talking about here?" Dash asked as the other looked on. Blaze smiled.
"Well, we're all adult's here right?" She looked around at the group. Fluttershy smirked as she thought about it. Big Mac was not one to participate in such risque content and neither was Rarity. She was a proper lady after all.
"Sorry dear's but I simply must get my beauty sleep. Ta Ta." She said as she retired to her personal sleeping bag. Big Mac gave the group a nod.
"Nope." He went and curled up in his own sleeping bag.
"Ok so me, and Rainbow Dash," Blaze said looking around.
"Anyone else?" She looked at John and smirked. "Come on big boy we have to have at least one male in on our debauchery." She smiled giving John a sultry wink. This, however, did not sit well with Fluttershy who lost her smirk and instead glared daggers at Blaze. John meanwhile thought about it.
"Honestly this would be the first time I've ever really gotten to play an adult game of spin the bottle so sure." He smirked.
"After all you only live once." He muttered as he sat back down. Blaze looked around once more.
"AJ, Twilight, Fluttershy you girls in or what?" She smiled a smile of innocence but Fluttershy was not amused.
"Oh, sure I'll join you." She said taking a seat next to John and shooting a glare at Blaze who looked to the other two not noticing the thestral's desire to make her spontaneously combust with her mind. The other's all thought about it. Twilight shuffled in place.
"Actually you know what I think I'll pass this time." She nervously chuckled as she looked around. Blaze rolled her own eye's looking over to Hot Shot.
"How about you stud you in?" She flashed him a smile as Hot Shot thought about it.
"Eh sure, why not." He smirked. "Been a while since I've gotten any action." Dash shook her head.
"Dream on buddy." She smirked as Hot Shot trotted over and sat down next to her. AJ gave Blaze a slight glare and went over next to John and sat down.
"I'm in." She declared. Blaze looked around at the now much smaller group.
"Great!" She said rubbing her hooves together in glee. Taking an empty spot between Hot Shot and Fluttershy she completed the circle of five. As they got the bottle set up Blaze smiled.
"Great now to get the big guy all to myself." Fluttershy snared.
"Just what are you up to with my son harlot?"
Meanwhile back on Earth.
John's parents were at a loss. On the one hand, they really didn't want their son to do anything stupid but on the other, there was nothing they could do to stop him from doing so.
"Oh dear Fluttershy please have a plan to stop our sone should he get in too far over his head." His mom thought as she looked at the screen with utter horror etched on her face.
11:12 P.M.
"Ok folk's let's get this game started." Blaze looked around.
"Remember no holds barred on this one." She smirked as she spun the bottle first. It landed on Fluttershy.
"Ok, Fluttershy Truth or Dare?" Blaze asked. Fluttershy smiled.
"Truth." Blaze thought about it for a split second.
"Well seeing as you've been around for a long time the one thing I've been wondering is if you've ever had to kill anyone?" This caused the group to quiet down. Fluttershy smirked.
"Oh yes, plenty of time's in fact." She answered without missing a beat. Fluttershy looked around to see mixed reaction's to her statement. Aj just stared at her in shock. Dash looked neutral while Hotshot looked impressed. Finally, she stopped at John who just gave her a soft hug. Surprised as she was to receive a hug she eventually leaned into it.
"Don't worry about it Fluttershy." He whispered into her ear. "Both f my parents were in the military so I grew up learning how to kill people and what it entailed." He said causing Fluttershy to smirk as she leaned into him.
"Thank's for being so understanding dear." She said as Hot Shot cleared his throat.
"I guess since we went clockwise last game we'll go counter this game." He said Spinning the bottle. It landed on AJ this time. He smirked as he thought about it.
"Since we seem to be on a roll here I'll go with truth this time as well," AJ said before Hot Shot could ask. He shot AJ a wink before he asked his question.
"So then Applejack the question I have for you is simple." He smiled mischievously.
"Have you ever been sexually involved with anypony?" He asked.
"Damn, straight to the point ain't yeah?" AJ gave him a smirk of her own. Hot Shot smiled as he nodded his head. Taking a calming breath she looked around at the group.
"Well, I can safely say that yes I have." This got a shocked gasp from everyone present except for Fluttershy who looked at AJ with a soft chordal. Blaze, however, was stunned.
"Well don't just sit there who was the lucky stallion!" She pushed for details. AJ Smirked.
"Sorry Sugar cube. That wasn't apart of the deal." She smiled as Blaze began to give her a furious pout. AJ gave her a wink.
"Maybe next time." With the group now fully invested in the game, the next pony to go was Dash.
"Here goes nothing." She muttered as she used a wing to spin the bottle. It went on for some time until it slid to a stop on John. He sucked in a lungful of air. Dash smirk as there eye's met.
"Ok stretch, truth or dare?" John thought about it.
"To be honest I don't feel like sharing anything personal with all of you just yet so dare." This caused Dash to chuckle.
"Ok then." She looked around the barn eyeing the ceiling with a smirk.
"I dare you to hang from the rafter's with your belt." John looked up and smirked.
"Ok, I can do that." He looked around. "For how long?" He asked Dash who thought about it.
"I think until my turn come's around again should be a good amount of time." As John made his way up the to the rafter's a sudden urge hit him.
"And what if I have to pee?" He asked as climbed underneath the second story beams of wood. Dash laughed.
"Then you'll just have to hold it bud." John laughed.
"Figures," he muttered as he unclipped his belt and fastened it around the beam. With him hanging there he looked down at the group.
"Ok, Sis you're up next." He smiled. "Make her pay." He smiled as Dash stuck her tongue out at her hanging friend. AJ looked up and snickered.
"Hope you have good bladder control there bro. We don't need any golden shower's down here." The group all broke out into laughter including John who looked red around the face but still wore a smile all the way.
"Ok, here we go." AJ spun the bottle and it landed on Blaze who smirked.
"Lay it on me AJ." She invited. Applejack just smiled. "Bad move." AJ thought with a grin.
"So how'd you end up crashing at our house tonight?" Blaze was stumped at the blatant question for a second before she regained her composure.
"Um well as I told you in the hallway I got lost in the storm above Ponyville." AJ was not impressed.
"Oh, I know that." She thought about it. "Let me rephrase the question then." She Smiled.
"How'd you end up crashing into Hot Shot there and just so happen to see your way through the storm to our house with cracked flight goggle's?" Blaze was at a loss. "Shit she noticed the goggles!" Hot Shot cleared his throat.
"I can provide a partial answer to that." He said causing the group to look at him. He shrank back as they all did so. He nervously chuckled. AJ motioned for him to continue.
"I was on my way here when I crashed into her." He said. "That caused the crack to appear." He thought back to it however and found that his memory was a little lacking. The blush on his face didn't help matters.
"However I can't really remember all that much after the crash." He stated as he looked at the others. Blaze piped up, however.
"Yeah, as soon as I came to I saw your house off in the distance and dragged Hot Shot all the way here." She said proudly puffing out her chest. AJ smirked a little.
"That must have been really hard to do with all that wind and rain whipping about." She remarked. Blaze sneered.
"Yeah well, it was." She looked around. "So can we get back to the game now?" She asked as the other's looked on. AJ was a bit miffed at being cut off mid interrogation but she conceded with a tip of her hat.
"Hey bro your up. Want one of us to spin for you?" She asked as she looked up. John looked down and nodded. AJ took another crack at spinning the bottle. It took a few rounds around the group before stopping on Hot Shot.
"Truth or Dare bud?" John called down from above. Hot Shot snickered.
"Dare big guy." He called up. John smirked.
"How's about you get your fuzzy ass up here with me." Hot Shot laughed as he launched himself up to the rafters.
"Ok, how's this?" He asked as he sat on top of the beam. John chuckled as he looked down.
"Hey, mom can you give me a hoof here?" Hot Shot looked down and cringed as Fluttershy nodded.
"Of course dear." She said as her eyes went red for a few seconds. At once Hot Shot was flipped upside down as a forcefield began to hold him down and strap him to the beam upside down just like John was.
"Oh haha very funny." He chuckled.
"So how long should this last for?" He asked as John looked down.
"How about until my own round comes back up?" John said as he hung there. Hot Shot smiled.
"Eh sure, I can live with that." Fluttershy giggled as she shook her head.
"Stallion's." She muttered as she spun the bottle.
12:00 A.M.
"All right everypony this is our last game." Blaze smiled.
"Let's make it extra special." She smirked as she looked around.
"Let's be honest up until now we've all been rather tame." Blaze said as she spun the bottle. As luck would have it the bottle landed on John.
"Ok big guy truth or dare?" She asked as John didn't even hesitate.
"Dare," he said as Blaze smiled with glee.
"I dare you to go this whole last game naked." The group had mixed reactions. Fluttershy was at a loss for words. AJ had a glare on her face. Dash was stifling a laugh while Hot Shot was full on laughing his ass off.
"Now hold on there Blaze ain't that a bit too much?" AJ asked as John sat there his face on fire as he weighed his option's. Blaze meanwhile smirked.
"The rules state that the dare has to be done or the pony who refuses will have to forfeit the game and leave." She smirked.
"Beside's is it really that big of a deal when we've all been naked this entire time?" She asked. Fluttershy shook her head.
"Blaze there's a reason John wears clothing all the time." Blaze looked puzzled.
"And that would be?" She asked causing John to get even redder in the face. Fluttershy gave him a look of sympathy but he simply nodded his head. Fluttershy gave off a sigh as she gave Blaze a sturn look.
"John wears clothing to keep himself warm but more importantly to also keep himself modest." She stated letting it sink Into Blaze's mind. Finally she nodded.
"Oh." She thought about. "That makes it all the more juicy don't you think!?" Asked looking around the group for conformation. She got shocked looks from AJ and Fluttershy, a blushing smirk from Dash, and a look of pity from Hot Shot. John was just flabbergasted. Finally John shook his head.
"Look folks maybe we just need to call it night ok?" He said as they all came out of there stuper. Blaze however looked cross.
"What!?" She let out a shout of outrage as she leapt at John pinning him to the floor.
"Everypony else has seen you naked and you have the nerve to wuss out now!?"
"Hey get off him!" Dash shouted as she tackled Blaze off of John. John Ley there to stunned to move.
"What the fuck?" He muttered as he looked around the barn. Dash had Blaze pinned to the floor while AJ and Fluttershy were both scolding her vehemently. Hot Shot gave John a hoof and pulled him into a sitting position.
"Hey you ok?" He asked as John just looked at Blaze with contempt. He shook his head feeling rattled by his sudden molestation at the hoofs of such an unassuming pony. Looking around John took his surroundings with a slight tint to them. He noticed his vision beginning to swim as he swayed from side to side.
"Not again." He mumbled as he passed out from the sheer shock of current situation. Hot Shot was at a loss.
"Hey buddy!" He shouted as he grabbed a hold of John and set him down. The others all stopped grilling Blaze but not before AJ sent a hoof crashing Into her skull knocking her out cold. She then took a length of rope and tied her to a support beam. Looking at her work she nodded before making her way to her brother. Fluttershy was in tears as she held John in her hooves.
"It's-It's-" She let out a soft sob as she rocked John back and forth.
"It's going to be ok. Mommy's here." John was long out of it by now. His soul was off, back to a familiar place.
"Temporal Distortion is getting heavier with each passing year." Aion looked out his ship's window to see a kaleidoscoping backdrop spotted with tiny pinpricks of luminescent fire streaking passed his view.
"The only true benefit of this whole mission is the peculiar effect I've had to endure in order to complete this task." Aion thoughts became fogged over as he reminisced about his own time. Back when he was a strong healthy stallion.
"All in all it will be worth it in the end." He thought about the world, the ponies, the other races. They were all counting on him to complete his mission.
"I have to find the source of this anomaly and erase it from existence." Aion horn glowed with soft white light as he ended his log and went to his sleeping quarters. His wings ruffled in agitation as he flopped down on his bed. Looking at the reflective ceiling did him little good. His own white coat was reflected back to him by his own crimson eye's. He let out a sigh as he rolled over and tried to get to sleep over the hum of the engine's propelling him through time and space.
Equestria. September 22, 1000, C.E.
11:43 A.M
Fluttershy slept at John's bedside as the world around them continued to hustle and bustle as medical ponies went to and fro about the hospital tending to other patients. The soft rhythmic sound of the heart monitor they had strapped to John's chest was soothing to those in the room with him. Rarity had set up a small couch for them which at this point had been taken up by Pinky Pie, Twilight, and Rainbow Dash. AJ and Fluttershy had both pulled up chairs next to John's bed. The staff was at a loss seeing as they couldn't argue with the irate thestral that had tried to settle herself in John's bed but with all of the other ponies trying to stay as well the staff made an exception.
The midday sun streamed through the green hospital curtain's bringing with it the wind as the window lay open. The subtle wind blowing through the room was enough to wake the two pegasi in the room up from there slumber. With a yawn and a stretch Dash carefully extracted herself from her pile of friends that had all huddled up on Rarity's coach. Seeing movement out of the corner of her eye her head whipped around to see if John was awake. Her smiled faded a little as she saw that it was just Fluttershy.
"Hey, Shy." She said as she stretched once more feeling a satisfying pop in her left wing as she trotted over to John's bedside. Fluttershy gave her a weak smile as Dash trotted over to John's bed and hopped up on her back leg's resting her forehooves on the beds railing. She looked at John's calm face as he slept. Brushing a hoof over his shoulder she let out a sigh.
"I really wish he'd wake up." She said as Fluttershy grabbed John's limp hand and held it close to her face giving it a nuzzle.
"So do I." She said as she held her tears back. A stirring to the mare's left caught them off guard. They looked across the bed to see Applejack awake and giving them both a loving smile. The let out a chuckle as she gave Dash a smirk.
"Well, well, what have we here?" She giggled as they both gave her a confused look. She pointed to Fluttershy.
"I can understand why Fluttershy over here is broken up." She smiled as her eyes roamed over to Dash.
"But what's your story?" She smirked as Dash blushed profusely.
"What I can't feel bad for a friend and fellow running buddy?" She said trying to hide the pink tinge on her cheeks. Her normal ponytail was gone, replaced with a disheveled mess that looked like it had seen better days. AJ snickered as she loosened the handkerchief around her neck.
"Well I guess when you put it that way," She smiled as she gave her brother a soft pat on the head. "Can't really argue with that logic can I?" She gave Dash a wink. Dash just huffed as she stopped rubbing John's shoulder and got back on all four's.
"I'm going to go out for a bit. Get some fresh air that doesn't smell of disinfectant." She said as she took off through the open window. AJ chuckled as the other's all began to stir from there slumber. The door to the room opened as Spike waddled in with Hot Shot in tow. The guys gave the mares a smile as they wrestled with a cart full of food managing to not spill a single crumb as they shut the door when they finally got it inside.
"Next time we're taking the elevator," Spike said as he began to pass around the prepared plate's. Hot Shot smiled as he to passed out food.
"Oh and pass up a chance to impress the lovely mare's around here?" He said smirking as Spike blushed.
"Beside's I'm pretty sure I saw a mare or two who had their eye on you, little buddy." Spike got even redder as he gave a plate to Rarity. She took it but the smirk on her face didn't help matters.
"Oh, and who's wondering eye did our dear spikey catch?"
"I'm not little," Spike grumbled as he gave the last plate he had to Twilight who gave him a nod as he sat down with his own plate. Hot Shot laughed.
"Well, we were at the staircase lifting this thing up one step at a time when this mare came strolling down the hall-" Hot Shot was interrupted as Spike cleared his throat.
"So has anything happened since we left!?" He said butting in on Hot Shot's tale. Hot Shot let out a snicker as he looked over to John's bed.
"Yeah has the big guy stirred at all?" The whole room looked over to Fluttershy and AJ. They both shook their heads.
"Not a peep," AJ said as her gaze once more found itself on her brother lying there in the bed. She leaned down and gave his face a nuzzle.
"Come on bud." she smiled as she held her head next to his. "You gotta wake up." She began to shudder as tear's rolled down her snout.
"You can't just leave your family hanging like this." She reached a hoof over John's chest as she hugged her unique sibling.
12:24 A.M.
Rainbow flew back into the room to see most of the group had left. Fluttershy looked her way with a smile while Applejack gave her a smirk.
"Feeling any better there Dash?" She gave AJ a nod.
"Yep. Just needed to go clear my head you know." AJ nodded as well.
"Course I do. Wouldn't be the first time I've had to deal with something like this." She frowned.
"Back then I was too young to do anything." She let out a soft sigh as she looked back at John. Her frown now a determined grimace.
"I won't ever let my brother go the same way." She leaned over John's face.
"You hear me, little brother. I ain't going to let you go. Not without one hell of a fight." Once her little pep talk was done she leaned back in her chair and huffed.
"Faust above please let the Princess's get back to us with something that could help." Her prayers were answered as a shadow fell upon all of them. They all turned around to see Princess Luna entering the room. All at once they hopped off there chair's and bowed to the lunar goddess. She gave them all a soft smile and bowed as well.
"Please rise little ones." She eyed Fluttershy who merely smiled as she and the others all rose. Luna strolled into the room and conjured up a chair for herself as she sat down at John's bedside. Looking him over she sighed.
"What could ale one so that they end up stuck in a coma?" She pondered as she stopped her inspection of John's body her eyes glued to his face which showed only a small smile. She herself broke into a smile.
"Well, little ones I shall see if I can rouse him from his slumber." She looked to the two guards escorting her.
"You two guard the door and make sure none disturbed us." The two thestral's gave their queen a salute as they shuffled out of the room. Luna looked over to Applejack, Fluttershy, and Rainbow Dash.
"Now you three let us begin." She said as her horn began to glow a dark blue hue.
?????????
As the glow from Luna's horn dissipated the group looked around and saw a black expanse of nothingness. Rainbow raised a hoof.
"Uh, Princess were the hell are we?" She said as she looked around. Luna looked around in wonder.
"Wow. Our friend is in grave danger if this is where his mind has wandered off to." She looked around and then her horn lit up once more.
"Come along all of you. Stay close and don't wander off on your own." She said as they all nodded. Fluttershy's aura flared up as she let her thestral senses take over.
???????
"Hello?" John looked around his surroundings. A black void greeted him when he closed his eye's at the barn. Now here he was stuck in some kind of cosmic prison feeling lost and alone. As he sat there he couldn't help but hear something faint. As he listened to it he found it be a soft humming noise.
"Hello?" He called out once more scrambling to his feet as the sound got closer. He was soon blasted off his feet by a multi-colored shockwave that rippled throughout the void.
Elsewhere the group of rescue ponies was shaken up as a kaleidoscope of color blasted through the void. Luna threw up a shield as a shockwave passed through the void. AJ, Dash's, and Fluttershy's auras all flared to life as well. When the shaking stopped Luna dropped her shield and look on in horror.
"We have to hurry. This magic is not normal." She said as she and the other's all looked around. Fluttershy having had enough traipsing around the void yelled out.
"John!"
John had gotten to his feet was shaken up even more as he looked upon some kind of vessel that had materialized out of thin air with a roar and flash of lights and defining sound. He clutched his head and waited for the ringing to stop, scanning the vessel before him while he backed away from it. It looked like someone had taken a needle and blew it up to an enormous size and then made a big bulge in the middle of it just for fun. It didn't appear to have any landing gear either, instead, it opted to defy the laws of gravity and stay suspended in the air, floating ominously just a few feet off of the ground.
"Hello?" He called out as he stood there. Nothing happened much to John's relief. He'd seen enough alien movies to know where this could end up going and he was very eager to not end up on some kind of spaceship from hell.
"On second thought it might be a good idea to get the hell out of here." He said as he turned around and booked it in the opposite direction from the ship.
Aion looked outside of his ship with unbridled stupification.
"Where the hell am I?" He looked at his instruments and they were all going haywire. Looking from one to another he stopped when his eyes saw something was sure was an illusion at first. Standing there in front of his ship was none other than his target.
"You've got to be shitting me!" He bolted out the cockpit and into the interior of the ship grabbing his gear as he went. Once he was fully geared up he scrambled to the docking bay and hit the door release. The door opened painfully slow as Aion hooked up his hud to the ship's enhanced sensor array.
"Ok Kible what've you got for me?" He asked as the ships A.I. Sprang to life.
"I have the target on radar. Shifting full sensor array over to your hud now Sr." Aion's horn glowed as his suit adjusted to conform to his body, his armor shifting over his body becoming nothing more than a snug fitting full body suit. His helmet morphed into a stylish pair of glasses with a full head's up display with a full-blown augmented reality overlay.
"Ok let's go hunt ourselves an anomaly." He made sure his weapon's systems were all fully charged and functional. His h.u.d read green across the board.
"Come along my fellow's!" Luna shouted as she and the other's hauled flank to reach there friend. After they wandered off looking for there friend they began to hear what sounded like explosions off in the distance. After a mad dash to the source, they all stopped as they looked at the scene before them. They had reached the end of the kaleidoscoped plane and saw a now white expanse of nothingness before them. As they looked on they saw the source of the explosions. Standing there clad in white armor was a black pony. laid out behind it was a being that the other's knew all too well.
"JOHN!" Fluttershy shouted as she and the other's all ran down to his side. They all rushed over to him and took up a shielding position in front of him cutting off the white clad ponies view of him. Fluttershy rounded on the newcomer with a speed that startled it.
"What have you done to him!" Her eye's flashed red as the white clad pony was lifted into the air. The pony looked around in shock and began to fiddle with its helmet. Once it found the release button it flipped its helmet off.
"Fluttershy it's me!" He now shouted. Fluttershy glared at him.
"Do we know each other?" She sneard at him. The pony looked around as he cocked his head listening to something only he could hear.
"Oh, Crap!" His helmet encased his face once more as he looked at Fluttershy.
"Sorry about this." He said as he raised a hoof to her. His horn flared to life with a green aura as he shot a fire ball at her. Fluttershy simply tanked the hit as her aura flared up. The pony looked at her with a look of utter horror on his muzzle.
"The hell kind of magic is that?" He stated as Fluttershy simply brought the pony closer.
"You are going to tell me everything you know about what happened to my sone over there." She stated as her visage began to change. The pony looked on in even more horror as the once demure and timid pegasus he once knew morphed into a creature from his worst nightmare. Standing there before him, was a full-blown vampony and she was pissed at him.
"Oh shit." Was all he muttered as he began to struggle for any way out he could find. As he continued to struggle he looked behind her to see Princess Luna.
"Princess!" He called out as he held a hoof out to the lunar queen. She gave him a look of confusion. She trotted over and watched as Fluttershy looked ready to devour the poor soul. Calmly she trotted over to the enraged vampony and laid a hoof on her head. At once Fluttershy stopped herself looking up at the princess.
"Princess?" She asked as Luna held a soft smile on her face.
"It's ok little one." She gestured to the white clad pony.
"Let us take care of this one." She then grabbed the pony from Fluttershy's grasp and held him tight.
"Go and be with your friend." Fluttershy looked from the pony and back to John. She gave the pony a growl as she trotted back over to her friends. Now that they were alone Luna fixed the stallion with a glare that could freeze hellfire. The stallion gave her a soft smile.
"Well hello, Princess Luna. How's the wheater?" He asked as Luna brought him close.
"I will ask you this only once interloper. And I'd best like the answer or you will find yourself suffering a fate worse than death." The stallion paled as he fought to keep his thought's from escaping him.
"Princess please listen to me." He bagged to which Luna raised an eyebrow.
"We are. Speak cur or suffer." She yelled causing the stallion to flinch. He looked around before he took a deep breath.
"I'm going to just come right out and say it." Luna waited for him to continue.
"Princess I believe that somehow I might have crossed into another dimension." He winced and closed his eyes in preparation for incineration. When he didn't feel any heat or smell his coat burning he opened an eye to see Luna looking at him with some skepticism.
"Parden me if I find that hard to believe." She said as she mulled it over. "It's not entirely out of the range of possibility." She thought as she remembered Star Swirl's experiments with travel through time and space. She looked at the pony in her grasp.
"This shrimpy little wimp couldn't rip a hole in reality if it was ninety nine percent finished and needed only a tiny boost to get itself fully open." The stallion whithered as he read the Princess's thoughts. Gadget was shocked beyond words.
"P-p-princess?" He feebly mumbled grabbing her attention once more. She fixed Gadget with another glare.
"Speak fast naive!" She bellowed causing Gadget to once more cower in place.
"Princess please he-" gadget pointed a hoot at John, "-was like that when I found him." Luna pondered this new and the grave implications of its validity. She gave gadget and inquisitive glance now.
"And who pray tell would want to cause harm to an innocent-" Her reflexes kicked into high gear as she sensed a new presence just off to her left. Reacting purely on instinct she leapt to the side narrowly dodging a bolt of magic that lanced across the ground were she once stood. Landing a little off to the right of the group of ponies she brought with her Luna glared at her new foe.
"Who dares to strike at the goddess of the moon!?" Luna challenged looking at the attacker as he calmly trotted towards the group. He looked at the group and let out a soft chuckle as he stopped a few feet away from them.
"Goddess of the moon huh!?" He fixed Luna with a glare of his own.
"This is the first time I've heard you call yourself that," He smirked at Luna who reinforced her glare.
"And that's saying quite a lot considering all the times and places I've been to." He hefted his weapon, a huge monstrosity of a sword off of his back and held it out to face the group.
"Now if you'll excuse me I have some work to do." He tried to get closer but had to leap out of the way of a dark crystalline spike that tried to impale him. He ended up landing a few feet further back from were he once was. He fixed Luna with a face of pure annoyance now.
"Listen Princess we can do this same old song and dance like we alleyways do or you all can make it easier on yourselves and just hand the human over." He glared at the group. Dash had had enough of this guy.
"The only thing you'll be getting is a huge ass kicking punk so get lost!" Dash stood tall and proud as her body began to glow blue as arcs of lightning danced across her coat. Aion had to admit, he was impressed. Letting out a whistle he calmly began to walk back towards the group.
"Gotta admit the light show is pretty awesome Dash." He smirked as Dash looked him over with a critical eye. She let a smirk cross her muzzle.
"Sorry pal but we've never met before." She stated as Aion just laughed. He then fixed her with a penetrating gaze.
"Maybe not in this timeline but in others we've had the time of our lives." He smirked.
"Distinctly remember making you scream my name a few times to." Dash looked utterly horrified. Her scowl came back in full force.
"I'm pretty certain that in this or any other timeline you'd have a snowball's chance in hell with me." Aion's smug grin turned into a death glare in an instant.
"Oh fuck you miss perfect!" He stomped forward but was once again stopped. This time by a giant split rupturing the ground before him. He glared at the group before he broke out into a fit of giggles. Aj was puzzled.
"What's so funny?" Aion simply lit his horn up.
"Funny thing is that all of your posturing and grandstanding is useless." With a flash he was gone. A scream made the group circle around. They saw another flash as John disappeared before there eyes.
"John!" Dash screamed out as another flash alerted them. They all swung g around to see Aion holding John up with his magic, a hazy white glow enveloping his body.
"Now here's wh-" Fluttershy saw nothing but red. She disappeared in puff of smoke, only to reappear in front of Aion. Before he could cast a spell of his own Fluttershy slugged him. His concentration disrupted the spell fizzled out as Aion's head whipped back, blood spraying over the ground. John fell through the air only to get caught by Fluttershy. She let out a predatory growl as she held John close while she retreated, never removing her crimson eyes from the threat to her family. Aion spung back up with murderous hatred burning in his eyes.
"You know what fuck this!" His horn lit up and in a fraction of a second a sphere of magic erupted fourth sending a shockwave throughout the astral plane. Everyone froze in place as the spell took effect. They all looked on I horror as Aion freely moved about while everyone else was frozen in time. He smirked as he trotted over to his target.
"Nifty ain't it?" He smirked as he grabbed John by the collar a d dragged him along in front of the others. John let out a week moan of agony as he was flung through the air and slammed I to the ground. Aion was non plussed at his groan of pain.
"Damn. Must be loosing some magic being stuck in the astral plane for so long." He muttered as he trotted over to the beaten human being. A quick spell later and John was now pinned to the ground via spikes through his arms and legs. He let out a feeble muffled cry of pain that became even more distorted thanks to the time spell he was under.
"Tsk tsk." Aion wiggled a hoof as he circled John's body.
"You caused me a lot of trouble!" He punctuated his sentence with a stomp on o e of John's legs. A sickening crack was heard but it too reverberated around the spells area of effect. John was silenced by a flare of magic as Aion stopped in front of him.
"I'm going to enjoy erasing you from existence." Aion said as he leveled his horn at the human before him. John's silent please for mercy went unanswered. He saw the smoldering hatred in Aions eyes berring down on him. As John looked into the eyes of death he saw a faint flicker of hope as Aions eyes glazed over with moisture.
"Fizzle Pop, please forgive me." He muttered as he closed his eyes with a sigh. When he opened them once more his visage was as stone as let his spell loose. The group of ponies all cried out as there friend was hit with the blinding light. Princess Luna was enraged. Letting out a distorted cry of furry her horn lit up. With a powerful wave of magic the time field dissipated as Aion sat there looking on as John struggled to remain tethered to this reality. He was writhing in agony as he did so. Fluttershy ran over to his side with AJ close behind.
"No, no, no, no!" Fluttershy yelled as she cradled John's dissipating body. She held his hand in her hoof while she let her tears run freely.
"It's going be ok!" AJ yelled nuzzling John's face. He cringed from the pain as he tried to put on a brave face. A beam of midnight magic lanced over the trio to strike Aion who was sent flying. His concentration was broken and thus the glow faded from his horn. John felt his body stop disintegrating and looked around. He saw his friends huddled around him all of them except for Rainbow.
"D-d-dash?" He feebly called out to the sky blue pegasus. She snapped out of her shock giving John a tear filled look of worry.
"Wha- what?" She looked around feeling a dreadful sence of dejavu creep its way along her spine. There revelry was short lived as the whole group was sent flying by a blast of telekinetic energy. The group got back to there hooves only to freeze in place one more as Aion flared his wings in anger.
"ENOUGH!" He bellowed a command that forced the group to how before him.
"YOU PITIFUL FOOLS HAVE INTERFERED FOR THE LAST TIME!" With a wave of his horn he sent the group sprawling to the ground next to John who reached out to them. They staggered back to there feet all of them shooting Aion a glare. Aion in return sent them a devious grin. As he sauntered over to the group he stopped dead in his tracks and began to claw at his head. A piercing high pitched whistle ripped through the void stopping everyone in there tracks. Suddenly Aion flicked his eyes over to Rainbow Dash.
"NOOO!" He screamed as he lit his horn up. Dash meanwhile was still hyperventilating from her earlier feeling of dejavu. At once she sprang into action. The lightning dancing around her slowed to a crawl as she flew faster than she ever had before. Soon the whole world around her slowed to a halt. Looking around Dash was in shock. She'd never gone this fast before. Her eyes leveled on John. She saw the fear spreading across his face. She had had enough. Her eyes narrowed as she locked on to her target. With a mighty roar she sped past him. In normal time Aion saw a blur of lightning and rainbows whizz past him. His fear dissipated as his smirk reappeared.
"He element of loyalty indeed." He sneered.
"Even she kn-" His sentence stuck in his throat as he staggered back from a blow that sent him flying into the air. His eyes went wide in surprise as he looked around for his assailant.
"How!?" He saw nothing. He was then hit a few more times In rapid succession. The blitz of hooves that hammered into him sent him slamming Into the ground. As the dust cleared Aion flashed his gaze around.
"We're are you, you bitch!?" He shouted to the heavens. The only thing the group saw was the alicorn spazzing out as a blue streak flashed into and out of existence peppering Aion with hits. Aion staggered around after the assault and looked around wearily.
"Is that the best you got!?" He shouted in defiance. Dash smirked as she whizzed past him.
"Nope." She whispered into his ear as she passed by. He whirled around to see nothing but air. All of a sudden he jerked around as he was once again hit at light speed several times across his body. A yell of victory rang out as Dash put her all Into one find all hit. She zoomed at Aion leaving a rainbow trail of light behind her. When her hoof connected with Aions body the world around them all shattered in a blinding flash of prismatic light.
Dash awoke with a start. She rapidly scanned her surroundings to see the others were all sprawled out on the ground. Her eyes locked onto John's motionless frame. She let out a groan as she tried to get to her hooves but failed. Feeling slowly began to come back to her but as she tried to use her hooves she once again failed. Finally she proceeded to crawl over to the group. As she crawled towards the group she looked around feeling the midday wind rush across her muzzle. Out of the corner of her eye she caught sight of a familiar coat and mane. Shaking her head she finally managed to reach the group. She quickly got to shaking each of them. All of them awoke except for John remained motionless.
"No!" She screamed only to look on in horror as she relized that she couldn't hear her own voice. She said something else only to hear a faint ringing come over her words. Stomping a hoof in anger she turned around to see Aion who looked to be wailing and rolling around uncontrollably holding his head as he did so.
"Good." Dash thought as she went and lay across John's unconscious form.
"Let the little shit suffer." Her thoughts continued to take glee in the white alicorns agony as she slowly drifted off to sleep herself. As she dozed off, the others all came to. Fluttershy and Applejack imidiatly looked around only to let out relieved sighs as they saw John whole and mostly intact with Dash draped over him. Princess Luna was awake and fully alert as she scanned there surroundings.
"We appear to have been let out on the hospital grounds." Informing the group of there location. Fluttershy looked around as did the others at the sound of pitiful moaning reached there ears. All three heads whipped over to a few feet away seeing Aion who now resembled a cold in both size and appearance writhing in agony while he held his head in his hooves. Luna got to her hooves at once and began to trot over to the villain. Not taking any chances she prepared a spell to seal his magic.
She'd have done some earlier but it was complex and long winded. It do no good in a combat situation. Now though there adversary was momentarily subdued. However as she trotted closer her spell fizzled out as she looked upon there tormentor with sadistic glee as she beheld his bloody broken stump of a horn. She mulled over her options at this point. Then a grin spread across her muzzle.
"Well well how the tables have turned." She spoke as she slowly trotted over to the flailing colt. Aion looked through his blood, sweat, and tear stained face to see Luna trotting up to him. His normally stone face was etched with pain and anger as he closed his eyes while trying to focus on anything but the pain .
