Author's Notes:

It is/was Remembrance Day today, at least for Canada anyways. I hope you all, like me, took a moment to remember all those who served and continue to serve. Ironic really, the one day of the year average people actually give a thought about veterans and such, then the next day they go on like nothing happened, well that's the way the Canadian vet speaking at a ceremony put it... sad but true really. Put it to us, we're a bunch of dinks that take freedom for granted sometimes.

Anyways, sadness aside, cheers everyone/pony... eh

'I did it. It was me...'

I awoke, a little abruptly, but quickly calmed. It was a little on the cool side and I was only partly covered by a blanket...

I looked and realized I wasn't sleeping on the couch where I had fallen asleep late last evening. I looked and memories from last night quickly resurfaced. I took a deep inhale and rested easy on the knowledge that I was safe and sound, well, for the most part.

I got up and stretched my body out. Checking my watch, which I hadn't taken off last night, I realized it was early in the morning, 4:31am to be exact. I moseyed downstairs and slipped into the shower for a brief, yet mind numbing shower. It was so comfortable in the steamy shower and I could probably just stand here for hours, despite being crammed into a pony sized shower.

After about ten minutes, which was too short in my opinion, I stepped out and dried off, but didn't put any of my old clothes back on. Instead I made my way to the basement and fetched a new pair of clothes: a white V-neck and some faded blue jeans. Finally I slipped my watch and holy necklace back on, along with my eye patch.

Feeling a little hungry, I made my way back upstairs and popped some waffles in the toaster. It was strange really. I felt... at home, and due to my rather poor memory I couldn't really visualize my original home from back on earth. “Damn high-school football,” I muttered, remembering the numerous times I had concussions due to football and just slept them off, even the severe ones that were supposed to be treated 'seriously'.

My waffles pinged out of the toaster and I just ate them like I would a cookie, no syrup or anything, just raw. As I finished my morning snack, I walked back downstairs and grabbed a ten pound dumbbell before returning upstairs and scrounging through the fridge for something to drink.

“Where's my chocolate milk?...” I muttered then found a note. 'I owe you cartons of milk: Lassie'. I just groaned and looked for some juice, preferably orange, but came up with nothing. I glanced past the milk but all that was left was the mare milk from Trottingham... the one with that milk mare logo. I shuddered... “No way,” I said but I felt the leathery stickiness of my tongue smack against the roof of my mouth along with the clotted snotty feeling at the back o my throat from lack of liquids. “No way...” I trailed off and looked at the milk. “Fuck...” I groaned and grabbed two bottles before returning to the living room.

I flicked on the tube and began watching morning cartoons. As I laid on the couch, I'd mindlessly curl the light ten pound dumbbell. Every so often my one arm would get sore, so I'd rotate my body to the other end of the couch and begin to use the other arm.

At first I still contemplated the milk, but ended up forcing the thought of it coming from a pony and began drinking it. It wasn't bad... actually it was really good, spectacular even... “Ugh,” I shivered a groan as I visualized a horse being milked and said milk being the substance I was drinking. I just wanted to gag. But I suppose if I had been brought up on it as opposed to cow milk, it might be different... or if I hadn't worked on a dairy farm... but I suppose back home on earth their wasn't horse dairy farms... ech, it's still creepy as Tartarus. Great, now I'm speaking even more pony words.

Hours past before Spike and Twilight arose. Lassie hadn't gotten up yet but I suppose she'd sleep in considering how much effort she had put in yesterday, playing with the kids and her whole magic charade.

As I laid like a sloth, a body-building sloth, my mother came to the couch side. “Are you feeling okay this morning?” she asked and I nodded, looking to her but secretly watching the cartoons through my peripheral vision.

“Yeah, I'm doing pretty good... well, minus the fact some dog-o-mine drank all the chocolate milk... doing fine. Why?” I asked and she just shook her head.

“Just wondering. You were sweating pretty bad last night even after you had settled in bed, you were still fidgeting a bit and your heart was racing,” she commented and I just shrugged, setting down the dumbbell weight and just raising my hands in a 'ah dunno' way. She didn't say anything at first and I turned my attention back to the television.

After another few minutes, Twilight spoke again. “Oh, I almost forgot... actually, I did forget to tell you last night. Applejack wants to see you today. She said it's important.” I turned to her but she didn't say anything.

“Did she say what it was?” I asked but she shook her head. 'Dammit... probably needs help working. My first Saturday off in like forever and I get stuck working... ack, whatever, I'm no slouch. It'll probably be easy for me anyway.'

I stood up and stretched with a whinny exhale that was supposed to be a yawn. “Okay, I'll get to it then.” I brought my mother into a hug, gave her a kiss on the cheek then waved goodbye as I left.

I walked down the streets, just admiring the freedom of it all. It was nice really, when not concerned with something and just free to mingle... this place was really a paradise. The ponies were nice and I didn't have that sense that maybe someone in an alley might stab me for simple change. The world itself... don't even get me started. It was so... magical.

“Pfft...” I snickered to myself. 'Magical... yeah, really bucking magical,' I thought silently as I continued walking, now on the dirt path to the Apple Family farm. The birds in the plush trees sang beautiful notes and I couldn't help but smile.

My conscious spoke up. 'Getting soft on me?' it asked and I just shrugged. “Don't know really... it's just nice to relax once and a while... you know?” I asked back but never got a response.

Finally reaching the farm, AJ was waiting, probably for me. I walked up and gave her a bright smile. “So... what can ah do yah for?” I asked and at first she just sighed and dipped her head, looking to the ground.

Finally she looked back up to me. “Ah've... ah've been thinking lots,” she began and I nodded. “Ah know yah mean well an... really, it was kinda justifiable but...” she trailed off and I waited a few moments before speaking when she didn't.

“But?” I asked and quickly got my response.

“Yah need tah tell Rarity. Ah know yah wanna pay 'er back but yah really gotta come clean. Ah know it ain't much a mah business but... well, better that it be you tellin' her rather than her findin' out on her own... know what ah mean sugarcube?” I groaned and dipped my face into my palms.

