Chapter 1: A Welcome Home Party, Pinkie Pie Style

The unicorn student Twilight Sparkle was making her way, slowly through Ponyville. Taking time to enjoy the fall scenery which would be gone soon enough to allow three months of winter. It had been only a few weeks since her friends and herself had managed to overcome Discord and save Equestria using the Elements of Harmony and all six of them had been taking it easy since that chaotic event.

Today the young unicorn had decided to give herself (and Spike, her assistant) a rarely encountered day off to relax from their studies into the Magic of Unicorns. Spike had opted to go spend the day following around Rarity and helping her as needed (not much of a vacation) Twilight thought to herself, but she knew the young dragon enjoyed it, and was sure that Rarity could use the help running her Dress Shop.

Twilight, on the other hand had spent some time visiting Fluttershy for tea and was now making her way back to the Library which was her home here in Ponyville. The streets, however, were surprisingly empty on this beautifully clear day, a few ponies seen scurrying along quickly all seeming very excited for reasons unknown to the young unicorn.

“Did you hear!?” Lyra said to her friend Bon-bon as the two hustled out of Lyra’s house, seeming rather excited Lyra was absolutely beaming, but Bon-bon, much like Twilight, seemed to have no idea what was going on. “HE’s coming back today!” she said pulling along her fellow pony up and around the house leading her to some place unknown to Twilight.

“He? Who’s he…?” the lavender Unicorn asked out loud looking around for some sign of anypony to ask. But there was no one. Not even in the sky, which was so clear and perfect that Twilight was sure there would be plenty of the Pegasus Weather Teams up there clearing it. The sky, however, seemed to be making itself perfect on its own design. Sighing the Unicorn moved on to her house putting the randomness of the event aside to focus on her studies which she had planned to dive into for the rest of the night.

Approaching the massive Tree-Library which was her home Twilight took a last look around for anypony out and about but alas there was not one pony to be seen. Pushing open the top and bottom part of the wooden door she was met with quite the surprise.

The room was decorated in massively obtrusive pink, streamers, balloons, punch bowls, chips, and decorations that Twilight couldn’t even begin to place. They were scattered chaotically all throughout the room. As was almost everypony in Ponyville!

“Twilight!” Pinkie Pie said jumping up beside Twilight as if from no where, the brilliantly pink pony hopping circles around the Unicorn. “Hurry we need help getting everything set up before HE gets here.” She gasped breathlessly moving away from Twilight to go help Rainbow Dash who was busy hanging a welcome home sign across the birth of the upper floor, the energetic Pegasus looking very irritated at the scrutiny of Rarity, the highly strung unicorn bellow.

“But what’s going on?” Twilight asked out loud, not that anyone answered. They all seemed far too busy in preparation for someone who was, as far as Twilight could tell, coming home. Using her levitation magic she helped out with streamers and signs as best she could still having no idea what was going on. So in the end Twilight decided to make her way through the crowd to find Applejack to see if she could help illuminate the situation.

Twilight found the apple farming pony over by the food directing her brother, Big Macintosh, and her sister Applebloom in their preparation of a variety of apple based foods that they were setting up along the left side of the room. After several attempts to break her General like demeanour she got a response though it wasn’t what she had wanted.

“Sugarcube, I know this all may seem pretty crazy to you, but I promise you’ll understand soo-… Applebloom that is not where I told you that goes!” the blonde had managed to say before running off to commandeer the troops, leaving Twilight standing alone, defeated.

It wasn’t long before Pinkie’s voice echoed out painfully over the crowd. “ALL RIGHT EVERYPONY LIGHTS OFF, HATS ON, CUPCAKES IN!” she bellowed and everyone did as was generally instructed, the lights all went out leaving Twilight alone in a sea of ponies in the dark... and then silence. Obviously it was a surprise party, Twilight decided, ending up right next to Pinkie Pie.

The pink earth pony looked on the verge of a semi-nuclear explosion so much energy was being stored in that little ball of party based chaos. The silence in the room was growing to a palpable level, some of the ponies where barely breathing less they ruin the surprise. Pinkie Pie was quite beside herself, entire body vibrating with pent up excitement.