"D-d-don't-" He let out a scream of pain as he continued to thrash about on the ground. Luna made it over to the small cold and gave him one small look of pity before she shot a hoof forwards and pinned the little deviant to the ground. His wails of pain ceased, instead being replaced with pained gasps for air as he wheezed through his compressed chest. Luna took such glee in snuffing out the life of one who would dear to harm her subjects that she didn't hear the trio of footfalls behind her. She was utterly astounded when a hand reached out to her outstretched hoof. Looking over she was shocked to see John who with the help of Fluttershy and Applejack had made his way over to them while carrying Rainbow In his arms. He gave a her a look of deep pitty.
"Please." He begged looking down at the colt who's feeble attempts at pushing Lunas hoof off of his chest were slowly growing weaker and weaker. Luna glared at the little colt her eyes clouding over.
"And why should we show anymore mercy than this filthy cur was willing to show us?!" She shot John a glare as she took her eyes off of Aion. John wrapped Luna in a hug as he slid from his escorts grasps and lay at Luna's feet.
"Please." He begged once more leaving Luna speechless as she looked down upon his prown form. She felt him try and fail to lift her hoof from the foals chest.With a mighty growl of anger Luna relented, releasing the vile stallion from her choke hold. She stormed off a few paces as she went Into a tirade. As she did so John bent down and scooped up the little colt who thankfully had passed out do to lack of oxygen. John, holding both Dash and Aion looked over to the other two mares for help. Fluttershy and Applejack both gave him pained looks of anger and sadness. Slowly the two shook there heads. Fluttershy trotted over as tears streamed down her face.
"I'm sorry but I-" She looked at Aion. "I just can't." She said hanging her head in shame. John gave her a nod as he knelt down and gave her a pet on the head. Applejack went and gave John's legs a soft nuzzle as she gripped his shirt in her teeth.
"Come on y'all." She grumbled as she lead the group back to the hospital. Luna meanwhile had screamed herself harsh as she looked off to Canterlot.
October 3, 1000, C.E. 7:54 A.M.
John looked down at his journal in his lap. He looked over to the quill in his hands and sighed.
"Here go's nothing." He thought as he brought a shaky hand to the parchment page. His shakes got worse as he tried to put quill to parchment. With a frustrated sigh he let the quill go only to see it enveloped in a soft blue glow. He looked over to see Rainbow in her own bed a fierce look of concentration on her face.
"Dash stop that." He scolded her as she cracked a smile. The quill went up and tickled him in the nose. He swatted the quill away sending a smirk Dash's way.
"Hey come on now. Remember what the doctor said about overdoing it." Dash rolled her eyes.
"Of course I remember." She tapped her head. "It got drilled into here by literally everpony!" She chuckled as she reminisced on her awakening at the hospital. Her grin unnerved John . He had a pretty good idea of what it was about to.
"So" Dash said still grinning. John looked over to her a slight blush adorning his face.
"What's this I hear about you carrying both me and the punk back to the hospital?" John allowed a grin to cross his face.
"Yeah well after your crowning achievement of badassitude." He sent a few air quotes her way.
"You passed out on top of me and I wasn't just going to leave you there In the dirt." He said as he set the quill back on his nightstand. Dash smirked.
"Oh really?" She challenged. John just gave her a plain face.
"And what about later on when I was on life support?" She changed her voice into an awful rendition of Rarity. Clearing her throat she batted her eyelashes.
"Oh darling it was absolutely romantic," She swooned as she continued. "He never left your side even when the nurse had to come by and force him back into his bed." She gave a wink to which he just flushed an even deeper shade of red.
"Even when he was strapped to his bed he demanded to be put in the same room just so he could watch over you while you slept." Dash eyed a now thoroughly red faced human who refused to meet her gaze.
"Plead the 5th." He stated as Dash broke out into a fit of giggles. She settled down and with a small tither gave John a friendly smile.
"In all seriousness John." That got his attention. He looked her in the eyes as she sent him gratuitous smirk.
"Thanks. For being awesome when it counted the most." She said as she settled back I to her bed. John sat there starring off Into nothingness as he thought about the past few weeks.
"Your welcome dash." He said as he to settled down in his bed. As he turned over he missed the smile that graced Dash's muzzle.
11:57 A.M.
Aion stared off. He hadn't spoken a word or uttered a single note of speech. He just lay there in a vegetative state looking off into the far off nothingness. John made it a point to visit him every few day's just to see if anything had changed. Nothing had. After he and Dash had there breakfast John once again pluncked himself down into his wheelchair and rolled himself out of the room. Looking back at Dash he gave her a smile.
"Sure you don't want to come and see him?" He asked. Dash's face contorted into a half smile, half frown. He looked at John and shook her head.
"Honestly I'm just not sure what I can say." She said as she thought about it. John smiled as he wheeled himself over to Dash's bed.
"Are you sure?" He asked patting his lap. "I can even give you a ride the whole way." He said grinning as Dash snickered.
"Oh really?" She looked at John's wheelchair and then at the clock on the wall. She smiled as she shook her head.
"Why not. Not like I got anywhere to go or to be right now." She said as she got to her hooves and shambled over to the bed rail. John shakily to his feet while holding his arm's out. Rarity's voice made it known in Dash's head as she carefully moved into John's arms.
"Ow aren't they cute together." Dash squished that thought as soon as it entered her brain. She shook her head to clear her thought's and smiled as John sat her in his lap being careful to not tweak her wings.
"Comfy?" He asked as he tilted his head giving Dash a smile. She gave his cheek a nuzzle as she settled down resting her back and wings against John's chest.
"Very." She grinned as she let her back legs drape themselves over John's legs. John had to make a conscious effort to not stare at Dash's body as she spayed herself out on top of him. He steeled his mind as he rolled them out of the room. Soon the at Dash's insistence the duo flew down the hall way's leading to Aion's room causing several orderlies to glue themselves to the pristine white walls. A few nurse mare's sent them glare's while other's gave them soft chuckles at the childish actions of two supposed adults.
"And Time!" John shouted as he came to a halt right outside Aion's room. Dash gave him a soft hoof to the shoulder as she slid down John's front and stood on all four's. She pranced about as her hooves got adjusted to the cold marble floors. When the cold had stopped assaulting Dash's hooves John went and opened the door. After Dash entered John wheeled himself in and shut the door. A nurse that had been in the room with a clipboard in hoof gave the two a soft smile as she went about checking Aion's vitals.
"Any change nurse redheart?" He asked as Redheart took one more reading before scribbling something down on her chart. Looking over to the two she gave a sad shake of her head.
"Well." She said as she checked the colts pulse by hoof.
"Except for his horn he's perfectly healthy now." She said as her horn lit up and her clipboard disappeared in a flash of light.
"He should be able to leave her in a little over a week from now." She said as she gave him a soft rub on the head.
"If you'll excuse me I have to let Rapid Response know about our little guest here." She said as she exited the room. As she did so John rolled himself up to Aion's bed.
"Hey, there little guy." He said as he began to rub Aion's ears.
"How are thing's going with you?" He knew Aion wouldn't answer but still, John sat there as he told Aion about his day so far. As this went on Dash just watched in fascination as John basically treated the pony that tried to kill him only a week ago like a little foal. Sure to everyone else Aion was nothing more than a foal. Princess Luna had decided that it would be best to act as if nothing had happened. Kind of hard trying to explain how several ponies and a human disappeared from the hospital room only to reappear outside seconds later with a screaming foal in tow.
Luna had to grease a few hooves with some under the table bit's but she had managed to keep Aion's origins a secret. Kind of easy considering nopony knew where or from when Aion had come from. His ship was lost in the explosion that decimated the Astral plane shattering it into oblivion. Luna spent the better part of a week weaving the plane back together from scratch. When she was done she came back to the hospital to give Dash a stern warning to never end up destroying a plane of existence ever again. Dash gave the princess a hesitative snicker as she promised to never do anything like that again if she could help it. As John got through with his talk he looked over to Dash.
"Want to say anything Dash?" Dash looked from him to Aion and slowly thought about it. Finally, she shook her head.
"Here goes nothing," She said as she trotted over to Aion's bed. Giving him a good look Dash couldn't help but see why John was so enthused with Aion. The fully grown stallion that had tried to kill them was really nothing more than a little foal now. In fact, if Dash had to guess she would say that Aion was at least eleven to twelve year's younger than Scootaloo.
"That would make you what about five maybe six." She said as she continued to stare at him. She let out a huff as she took a hoof and ran it over Aion head.
"Hey there sport," Dash said feeling awkward about this whole thing. Shoving that aside she continued to humor John who looked on with a smile on his face.
"So the doctors think that you'll be able to get out of here in a week or so." She gave John a smile as she looked up at him. He still held his own but it quickly turned into a look of shock as his eyes glued themselves to Aion who for the first time in a little over a week finally stopped staring at nothingness.
"What?" He asked feeling very odd as he looked around his room in confusion. His eye's settled on the two people in his room.
"Who are you?" He asked causong both John and Dash to give the other a look of shock fallowed quickly by confusion.
"Were am I?" He asked as he looked around rapidly starting to hyperventalate.
"What's going on?" He asked getting more and more frantic by the second. After takinga few to many breath's his gaze settled on a mirrir on his side table.
"Who am I?" He finally asked himself as he once more passed out from lack of oxygen to his brain.
John paced around as he waited outside of the throne room. He looked around to see the other's all sitting and chatting away.
"How can you all be so calm about this?" He asked causing Twilight and the other's to all stop their conversation and give him varying looks of concern. Rarity spoke up first.
"Darling just be patient." She said trotting over and placing a hoof on John's thigh.
"Darling please relax." She gave him a soft smile as she began to pat his leg. John absentmindedly began to pat Rarity's head. She shivered as a wave of pleasure flashed through her body for a split second. She cleared her throat as she ducked out from under John's hand. He looked over to see her red in the face. Regaining his senses he looked at his hand and facepalmed.
"I'm sorry Rarity its just.." He trailed off looking at the big double door's to the throne room once more. His shoulder's sagged as he let out a deep sigh.
"I really want to be correct and think that Aion is gone and now we have this little foal in his place." He looked at the rest of the group that had all trotted over. John shivered.
"But I just really don't want to be wrong about this." He went down memory lane. "Trust me when I say that getting erased from all of time once was more than enough for me." Fluttershy came around behind John and gave him a soft hug enveloping him with her wings as well.
"It'll be ok dear." She stated as she nuzzled his cheek. John rubbed her face with his cheek back as he slowly took deep breaths. AJ was the next one to join the cuddle pile as John flopped down onto the floor of the great hall.
"Don't you worry about a thing sugar cube." She went and gave John a soft nuggie seeing as his head was the only thing sticking out of Fluttershy's warm embrace. John couldn't move and was thus forced to receive his sisters, tough love. He shot her a playful scowl as Fluttershy let him go. Twilight trotted up to him with Spike in tow. She just went and gave him a hug.
"Trust me everything will be ok." She said as Spike hopped off her back and gave him a fist bump.
"Yeah don't worry about it bud." He then flexed showing off his rather impressive physic for such a small dragon.
"We'll be right behind you every step of the way." John just smirked as Dash flew up and booped him on the nose. He swatted at her but didn't land so much as a current of air on her soft coat. She stuck her tongue out at him and then gave him a shoulder check.
"What Spike said, dude." She then came to a rest on his back forcing him to give her an impromptu piggyback ride. He gave her a smirk as she settled down and closed her eyes.
"We got your back." She grinned while John rolled his eyes at her exquisite timed joke.
"Wooo!" Pinky shouted as she came flying down from the ceiling. John looked up at her and smiled as he, now hoisting Dash's weight on his back, simply sidestepped the hyperactive bundle of laughs and tinkling bells. Pinky landed with all of the grace of a trained ballerina tumbling into a ball before springing up onto her hind hooves and spinning in place like a top before she finally lost all of her momentum and proceeded to fall face first. She instead used her forward momentum to pull off a long-standing bow. The whole group starred at Pinky for a little while. Their group activities were cut short by the throne room door's being opened. A single guard pony trotted out to meet them.
"The princess's will see you now." He announced as he stood off to the side. John looked around at the group. They all gave him an affirmative nod. Dash settled for a soft primary feather to the face. John let out a few giggle's at the ticklish appendage but his grip on Dash held firm.
"Ok let's go see if we still have a foal or a tiny psychopath on our hooves." He said as he lead the way into the throne room.
8:00 A.M.
The group all trotted into the throne room with John looking around in awe. No matter how many time's he would come here the grandeur of the castle of canterlot would always astound him. With the group all present at the foot of the royal sister's they all gave a collective bow, with Dash having hopped off John's back to give her own. Both Celestia and Luna gave them all a soft smile.
"Rise young ones," Luna commanded. The group all got to there hooves as Celestia took a look off to the side of the throne room.
"Now as you all know you're all here due to a rather peculiar phenomenon," Celestia said as she looked over to Dash and John. Her eyes briefly flicked over to her sister as well who tried to hide a small blush that had cropped up on her dark cheeks. Luna gave a cough and motioned for Celestia to continue. Celestia let out a soft chuckle.
"So the short version is that our dear little tyrant," She nodded towards the left side of the throne room that had a door inlaid in the wall. "Is relatively harmless as of now." She stated causing John to let out an audible sigh of relief.
"Well, that's some good new's." He stated. Celestia wished it was all the news she had. She frowned as she thought upon her next words.
"Yes but I'm afraid that that is all the good news." She stated. Giving Luna nod her sister took it from there.
"As my sister said that is all the good new's. There is more to be said but it is rather grave."
"How so?" Rarity asked what everyone else was thinking. Luna hung her head.
"It would seem that due to a combination of fractures Aion has developed a case of amnesia." John just huffed.
"Well that much is obvious but what caused it?" He asked. He got a scathing glare from Luna while Celestia held a hoof to her muzzle hiding a tither of laughter.
"Yes what indeed," Luna said as she went over the doctor's report. She shot a glance at Rainbow who gave a slight grin of nervousness.
"For one, the simple fact that his horn was shattered beyond repair was a severe shock to his body." She stated, going through the list of injuries in her head.
"The fact that he was casting a spell at the time only made matter's worst. His body was subject to a magical feedback loop that nearly fried all of his magical conduit's in his body." She looked at the group who all had looks of horror etched on there muzzles. John didn't look too good either. He didn't have any magic but he figured that would be painful enough as it was.
"To top it all off with him having been age regressed due to his voyage through time and the fact that he had suffered a severe head injury just added more fuel to the fire," Luna said with a sigh.
"And last but not least he was forcefully ejected from the Astral Plane at light speed," She shot a look at Rainbow who wiggled nervously. "The fact that he had no physical body at the time should have killed any normal pony." The group all cringed at that note.
"So the long version is that after suffering multiple trauma's in such a short amount of time plus all of the repeated damage to his head and mental faculties, in general, all culminated in an event that caused this poor individual to come to fruition," Luna said with finality. Celestia sat there her trademark stoic face betrayed no hint of what she felt about the situation as she let it all sink in for her small group of friends. As they shifted rapidly from one face to another they all settled on a look that was equal part's guilt and relief.
"So what happens now?" John asked breaking their brief spell of melancholy. Celestia let a small smile creep across her muzzle.
"Now we have no choice but to let him go in one's of your's care." The group looked to one another with hesitative glance's. They all went back to looking at the royal sister's. Luna laughed at there collective lack of what to do.
"If I may make a suggestion." She held their attention as they all looked to her.
"One of you, I won't suggest who, take him home and treat him like you would any other foal." Her statement caused a look of trepidation to pass through the group. Finally, John just sighed.
"God Help me please." He stepped forward and knelt down before the sisters.
"Well seeing as it's my fault he's here I guess I'll be the one to take care of him." He said looking the Luna in the eye. She simply gave him a sharp nod. The rest of the group was taken aback by this, however.
"John dear not to sound like an old nag but do you even know how to take care of a little foal?" Rarity asked out of the blue. John just flashed her a smile.
"Honestly not a clue but I'm willing to learn." He then looked at Fluttershy. she gave him a sad smile as she shook her head.
"Well you won't have to do it alone," AJ said stepping up beside her brother and rapping him in a tight embrace.
"Shoot for a little while Big Mac and I had to take care of Apple Bloom on our own so we can definitely help out with that." Fluttershy thought about it as her heart waged a war with her head. Eventually, she took a deep breath.
"Um, I guess I could help out too." She stated causing John to bust out with a soft smile. He went over and gave Fluttershy a hug.
"Thank you." He whispered into her ear. She smiled as she embraced her friend.
"I honestly don't know If I'll ever forgive him for trying to take you away." She said as they broke the embrace.
"But I won't just turn a blind eye to little foal in need." She stated giving an affirmative nod. Celestia cleared her throat.
"Then it's settled. We'll have Aion returned to you all for safekeeping and transport back to Ponyville." She then gave a look to Twilight.
"If you can dear Twilight I'd like weekly report's of Aion and how he's faring in the town." Twilight gave Celestia a nod.
"Can do Princess." She said as the group all cleared out of the throne room. Once the throne room was clear the two sisters let out a collective breath.
"Do you think they'll be ready for this sister?" Luna asked. Celestia smiled.
"Yes, dear Luna I think they will." She looked over to the side room.
"Were you careful when you went sifting through his memories?" Luna gave her a nod.
"Yes. Not a trace of his evil remains." She smiled.
"It was highly fortunate to have happened in the first place so I think we can count ourselves very lucky indeed." Celestia smiled as she gave her sister a nuzzle.
12:32 P.M. Ponyville.
The group now including an extra member trotted through the town giving Aion a tour. As soon as they got off the train Pinky began to giggle and hop about in glee.
"Now I get to throw you a party!" She grabbed Aion and spun him around like a child's toy making the poor colt dizzy.
"Pinky please put me down." He wailed as he was put down on the ground. He wobbled his way back over to John who scooped him up and held him close as gave him a look over.
"Hey, there little guy." He greeted his newest charge as Aion's head stopped spinning. Once Aion got his head under control he looked around the town.
"So this is where I'll be living from now on?" He asked looking up at John's face as he too looked around.
"Yup." He gave a smile to Lyra who waved and trotted on over.
"Oh who is this?" she asked as she looked at the colt in John's arms. Aion gave a soft squeak as he tried to hide his blushing face but all he achieved in Lyra's eyes was looking cuter.
"Aww, it's ok little guy." She cooed brushing his face with a hoof.
"I don't bite." John let out a huff at that. Lyra rolled her eye's and offered John a smile.
"Hey, that was one time and besides." She gave John a sultry wink. "It was all in good fun." John scoffed.
"Yeah for you maybe but let me nibble on your ear and see how you like it." He shot back. Lyra just giggled as she trotted over to the rest of the group.
"Oh, I can tell you I'd enjoy it immensely." She gave John a seductive grin causing him to blush as he fought to clear his head of any lewd thoughts that tried to rush in. Aion began to squirm a little so John let the little guy drop to the ground with a small thump as he landed on his hooves, his wings flared out to help cushion the fall. Aion looked around a little bit more but stayed close to the group as they all headed off to Sugar Cube Corner. Along the way, he asked various questions and John was all too happy to answer what he could and deferring to Twilight when he didn't know about a particular place or subject.
"And that is Quill's and Sofa's," Twilight said pointing to the store that had the most eclectic collection of items for sale out of all the places in Ponyville.
"Why would the same store sell quills and sofas anyway?" Aion asked causing the whole group to snicker.
"No Idea little dude," John said shaking his head. He'd been in the store several time's before looking at bed's and to stock up on writing supply's namely ink and more quill's when his own broke.
"But it's a nice place to go from time to time," John stated as they all arrived at the bakery. John held the door open for all of the mare's and it was here that he taught Aion his first lesson in chivalry.
"Alway's let the mare's go first ok bud?" He said as Aion stood off to the side with John. He looked on as the girl's all gave John various reply's of thanks and as Fluttershy entered the store John scooped Aion up and took up the rear. When they all got in Ms. Cake gave them all a warm welcome which consisted of hug's, smile's, and a meal on the house for the newest addition to the town. Pinky came zipping out of her room upstairs with a crazed grin on her face, her bell still tinkling away.
"Hey, guys guess what?" She asked as the group all sat down.
"What they all asked at once. Pinky giggled as she held up a calendar.
"I can throw our little guy here a party the week before Nightmare Night!" She pointed to a day that had been circled. Sure enough, the group saw that Pinky's schedule was packed with other parties to plan. Dash let out a whistle.
"If I'm the fastest mare in Equestria then you must be the busiest one Pink's." She said eliciting a giggle from Pinky who gave her a nod.
"Normally I'm not this busy but with the holiday season's beginning to come around I have to plan around a lot of other ponies schedual's." She shoved the calendar into her mane causing Aion to look at her in wonder.
"Wow, where'd it go!?" He asked looking at the group in excitement. Now John taught Aion his second lesson.
"That my dear boy is a mystery to us all." Aion looked confused.
"How can you not know? Aren't you all friends?" He asked getting a chuckle out of the group. Twilight spoke up next.
"True were all friends but trust me when I say it Aion we've never been able to figure out how Pinky does half of the crazy stuff she does. Aion looked at Pinky in even more wonder now. Then he puffed out his chest.
"Then I want to be the first one to figure out how she does that." He said feeling a lot more confident all of a sudden. At his declaration, the group snickered.
"Good luck with that little guy," Dash said as she took a sip from her shake. The group stayed there for a little while until first with Fluttershy's departure the rest of the group began to leave. Twilight gave John a hug before she and spike left for her library. Now only John and AJ remained.
"Well, I reckon it's time to head on home." She said as Aion hopped on her back. She gave him a smile as the little she settled into a steady trot while John walked beside her. All the while they were being looked upon by a stranger hidden in the shadows of the afternoon sun.
October 8, 1000, C.E. Canterlot High Counsel of Magic. 8:00 A.M.
"Headmaster?" Chancellor Neighsay looked up from a document in his grasp and smiled at the dark-furred unicorn approaching his desk.
"Yes, Ms. Inkwell?" He set his document down and gave Ms. Inkwell his full attention. She held out a file and passed it over to him.
"The file you requested." Neighsay took the file and dismissed Inkwell with a hoof.
"Thank you Inkwell." As Inwell left the room so to did the smile on Neighsays muzzle. He glared at the picture kept in the file.
"Soon Human, soon I'll have all the proof I need to put you in the deepest pit of Tartarus." He set the file down and began to laugh. It was an evil laugh, one devoid of true laughter, filled instead with malice and hatred. It stopped just short as a knock on his door caught his attention.
"Come in!" He shouted. At once, his secretary burst into the room.
"Sir there it was again!" She shouted as her cobalt eyes scanned the room at rapid speed's. Neighsay smirked as he cleared his throat.
"No Stardew I hadn't heard it this time." He stated as Stardew frantically began to sift through the room's contents. Neighsay just got up from his desk making sure to tuck his file away in his cape before he left the room. standing at the doorway to his office he turned and gave Stardew a soft smile.
"Please do be a dear and clean up after yourself." Stardew gave him an absent nod of her head as she continued to search Neighsay's office for the evil laugh. Neighsay himself rolled his eye's as his frown once more took up residence upon his muzzle. He trotted out the high magi's tower with a purpose. The spy he had sent to ponyville had come back reeking of sanguinemancy.
"Damned blood sucker's." He muttered to himself as he stopped by the high inquisitor's armory. If he was going to stake this vampony he might as well take out several birds with one giant stone. The latest report had told of the human's interaction with a time traveler. The situation was quickly getting out of hoof.
"Not for long." The Chancellor smiled as he pulled out several sets of sun-blessed weapons. Hiding them in his capes rather spacious pockets he signed them out of the tower and left heading off to catch the first train he could to ponyville. He needed to stake out the area first but he'd be damned if he was going to get caught unaware's.
October 9, 1000, C.E. Ponyville. 7:34 A.M.
Rainbow Dash smiled as she galloped at a brisk pace down the dirt path leading through the White Tail Woods. Looking back she let a smirk pass over her muzzle, Spinning around to gallop backward she gave her running buddy a grin.
"Come on slowpoke. It hasn't been that long since we last ran." She said as spun around and continued her gallop down the trail. John just glared at Dash's flank as he huffed and puffed while trying to keep up with her. After a little over a week of being stuck in the hospital, his body had taken to being sedentary. Luckily he was still in better shape thanks to his constant work on the farm. John waved a hoof.
"Yeah yeah laugh it up fuzzball." He muttered under his breath his face breaking into a smile as he saw Dash look back once more. Smiling she trotted back to were John had stopped for a rest.
"Hey, you ok?" She asked as she saw the sweat pouring off of John's face. He looked up and gave her a thumb's up.
"Oh yeah, I'm just peachy." He said as he leaned against a tree for support closing his eyes. Dash took a wing and gently began to fan his body. Even in his short's and sleeveless shirt, John was absolutely glistening with sweat. A rosy hew made it's way to Dash's face as she stood there admiring her friend's physique.
"Wow, he's really bulked up." She thought as the heat on her face intensified.
"I-I wonder." She took a small step forward and gave his scent a tentative sniff. Her eyes widened as she smelled the unmistakable smell of apples and earth. Shaking her head to clear out the unwanted thought's she cleared her throat.
"So how've things been at the farm?" She asked trying to get her brain back on track. John opened an eye and gave her a grin.
"Oh, they've been going." He said as he took a stance in the middle of the road and stretched out his legs.
"Ready to keep going?" Dash gave him a nod.
"You ready to keep up?" She smirked as John gave a nod. As the two once more began to run through the woods John couldn't help but smile over the past week.
"Aion is settling in nicely." Dash gave a smile at that.
"Yeah, how's the little guy been taking everything?" The two rounded a bend in the road and began to several mile's long run back towards Ponyville.
"He's been taking thing's like a champ all thing's considered." The two were now neck and neck as they continued to chat. Weather this was due to John speeding up or Dash slowing down the two paid it no mind.
"He insisted on helping out since he's staying there with me." John continued.
"He can't really help out much in the fields so Apple Bloom took him to the barn and's is having him sort the apples that get hauled in." Dash shot him a grin.
"Yeah, I see that's been helping you fill out more." John's face heated up as he took that in stride. Dash just giggled.
"So any mare catching your eye?" She asked out of the blue. This caused John to glance over at Dash just long enough to miss a low hanging branch coming his way. Dash who looked forward saw it too late.
"Look out!" She yelled as John looked in front of him. His vision was consumed by brown as he plowed headfirst into the branch.
"Aw Shit!" He screamed as he felt his glasses break as they took the impact for him. He fell onto his ass as pain raced through his face. Letting out a groan he kept his eye's closed as he blindly felt around for anypony.
"Dash you there?" He asked as Dash raced to his side.
"Hey, there big guy It's ok. I'm here!" She said as she cradled John's head.
"Shh, shh, let me take a look." She said trying to soothe John's pain as her hooves glowed a soft blue color. John's head began to feel better as he quickly stopped groaning.
"How bad is it?" He asked as he felt Dash's hooves feel around his face. She used a little bit of magic to remove the broken glass and bits of plastic that had thankfully only embedded itself into John's cheeks.
"Well, you've got the blessing of Faust over you bud." She smiled as she once more began to weave her magic around John's face. He felt a cooling sensation as his cut's and bruises began to heal.
"You can open your eye's now," Dash said as she got off of John's body. Her face once more lit up. She hadn't even realized she had basically been straddling his crotch this whole time. As John looked around he saw the blurry outline of Dash off to the side.
"Thank's Dash." He said as she just smiled albeit nervously as she got her head together.
"Any time John," she said as she trotted over and lent him a wing to steady himself. He wobbled for a little bit as the adrenaline coursing through his body began to taper off.
"Well, there goes another pair of glasses." He sighed.
"Clear Vision is going to kill me If keep breaking his glasses." Dash snickered.
"Please. He probably likes all the business he gets from you." She said as the two set off slowly down the road Dash sticking to John's side as they went. Off in the bushes however a stallion cloaked in shadow's smirked as he jotted down some notes.
"In addition to being susceptible to our magic the beast is blind without its glasses." He tucked his notebook away for later as a wicked smile crept across his muzzle. "Good to know." He said as he faded into the shadows of the woods.
8:17 A.M.
"Look this way please." Dr. Vision held up a hoof and had John follow his limb as he moved it about. John did so and with his final test done Dr. Vision jotted down some notes on his pad and help John to his feet with a spark of magic.
"Here you are son." He said grabbing a pair of glasses of a rack and handing them to John. He grabbed them and tried them on.
"Perfect Doc. Sorry for the last minute appointment." Vison waved him off.
"Not at all boy." He smiled as John sat the proper amount of bit's down on the counter.
"Glad I could be of help." He said leading John out of the office.
"Don't hesitate to come back if you need an adjustment." He stated as John gave him a wave, walking out into the waiting room. As he did so he saw a rainbow blur look his direction. He waved as Dash sat there waiting on her friend.
"So stretch what's the damage?" She asked as John and Dash walked outside into the sun. John just laughed.
"Other than a few bump's and a new pair of glasses costing about five bit's not much." He flashed Dash a smile. Dash looked around a little nervous. Finally she gave John a wry smile.
"So big guy you doing anything today?" She asked as she tried to stomp down the feeling of butterfly's in her chest.
"Seriously what is wrong with me!?" She internally screamed. "Were just friend's. No more. No less." She frowned as she chastised herself.
"No not much of anything going on today." He said. Dash's muzzle lit up like a hearthswarming tree.
"Awesome!" She zipped Into the air causing John to chuckle.
"What's got you so excited?" John said a smile adorning his face. Dash let out a small chuckle as she hovered back down to ground level.
"What can't I like spending time with my best friend?" She snickered as John just shrugged.
"No I guess that's not a bad thing." He said as he knelt down.
"Hop on. I could use the strength training." Dash hopped onto his back with a huff.
"Are you calling me fat?" She asked her voice filed with mocking hurt at the jab. John just laughed.
"First off Dash if anyone ever calls you fat there extremely jealous." He flashed her ne of his patented smiles. She blushed at this but John continued.
"Secondly all of your weight comes from pure muscle which weigh's more than fat but you also have compact muscle which is in and of itself better than being a bulked out roid monster." He hastily looked around for Bulk Bicep's. Not seeing the massively muscled Pegasus he let out a sigh.
"Not that there's anything wrong with that of course but I think you look great just the way you are." He said as he felt Dash get settled into his back. He got to his feet and started walking. Dash meanwhile was crimson faced. Not wanting to let John see her bright red face she hid it by settling her muzzle on top of Johns head.
"T-thanks." She mumbled as John continued on walking down to sweet apple acre's oblivious to the flustered Pegasus he was carrying.
As John did so his stalker showed up once more.
"This is worse than I thought." He wrote down. "He's already infected one of the element's of harmony with his vile corruption." He dashed over behind a tree.
"I can't allow this to spread to the other's or all of Equestria may be lost." Chancellor Neighsay put his notebook away.
"I may have to enlist the help of the other's if I'm to be able to stand a chance against this creatures power's."
Pinky briskly trotted down the street smiling the whole way. She had a good reason to be smiling. Today she was off. Normally this would bum pinky out, but not today. No today was special. Today a doozy was at hand. She felt the signs, the spasms, the full body tingling, the hyperventilating, and the aching body par's. It all pointed to one irreversible conclusion. A doozy was on the way and no matter what Pinky was going to be there to see it happen. Suddenly her eye's began to flutter rapidly. Then her ear's began to shake.
"Huh!" Her smile widened even more.
"Someponies a sneaky sneakin!" Scanning the road leading to sugarcube corner she spotted a flickering glow escape in the shadows of a nearby alleyway. She grinned as she doubled back to check out the ally. When she got there the flicker was gone.
"Shimmer glimmer in my eye, you can not hide from Pinky Pie." She sang song as she trotted down the ally. Her eye's and other senses scanning the area she stopped when she picked up a scent. Bending down and rubbing a hoof across the damp earth she raised her hoof to eye level. The grin on her face spoke volumes.
"Found you, Mr. Spy." She grinned as her eye's lit up going from light blue to a deep ocean blue as the air around her began to grow cold. The dirt in her hoof levitated around her as she pulled in the moister around her body forming a soft shell of condensed water vapor around her. She wiped her hoof off as the water began to coat her body from head to hoof. Her water bubble contracted around the glop of dirt and soon it had shrunk to the size of a golf ball. With a flash of blue light, Pinky held out a hoof and soon a smooth ball of water vapor was nestled in her hoof.
"Got you now Mr. Spy." She grinned as she began to hop out of the alleyway her little ball of ice and magic showing her the way to her target.
9:32 A.M. Wonderbolt Academy.
Spitfire looked upon her newest batch of recruit's with a smile.
"There are some fine stallion's out here." Her eye's roved around there body's gazing upon there toned muscle's and even taking a peek at there equipment.
"Can't wait to bust there ball's wide open." She smirked as she began to drool at the thought. A flurry of motion forced her to look to her left. Soarin had arrived back from Canterlot. Spitfire just chuckled.
"Horny bastard better have some good news." She trotted over to Soarin as he landed with a smooth graceful canter on the runway. Flinging a salute at the captain Spitfire gave him one in return.
"Soarin." She barked. Soarin stood at attention and gave her the thousand-yard stare.
"Sr." He barked back. Spitfire allowed a smirk to cross her muzzle.
"At Ease Soarin." He at once began to relax shooting the captain a grin.
"So I guess you were able to keep my sister out of jail?" Spitfire asked as she nodded her head. Soarin nodded as he began to follow the captain.
"It wasn't too difficult." He rolled his eyes.
"Those guards are starved for sex. All I had to do was give a few of them some of the best head they've ever had and your sister was the last thing in there mind." He smirked as Spitfire smiled.
"Oh the big burly guard's didn't tire you out too much I hope?" She smirked as she lead Soarin to her private office. Soarin just laughed.
"Please, it'll take more than some guard's to give me a run for my bits." He said as he took a seat across from Spitfire as she sat down. Spitfire gave him a sultry smirk.
"So back to my sister?" She asked causing Soarin to smile.
"She's off the hook as long as she stays away from Ponyville." Spitfire frowned.
"That's unfortunate but if what she says is true then she dodged a bullet." She smirked.
"Still I can't help but wonder what that human wud have been like in the sack." She eveld a neutral glance at Soarin.
"So what brilliant plan do you have in store this time?" She asked as Soarin smiled.
"Well I've been thinking of taking a vacation with all of the time I have saved up." Spitfire smiled.
"Yeah that'll work." She hopped out of her desk. "I can personally see to it that you have the next few months off for your own recreation." She smiled as she grabbed a paper with a wing and handed it over to Soarin.
"I can even give you a few choice locations to visit on your way home to Cloudsdale." Soarin gave the paper a soft smile.