“I'm working on it, I swear,” I promised but she shook her head.

“Yeah, well it happened over a month ago. Best tell her sooner rather than later, that way yah ain't keepin' no secrets and ah don't fell guilty keepin' secrets against muh own friends,” she said and I nodded.

I slowly rubbed my hair, then proceeded to stroke my face in a feverish way. “I... well I mean... I could always just... now?” I stammered. I wasn't ready for this. I'd rather be working on my Saturday off.

She pulled me over to a stack of hay bales and sat me down before resting a hoof on my shoulder. “Don't worry none sugarcube. Yah'll were doing the right thing... yah just mighta went a little overboard. Ah'm sure she won't be too mad about it. Just tell 'er what yah told me... besides, she does have a high opinion of yah anyway so ah highly doubt she'd get really mad at yah,” my farmer friend assured me.

I felt a little light headed, my world spinning a bit. What if she called the police? Well... I mean, Ponyville didn't have police, but authority anyway... I could get in a lot of trouble. “I just... I mean... what do yah think she's gonna say?” I asked fearfully and AJ just shrugged but gave me a heartwarming look.

“Yah won't know till yah tell her. But if yah don't tell her, it ain't doin' yah no good neither,” she said, still smiling and rubbing her hoof against my shoulder attentively. I took a deep breath and held it, counting to ten before exhaling. “Don't worry, yah won't be alone either.” I looked to her and she gave me a wink. “Ah'll come with yah tah make sure yah feel alright... ah just ain't gonna tell her for yah, got that?” she told me and I smiled, feeling a little better.

My legs felt like jelly. I didn't really want to go through with this. But AJ was right... “Now or never huh?” I said and she nodded as I stood up. “Oh man... almost makes me wish Freeze won,” I joked and she shot me a glare. “I said almost... almost,” I shuddered, a shiver rattling my spine.

She walked beside me, never leaving my side as we made our way back to Ponyville. I kept playing it through in my head. Oh man, she was going to flip shit. She'd probably have me strung by the neck... or... or... something bad. I tried thinking up a good excuse, something that was the truth but really sounded more extreme than it originally was.

Before reaching the boutique, the sound of a steam whistle sounded. I looked back to see Flim and Flam's train contraption bombing towards us as they tried to flag me down. Applejack just groaned. “Ugh... those no good, scammin'-” I cut her short.

“Yeah I know. But uhh... well, they're kinda my friends,” I told her to which she just rolled her eyes. “I know, I know... family farm scam, I know.” The train pulled to a stop, a big cloud of dust cluttering around AJ and myself.

As the dust cleared, both Applejack and I gave the brothers irritated looks as they jumped down, flat expressions on their faces as they approached me. “Did you really tell the media that we supplied your journey?” they both asked in a tone I couldn't really depict. It was so bland I couldn't tell if they were mad or...

“Well... erm... I said... that you two gave me the gear used to climb to the summit... yeah?” I replied hesitantly. They both stood there, staring right into my eyes with their own. I blinked, waiting for a response.

Suddenly they both rushed forwards with gleeful expressions, squealing in delight as the two worked together to heft me up without the use of their magic. “THIS IS WONDERFUL! DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT THIS MEANS?!” They both chimed and I just rubbed the back of my head.

“Uhh... no... not really?” I stated, a little blankly at that.

“Merchandising, advertising, stock shares... oh, we're going to be rich brother, RICH!” Flam cheered. Using my left index finger, I scratched at the side of my temple. Still unsure about this. They seemed so... mad at first. Well, they didn't look mad but their plain expression and bland voices seemed... angry to me.

“Uhm... so uhh... you're not mad?” I asked and they both shook their heads, extremely wide smiles spread across their faces, smiles so wide they might just give Pinkie a run for her money.

“Why in Equestria would we be mad?” they asked and I just gave the ground in front of me a little kick, sending a pebble bouncing away.

“Uhm... well... you were kind of... didn't look happy when you first asked.” I still was a little off put. They just flicked their hooves in a somewhat flamboyant way.

“Pshaw, of course. We wanted you to be just as shocked as we were!” They both squealed like a pair of fillies.

“Uhm... well yeah... I'm a little shocked,” I said, still hesitant about this whole ordeal. Flim stood to his hindlegs, grabbed the collar of my shirt and shook me.

“Sapphire Shores asked us to make some clothing she wants to display on her next tour!” he exclaimed and I just blinked. “SAPPHIRE SHORES!” He blurted out and I still just stood their, dumbfounded, and just blinked.

After a moment's pause, I just snapped and gave them a thumbs up with both hands. “Yeeaaaahhhh... great...” I trailed off and Flim flopped back down to his hindlegs, still as jittery as a filly on Hearth's Warming.

Flam spoke up. “I know... 'we' know. We've been invited to a confrence in Mareami next week to showcase some of the gear that we designed for your expedition, along with the plans we made for you to get to the peak,” he said and I just blinked.

“But... you guys never made me plans. I just... well, kinda free-styled it all the way to the top,” I replied but they just brushed it aside.

“Of course we made you plans. Your Eagle Eye traced your path so we made a map of it, and those are the plans we're going to display,” he stated and I butted in.

“That's a bad idea. On my way down I kinda got a little lost and ended up having to jump across a gap and nearly died,” I told them warn-fully but still they just brushed the warning aside.

“Oh please. That's what the newly designed ladders are for. We're going to explain that after debriefing of your journey, we've refined some of the gear to make it even better than the original. Like the air-tanks. They now hold up to twenty five percent more oxygen. And the ladders are adjustable to make transportation easier.” They informed me and I just groaned.

“Yeah but guys I...” I just bit my lip. “Isn't that lying?” I asked but they shook their heads.

“Of course not! We're just... bending the truth a little. Exaggerating, if you will. Besides, it's not like it will hurt anypony, right?” he asked as he hopped up to his hindlegs. He began to trail circles in my chest with his hoof, giving me a sultry look. "Right, 'friend'?" he asked and I gulped.

