James returned to the library extremely dead tired. Never once was he ever put on edge or put in a situation where someone knew everything without even trying. James was hoping that he could one day figure out Pinkie enough so that he wouldn’t be surprised by her action. That dream ended in total failure but it might not be that bad though. James thought that if he just let Pinkie stay the mystery that she was then it might make the relationship that much more special. James climbed the stairs and headed to his room. James set his phone down on the desk and went to switch into something more comfortable to sleep in. James switched shirts and just plopped down on his bed. Sleep took him over in less than two minutes once he closed his eyes.

Dream Realm

James was in the medical tent getting patched up. He suffered wounds to his sternum, side, and back. James was in the medical tent for an entire week getting healed. James awoke to the beeping of the heart monitor. James got up and quickly turned to his left and let loose a torrent of vomit. After James was finished releasing whatever was in his stomach the General came walking in. The General looked him over and gave him a smile. James was apparently lucky to have survived that grenade. He just needed another week of bed rest before he could go back out in the field. Before the General left James asked if Jacob was alright. The general assured him that Jacob was fine and he was thankful to James for saving him. James took a sigh of relief that Jacob was okay.

James focused on the deep part of his mind so he could check on Shadow. When he arrived the chains were still there but Shadow seemed a little more lively than he was before. James was worried that Shadow was starting to get his strength back and was getting ready for a counter attack. James walked up hesitantly and reached out to touch Shadow. As soon as he touched Shadow James saw that it was an illusion. As the illusion faded it started to get dark and Shadow was looking very sick. James couldn’t help feel slight bad that Shadow was suffering but it was only slightly that James knew that it deserved this.

“So Shadow how have you been?”

“How does it fucking look like I am doing? I am tied to this building with nothing to do and you have been flaunting all over town your happiness.”

“So you’re doing well. That is good to hear. I know that you can see and feel the same as me and I know that you know that somepony is watching me. So do you know who it might be?”

“Not really but there has been a disturbance here like something is trying to get in. I don’t know what it is but I feel that it really wants in. I think it’s coming to take away my power. I know that you don’t care about me but if you truly care for those ponies then you need to figure out who has been doing this before it gets me.”

“Very well I will keep you safe only to keep the ponies safe. If you feel any disturbance let me know and I will try to deal with it.” James and Shadow shared an understanding nod knowing what they both truly felt. James didn’t care about Shadow but cared for the ponies very much. Since James cared so much he will keep Shadow safe so his power wasn’t taken away. Shadow as much as he wanted freedom didn’t want to be used by anything other than himself. James walked off into the distance and opened the door.

James walked through his memories and went straight for his house. James entered the home just wanting to relax. When James entered his house he was happy that it still remained the same in his memories. James walked past the study and went for his room. When James was in his room he went to his DVD collection on the wall. As he looked through his movie titles he came across R.I.P.D. James remembered when the movie first came out in theatres. James was one of the first people in line to see the midnight premiere of the movie. James pulled it off the rack and put it in the DVD player. James enjoyed the movie until it was time to get up.

Real World

James woke up to his phone ringing in a tune that he set it specifically to one mare. James didn’t even need to look at the screen to know who was calling him. James was happy that she was the one to call.

“Hey Spitfire what can I do for you?”

“Hey James I was wondering if you would like to join me and Lightning Dust for lunch at my house.” James was confused as to why Spitfire was inviting him to lunch but it didn’t matter since James was going to see his number one mare.

“Sure Spits I would love to have lunch with you and Lightning Dust.” Spitfire couldn’t see it but James was giving one of the biggest smiles that he could give. Then his smile tuned to a frown at the next thing Spitfire said.

“Also James I wanted to say thank you very much for the present.” James’ eyes grew wide in fear that now who ever gave his other friends presents now gave one to Spitfire.

“Spitfire whatever that present may be and however badly you may have wanted that I would get you it in a heart beat I’m not the one that gave it to. You are also not the only one that got one either though. Twilight, Lyra, Octavia, and Vinyl also received one. I’m afraid that whoever is doing this is trying to ruin my life.” James was now becoming a nervous wreck at what was happening. Not only were his friends given mysterious gifts but now it was his lead mare they were now after.