"And if i happen to find some undiscovered talent along the way?" He smirked as Spitfire chuckled.
"You have my permission to give a thorough evaluation." With his paper in hand Soarin gave a salute and trotted out of the office. Spitfire just smiled as she looked out the window at the new cadets. She smirked as she grabbed a folder from her desk.
"Rainbow Dash, Pegasus Mare from Cloudsdale," She began to read off the profile of one of the more promising mare's to be brought to her attention.
10:07 A.M. Ponyville Spa.
"Ooh darling this is simply magnificent!" Rarity worbled as she felt her back muscles relax and release all of there pent up soreness from the last few weeks. John just smiled as he worked.
"So tell me Ms. Rarity how are the new products coming along?" He asked as he took a hot stone from a nearby warming plate and rubbed it along her back. This got an audible groan of pleasure from the mare who arched her back as the cold air of the spa rushed back to greet the warmth of her fur.
"It is going quiet well thank you for asking." A smile adorned her muzzle as she thought of the past week alone.
"Yes it has been quite a treat. Plus dear Spike has been an ever present helping hoof around the store." Once John was done he draped a towel soaked in rich oils and soothing aromas around Rarity and began to gently rub her down. Once that was all done Rarity got to her hooves on the floor and looked herself over in one of the many mirrors in the room. She beamed at her illustrious coat.
"John my dear you simply must keep up this spectacular work." She trotted over and gave him a hug. John gladly excepted the hug with one of his own.
"Thanks Rarity. Hey I'l be by the store later on today so we can hash out the detail's on that special order I have for you." Rarity gave John a wave and trotted out the massage room with a pep in her step.
As Rarity trotted out into the main lobby she spotted the last pony she thought she'd ever see grace the spa.
"Rainbow Dash what are you doing here?" She trotted over to the mare in question and gave her friend a hug. Dash had a huge grin on her muzzle as she embraced her friend.
"Well after you and Fluttershy wouldn't stop hounding me on going to this place I thought I'd give it a shot." She said as the two went and sat down. Rarity sat there a mischievous smirk making its way onto her muzzle.
"Oh and I suppose you aren't her to get a massage to are you?" Rainbows face flushed a tinge of red before she cleared her throat.
"Of course I came here for more than just a massage." She said folding her forehooves and pointing her muzzle in the air. With a slight nod of her head and a singe eye winking open she saw Rarity sitting there shaking her head in laughter as Dash made a very poor attempt at mocking a Canterlotian Noble.
"Dash apart from your very-" Rarity thought of a nice way of putting this. "-fluent impresion skill's what else do you plan on doing today?" Dash thought about the rest of her day. She shrugged her shoulders.
"Eh, not much. Why?" Rarity giggled to herself.
"Oh darling you simply must come with me when you are done here." She said as Aloa trotted up to the two.
"Um excuse me dear's." She said grabbing the two's attentions. She gave them both a polite smile.
"Ms. Dash your deep tissue massage is ready." Dash looked over to Rarity who had a mischievous grin n her face.
"Just a normal massage Dash?" She asked causing the blue pegasus to blush deeply.
"What? Have you felt his finger's before!?" She asked feeling very self conscious as she trotted off with Aloe. Rarity giggled some more.
"Be sure to tell me how it is dear." She called out causing Dash to swish her tail about.
10:12 A.M.
Chancellor Neighsay skulked about in the shadows of of the ponyvile spa.
"This creature is growing to powerful." He stated as his quill danced across his notebook. As he did so Pinky Pie came bounding around the corner, eye's alert and her ear's sharp. Her little ball of frozen sweat had lead her here to the spa of all places.
"Hmmm." She squinted looking about as her eyes roamed the area looking for any hint of her invisible quarry.
"I know your out here mr sneaky sneakerson." She mumbled as her held her ice ball aloft in her mental grasp. It swayed to and fro as it tugged on her mental link leading her to its source. Soon she found herself stopping in front of yet another alleyway. Squinting even harder as she looked down the dark stone passage she was stopped from investigating any further by the sound of her own name.
"Pinky Darling how have you been!?" Rarity called out as she waved her down from the door of the spa. As Pinky trotted off The Chancellor let out a deep breath he'd been holding.
"I have got to do a thorough background check on that mare as soon as I get back to the tower." He filed that note away for later.
10:15 A.M.
Dash slowly trotted up to the door leading t the massage room.
"Here go's nothing." She said taking a deep breath and letting it out, she knocked.
"Just one sec." came a voice she knew all to well. A smile graced her face as she thought about her plan's for later on today.
"I really hope the big guy doesn't have anything planned for later on today." Her face went from a frown to a smile as the door opened. John looked away from his clipboard in surprise and down to Dash.
"Hey there big guy." She said as John just smiled.
"Hey there Dash." He looked at his clipboard again. "So your up next huh?" He asked as Dash just rolled her eye's.
"No I'm just here to stare at you buddy." She smirked.
"Of course I'm here for a massage." She smiled as John stepped out of the way and let her in the room. John meanwhile was sweating bullet's underneath his calm visage.
"It's no biggie. Just giving one of the most awesome ponies in town a massage." He lead Dash over to the massage table. Dash hopped on and laid herself out as she fit her muzzle into the face whole in the head rest. Dash smirked as she felt John walking towards her his body displacing the very air in in the room. She splayed her wings out as John got close.
"Don't hold back big guy." Dash smirked. "Show me why every mare in ponyville wants a piece of you." She giggled as John stopped. No doubt his face was lit up like a harthswarming tree.
"Relax there big guy. Just poking some fun." She smiled. John himself was feeling very sweaty. "Ok just calm down." He said as he grabbed his oils and salts.
"Ok Dash so just to be sure do I have permission to touch your wings?" He asked as Dash just smiled.
"For the bit's I paid for this you can do whatever you want and I'll be a ok with it." John just smirked.
"Careful there Dash." He smiled. "Someone could take those words out of context really fast."
10:30 A.M.
"Holy cow John!" Dash said as she finally stopped panting hard. Her face was flushed with pleasure as her stressed out muscles were turned into mush. The massage was pure bliss. And her wing's oh Celestia her wing's felt as if they were made of clouds and that was saying something. John meanwhile was giving Dash's body a finale rubdown with oil's.
She felt his hands kneed at her taunt flank. That to soon joined the rest of her in a state of euphoric bliss as she let out a moan of satisfaction as John rubbed in the oil's she had requested, a soft mix of mineral oil to make her coat glossy and extract of rainbow to give it a unique scent of ozone, cinnamon, and vanilla, with several other scents mixed in for good measure. John looked on as he did his job.
"Ok Dash now I'm going to go over your wing's once more." Dash gave him a swish of her tail. He poured some peppermint oil on his hands and rubbed them up. He then set to work rubbing down Dash's wings. She let out a rather loud moan as the peppermint activated smothering her wings with a cooling sensation. Her wings felt like clouds before but now they felt as though they were on cloud nine. John shuddered as he felt Dash's moans reverberate through her body. Once was done he gently rubbed down Dash's once more and let her up.
"Ok Dash all done." He said he stepped aside. Dash slowly got to her hooves. She felt great! She got to the floor and steadied herself. The air waves in the room gave Dash a constant sense of freshness as the peppermint oil on her coat reacted with the air around her.
"Dude how have you not gotten a marefriend by now!?" Dash asked as she gathered her wits. John just chuckled as he put his oils back.
"As I've said before Dash i am not on the market right now." He stated as he went over and held the door open. Dash trotted out feeling like a million bits. She turned around and gave John a soft hug.
"Thank's John." She stated as she got back on all fours. Slowly she rub one hoof over the other.
"So hey I know you have a rather busy schedule but are you doing anything later on today?" She asked as John thought about it. He went over his mental checklist.
"The only other thing I have to do today is go on over to Rarity's after work." A brief twinge of jealousy flashed through Dash's face. It was gone in a heartbeat though as she masked it with a soft smile.
"Great so can you meet me at your place afterwards?" She asked as the two of them walked u to the main lobby. John gave it some thought before giving her a smile.
"Sure." He said as the two made it to the door. Once again John held it open.
"Great then it's a date. Dash said before zooming off into the clear blue sky. John meanwhile stood there feeling very awkward.
"Why do I have a bad feeling about this?" He shook his head as he walked back inside the spa. He stopped as he saw both Aloe and Lotus standing there mischievous grin's adorning there muzzles. John had a really bad feeling about this.
"What?" He asked as the two mares let out a wave of giggles.
12:00 P.M.
Soarin landed with a soft trot as he entered the small sleepy little town of Ponyville.
"Ah just great." He looked around spying the head weather office off in the distance.
"Time to go greet my future wife." He smirked as he took off into the sky.
"Aloe, Lotus I'm going over to Rarity's for my break," John called out as he opened the back door. Lotus popped around the corner and gave him a wave.
"Please be back at the spa by lunchtime deary." John gave her a thumbs up to which she nodded. John strolled out the back door and looked at his watch.
"An hour and fifteen minutes." He thought about it. "Plenty of time to go see Rarity and then I can head on over and see who's doing what today." John set out for Rarity's, his mental map of Ponyville kicking into gear as he navigated the many streets and pathway's that lead from the spa to her shop. In just over fifteen minutes he found himself standing at her door and knocking just to be polite.
"Come in." Rarity's sing-song voice reached John's ear's causing him to smile. He gently opened the door causing it to slowly creak as he entered the shop. He was greeted with the usual organized chaos that permeated Rarity's place of work. Swath's of cloth ran amuck while box's of color-coded gem's sat open and strewn about the store. He chuckled as he heard Rarity off to the left in another room. Straining his ear's he heard the telltale signs of the crusader's upstairs.
"One-second dear. I'll be right with you." John sat down bearly able to contain his excitement.
"Man I really hope this all works out." He let a smile grace his face. "Dash'll be so blown away by this." Rarity let out a soft breath as she opened the door to her art's room.
"Whoo well now that that's done." She looked over and beamed. "Oh, John darling!" She trotted over and gave him a hug.
"Are you here for your special order?" She smiled as she glanced at a crate sitting across the room. John glanced at it as well.
"Yeah. Is that it?" He asked his voice laced with trepidation. Rarity nodded.
"Yes. It took me quite some time to find the right kind of fabric and other supplies but there it all is." She smiled as she trotted over and used her magic to grab a nearby crowbar which seemed to wobble a little bit. John held up a hand.
"Please, Rarity let me get it." He grabbed the crowbar from Rarity's magic. She looked at him and smiled.
"Why thank you, dear." She looked around her shop. "It can be a little tiring keeping up with all of these order's and Sweetie Belle along with her friends." She then looked at the mess that awaited her in her art's and craft's room.
"That and keeping the shop in order." She huffed out a sigh. A cracking noise caused her ears to flatten as John went to work getting the lid off of the crate. He huffed in exertion as he pried the lid off of the box. Looking around John smiled.
"You know Rarity if you need help around here I know for a fact that Spike and I can help you out." Rarity smiled but shook her head.
"Oh no dear I couldn't possibly ask you or Spike for more help than you've both already been." She stated as she levitated the lid off and into a corner of the store. John just shrugged his shoulder's.
"And Ponies say AJ can be stubborn." He chuckled as Rarity blushed and held her nose up with a faint smirk adorning her muzzle.
"Yes well, a Lady must never learn to over really on male's dear." John laughed now as he set the crowbar down.
"Well, regardless of what you may or may not adhere to Ms. Rarity I shall endeavor to not make your job any harder by overburdening you." He smiled as Rarity waved a hoof while levitating the contents of the crate out and onto the spacious floor of the store. She stared at it in wonder for a little while before she broke herself out of her revelry.
"So dear just what exactly is the concept behind this idea of your's?" Rarity asked as John sat there and took out the plan's he'd drawn up. He looked over to Rarity and smiled.
"Have you ever seen a flying squirrel?" He asked causing Rarity to stop and think about it. As she looked from John to the material in front of her a smile began to form around her muzzle.
"Oh, my dear you are such a treat." Rarity said as she skimmed over John's notes.
12:05 P.M.
Soarin smiled as he made his way to the Ponyville weather facility.
"Can't wait to see the look on her face." He grinned from ear to ear. "Yeah, I got this recruit in the bag." Settled down into a lazy circle as he came for a landing on the Weather Facility's air pad. He looked around as came to a soft trot heading towards the front lobby.
"This place has spruced up." He noted as he trotted past a now larger patio area in front of the main building. In addition to the new landing pad, he'd just used he noticed a few other additions to the otherwise meek looking facility. He shoved those thoughts aside as he went through the front door.
"Now where do I find my prize?" He looked around and found a schedule up on a nearby wall. Trotting over he scanned it and was ecstatic to see his new best friend was scheduled for a lunch break soon.
"Excellent." He smirked as he trotted over to the front desk and tapped the little service bell. A plump pegasus mare came out of a back room and as soon as her eyes were upon Soarin she began to hyperventilate. He put a hoof to his muzzle.
"Yeah I have that effect on ponies but could we keep this casual?" He asked as the mare took a tentative step towards him. He chuckled as she took a seat at the front desk. Her seat began to vibrate in place as the giddy mare sat there admiring Soarin who took all of the attention in with a calm cool smirk before he leaned in close.
"So I know that this is sudden but I need to get a message to one of your employees." She hastily nodded as she grabbed a quill and parchment from her desk.
"T-tt-to w-who-m am I to adress this t-t-to?" she asked her voice cracking a little bit. Soarin chuckled as the mare blushed fiercely.
"It's ok I think the stutter's sexy." He winked at the mare who desperately wanted to faint right then and there. Soarin let out a small chuckle before he leaned in close motioning for the mare to do the same. And then as if telling her a vital secret he whispered ever so slowly.
"Tell Rainbow Dash that her friend is here to see her." The mare stood stock still. "R-r-ainbow?" She said feeling a sudden heat flush through her body.
"What could you possibly want with that whore?" The word's escaped her mouth before she could so much as think about them. She slapped a hoof to her mouth and looked around frantically hoping that no pony heard her. No one came to ream her flank but looking into the eye's of Soarin got her to stop in her tracks. He gave her a long hard stare before a grin broke out on his muzzle.
"Well, you certainly have a mouth on you." He gave her a sultry look.
"Hmmm yes such a beautiful mouth." He winked causing the mare to once again do an impression of a tomato. He looked around spying a janitor's closet.
"Say do you wouldn't happen to be on break right now?" He asked causing the mare to nod. The mare gave him a confused look.
"Um yes?" Before she could even blink Soarin had grabbed her by the barrel and hauled her over the desk.
"Perfect then we have some time for a little lesson in mouth work." He smirked as he dragged the limp mare over to the closet.
12:34 P.M. Outskirts of Ponyville.
Rainbow Dash looked out at her work, namely the absence of all the clouds in the skyline across the Ponyville horizon. A small speck came barreling from the direction of Cloudsdale. Soon Thunderlane had zipped into Dash view. Thunder gave her a salute.
"Cloud Chaser report's clear sky's from here to Canterlot." Dash gave him a salute.
"All right. Let's pack it up for the day and turn in early." She smiled as Thunder gave her a salute and zipped off. Dash took a deep breath before heading back to the office. Once she was inside she took a seat at her station and oged in her hour's. once that was done she took her slip of parchment and deposited it into the clock out box.
"Great." She looked over at her clock. "Now to go and see what the rest of ponyville is up to." She smiled. As she trotted out of her office and made a beeline towards the door. Her progress was stopped however by a rather large cobalt blue wing. She traced the wing back to it's owner and was stunned to see Soarin of all ponies sitting there, his trademark grin on his face.
"Hey there rookie!" he exclaimed as he held out a hoof. Dash worked through her shock and gave him a firm hoofshake. out of the corner of her eye she spotted the secretary slinking out of a nearby broom closet. She looked to be trotting a bit funny and her eye's locked onto Soarin with a mental rol of her eyes.
"Hey Soarin." She gave him a quizzical look. "What brings you here?" She asked feeling extremely awkward getting ambushed by one of her idals. Soarin smirked as he folded up his wing and stepped beside Dash.
"Well I assume your beast of a friend told you about my last time here?" She thought about his words. They made her caot bristile as she thought of only one creature that fit that description. She gave him a stern look.
"First he's not a beast, he's a human." She said throwing Soarin a glare.
"Second he has a name. It john. And third he told me there was a talent scout in the audience." She stopped at the door and used a wing to hold it open.
"I got to talk with them and they even said that a representative would be by to-" She stopped her eyes lighting up as she gave Soarin another gance of curiosity.
"You wouldn't happen to be here for me would you?" She asked. Soarin smirked.
"In more way's than one dash." He cleared his throat as the two trotted over to the edge of the cloudbank.
"Well not in an official capacity Dash no." She hiked up an eyebrow.
"Then what are you here for?" She asked starting to get annoyed with this cat and mouse game of his. He just smiled however oblivious to her iear.
"Technically Dash I'm here on vacation, or extended leave if you will." Dash gave him a nod. The two jumped off the cloudbank and fell to earth.
"So what does that have to do with me?" she yelled over the rush of wind that followed them both to the ground. Once they touched down Dash began to lead the way over to Sugar cube corner.
"Oh it has everything to do with you Dash." He smirked.
"Think of me as an advanced preliminary assessment of your eligibility to join us." He smiled as Dash shook her head.
"So let me get this straight." She smirked as they reached Sugar Cube Corner. The two went in and Pinky gave them both a wide toothy smile. Her questioning was put on hold as Pinky came bounding over the counter to the two.
"Hey you two!" She flailed a hoof about as she greeted the two. Dash gave her a wave.
"Hey pinks." She said as Soarin looked over the menu. "I'll have the usual." Pinky smied.
"One lunchtime special coming up." Pinky looked over to Soarin who looked confused at the menu. Until his eyes settled on a femillier food item.
"And I'll have one whole Cherry Pie." He said as he handed over his menu. Dash just chuckled as she to gave her menu to Pinky who gave them both one last smile before she shot off towards the kitchen. Soarin just shook his head.
"How can anyone deal with her?" He wondered out loud as Dash just gave him a once over. Finally she shook her head.
"So what was up with you and the secretary?" Soarin just chuckled.
"Well that was just a quick little fling." He said smirking as Dash just shook her head.
"And your sure you still want some pie after having your cake and Im only assuming but eating it to?" She smirked as Soarin just sat there looking dumbstruck. As quick as he'd ever seen Dash smirk was gone, replaced by a soft scowl.
"Well i hope you aren't coming around here looking for any more desert." She said pointing to herself. "because this is not for sale." She stated in as low a voice as she dared. Soarin saw the situation getting away from him. So he did what he had to do t regain controle. He submitted. He held up his hooves in surrender.
"Wow hold on there Dash you got this all wrong." She gave him a glare.
"Oh really? Please inform of just what I have wrong here." Soarin grinned.
"Don't get me wrong Dash. Your drop dead sexy and all." Dash smirked while rolling her eyes.
"But I don't kiss and tell. Especially on the first date." Dash did a double take.
"First date?" She gave a strangled cry as she glared at Soarin who was laughing his fank off. Dash just rolled her eyes as she sat there shaking her head.
"Yeah that'll be the day." She mumbled as Soarin continued to chuckled at his own joke. Looking over at the clock she saw that it was five minutes to one o,clock. Her face lit up.
"At least some good will come from today." She mutters as Soarin gave her a goofy grin.
"What was that?" Soarin asked as Dash waved him off. "Nothing just taking to myself." She leveled a neutral expression at Soarin.
"So what's with appearing out of nowhere at my job?" She asked. Now it was Soarin's turn to play stoic.
"Mostly just wanted to see how well you'd take an unexpected occurrence." Dash snorted.
"I haven't even signed a contract yet and I'm already getting tested." Dash glanced at the clock once more. Getting up and stretching she gave Soarin one last hake of her head.
"Well as awesome as this has been I have to go and see what everyone else is up to today." She gave a nod over to pinky who had a bag in her mouth. Soarin really didn't like being blown off.
"So who all are you hanging out with today?" He asked trying to assert some dominance in his voice. Dash gave him a cold glare.
"Look buddy. I don't know who you think you are but I don't have t divulge my ans for my time off to you got it!" She butted up against his snout with her own. Soarin just stood his ground. Suddenly he burst out laughing.
"Great job Dash, you called my bluff." Furious for being baited into another one of his stupid test yet again Dash stormed off grabbing her bag with a wing and zipping off into the noonday sun. Soarin just sat there admiring Dash's body one last time as he waited for his pie.
"Yup still got it." He smirked as he spotted his pie being brought to him. As Pinky got close Soarin gave her a cocky grin.
"So Pinky was it?" He asked causing the mare to give him a smile and a nod. He grinned some more.
"I here you have some great skills when it comes to baking." Again Pinky nodded. Soarin gave her a sultry smile this time.
"Care to take me back to the kitchen for some one on one bakery lession's?" Pinky just gave him a michisvious grin of her own. Leaning in close she whispered in his ear,
"Sorry but i can't take little colts back there." She gave him a wink. "Otherwise I'd end up getting fired and we wouldn't want that now would we?" She giggled as she bounced off to the kitchen leaving Soarin there looking dumbstruck.
Chapter 26: The Family Picnic & The Love Triangle.
Well the past few days have been odd, to say the least. Soarin showed up out of nowhere and started trying to hang out with everyone. It didn't go so well from what I can see. The girls don't like to have him hanging around although I can't really imagine why. He seems like a nice guy from what I can see. Oh well, the poor guy'll have to find some stallion's to hang out with. On another note Dash's birthday gift is coming along nicely. Rarity even allowed me to help out with the prototype. I'm really glad my mom was an arts and crafts nut. That combined with an entire year of sewing class and Fluttershy's knowledge of sewing has done wonders for my own skill's. I have to go out later on today to try out the prototype and even if it fails I'll have 'mom' there to help out just in case. No time like the present to get over my insane fear of heights.
8:13 A.M.
John sat up as he lounged around in his bed. It was the weekend and the farm was peaceful and quiet. One of the rare times it was like this. The family was up and about and John had yet to make an appearance. He'd expected somepony to come looking for him and as soon as he rolled over he was greeted with the sound of a soft knock on his door. He smiled as he rolled over and flopped out of bed landing his feet.
"Come in." He said as he went over to his dresser and grabbed a pair of pants to put on. As his door opened he was greeted by the sight of his little sister rushing in and jumping onto his bed and began to roll around in it. He got his pant's on and looked over to her.
"Well hello to you to sis." She shot him smile as she hopped down and trotted over to him.
"Hello." She said rearing up and giving him a hug. He held her close as he slowly began to move his fingers along her sides. This elicited a set of giggle's from Apple Bloom as John quickly sped up his tickling.
"Eech no!" Apple Bloom tried to pull away but it was too late. John grabbed ahold of his sister and hoisted her over his shoulder.
"You have enraged the tickle bandit dear, Apple Bloom." He said as he set her down on his bed. leaving her belly exposed.
"How do you plee?" He asked as Apple Bloom giggled and kicked around feebly. She gave him some puppy eyes as she stiffed her smile.
"I plead the fifth." She said as John looked at her with a soft grin.
"Hmmm. Not good enough." He stated as he bent down and began to bow raspberries against her stomach. This caused her tickle nerves to go into overload. She continued to squeal in joy as John mercilessly let the tickle bandit loose upon his sister. The two were so preoccupied with there tickle fight they didn't even notice the sound of hooves coming up the stairs.
"Well well, what do we have here?" The voice caused both parties to stop and give her sheepish looks. John looked up from his position on the floor as Apple Bloom pinned him to said floor with her impressive strength. They both looked over to see Applejack giving them both an amused smirk.
"Looks like I missed the party." She said as she trotted into the room staring at her younger siblings. John gave Apple Blom a wink as he sat upsetting her across his lap.
"Oh hey, there sis." He smiled as AJ stopped and sat down before them. AJ looked between the two and just laughed.
"So what brought on this little scuffle huh?" Apple Bloom piped up.
"Just spur of the moment." She smiled as AJ let her guard down. John just started giggling.
"What so funny their big guy?" Aj asked feeling out of the loop.
"Aj you didn't miss the party. In fact your right on time." He said as Apple Bloom jumped her older sister. By the time she even knew what was going on AJ was at the center of a tickle fest with all sides of her that she couldn't adequately defend getting a tickle or two to them. The sound of their laughter began to waift downstairs causing Granny Smith to let out a chuckle at their antics.
"Ah to be young again." She smiled as her memories began to surface from the recesses of her mind. Big Mac came over and gave Granny a soft hug as he looked upstairs. He smiled as he shook his head.
"They seem to be having a lot of fun up there." He went over to the table and set the dishes out for breakfast.
"Let's give them a few more minutes." He said as Granny joined him at the table. She sat at the head of the table and smiled as the laughter continued to assail their ears. The duo were son Joined by Aion who rubbed a little bit of sleep out of his eyes.
"What's going on upstairs?" He asked stifling a yawn. Big Mac looked down at him and smiled. He then nodded to the stairs.
"Go on up there and see for yourself."
8:32 P.M.
The group of family members came down the stairs giggling the whole way as they made their way to the table. Granny and Big Mac gave them all of them soft smiles as they all sat down.
"So how'd everything go this mourning?" Granny asked as Applejack stifled a giggle and tried to composed herself. Her hat was a little lopsided from the roughhousing upstairs but she was still able to give Granny a smile. Aion meanwhile had the biggest grin attached to his muzzle.
"Oh, everything went just fine Granny." She kicked a hoof under the table scoring a hit on John's leg as he tried to tickle her flank with his toes. He winced in pain as AJ smirked while Granny just tithered at their antics. Meanwhile, Apple Bloom was gathering her plate of food and sat back down next to John whom she began to cuddle with as she ate. As Applejack regaled the family with an itinerary of what the day was going to consist of Aion and Apple Bloom began to discuss their own plans for the day.
"So sis how are the other crusader's doing?" Apple Boom thought about the other's as she tried to swipe a peach from John's plate. His vigilance, however, caught her every time she set about using her fork to try and roll one of his peach's from his plate onto her's. Finally, she just gave up.
"Well, I know for a fact that Sweetie Belle is going to be busy at Rarity's today and Scootaloo is hanging out Rainbow Dash today." John had a random thought spring into his mind as he looked around the table.
"How about we have a family picnic?" He suddenly blurted out causing the table to stop talking and give him a look of confusion as they all thought about the idea. Granny let out a soft chuckle as she looked at the family gathered around the table.
"Now that sounds mighty nice for such a beautiful day outside like today."
11:27 A.M. Outskirts of Ponyville.
The family had sent the better part of the day making an Apple family sized picnic basket for the six of them. Shoot they even made some more just in case anyone else decided to join them in their little family outing. They ended up picking a nice picturesque area on a hilltop overlooking the Everfree Forest. John helped Big Mac haul there wagon laden down with food and supplies up the hill. With one final heave, the duo got it up to their picnic spot. The two set some wedge's in front of the wheels to keep the wagon up there with them and soon the family was setting up their area getting it ready for the day to come.
"OK Y'all let's wrap it up," AJ called out as the group all got settled down for the feast ahead. As Granny Smith led the family in a quick prayer to Faust above John couldn't help but grin as a roaring sound reached his ear's. With the prayer done John looked around to see if his favorite pony had decided to stop by. He didn't see her prismatic mane at all and just shrugged as the food was passed around. The others, however, wore smiles as they looked up to see Rainbow on a cloud with a hoof to her muzzle. Slowly she began to make the cloud float to earth right behind John. Dash motioned for one of the family to get his attention. AJ rolled her eye but decided to play along before Apple Bloom's giggling gave their plan away however she decided to take it a step further as a devious smirk played across her muzzle.
"So John how are things going at the spa?" She asked as John took a bite out of his sandwich. He chewed and swallowed it with a contemplative look on his face.
"Well, things are going great actually." He thought about it some more as a smirk came to him.
"Yeah, I can safely say that I enjoy making it." He shrugged. "It makes ponies happy and I enjoy seeing you guys smile so it's a win-win." He smiled as AJ just chuckled. She looked behind him at Dash and winked. Dash looked confused.
"So I hear that Dash stopped by for a message. How'd that go?" She asked as John nearly choked on his sandwich. Dash stopped her planed thunder raid on John's eardrums and merely watched in horror as the family all began to snicker. She knew this would happen. She expected it even. Before AJ could embarrass John any further Dash made her presence known by loudly clearing her throat.
"Hey, there guy's!" She loudly proclaimed as John whipped his head around in shock.
"Holy Shit!" He yelled as his sandwich was sent flying through the air. On reflex, John sent a fist flying in the direction of the voice. That caught Dash off guard as she saw the fist flying towards her chest. She saw it coming and puffed out her chest fur. The fist hit but to her, it felt as if someone had hit her with a pillow. It wasn't exactly soft but it wasn't really hard either. John looked horrified while Dash looked a little impressed.
"Wow, nice punch there stretch." She complimented as She sat down as if nothing had happened. The rest of the picnic wasn't even fazed by the action. Meanwhile up in the sky Soarin who had been following Dash was not amused. He smirked as he looked a the little happy family. From his vantage point, Soarin could see how John's eye's lit up when Dash had complimented him. He just gagged.
"That's it time to put this freak in his place." Soarin cracked his neck and leapt from his cloud up high.
12:00 P.M.
"So there we were all covered in tree sap and feather's again." Apple Bloom said looking rather perturbed as the memory replayed itself in her mind. John just snickered.
"So how long ago was that?" He asked as Apple Bloom thought about it.
"Let's see we all turned sixteen this year so about ten year's ago." She said as she looked at her still blank flank. She sighed and looked forlorn until she felt a hand upon her head. She looked over to see John had scooted over and wrapped an arm around his sister's back.
"Don't worry about it, sis." She gave her a smile.
"Trust me when I say it'll come to you in due time." He said as he ruffled her mane. She let out a giggle as she swatted his hand away.
"You say that but even you know what want to do with your life." John just laughed.
"Correction." He said catching everyone attention. "I used to know what I wanted to do with my life before I ended up here." He stated as he took yet another sandwich and passed it over to Dash you happily took it with a thank you. Apple Bloom gave him a curious look.
"What do you mean you used to know?" John was about to answer but a large gust of wind came by and blew him over. While John might have been blind to the magic that just happened the Apple Family and Dash weren't. They all scanned the sky's looking for the pony responsible only for Dash to let out a groan as she pressed a hoof to her snout.
"Why is he here?" She grumbled as Apple Bloom went and helped her brother up. As soon as he was back on his feet he saw Soarin coming in for a landing. Oblivious to the stallion's anger towards him John gave him a wave.
"Hey, dude!" He called out causing Dash to groan again and shoot the Apple Family a look of pleading frustration. They all nodded at once. Applejack shot Soarin a scowl.
"Mess with my brother will you!?" She snickered as looked over to Apple Bloom and gave her a nod. Apple Bloom smiled menacingly as her hoof began to glow a deep green color.
Soarin came in for a landing as the family all starred him down. John was oblivious and Dash was furious. She knew what Soarin was doing, she'd seen plenty of other male's do it too and needless to say she was not impressed. Soarin sauntered over like he owned the place and the Apple's were not amused. Big Mac let out a snort as Soarin stood there faining shock.
"Oh, sweet Faust I am so sorry!" He said his voice oozing with barely contained snark at seeing John thrown flat on his ass by his spell. It was a simple spell, one that all pegasi foals learn but it had done the job. It had given him a reason to be here and even made him seem like a bit of a clutz. If this didn't cement in his courtship of Dash then he didn't know what would. Of course, he had a back up if things went south. Whenever this stupid monkey was involved his plans tended to go awry.
"Here let me help you up," Soarin said as he flared out his wings and used them to fan a cushion of air underneath John who had already gotten to his feet.
"Oh thanks, bu-" His words died in his throat as he was suddenly flung into the air. Soarin had to admit he was genuinely shocked at the amount of air John got with that little spell. He hadn't even put that much power into it and yet the human had shot at least fifty feet into the air. Dash and the other's all glared at Soarin who gave them a sheepish look. Meanwhile, Dash was really beginning to wonder if Soarin really was this stupid.
"Hold on big guy." Dash shot into the sky just as Soarin's spell faded. John began to flail about wildly trying to stop his fall back to the earth.
"OH SHIT!" He screamed as he saw the rapidly approaching ground. His fast descent was soon stopped however by Dash who swooped underneath him and slowly began to spiral back down to the earth below. As soon as his feet were on solid ground John promptly collapsed as the adrenaline tapered out of his system. As John caught his breath he looked around as the family began to chew into Soarin. Dash meanwhile stood by John's side slowly rubbing his back with a wing.
"Just what in the hell is your problem?" Big Mac shouted as he got in between Soarin and the rest of his family. Applejack and Apple Bloom stood up and trotted over to John who had finally gotten to his leg's albeit shakily. He stumbled a little but found his fall being interrupted by Dash on one side and Applejack on the other.
"Yeah." Apple Bloom added as she was now fully enveloped in her green aura. Meanwhile, Granny Smith just stood back and watched.
"Just what was that all about?" Apple Bloom said moving up beside Big Mac to yell at Soarin. He briefly gave her a sly grin as he stepped forward. She backed up a little bit her snout flushing as she felt Soarin eye her up and down. His roaming eyes were diverted back over to a very angry looking Big Mac who cleared his throat.
"I think it'd be best if you left kind Sr." Mac's voice was laced with venom as his own bright red aura flared to life. John watched this and felt horribly lost. This must be an aspect of there culter he had yet to see. Soarin seeing that he'd overstayed his welcome just gave them all a bow of his head, his tail tucked between his leg's in substance.
"Sorry for bothering all of you." He looked around at the family and smiled.
"You all have a nice day now." He then looked over at John and gave him a grin.
"And sorry to the wind." He said before he rocketed into the air. John looked around.
"Ok, can someone please explain what just happened?" He asked as they all let out a collective sigh. Granny Smith finally trotted over and looked at John with a soft smirk.
"Come and take a trot with granny here son." John gave everyone a look of confusion but he didn't question his grandmother.
"Ok sure just let me get my bearing's." He muttered as he felt Dash and AJ leave his side. He looked over and gave them both a smile. He wobbled over to granny who gave him her side to lean on. John was tentative to use Granny as a lean-to but with a roll of her eyes, she hip checked him and chuckled.
"I ain't made o glass young'in." She smiled as John let a blush creep over his face before he set his hip on granny's side and let himself be taken along for a trot down the hill. Soarin who hadn't left entirely saw the two go off and decided to follow them.
12:13 P.M.