“Well... I mean... I guess but-” They cut me off with a tight hug before leaping back onto their train and racing off. I held my finger in the air as if to say something, then ended up feeling a little like what Fluttershy probably feels like more than half the time. “Oh...” was the only thing that left my mouth.

Applejack scrapped her hoof against the dirt, forming up a tuff of dust while huffing. “Ah can't believe those two... an ah can't believe you'd just let 'em-” I put my finger to her lips.

“To each their own Applejack... I don't think those two will ever change but... they are kinda right. Who's really gonna get hurt from them saying they made plans prior to my ascent of the mountain?” I asked and she just huffed again.

“It ain't right what they do. Ah can't imagine how a pony could live with themselves doin' what they do!” I just nodded and let out a sigh.

“Everypony is different,” I said and she nodded before sighing.

“It just ain't right is all. Nothin' good ever came from lyin',” she said modestly and I nodded.

“Yeah... yeah I know... I know. Come on, I gotta go confess,” I said, as if I were a convict on trial. We continued on and finally reached Rarity's Carousel Boutique. I rubbed my face and let out a muffled groan before knocking. There was a moment's pause before Rarity's eccentric voice answered. “Come in darling, it's open.” I took a deep inhale and entered. At first, Rarity just glanced over her shoulder, still sewing together a dress. Once she saw me however, she dropped what she was doing and rushed over. “Oh Darling! It's so nice to see you!” she said, embracing me in a gentle hug.

She pulled out a small flip mirror and looked at herself then shuddered. “Oh dear... I look hideous. You really should've told me you'd be stopping by, then at least I could've tidied myself up a little,” she said in a disappointed voice but I just gave her a nudge.

“Nah, you look fine... better than I do,” I said, stroking my beard which I had yet to shave. Technically I should've done that first thing when I left the hospital but... now I had a month and a half... probably older, beard growing.

She just blushed timidly and giggled. “Oh darling, it's nothing. Just a little cosmetic work and you'd look stunning,” she assured me, as if I were some fashion model in need of a pedicure.

“Bah... I'll just have to get a haircut-” but she cut me short.

“IDEA!” she chimed in her usual tone. Her horn lit up and in moments, a pair of scissors, a razor and some shaving cream floated over while a chair came over and took my feet out from under me, plopping my ass flat in the barber seat. “If you're not busy darling...” she began to sing, namely about caring for one's mane... though I suppose I had hair but since I was in Equestria, hair on the head is called a mane, but manes are usually for horses...

She began slicing and dicing my hair while singing, stopping every so often to show me different hair styles. She sang about all different kinds of hair styles and even mustaches and beards.

At one point, she somehow managed to go from a short hairstyle, to a long straightened hairstyle where my hairline reached my shoulders. “WOAH! Okay, hold the phone... how'd you do that?” I asked, astonished and in a state of complete and utter disbelief.

As I broke her concentration, and the melody of her song, a magical aura around my hair disappeared and with it, my hair returned to the way it was before. “Do what darling?” she asked and I just shook my head.

“Uhh... never mind,” I replied, realizing now that she probably had some kind of hair spell going on. She continued her song where she left off. As she went on, I again stopped her as she transformed my facial hair into a Stalin-esque mustache. “WOAH!” I gasped, leaping up, getting close to the mirror and stroking my fingers through it.

“You like it darling?” she asked, intrigued by my fascination. It was so silky and smooth... and it looked pretty awesome. Though the thought of having a mustache that was made so infamous by such a crazed dictator, made me think twice.

“Yeah but uhh... I think I'll pass,” I replied and she put on a pouty face. I looked to Applejack who rose an eyebrow and I just sighed, standing up and removing the neck strip and cape. As I did so, my hair returned to it's former state. “Listen Rarity I...” I trailed off, trying to find the words to explain it. I bit my lip and looked back to Applejack. Our eyes met and as I looked into her bright green eyes, something clicked. A warm feeling passed through me, along with what felt like an embracing light flashing from her eyes to mine... I don't know what it was... but I just... I dunno, I felt calm and just had this need to tell the truth. I turned back to Rarity.

“I did it,” I replied bluntly and she just blinked, unsure of what I meant. “I was the one who wrecked your store and robbed you,” I said and at first she just laughed.

“Oh darling, don't say such things. It isn't really all that funny-” she cut herself short and came to a realization as she looked into my eyes, realizing I was telling the truth. Her eyes went wide and her teeth gritted down hard. I swear, for a moment, I almost saw steam coming from her ears.

“Why you... you... YOU FILTHY THIEF!” Her horn spouted out globs of energy and before I knew it, a glass vase was thrown at me. With lightning fast relfexes, I snagged the vase and rescued it from imminent demise. With my hands full however, a sewing machine clocked me square in the forehead, doing a number to my forehead and laying me flat. 'Wow! She's really got some bite.'

Applejack stood between us. “NOW HOLD YER HORSES RARITY! What in tarnation do yah think yer doin'?!” she boomed and Rarity's eyes squinted as she gave Applejack a glare and with that, the two stared each other down like a pair of desperadoes.

“You knew? Why am I even asking? Of course you knew! That's why you came with him! You're probably in on it, that's why you're defending him! And here I thought we were friends!” she screeched and Applejack stomped her hoof.

“Rarity, that's enough!” AJ yelled and Rarity's horn flared brilliantly.

I sat up, albiet staggeringly. “STOP THE FUCK UP!” I boomed, not piecing my words together and just yelling a random assortment of words to get their attention. The goose-egg on my forehead was well protruded and still hurt a bit.

I staggered to my feet and held my hands out defensively. “I can explain, just please... please Rarity, before you beat me to death... Applejack wasn't part of it, she just wants me to come clean and said she'd come with me just to make me feel a little bit calmer about the whole ordeal,” I said and Rarity wailed.