“Well if you didn’t send it to me James then I will send it to Twilight. She may have a spell that could probably help figure out who has been sending them.” James relaxed that Spitfire was understanding of what was going on and was willing to help. James went for his shower to get clean for the date ahead that was going to happen. James finished his shower and got changed. Once changed James headed downstairs and saw Twilight sitting on her couch just enjoying a cup of tea.

“Hey Twi I just wanted to say that Spitfire will be heading over with one of those weird gifts that she got like you and the others did. So please figure out who is giving these gifts before it gets out of hand.”

“Oh she already dropped it off earlier this morning. Also the others came here with gifts that they also received from this anonymous pony.”

“So everypony has gotten a gift from some weird source and we have no idea who is doing it. This is just great how could this get any worse?”

“Don’t worry James I’ll make sure that I figure out who is sending them so we can deal with this.” James smiled at Twilight that she was being so helpful in this time of need. James walked out of the library and headed for Spitfire’s off season house that she stayed in. During the walk James went back through all his memories with all his friends. If things were to work out all okay and they were to agree to the harem idea then we would be glad to marry them all after a few months. After thinking of the possible future James then thought of the past. James was happy now after his time here in Equestria. Not only has he been able to make friends with the ponies here but he was able to find love with them and ones that loved him back.

James reached Spitfire’s house and he couldn’t help but smile at the lovely little home. James knocked on the door and was struck with the most beautiful thing he has ever seen. Spitfire was standing in the doorway wearing a golden dress that just flowed with the direction of the wind. Her back was bare so she could have room for her wings and her middle was cut in a V shape to help separate her breasts and keep them perky. The dress may have been a simple one but it glowed with Spitfire’s radiant beauty. She was also wearing the necklace that James got her and it made her look even more beautiful. She gestured for him to come in and he did.

James was in the familiar house that he remembered all too well. James not only thought about the special moment that he and Spitfire but the little conversations that they had about everything. As James looked around he saw Lightning Dust on the top step wearing a toga style dress. The dress was green as her coat and only wrapped around one of her shoulders. The dress was able to cover her front very well and gave a good look at the side of her breasts from the right when James looked in that general direction. They both wrapped their tails around James’ arms and lead him to the dining room. There was a nice oak table with a bucket in the middle filled with ice and had a wine bottle in it. James sat in the middle seat as the two pegasi left giving him a kiss on the cheek. Once they were gone James pulled out the vile of sleep drug and filled the two glasses with wine and the last of the drug.

The pegasi returned with their lunches and sat down to his side. Once they were seated Lighting Dust wrapped her tail around James right leg while Spitfire wrapped hers around James’ left leg. James filled his glass up with wine and took a sip of it. The two pegasi followed his lead and took sips of their own. James didn’t want to see a clock on the wall because he just wanted to enjoy the time that he had with them for now. They ate in silence as Spitfire and Lightning Dust kept their tails wrapped around James.

After dinner James lead the two mares to the couch so they could just sit and enjoy each others company. As they walked towards the couch the pegasi moved their tails around his arms so they could get closer and hug him. When they reached the couch they sat down and just looked out the window at the afternoon lives of the ponies down there. Spitfire and Lightning Dust kept rubbing their tails up and down on James making him shiver in pleasure. Along with the tail action they were giving little kisses along his neck and made him groan as they just kept going. As this happened James felt like he was going to just lose to the pleasure and then when it was getting intense it stopped. James saw that the two mares had fallen asleep. James laid the mares out on separate couches and covered them with the blankets.

James never really left the house because he never needed a reason to leave. James just wanted to just watch them sleep and enjoy the sunset that was happening. As James was lost to the beautiful scene of the setting sun his phone went off. James looked at the number and it was Twilight that was calling him. James guessed that she made a breakthrough. James answered the phone and was assaulted by a nervous mare.

“Hey James we are all here in the park. Where are you?”

“What are you talking about Twilight I’ve been at Spitfire’s house hanging with her.”

“Well you called me, Rarity, Trixie, Octavia, Lyra, Vinyl, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy. You said that you wanted to speak to us about something.”

“Twilight I haven’t called you at all during the time that I left the library. I haven’t even looked at my phone since then either.”

“Well if you didn’t call us then who did?” James wasn’t certain who could have called them but decided that whoever it could be was finally moving into action.

“Twilight just stay there with the girls. I going to get Spitfire and Lightning Dust and we will be on out way.” James turned around and saw that Spitfire and Lightning Dust were stirring finally coming to wake up. James walked over and helped both of them up to their feet.