So what do you think they're discussing?" Apple Bloom asked her sister as She, Applejack, Big Mac, and Rainbow Dash tried to make the best of their current situation. Namely, they sat around and ate while trying to not draw attention to the gargantuan elephant in the room. Dash let out a huff as she looked off in the direction John and Granny had disappeared into. She hung her head as she looked at the family.
"This is all my fault." She said as Apple Bloom gave her a curious look.
"How so?" she asked as Dash just looked around nervously. Applejack let out a cough as she looked everywhere but at her sister. Big Mac let out a sigh as he looked Apple Bloom over.
"Sis have y'all gotten to anatomy class yet at school?" He asked feeling very awkward. Apple Bloom gave him a deadpan stare.
"Oh come on y'all!" she yelled causing each of them to wince.
"I already know about the filly's and the colt's!" She blushed fiercely as the rest of the group all let out sighs of relief. Applejack then cleared her throat as she looked over to Dash.
"Then do you know about courting?" Applejack asked. Apple Bloom gave her a deadpan look.
"I hang out with Sweetie Belle practically every day." She shot them all a glare.
"If I didn't know about courting by now all of y'all should've been mighty worried a long time ago." She said causing everyone else to give out a small chuckle. Big Mac let out a sigh of relief. Then his gaze hardened.
"Wait so have y'all started courtin any colt?" He asked to which Apple Bloom gave him a stammering glare as her muzzle turned beet red.
"Of course I haven't!" She shouted causing Big Mac to let out a deep rumbling chuckle.
12:10 P.M. Meanwhile on the trail at the foot of the hill.
"So sonny just how much do you know about our way's?" Granny asked as John thought about it. He shook his head as he gave her a sheepish look.
"Well, I know what Twilight has taught me or what I've learned from just making a fool of myself." He said. This caused Granny to give him a soft smile.
"Ah hold on there sonny." She stopped as did John. Granny got on her hind leg's and looked John in the eyes.
"Now you listen well." She said as John stood stock still not wanting to send Granny to the hospital due to his own week knee's.
"You ain't no fool so don't go calling yourself one." She smiled as she gave him a hug.
"You's an honorary Apple. Have been for a while." She let him go and tweaked his cheek with a hoof.
"And from the looks of it, you done caught the eye of a rather brutish thug who fancies himself your girl." John was dumbstruck.
"Um, what?" He said feeling really out of place. Soarin just laughed as he watched them form his cloud perch.
"Please like this weak pathetic excuse for a stallion is any kind of competition." He listened in intent on finding out any juicy secret's. Granny just stood there and smiled as she got back on all four's.
"You mean to tell me you haven't noticed Dash's infatuation with you?" She asked as realization dawned on John who's face lit up.
"What Granny are you sure you're not sick?" He said putting a hand to Granny's forehead. Granny just chuckled as she took his hand in her hoof.
"Oh, I'm just fine young'in." She said as she took John's hand and began to nuzzle it.
"It would seem that y'all need a lesson in courting then." She chuckled as John flushed once more.
"Granny I already know about the bird's and the bees." He stated with a week laugh. Granny gave him a soft smile.
"True boy true. But that's your world, not our's." She said making John realize with horror that she was right. Looking down as Granny let go of his hand John gave Granny a soft smile.
"Well, then could you at least skip over the 'talk'." He air quoted. Granny began to laugh as she motioned for him to follow her. She gave him a mischievous grin.
"No can do son. You get the whole story." She laughed as John just groan as he tried to hide his red face.
"Please just kill me now," he muttered as he followed Granny along the trail that skirted around the everfree forest.
"So when a stallion and a mare really love one another a whole new kind of magic happens." Granny started her tale of love and sex as John trudged along trying to keep his face from exploding.
12:22 P.M.
John and Granny had complete a single lap around the forest as they talked. Well more like Granny talked, John just listened. He was in no hurry to hear Granny repeat herself any time soon. She'd regaled him with her own daughter's courtship. She didn't leave anything to the imagination.
"So after a rather long night of rough of sex and debauchery, our dear little Apple Bloom came into fruition." John winced as he tried to pry that image out of his head. He wasn't so successful as it stuck there lingering like a very vivid wet dream.
"So how does this pertain to me?" He asked as they finally made there way back up the hill. Granny chuckled as she looked him in the eye.
"How are you and that daredevil of a mare getting along?" He asked as John thought about who she meant.
"You mean Dash?" Granny nodded. John shrugged. "Ok, I guess." He said as he thought about it some more. Then his eye's went wide as he viciously shook his head.
"Now hold on there Granny." He pointed to himself.
"Dash and I are just friend's." He said as he let out a sigh.
"Just good friend's." He hung his head as thought about it.
"That's all we'll ever be." He let out a soft smile.
"Beside's I highly dought she'd ever go for someone like me." Up above Soarin did a little jig. This is what he was looking for.
"This is perfect." He thought about the next phase of his plan. He was just about to zoom off when he spotted a shimmer out of the corner of his eye.
"Hello, what is this?" He sunk through his cloud and swooped down to investigate this glimmer that shadowed the human.
Meanwhile In The Void.
"Perfect!" Aion laughed as he pulled his fragmented body together from the fringes of time and space. His form flickered in and out as he looked upon his handy work.
"Now all that's left to do is just plant the seed of doubt in Dash's mind and this whole issue will resolve itself." He looked off into a crystal ball.
"And I'll finally be able to go home with the timeline intact." He dispersed his fragment's across time and space leaving each one to it's assigned task.
Chancellor Neighsay stalked his victim from the shadows. He made sure to keep himself concealed at all times. As of now, his quarry was on the outskirts of the Everfree Forest taking a stroll with an elderly mare by the name of Granny Smith. Neighsay didn't personally know the old mare nor did he relatively relish the thought of this creature infecting the elderly with his evil.
"Just hold out a little while longer Ms. Smith." He bored a hole into the human with his stare for the depths of his hatred ran deep.
"I'll free you of this foul creature's influence once and for all." As Neighsay took aim with his spell he was suddenly stopped as a rustling above him caught his attention. Looking around he was surprised to see alone pegasus had been following them.
"Curious. Now, what business do you have with this fiend?" He wondered as he decided to sit back and watch the duo for now. When they had left the pegasus remained. The cobalt blue stallion just chuckled to himself as he turned around and trotted down the path towards Neighsays hiding spot. He stopped just a few feet away and smiled.
"You know being invisible can't hide your magical wavelength." He said catching the chancellor by surprise. With his ruse undone the chancellor dropped his spell. Soarin sized up the stallion before him. He was lengthy and skinny as a rail but he more than made up for that with his magical aura.
"So what's your story for following those two?" He asked. Neighsay just smirked.
"I could ask you the same?" Neighsay looked off to were the duo had left. He inclined his head behind Soarin.
"You a guard?" He asked Soarin just laughed right back.
"Of a sort." He replied. Their standoff was interrupted by a small voice making itself known.
"Bravo gentlecolts were all here!" The two stallion's turned around to see a small colt sitting there looking up at them with pure glee in its crimson eyes.
"Where did you come from little guy?" Soarin asked as he trotted up to him and reached out a hoof. Aion swatted the hoof away with a red flare of his horn. As he did so Aion grabbed Soarin with his magic and hauled him into the air. With Soarin in tow, Aion went after the chancellor who remained rooted to the spot. He tried to move but his legs just wouldn't obey him. The colt giggled as he trotted up to the chancellor.
"Tsk tsk tsk," Aion said as he circled the chancellor with Soarin in tow.
"I'm thoroughly surprised you two bumbling idiots have remained hidden this long." He dragged the chancellor behind him as he continued to trot down the path deeper into the Everfree forest. Soarin and the Chancellor could do nothing but stare in abject horror as this colt manhandled them on a whim.
Same Time Back At The Picnic.
The Picnic continued without a hitch even with the addition of Rainbow Dash. Aion regaled the group with tales from school.
"Ms. Cherrily is taking us on a field trip to Cloudsdale soon!" He said between taking excited bites of his sandwich. Applejack smiled as she looked over to Granny Smith.
"Well young'in you better listen to good ol' Cheerily on that trip," Granny said as she remembered a tale from her childhood.
"Why my great grandfather Golden Delicious Apple, why he went on up to Cloudsdale once, damn near fell to his death. Fool of a colt didn't listen to well." She smiled.
"Good thing he got rescued however because that's how he found his wife." Granny looked over all those present with a soft grin.
"Great Grandma Glider we called her." She chuckled as John looked at her with shock.
"Wait a minute your Great Grandmother was a pegasus?" He asked feeling excited as he got to know more of his adopted family's history. Dash to was hanging onto every word as she to was new to all of this.
"Is that how you have family all over the place?" She asked as Granny just nodded to both questions.
"Yes and yes young ones." She said her smile never wavering. She even grinned at Rainbow who looked suspiciously at the old mare.
"In fact, I wouldn't even be surprised if'n you, my daughter, and that pink one was all related somehow." She cackled as Applejack just shook her head.
"Very distantly of course." She added as she grinned at Granny who continued to chuckle to herself. Her laughter dissolved into cough's however and the whole family went over to make sure the elderly mare was ok.
"I'm fine young'in's just a little too much excitement for one day thats'll." She stated as she got her coughing under control. Aj gave Big Mac a nod and he gave her one right back. He trotted over to Granny and knelt down a little bit.
"Come on Granny let's pack it all in for today." Granny gave him a soft smile as she nodded her head.
"Yeah, maybe your right." She grimaced as she leaned against Big Mac for support getting to her legs with a slight tremble every now and then.
"Ok fam let's get everything packed up and ready to go." She ordered as the rest of the group got started. Soon all was packed up and they were ready to go. As they all trotted along Dash hung to the back of the group. John noticed and hung back with her.
"So how'd thing's go with you today?" He asked as Dash just chuckled.
"Well other than Soarin my day's been pretty good." She smiled as the two trotted behind the family. John was about to agree with her when he caught a scent on the breeze. It smelled like cinnamon, mixed with vanilla and orange spice. He looked over at Dash just now catching that she had her mane done up in a ponytail. Along with that, she seemed to have just got done with a work out seeing as she was still wearing her top and skirt. His face warmed up when he realized he had been starring and with all the grace of a kid caught with his finger's in the cookie jar, he quickly jerked his head forward starring off into oblivion. Dash meanwhile had noticed his wondering eye and couldn't help it as a small smile graced her muzzle.
"You smell nice." He commented as the two slowly caught up with the rest of the group. Dash's wings fidgeted as she held her excitement in. She simply nodded her head.
"Thank's." She said as the two continued to trot along in silence. Dash let out a nervous giggle as she thought about it.
"I got the shampoo from the spa." She said as they continued down the dirt path to Sweet Apple Acre's. John gave a nod.
"Ahh, that's why it smelled familiar." Dash let a nervous frown cross over her muzzle now.
"D-d-do you like it?" She asked as her nerve's threatened to make her freeze up then and there. John gave out a soft laugh at Dash's stutter.
"Yes, actually I do. Very much so." He said his own nerve's trying to get the better of him. Dash's muzzle went bright red as her smile returned with full force. She let out a small squeal of giddy laughter as she danced a little jig. She stopped however when she realized where she was. Her eyes quickly shot open and she was horrified to see the whole apple family eyeing her with grin's and smiles abound.
"What's got you so happy sugar cube?" AJ asked knowing full well the answer to her question was standing right next to the sky blue pegasus. John meanwhile shot his sister a deadpan glare which only made her laugh seeing his face turn bright red. Dash cleared her throat and looked over to see John red in the face.
"Oh um, I just realized I had something to do later on today. See ya!" She said speeding off into the sky leaving the family to watch as she did a few loop's, flip's, and corkscrew's in the air before she rocketed off in the direction of Cloudsdale. John once again shot his sister a glare as he walked past the family who had to hold in their laughter at seeing John's beat red face.
"Well look's like our dear Rainbow's got her eye set on our dear bother," AJ said as she pranced alongside John who failed to suppress a smile as the idea of him together with one of the best mare's he'd ever had the chance of knowing. Slowly his disappeared replaced instead with a frown.
"Why me though?" He wondered.
"What do I have that any other stallion doesn't?" His frown deepened.
"What make's me so special?" Just as his brain was about to dredge up something else to shoot himself with he stopped and took a deep breath. He felt a body next to him give him a soft bump and he looked over to see Big Mac give him a soft smile.
"Trust me little brother don't get all caught up in the why." He smiled.
"She picked you for a reason out of every stallion in town and beyond she picked you." He said as John just walked on autopilot. His smiled returned.
"She picked me!?" He said out loud. His face once more did an impression of a tomato as his doubt came flooding back. Shaking his head he shoved those thought's aside and focused on what was now before him. He looked over to Granny Smith and the rest of the family and smiled as he cleared his throat.
"So how exactly do I go about whooing a mare?" His question got a snicker from AJ who shook her head.
"Well bro we'd better get you over to Rarity's place pronto." She said as Granny just let out a soft chuckle.
"Sure took you long enough son," Granny said as she counted out the months.
"It'll be four month's this coming 21st day so congrats on holding out that long." She said as she stopped to give her grandson a soft nuzzle. John smiled as he gave Granny a soft hug.
"Yeah well, I kind of figured that if I was going to end up getting back home Twilight or I would have found a way by now." He looked off into the sky as he thought about his parents.
"Please be safe and happy where ever you guys are." He muttered as he smiled. A soft nudge to his leg made him look down. He saw Aion giving him a look of excitement.
"Come on big brother we don't want to waste any time lollygagging out here do we?" He asked as he ran up ahead to catch up with the rest of the family. John just chuckled as he held Granny close. Then in a truly impressive feat of strength, he bent down and picked the old mare up surprising her and causing her to let out a soft giggle as John hoisted her up and began to jog up to the rest of the family.
"Well, sonny you'll definitely catch the eye of every mare in town if you keep this up," Granny said as she laid her head down on John's shoulder and let herself be carried off down the road home. John just let a smile grace his face as he focused on not tripping with his grandmother in his arms.
1:27 P.M.
"Ok so are we good on just what the plan is?" Aion said as he looked to the other two present. Soarin looked over at Neighsay. He nodded as Soarin gave a nod to Aion.
"So we have to do this during the Grand Galloping Gala?" Soarin asked as Aion just glared.
"Yes. In the original timeline, he goes missing at the big event and is never seen again. So that would be the best time to strike." He said reiterating his plan. Neighsay gave him a nod.
"Leave that part to me." He smiled as he thought about finally ridding the land of this threat.
"I can have him detained and thrown in the dungeons and awaiting transport." Soarin smiled as he though his own prize at the end of all this.
"And I can finally get my hooves on Dash and release her from whatever spell he put her under." They both looked over at Aion.
"And what do you get out of all this?" Neighsay asked. Aion just gave an evil laugh as he thought of how well his plan was unfolding.
"Peace of mind that Equestria is safe and as an added bonus my body will slowly begin to fill back out." He looked at the other two.
"Great so were all set. We just have to be patient, play our cards right and everything will fall into place." Aion's horn began to glow as he opened up rift's in time.
"Take those back to the time we all left and I'll contact you with the next phase of our operation." He said. They both gave him a nod and trotted through the portal. Aion smiled as they left, his own body beginning to disintegrate as he thought of just one thing.
"I'll get you human." His smile never vanished as Aion slowly disappeared from this plane of existence.
October 31, 1000, C.E. Sweet Apple Acres. 7:54 A.M.
THIS IS AWESOME! The whole of Ponyville requested that this year's Nightmare Night be held at the castle in Honor of Princess Luna's return. The Sister's were so ecstatic that they agreed under one condition. Everyone had to be dressed up no exceptions. Even the guards were put on leave so they could celebrate the holiday with their friends and family. I can only hope my costume goes over well with the others. I had to contact Shining for help with it so here's hoping it works.
John stretched out his back as he got up from his desk while sliding his journal into a drawer. Looking out his window he saw a beautiful sun shining in the clear blue sky.
"Hello, Princess." He greeted as he got his clothing together and began to head to the bathroom downstairs. He exited his room on the second floor and headed down the steps. As he did so he saw his sister make her way through the kitchen to the dining room, a piece of toast hanging from the corner of her mouth. AJ gave him a weary nod as they passed each other. John gave her a cheerful smile and continued his trek to the restroom. Once he made it the sound of the shower reached his ears. He gave the door a knock.
"Come in." He entered laughing as he did so.
"How's the water today sis?" He asked as Apple Bloom poked her head out behind the shower curtain. She blew a raspberry at him and retracted her head back in as she continued to scrub herself down. John just let out a chuckle as he proceeded to brush his teeth. Grabbing his toothbrush he went to work. Two minutes later he was finished and Apple Bloom was just getting out of the shower. John smirked as he stopped rubbing his feet on the carpeted floor. As Apple Bloom passed by he reached out and poked her on her flank. Apple Bloom squeaked as she felt the electricity run up her back, through her hooves and into the ground. She whirled around and glared daggers at her brother who proceeded to ask as if nothing was amiss. Glancing at his little sister John let a smirk cross his face.
"Payback suck's doesn't it." He smiled as Apple Bloom simply lifted a hoof to her eye's before pointing to him. He simply laughed as he went to work on shaving his facial hair. It had been getting particularly thick as of late, something that surprised him considering his African and Native American heritage.
"Must get it from dad's side of the family." He smirked as he used his straight razor to shave off a rather stubborn set of sideburns.
"Eh you should let them grow out." the voice drew his attention to the doorway. He looked over to see Granny Smith standing there. He smiled as the old mare trotted over and gave him a hug. She then stood up on her hind legs and grabbed face with her forehooves.
"You'll look just like your Grandfather Baldwin Apple the third." She used her hooves to maneuver John's razor across his face. He soon had shorter sideburns and Granny even shaved most of his face fuzz leaving him with a goatee.
"There yeah go sport the spitting image of your grandfather." She said with a chuckle as she gave John a towel. He wiped his face and looked at himself. He did look rather handsome and as he admired his new look Granny giggled.
"Why if'in I was forty year's younger there stud I'd take a crack at you myself." She winked as John just smiled.
"Oh come now Granny you don't look a day over forty." He shot back as he pulled on his black jeans and a red polo shirt. Granny just hooted as she left the bathroom. John soon followed after gathering his supplies and storing them upstairs. He took one final look in his mirror as he waved a hand over his wet messy hair. It looked even messier now but at least it had style, or so he thought.
"Looking good." He stated as he shot off his finger guns, smirking at his own corniness before he grabbed his wallet and keys for the house.
8:17 A.M. Canterlot Castle, Canterot.
Prince Blueblood strolled through the halls of Canterlot Castle holding his clipboard aloft in his light blue hue.
"Let's see auntie wants all of the residents of ponyville added to our guest list for tonight." He made a note to himself the corner of his notepad.
"Need to amend the list and send out the invitations by five so they can all make it by eight P.M. Sharp." He noted as he continued to trot to the kitchens. He slipped his clipboard away as his mind began to wonder.
"I wonder if that lovely fashionista will be there?" His face heated at the mere thought of her exquisite beauty. He took a deep breath to calm his thoughts and steeled himself for the task ahead. As he opened the door to the kitchen he was greeted to the voices of his lovely aunts discussing the day's events. They both stopped and gave him a smile as he came up to them and bowed.
"Aunt's." He said as The sisters both gave him a nod.
"Rise dear nephew and join us," Celestia asked as she motioned for a butler to come and take her dear nephew's order. He gave the butler a bow as he sat down.
"Good to see you here Prim." Prim gave the prince a bow.
"Always good to see you Sr." As soon as Blueblood's meal was served he pulled out his itinerary list and gave his aunties a soft grin.
"So Auntie Celestia I went over the list for the residents of ponyville and I think we'll have just enough space to squeeze them in the main hall." Celestia let a smile drift over her muzzle while Luna had a look of trepidation flashed through her facial features for a split second. A wing from Celestia calmed her sister's nerves.
"That sounds lovely dear," Luna spoke a nervous edge to her already fragile demeanor.
"Has thow properly searched through thine old records for any of our other lineage dear nephew?" She asked as Blueblood nodded.
"Yes, auntie I've found a few of our descendants on the edge of the border of Transylvania and Trottingham," He held up a map with a note attached to it.
"I've dispatched emissary's in my stead so that they may be formally invited to and shofured to our little get-together tonight." He beamed as Luna gave him a brisk nod.
"Verthy well dear nephew. Thank thee for thine most gracious service." Blueblood gave her a nod as he set the itinerary down and took a bite out of his meal.
"I must say that I find our guest list this year to be rather eccentric." He glossed over it as he chewed on a piece of lettuce.
"Not to doubt your judgment dear aunties but what of this human?" He looked at John's name and his general description.
"From what little info I've been able to find out about humans they seem to be rather barbaric." He stated as he looked over at his aunties. The two sisters stopped their merry meal with there face's going through several phases before settling on a frown. They both shook their head's and sighed.
"Yes well, dear nephew I would like it if you'd keep that info to yourself." She gave him a stern look to which he just nodded.
"May I ask why?" He asked as he went over the information he had at hoof. Celestia gave her nephew a soft smile as the memories came flooding back to her.
Equis, 1074, A.U.E Camelot Castle. 12:00 P.M.
At the base of the mountain scores of pony and human troop's stood at attention. A lookout called from one of the towers at the base of the castle.
"The Queen approaches!" The ten thousand strong army of men and ponies alike all looked to the west. At the head of the army, a single man stood, a soft smile cracking his normally stone visage. As the noonday sun drifted overhead Celestia came into view over the horizon. As Celestia landed the man at the head of the army gave the queen a bow.
"Celestia." Celestia gave him a soft smile.
"Arthur." She said as she too bowed. The two stood up and looked off to the east. Arthur gave his retinue a nod and they dispersed. The two ruler's walked and talked as they headed up the path from the battlements and into a set of doors that lead them into a castle that looked as if it had been built into the very mountain itself.
As they walked a group of thirteen men shadowed them from behind. Most in silence but a few were adamantly talking amongst themselves.
"I tell you, Lancelot, I don't like it," Gawain said as the two lead the group through the hall's, trailing the rulers of this fair land. Lancelot just sighed.
"Must we go over this again Gawain?" He asked giving his fellow knight a look of annoyance. Gawain scoffed at his blatant dismissal and looked off after the ruler's as they chatted amicably. He shook his head.
"Do you not see anything wrong with our king," He shot a venomous glare at Celestia, "having relation's with this animal?" Lancelot stopped dead in his tracks as did the rest of the knights. The two oldest member's of the round table stood at odd's as the other's watched, the two monarch's oblivious to the squabble had gone off down the hall. Lancelot glared at Gawain who glared right back.
"You do realize that you just insulted both our King and Queen?" He asked as Gawain rolled his eye's.
"I will never call that animal queen." Before Lancelot could chastise him any further Gawain turned around and stormed off down the hall. The other eleven member's of the round table all watched him leave. Mordred just looked on in worry as he saw Lancelot give off a sigh.
"I will never understand his fixation for getting back to earth." He muttered as he took the lead once more.
"Come. Let's not leave there lordship's waiting." At his command, the group once more set off down the hall to the royal dining hall.
"Auntie?" The voice brought Celestia back to the present. She looked around to see both her sister and her nephew giving her looks of concern.
"Oh sorry, you two." She chuckled as she took a sip of her tea. Her face screwed up however when she tasted a bit of salt in it. She gave the waiter a look of confusion but was soon stopped from questioning his choice in additives as a handkerchief made it's way to her face. She stared at it and then to her sister.
"What-" She stopped as her sister dabbed at her face and she was shocked to feel the telltale signs of having been crying.
"Please sister." Luna begged as she looked upon her with concern." Tell us what ale's thee so that thost has wept so profusely?" Celestia choked up as she looked form her sister to her nephew.
"Please Auntie?" He said as he trotted around the table and sat next to her giving her a soft nuzzle. Celestia let out a shuttering sigh as more tear's threatened to burst through her veneer of stone. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. As she opened them she began to see the past as clear as she could the present. She let out a soft chuckle that quickly dissolved into sob's and wail's of both sadness and joy as her life flashed before her eyes.
"I suppose it's only fair I tell you two of our worlds first encounter with the race of being's known as human's." She started her tale as she took another deep breath.
"It all began several century's ago when a strange mountain appeared out of nowhere." She talked as the two sat before her in awe.
"Our scout's had come back from their trip with an update for our maps." she smiled as she remembered her first encounter with human beings.
October 31, 1000, C.E. Canterlot Castle. 8:17 P.M.
"Come on." Dash looked at the clock hanging above the ballroom, her Darring Do costume not really faring too well as she ruffled her wings ever few minutes. She continued to pace at the main door while the other's all mingled about chatting with other's and having fun. Every once in awhile Rarity dressed as a rich noble from the pre-unification era, would gaze over and smirk as Dash finally got tired of pacing and sat down at the table nearest the ballroom door. She let out a giggle as she excused herself from her conversation with Fancy Pants and Fleur De Liz.
"I'm terribly sorry for this but I must go and consol one of my dear friend's." She said as Fancy tipped his hat to her. He gave her a soft smile as he let her go.
"Not at all my dear." He looked over to his wife. "We actually really must be going." He gave Rarity a wink.
"Duty call's and waits for no mare or stallion." He said as they bid her goodnight and trotted off out the ballroom. With her newfound freedom Rarity grabbed two drinks from a nearby waiter and trotted over to Dash who glanced over at the door from time to time.
"Well, well Dash what seems to have caught your attention so thoroughly?" She asked as Dash gave her a smile.
"Hey, Rarity." She glanced over to the door and sighed.
"Not much is going on but John still hasn't arrived yet." She looked around the ballroom.
"I'm not normally worried but he said he'd bee here by now." She looked at the clock. Rarity muffled her giggle with a hoof.
"Now now dear don't fret over one little detail." She looked around smiling.
"Beside's while you were here scoping out your stallion-" Dash through her a glare. Rarity laughed as she continued, "- There were quite a few stallions looking your way." She nodded to a group of them standing at a nearby table. Dash glanced their direction to see one dressed as clown notice and throw her a wave. She through on a fake smile and waved back. Then she glared over at Rarity who had a smug grin on her face.
"One he's not my stallion." She then let out a breath.
"Two as I said. I'm just worried is all." She looked around once more. Not seeing him she went back to Rarity. She gave her a look of satisfaction as Rarity just rolled her eye's and kept her smug grin up.
"Oh, sure darling that's all that's got you so hot and bothered tonight." She glanced over at a mare a few table lengths away. She smiled as she saw the spitting image of her chromatically maned friend chatting it up with some fans of Darring Do.
"Well, it looks like your sister is having the time of her life." Dash looked over and smiled as her sister looked her way and gave her a wink.
"Yeah well, it's the one night a year that she can really come out without getting swarmed by fans so I say let her live it up." She smiled as she looked at the rest of her friend's. Her smile faltered when she thought of John but she soon shook her head.
"Hey did you know her next book is almost done?" Rarity's eyes went wide.
"Really?" She looked over at Darring. "My that was fast." She thought about it.
"Has she really been on another adventure already?" Dash laughed and nodded. Rarity suddenly went rigid as the air around the two dropped a few degrees. Then her eyes darted around as she caught sight of a small distortion shimmer in and out over Dash's back.
"Yup. She just got back from-" Her sentence was cut off as the light's in the ballroom went out.
"What the?" Rarity's sentence died down as she heard the sound of a window being smashed open. There were scream's coming from all over and just as suddenly the light's were back on. Guard's came rushing into the room and everypony stopped and looked at a tall imposing figure stood in the frame of the broken window.
"Halt!" One guard shouted as another lit its horn up. The figure there but with a swift flick of its long appendages it through something at the oncoming guards. They both stopped and the unicorn erected a shield around them. The small sphere shaped objects bounced off of the shield and rolled around on the floor. The duo looked at the little balls with confusion.
"What are th-" The guard was started as the small sphere's exploded in a bright flash of light. The whole hall was stunned as a few more tiny booms filled the hall. When they could all see again the whole hall was shrouded in a soft grey haze. With everyone's hearing impaired the whole room began to panic slightly. Someone, however, began to laugh.
"Th-t-this has got to be a joke." Another agreed. "Yeah, it's a fright from the princess's themselves." Soon the whole hall began to murmur as there hearing began to return. The smoke however remained. Dash looked over to the busted up window to see that the figure had vanished.
"Weird." She muttered as she looked around her vision might have been good but this smoke was really throwing her for a loop. Suddenly her ear's caught the sound of something whipping in the wind. A breeze zipped by overhead causing her to look up. Here eye's shrank as she saw the strange creature from before only now it looked to her like a giant wings monstrosity.
"Look out!" Her shout wasn't fast enough as the creature leaped from the ceiling and descended upon the crowd. The guards were back in action but this smoke was reaching havick on their sight. The unicorn lit up his horn but it soon sputtered out as something clamped down in it.
"Huh?" The guard was shocked momentarily but he let out a scream as something wrapped around his barrel and hauled him up to the ceiling. His screamed were silenced and the whole ballroom once more stood silent as they looked around for the missing guard. Dash looked up but couldn't see a thing through all the smoke. It began to clear up but that just forced it all up to the ceiling.
"What in the hell is happening?" She shouted as she looked around for her friend's. They were all huddled up in a corner off to the side of the door. Dash jumped into the air intent on taking off after them but as soon as she lifted off she felt the air around her distort.
"What?" She shouted as her wings suddenly snapped shut. She felt the cold embrace of metal as she fell to the floor.
"Rainbow!" She hit the floor on her hooves and took off after her friends. They were a table length away when Dash felt it again. The air above her began to distort as something zipped past her. She came to an abrupt halt as the towering bat monster came gliding down from the ceiling. It landed just in front of her friends stopping Rainbow in her tracks.
"What are you!?" She screamed at it as she frantically looked around for a way to her friends. The creature cocked it's head to the side and let out a ghastly laugh.
"I, my little pony and Batman!" It said as it through its arm's open flaring its cape behind it. Dash did a double take.
"No, no way!" Her brain screamed as she recognized the voice. Suddenly it all cliched as she ran up to the creature and punched it in the crotch. John doubled over in both pain and laughter as the rest of the group all stood there trying to hold in their laughter. Dash looked around as the smoke began to clear out. She saw the rest of the guest's all looking around as the light's began to flicker. John meanwhile had gotten himself up off the floor and leaned against a table for support. The guards came over and apologized to the ballroom while Dash stood there fuming.
"You mean to say that you two were in on this little stunt?" She asked as they both just laughed.
"Of course we were." He looked over to John.
"He set this all up with the princess's a few weeks in advance. We were debriefed about it this mourning and told to make sure things didn't get too far out of hoof with the guest's." The other guard trotted over to John and gave him a hoofbump. John accepted it with one of his own as the ballroom soon relaxed and went back to normal.
8:34 P.M.
John got his helmet and cape off and sat down at a table with his six friends. For the most part, they were all impressed with his little stunt. He smiled as he looked at each of them.
"Really I have you all to thank for this." He pointed to his suit.
"Rarity made the suit as a test run for another idea meanwhile I went to Fluttershy and Twilight for the spell's and lastly Spike and Shining armor help me out with the gadget's." He said as they all laughed. All except for Dash. She'd remained silent all throughout the conversation, a fact that no one had dismissed. John rubbed the back of his neck.
"Hey dash you ok?" He asked causing Dash to shoot him a scathing glare. He shrank back at this as she shook her head.
"No genius I'm not ok." She said as she stood up and stormed off leaving the group stunned. Across the ballroom, Soarin stood at a punch table smiling.
"Well, this is Fortunatus indeed." He said as he downed his drink, wincing at the burning sensation making it's way down his throat.
"Whoo. Damn, they don't skimp on anything here in Canterlot." He set his glass down on the table and sauntered off after Dash. Meanwhile, John sat there wondering just what he'd done wrong.
"I figured if anyone would want a thrill it's her." He stood up as he saw Dash's tail disappear out the door.
"I'll be right back." He said as he took off after her. Rarity just smiled as she rolled her eye's.
"And ponies call me a drama queen." She smirked as she went back to her drink. Applejack and the rest of the girl's all looked off at the door. She couldn't really understand it but something felt off tonight. AJ stood up and so did Fluttershy.
"Got to go to the little filly's room y'all." She said as the group gave the two a nod.
8:40 P.M.
"Hey Dash wait up!" John called out as Dash ignored him and continued to trot down the hall. He saw her tail disappear around another corner and ran to catch up. However as he did so he came face to muzzle with Soarin.
"Damn dude watch where you're going." He said as he held his muzzle. Looking at his hoof he didn't see any blood so he just settled for glaring at John with contempt. John spared a glance in his direction but soon his eyes shot down the hall to see where Dash had gone.
"Crud." He muttered under his breath as he gave Soarin a look of concern.
"hey you ok?" He asked as Soarin just gave him a nod. He let out a sigh as he looked off to where Dash had gone. He shook his head.
"Dude trust me just give her some space." He said as John just starred off after Dash. He looked down to see Soarin giving him a stern look. John just sighed as he glanced down the hall.
"Sorry bud don't think I can do that." He said as he skirted around Soarin to continue following Dash. He was stopped however as a wing sht open from Soarin's side. John stopped and gared at Soarin who gave him a smug grin.
"Trust me bud you are the last person she wants to see right now." John just glared.
"And i suppose you would know exactly who she'd like to see." He said as his voice got quite. Despite what some ponies may have thought he wasn't an idiot. Ever since the wind incident with Soarin he began to notice just how aggressive the pegasus stallion was being towards him. Granted he still didn't know what he'd done to piss him off but he wasn't about to throw a blind eye to one of his best friends in need. Soarin just smirked as he thought of the turmoil t come.
"Do you really think she'd ever love something like you?" John stood there looking at Soarin like he'd just grown a second head.
"What are you taking abo-" Pain lanced through his gut as Soarin drove his hoof into the human. John was thrown back and landed on the cold hard stone floor with a wheezing groan as he tried to catch his breath. Soarin trotted over to his prone form and knelt down to John's ear.
"If I ever see you near her again you're going to wake up on the hospital with more than a bruised rib." John laid there thinking about what Soarin had said. Soon he felt hot tear's make there way down his face as thought about it.
"What in the hell are you talking about?" He finally gasped as he sat up. His costume had taken the brunt of the hit but hta still didn't stop a sizable bruise from forming on his stomach. He heard the unmistakable sound of hooves on stone echoing throughout the halls. Struggling to his feet he slowly began to hobble his way back down the hall. He gave the hall behind him one last look as he shook his head and gritted his teeth as he pushed through the pain.
