What a beautiful day. I had taken a spot under a large tree in Ponyville park. I borrowed a book from Twilight detailing the history of Equestria. Well if I was going to be here awhile I needed to read up on the past, so I didn't look like a complete moron when the girls started to talk about old foes.

It has been three days now since I left Ponyville hospital, three uneventful days I might add. I couldn't hang out with Applejack as she and the apple family had something to do with a special cider harvest. Not that I didn't offer to help but Applejack insisted that I take the next week off to recover, I said I didn't need to but you know women. So I took to catching up on Ponyville and other parts of Equestria. The books Twilight gave me I thought at first would be boring, man was I surprised.

Many of the books Twilight gave me seemed to almost be written like adventure books or very detailed story books. I asked Twilight about why they were written like that and she just shrugged and said they are all written in that way. I took her word for it, how can I argue with a mare that has read every book in that library at least three times; I was never going to win. So I took several books and read them from cover to cover, and I enjoyed them. I was never a keen reader but every now and again I found a book that kept my interest.

I was also confused that the princesses had never responded to Twilights letter about my MAR, then again they were probably too busy trying to find out how to send me back home. I pondered on that thought for a second, did I want to go back? Did I really want to leave Applejack and everypony behind? Just like that? I sighed as I folded up the book and put it down beside me. I looked out over the park and smiled as I saw ponies that I recognised. Derpy was playing with her foal Dinky, I had come to know Derpy quite well since staying in Ponyville. I had met her several times when she was out delivering her mail, she was my first friend outside of Applejack and the rest.

I also spotted Lyra and Bon Bon out for a stroll, I gave them a little wave to which both of them returned smiling. Lyra was boisterous most of the time but she was great to talk to, Bon Bon was more layed back but more than made up for it in how she crafted her sweets. I continued to comb the park trying to find other ponies I knew, but after spotting two more ponies I didn't know I gave up and rested my head against the tree trunk. I had folded my arms over my lap and drifted off to sleep, it was not long after I was awoken by somepony calling my name.

“John! John!”

I opened one eye and found the source of the voice almost immediately, I couldn't miss three fillies running full speed towards me.

“Hey, Girls!” I reply, now opening both of my eye's.

“It's so good we found you, we looked everywhere!” Sweetie Belle exclaimed.

“Yah! We almost gave up hope!” Apple bloom Added.

“I said we should have checked here first, but you didn't listen!” Scootaloo retorted.

“You didn't! Ah said the park and ya said he would be in Sugercube Corner!”

“Oh yeah! Silly me!” Scootaloo laughed.

“So? Can I help you with anything girls?” I ask.

“Yeah, we want to go into the Everfree Forest!” Sweetie Belle answers.

“And why in everything good and peaceful would you want to do that?”

“Because we need to ask Zecora about something and....It's really important!” Scootaloo replies.

“Look girls, I may be new here to Equestria but I've read all I need to know about that forest. I know it's dangerous and even your sisters are reluctant to enter without good reason, know I know you don't want to hear this from me but I will go with you; if that's what your here for?” The girls nod. “But only with your sisters permission. I have built up a good friendship with the others and I don't want to lose that going on just your word that it's fine...Ok?”

“Yeah, we understand.” Scootaloo sadly replies.

“But I never said no.” I say, The girls ears pick up. “If the others say it's ok then we will go, but only when they say it's ok.” The fillies go to turn away. “Wait! I haven't finished! I want their written consent, like if you go on a school trip.”

“Aww, do we have too!?” Apple Bloom asks.

“Yes or it's no entry.” I reply, wiggling my finger at them.

The three fillies all run off towards town, I sigh and lean back onto the tree trunk. I close my eyes only to be woken yet again by a familiar voice above me.

“Way to go tough guy!”

I look up to see Rainbow Dash lying on a tree branch.

“Rainbow? Were you spying on me?”

“No! I always take a nap here!”

“Really? All of the trees here and you happen to nap in my tree?” I ask giving her a raised eyebrow.