“Ordeal? ORDEAL?! What 'ordeal' could you have possibly been in that was worse than mine?! Coming back from Baltimare to find my home broken into, my finely woven, prize winning dresses ripped to shreds, and some of my finest suits and attire stolen! What could you possibly have gone through that could make doing that to me, a patron to society, justifiable?!” she yelled and I let out a deep exhale then removed my eye patch, showing off my faded and damaged eye.

“When you went to Baltimare to face Freeze... it was all over the news. At the time I was watching over Discord because... well... he was kind of a brat. Anyway; Lassie, Discord, Derreck and-” Rarity cut me short.

“Who's Derreck?” she asked interrogatively.

“He's... it doesn't really matter, he's a friend of mine and it's not really important. Well... actually he's the one that said we should get clothes from your shop-” she again cut me short.

“Then why in Equestria would you steal suits?! That's hardly winter wear, and why in Celestia's name... WOULD YOU DESTROY MY DRESSES?!” She screamed and I flinched.

“I'm getting to that, I swear... Okay..." I let out a sigh and continued. "So Derreck thought it would be a good idea to get clothes from you and said that if we didn't make it, then we really wouldn't have a debt to pay since Equestria would be screwed anyway. And... when your door turned out to be locked... that's when he blew it down with a shotgun... then he suggested we dress nice because it could be the last thing we ever wear... and Lassie... being a dunce... and partially because she's a dog... kinda ended up ripping a few of your dresses,” I informed her and she tensed up.

“YOUR DOG! You let your 'dog' wear some of my dresses!” she screamed and I flinched.

“Okay, Rarity! Ju-just... let me finish. So we dressed up all nice... figuring the world was probably gonna end anyway. So... we went to Baltimare then... Discord kinda betrayed us-” this time however, it was Applejack who interrupted.

“Figures. Ah knew that no-gooder couldn't be trusted,” she muttered and I just groaned.

“Because! Freeze..." I groaned and rubbed my forehead, trying to remember what the hell Discord had said about Freeze's spell. "Something about science and physics that probably don't make sense and... anyway, Lassie captured Discord and we convinced him to work with us then finally we beat Freeze... and along the way I lost my eye. It... something about physics again that I don't totally understand... and my hair also grayed when I nearly died,” I informed her then rubbed my face, taking notice that my forehead swelling was gone.

I looked to Rarity who was still pretty steamed. “I was going to tell you but... I wanted to pay you back also. I know what we did was wrong and... kind of stupid really. Suits and dresses for winter weather, but... well... I'm sorry Rarity. I was going to pay you back but... well, that's another long story. I fucked up... real big, and I know it doesn't take away what I did but... I am sorry,” I apologized and she calmed down slightly.

“Darling... I... Spike even helped me find gems to build new suits. And he didn't even have anything to do with it!” she shouted and I nodded.

“I know... I know alright. I was just... I don't know... scared I guess. I didn't know what to say, or what to do... Rarity, I'll try and make it up to you, I swear. Whether or not you forgive me... doesn't change the fact that I'm sorry and... fuck...” I trailed off and painful memories came back to haunt me. 'You're just a fuck-up, a fucking durr!'

I dropped to my knees, the world spinning around me. “I'm just a fuck up,” I muttered, losing faith in myself. I looked at the palms of my hands, then turned my hands over and looked to my scarred knuckles. When I got old, they'd probably have bad arthritis.

I heard AJ speak to Rarity. “Ah know as well as you do Rarity, that what he done was foolish, but at least he came clean about it. Heck, he was even gonna pay yah back when he got the money together. Ah just told him that he needed tah come clean about it before yah heard it from anypony else.” I looked up to see Rarity's expression gear down from anger and start to become a little more fond.

“I'll find a way to get the money I owe you... I don't know when, I don't know how but I'll-” I was cut off as Rarity put a hoof over my mouth, a gentle and warm smile across her face.

“You needn't say another thing darling.” She pulled me into a tight hug, which at first I didn't return due to the fact I was so shocked. “Oh, you're so brave and courageous darling," she chimed in an eccentric voice. She pulled back from the hug and look directly into my eyes. "Going all the way to Baltimare, fighting Freeze and besting her, all just to save little old me,” she chimed, bashing her eyes at me as she leaned a little closer, her warm breath pressing against my cheeks.

I sat there, still in her embrace and looking into her eyes. “Uhm... yeah... I guess... aren't you mad?” I asked but she shook her head.

“At you darling? Never,” she said and I cocked my eyebrow... 'Hadn't she just smoked me in the head a minute ago with a fricken sewing machine?' I thought to myself before my thoughts were interrupted by her voice. “Why, after finding out what you did for me... I'll be forever in your debt,” she said, still staring into my eyes with a luscious look. “Is there anyway I can repay you, 'anything' at all?” she said in a very... uhm... well, her tone was very strange and I wasn't really used to this tone from ponies, especially her.

“Well... I mean-” but I was cut off as she pressed her lips to mine, her eyes fluttering shut as she did this. My eyes cocked wide open in shock and disbelief, but I didn't exactly pull away. Instead, I sat their, embraced with Rarity as she kissed me... rather passionately at that.

Suddenly a pair of hooves yanked Rarity and I apart. “Rarity!” AJ yelled and I was put into a state of further confusion. 'What's going on?! One minute a mare is beating me with a sewing machine, the next she's kissing me, now AJ is yelling at her...' I thought, puzzled and unable to comprehend what was happening. It was just moving too fast for my liking.

AJ pulled me to my feet. “Rarity, ah'll speak with you later. Right now,” she looked to me. “You and ah gotta... uhm... got work on the farm that ah could use yer help with.” She began pulling me out the door and from the corner of my eye, I caught the sight of Rarity blushing deeply, with a timid smile that could only be topped by Fluttershy's natural timidness.

As Applejack pulled me down the street, I stopped in my tracks. “What the fu... what-just-happened?!” I asked, only now coming to mind of what just happened. Applejack rolled her eyes in a bemused way.

She said something under her breath that sounded like 'That's the reason ah came along,' but I wasn't certain. “Oh she's just... don't pay her no mind, she's just acting like a damsel in distress,” AJ pointed out and I nodded, snapping as it all made sense.