8:45 P.M.
"So you felt it to huh?" AJ asked as Fluttershy lead the way. She gave her a nod as the two trotted down another hallway. Aj was about to say something but a grown cut her off. Fluttershy bolted down the hallway and let out a shrill scream as she used her magic to gently sit John on the ground.
"What happened!?" Fluttershy asked as she frantically looked John over and paled at the sight of the huge bruise that had appeared over a rather large area of his chest. John just laughed.
"Oh that. It happened while I was pulling of my amazing intro back there." He pointed in the vague direction of the dinning hall. AJ snorted.
"Don't lie to us brother." she went and held a hand of his to her snout as she gave him a soft nuzzle.
"Please just tell us the truth." She asked as John clammed up. His starred off as his mind replayed the last few minutes of conversation in his head. Fluttershy saw the confrontation and her eyes went red.
"I'll kill that little shit!" She tried to race off down the hall but was stopped when she felt a hand grasp her back hoof. She turned around to see John shaking his head.
"It won't do anyone any good mom." He said ash he slumped down onto the floor.
"Beside's he's right." he let out a sad chuckle.
"With all of the stallion's out there why would she ever pick me?" He said as he curled up trying to hide from both the physical and mental anguish he was going through right now. Fluttershy went over and curled up next to her son, while Aj did the same, trying to be some small comfort to her brother.
8:50 P.M.
Dash let out a huff as she stood at one of the many balconies that dotted the castle grounds. Staring off into the night sky she soon lost herself in her thoughts.
"Stupid idiot." She grumbled as she thought about John's theatrics.
"He could've gotten hurt or worse." She said as her anger flared up.
"What the hell were you thinking!?" She shouted as let out a breath. Suddenly she shook her head.
"Wait what's wrong with me?" She thought about the night harder. "Normally I'd be all over a good prank." She thought about it even more.
"Why am I so angry?" The door opening behind her brought her out of her thought's. She looked back to see no one. She let out a sigh as she shook her head.
"Stupid haunted castle." She scowled as she jumped off the balcony and soared through the air. Maybe a good flight would help her clear her head.
9:00 P.M.
Soarin glared as he looked upon the visage of Chancellor Neighsay glared right back.
"You do realize that you nearly jeopardized our whole plan?" Neighsay scowled as Soarin simply stood there not bothering to answer him. Neighsay scowled as his horn flared to life. He hurled Soarin against a nearby wall pinning him there.
"I will not let this plan go to waist because you can't keep your libido in check!" Soarin glared at Neighsay who let a smile cross his muzzle.
"Otherwise I'll have to hand you over to our dear employer." Saorin just let out a huff as he fell to the floor in a heap of feathers and sweat.
"You saw what he did to Rainbow didn't you?" He asked as Soarin just scoffed.
"He showed her the truth." He looked out a nearby window as he saw Dash streak off into the night. Neighsay shook his head.
"Yes and if he can do that just think of what he could do to us." Soarin shook his head.
"What do we do now?" He asked as Chancellor Neighsay just smiled.
"We Wait."
Chapter 31: Ghost's of the Past, Present, and Future.
Today is another day. And just like the other's before it Dash seems to be avoiding me. John looked out of his window letting a soft sigh escape his mouth as he put quill to paper. It would seem that Soarin has been visiting her more and more. That's great I guess. I mean if she really had to fall for someone then it should definitely be him. He's strong, athletic, and fast. All traits that would make him the perfect mate for Dash. John let out a sad laugh as thought about the time they used to spend together. At least we had some good times. Great laughs along the way. John closed his journal and sighed.
"Not like I really stood a chance anyway." He let a sad smile spread across his face as he shook his head.
"I need to head over to Rarity's and make sure that suit is done." He chuckled as he thought about his gift for Dash's birthday.
"Even if it's the last thing I do for her it'll hopefully be spectacular."
10:12 A.M.
John trudged along down the dirt path as he kept his head down. He let out a chuckle as he shook his head.
"Oh who am I kidding. It was nothing more than a stupid crush." He scowled.
"A miner infatuation that was never going go to be reciprocated no matter how much I might have wished for it." His inner voice continued to ridicule him.
"How stupid can you be! This is the one and only Rainbow Dash you're talking about." He winced as he held his head in his hands.
"Shut up." He grumbled as he focused n the dirt road before him.
"What kind of sick twisted freak are you." The voice morphed from his own into Dash's.
"You really think you had a shot don't you?" She sneard.
"Please I'd rather date an earth pony." She laughed as John kept on walking as tears began to stream down his face. Finally not wanting to hear the voices anymore John broke out into a run.
"SHUT THE FUCK UP!" He screamed as he ran off down the road. As he did so a pair of crimson eyes looked upon him from the astral plane, brimming of malice and conviction.
10:12 A.M.
Fluttershy hummed a soft melady to herself as she went about her chores.
"La, la la la laa ahh ahh la." A sudden shout caught her attention and she looked around for its source. Her eye's shrank when she caught the voice on the wind.
"John." She dropped her water can and ture through the everfree forest. When she got to the edge of the forest she scanned the road to ponyville looking for her son. She spotted him down the road aways and ran after him.
"John!" She shouted as she caught up to him. He looked back at her and his face fell even more. He held up his hands as she got closer.
"No mom please don't." Fluttershy ignored her son as she tackled him to the ground and began to smother him with her wing's as she wrapped him in not only a hug but a feathery cocoon.
"Shh, shh, its ok mama's here." She said as she rubbed his back. John meanwhile couldn't hold back his tear's or his fear's as he lay there cuddled up with his mom. Soon he relented and wept. After a little while he began to calm down. Fluttershy had moved them from the side of the road and underneath a nearby tree. As she got them both settled she looked over to see John staring off into the distance.
"Rainbow Dash hates me." John said as Fluttershy stood there proccescing what he'd just said. Then she blinked and le out a soft sigh.
"No she doesn't." She said as she leaned into his side. John looked at her blankly before he went back to staring off into space. Fluttershy too began to look off thinking about the day's before. She'd been to visit Dash and was shocked to not only see her hanging out with Soarin but they were also making plan's to hang out. Now normally this wouldn't have been a bad thing but this whole friendship came completely out of left field. She pondered on this but stopped as she felt a heavy presence drift over them both. curious she looked around and was shocked to see John start to shimmy away from her. As she sat there she felt the presence drift back over to her.
"Hello there my dear." She whipped her head around and narrowed her eyes as a dark cloud bean to take shape.
"Who are you?" Fluttershy commanded as she stared down the entity before her. The presence let out a cold laugh as it began to solidify. Fluttershy's eyes widened as she looked upon the grown form of Aion except this stallion had a horn and wings. Fluttershy put herself between John and this creature.
"What do you want!?" She once more commanded as Aion looked upon the duo. Aion raised a hoof.
"Him, gone, erased." he said his voice coming out in a distorted manner making it seem as if it was being projected from a broken speaker. Fluttershy looked back to her son. She then turned around and shook her head.
"You will get to him over my cold dead corpse." Fluttershy spat at the entity. Aion looked at her confused.
"But aren't you already cold and dead?" He asked genuinely confused. Fluttershy smirked as her magic flared to life.
"Yes." In the blink of an eye Fluttershy winked from existence and materialized right next to the specter. However were as she was unarmed when she left when she re-appeared she now welded a scythe like blade that was protruding from where her wing was normally.
"Any last words fiend?" She asked as the specter blinked.
"How?" It asked. Fluttershy simply smiled as she shot forward decapitating the specter and relishing as it's headless body slumped to the ground. Before it could dissipate completely Fluttershy used her sanguimancy to take a small drop of blood from the body.
"Now I've got your scent you cocky bastard." She smirked as she tucked it away in her own little pocket dimension for later use. As she reverted to her pegasus form she noticed the oppressive atmosphere begin to lift not only from around her but from John as well. She ran over to his side and held his limp form in her hooves.
"Oh no! John!" She shouted as she shook him awake.
"Ah wow Flutter's what happened?" He looked around. "And why am I outside?" He asked as he to to his knees. His eye's stung as he looked at the mourning sun.
"Uh and why does it feel like i've been crying all night?" The only answer he gto was a small yellow pegasus wrapping herself around him in a soft yet strong hug.
"Your ok. Oh thank faust you're ok." She laughed as she cried into John's shoulder. John meanwhile looked and felt so confused.
"Uh Flutter's what happened and why can't I accurately remember the last few day's?" He looked at her face as she brought her snout to his cheek and gave him a soft nuzzle.
"Oh don't worry I need to tell Twilight about this and then we have to go and fix Rainbow." She said as grabbed in her magic and hauled him to his feet and then down the road to ponyville. In the clearing Neighsay and Aion looked on with smile's.
"All according to plan." Aion said as he fade from view. Neighsay meanwhile jotted down notes.
"I'll be rid of him soon." He closed his notebook and with a flash of red n his eyes he to disappeared from view.
10:32 A.M.
Fluttershy made a beeline to Twilight's house and raped on the door until it swung open.
"Yes?" Twilight asked as she cautiously peaked around the abused door. Fluttershy barged right in sitting John down on a nearby couch and began to regale Twilight with there ordeal. She listened with all of her attention and furiously jotted down note after note. When they were all done Twilight gave them a look of deep concern.
"So there's a power mad alicorn out there looking to erase John from existence?" She looked over to john and then back to Fluttershy.
"Why?" They both shrugged.
"No idea really." John said as he got up and looked around.
"Hey mom what day is it?" he asked as Fluttershy smiled.
"It's the third of the month." She looked up at him with her head cocked to the side.
"Why do you ask?" John bolted to the door.
"Crap! I have to get to Rarity's!" He said as he ran through the town. Fluttershy just sat there and smiled.
"He has his priorities in order." Twilight smirked she took a note and began to jot down a letter. Fluttershy just smiled as she nodded her head.
"Honestly I think it's a good thing that he can bounce back from stuff like this so fast." Her face fell however.
"But he's going to need some help to get through this." She looked over to Twilight who just got done sending her letter.
"So what's the deal with this phantom?" She asked as Fluttershy rotted over to the door. She gave Twilight a fierce look of devotion.
"He wants to harm my son." She turned back to the door and let her fangs loose in a moment of weakness.
"And if he tries again he'll learn what it truly means to be afraid." She said as she stepped out the door. Twilight looked off into the distance as she thought about her friends.
"Why is this happening to us?" She wondered as she failed to notice a dark cloud drift over her tree house.
John felt like a new man as he reached Rarity's door. He knocked a few times and patiently waited for an answer. The dorr glowed a soft blue hue before it opened to reveal Sweetie Belle. She gave john both a hug and a smile.
"Hey there Sweetie." He smiled as he hugged her back.
"Hello yourself." she said as she invited him in. He shuffled around nervously looking over to Rarity's arts and crafts room.
"Is your sister in today?" Sweetie gave him a nod and headed on over to her sister's art room. She poked her head in and saw her sister hard at work sewing up a ripped seam.
"Psst sis? Can you come out here for a sec?" Rarity looked up from her machine with a smile.
"Oh Sweetie Belle how are you?" Sweetie gave her sister a nod of her head.
"There's someone her to see you." Rarity hopped off her machine and gave her back a stretch. A satisfying pop made her sigh with relief. She gave her hair a quick toss to the side as she trotted out the room. Seeing John standing there made her smile.
"Hello darling." She went and gave John a hug that he accepted and smiled as Rarity gave him a critical eye. Rarity let a smirk roll over her muzzle as she looked back to her craft's room.
"So I would assume that your finally back to your senses and are here for your gift?" John too took a look at the room. With little hesitation he gave her a nod.
"Suit me up Rarity. I've got some flying lessons ahead of me." Rarity simply nodded with a smile as her horn glowed.
11:01 A.M.
Fluttershy softly landed on a cloud just out of reach of Rainbow Dash's house. Her crimson eye's scanned her friend's home and she was horrified to see it utery surrounded by the dark silhouette of the phantoms magic.
"Oh Rainbow." She muttered as she hopped off her cloud and headed to Dash's front door. She knocked a few ties and patiently waited. Her hearing picked up the sound of several ponies traipsing around inside the house. As the door began to open Fluttershy's smile dissolved into a scowl as she saw none other than Soarin n the other side of the door. He absolutely reeked of the phantoms magic and Fluttershy was pissed to see him look so smug as he leaned against the door.
"Well hello there-" Fluttershy didn't let Soarin finish as she launched herself at the stallion decking him with a single blow to the face. She caught his body before it could slump to the floor and alert Dash who according to Fluttershy's hearing was still upstairs in bed. She let out a sigh of relief as she made her way into the house.
11:02 A.M.
As Fluttershy was up at Rainbow's house Pinky Pie was out and about delivering invitations to Rainbow Dash's upcoming birthday. She reached into her saddle bag and pulled out a huge invitation as she trotted down the dirt path to Sweet Apple Acres. Looking into the sky a wry smile passed over her muzzle.
"Let's take a shortcut." Her smile never left her face even as the world suddenly warped around her and she found herself right outside the apple family home. With a little temporal magic from the void she began to rapidly knock on the front door. With her rapid assault of the finely aged wood done she stood back and waited for someone to answer. The screen door door opened and Pinky beamed as Aion tentatively looked up at the strange mare before him. He felt the distortion of magic from within her and frankly it scared the hell out of him.
"H-h-he-l-l-lo." He stuttered and then blushed at his own voice as it cracked. Pinky let out a chuckle as she got to her belly and looked Aion in the eye.
"Hey there Aion. Are any of your older siblings around by chance?" She asked in a soft low tone. Aion looked back to the staircase behind him and then back to Pinky,
"Um yeah. Let me go get Applejack." Aion was nervous, not without good reason however. He had been feeling plenty of temporal distortions all around town. They just felt wrong to him. Like a piece of reality was just not there or acting unnaturally. Pinky had that same feeling to an extent but she gave off a warm fuzzy feeling to go along with it. As he hopped up the stairs his mind went wild with crazy theories and ideas. His brain came to a halt when he stepped up to Applejack's door.
"Hey sis Pinky Pie's here to see you." Applejack looked over at her door from her bed and smiled.
"All right there squirt. Tell her I'll be out in a bit." She heard his little hooves walk down the stairs and sighed as she rolled out of bed. She looked at her mirror and fixed her slightly askew mane. Putting into her signature ponytail she smiled as she went and grabbed her dad's hat and mother's handkerchief. She put he hat on her head and tied the red bandana around her neck.
"All right cousin let's go see what you got for me today." She smirked as she trotted out her room and down to the door. She looked outside but didn't see Pinky standing there. She smiled as she headed towards the kitchen, hearing the clanging of pots and pans.
"Now this is how you make a nice fluffy pancake." Pinky's voice sang from the kitchen as she and Aion stood at the stove. Applejack laughed to herself as she leaned against the door frame to the kitchen. Pinky gave her a wave with her tail while Aion turned around on his stool.
"Hey there sis." He said hopping down and giving AJ a hug. AJ gave him a soft nuzzle in response and looked around.
"Hey why don't you go find your other sister and hang with her and the rest of the C.M.C. Aion stuck his tongue out at the thought.
"Ik Why do i have to go and play with a bunch of fillies?" He said as AJ gave him a stern look. He let out nervous chuckle as he darted off out the door and down the street. Aj just snickered to herself as she trotted over to the stove.
"So how's John doing?" Pinky asked causin AJ to suck in a breath. She gave Pinky a sad smile.
"He's doing.." She hesitated for a split second. "Good." She said as she forced herself to flash Pinky a kind smile. Pinky for the most part didn't call her out on her obvious lie. Instead she shook her head and pointed to the dining table. She then flashed one of her trademark smiles.
"There's an invitation for all of you to Rainbow Dash's birthday party in there." She said as Aj trotted over to the dining room. Aj scooped up the gift in her hooves and sighed.
Pinky I don't--" She stopped as she looked into the kitchen to see it empty. Aj just chuckled as she set the gift down. Then she let out a long sigh.
"Guess I'll have to have a nice long chat with John about this." She said setting the gift down and sitting there in a chair.
"The shit has officially hit the fan." She muttered as she shook her head.
11:13 A.M.
Fluttershy stood there scanning the house for the source of the phantom.
"Gotcha!" She softly spoke as she tracked it to Rainbow's bedside. With a quick flap of her wing's Fluttershy pushed through the cloud's and headed to the third floor room. As she drifted through the floor she saw that Dash was still asleep. With her mind focused and her nerves steeled Fluttershy glared at the picture but stopped when she saw the group photo held within.
"What? How?" She said as she reached over with a wing and picked up the picture. She held it close not believing her eye's. She knew the picture very well. The girl's were all there including the C.M.C. The problem however was the absence of her son. In his place was none other than the fucker out cold on the bottom floor. Fluttershy held back her rage and called upon her magic once more. She cast a sound dampening spell over the room.
"Come out phantom. I know your here." She leveled her gaze upon the doorway as a form began to materialize out of thin air. As the pony trotted forward Fluttershy's crimson gaze hardened. The phantom meanwhile was smirking as he sauntered over to Dash's bed and began to stroke her main.
"I told her I'd get her in bed one day." He smirked as he saw the look of unbridled fury on Fluttershy's face. She in turn let out a pulse of dark magic repeing the alicorn befor her.
"If you touch her or a single hair on my son again, I'll make sure you beg me for death when I come for you." The phantom let out a fase tremble of fear as he laughed.
"Oh you really think you can take me on?" He laughed some more. Fluttershy grinned as she took a step forward.
"You really don't know who I am do you?" The phantom stopped his laughter and gave Fluttershy a sultry smirk.
"Oh I have an idea of just who and what you are." He winked as Fluttershy get getting closer. Fluttershy for her part just smiled as she locked eyes with the phantom. He stood stock still as she got closer and closer. Finally she was nose to nose with the sill as stone phantom. She smiled whickidly as she booped him. He stood there still not moving. While his body was silent his mind was frantic.
"What the fuck did you do to me!?" He screamed as he fought to regain control of his body. Fluttershy just circled his stone form as she began to giggle.
"Oh what's the matter big boy can't break out of a little hypnotism?" She caressed his cheek as he slowly began to sweat. She then stepped up to him and kissed him on the lip's. His mind let out a garbled moan of pleasure as she continued to kiss him while making her way down his face stopping once she got to his neck.
"You know I could get used to this." She said as she looked into the phantom's eye's. His own were filed with fear.
"What?" He asked mentally as his heart raced. Fluttershy just smiled and showed him her row's of razor sharp teeth. In his blind panic the phantom stumbled over his hooves as he managed to regain his motor skills. He fell flat on his back and let out a scream as Fluttershy pounced upon his prone form. His screams echoed throughout the room as blood and organs splattered all over the room. When Fluttershy was done with her mauling she held the phantom's severed head up with her magic.
"Tell your master I'm coming for him." She then tossed the head to the side as if it was no more than a piece of shit on her hoof. She then looked around and sighed as she used her magic to mop up the blood and guts strewn about the room like gory party streamers.
"Two down." She looked over to see Dash's still sleeping form. She then saw the temporal distortion from before appear and right before her eye's the group photo had switched out Soarin for John. She smiled as she leaned over and gave Dash a kiss on the cheek.
"Sweet dreams Dashy." She then drifted through the floor and trotted out the door. Before she closed the door however ana evil grin spread over he muzzle. Slowly she turned over to Soarin's still unconscious form.
"You want to fuck around with me and my family fine. I'm game." She smiled ruefully as she used her magic to enter Soarin's mind.
John stood at the edge of his cloud and looked down.
"Oh god shouldn't have done that." He said as he backed away from the edge and bumped into his instructor. Hot Shot let out a snicker as he slapped john's back with a wing.
"Don't worry bro. I got you." John shot him a withering glare as Hot Shot just laughed and leaned over the edge. He let out a whistle.
"That's a long way down." He smirked as John just stood stock still whole he slowly muttered a prayer under his breath.
"Dear lord please let me see the next day preferably intact and whole." Hot Shot trotted over and gave John a hug. It rattled him enough to get his mind off of his impending doom and got a laugh out of Hot Shot.
"Better?" He asked as John just took a deep breath. He gave Hot Shot a nod.
"Surprisingly yes." He said as he took a step towards the edge. He steeled his nerves as he took another step. Then another. Finally he made it to the edge and sighed. Hot Shot took up his position by his side.
"I thought you weren't afraid of heights?" He asked as John continued to stare straight down. He glanced over and smiled.
"I'm not. just afraid of falling." He said once again focusing on the earth below. Hot Shot let out a laugh.
"You know I could get my ass woops for saying this but Dash was afraid of heights to when she was a filly." John gave him a quizzical look.
"Bull." He stated as he edged ever closer. Hot Shot just shook his head snickering.
"You should have seen her. She was shaking like a leaf." John made it to the edge and took another deep breath. He looked over to Hot Shot who gave him a nod.
"I got your back." John took one last look at the horizon.
"Here goes nothing." He smiled as he stepped back a few pace's and took off into a dead sprint.
"GERONIMO!" He screamed as he leapt off the cloud and through his arms wide open. Hot Shot watched as his smile soon turned into a shout for joy as John flew through the air. To say he was excited was a huge understatement. His blood was n fire with the amount of adrenaline surging through his body. The wind flying past did little to deter him from enjoying this moment.
"This must be what Dash feel's when ever she lets loose." He smiled underneath his helmet as he sailed through the air for a few more seconds. Hot Shot was on his tail with the cloud just to be safe.
"Whoo! Yeah! Go buddy!" Hot Shot shouted as John banked around. Hot Shot took that as the signal he needed and grabbed ahold of his cloud landing pad. He taxied it over to where John was set to land and had the biggest grin on his face as John did so body first. He rushed over to see if he was ok and found John with the biggest shit eating grin on his face.
"That was awesome!" John shouted as he removed his helmet and rolled over breathing heavily.
"Oh man this is going to blow Dash away!" He mused as he thought of the upcoming birthday. Then he frowned.
"At least I hope it will." He scrambled to his feet and took off his backpack. He shrugged off his suit and put it away as Hot Shot taxied him to the ground. Hot Shot gave him a soft smile.
"Hey it'll be fine." He gave John a pat on the back.
"She's going to love it." Joh just chuckled weakly.
"I hope so. We haven't exactly been seeing all that much of one another." He frowned but soon smiled as he thought about her current situation.
"At least she found someone to make her happy." He hopped to the ground as Hot Shot through the cloud aside.
"So that's it?" He said trotting up next to John who sighed.
"Well what can I do?" He looked over to Dash's cloud house on the outskirts of town. He shrugged his shoulders.
"It seems to me she made her choice already." He got to his feet and started to walk off towards Ponyville. Hot Shot caught up with him and gave him a clap on the shoulder.
"Hey come on don't count yourself out just yet." He smiled.
"I don't know how things are done were your from but here mares will usually court more than one stallion in order to see who's the best fit for them." He gave John an encouraging smile. John just shook his head.
"Well I may not be possessed anymore but I still don't know what she could even begin to see in me." Hot Shot just shook his head with a smirk on his face.
"Come on let's go get some lunch so we can get back out here and practice some more." John nodded and the two made there way sugar cube corner.
11:15 A.M. Rainbow's house.
Dash awoke feeling like a million bit's. She stretched out her back and wings and felt a satisfying pop as her spine readjusted itself.
"Man what a dream." She blushed a little bit as she rolled off her bed.
"Never thought I'd ever have a dream like that," She felt her bed and cringed when she pulled a wet hoof away.
"Especially about Soarin of all the stallions." She shook her head and made her way to her bathroom.
"I just need to take a cold shower and get something to eat." She trotted over to her shower and turned it on. A little while later she stepped out feeling cold but like her old self again. She rubbed herself down with a towel and even felt good enough to tie her mane up. She smiled as she looked at herself in the mirror.
"Let's go with a ponytail today." She smirked as she got to work on styling her mane.
"I wonder what everyone else is up to today?" She smiled even more when her thoughts began to wonder.
"It feels like i haven't seen John in a while." She thought about it. "I gotta check up on him as well." A thud from downstair's ripped her from her thought's. She poked her head out of her bathroom and looked around.
"Hello?" She called out as she stopped her sink and slowly trotted out into her room her ear's cocked listening for anything out of the ordinary. Looking around she grabbed a hoofball bat from beside her bed and peeked out of her bedroom door. Looking around she saw no pony and breathed a sigh of relief.
"Whoo thank faust-"
"Dash!" Her instincts kicking in Dash swiftly lashed out at the voice swinging her bat around and clocking the intruder in the head.
"Who the fuck are you!?" She asked as her eye's looked down upon the fallen form of none other than Soarin.
"Oh damn!" she looked around and then back to Soarin as only one question was on her mind.
"What are you doing in my house?" She asked as she lent him a hoof. Soarin gave out a groan as he head his head in his hooves.
"Damn Dash you've got a mean swing." As soon as Soarin's eye's met Dash's He let out a high pitched scream and flew off down the stairs. The sound of her front door opening and then slamming shut brought Dash back to the present.
"What the fuck just happened?" She asked herself as she sat there.
11:32 A.M.
John and Hot Shot sat at sugar cube corner, both of them full and tired. John looked over at Fluttershy who'd found the duo and decided to join them on their lunch break.
"So I've been moping around for the past week or so and not really doing much of anything?" Fluttershy nodded as she sat next to him rubbing a wing across his back. He just shook his head.
"I hate magic sometimes." He took a swig of his drink and then got up from the table with a stretch. Fluttershy and Hot Shot did the same but as the group aid for their food and left they were stopped as a polychromatic pegasus came to a screeching halt in front of them.
"Hey guys!" she said as she stopped to catch her breath. The group had mixed reactions. Fluttershy went and gave her friend a hug.
"Rainbow listen there's something you need to know." She said as she sat down at one of the outdoor table's. John meanwhile stood there feeling like the odd man out. Dash held up a hoof.
"Hold on there Flutters." She turned around and smiled at John and Hot Shot.
"Hey long time no see you two." She nervously giggled as she motioned for them to come and sit down. John was hesitant to do so at first but Hot Shot just shook his head.
Sorry Dash but me and John here have to go and do some work on the farm." He shot John a wink. John just nodded going along with the ruse. He gave Dash an apologetic smile as he tightened his hold on his bag.
"Yeah sorry Dash. Rain check?" He asked causing Dash to smile as she nodded.
"Ok I'm going to hold you to it big guy." She waved them off and once they were out of ear shot she turned back to Fluttershy with a look of guilt overcoming her normally stoic demeanor.
"Ok Fluttershy please tell me you know what's been happening the past few days because I'm drawing a serious blank." She wailed as her head slammed into the table. Fluttershy took a deep breath and then released it.
"Well Rainbow it's has been a weird couple of days." She admitted while giving her friend a look of shame.
"It hasn't been very pretty." Dash just held her head in her hooves.
"How bad was it?" She asked. Fluttershy looked a little nervous.
"Um well let's start with the Nightmare Night party." She said as Dash gave her a nod.
"How much of that do you remember?" Dash thought about it.
"I remember the stunt JOhn pulled off." She said as a smile reached her face.
"Oh man that was priceless!" She said laughing at all of the theatrics involved. Then her smiled fell off as she began to remember the rest of the night.
"Oh no." Her head once again found purchase on the table.
"I am such an idiot!" Her yell although muffled by the table still drew the gaze of a few onlookers. Fluttershy set them straight and they quickly trotted on past the distraught pegasus.
11:47 A.M.
"All right let's go over this again!" Hot Shot shouted as he drilled John on the finer points of flying and aerodynamics. John was perched on top of a cloud a few feet above the apple family barn.
"Keep your body straight as you take off or you'll overcompensate and just dive right into the ground." He smiled as John gave him a fearful smile.
"That would do nobody any good." He muttered as he stepped up to the edge.
"Now for this lesson you'll be learning how to fly while under fire." Hot Shot smirked as he looked down. John did the same and his face paled.
"What are all of you doing down there?" He asked as his family all stood underneath the cloud each one having a barrel full of apple's next to them. They all waved up to him while Applejack pulled a microphone out of nowhere.
"Cant have y'all making a fool out of yourself in front of your mare now can we?" She laughed as John just scowled.
"Don't you think this is a little extreme?" He shouted down to the group. They all gave a shake of their heads. He just rolled his eyes.
"Of course you don't." He muttered as he stepped up to the edge of the cloud.
"Ready when you are teach." He nodded to Hot Shot who pulled out a flare gun loaded with a blank fire work.
"On your mark." He looked down at the family and gave them a wing wave.
"Get set." John tensed up as he looked at the horizon.
"GO!" The shout was accompanied by a loud pop and flash but john was halfway down the makeshift runway as Hot Shot looked on, a smile coming over his muzzle. John lept from the cloud and soured over the tree top's of sweet apple acres. Hot Shot looked down and smiled.
"Apple Family are you ready?" He asked receiving a chorus of happy shout's.
"Then Fire!" He shouted. Soon the air was full of apples and scream's as John frantically tried to keep himself aloft while dodging any that came to close.
Today is finally the big day. Dash's party is tonight. Still not sure about all of this. John paused as he let out a breath. Today is just to important to screw up. Here's praying that all goes well. John closed his journal and slid it in his drawer. Then he got to his feet, got dressed, grabbed his backpack and headed out to the fields to meet up with Hot Shot.
7:17 A.M.
Hot Shot flew alongside John as the two soared through the air.
"Good!" Hot Shot called out over the roar of the wind rushing past them.
"Now bank left!" John abaid as the two pulled to the left. Hot Shot gave him a nod.
"And Right!" He shouted as they did so. Hot Shot smiled as he looked around.
"You'll be flying solo for a few seconds." He yelled as he banked off to the left to go and grab a cloud. John gave him a nod as he focused on the airspace around him. Suddenly his vision was obscured by white.
"Think Fast!" Reacting on pure instinct john drooped one wing while lifting the other. He performed yet another barrel roll this time managing to get around the sudden cloud and come out on the other side not ready to puke.
"Great!" Hot Shot said as he joined John and helped guide him to the landing pad. Once on the cloud close to the ground John took off his helmet and gave Hot Shot a thumbs up.
"Awsome." He said as he caught his breath. Looking out across the sky he wondered as his face contorted from happiness to a frown.
"There's no way I'll be ready for this tonight." He said as he took a seat on the ground. Hot Shot gave John a smile.
"Come on dude you'll be fine." He said slapping John on the back. John flinched but the then let out a sigh as he stood up.
"I just don't know about this." He said as he looked off to see Dash's cloud house on the other side of town.
"She hasn't really stopped by either the spa or sugar cube corner in the past few day's." He looked back to Hot Shot as he cradle his helmet underneath his arm.
"I don't think she wants to see me." He stated as he got back on the cloud. Hot Shot just grinned.
"If you feel like that then why are you going back up there?" He a smug grin on his face. John just shrugged.
"I guess that if this is the last time I get to see her for awhile then I want it to be spectacular you know. Go out with a bang instead of a whimper." Hot Shot shook his head but still ept his grin.
"Trust me dude after this she'll be all over you." John just stood there blushing furiously as he tried to keep his mind out of the gutter. He shook it and got his focus back.
"Let's just keep practicing ok?" Ask as he stood on the cloud and waited for Hot Shot to ferry him up into the air. Hot Shot did so with a devious grin on his face the whole time.
"If only you knew big guy."
8:13 A.M.
Dash paced back and forth as she trotted around Rarity's shop.
"What is taking her so long!" She looked at the art's room and rolled her eyes.
"She can't be that busy. She invited me over saying it was urgant." She looked again and was relieved to see the handle glowing a soft majestic blue.
"Yes, yes, yes, yes!" She pranced around in place as the door opened and out stepped Rarity looking more or less herself.
"Ah Rainbow hello darling." She looked at the clock and smiled.
"Perfect timing." She thought as she trotted ver and gave her friend a hug.
"Now to keep her busy all day." She smiled as finally gave Dash a once over.
"Rainbow daring not to be rude but our first stop for today is the spa." Dash froze as she looked at Rarity with abject horror.
"Uh sorry rarity but I really don't think that's a good idea." She said as she nervously rubbed one hoof with the other. rarity gave her friend a sly grin and grabbed her with her magic.
"Oh don't worry dear I've already got our day planned out and payed for. Off to glorious relaxation we go." Her horn lit up and in a flash she and Rainbow were gone.
Ponyville Spa. 8:15 A.M.
Once the two had arrived they were immediately treated to the V.I.P experience. Dash looked around nervously as she and Rarity were ead throughout the hall's of the spa. Rarity noticed and giggled into a hoof.
"Looking for somepony dear?" She asked causing Dash to jump and give her an anxious grin.
"Who me? Nope. Not looking for anyon-pony." She corrected. Rarity pretended not to notice but her smile told otherwise. She shook her head while giggling. The two were lead to a room in the back that read V.I.P. Dash gave it a look of trepidation while Rarity was ecstatic. Aloe gave them a slight bow.
"Right this way you two." She said leading them into the room. She waved a hoof over to a pair of nearby massage beds. Rarity hopped into her's while Dash began to sweat. Her eye's began to dilate as her breathing intensified. Noticing the oncoming panic attack Dash took a deep breath and forced herself to hold it. When she let the breath go she noticed that the world had stopped spinning.
"Relax. He's not here today." She frowned as she thought about John and her avoidance of him over the past few weeks.
"Rainbow darling are you ok?" Rarity asked having seen the oncoming panic attack. Dash gave her a nod as she trotted over to her bed and got onto her bed and laid down.
"Ok dear's just you wait here and the masseuse will be right in." Aloe said as she left the room. The two layed there in silence for a time until Rarity cleared her throat.
"So Rainbow how've things been going for you and John?" Dash sighed as she tried and failed to think of a good way of going about explaining her current situation. Finally she just sucked up her fear's and chuckled at her childish behaviour.
"Well not to good Rarity." She said as she let out another sigh as she sat there lost in thought.
"we've both kind've been avoiding one another." She said as Rarity smirked.
"Oh so that's what's going on." Rarity giggled as she recalled John's plan for today. Dash gave her a soft glare.
"What's so funny?" She asked feeling her cheeks blush. Rarity fixed Dash with a sultry wink.
"A good old lover's quarrel is what's going on. And the best part is you both don't even know it." Dash's face lit up like a christmas tree at the accusation.
"Wh-ho-th-" She stuttered and sputtered out a response that was less than stellar. Rarity churtled as she waved a hoof to calm Dash down.