It was the first sound to break the silence, the echoing clop rang throughout Ponyville as a lone pony moved across the cobblestone. The anticipation grew all the more as ninety percent of the ponies were sure that this sound was the approach of the one they were waiting for. Indeed the hoovesteps were getting closer to the Library, it sounded like at any moment the door would open revealing the noise maker who was so busy interrupting the good silence that was filling the library.

Twilight focused as hard as she could through the over bearing silence to listen to that resounding clop. It was an odd beat, not the usual “1-2, 34” of a normal walk, it felt stilted as if one hoof was carrying the weight of two, with the other foot being dragged along afterward. The purple Unicorn pondered who this pony could be but she would not need to ponder for much longer.

The door to the library opened and light fell within the gateway, the decorations hidden out of reach of the sun’s piercing rays. The pony that entered was encompassed in too much light for Twilight to make out however, as her eyes had over time grown more accustomed to the dark. Still the ponies waited.

The new figure closed the door behind himself and stumbled in the dark a little looking for the light switch.

It happened simultaneously and instantly. The lights flared on blinding the stallion and a gigantic roar echoed out throughout all of Ponyville, reaching even the Everfree forest far on the outskirts.

“SURPRISE!!!!”

The now revealed pony fell onto his haunches overwhelmed. Though the screeching yell deafened Twilight for a moment she was able to focus enough to catch a good look of this new Stallion. He had a caramel brown coat, his back and sides covered in scars, some small and light discolorations to what appeared to be healed over wounds and gaps where flesh once was, on his back was a double bagged saddle with thickly filled pockets. His mane was a rich chocolate brown which fell about his face covering the left side completely. Twilight took an instant and noted his clothing, he wore a wide brimmed Fedora hat of a brown which matched his coat pulled titled low over the left side of his face, hiding it beneath the brim and his hair, his legs had leather wrappings which looked almost bracer like, a rudimentary armour. Taking a step forward, Twilight tried to get closer to him to but she was cut off by a sea of ponies, most predominantly within that sea being Pinkie Pie.

“Were you excited? I hope you were excited. I wanted you to be excited, I was excited, I don’t think I was ever more excited. Except for that time I saw Twilight and went all “WAAAAAAAH” but I mean who can top that? Even this couldn’t top that but it was really close you know, very very close, so were you excited?” the hyped up pony rambled all in one sentence to the colt who was sitting on his haunches blinking his one revealed eye at the lights, slowly opening it to reveal the rich mahogany orb.

“Yes, I was ver’ excit’d Pinkie Pie.” the nameless pony said. “An’ very surpris’d.” he said pulling at his hat to cover the left side of his face more beneath the brim. His pronunciation of the words felt thick and uncommon as if he wasn’t used to talking, his “p”’s sounding almost painfully deep. “I mad’ sur’ not to tell ye so this wouldn’ be happenin’.” he growled a little one open eye searching through the plethora of ponies who were all busy welcoming him back and saying how happy they were to see him. He nodded back to each one and gave thanks for them all coming to such a flamboyant party. Shortly they all had their fill and the wall of ponies dissolved into the party, DJ PON-3 starting her turntables which were set up on the second level, heavy speakers hung from the wall sending their beats down into the dancing mass. By the time Twilight got close enough to his new Pony the only ones around him were: the still hopping Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy who was currently hidden slightly behind Rarity, Rainbow Dash hovering up above their heads and Applejack looking embarrassed at the floor, pawing it with her hoof absently. Spike was there too, which made Twilight more then a little curious. It was also the first time Twilight got a good look at the Stallion, good enough to make out his cutie mark.

A pair of dice, in mid roll seemed to float majestically on his flank. Twilight could not even begin to fathom what his special talent would be with such a cutie mark.

“I’m mighty sorry, Lucky.” Applejack said making sure not to make eye contact with the new stallion. “Ye know I can’t lie to nopony.” she pleaded looking very ashamed with herself, the rich brown colt sighing and giving a tug on his hat.