“Oh yeah! Like princesses that are locked away in castles, right?” I asked and AJ just groaned, saying something again under her breath, this time it sounded like 'Good thing yer dense as a brick.'

“Yeah... yeah, like a princess in a castle...” she trailed off and led me back to the farm. Looking around, I followed her gaze but it really just went from one thing to another as she rubbed her chin in thought. She finally turned back to me. “Uhh... yah can help Big Mac stack hay in the mow... ah gotta... go... out,” she told me then turned and began trotting back towards Ponyville.

I walked into the barn and saw Mac stacking hay up on the mow, just like Applejack said. “Hey Mac, need a hand?” I asked and he looked down to me, then to the hay and shook his head.

“Nnnnope,” he said in his general bland voice. I went cockeyed. AJ had just told me...

“Well... is it okay if I help you anyway?” I asked and he thought for a moment, smiled, and finally nodded.

“Eeeeyup.” It was all I needed to hear. I began tossing bales up to Mac and he proceeded to stacked them. We stacked hay for the entirety of the day, only ever stopping for water. After a long while, the evening sun began to set it's orange haze over the horizon and the day began to come to a close.

Big Mac let out a huff then turned to me and gave me a nudge to the side. He was taller than most ponies and managed to nudge me a little higher than most could. “Thanks fer the help... got a lot done tahday,” he thanked me and I just brushed it aside.

“Bah, no problem. AJ asked me to help anyway,” I replied and he just nodded then smiled.

“Wanna drink?” he asked and I rubbed my chin, smiled then replied in a similar fashion to him.

“Eeyup.” He just chuckled then led me towards the house. He set a small table on the porch, along with two chairs and sat me down.

“Ah'll be right back,” he said then proceeded into the house. I fiddled my fingers and waited. Soon enough, Mac returned with two foaming mugs full of... something. He set one down for me, and kept one for himself.

I picked up the glass mug and took notice that it was warm. “Uhm... what is it?” I asked and Mac just smiled.

“Some a last years apple cider, warmed it up fer yah too. Cider's usually the best warm,” he stated and I just swirled it around.

“I had cider once... kinda tasted like apple juice,” I told him then smiled. I took a sip, swigged it around in my mouth and swallowed. It was warm, and a little bit thicker than water or juice.

“Like it?” he asked and I nodded. “Taste like apple juice?” he asked but I shook my head. “Eeyup. Ol' family recipe. Seconded by none,” he said and I nodded.

“Indeed. It's pretty tasty,” I said, taking a larger chug. He nodded.

“Sometime, ah'll give yah some a the special brew... but not tahday,” he told me and I looked to him.

“Special brew?” I asked and he just smiled, patting me on the shoulder.

“Aged stuff, dun worry bout it,” he told me and I nodded as we sat like chums and drank cider. Not bad stuff really. Sweet, yet not too sweet, and the warmth made it a bit like really runny syrup.

As we finished up, we ended up sitting together and watching the sunset. As the orange haze glimmered down on us, I noticed his body had a fine physique and tone to it. “You're pretty strong Mac. You work out?” I asked curiously, wondering just how an earth pony would lift weights.

He blushed and timidly covered his blush with a hoof. “Uhm... well... ah work on the farm,” he replied with a peep. I nodded and gave him a pat to the shoulder.

“It really shows. You look good,” I told him and his face blushed an even deeper hue of red, which looked funny on his already red cheeks.

He nodded and squeaked back. “Uhm... you too... uhh... you work out?” he asked and I nodded.

“Haven't done a real workout in a long while. Was stuck up on a mountain,” I told him and he nodded. “Say...” I began and looked to him. “What's say a friendly arm wrestle, huh? Whatta yah say? Nothing seriously competitive, just friends,” I suggested and he rubbed the back of his mane.

“Uhm... well, uhh,” he stammered and I cluncked my arm up on the table, ready to go.

“Come, on. Two work buddies just playing around,” I offered and he rubbed his chin before shrugging and flopping his foreleg up on the table.

“Alright, ah guess,” he said. We put our palms together, or well... his hoof, and I wrapped my fingers around his hoof. “Alright... uhm... on three?” he offered and I nodded. “One... two... three,” as the last syllable left his lips, both our bodies tensed up, muscles expanding. Both our biceps flexed, showing off our toned physiques.

Viens bulged from under our skin, a testament to our raw strength. I heard Mac grunt and stared him right in the face. A few viens were protruding from his forehead as he struggled to best me, while I grunted also... a memory came to mind, flashing before my eyes.

'Dillon... you son-of-a-bitch,' Arnie said, followed by a loud clap that sounded as he and Carl Weathers locked hands. Soon enough it became apparent it was a battle for dominance, Arnie cracking a wise pun about 'CIA got you pushing to many pencils?'

I looked Mac dead in the eye and began to put him down, smirking and making it look like a breeze. I didn't make a pun, since we were just having a friendly competition, but I still wanted to crack that pun... maybe another time.

As I cranked his arm down to less than a thirty degree angle, he began to grunt. Victory was mine, there was no doubt. The only question that remained was how long he lasted. From my left side came a chimy young filly's voice. “Come on Mac, yah can do it!” Applebloom cheered.

Due to my damaged eye and the fact it was covered by an eye patch, I hadn't seen her watching. I looked over and saw her eyes wide as she watched her big brother, on the verge of defeat. Other than AJ, I could imagine that Mac was probably one of the most influential ponies in her life... someone she looked up to... somepony who she thought was the best.

'I can't beat Mac in front of her,' I thought to myself. Swallowing my pride, I eased up. All that I had gained on the farmer pony was slowly reversed, all the while, the cheering squeals of Applebloom chiming from beside me echoed off the porch.

After a few seconds Mac finally pinned my arm to the table. I let out a sigh, a small smile creeping across my lips. Applebloom cheered then looked to me. “It's okay. Yah might be strong, but Mac's won first prize in hoof wrestlin' four years straight, ain't that right big brother?” she chimed and Mac just blushed, shy about the topic.