"Relax dear. You two haven't even made it to first base yet let alone gotten yourselves out of the dugout." She smiled as continued to blush up a storm. She shook her head to get rid of some rather lewd thoughts that began to surface in her mind. She glared at Rarity who simply smiled. She was about to riposte her words but he door slammed open startling both mare's who whipped there heads to the door and saw a big burly stallion standing there in the doorway.
"Hello to you fine mare's today." The stallion said in a thick Russian accent.
"My name is Roulette." He trotted over to the two and cracked his neck.
"Now if you please I shall now commence with the masseuse work." Dash looked over at Rarity with a look of trepidation.
"Just what did you sign us up for?" She asked as Roulette stalked towards them both. Rarity smiled as she just laid down and smirked.
"Just sit back and relax dear, Roulette is a great stallion for getting out stress." Dash slightly doubted that but she trusted her friend and laid down on her table.
Sweet Apple Acres. 4:45 P.M.
John lounged around on the couch at the farm house as he rested up from his day of training. The family had given him the day off but that only proved to stress him out even more than the past few days of crashing and failed attempts at landing using his parachute. He didn't have anything to distract him from his thoughts. He began to shake as he thought about all the ways tonight could go wrong.
"What if she isn't impressed? What if she's already with somepony else? What if-" His thoughts were interrupted as he felt a weight leap into his lap. he looked down to see Aion sitting there wagging his tail and giving him a big smile.
"Whatcha doin?" He asked as he stared up at him with his big red eyes. John just chuckled as he began to pat his little brother on the head.
"Oh nothing much little dude just resting." He said as he grabbed Aion and held him to his chest. Aion snuggled into his chest as he got comfortable. Aion let out giggle as he looked up at his brother.
"So how are things going with you and Dash?" He flushed slightly as he smiled and shook his head.
"Eh there going." He said as he wiggled around a little bit to get comfy. A chuckle from the doorway caught their attention. they both looked over to see Apple Bloom standing there giving them both a smile.
"So how are you two doing?" She asked as she trotted over and hopped on the couch with them. She snuggled up to John as much as she could with what space was left. She tickled Aion who squirmed around while she laid her head on John's chest.
"So how are you two doing?" She asked again. Aion just shrugged.
"Doing good." He said as he got up and crawled on top of Apple Bloom's head. She giggled as he got himself settled. She then looked over to John who had closed his eyes.
"How about you?" John cracked an eye open and gave them both a grin.
"Doing good." He said closing his eye and huffing. Apple Bloom let out a soft sigh as she rested her head on John's now empty chest.
"Why do y'all colts gotta be difficult?" She asked as both Aion and John laughed.
"Sorry sis but I just don't feel like talking all that much right now." He said as he let out a soft sigh. Apple Bloom jsu huffed as she began to nuzzle John's face. He scratched her behind the ears and she let out a soft hum of contentment. Applejack came strolling in and let out a soft chuckle as she looked at the trio.
"Howdy y'all." She said as she trotted in and sat down at the head of the couch grinning at her family all huddled together. John, Apple Bloom, and Aion all looked over and smiled.
"Hey sis." John said as he tussled her mane with his free hand. She let out a giggle as she leaned into his hand and let out a soft sigh.
"So you ready for tonight slick?" She asked as John sat there pondering. He sighed as he gave her a nod.
"As ready as I'll ever be." He stated as he looked off into space. AJ let a frown drift over her face as she just nodded. With what she and the other's had discussed with Fluttershy it would seem that the phantom's magic while gone had had a lasting impact on the pony or in this case humans mental state. Regardless AJ gave her brother a nuzzle as he lay there. She saw the barest hint of a smile cross over his face. That gave her hope, hope that he could beat this fowl state of mind he found himself stuck in.
"Well when you're out there brother do us all a favor and show Dash why she should pick you over anypony else." She smirked as John blushed and looked away from her staring off into the waning sunset.
5:15 P.M.
John, his family and the girls had set up the barn a little over four hours ago. Now all they had to do was wait on the guest of honor to get here. Rarity said she'd be bringing Dash by at around five thirty. That left John with fifteen minutes to prepare himself and his surprise. John got progressively more and more nervous as the time ticked away. Big Mac just chuckled as he trotted over and gave John a good slap on the back. He winced but gave his older brother a smile as well as a hug. Big Mac gave him one right back as well as a playful nuggie which got some laughs out of his little bro which seemed to calm him down a little.
"Better?" He asked as John nodded and flashed him a thumbs up.
"Much." He said as he looked off into the distance. The orchard looked stunning at this time of day. All of the apples still on the trees gave off a golden glow in the setting sun that mixed beautifully with the pink and purple hue's of the twilight afternoon.
"So you really going to go through with this?" Big Mac asked as he and John stood there. John exhalined a breath he'd been holding. He looked over to Big Mac and gave him a smile.
"Sure I am." He said as he thought about it more and more. Looking over as a snack table he couldn't help but laugh as Pinky Pie got caught up in some shenanigans with the C.M.C.
5:17 P.M.
"Thank's Rarity." Dash said as the two trotted down the road to Sweet Apple Acres. Rarity just scoffed and waved a hoof.
"Oh please darling it was nothing." She smirked.
"After all what are friends for when it's your birthday." Dash stopped and stared off into space.
"Birthday?" She asked as the pieces all fell into place.
"It's my birthday today!?" She shouted as she looked at Rarity who chuckled as she merely shook her head.
"Yes darling it is." She smiled as Dash caught up with her and smiled
"So this whole day at the spa?" She asked as Rarity nodded.
"Was one big relaxing distraction while the girl's and Applejack's family got everything ready." Dash blanched at that.
"So does that mean that?" Rarity smiled.
"Yes dear he'll be there as well." Dash flushed profusely but took a deep breath as she steeled her nerves.
"Ok Dash ou got this." She psyched herself up as she trotted next to Rarity. Rarity let out a giggle as he bumped Dash's fank.
"There's the mare we all know and love. Keep this up dear and you'll win his heart for sure." Dash flushed but didn't back down from Rarity's statement as she held her head high. That nagging voice in the back of her head lessened but it was still there. Still muttering that she was making a mistake and should go back to the one stallion that she'd longed for. she shook her head to clear the errant thoughts and focused on the here and now.
"Ok Rare's let's not keep everypony waiting!" Dash said as she grabbed Rarity and took off into the sky, Rarity letting out a high pitched unladylike scream the whole way.
5:20 P.M.
Spike had his eyes peeled for any sign of there chromatic maned friend and sure enough there was a blue speck on the horizon. He hopped down from his tree and hauled tail to the barn. He got there with seconds to spare.
"She's here!" He shouted as the group all scattered to find a hiding spot. Most of them ended up hiding in the rafters but a few of them found suitable places to hide amongst the bales of hay scattered all over the barn. The whole barn hushed as they heard Dash and Rarity land outside.
"Rainbow Darling if it wasn't your birthday today-." She threatened as Dash laughed her fank off.
"Oh man you should've seen the look on your face!" She said as she leaned against the barn so as to not fall over and ruin her rather pristine coat. Rarity glared at her.
"Glad you can still find amusement in the suffering of others Dash." She said as she pointed to the barn.
"Shall we?" She said as Dash let out a snicker. Once Dash stopped laughing she headed over to the door and let out a deep breath.
"Well let's do this." She said as a smile adorned her muzzle. With a smile on her face and a fire in her heart Dash opened the barn door.
November 14, 1000, C.E. Ponyville General Hospital.
A soft rhythmic beeping filled the room as John's chest expanded and contracted with each breath he took. At his bedside sat Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy and the whole of the Apple Family. Apple Bloom let out a soft sniff as she fought to keep her tear's in.
"H-he-he'll be ok won't he?" She asked as she hugged Big Mac tight. He looked at his brother and sniffed. His eyes never left but his voice quivered with fright.
"Apple Bloom, I-I just-" He let out a snort of anger as he stomped a hoof causing the tile floor underneath him to crack. Meanwhile Dash sat at the back of the group staring off into oblivion, a blank look on her face as her thoughts raced to find out how things had gotten so out of control. Suddenly her body gave out as she hit the floor with a thud. All at once she let out a whale of sorrow as she pounded the tile floor.
"WHY!" She shouted as she burst into tears. She felt a soft embrace envelop her and heard a soft voice in her ear.
"Shhh. It-I-'ll be ok." Fluttershy said as she too began to sob uncontrollably. She looked over at John and winced as she saw all of the bandages keeping his body held together while the medical magic of the nurse's kept him alive. The door flew open startling everypony present. They all turned to see an irait Twilight standing there looking to kill.
"Where is he!" She shouted as she stormed into the room. Granny Smith got up and stopped Twilight from going any further as she held the unicorn mare in place.
"Now looky here young miss yall need to calm down." She said as Twilight struggled against Granny's strength but she soon lost out as her anger subsided instead being replaced by sadness and tears as Granny held the young mare close.
"Shh, shh, now it's going to be ok." She said as she stroked Twilight's mane trying to sooth her troubled mind.
"Where is Soarin?" She asked now thinking more clearly as she looked at John's mangled form. The whole room dropped a few degrees. Fluttershy let out a growl as she looked at her son. Her eye's bore a fire in them that could only be extinguished by the blood of the one who did this. He however was currently locked away in the dungeons of Canterlot. She hated the princess's need for a fair trial but she had agreed to abide by there law's when she took up residence in Equestria.
"Don't you worry Twilight one way or another he'll pay for this." She said as she continued to hold and comfort Dash.
"They'll all pay for this." She muttered as a scowl formed on her face.
November 27, 1000, C.E. Ponyville General Hospital. 8:57 A.M.
John awoke with a start looking around lost and confused. As he looked around he heard a soft beeping. Looking to his left he was surprised to see a heart monitor standing there.
"Where am I?" He wondered aloud as he fell back into his bed. As the rest of his scenes came back to him he noticed a lack of feeling in his limbs. A shuffling noise to his right caused him to grunt as he turned to see who or what it was. He saw a cot in a corner and saw that it was occupied. He couldn't see who was occupying it but he did see them scramble to get up, however.
"Oh thank Faust!" They said before they ran out of the room. Slowly John's failing memory began to come back to him. He winced as he went over the events of last night.
November 12, 1000, C.E. 6:17 P.M.
Pinky Pie pranced around the party feeling rather perky. She hummed a little tune as she trotted about refilling drinks and mingling with the various ponies and Equestria's lone human being. Glancing over at John she smiled he casually chatted with the spa sisters. Meanwhile Hot Shot was enthralling Fluttershy with one of his exploits while he was in the royal guard.
"So there I was asking this stallion if he could please stop staring at my erection long enough to give me a statement." Fluttershy gave him a sly smile and a giggle as she nodded her head.
"Oh no, what did he say?" She asked as she kept an ear out for her son. Hot Shot smiled as he recalled the moment fondly.
"He told me sure but only if I put away my deadly weapon first." He gave a week chuckle as a blush crossed his face.
"I told him to stop eyeballing my junk and to come with me to the station." Fluttershy giggled just to play along. She would normally be at least mostly focused on the conversation at hand but she soon felt the effect's of a teleportation spell and the hair's on the back of her neck began to prickle. Pinky Pie also felt the disturbance in the air as she looked around for the source. Her bell began to rattle as she looked around for the phantom's magic. She looked around in worry but put on a fake smile when Dash called out to her. She trotted on over and proceeded to make small talk. She shot Fluttershy a look of trepidation.
"Fluttshey do you feel that?" She mentally asked while Flutterhsy gave her a nod while discussing the finer points of being a guard with Hot Shot. She let her senses loose and began to scan the surrounding area. She felt two distinct life forms making there way to the barn. One of them, a unicorn cast a spell causing her to growl as his presence vanished from her perception.
"He's invisible." Pinky let a giggle pass through her thought's.
"Oh don't worry about him. We've played hide and seek before." She smiled deviously as she slipped away from the party, slinking into the shadows of the barn. Fluttershy felt her friends presence vanish before it reappeared outside the barn just a little ahead of the duo. One of them broke off and headed up tot eh barn door. The other one made its way around the back. She growled as she picked up the voice of the one headed toward's the barn.
"Hello, everypony!" Soarin yelled as he strolled into the party casting all eye's upon himself. John paled as his heart rate picked up. Flutterhsy looked over to Hot Shot who had a scowl upon his face as well. She smiled as she nodded over to John. Hot Shot gave her a smile as he walked past her,
"I'll go run interference." He smirked as he strolled over to Soarin and through his wing's open in greeting.
"Hey, Soarin buddy! Long time no see!" Fluttershy made a mental note to thank him. For now, she trotted over to John to see him knocking back a bottle of Apple Family Cider. He looked over at her and smiled.
"Don't worry mom. This stuff doesn't hold a candle to the alcohol back on earth." He smiled as she made her way over and wrapped him in a feathery hug. She put her head to rest in his shoulder and hummed.
"How are you feeling about tonight?" She asked as he simply huffed and looked over to Soarin.
"Well, I was feeling more confident earlier but now-." He trailed off as he looked over at Dash who was playing pin the tail on the pony along with Spike and Apple Bloom. He smiled as his face fell for a few seconds. He let out another deep breath as he looked over to his backpack sitting next to the small mountain of present's meant for Rainbow. He laughed as Fluttershy dropped to her hooves giving him a soft smile.
"Now I feel even better. At least I'll have an audience to cheer me on." He smirked as he looked over the whole party. Flutterhsy gave him a nuzzle on his thigh.
"You really do love her don't you?" She asked causing to blush, but he didn't deny her accusation. She giggled as she leaned against him.
"Oh don't worry you'll do fine." She smiled as she reminisced.
"When your father and I first met he was head over hoove's in love with me." She smiled as she thought of the good old days.
"He was so lost and yet so determined." She gave John a wink.
"In the end, he ended up storming my castle to receive my hoof." John gawked as he listened.
"Damn what was that like?" He asked giving her a puzzled look. She smiled as she looked over at the partygoers.
"It was glorious. He didn't harm a single hair on anyone's head. He ended up trapping them all in a vast lake of pudding in honor of one of my friends." John gave her a look of curiosity.
"Wait was your husband-" He was cut off by a shout ringing out over the hustle and bustle.
"Time to open up the presents!" Soarin shouted as he made his way over to the table piled with gifts cradling a gift of his own. Dash looked over to see everyone looking at her expectantly. She then looked over at the clock. It had just turned 6:30. She then looked over to her friend's. Some of them gave her soft smile's while other's glared dagger's at Soarin for taking charge of there friend's party. She chuckled as she made her way through the crowd and looked over the pile of presents she had accrued.
"How many time's do I have to tell you pony's that I don't need a mountain of gift's every year?" She asked the crowd who all laughed and beamed at the mare of the hour. She rolled her eyes as she trotted over and grabbed a gift with her wings. She read the note on it,
"Here's to another year of bringing out that beautiful side of you for all to see." She looked from Rarity to the spa twins and grinned as she read who it was from.
"Thank's you three." She said as opened the box and pulled out a bottle of shampoo. It gave off a soft blue glow causing her to smile.
"Wow Liquid Lightning!" She beamed at her friend's.
"This must have cost you all a mint." She said as Rarity waved a hoof.
"Oh, darling think nothing of it." She gestured to the Spa Twins.
"It was their idea to get it for you. I just so happened to have some friends in manehattan that know the family that distributes this particular brand of shampoo. The spa twin's nodded as they gave Dash a soft smile.
"We figured you'd like to have some at home spa time what with you and one of our best masseuse's being friends." Aloe winked as Dash's face lit up giving John a sly grin. He too had a flush to his face but he kept up his smile not wanting to draw any undue attention his way. Dash giggled as she carefully put the bottle back in its box and set it down on an empty table next to the one full of gifts.
"Come here you." She said as Rarity and the spa twins became enveloped in a soft feathery hug.
7:00 P.M.
She went down the list of friend's and other ponyville resident's until only two gifts remained unopened. She looked at the last two and frowned as her heart began to flutter with anticipation. The various partygoers had lost interest and began to mingle about once more, now only dash's friend's remained at the now two last gifts for the night.
"Here goes nothing." She thought as her smile came back as she reached for John's gift, a small box bearly the size of a shoe box.
"Saving the best for last?" Soarin asked a smirk adorning his muzzle. Dash just smiled as she bypassed John's box and went straight for Soarin's. His own smile faltered but it was soon plastered on his face once more.
"Why yes. Yes, I am." She shot John a wink that had his face as red as a tomato. Soarin who saw this was internally cursing up a storm.
"That smug son of a bitch!" He kept up his calm cool facade as Dash proceeded to open up the box. It was the size of a moving box and as she opened it her eye's lit up.
"He won't be able to top this anyway" Soarin smiled as Dash stared at the contents within.
"No way!" She silently let out as she held up the garment contained within. The whole party gasped at the pristine blue and yellow jumpsuit. It looked emaculant. Soarin gave off a chuckle as he sauntered over to Dash.
"Yes, way." He said as he held out a hoof and closed Dash's still hanging jaw. She looked at him with genuine surprise.
"How?" She asked as she set it back in the box. He gave her a cocky grin as he leaned in close to her ear.
"It's a secret." He winked as he drew back. The party had continued but ponies began to murmur as they saw the courtship happening before them.
"So what does this mean?" Dash asked as Saorin gave her a grin.
"Well, Dash the offer is there for you to join us at any time." He said with a wink.
"And after a thorough physical exam and flight test, we can officially welcome our newest member to the team." Dash blushed even further as she looked at the suit in the box and then over to John. She saw the look of utter shock on his face and she let out a sigh.
"Can I think about this?" She asked as Saorin just gave her a nod.
"Of course Dash. Take all the time you'll need." He said his grin never leaving his muzzle. She took a deep breath as she trotted over to the table and grabbed John's gift. Holding it in one wing she opened it with the other trying to regain her smile as she did so.
"He oughta get a kick out of that." Her smile returning as she thought about his fascination with pegasi wings. Her smile, however, turned to a look of confusion. She grabbed the object within with her wing and pulled it out. Looking it over she surmised that it was a blindfold. Slowly a smirk began to unfurl on her face as she sauntered over to John and gave him a sly grin.
"So you got some weird human kink's I should know about?" John's brain blanked as he began to stutter out a response he tried to not let his mind wander.
"UHHHH I never should have looked up boo-." Dash's laugh brought him back down to Equestria. At the sound of her beautiful voice, John's faculty's came back to him. He laughed at himself as did a few partiers who overheard the banter. John got his brain in order and grinned at Dash as he shook his head.
"Un no Dash. No interdimensional kinkiness going on." He said as held out a hand.
"May I?" He asked as Dash smiled and handed him the blindfold. John made his way to her side and wrapped the blindfold around her soft magenta eyes.
"You know if you wanted to abduct me for a little late night fun we could have done this at any time." She smirked as John's hand slipped and pulled a little too tight. This just caused Dash to chuckle as she had no doubt that John was at the point of passing out with all of the blood rushing to his head from blushing. He cleared his throat and looked over at Twilight.
"Ok Twilight we're ready." He gave her a thumbs up. Dash's ear's perked up as did her curiosity.
"Oh, are we going to make this a threesome now?" Twilight's cheeks burned but she held her concentration and scrunched up her muzzle as her spell took effect. Rainbow felt the warm fuzzy atmosphere of the barn slip away only to be replaced by the cool air of the night. She felt the soft fluff of cloud beneath her hooves and let out a hum of delight.
"Wow, I wonder what he could possibly up down there while I'm up here." Dash heard a chuckled beside her that made her blood run cold.
"Well, why don't you take that off and find out." In a split, second Dash did just that and immediately flew over to John and held him tight.
"What the hell are you doing up here?" She shouted as she rolled onto her back and held John to her barrel looking around frantically for a safe place to put him. She spotted a soft patch of ground below them but before she could zoom off she felt a finger poke her snout.
"Hey Dash as fluffy and warm as you are I can't give you the rest of your gift from here." Dash looked at him and then her eyes went wide.
"How were you able to stand on this cloud, to begin with?" She asked as she tentatively let him go. He rolled out of her grip and smirked as he pointed down.
"Twilight and Rarity." He said standing up and gesturing to the golden-hued horizon before them. He smiled as Dash looked out at then back at him.
"What?" She asked feeling confused but in the back of her mind, she was very much excited for what else lay in store for her tonight. She looked at John and noticed he was looking a little chubby around the waist as well as sporting his backpack.
"Hey not to imply anything but how did you put on any kind weight with all the exercise we do?" John just smiled an took a step back. Dash noticed thin and tensed up as he got closer to the edge of the cloud.
"So Dash do you want the rest of your gift?" He asked ignoring her question as his smile got wider. She gave him a slight grin as he took another step back making her begin to sweat.
"Hey come on dude be careful alright." She said taking a step toward's him. He just grinned as he looked back and saw the edge a few feet away. He just shrugged as he took another step back.
"So is that a yes?" His smile never faltered but Dash was starting to get nervous.
"Seriously dude you could end up getting really hurt if you fall." She said as she stepped up next to him. Her nerves settled down as she and him stood there at the edge. He just chuckled.
"You still haven't answered my question Dash." He said as she gave him a soft grin.
"There more huh?" She asked as she looked out upon the horizon. He just nodded.
"So do you want it?" He asked. She rolled her eyes at the innuendo of that statement but nodded her head.
"Sure then lay it on me" John smiled as he got down to her eye level and looked her straight in the eyes. Her face flushed as she thought of all that could happen from this angle. She saw John's face light up with red as a smile crossed his face.
"Ok here goes nothing." He mumbled echoing Dash word for word as she entered the barn. She looked at him with curiosity but that soon turned to shock as she felt a soft pair of lips against her own. Her brain went to cloud nine as the two of them stood there lost in the blissful kiss that had claimed them both. When John dared to break the kiss and give Dash a look he saw her flushed muzzle and face twitch a little. He smiled as he stood up and looked behind himself at the still setting sun. He made a mental note to thank Celestia and Luna for making such a beautiful backdrop.
"That's not all Dash." He said as he took one more step back and gave her a two finger salute before he tipped himself over and fell off the edge of the cloud.
Dash was still stunned and as she recovered from her cloud nine high she saw the edge of John's foot dip below the clouds. At once she shot off the edge only to stop and stare in stunned silence for what seemed like the third time that night as she saw what she thought was impossible. John had somehow cobbled together a suit of some kind that at this very moment was enabling him to fly. She knew that somehow Rarity and Twilight had a hand in this suit. Granted his flying wasn't as graceful as any pegasus she'd ever seen but she didn't care about that at the moment.
She cared about the fact that one of her best friends in all of Equestria was flying. More importantly, he was doing this for her. She knew that he was working on something over the past few eek's but she'd never thought he'd be doing anything like this. She giggled to herself like a school filly as she leaped off the cloud and followed after her friend in the sky. She caught up with him a second later and smiled with tear's streaming down her face as she flew next to him.
"This is awesome!" She shouted over the air pressure as John looked over to her, his own smile hidden by his helmet. The two flew and flew again as the night went on. Twilight and Rarity ran interference for the two lovebird's as they soared and weaved in the air. Down below in the orchard Chancellor Neighsay was furious. The constant tinking of a bell followed his every step and he was becoming paranoid.
He pushed it out of his mind as he looked up into the sky and scowled at the happy duo.
"I have to stop this now." He sighed as his horn lit up. At once the human's flight began to falter as Neighsay punctured the wings of his suit with holes. Another flash of his horn and Rainbow Dash was gone in a flash of light. John screamed as he plummeted to the earth hitting several trees along the way. He let out a roar of agony as a white-hot and furious pain tour through his left shoulder before he hit the ground and blacked out.
8:00 P.M.
Chancellor Neighsay let out a soft breath of relief as he slid into the shadows. His work complete he opened up a portal to his tower and left John to his fate.
"Only a one more month and we'll finally be rid of this scourge." He said as he trotted through the portal his face one of glee as the tinking stopped following him and streaked off into the distance.
8:01 P.M.
The party was beginning to thin out as the night wore on. The barn was filled with laughter and banter as they all shared a story or two. This all came to an abrupt halt however as Rainbow Dash appeared in the barn in a flash of light. She frantically looked around before looking to the big barn door's. Like a bullet, she flew through them blasting them off there hinge's and zooming off toward's the last spot she saw John in the sky. Everypony else looked on in worry and wonderment while Soarin looked off, a neutral expression on his face. Everypony flinched as a wail of sorrow ripped through the orchard reaching all those present in the barn.
November 27, 1000, C.E. Ponyville General Hospital. 9:00 A.M.
John listened with a calm demeanor as the nurse read off his list of injuries. On the outside, he just acted on instinct nodding his head at the right time's and giving her the impression he'd been listening. On the inside, he felt cold and hollow. He looked over to where his left arm should have been and just starred.
"Hey, there big guy you following me?" The voice snapped him back to reality.
"Hmm?" He mumbled out looking over to see the nurse giving him a look of pure pity. Her soft blue eye's betrayed her professional appearance as she sighed. She leaned forward and gave his remaining hand a soft nuzzle as she held in her tear's.
"John listen." The mare said as he gave her his full undivided attention.
"What your going through right now is hard but your not alone." She smiled for the first time in the past week.
"You have friend's and a family who loves you deeply." She fixed him with a hard stare.
"You will get through this." She then jumped up and gave him a hug, being mindful of his lost arm. She gave his cheek a soft nug as she let go. When she was back on all four's she grabbed the clipboard with her teeth and trotted out the door. Once she was outside John sighed and fell back into the bed, already feeling too exhausted by the events of the day. He looked down at where his arm should have been.
"Why can I still feel it there?" He said reflexively clenching his no longer attached fist. The sound of multiple voices outside his room did little to give him comfort but as soon as his door burst open he was assailed by a menagerie of dialogue. Big Mac saw his sibling twinge at the staccato of noise making itself at home in John's ear.
"Quite!" He bellowed bringing an end to the questioning. John gave him a thumbs up but realized he was using the wrong hand. He gave a hollow laugh and shook his head.
"Don't think I'll ever get used to that." He remarked as he looked at his remaining arm. He looked around and all in all the atmosphere was tense.
"So." He started as he looked from the sparse group of friends and then to his family and then back between them all. Pinky Pie stepped forward her head hung low as she gave John a deep look of sorrow and dread.
"i-i-i'm." She blubbered as she burst into tear's and flung herself upon john's bed. She wailed as she looked up at him through blurry tear-filled eye's.
"IM SO SORRY!" She choked out as she held onto his bed for dear life. John looked on as tear's of his own began to form. He took his only arm and wiped his face before he motioned for Pinky to come over to him. She obeyed letting her hair fall flat as she trotted over to John's bedside. He gave his bed a pat and Pinky hopped up. She gave him a sad grimace she looked to where his other arm had just been not a few weeks earlier. John stared at Pinky as she avoided his gaze. John took his hand and cupped Pinky's face. She was forced to look into his sad but friendly smile as he pulled her close and gave her a hug.
"Don't you dare blame yourself for this Pinky." He sniffed as he thought about the event's leading up to this. The only thing he clearly remembered was a flash of orange light from somewhere below him and then the sensation of falling.
"It wasn't your fault nor was there a way you could have prevented this from happening." He smiled as Pinky gave him a sad smile of her own.
"Not even you can be in two place's at once." He laughed and soon so was Pinky. She gave him a genuine smile as she thought about it.
"Actually with the right amount of searching I bet you I could do just that." She smiled as she gave johns face a soft nuzzle. He reached up and gave her a kiss on the forehead and chuckled as she hopped off the bed feeling a whole lot better than when she came into the room, although her hair had yet to perk up its pink cotton candy color had returned.
"Progress." John thought as he looked over his family. He held his arm out to them and was soon engulfed in the apple family. They all whispered consoling words of encouragement as they hugged it out. Soon the tear's had turned into laughter as John, in turn, consoled them of there worries. He hadn't noticed Dash flinch at the sight of his one arm but she had backed away to the back of the group by now anyway.
"Hey don't sweat it." He said as they all got back to there own hooves. He looked around and saw that several member's of the group were absent. He looked at the group and saw Dash hiding off by herself.
"Dash?" Hearing her name caused Dash to flinch. She tentatively looked up to see John giving her a concerned look.
"Are you ok?" He asked as AJ whispered to the family. They both heard a clearing of throats as Pinky Pie followed them out the room leaving just John and Dash. Dash paled a little bit but John just looked at the door and then turned his attention back to Rainbow.
"Dash?" He asked again. Once more she flinched at the sound of her own name. She gave him a look filled to the brim with sadness and shame. He motioned for her to come closer and reluctantly she did just that. When she did so he bent down and scooped her up with his one arm into his bed.
"What ar-" She was cut off as he put his lip's to her's. She shuddered at first wanting nothing more than to get away. She didn't deserve this love, this sign of affection, not after she failed him this badly. He chuckled as they parted, his grip on her never wavering.
"Don't you even go there Dash." He smiled as she gave him a look of utter disbelief. She heard up as she stuttered to get her word's out.
"B--ut--h--o--w-i-i-i." Her grief won out eventually as she broke down and sobbed on his shoulder as he stroked her mane.
"There, there, Dashy. It's ok." He softly said as she continued to cry her emotion's finally getting an outlet for the past few weeks of worry, self-doubt, and shame.
9:04 A.M.
AJ looked at Pinky with a sad smile on her face.
"So still no word from Fluttershy." Pinky shook her head.
"None. She went completely off the grid for this one." Applejack's muzzle hardened as she thought about the one who did this to her brother. She rested a hoof on Pinky's shoulder and pulled her into a hug.
"Don't you worry about this none you hear?" She smiled as Pinky gave her a nod.
"Fluttershy will find out who's responsible for this so all's we have to do is help out John in any way we can." She smiled as she let go of Pinky, noticing one of her curl's bouncing back into place. She smiled as Pinky bid her a farewell before she set out for her home. AJ meanwhile stood there staring off into space.
She knew that Soarin had been taken in for questioning but she didn't know to what extent. Something about him seemed off to her. She couldn't put her hoof on it but she was certain he had to be involved. With what she'd witnessed at the Nightmare Night party, the strange phantom's attacking her family and friend's and now with john's accident. She knew they were all connected she just had to find the proof.
"I swear if it's the last thing I do I'll find out who did this." She vowed to herself as she stomped off down the hall.
Transylvania, Kingdom of The Thestral's. 9:10 A.M.
A lone bat pony guard trotted down the halls of Blood Thorn Keep. He had just gotten up for the morning shift and was perplexed to see someone had made themselves at home within the keep's royal chamber's. Seeing as how he stood guard over them all the time while he was assigned here for guard duty he tentatively opened the main doors to the bedroom and peered inside. His eye's bulged out as he saw just who had made themselves at home.
"Empress!" Private Sanguine snapped to attention as his gaze fell over the queen of there kingdom. Fluttershy gave him a soft smile as she got to her hooves while he bowed.
"Rise private." She commanded, Sanguine doing as he was told. Fluttershy regarded the cream-colored stallion standing before her. She smiled as she sauntered over to him and gave his form a soft caress as she passed him by. His whole coat tingled as he tried to keep his thoughts from straying.
"Private can you do me a favor?" She asked as she stopped her circling in front of her luxurious bed. The private gulped down his doubt, stood up straight and gave a salute.
"Yes, M'am!" He barked, like the good little soldier he was. Fluttershy let a devious grin cross over her muzzle.
"Perfect." She thought as she took a step forward and stood with authority.
"I need you to look into an organization for me." She said as glanced out the window. The moon was full and bright. Soon it would run red with the blood of her foe's. She revealed in the very thought of sinking her teeth into those who would dare to harm her family. She fixed the private with a stare that could petrify a cockatrice. He took the brunt of it flinching as she burrowed into his very soul. When he was about to break she eased off.
"Good, he's sturdy." She smiled as she fixed him a sober nod.
"I need you to go the barrack and bring me the finest soldier's we have. Bring them back in haste." She said and stomped her hoof. At once the private gave a swift salute and scampered off as fast as his hooves and wings could take him. Satisfied with his speedy retreat Fluttershy turned to her table and sighed as she used her magic to dispell the illusion that had graced its surface for over a thousand years.
"Time to go to work." She said as she looked upon the scale model replica of Equestria. With another burst of magic, she took the essence she had gathered from within the forest on the edge of the apple family property. A little orange whisp floated down onto the table and slowly circled it's edge as Fluttershy began to focus.
"Show me where your master is." She commanded her eye's now completely glossed over in a deep blood red as her magic flowed unabated by her normal restraint's. Slowly the magic whisp began to circle the table and spiral ever closer to its source. Her devious smile grew into a tooth filled grin as the whisp stopped. It pointed to the one place she'd wanted to take out for over two century's now.
"Got you." She smiled and turned around just in time to see her door swing open. Standing there in utter shock was a small group of thestral's four in all including the private. The other three gave out looks of shock and utter disbelief. One of them stepped forward and bowed. The other three did the same.
"My apologies your grace for being late." Sanguine said as he stood up. He glared at the other three and bowed his head once more.
"I had a little bit of trouble convincing these three of your legitimacy." Fluttershy gave off a small giggle as she stood from her table and trotted over to the group. She scanned the four of them as her eye's settled on the private. She gave him a nod and he trotted over and took a spot next to her. The other three moved to stand but were halted by a red glow.
"Did I say you three could rise!?" She yelled causing the whole room shake. The three before her coward at the sudden command but the magic kept them locked in place.
"Were are sorry our queen!" The leader of the group called out as he stopped fighting the magic and let it plant him to the ground. The other three followed suit and gave similar testimonies and pleads. Fluttershy simply glared at each one of them.
"Just who do three think you are to doubt my existence?" She questioned. At once the three of them found the force keeping them down had disappeared. Hesitantly they all gave quivering glances around the room. Finally, their eye's all settled on their queen. They all immediately diverted there gaze and bowed once more.
"We are truly sorry your grace." One of them began.
"W-w-we grew up hearing the stories of you and your glorious reign but we had no idea of there validity." This one a female quivered as Fluttershy let out a hollow laugh.
"Oh, so you all had no way of knowing that the many tale's and deed's of your immortal eternal empress were, in fact, all real account's of how my husband and I poured our blood, sweat, and tear's into the very founding of this glorious kingdom?" She chastised the group like a bunch of school children. For all intent's and perpose's, they were nothing more than children compared to her but she still did not tolerate disobedience. She glanced at the Private and smiled.