“It’s a’ight lass.” Lucky said defeated shaking his head at the party and the noise, the scarred pony looked rather tired. “Jus’ was hopin’ for a wee bit o’ sleep.” he yawned, shrugging it off. Then he gave them all a rich smile which didn’t seem to match his worn and torn body. “It’s mighty fine to see ya’ll again though.” he drawled stretching his legs and getting up. Turning, Lucky faced the Unicorn Heroine. “You, little lady, must be Twilight Sparkle.” he said richly holding up his hoof to her for a shake. “I’ve heard a might good bit about you.”

His smile was infectious but it couldn’t overpower Twilight’s suspicions, but she did, regardless, shake his hoof.

“So you’ve heard a lot about me?” Twilight asked, letting her hoof fall, Lucky’s going back down to the floor as well, tapping a little to DJ Pon-3’s current beat.

“Yes indeed, though I’m surprised you never sent me any letters yourself. The girls and Spike have been messaging me for months with stories about your adventures but there hasn’t been a letter from you.” Lucky said his voice a little confused at the situation. “Either way I think I shoul’ introduce myself righ’ proper. I’m Lucky Roll, pleasure to meet yeah.” The stallion said tipping his hat to the younger Unicorn.

“It is a pleasure to meet you, Lucky Roll.” Was all Twilight could say, she was crushed on the inside as to why her friends hadn’t told her about this character, how come they had never let her in on that they were messaging him. But most importantly she was upset that Spike, her trusted companion and dearest friend had not told her of what was going on.

“We wanted to tell you!” Pinkie’s bubbly voice popped up. “But every time we had a spare moment when we weren’t being chased by something or some crazy antics were going on or we all had to work.”

“That’s right, sugar-cube. We didn’t mean to keep anything secret.” Applejack said, recovering from her embarrassment.

“Oh oh oh or we were making cupcakes. Delicious cupcakes.” Pinkie Pie added, the group all looking at the random pony.

“Pinkie Pie. You. Are. So random.” Rainbow Dashed said looking down at the pink earth pony with a little squint.

“Just like old times, eh?” Lucky asked laughing he pawed down at the floor, taking each of them into his field of vision one by one. “It really has b’n too long hasn’ it?”

“Three years…” Fluttershy whispered from off to the side, moving forward a little, obvious the lessons she was going through with Rainbow Dash to increase her assertiveness were taking a long time to sink in.

“Yes, exactly. Three loooooong arduous years without you over to help meeeeee.” Rarity complained slightly drawing her words out. “Just where have you been?”

“Oh ai? Well the Princess needed me to go deeper into the forest then usual. Had to look after something for her while she was busy ruling Equestria. When lil’ Luna woke up I had to move in deeper as well to make sure what I was guarding was well watched from within.” He said making no promises to tell them what he was protecting deep within the Everfree forest. “Managed to pick me up som’ new momento’s there, don’tcha know.” the Stallion said moving his head in the directions of the scars on his underside and back.

There was a moment of silence, Twilight was unsure of how to read the situation. Her friends did indeed looked as if their friend Lucky was far more beat up then usual. But for a pony to spend three years in the heart of the Everfree Forest was unheard of. To spend any extended time in that forest is extraordinarily dangerous. "The princess..?" had she heard him right? It was her princess, her teacher… and he mentioned Luna, so he has a way to receive messages from the princess, and Spike.

“You work for Princess Celestia?” Twilight asked turning her head, having spent a great amount of time with her mentor over the past years since Celestia had taken her under her wing the young Unicorn found it peculiar that she had never heard mention of someone so important as to be given a three-year long task within the mighty Everfree Forest.

“Yes indeed lil’ miss.” He said with a smile and a air of pride. “I’ve been working with the Lil’ Lady since I was just wee bit high.” Lucky said raising his hoof to reflect his height, roughly that of a pony at the same age of Applebloom or Scootaloo. “She has had me living and working the forest ever since, and acting as her personal liaison to Zecora for the Zebra Tribe.” he continued pounding his chest a little, happy with his status.