“Eeyup,” he replied timidly.

Applebloom pulled a seat up to the table. “Can ah play a game with yah'll?” she asked cutely but I just sighed.

“Maybe another time sweetheart. I gotta get goin'. It's late, next time. Promise,” I promised and she motioned the Pinkie Promise. I followed suit and she smiled brightly. Mac looked to Applebloom.

“Uhh... Applebloom, can yah get us both a glass a water and a sandwich?” Mac asked, to which the young filly nodded and zoomed off with our empty glasses. He looked back to me. “Why'd yah do it?” he asked and I looked at him, knowing what he meant but deciding to ask anyway.

“Do what?” I asked and he just sighed.

“Yah know... let me win. Ah know yah could've beaten me... so why'd yah let me win?” he asked and I gave him a 'You know why' look.

“Oh come on Mac... I said before we started, just a playful competition, nothing serious. I know I could've won, but your young filly sister was watching. I know she looks up to you and... well, I didn't really need to win to prove anything so... I figured it might be hard for her to see her older brother lose... yah know?” I replied sincerely and he just smiled.

“Thanks, means a lot,” he said and I nodded just as Applebloom returned with the water and sandwiches, sliced in halves.

“Here yah go,” she offered and I took my glass then looked to the flower trough hanging off the porch. I gently poured the water onto the soil around the flowers.

“Here guys, drink up,” I muttered and Applebloom gasped.

“Yah wanted a glass a water just so yah could water the flowers?!” she gasped and I gave her mane a little tuffle.

“Yeah... everything deserves a bit of attention now and then. See yah'll around,” I said, grabbing two halves of a sandwich and with that I was off.

As I walked along the dusty trails, I again began to enjoy the little things in life. This world had a divine beauty about it that words can't describe. As I continued along, a little bird landed on my shoulder and sang a wonderful note.

I quietly whistled back, though my own vocals were pretty bad to say the least. Before I had time to think, Fluttershy bumped into me. “Oh my, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to... oh, Mr. Canary, there you are!” Fluttershy peeped and the bird fluttered off my shoulder and nestled into her mane.

“Hey Flutters,” I greeted her with a smile but she timidly looked away.

“Oh... hello... uhm... how are you? I-if... if you don't mind me asking?” she asked and I just chuckled to myself.

“Well... not bad I suppose. How's the animals?” I asked and she slowly turned her head back towards me but barely even made eye contact.

“Oh... they're fine. They're okay... uhm... I really must be going,” she said and scurried off. I watched her depart and felt a sinking feeling in my chest. I felt bad about how we first made our acquaintance, so to speak. First time I really spoke directly to her, I was telling her that I'd blow her guts all over the floor with my shotgun... but then again, the house was dark and I thought she was a home intruder.

I continued on home and finally arrived at library. I made my way inside but wasn't readily greeted by anyone. “Mom?” I called out but got no response. “Spike?” I asked, still no response. Lassie came mingling along, a Playcolt magazine in her paw... the Playcolt magazine that Cheerilee had given me.

“What's shakin?” Lassie asked and I just shrugged.

“Dunno. Wonderin' where everypony is,” I replied and she scratched the back of her neck before stuffing the magazine in-between the couch cushions. “Been masturbating?” I asked but she shook her head.

“Nah, just putting it somewhere where I'll remember,” she replied and I cocked an eyebrow.

“What if Spike found it?” I asked and she looked down at the crack between the cushions.

She pulled the magazine back out. “Yeah, I guess. Spike's out with Sweetiebelle and Twilight's running an errand.” I nodded.

“What about you?” I asked and she just yawned.

“Been cleaning up some things, just helping out... yah know?” she replied and I nodded. “So what are you up to?” she asked and I just shook my head.

“Don't know. Was gonna go for an afternoon drive. Wanna come along?” I asked but she just shook her head.

“No thanks. You'll need to get fuel though, she's almost out,” Lassie mentioned and I perked my eyebrow. “One tank's got some fuel but the other is low,” she told me and I just nodded.

“Okay, I'll be back. Be good,” I told her and she nodded.

“Aren't I always?” she asked coyly. I left the home and hopped into Cadence.

“Alright babe, let's go for an adventure,” I told my truck as I started her. I puttered my truck around, enjoying the sights of the town before finally leaving the town limits. As I reached the plains of Sweet Apple Acres, I flicked on the CD player in my truck and put in a disk. The tunes of Bad Company started playing as I drove around aimlessly.

As the day started to come to an end, I made my way to Flim and Flam's warehouse... at least I think it was their warehouse, maybe somepony else owned it and they just scammed them out of it. I pulled up to the fuel pump and shut off the truck, but left on the accessory setting of the ignition so I could listen to my music.

I popped both fuel caps and started pumping fuel. After a short time, I filled the rear tank and moved on to the front tank, humming the tune to the song that was playing from my radio. “Bad company... till the day I die.” I continued to bob my head to the beat but as I did, some metal clanging echoed from the warehouse.

I immediately turned to see what it was but saw nothing and simply brushed it off. “Bad company oh yeah-” I was cut off as more metal clanged, sounding as if it were falling from racks. I finished filling up the front tank, hung up the nozzle then turned off my truck, stuffing the keys up in the sun visor like usual.

I reached into the back seat and retrieved Belladonna, loading a magazine into the pistol. I thumbed the slide release and walked towards the warehouse. 'Probably nothing... just wild animals,' I assured myself, but even so I had this eerie hair prickling sense that something was wrong.

I entered the dark warehouse. “Hello?!” I called out. A presence whooshed through the shadows and I snapped my aim towards the general direction. “Stop screwing around... or I'll shoot!” I warned. The glowing engravings on Belladonna's slide illuminated and my senses went wild. Everything seemed to slow, the world around me beginning to send off more vibrant feelings.

I picked up the smell of... something rather awful... something that would be associated with sewers, like mice or rats. My vision did it's best to readjust to the darkness and my hearing sharpened.