"Tell me how is it that the youngest amongst you,-" She pointed to the Private, "-Know's of me and actually treated me with the respect and dignity befitting a queen and yet you three can only muster up a sorry excuse to try and save your hides." Her beratement halted when a flare of pain made its way down the link she forged with her son on that horrible night. It was all she could do to help keep him alive long enough for the medical personnel to get there and do their jobs. Her hard gaze softened before it took up a mask of neutrality. She swept her look of passiveness across all of those present.
"You four were picked by me for a very special reason." She said as she got up and trotted over to her table. She motioned for them to follow and they scrambled to obey. They all stopped and looked at the map upon the table.
"Is that?" One of them asked. Fluttershy nodded. She looked at each of them. They knew about this place. Good, at least her history lesson's were still being taught with at least a modicum of sense. She smiled as their muzzle's pulled back into snarls of disgust.
"You all know of this place and what it entail's them?" She double checked. They all gave her stiff nods. Her smile widened just a fraction as she looked down on the tower before them. Oh, how she hated when Celestia let that infernal place be built. She knew of the ruse the inquisition had fed her. They were simply a peacekeeping organization with the sole intent of keeping all of ponykind safe. They never from what. Her temper flared for a little bit before it subsided and she regained her clear head.
"Those fool's had the audacity to attack my son." She told them. They all reared back in shock.
"Um, your grace not to cause doubt or worse but when did you bed a noble?" Kindred asked as her ear's folded back on her skull. Fluttershy gave her a smirk for her boldness.
"If I told you that lieutenant I'd have to have you silenced." She smirked as Kindred recoiled and shook her head. Fluttershy enjoyed watching the little ones squirm. She let out a soft giggle as she shook her head.
"Alas, John is not one of mine by birth but rather by proxy." She said as her eye's threatened to mist over. She let out a quivering sigh as she regained her stone face and cold demeanor along with it. She fixed each of them with a gaze of determination.
"Now that your curiosity has been piqued allow me to tell of your mission." She nodded to the tower.
"As I was saying one of those fools has attacked my son." She fixed each of them with a hard stare. They all stood at attention. She smiled.
"Now we are going to burn them to the ground." Her smile grew as the group of four each gave her a salute.
"M'am what are our order's?" Stone Cold asked as he stood with Sanguine and Kindred. Fluttershy smiled as her eyes began to glow a soft red.
"Your first order's are to come here." She smiled as they one by one fell under her spell.
Her fangs began to enlarge and so did her body. They all ignored this as they came up to there now fully changed queen. She smiled as she sank her teeth into the first of her newest spawn to be born. As the life drained from them she held back and left just enough of their blood now infused with her magic and her curse in them for the change to begin. Soon they all began to scream and wail in agony as the process of transformation began to take effect.
Chapter 37: On The 7th Day of Hearthswarmming My True Love Gave To Me...
December 7, 1000, C.E. Equestria, Blood Moon Castle. 7:56 P.M.
Sentinel's patrolled the outskirts of the Everfree Forest keeping watch for anyone brave or stupid enough to try and probe the forests deep dark depths. They were ever alert and ever ready to deal with anything that would dare to attack there queen's personal castle. It was a gift given to the great Empress Fluttershy and her husband as a gift of goodwill from Celestia a few century's after her sister had been banished. She still visited from time to time much to ten enjoyment of the castle staff and those who patrolled the forest perimeter. They all had a reason to stop and relax after a long and hard day's work of keeping the residents of Ponyville safe from the more dangerous beast's that called the forest their home.
On this day, however, the guard both around the perimeter and within the forest had been doubled. The Castle was not playing host to one but three royal guest's of honor and there was no room for error. The whole forest bussed with an energy that was thick in the air as the group of royals came to visit. Princess Cadence, Celestia, and Luna all looked on in utter amazement at the mobilization of troop's that had flooded the forest coming from all over Equestria at there's queen's command. Cadence flattened her ear's as she trotted through yet another guard checkpoint. She looked over to Celestia and tried to keep the fear out of her voice.
"Auntie why are all of these soldier's here?" Celestia sighed as she gave her niece a look of sorrow.
"It would appear dear Cadence that one of my little ponies stupidly attacked our interdimensional friend." She said as her mind wondered to the hospital where he was right now undergoing rehabilitation. Cadence's face went from shock to outrage.
"They did what?" She shouted causing a fair amount of warriors to regard her with cold stares. She gave them all sheepish smile's as she moved closer to her aunt causing the goddess to smile as she draped a wing over her embarrassed charge.
"Yes, tis a travesty even to us that one so young and full of life could be cut down so viciously," Luna said as the many sentinals that saw them all pass bowed in respect. She regarded them with an inclined nod as she passed, the trio soon coming to the large and pristine double doors. The three princess's all stared in awe as they reminisced on the last time they'ed all been here. Celestia and Luna stifled back tear's as their childhood came back in wave's while Cadence laughed as her own childhood here came back to her.
"Good mourning to you all." Came the soft voice of none other than Fluttershy as the throne room door's opened up revealing a rather large group of thestrols and vamponies all congregating within. The trio all stopped and bowed as Fluttershy descended the stairs. She, in turn, gave them all a deep bow of her own. With all of the pleasantries out of the way, the four of them all ascended the stair's dreading the bout of politics to play out in these once more grand halls. Celestia looked down on the normally calm and demure pegasus she'd known nearly her whole life.
"So Fluttershy what exactly is this all about?" She waved a hoof around the room to all of the delegates from far off nations and countries abroad. Fluttershy scoffed as she gave the room a bone-chilling scowl. She then looked up to Celestia and sighed.
"This is the High Council" An edge of disdain was ever present in her voice as she spoke of the group in the room. Luna and Cadence both looked around as the group waded through the council and made a beeline for Fluttershy's personal chambers. As they did so Cadence noticed the detail of guards trailing ahead and behind them.
"Empress is there something else we should be aware of?" She said as they all reached the bedchambers of the High Queen. As soon as the door's of Fluttershy's royal room were closed she motioned for them to stop. They all did so as Fluttershy's magic sprang to life around them. As quick as it had happened the red haze that had enveloped them had gone. The royal sisters were baffled.
"Just what is the meaning of this?" Celestia asked as she looked around the room. Fluttershy trotted over to a mirror and beckoned the other's to follow. they did so albeit hesitantly. She nodded to the mirror and one by one they all gazed into its depths. There they saw a sight that lifted there heart's all around. John was sitting on top of a hill just outside of Ponyville cheering on Rainbow Dash as she flew through the air performing stunts and complex aerial maneuvers seemingly at random. The group all saw the smile on both party's face's as they spent time with one another. However, when they looked closer they all winced at the clear trauma John had suffered from his accident. Luna looked from the mirror to Fluttershy.
"Tis he constricted to be a cripple for the rest of his day's?" She asked as she looked back to the mirror. Fluttershy gave her a look of sorrow as she nodded.
"He doesn't have any magic flowing through his body so any kind of prosthetic we develop would be useless." She said as she reigned in her emotion so as to not breakdown again. Cadence glanced over and scowled.
"Surely there's something we can do?" She asked looking back to Celestia who looked on at the mirror. Celestia gave it some thought before letting out a huff of annoyance. Turning to the group she gave Fluttershy a look of worry.
"So what does all of that outside have to do with this?" She motioned form the great hall to the mirror. Fluttershy looked away guiltily but her voice did not waver.
"I've found the ones responsible for this." She motioned at the mirror. Celestia, Luna, and Cadence all tensed at this.
"Let me guess." She said walking over to the clearly distraught Empress. She raised a wing and draped it over the solemn Fluttershy who for her part let some of her hard feature's falter.
"They reside within our realm?" She asked as Fluttershy nodded. Luna and Cadence looked outside now understanding the reasoning behind the council and the increased guard presence.
"You mean to siege the ponies responsible for this?" Luna asked her old flame rekindling at the prospect of a good old fashioned siege. Fluttershy shuddered but nodded.
"Only with your permission, however." She corrected as she looked from royal to royal. The trio all gave it a split second thought.
"How invested in this are you?" Celestia asked as Fluttershy gave her a hard stare.
"Very. This worm dared to harm my son. If I can I want him to suffer as long as possible. Preferably I'd like to see him tormented for all of eternity." She stated with a finality that caused Celestia to give off a chuckle.
"Oh, where is your husband when we all need him?" She asked as she looked over at a picture on Fluttershy's bedstand. Fluttershy to looked at it and smiled.
"You know him. He's off on his grand vacation probably surfing in the south luna sea." She smiled as her thought's drifted over there time together. She shook her head as she narrowed her eye's at the group.
"So do I have your permission to apprehend the vile monster responsible for this?" Celestia merely chuckled as she looked to the other two.
"Vearly we do!" Luna answered. Cadence gave a nod as well.
"You won't hear me complaining." She got a mischievous glint in her eye but fought down the urge to blurt it out. Celestia gave Fluttershy a harsh look of her own.
"You were going to do this regardless of our desition weren't you?" She smirked as Fluttershy gave her a sheepish smile.
"Um, well, yes. Yes, I was." She said as she rubbed a hoof over her neck. Celestia gave off a soft chuckle as she leaned down and gave Fluttershy a nuzzle. Fluttershy did the same as some of the stress of her position and problem bleed from her. she looked over at Cadence and smiled.
"So what was this great idea of your's?" Cadence smiled as she looked at the other two rulers of Equestria.
"Well, I was thinking that if word of this got out why not have a cover story just in case." She smirked as the other's all leaned in.
"Go on dear niece." Luna motioned not wanting to wait for such juicy intrigue. Cadence giggled as she leaned in further.
"What say you three to a joint military exercise?" All of those present smiled at the prospect.
"My dear niece that is most devious and ingenious idea ever." Celestia smiled as she began to make the plan's to scramble the royal guard.
"That's settled then?" Fluttershy asked as she looked to the three rulers. They all gave her a nod.
"We all here and now vow our most studious support in this matter," Luna said as she looked around and smiled.
"Oh to be on the battlefield once more." She said as her body trembled in ecstasy. Celestia shook her head as her sister began to make her plans.
"Lu lu how exactly do you plan on getting in on this?" Luna smiled as her horn flared up.
"Changling's are not the only ones good at illusion magic dear sister." She stated as she shifted her form into that of a small earth pony mare, barely bigger than Big Mac and just as wide. The other's all looked at her in wonder.
"Wow, auntie," Cadence said as she looked luna over, "My hive ought to take note's." She said as she to shifted form in a great display of green light. Now a near perfect copy of luna stood where Cadence one was. Luna chuckled as she pointed a hoof to her double's horn.
"It's just a little too long dear." Cadence went crosseyed scowling at her horn as it lit up once more along with her body. Soon she was back to normal and huffed as her cheeks went red.
"Yes well, it's still a work in progress." She said as she fixed Fluttershy with a soft smile.
"I can, of course, provide a large portion of my hive for stealth, reconnaissance, and even infiltration if need be your highness." She bowed as did Fluttershy.
"Thank you Queen Chrysalis." She said as Cadence giggled.
"Wow, it has been too long since I've heard that name." She said as she looked to the other two royal sisters. They both nodded but one question still remained unanswered. Celestia held up a hoof as they approached the door.
"So what's with the council?" She asked as Fluttershy smiled.
"Oh well, I told them that if they didn't help their queen they'ed find there lands and houses liquidated." She smiled as the group all left the room laughing.
8:32 P.M.
With the talks and conversation coming to an end Fluttershy excused herself and retired to her chamber's. As she took off her formal dress and slipped into a nightgown she felt a chill go down her spine and smiled.
"What has taken you so long?" She smiled as she turned around and looked at the one pony she held in higher regard than her son. Her husband trotted over as he smirked.
"Well, my dear I had to go on a few detours on the way here." He said sweeping Fluttershy off her hooves with his own and bringing his lips to her's in a tender kiss. She moaned into his mouth as the two made there way over to her bed. Her eye's lit up as she used her magic to extinguish the light's in her room letting the room fill with lunar rays. Fluttershy let out a soft eep as she was flung her bed and giggled as she was joined soon after by her husband. With a snap and crack her clothing was gone. neatly folded and placed in her nightstand.
"Ow, how I've missed you, my dear." Discord said as he straddled his wife's prone form. Fluttershy smiled as she quickly leaned in for a kiss and flipped him over.
"Ow is that how we're going to play?" He smiled. Fluttershy let out a lustful growl as felt his dick get harder with each kiss she peppered his neck with. While she was there leaned in close to his ear.
"Just shut up and let me fuck you senseless." She commanded in a low voice as Discord went rigid with anticipation.
"Your wish is my command." He said as Fluttershy went lower and lower with her kisses. As she made her way down south she felt the heat radiating from Discord's massive shaft. She smirked all the more when her lips met his pillar. Instead of stopping she merely growled which caused Discord to open his legs even wider. She smiled up at him and then went to work lathering his ball's with her tongue even daring to tease his asshole a few time's causing Discord to clench it instinctively.
"Wow you are far better a--" He was silenced by a gag that had appeared in his mouth. the ministrations to his ass stopped as Fluttershy's head met his own.
"I told you to shut up." She whispered as she went back to her task at hand. Once she was thoroughly satisfied with his ball's Fluttershy set her sight's on his hot throbbing dick. She began at the base and lapped her way up to its tip even giving it a soft kiss. She gave Discord a sultry eyed stare as she did this causing him to groan as pre began to leak from his member. Fluttershy giggled as she licked his member before she took it within her mouth and softly bit down. A combination of copper and salt hit the back of her throat as discord hit his limit spraying his load into her waiting maw as she sucked both the blood and semen right out of him. As discord's bleeding shaft retracted from Fluttershy's now dripping mouth he wore the stupidest of grin's on his face.
"You never used to give out that fast," Fluttershy said as she laid herself out on top of him. He just chuckled as he stroked her mane.
"Well, my dear It's been too long since I've felt your soft touch." He said as he peppered her with kisses. She smirked as her magic made itself known by the red haze engulfing the two. Discord smiled.
"I'm not going to get any sleep tonight am I?" He asked as Fluttershy's magic began to stroke his shaft once more making as hard as steel. Fluttershy just giggled as she straddled his waist and then all at once impaled herself on his shaft.
"Nope." She replied as she began to ride him like a bucking bull. The mingled smell's blood, sweat, and semen were soon joined by the panting and growling of the two occupants as they went at it like no tomorrow, with Discord having been gone for a little over a century Fluttershy was eager to show him just what she'd learned in his absence. As the two eventually settled down for the night snuggled up to one another Discord moved a piece of Fluttershy's mess of a mane that had been plastered to her muzzle by there combined fluids.
"Happy early Hearthswarming." He whispered her as he settled down next to her. Soon the sound of there soft breathing filled the room as the two fell asleep in the other's embrace.
John made his way to the town squire, his list of items in his hand as he looked from stall to stall. He put the note back in his pocket as he waved to Lyra, with his nonexistent hand, again. He repressed a scowl as he raised his right hand and waved back. She gave him a soft nod as he passed while he went over his mental checklist.
"Let's see here." He rattled the items off with his finger's as he went. He spent the better part of the mourning grabbing this and that and putting it in a cart he started hauling behind him.
"Ever since-" He slammed to the ground huddling in a fettle position as images began to flash through his mind, bits, and pieces of him falling out of the sky. He gritted his teeth as he clenched his other hand and felt a shooting burning pain jolt through him.
"John!" The voice sounded far off and away but soon his world went dark as he felt the soft embrace of feathers around him. He peeked one teary eye open and was relieved to see Dash there. She flashed him a grin as she leaned in and gave him a soft kiss.
"Hey, there big guy." She said as she held him close and he did the same.
"Hey, there daredevil." He struggled to get his breathing under control but soon thanks to Dash's soft kisses and back rubs he was more himself than before his little episode. As Dash retracted her wings she helped him get back to his feet but stood by him just in case.
"So stretch what are you up to today?" She asked getting a soft smile from John who rubbed the back of his head.
"Well, I was collecting some food for later as well as making sure my gift's all got here on time." He nodded to the ponyville post office. Dash gave him a nod.
"Mind if I join you then?" She asked as John gave her a long stare.
"You wouldn't happen to have any plans on getting your gift early Dash?" He asked smirking as Dash feigned ignorance.
"Who me?" She pointed a hoof and then waved it dismissively. "Pft like I need to peek at something I know is going to be awesome no matter what it is." She said bumping John's thigh as they walked. Soon the two were chatting and grabbing everything on John's list as they went.
"So what are your plan's for the day Dash?" he asked as they picked up the last of the list. Her smiled could light up a room as she giggled to herself.
"I've been thinking that we've been going out for a little over a month now." She said as she hopped into the cart causing John to let out a grunt as he compensated for the extra weight. He threw Dash a mock look of annoyance as she giggled to herself.
"So why not meet my parents?" She asked as John thought about it. Normally probably would have been scared by the thought of meeting his girlfriend's parent's especially seeing as this was his first experience ever into the world of dating but he knew Dash really well. So he took a deep breath and gave her a smile.
"So when are they due to be here?" He asked as he crested the hill that lead to Sweet Apple Acres. His grip on the cart slipped but he braced himself and took the hit as the cart drove itself thanks to gravity pulling it down the hill. Dash leapt out of the cart and got between it and John taking up the burden from his back.
"Hey, there big guy take a rest ok?" She smiled as she patted his face with a wing. He smiled as he took up the side next to her.
"Sorry Dash but I can't let this slow me down." He smirked as Dash gave him a roll of her eyes, the smile on her muzzle, however, ruined the serious tone she was going for.
"Stallions." She muttered as John gave off a chuckle. The two carefully made their way down the hill and were in for smooth sailing as the land leveled out. Dash leaned against John the whole way through the orchard and even helped him unload the cart. As soon as they were done she trotted over to the barn and found AJ and Aion.
"Hey AJ." She greeted the farm mare who was overseeing Aion who had a bucket underneath a cow, milk still in it. She looked up from her little brother and smiled.
"Well howdy there Dash." She smirked.
"Here to steal my other brother away?" She smiled as Dash's muzzled lit up but Dash just smirked right back.
"So what if I am?" She held her nose up and let out a huff as AJ laughed.
"Just be sure to have him back here by five today ya hear." She commanded as Dash gave her a salute. As Dash turned away an idea came to her.
"Hey, do you mind if I bring my family along for the party tonight?" AJ gave her a deadpan look and smiled as Dash's face fell.
"Of course not Dash. The more the merrier." She smiled as Dash gave her a nod.
"Thanks, AJ." She trotted outside where John was waiting. She got to her back hooves and gave him a hug and then a kiss.
"So Just how are we going to get to your parent's house?" He asked as the two of them began to walk off. Dash smiled as she looked ahead.
"Have you ever been in a hot air balloon before?" She asked as John paled a little. He gave her a strangled smile.
"Um nope. Never have been in one of those." He said while he tried to keep his breathing under control. A rub on his back made his breathing softer. He looked over to see Dash giving him a soft smile.
"Don't worry John. I'll be there every step of the way." She said as she leaned against him. John draped his one arm down and around her neck giving her hair a soft stroke every now and then. As the two of them walked off they were oblivious to the pair of crimson eye's following there every move.
8:09 A.M.
John hummed a little tune to himself as Dash lay next to him holding him in her hooves as the two of them took the hot air balloon up to Cloudsdale. John put on his cloud proof clothing but that did little to calm his nerves. Instead of focusing on the bad of what could go wrong he decided to preoccupy himself with making small talk with Dash.
"So how's the weather today?" This got a laugh out of Dash as she went over the schedule in her head.
"Well, Ponyville is supposed to get a shipment of snow clouds later on today." She thought about it some more.
"Other than that there's not much on the radar in terms of weather." She smiled as John brightened up a little bit. He gave her a nod and a thumbs up.
"That's good." He then thought about it.
"So I assume you have the day off?" He asked more than anything. Dash nodded as she leaned against John's chest and snuggled up close to him. She giggled as she felt his body heat up. She gazed up at him with her magnificent eyes and took his breath away.
"What's the matter?" She asked as she got a little closer until they were practically kissing.
"Cat got your tongue?" She stuck her tongue out at him causing him to blush furiously and look away. Dash giggled as she relished the sight of him so flustered. She settled down into his chest and laughed.
"Oh don't ever change big guy." She said as she nuzzled his chest causing John to tentatively nod his head.
"S-s-sure t-t-thing Dash." He stuttered out as he settled down and let Dash get comfy.
The two of them were jolted awake as the air balloon touched down on the cloud outcropping that made up the landing pad connecting it to the rest of the Cloudsdale airstrip. The two of them hopped out of the basket but Dash took her time as she held onto John's trembling hand. He hesitated to walk on the cloud, let alone look down at the earth below.
"Hey come on big guy focus on me," Dash said squeezing his hand with her wing forcing him to look at her and smile. Slowly John took a deep breath and let it out as he took a step forward. When he didn't go tumbling through the cloud floor he took another step. And then another. Pretty soon he and Dash had made there way out of the air terminal and they soon were off down the road, Dash making sure to stick to John's side like glue. As the two made there way over to Dash's family home she pointed out place's of interest.
"Over there is the Rainbow Factory." She pointed to an ominous looking building off in the distance, spewing out little tufts of rainbow material from its smokestacks. He looked at it in awe. Then he smirked as he gave Dash a small nudge.
"So is that where you got your mane from?" She gave him a soft nudge back smirking the whole time.
"Please. I am all natural thank you." She struck a pose that had John in stitches. She soon joined him, after she glued herself to his side once more. She pointed out a few more factories and even a few shops along the way. Soon the two of them came to a stop at a building that made John wonder just what kind of lifestyle this version of Dash had growing up. It was a modest two story house constructed of cloud's but it looked as if it was carved out of marble for all intents and purposes.
"Wow so are you guy's secretly rich or-" A nudge in the ribs made him chuckle as Dash shook her head laughing.
"Hah! Us rich." She giggled as she opened the white gate that was flanked on both sides by a sturdy looking wall. Dash smiled as they trotted up to the door. She then turned and gave John a serious look.
"Ok so my family can get a little bit," She cocked her head to the side as she thought of how to describe them. "Crazy." She said as he rang the door knocker with a wing.
"Just don't fanboy over my sister and you'll be fine." She smiled as John stood there looking confused.
"Why would-" His sentence was cut off as the door opened.
"Hello!" Came the voice of the last pony John ever expected to see. His eyes went wide as he looked from the pony in the doorway to Rainbow Dash who was giving him a grin a mile wide. He then began to point between the two.
"But-you-re-how?" He then did the only thing he could think of. He fainted. Daring began to roll around on the ground in a fit of laughter as Dash stood there smirking.
"I told him not to freak out when he saw you." She said stepping over his limp body and giving her sister a hug.
"How yeah doing sis?" She asked as Daring gave her a shrug.
"Oh, you know a little bit of this and a little bit of that." She then looked down at the unconscious human.
"So who's the stud?" She asked giving his leg a quick thwak. Dash smiled as her face lit up.
"Um well first are mom and dad here?" Daring smiled as she nodded to the back of the house. She then eyed the fallen human.
"So this is the stallion that stole my sister's heart huh?" She asked as she hauled him up onto her back and trotted deeper into the house. Dash just rolled her eye's as she trotted next to them. Daring gave her sister a smirk.
"So you two have sex yet?" Dash stopped dead in her trot as her face went beet red.
"DARING!" She yelled as her sister laughed her flank off. Dash shook her head mostly to get the lewd thoughts out so she could think clearly and not about John or his-
"Nope! Not going there!" she mentally chastised herself before she glared at her sister who was still laughing as the two made it to the back of the house where the living, dining, and reading rooms were normally kept. They made a left and cut through the kitchen and found their parents occupied by an intense game of checkers.
"And I win!" Windy Whistles cheered as her husband sat there smiling at his wife. He let out a hearty laugh as he put the checkers set away and looked over to see his other daughter home.
"Well look who's here!" He got to his hooves and rushed to give his second daughter a hug. She gladly accepted the hug and even got in a nuzzle or two before her mom shoved her dad away and repeated the process.
"Oh, my baby girl! How are you?" she asked as Dash flushed but shot her parents a grin.
"Oh, you know same old, same old." She said shooting her sister a smirk. Daring went and propped John up in a chair. The elderly couple saw this and cocked there heads to the side.
"Um, dear not to be rude but who is that?" Windy asked as Dash went over to the strange creature and caressed its hand which to her horror she realized it only had the one. She visibly blanched at the site as it just struck her as not right for a biped to only have one arm. A peek to her husband saw his own face contort from one of confusion to one of shock.
"Um Dash, darling, is that who I think it is?" He asked as Dash gave her parent's a sheepish smile while she rubbed one hoof over the other as her nerve's threatened to overtake her. She took a deep breath and gave her parents as sincere of a smile as she could muster.
"Mom, Dad this is John." She said pointing to him as he slowly began to stere from his earlier shock. Dash gave his face a nuzzle. John smiled as he brought his arm up and gave Dash a scratch behind the ears. She blushed but didn't back away from his heavenly touch instead letting out a giggle as she nuzzled deeper into his chest while the rest of her family watched. Her parents were at a loss for words, to stunned by there daughter's obvious affection for a creature that they had no prior knowledge of. Her dad's eye twitched as he cleared his throat.
"Um Dash sweetie can your mother and I have a word with you please?" He asked as he held his wife tight. Dash brushed her muzzle against John's cheek giving him a soft kiss as she left to follow her parent's into the kitchen. Daring just chortled as her sister trotted past. Dash got the last laugh however as she whipped her tail around and slapped her sister on the flank making sure to put a little charge of electricity into it as well zapping her sister on her ass. Daring jumped into the air but shot her sister a glare as Dash let out a chortle of her own. As Dash rounded the corner her face lit up once more as she heard her sister talking with the now awake human.
"So John have you plowed my sister yet?" Dash groaned as she shook her head.
"Sorry to leave you with the wolf big guy." She thought as she finally joined her parents in the kitchen.
8:58 A.M.
Dash flung the front door open as she dragged John along out of the house. She was furious as John walked next to her looking worried.
"Dash please it's fine-" Dash shot him a glare. Her parents came scampering out of there home.
"Dash please come back!" Her mother shouted as she and her sister came outside. Dash whirled around scaring her mom and sister with her speed.
"Why!" She shouted as they both recoiled. She stomped a hoof as her dad came outside as well.
"So he can just go on insulting him again? No thanks!" She shouted as she turned around to leave. Her advance was stopped by a blur of light blue getting between her and the gate. Her dad stared her down but Dash didn't even flinch. John watched on wondering why this had to happen.
"Dad move," Dash ordered as her father stared at her, disappointment clear on his muzzle.
He took a step forward as Dash held her ground, while John on instinct took a step forward placing himself between Dash and her dad. The three all stopped accessing the situation. Dash looked between her dad and John, fear etched into her face, while Bow was glaring dagger's at John, who looked tired but resolute. Bow shot his daughter a glare but backed down. Dash trotted up to John and grabbed his side with a wing trotting past her dad as tear's streamed down her face. She cast one last look at her family home, her mother standing next to her dad holding one of his wings with her own, her sister looking forlorn and sad. Dash stood her ground gave them all one final nod and then she spun around grabbed John in a wing and the two began to walk off down the road.
9:13 A.M.
The walk back to the hot air balloon was silent. John was too lost in thought while Dash trotted along on autopilot the argument with her mom and dad still fresh on her mind. She winced as her dad's voice rang out in her head once more.
"Look at him! He's a cripple! On top of that, he's not even a pony for Faust's sake!" He shouted as Dash got between her dad and John who was rooted to the spot in fear and sadness.
"Who care's if he's not a pony!" She shouted back as her dad gave her an eye roll.
"How are you supposed to keep the family name going if you two can't even have kids!?" He pointed a hoof at John who averted his gaze. Dash just stared at her dad in shock.
"Is that really all that matters to you right now?" She asked as she looked to her mom.
"What about us being happy together?" she asked and only received silence in return. She was genuinely shocked at her family's callous attitude. Her mother stepped up and sighed.
"Dash darling whatever happened to that Soarin fellow you would go on and on about?" That struck a nerve.
"Oh, you mean the egotistical, misogynistic, excuse of a stallion who tried to do his best to embarrass my coltfriend on my birthday?" She finished as her mom and dad recoiled while her sister let out a shrill whistle.
"Wow what a dick." She muttered as she went and stood next to her sister.
"Personally I don't see the issue." She said as all eyes went to her. She smiled as she trotted over to Dash and John.
"I mean yeah he's a little funny to look at,-" Dash gave a warning growl at that remark. Her sister gave her a pat on the nose causing Dash to glare at her. She smiled as she continued her little spiel.
"But he's a big softy." She turned to her parents.
"And what does it matter if he's not a pony. They can always adopt." She stated as she sat down next to her sister once more. Her parents were stunned. Finally, her dad snorted as he took a step forward.
"Young lady I will give you only one chance to let go of that thing you call a coltfreind and go find yourself a real stallion." He said as Dash, John, and Daring all recoiled. Even Windy looked a little shaken up at her husband's demand. Dash gawked at her father as tear's made there way down her face.
"Please, dad. Don't do this." She pleaded as she took in a breath of air. Her father gave her a piercing gaze.
"Then make the right choice." He said. Without a hint of hesitation, Dash turned on the spot and took ahold of John's hand.
She was drawn out of her painful remanence by the soft embrace of her best friend as he held her close. His face was brimming with tear's as he clutched her tight.
"Dash I am so sorry." He said as she just shook her head.
"Don't be you big goof." She smiled through her blurry eye's.
"But how-" She gave him a kiss in order to shut him up as she burrowed deeper into his embrace.
"This is not your fault. If they can't how good you are for me then that's their loss." She said as she gave him a feathery hug holding him as tight as she could. The hot air balloon slowly drifted through the air leaving the two lover's plenty of time to think about the rest of there lives.
December 25, 1000, C.E. Apple Familly Farm. 7:17 A.M.
John opened his eye's and nearly had a heart attack. His eye's bulged out of his head as he saw a kaleidoscope of color that could only belong to one pony he knew. That wasn't a problem. John loved dash as much as he could but that still ill-prepared him for having her in the same bed as him. He looked around to see that they were in his room. As he looked around his already red face paled as he spotted an article of clothing in the floor. They were his boxer's. His face heated up as he tried to slowly move the event's of the day before came back to him.
December 24, 1000, C.E. Apple Family Barn. 4:47 P.M.
Applejack stomped a hoof as Dash explained her parent's resentment at her dating outside of her species. She looked over at the happy couple and smiled a little, her anger diminishing a little, she still didn't like the way her brother was treated but seeing the two happy together helped raise her otherwise sour mood. She chuckled as the two had a tickling match which soon had the two on the ground in fits of laughter. She shook her head and cast her gaze around the barn. Dash's sister had shown up a little while ago and gladly took part in the festivity's.
Her gaze then swept over to the C.M.C who had all huddled in a corner and were chatting away. Lastly, her gaze settled on the remainder of the group, consisting of Fluttershy and the rest of her family. She smiled as they all got together to share in the holiday. Trotting over to a nearby food table she grabbed a sandwich in hoof and moved to join her family. big Mac looked over and smiled as she came over.
"Howdy there sis." He said as Apple Bloom gave her sister a smile. Applejack trotted over and gave her big brother a hug.
"Howdy there yourself." She looked over at there guest's and smirked.
"So stud where's Cherrilee?" Big Mac blushed but kept his face neutral as he looked off into the distance.
"She really wanted to spend her holiday with her family this year up in manehatten." His smile faltered a little but he just huffed and put on a brave face for them. AJ smirked as she gave him a nod.
"Don't worry there Mac. I'm sure she'll send you a postcard." She said giving her brother a hug. He smiled back as he did the same. As the two let go they both heard a commotion and looked over to see Dash drenched in fruit punch. John stood off to the side trying his best to not laugh but seeing as everyone was beginning to stare at the two of them he quickly scooped Dash up in his arms and raced off through the hallway connecting the house to the barn and vanished with Dash looking more than a little red around the wings.
The whole party got a giggle out of that as they went back to there evening. AJ just shook her head at the two of them.
"Never thought Dash would ever find somepony that could keep up with her but boy our dear brother sure does try." She smiled as the two came back, both now thoroughly red in the face. Granny looked over at the two and smiled.
"Reminds of when I was young and found your granddaddy." She smiled as her past came back to her. For a split second, she could swear she felt him embrace her and she shivered as she felt his breath on the nape of her neck. Opening her eye's her face went red as she saw her family smirking at her episode.
"You ok there Granny?" AJ smirked as Granny just giggled. She waved a hoof at the lot of them and took a sip of her punch. She then looked at her glass and scowled.
"This needs more cider in it." She grumbled as she reached for her hat plucked it off her head and grabbed a bottle of the family's cider out of it. AJ just shook her head as she smiled.
"You know if I didn't know any better I'd say we were related to Pinky in some way with all of the shenanigans you get up to sometimes Granny." Granny shot her a grin as she poured the entire bottle of cider into her cup.
"Your dear old aunt Goldie Delicious would know for sure. She practically has a whole museum of Apple Family heirlooms, family photo's and nicknacks in her house." She thought about it and smiled.
"We ought to plan a family road trip there one o these days." She got a nod from everypony present. As the party went on the group steadily became more and more joyous and filled with the spirit of the holiday. Soon it was midnight and John was able to invite the group to one of his own family traditions.
12:00 A.M
"Alright everyone we each get one gift to unwrap and leave the rest for tomorrow," John called out as everypony let out a soft yawn. Most of the party had died down as there various guest's went home. Now all that remained were the Apple's, Fluttershy, Dash, and her sister. One by one they all went over to the stack of present's that nearly dwarfed the tree and picked one out. Fluttershy went first grabbing a gift and reading off the little note attached.
"To the best mom ever." She smiled as she looked over at John who smiled as he waved her on. She took a deep breath and opened the little box. As she pulled out what was inside she let out a gasp as she held the object in her magic. She was speechless as she looked from the little locket to John and back. She trotted over and through her forehooves around her son.
"Do you know what this is?" She asked as John nodded. "Of course." He smiled as Fluttershy took the locket and draped it over her head. She took the item in her hoof and smiled as she stared at the contents of the crystalline circular-shaped locket. On the outside, the locket was blood red not due to any kind of coloring or gems but due to the casing of said locket being hollow and that hollow space was then filled with blood. This was on both side's of the locket and as Fluttershy tentatively opened it her smile got wider as she looked upon the smiling faces of herself and her son. She closed in and gave John one more hug before she let go of him and took a seat next to him leaning against his shoulder, humming contently.
"Who's next?" He asked as he looked around. Apple Bloom stepped forward waving a hoof excitedly.