“I’ve never heard of anyone living in the forest…” Twilight said sceptically all the other ponies making non-committal faces as if it was a taboo topic.

“Well of course I had to technically live here, in Ponyville. This library to b’ ‘xact.” Roll said nodding to the raving ponies within the large library, his accent becoming less noticeable and prominent “The mayor wouldn’t let Celestia use me any other way…though I suppose I spent most of my time in safe houses I’v' made over the years anyway’… Ponyville still feels lik’ I’m back home, dontcha know?” he chuckled throwing a hoof over Rianbow Dash who had landed beside him and the other fore-hoof over Applejack in a tight hug. “And see’in ya’ll again just makes it worth it.”

Twilight went quiet as the ponies, her close friends, all talked excitingly to Lucky and watched in from the outside of the circle, even Spike was deep in the conversation that she had tuned out. She felt like she had long ago, before coming to Ponyville…before making friends a time when she felt separated from everyone there, and she wished for all her worth that she had a book to read or something to study instead of standing there silently in the life filled party.

This was different than that she decided, walking away from the group towards the punch and apple based treats, not that anyone noticed. Side stepping a mildly tipsy Apple Cider who was singing out of tune and pitch a leg tossed around his friend Chef Sandy, the two colts having right the time apparently. Pushing them from her mind and the second Dj who had jumped up behind the tables with PON-3, Vinyl’s protégé, DJ Trance taking his turn at the tables, the music’s tone and beat shifting automatically. All Twilight could focus on however, was how she felt at this moment. It was loneliness…it was different. Twilight admitted to herself surprised to find that ugly emotion was followed by the less pleasant jealousy. She was angry that this Stallion who’d been away for years could just show up and push her aside like this, taking her friends from her. Twilight got even angrier at herself for this feeling, she was a smart and rational pony. Understanding that her friends were being reunited with someone they had all known and who had been away for a long time meant a great deal to them. Twilight knew how they felt but she still felt hurt that she was being so easily pushed aside.

Grabbing onto an apple cupcake, with its granny smith apple whipped topping, Twilight began to eat methodically. It had no taste for the Unicorn though, she just felt the need to do something and, not wanting to risk the sea of ponies, eating a cupcake felt like a good idea. Though she quickly found herself choking as a hoof rapped against her back.

Lucky was beside her then, his caramel brown face near hers, a cup of punch in his mouth. “Wan’ a drink lil'missy?” he asked, feeding her the cup which she downed quickly to clear up the food she was forced to swallow by the sudden back pat.

“Aren’t you busy catching up?” Twilight asked once she had finished choking, her voice more then a little spiteful, Lucky’s taken aback face not lost on her and she felt immediately terrible for being so angry with the weathered pony.

“It was getting quite chaotic so I excus’d meself for a drink.” he said grabbing another cup and downing it quickly looking out across the dance floor. “And I thought we could use this moment to get to kno----” he began but he was interrupted.

As was the entire party. For at that moment an unpony roar echoed all across Ponyville, originating from the edge of the wild and untamed Everfree forest.

It was a cry filled with earth shattering evil which shook the turntables off their track, ponies to their knees and sent birds fleeing in all directions for miles.

Beneath the cry’s bestial blood lust there was a word so deep and unnaturally spoken from lips not meant to share the speech of civilized creatures. The word which shook through all the ponies to the bone save one.

“LLLLUUUUCCCCKKKKYYYY!!!!!!!”

The caramel pony lifted his hoof and pulled down his hat again, which had ridden up. A nervous tick he had developed over the years. Twilight being the only one near him was able to hear what he muttered under his breath. His one mahogany eye sharpening to a dangerous degree, he suddenly looked much like a warrior, a veteran of fighting off monsters that no one had ever known. His ruggedness had changed to a vicious, instinctual look of a trained warrior. His voice was so cold and uninviting it forced shivers down Twilight’s spine.

“Well don’t dat beat all.”