“Spitfire, Lightning Dust we need to get to the park. I think Twilight and the other girls are in trouble.” The mares didn’t question him but just followed him. Before they left Spitfire and Lightning Dust quickly got changed into regular street clothes and followed James to the park. James felt around his pocket and felt his knife was there. James doesn’t remember putting it there but was glad it was because he may need it. They reached the park and James was glad to see everypony was still okay.

“Oh thank god you guys are still okay.” James ran up to them as they ran towards him for a group hug. They all hugged each other until they hear something clearing their throat. All twelve of them turned around and saw three shadowy figures emerge. James was able to recognize one of them. Filthy Rich was standing there looking very smug. Then two others showed and James had no idea who they were. One looked very upper class and the other was a white unicorn with a blond mane.

“Allow me to introduce my friends since you haven’t met them yet James. This fellow over here is Hoity Toity and runs the most successful fashion businesses. The young unicorn stallion that you see here is Prince Blueblood. He is the nephew of the princesses.”

“Oh so he is a little bitch like the rest of them.” James replied making fun of the royalty that Blueblood has.

“How dare you ungrateful welp. I demand that you show me proper respect.”

“And why pray tell should I show you any respect since you are just being a pompous ass.”

“Because we are the only ones that know the secret that you are hiding from these lovely ladies.”

“Ladies have you enjoyed the gifts that my associates and I have sent you. I believe that they were all to your liking I presume.” James could now feel the fire that was building inside of him. He was being filled with anger that these pompous ass holes were trying to take away the mares that he loved the most.

“As much as we loved the gifts that you sent why did you send them to us?” Twilight asked a little unhappy that they were being bribed with gifts for their affection.

“I sent them to you because we would like to save you from that creature that you are so fond of.”

“Oh yeah and why would you want to separate us from him huh?” Dash was in Blueblood’s face trying to see what they had planned.

“Well that is because this creature has told you the whole truth about who he is.” Blueblood looked at James with a smug grin. James couldn’t help the lump that was forming in his throat. He knew that if Blueblood knew about his past or even his scars then he could win this. Before anypony could say anything else though Blueblood ripped James shirt off exposing his scars to the mares. He heard their collective gasps and he couldn’t help but just slouch in defeat at that.

James looked up at the shocked faces of the mares when he got tired of looking at the ground. James couldn’t help at the tears that were forming in his eyes as he saw the hurt in his friend’s eyes. James wanted to say something but didn’t know what to say. With anything that he could have said he decided on the one thing that he could say at this moment.

“I’m sorry.” James just said that and nothing else. He looked at the mares waiting to see their reaction. What James saw made his heart sink as they started moving away from him. It was clear that they were scared of him and he could understand why.

“See this creatures has scars on his body from things that he probably killed. I am here to save you from such a brute and offer you true love.” Blueblood smirked at his victory as it grew near. James hoped that the girls wouldn’t go near them but they did. James was now truly heartbroken and couldn’t stop the tears that fell from his eyes. James watched as the eleven mares he love stand by those evil ponies. As James was about to accept defeat he heard something that surprised him.

“You know Blueblood if we were shown those scars earlier than we may have never been able to trust him. But now that he has lived here and helped us all out in one way or another I can truly say that none of us are truly afraid. We are all very loyal to James and we won’t be swayed by you or anypony else to change our minds of him.” Twilight turned around and hit Blueblood with a magic bolt. After that the other mares just beat the living tar out of Filthy Rich, Hoity Toity, and Blueblood. After they were done beating the stallions they walked to James and helped him to his feet. They walked back to the library in silence.

When the door was open James walked towards the stairs but was stopped by several different hands grabbing both his arms. James was turned around and was faced with the eleven mares who had tears in their eyes. Clearly they were worried for James and he couldn’t blame them. He has been hiding the scars from them when they were starting to appear. Now that they knew there was only one thing to do.

“I will explain this all in due time. For now let’s all get some sleep and meet here in the morning. I actually want to talk to you about something else before we even get into my past.” When James finished he was answered with understanding nods from the mares. James went back to the stairs and went to his room. Once inside and the door was closed James just broke down crying. He wasn’t crying out of fear or sadness but joy that they truly cared for him. Happy to know how they felt James went to bed and let sleep take him over.

Author's Notes:

Dates are finished but what is going to happen next especially with Blueblood getting embarrassed like he did.