"Ooh ooh me me!" She begged. The whole group giggled at her as she looked more than a little sheepish at her childish display. John patted a spot next to him.
"Come on then don't leave us hanging?" He said asked as Apple Bloom read off her tag.
"To the littlest Apple." She scowed at Granny as she continued to read off the tag.
"From Granny." She opened the box and pulled out a pair of blue ribbons. She looked from the ribbons to her grandmother.
"A-a-ar--are--th--ese?" She stammered as she held them up to her face as tear's streamed down her face. Granny just nodded.
"Those wore your mother's." She answered as the whole room went silent. Apple Bloom got to her hooves and though herself at her granny who caught her holding her tight. As the night wore on more gift's were opened and more tears were shed. Finally, There were only two left to go. Dash looked over to John who looked back. He waved a hand,
"Ladies first." He stated as he got out of her way. She stuck her tongue out at him as she looked over her gift. It was small, about the same size as Fluttershy's. She smiled as she thought of what it could be. Not wanting to be left in suspense any longer she tore the box open and held the object in her hooves. John looked over at Fluttershy and winked. Dash meanwhile was utterly speechless. She looked from the gift to john and back to the gift she held in her wings. She looked all around at the group wondering if she was dreaming.
"Do any of you know what this is?" She asked as her eyes began to tear up. Fluttershy nodded while the apple family shook there heads. John himself knew full well what he'd gotten her and smiled at her reaction.
"I take it you like it?" He asked as Dash flew over to him and tackled him to the ground with a hug and kiss. She leaned in close and whispered to him.
"If no one else was here right now.." She shivered as a tingle went through her body. She gave him one more passionate kiss as she got to her hooves and pulled him with her. As soon as they were up off the ground the apple family gave the object a look of curiosity. It was a small necklace much like the pendant that Fluttershy had but instead of it being in the shape of a
"So what is that thing?" Apple Bloom asked as she looked at the necklace Dash was now cradling within her hooves as she leaned against John's other shoulder. Dash looked from her necklace to Apple Bloom and smiled.
"This." She held it aloft for the whole room to see. "Is a storm gem." She said as the small heart-shaped object crackled with electricity. As she turned it over in her hooves she noticed the shine to it that seemed to have a lightning bolt going through it that flashed with all of the colors of the rainbow. She beamed as she looked over to John and gave him a hug.
"And it's even cooler than I thought." She said as she studied it some more.
"Dude where did you get this?" She asked as she looped the necklace over her head. It settled around her neck and stayed there crackling the whole time giving off a slight hum and a little rainbow shine.
"These thing's are super rare." She said as she studied it some more. "And they're not all that easy to make." John just rubbed his neck.
"Well, I had to have a lot of help." He said as he looked around. Fluttershy smiled as she gave the two of them a soft hug of her own.
"Rarity found a jeweler who had some connections in the weather factory." He said as he gave Dash's back a soft rub. She gave off a soft yawn and soon it spread to the whole family. John looked at his gift and then looked around to the others.
"Last one guy's." His box was ruffly the same size as all the other's so he surmised that it had to be some kind of clothing. He smiled as he unwrapped his gift and lifted the lid. Inside he saw a red scarf. He held it up and gave it a sniff.
Awesome." He said as he wrapped the winter wear around his neck. Granny shuffled over and gave him a hug. He noticed that her eyes were watery and was concerned. He wrapped his arm around her and began to pat her back.
"Granny, what's wrong?" He asked as Granny let out a soft chuckle through her tear's.
"You look like the spittin image of your great granddad with that on." She smiled as John gave off a weak laugh.
"Yeah but I'm betting he had a bit more fur than me." Granny let out a hearty laugh as she began to pat him on the back.
"Yeah he did, but with your skin tone, attitude and love of the sky you may as well be him in all but name. John was curious.
"Oh, what name did he have the honor of barring?" He said in a mildly dramatic tone. Granny smiled.
"He was one of the best pegasi sky marshal's of his day. The great Red Berren." She smiled as John looked at her with wide eye's.
"No way!" He said as another round of yawns broke through the group. Granny stifled one of her own as a smirk crept on her muzzle.
"Sure as shootin is but that's a tale for tomorrow." She said as she released him from his hug and trotted off down the hall. John looked around to see if anyone else was going to clue him in. They all had smirks on their muzzles.
"None of you are going to tell me who he is are you?" He asked receiving a chorus of nopes. Grumbling in mock frustration John bid everyone a good night as they all made their way through the hallway and to there separate rooms. John waved goodbye to Dash as she and her sister took up one of the guest bedroom's down the hall. Dash trotted a few step's but as she looked upon her gift once more she spun around, raced up to John's room and held the door closed before John could take more than a step towards his bed. He looked around and smiled as he saw Dash standing looking flustered and a little out of breath.
"Hey, Dash." He said as he began to get dressed for bed. Dash meanwhile starred at his body while a dozen saucy thoughts ran through her head. She shook it to dislodge them and took a deep breath. A somewhat forced smirk adorned her face as she sauntered over to John as he got into bed.
"Hey there stud you wouldn't happen to have room for one more in there would you?" She asked while batting her eyelashes and giving John the puppiest puppy dog eyes he'd ever seen. His voice hitched in his throat as he stared at Dash's pleading look. The blush on her cheeks didn't escape his notice but he felt the same could be said for him. After a rather awkward pause, his brain rebooted and he shook his head.
"S-s-sure." He stuttered out as he moved over and tossed the blanket to one side of the bed. The smile on Dash's face could lite up a dark hallway at night as she hopped into bed and began to snuggle close her best friend. She nuzzled him under his chin as she got comfortable and let out a soft hum of contentment. John meanwhile was trying to keep all of his blood in one spot as he felt the soft, warm sensation of fur and feathers across his bare chest.
"G-g-g-ood n-night Dash." He let out as she gave him a nod, tickling the hair on his chin making him squirm in delight. As John drifted off to sleep he let himself be hauled off by the sound of Dash's heart as she slept. A smile spread over his face as she wrapped Dash in a one arm embrace and held her close silently vowing to himself that no matter what he'd alway's be there for her. If tonight was any indication she'd be with him for the rest of his foreseeable life in Equestria and he'd do his damnedest to be there for her's.
December 25, 1000, C.E. Apple Familly Farm. 7:20 A.M.
After a few close shaves with a razor blade and Dash trying to zap John in the ass while avoiding her wings in there impromptu tickle match while in they were both stuck in the bathroom, John and Dash made their way through the hallway down the little tunnel and into the barn. There they saw the apple family had prepared a veritable feast for all those present and even a few heaping extra's if anypony else decided to show up. As John sat down he looked around for one particular pony.
"Hey were's?-" He stopped as he thought about it.
"Huh, why can't I seem to remember him?" He asked himself. He knew there was supposed to be another pony here but he couldn't for the life of him remember his name. He went through his memories and saw a muzzle. He knew this pony was a male but not the name of said pony. As he sat down he looked around again and saw that everyone was present except for,
"Hey were's mom at?" He asked as the group all went silent. Granny cleared her throat as she gave John a serious look.
"Some royal business of her's came up during the night and so she left rather hastily." John gave off a soft chuckle as he took a plate and began to pile it high with some egg's, bacon, and grits.
"Well, I hope she can get it all done before tonight." He gave off a sad smile as he looked over to her gifts.
"I also hope it isn't anything life threatening." The other's all nodded in agreement as they dug into there food. Meanwhile, that nagging feeling at the back of John's head wouldn't go away. He looked around and saw an extra seat at the table they had set up.
"Who's that for?" He asked as the other's all looked to it. Granny just shrugged.
"Don't know." She thought about it. "Just felt like there was supposed to be another one here with us is all." The other's all gave her a nod feeling the same way. Suddenly a little colt came bursting out of the hallway of the house giving all of them a fright. He stopped and looked at them and they at him.
"Um hi." He held up a hoof and waved as he gave them all a sheepish grin as he trotted over to the table. They all watched him and wondered just who he was. Suddenly it all came back to them all at once. making some of them clutch there head's in pain. As they all looked around they saw what the other was thinking.
"We need to send a letter to the princess's about this," Dash said as she and the other's all regarded Aion's presence with concern.
Inquisitor's Tower.
"We need to tell the princess's about this." The voice of Rainbow Dash was being broadcast through a small crystal ball from within Chancellor Neighsay's office. He smiled as he took out his list and crossed off yet another check mark.
"Five more day's." He smiled as a shadow fell over him. He turned around to see his master standing before him. He bowed as the alicorn strode through the tear in the astral plane. Once he was fully on the other side of the rift it closed before him causing the alicorn to smile.
"Well, it has been long indeed." Aion snared as he looked around the office. His eye's lit up as a smile crept over his face. The voice of his target flowed through the room as he looked into the crystal ball. His gaze hardened as it swept over his last fragment, living its life without a care in the world. Only this mourning did he try to regain the last piece of his vital essence but it was a lost cause. It was to tied down to this timeline and dimension to be of any use to him,l so he left it where it was. As he continued to stare at the orb before him a snarl made the third member of their little group known.
"I'm going to kill him!" Soarin shouted as he paced around the room like a wild lion stalking its prey. Aion drifted over to the distraught stallion and gave him a soft pat on the back.
"Fear not Soarin." He smiled as he pointed to a calendar on the wall. Soarin looked at it and smiled. On it, a date was circled. The thirty first of December, practically a national holiday by default.
"The Grand Galloping Galla." He smiled while Aion nodded.
"That is where we will make our move." He smiled even wider when Soarin began to grind his teeth.
"All I ask is that you give me five minutes alone with him." Aion laughed.
"Oh, my dear boy I can give you all the time in the world with him." They both smiled and shook hooves glad with the dark deal they'd just struck. Chancellor Neighsy meanwhile smirked at the thought of getting rid of one of his worst foes yet.
"She'll come to us as soon as she hears of what we did to her little boy." He smiled as he went back to scrying with his crystal ball.
Fluttershy looked upon her troop's, a grim snarl etched on her muzzle as she took stock of there fighting force. The combined force's of the Equestrian Royal Guard, The Changeling Intelligence Agency, and her own Dark Legion spread out as they proceeded with the next phase of there plan to assault the Inquisitor's Tower. She starred off into the distance, her blood red eye's narrowing as she clutched the pendant she'd gotten just last night.
"No one will hurt you ever again." She vowed as took up her magic and cloaked both herself and the several thousand strong fighting force under her command. As the horn was blown they all took to there stride as one and marched on the long road to the tower. They couldn't risk the large magical surge that would ensue from teleporting the whole force in at once tipping off the tower nor could they painstakingly teleport in one solder at a time. So they marched. Some for blood, other's for love and some for redemption but march they did for someone had royally pissed off a Vampony queen and they were going to feel the full extent of her wrath.
December 31, 1000, C.E. Canterlot, Equestria. 7:59 A.M.
"Final journal entry of the year. Wow. Just wow. It's been one hell of a ride these past six months but I wouldn't change a thing." John looked down at his lost arm and smiled. "Even in the darkest of time's, there was a light shining through to help guide me along the way." He clutched his own locket that he'd gotten from Dash on hearthswarming day. On one side there was a picture of him surrounded by all of his friend's and family. On the other, there was a picture of just him and Dash kissing and hugging one another while they both starred at the camera waiting for it to take the picture. John smiled as he held it close. As his hazy mind got itself back to the task at hand he began to scribble some more.
"Can't wait for the Galla tonight. I've got a tux all ready to go and the other's are all decked out to the max. I can't help but feel excited about tonight. Apparently, an old friend of mom's is going to show up." He thought about it but shook his head. "I have to admit I can't wait for Discord to show up." He smiled at the thought. "If those two are together like I think then that means that I now have one of the coolest dads in the entire universe!" His face flushed a little as he thought about his old home. "Still, I wish I could see them one last time, my old friends and family." His smile faltered as he let out a sigh of contempt. "Even so I still don't think I'd trade this for anything in the world." He looked out of his room and out into the mourning sun cresting the hills to the southeast. "This is John J Allison II Signing off of my first half a year in Equestria." John closed his journal and was about to put it away in his deck when a sudden feeling of dejavu hit him. Shaking his head to clear it away he looked down at his journal and shrugged.
"Might as well let mom look it over." He sighed as the strange feeling persisted. It compelled him to hold on to his journal for today. He just shrugged it off as the magic of Equestria at work so he didn't really try to fight it. Slinging his tux over his shoulder he turned his light off in his room and headed out into the mourning.
8:21 A.M.
John plodded along the dirt road from sweat apple acre's to ponyville proper. He took his time, savoring the cool breeze that blew along on the wind and enjoying the mildly overcast sky. He had a smile on his and a song in his heart as he went over the plans for the day.
"Gotta meet up with Rarity for any last minute adjustment's, then the girl's are going to head off to the spa for the day to get ready on there end." He smiled as he thought of the girl's decked out in there clothing.
"That'll be a site to see." He mused as he walked along. As he did so his thoughts drifted to the rest of the guys.
"Let's see Hot Shot is getting together with some guard friends of his. Spike is going to be hanging out with Shining Armor. Big Mac is chaperoning the C.M.C." As he went down the list he realized that he'd pretty much be on his own with the girls,
"Unless they all had other plans for the night." He just shrugged.
"Eh, maybe I'll make some new friends." He smiled as he continued on his treck to town. Meanwhile, as he was on his way into town the rest of the gang was getting ready.
"Rainbow darling please stop fidgeting." Rarity smiled as the mare stopped twitching her wings giving her friend a sheepish grin.
"Sorry, there Rarity just nervous. You know. About tonight." Rarity smirked at her normally calm and outgoing friends antics.
"Oh, are we perhaps nervous that a certain someone will be struck dumb by your ravenous beauty?" She let out a giggle as Dash turned a few shades pinker than she had already. She let out a strangled garble of stutters and words that had the rest of the group found uproariously funny. She shook her head to clear it and then held it up at there slanderous laughter, the smirk adorning her muzzle didn't help matters, however.
"Oh laugh it up all of you." She looked over to Fluttershy who seemed to be giddy with delight as she flitted about the spa not even bothering to hide her thestral ancestry from anyone present. She seemed to be particularly perky today. As Fluttershy hopped and bounded about she looked over her dresses for the Gala and hemmed and hawed as she went through each one and looked it over as she held it up to her lithe frame.
"No. No. No." She said as she swapped out each dress for another one. She stopped however when a light green dress drifted into her view. It was suspended by a soft blue hue and as Fluttershy looked it over she saw Rarity giving her a smile.
"This will really bring out your eye's." She said as she lifted the dress up to Fluttershy who examined herself in a mirror. She gasped as she looked upon her stunning visage. She really did like the contrast between the simple green of the outfit her friend had made for her. She took it from Rarity's grasp smiling the whole way to the changing room. Rarity smiled as she set her eyes on Rainbow Dash next, who looked from Rarity to her own dress for the night. She let out a huff as she rolled her eyes and smiled.
"Ok, come on, let's get this over with." She stated as she trotted over to a giggling Rarity who levitated her friends simple yet elegant ball gown over to her as she began to take her measurements. Rarity had taken in her friend's personality's when she designed their attire for this particular evening and made each one of them a unique piece of art in their own right. For Dash, she went with a simplistic greek design with lace and bow horseshoes for each leg, these were gold in color in order to make her lavish rainbow colored dress stand out a bit more in great contrast to her sky blue coat. Then she restyled her main into a long flowing cascade held together with a single ribbon at the end and a leaf hairpin at the front. As Dash looked herself over in the mirror a fierce blush reached her face.
"D-d-o-d-o y-ou think he'll like it?" She asked as she once again began to fidget in place. As Rarity laced the dress around Dash's wings she gave her friend a smirk.
"Oh, I think he'll be blown away." She smiled as Dash felt a little more confident than she'd been felling as of late. Her blush was still ever persistent but she pushed through her mild discomfort.
"For him." She smiled as the thought passed through her head. she stood as still as possible until Rarity was done. When she was all dressed and ready to go she looked over at the clock.
"Wow time fly's." She said as Rarity to looked over at the clock and held a hoof to her muzzle.
"Oh my, it sure does." She looked around to see the rest of there rather large group all decked out as well. Glancing at the clock once more Rarity let out a soft sigh.
"Well, the show must go on." She stated as lit up her horn. At once her alabaster coat was replaced with a dress of the purest blue any of them had ever seen. Dash smirked as she let out a whistle.
"Wow Rare's. You sure your not looking to impress somepony?" She smiled as she glanced over at Spike who stood there slack jawed while holding his juice glass in a limp grasp. Rarity's blush deepened slightly but her ladylike demeanor never wavered.
"Now now Dash. A lady never kisses and tells." She sent a wink her way causing Dash to blush and let out a soft giggle as she thought of all the time's she and John had kissed both in public and private. Her face heated up as her breath quickened and her heart raced a just a little bit faster. As Rarity looked around she saw the other's all dressed and ready to go. A swift knock on the spa's door got everyone's attention. Rarity looked at the clock and smiled.
"4:45, right on time." She said as she trotted over to the door and opened it to see Shining Armor standing there in his military dress and looking ever the statue as he scanned the room full of mares. He smiled when his wife sauntered over and planted a kiss on his cheek.
"So dear how are things on your end?" She asked Shining chuckled. He waved a hoof as Spike, Hot Shot and John all shuffled inside the spa. All three of them were in similar attire to Shining albeit without all of the fancy decorum. Hot Shot had few medals he felt were even worth showing off and those that he had felt like showing off he kept locked up at home. As the two groups mingled about while their chariot got there John couldn't help but gape at Dash as she stuck to his side. She let out a nervous giggle as she to glanced at him from time to time her cheeks heating up as the two made idle chit chat.
"You look lovely Dash," John spoke as Dash flushed giving him a grin.
"You don't look too bad yourself there stud." She gave him a wink as she lifted herself up to his hight on her hind legs. "I'll have to stay by you all night in order to beat off all the mares that try and snatch you away from me." She gave him a soft kiss that he returned as the two wrapped each other up in a tight embrace. Cadence stood back and watched with unbridled joy as the two lover's continued their public display of affection unabated. Everyone else simply milled about at Prince Armor kept in contact with his troops stationed outside. He looked over to Cadence and gave her a nod. The two excused themselves and went to a private corner.
"So as I'm sure you've heard there was an attack on the Grand Tower not too long ago," Shining asked as Cadance fainted ignorance. Shining however was not amused.
"Honey, just what happened with them to cause a full contingency of royal guards to go out there with I'm guessing an also equal force of your army and so far an unidentified third party?" Cadence gave her husband a sigh as she paced back and forth. She gave her husband a look of pure sadness as she let out a huff of frustration.
"They attacked John, Fluttershy's son in all way's but blood." Shining's eyes went wide as he looked from his wife over to John and then Fluttershy.
"They did what?" Cadence gave him a nod.
"You know that it's bad enough to have Fluttershy pissed at you but to attack her family that is a rage on a whole new level." She shivered as she remembered the battle that had ensued as well as the fury Fluttershy had unleashed upon her foes. Cadence had to put a few out there misery as she went about the fierce battle but none suffered more so than the Chancellor. To be left impaled on a spike but still alive was a fate worse than death. How badly she wanted to give him some comfort in his final moment's but Fluttershy would not allow it. She stood vigil over him all week as she kept him alive as long as possible to ensure that he suffered for the pain he'd caused her son. It wasn't in any way an equal amount of retribution not to her at least but she didn't care. She took great joy in the suffering that the Chancellor endured but it was over all too soon for her. Shining shivered as Cadence regaled him with the gory tail but he soon looked at Fluttershy with a whole new dose of fear and respect. As Cadence got ready to talk a little bit more Shining held up a hoof, his horn glowing for a moment.
"Ok, folks the chariot has arrived." He said as a chorus of shouts and hollers made him laugh. He lead the way outside and motioned for the guys to stay by his side as the mare's entered the carriage first. Dash not really one for decorum simply scooped John up as she passed him by. He looked back and saw the other's all grinning as he simply mouthed how sorry he was for leaving them out in the cold. They all snickered as he disappeared into the carriage but soon they all joined in on the merriment as the carriage was full of laughter and singing as the carriage made it's way to Canterlot.
5:00 P.M. Road To Canterlot.
The road to Canterlot was long but not unwelcome. Dash had cuddled up with John in a corner of the carriage while the other's all sat and talked. A bout of laughter would rip through the conversation every once and awhile making the journey all the more pleasant and homely. The C.M.C had taken up a central space in the carriage and were now pestering Spike asking if he had any plans for the night. He just huffed as he told them he had planned on spending the night with rarity who gave him a soft blush as she two had planned on spending the night with her knight. Meanwhile, Applejack was fussing over her older brother's plans for the evening.
"So you and Apple Bloom are just going to go out and spend the night on the town?" Big Mac just nodded.
"Yup." He said as he looked over to his younger sister and smiled.
"She hasn't been here in quite some time and we ain't exactly planning on coming back anytime soon." He stated as he smiled. AJ just smiled as she looked over at her sister.
"What about Charrilee?" She asked as Big Mac smiled. "We came to an arrangement for tonight." He smiled as he thought of his marefriend in her long ball gown. His face heated up as he cleared his throat to get his mind back on track.
"So what about yourself?" He asked turning the tables. AJ just blushed as she looked around.
"Well, it would seem that everypony else has a date for tonight." She looked al little solemn. She shook her head and smiled.
"Guess I'll just have to find myself a date for the night when I get there." She smirked as Big Mac chuckled.
"Don't you go and steal all the stallion's for yourself now you hear." He winked at her as she blushed and let out a giggle.
"Yeah, sure thing Mac." Then she thought of it and looked over to Hot Shot who was adamantly talking with Pinky Pie. The two were so lost in there own little conversation that AJ didn't really have the heart to stop them. She then looked over at Twilight who was chatting with her brother and Cadence.
"Do you really think I'll be able to find somepony there tonight?" She nervously asked as her brother let out a soft chuckle. He gave his sister a hug and ruffled her mane.
"Of course you will sis." He even leaned forward and gave her a smirk.
"If you want I can set up with one of my friends in the guard?" She flushed as she looked around and gave her brother a soft grin.
"T-t-th--at--sou--nds--ni-ce." She stammered as her face lit up while her brother and Cadence let out a chorus of giggles.
As this was going on John and Dash were lounging about on their own little piece of the carriage as Aion sat next to them. He looked around and smiled as he saw all of the happy face's and felt the heat of the warm fuzzy atmosphere pervade the ride to the capital. A hand reached over and ruffled his mane. He laughed as he swatted it away and then launched himself at the offending appendage which was attached to his older brother. The two of them hadn't spent that much time together in the past so John decided to rectify that tonight.
"Hey, there squirt." He smiled as Aion crawled on top of the headrest and draped himself above John's head overlooking the two adults and smiling.
"Hey, there bro." Aion looked over the other's and smiled.
"So what are you and Dash planning on doing tonight?" John looked down at Dash and as one they both shrugged. This got a laugh out of all three.
"Honestly I just want to sit back and relax when we get there," Dash said as John thought about it.
"Yeah with all of the preparation earlier and long hectic mourning to boot I'm kind of pooped." Aion's muzzle fell which caused John to smirk.
"But I could muster up a little bit more energy if there's anything you wanted to do when we get their little bro." Aion's muzzle lit up as he looked at the two. Dash just giggled as she rested her head on John's shoulder.
"All right but you two better not leave me hanging for long." She instructed as she gave John a kiss on his cheek and began to work her way across his face eventually making it to his lips. He gladly accepted the kiss's and smiled as Aion made a sick face and leaped off the headrest and trotted over to the rest of his family. As he did so he couldn't help but glance back as that same feeling of wrongness came over him. He felt something in the air, something big was going down tonight and he couldn't help but feel like he was going to lose something important tonight. Glancing back at his older brother and his marefriend he gave out a soft sigh.
"No." He gave a little stomp. "I'm not going to lose my family." He sighed as he sat down. "Not again." He vowed as a tear made its way down his muzzle.
John awoke with to a throbbing pain blasting though his skull. He winced as each pulse of his heart shot white hot pain through his brain. He was barely able to squint and even then it was a struggle to keep his eyes open for more than a few seconds at a time.
"Where?" He wondered as he looked around noting his blurry vision. This just made him even more confused.
"How-" A loud clang to his right gave him pause as he looked to the source and saw a blue blob enter the dark corners of his vision.
"Dash?" He asked. In response he got a soft chuckle and then the wind left him forcefully as a hoof impacted his gut causing him to yell out in agony. His headache got even worse as his adrenaline kicked in.
"Don't you dare say her name you pathetic piece of shit!" He knew that voice.
"Soarin." He muttered to himself as Soarin trotted back and forth in front of him. Soarin smirked as he came to a stop in front of the human that had vexed him throughout this entire ordeal. Soarin trotted up to the detained human and smiled.
"You have been a thorn in my side for far to long." He said as brushed a hoof across John's cheek before he drove his hoof into his face causing him to stagger as his body weight tugged against the chain he found himself locked into. It was bolted to the wall and thus did not give an inch as he lay there getting his spinning head under control. With a now swollen cheek and throbbing head all's John could do was delve into his thoughts.
"Please let Rainbow and the others be safe." Soarin smirked as he trotted over to the human and leaned down.
"Don't you worry, I'll be sure to take good care of Dash when your gone." He smiled as John struggled to get to his feet. Once he did so he smirked right on back.
"Please she doesn't need a candy ass like you to look after her." He smiled as Soarin's smirk left his muzzle, replaced with a scowl.
"She can look after herself just fine." Soarin saw red as he brought a hoof down on John's head knocking him out once more. He let out a huff as he stomped off down the deserted torch lit hallway. He glanced back at John and smirked.
"Just you wait one way or another she will be mine." With his ego satisfied and his head full of happier times to come between himself and Dash he sauntered off as Aion looked on pleased with the brutes work.
"Now to cast the spell and get this whole mess sorted out." He said as his horn began to glow.
5:47 P.M.
Aion looked around in wonder as he stepped his first hoof into the dining hall of Canterlot Castle.
"Wow." He exclaimed as he looked ever upwards. His line of sight was obscured as he stopped walking causing the group to bump into him. John just chuckled as he looked down at the colt who was now on his back looking up at the group sheepishly.
"Uh hi there." He waived a hoof as the group all gave out a collective giggle.
"Come here little bro." John said as he picked him up and set him on his head. "Better?" He asked as Aion gave him a nod from his perch. John looked around the dining hall and was pleasantly surprised to see Princess Luna enthusiastically waving a hoof at the group. They all laughed as her antics as they made there way over to the head of the table. When they got there Celestia gave them all a beaming smile.
"Hello all of you." She greeted the group as they all bowed. She to inclined her head to them letting them rise to greet her at eye level. Shining stepped foreword to answer for the group.
"Your highness we are all really humbled and excited to be here tonight." He said bowing to the two rulers of Equestria who both chuckled at his professional attitude. A hoof on his shoulder caused shining to look back and blush as Cadence gave him a sultry smile.
"Relax honey." She asked as she rubbed her cheek against his own. He blushed as he turned to putty in her hooves. Cadence gave him a giggle as she let her hoof drop to the ground.
"After all we're all here to enjoy our time with one another." She said as she turned to the group who all nodded in agreement. John chuckled as he leaned against a nearby pillar.
"Yeah, I've had enough excitement for one lifetime this year thanks." Everyone gave off a chuckle as they took their seats. John taking a cue from Shining proceeded to grab his family's chairs as well as Dash's. They all gave him thanks and a nod of appreciation, meanwhile Celestia looked on, a smirk adorning her muzzle as she watched her subjects all start to mingle as the food was brought in. Looking all around the dining hall full of tables and guests from home and abroad filled her with such joy. The only thing she could compare it to was how she felt over six months ago when her sister was brought back to her.
"So there I was starring down the dragon telling him to get back in line with everyone else-" Celestia stopped listening in on Hot Shot and his exploits instead opting to listen in on her newest resident and his many adventures. Looking over at John she winced seeing his still missing limb. She shook her head and sighed.
"Oh, how cruel we ponies can be." She thought as the smile John wore began to infect her own sullen face. As she looked on her eyes met John's and he just gave her a small nod of satisfaction. Celestia let a chuckle escape her muzzle as she looked past her newest charge and over to her old student. Twilight delighted herself by bringing her parent's up to speed on John and his situation. Night Light let out a whistle as he smirked at John.
"So John has our little girl finally found a coltfriend?" John for his part didn't want to embarrass Twilight and so have his response a small modicum of thought.
"Well as lovely as Twilight is-" She blushed at this trying to hide her now pink face under the table.-"I must admit that while I was in her care I was sadly not in the frame of mind to give her beauty the proper recognition it deserved." He said feeling rather pleased with himself for potentially defusing a volatile situation. Luna let out a hearty laugh as she fixed the group with a smirk.
"Thow has thine tongue of a diplomat young John." She raised a glass in toast, as did the rest of the table not wanting to leave the lunar princess to toast alone. Dash giggled as she to held up a metal goblet in her magical grasp.
"Here is to a happy year once more," Celestia bellowed as the whole hall cheered. "We have come a long way in only a short amount of time." She continued as she scanned the room, seeing bright beaming faces all around.
"We have had families reunited, made new friends and have even come to find true love this year. All in the name of harmony and friendship. May this new year bring us all even more joy than the last." The whole hall drank from there cups and let out a round of applause. At the table John had just finished his first cup when he was pulled to the left and given a soft kiss on the lips. He was surprised at first but soon melted into it as he wrapped Rainbow in a loving embrace.
"PLEASE!" Fluttershy begged as Sorin dragged John over to a crudely drawn rune etched into the stone floor of the castle dungeon. Sorin didn't even spare Fluttershy or any of the others a glance as he threw John to the cold hard ground and simply walked away into the dark corners of the neighboring cells.
"John sweetie look at mommy." Fluttershy pleaded as John struggled to turn himself over. When he did so he was horrified to see not only Fluttershy in a cage but Dash as well. She however was furiously trying to bash her cage to pieces. Every time she hit it through it would glow a soft blue and shock her. She screamed through the pain and finally set her eyes on John.
"Hey don't worry there big guy!" She tried to keep her voice from quivering but it did little to hide the fear inside of her.
"I'll be out of this cage in ten seconds flat." She glared at the direction Sorin went.
"And when I get free I am going to kill you, you sick twisted bastard!" She shouted at the top of her lungs.
"I know you can hear me!" She continued to struggle as Fluttershy to began to try and break her cage. John meanwhile just stared on as a blank expression took hold of his face. The two mares stopped there struggling as hoofsteps could be heard. They both waited with bated breath and anger seething throughout their bodies. They were all shocked when none other than Chancellor Neysay trotted out of the darkness.
"Yes here we are." He said as he trotted around John's prone form and studied the glyphs carved into the rune.
"Just right for the ritual at hand." He said ignoring the mares presence and trotting off back to where Sorin went. All three of them where I'm shock. Finally Fluttershy found her voice again.
"That's impossible, i killed him myself." She muttered as she shrank back into her cage going through her memories trying to find a logical reason for his rebirth. Her thoughts were further interupted as now Sorin and The Chancellor both reemerged from hiding but this time they were accompanied by a third pony, this one was also a stallion with a white coat, jet black mane and a pair of crimson eye's. Dash's brain clicked.
"Aion?" She asked not entirely sure of her assumption. The stallion looked her way and snorted in disgust.
"So my doppelganger has been here." He sighed as he shook his head pulling a dagger out of thin air. Both mares and John stared at the vile instrument as Aion slowly trotted around the incantation making sure every geometric sigal was perfect.
"Oh well. It won't matter now." He siad as he plunged the dagger into John's chest. White hot agony ripped throughout his body as John let out a blood curdling scream. Dash and Fluttershy both let out their own wails of protest as the sigal now stained with blood began to glow a sickly shade of red. Sorin and The Chancellor both smiled wickedly as the ritual began to take hold. John meanwhile struggled to stay awake through the mind numbing pain. Fluttershy frantically began to use all of her might to try and break her cage, Dash doing the same. Drawing some magical power from John's blood Fluttershy went to work using some of his spilt life force to saw through their prisons. The three stallions were to busy chanting an incantation to hurry the spell along to notice the mares progress. Just as the two got through their cages however they where all blinded by a bright flash of light.
"NOOOO!"
The wave of magical energy swept throughout the castle, not ceasing in it's efforts to race across all of creation, eventually extending it's influence across the universe. As the wave travelled throughout the cosmos all that it touched lay frozen in time as the very fabric of reality itself began to unwind. At the epicenter of it all, suspended in the air John saw for a brief moment his adoptive mother and his one and only marefreind reaching their hooves out to him in vain. All's he could do was reach back, knowing that whatever came next he would never again lay his eyes on those two extraordinary mares. In a fraction of a second there was a flash of light and all was still once more as time resumed its natural course.
Slowly, shakily, Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy both got to their hooves, both of them were in shock at what they just witnessed. As the two studied their surroundings feeling lost and confused they both tried and failed to contain their pent up emotions.
John awoke screaming in agony, clutching his chest as he scrambled to his feet. He momentarily lost his balance and fell onto his bed. He lay there trying to regain his bearings and gather his wits as he gazed around his surroundings.
"Wh-How-Where am I?" He spoke as he scanned his surroundings. He looked around and was surprised to see that he was in fact in a hospital room.
"Rainbow Dash? Fluttershy?" He asked out loud. He gasped as a spike of pain lanced through his skull. Instinctively he reached up a hand but halted as he did so.
"No." He said as he cradled his now intact and whole arm.
"Rainbow Dash!" He yelled as he ran to the nearby door and wrenched it open. Another spike of pain shot through his body this time through his renewed appendage. He stopped to lean against the door frame and looked up and down the hallway catching the attention of a passing nurse.
"Sir are you alright?" Her voice snapped John back to reality.
"Wh-where-where am I?" He asked as he tried to get back up with wobbly knees. The nurse took his other arm and helped get him back to his bed, confused about his strange line of questions.
"Your at the mountain view memorial hospital just outside of Phoenix, you were brought in after suffering major bodily harm due to a car accident." Her explanation fell on deaf ears. John had nothing more to ask.
"There gone." He said causing the nurse to stop just shy of setting him down on the bed.
"Who's gone?" She asked as John slowly slid off of the corner of the bed and down to the floor.
"All of them, Rainbow, Fluttershy, Applejack." He listed them all off as he slumped to the ground and began to weep. The nurse did all that she could to try and console the grieving man but all the while she had one thought on her mind.
"Aren't all of those names from a children's cartoon?"