Something in the back of my head told me to duck, and I did just that. As I ducked down, a piece of heavy rebar pole swung where my head had been just seconds ago, clashing into the wall beside me. I spun on my heels and drove my left fist into the perps stomach, expecting to find a pony.

Instead I was shocked to find some sort of... a rodent of unusual size. It was like a rat, but it stood on it's hindlegs. The punch winded the varmit and it staggered back. My senses cried out to me, warning me of a threat to my left side, my blind side due to my bad eye. I pivoted on my feet just in time to catch a piece of steel pipe being swung at me by another rodent. Jamming my pistol barrel into his gut, I fired several times, blood and gore spewing out his back side as I held his body close. Dropping the now deceased body, my combat senses told me to get out of the way.

I leapt forwards just as a bunch of scaffolding was overturned, crashing into the spot I had been prievously. I lined up a shot with the perpetrator and fired twice, the first shot knocking him back and the second rupturing his skull and spraying crimson against the wall. I noticed another baddie coming my way from my three o'clock. I turned and fired blindly but only got one shot. Even so, the sheer force Belladonna emitted was enough to knock him back and onto the floor, dead as dead gets.

The slide was racked back and locked... “Shit!” I cursed. Just as I stood up, another piece of rebar was swung at me. I grabbed the rat's arm and drove a fist into his stomach, but just as I did, another rebar pole clacked me in the temple, sending my world into darkness...

I slowly came to, my world in a fog, head spinning. “Ugh...” was all I managed. I tried to rub my sore forehead but couldn't even find the strength to move my hands. I was immobilized. As my head slowly dazed to and fro, a figure came into view, a big one.

He was wearing all black, but a white skull on the chest of his shirt shone like a glimmering light. He knelt down in front of me, his long jet black trench coat dangling onto the floor. “Der... Derreck,” I groaned and he just looked to me, his hazel eyes shimmering in the moon light.

“Smucked pretty hard?” he asked and I just tossed my head about wearily, unable to fully nod my head due to the daze I was in. “Must hurt,” he stated, like he didn't know. I didn't even bother trying to nod.

“Derreck,” I whispered, partial pain in my voice. He put his hand to my chin and lifted my head, putting us eye to eye.

“You're going to have to be strong... stronger than you've ever been before,” he said and I coughed violently, wheezing as if short for air. He shook me. “Stay with me!” he yelled. I again found the strength to look him in his good eye, his other damaged eye like mine and covered in an eyepatch.

“I know you're strong. Hell, just look at you. You're like Arnold fucking Schwarzenegger in Commando... but you've gone soft. You care... you love... you cherish...” he trailed off and gave me a dark look. “You have to forget about that right now... reach down, deep... find that inner hatred and embrace it... become stronger than you've ever been, because if you don't...” he stood up and stated walking back, still looking at me.

“Derreck,” I cried out, though a little silently due to my still drowsy state. He began to dissolve into the darkness, like a mist.

“I can't help you this time. You have to do it yourself,” he said, further fading into the darkness.

“Derreck!” I yelled.

“Embrace the inner beast... to rid yourself the pain of being man...”

I felt like I was drowning... head submerged and oxygen slowly burning away in my lungs as air bubbles drifted past the side of my face. Suddenly I was pulled up, but as the audible sound of splashing water entered my ears, so did a world of hurt.

My head throbbed. I felt like I had been hit by a freight train. A voice entered my world. “Hey, you in there?” The voice was distorted, probably due to my impaired state, and echoed in my mind. “Hero creature, you in there?” it asked before my head was dunked in water again.

I choked on the water, not expecting to be tortured like this. Water entered my lungs and began to drown me. Before I had time to think, my head was pulled back up, myself gagging and coughing up water.

As my vision came around, I was horrified that it did. In front of my face was a creepish rat thing. “Yeah... yeah you're still alive,” he laughed and I blinked, left side of my vision severely impaired as if I was still underwater.

I closed my left eye, realizing I didn't have my eyepatch on. The rat stepped back and forth, wielding Belladonna in his rat hands. God... he looked so weird... almost like a humam the way he stood and did things.

“You know...” he trailed off and handled a piece of rebar. “It's a real operation... a critical one at that, using this eight gauge stuff. An inch or two too high and...” he slowly tapped the rebar against the sore spot on my head. I winced and pulled away, only now noticing that I was sitting in a chair, my hands felt as if they were cable tied behind my back... but not to the chair itself. The cable that bound my hands felt like metal wire, not the usual plastic stuff.

He tossed the rebar aside then made about wielding Belladonna as if she were his own. “This thing... truly magnificent. It's heavy as a brick, but by the gods... you know, if the boss didn't want you alive, I'd have killed you already for what you did to my pals,” he told me, getting close. Ugh, his breath smelled horrid... rancid, like he hadn't ever brushed his teeth.

“So... I was wondering... how's this thing work?” he asked, pointing it at my forehead and pulling on the trigger several times as if it were still loaded. “I saw how you used it but... well... it doesn't work for me,” he replied and I just smirked.

“It's cause she doesn't like you,” I sneered but was answered with a pistol whip to the face. It hurt, a lot.

“Don't fuck with me. Boys!” he ordered, and two rats on each side of me began pummeling my gut with their fists. It wasn't bad at first, they were kind of weak, but after about two minutes, I began to wheeze as they knocked the wind out of me.

The one who was doing all the talking set my pistol down on a table while the other two held me down on the chair. I realized at this point I was in the warehouse still... at least I think I was in the warehouse. “Your dog friend... Canidae oh-six-seven... she's a real bitch,” he said. I looked to him with a raised eyebrow.

“Who?” I asked and he just groaned.

“Your stupid fucking dog!” he growled and I snickered, chuckling even. “What's so funny?” he snarled and I just smirked.

“Her name... is Lassie,” I told him sternly and he just rolled his eyes, groaning and letting off an annoyed sigh.

“Yeah... yeah okay. Lassie. Well... her real name, is Canidae oh-six-seven,” he replied and I curled my lip at him.

“Her name... is Lassie,” I growled and he just stifled a laugh.

“Oh... okay then,” he began in a coy voice, almost as if he were sorry. “Lassie, sorry to have mistaken her name,” he sarcastically apologized. He got in close to my face, his foul breath making me want to gag. “Who's at home right now... watching your little cunt?” he asked, the way he described my friend making my insides boil.

“Your princess friend?” he asked in a whimpering way, almost teasing me. “You got a marefriend watching her tonight?” he asked, still taunting me. “Or is she alllllll alone... with no one to tuck her in tonight and wead her a bedtime stowy,” he taunted me, putting a lisp into his voice.

My inner anger began to reach it's breaching point and I gave him a glare. He just laughed, getting in my face and cackling. I remembered Tristan... remembered the times my real mother had called me a fuck up... everything.

My neck tensed, veins protruding as I curled my lips back. “Oooh, is someone angwy?” he asked, still with that taunting lisp. I headbutted him in the snout, hard. Standing straight up, overpowering the two that were holding me down. As I reached my full height, I drove my boot into his ankle, busting it sideways with a satisfying CRUNCH!

I spun to my right, spotting a rat with a crowbar. I drove a kick into his groin, forcing him to his knees in pain. I cocked back my leg, making sure to balance myself, and drove my heel into his forehead, knocking him to his back.

A yell of anger came from the one who was taunting me at first. I looked as he reached out at me, still on the ground due to his busted ankle. I delivered a spin kick to the chest which launched him into the barrel of water they were trying to drown me with, water splashing all over the floor.

As my feet settled to balance my body, the other rat that had been holding me down swung a two-by-four at me. I turned my back to him and let the board painfull slam against my back. I groaned and drove my foot straight back, only hitting him with a light force but enough to stagger him for a moment and let me safely turn back around.

I backpedaled as the rat began swinging the board at me. Without the use of my hands, it was all I could do but to duck and dodge the swings. I ended up backing into some metal shelves just as he took another swing. I ducked and the board slammed where my head had been just moments ago.

I spun to the opposite side of shelving unit and body-checked it into the board wielding rat, toppling the shelves over his body. Looking to the work tables, I spotted a desk grinder. I backed up and felt for the on switch, quickly turning it on.

The rat I had kicked in the groin charged at me. Looking to the wall, I spotted a fire extinguisher and kicked it at him. He flinched and braced himself against the catapuling projectile, despite the small force behind it. It gave me enough time to grind off the cable ties and free my hands.

The rat charged me again. I drove a one-two punch to his gut before driving home an uppercut. He fell to his back just as the other rat came at me. He swung twice and I dodged each swing. He stepped back and readied for a swing with his right.

As he swung, I pinned his arm against a supporting beam, grabbed a screwdriver with my right hand and drove the screwdriver right through his forearm. He screamed in agonizing pain, staggering back and grasping at the protruding tool.

I reached across the desk and grabbed an old steel toolbox then swung it hard, clacking him in the side of the head and putting him out. I looked to the ground where the other rat was struggling to get to his feet. I walked over and drove a powerful kick right under his jaw, putting him out as well.

I let out a satisfied exhale then walked over to the table where Belladonna lay. I picked her up and looked at her. That disgusting rat's dirty prints were all over her. I looked around and grabbed a rag, doing my best to clean her up. I'd make note to thoroughly later. Looking to the table, I also found my eye patch and slipped it back on.

Holding Belladonna in just my right hand, I walked over to the rat who had done all the talking, who was still dragging himself on the ground. I knelt down in front of him, he looking up to me with disbelief in his eyes.

“You know... I am gonna go home and read my girl a bedtime story tonight,” I told him and he just inhaled, still in utter disbelief of what had happened. “And it's gonna end happily ever after,” I said before standing up and driving the base of my boot straight into his face. I made the motion as if to straighten a hat...

Third person, outside warehouse...

Kianna lay flat in the distance, having watched the events play before her through the use of high powered binoculars. She watched the man come out of the warehouse, dripping wet from the water torture he had endured. He still carried his heavy hand-cannon and slipped back into his truck.

Lowering her binoculars, Kianna rubbed her chin in thought. "What are you... GROM?" she asked and a voice spoke from beside her.

"What's a grom?" the stallion beside her asked. An M40A3 sniper rifle was mounted in front of him, supported by a bipod and sporting a high magnification scope along with the trigger guard being removed so he could us the rifle with ease.

"GROM, it's the Polish special forces from back on my world. They're the only military force that officially use that hand-cannon he's carrying... but by god it's so overwhelmingly useless," she stated and he looked to her with a curious expression.

"Useless... but... didn't you see what he did earlier?" he asked and she nodded.

"He could've just as easily done that with a Glock pistol, probably better since he wouldn't have run out of ammo... that gun is heavy, lots of recoil and sports a low magazine capacity" She looked through her binoculars, staring at the man. "Why use that gun?" she muttered to herself and the stallion peered through the scope of his rifle.

"Do you want me to take the shot?" he asked but she shook her head.

"Negative... he probably has bullet proof windows," she replied. "Patience. We'll get 'em... we'll get 'em..."

Later...

It was late when I got home, I must have been knocked out for quite some time.

I knelt down beside Lassie as she slept cozily in her dog bed. It was warm out tonight, so I didn't need to cover her with a blanket. Added to the fact she had long fur, she'd probably wake up sweating and panting. Instead I tucked a light bed sheet over her, gently stroking my hand across her cheek.

“You might act like an imp sometimes... a bit annoying at others... but I love you Lassie, and you'll always be my dog... till the end of times,” I said, a tear trickling down my cheek. I leaned over and gave her a kiss to the muzzle before standing up and making my way to my own bed.

As I tucked myself in, my conscious spoke up. 'I knew you could do it.'

“Do what?” I mumbled.

'I knew you could beat them. You might be going soft, but no matter how hard you try to put the past behind you... you'll always be you,' it said and I cocked my eyebrow.

“Huh?” I asked but it didn't answer me back. I just brushed it off as nothing and rolled over, snuggling into my blankets...