“Firstly! It's not your tree, and secondly! It was a coincidence.”

“Rainbow? I know your hiding something from me! I can feel it!”

Dash looks around, she seemed to be looking to see if the coast was clear. Why would she do that? I mentally shrug as she flutters down and sits beside me.

“Can you keep a secret? I mean a real honest one?” Rainbow asks.

“If it's one of those real big one's that will make me a bad guy for keeping then no, I hate keeping things from my friends.”

“No it's not but it is about you though.” Rainbows ears drop as she looks away from me.

“Ok, I promise to keep this a secret. But it better not come back and bite me in the ass.”

“Right, last night Twilight received a letter from Princess Celestia. She was concerned about your magic thingy, and she requested that we keep an eye on you.” Rainbow didn't look at me once when she told me, she just kept staring into the sky.

“Dash? Why are you telling me?”

“I don't know, I guess because you helped me, I thought I would return the favour.”

“You could get in trouble for this.”

“I know but your a friend and Rainbow Dash never lets her friends down!” Rainbow says flying into the air.

“So? What exactly does your spying require you to do?”

“Well i'm to watch you very closely and record everything you do.”

“Watch me closely eh?”

“No! Never like that! Applejack would hate me for watching you like that!” Rainbows eyes dart side to side.

“Well, thanks for telling me anyway. I hope next time Princess Celestia comes to me in person or at least sends me the letter.” I lay further down in the grass and sigh. “You up to anything exciting lately?”

“Me?” Rainbow drops back down and lays beside me. “Not really just doing my usual weather rounds.” Dash gestures to the sky.

“And great job too, can't of thought of a better day!” I reply.

“It's not just me, there's a few of us doing today.”

“Wow! Rainbow Dash not taking a compliment, That's a first!”

“Yeah, I think you're rubbing off on me!”

Me and Rainbow share a laugh. Dash goes quiet for a second as she looks towards town.

“I better be off, you know things to do!” Rainbow takes to the sky and gestures me farewell.

“Yeah see you later, don't forget! Swimming lessons are still on this weekend!”

“I won't, see yah tough guy!”

And like that Rainbow was gone, sometimes I think she has too much energy for her own good but then pegasi need that extra energy for their wings. I think over that for a second but shake my head as a thought of just how much energy she has to spare comes into my mind.

“No! I'm with Applejack brain! Deal with it!” I tap my temple. “God, I should really stop talking to myself.”

“Yes darling that can be seen as unsightly behaviour!”

I suddenly look up and spot Rarity, Twilight, and Applejack standing before me.

“Hey Ladies, What brings you out here?”

“It's seems that some little fillies can to ask us something today.” Rarity states.

“Oh and what might that be?” I lean back and fold my arms behind my head, looking like I had no idea what they were talking about.

“Ya know what we mean!” Applejack says pointing a hoof at me.

“Yeah, maybe I do, maybe I don't.” I answer grinning.

“Girls he's just playing with you!” Twilight exclaims, “we just can to say we give you permission.”

“What? Really?” I say shocked.

“Yes! You are an adult and you have our trust, besides it's a straight road to Zecoras. So no side tracking can happen.” Rarity says.

“I appreciate that ladies I really do, I mean they are your sisters and children. I would never take them anywhere without your say so before hand.”

“And we are glad you asked us first.” Twilight states. “Well I think we should let you get on with your task.” The three ponies giggle.

“Ya take good care of ma sister, ya hear.” Applejack says giving me a peck on the cheek.

“Don't worry! They are in safe hands and hooves with me!” I give the girls a wave as the three hyper active bundles of joy plough into me.

“Thank you! Thank you!” They all say in unison.

I pat each of them on the head and sigh as I lift them off me one by one and stand. I dust myself off and pick up my book.

“Well, shall we go?” I ask the CMC.

“Yeah!” They shout together.

The walk through town was loud to say the least, as the girls decided to sing some really random song about me helping them. I'm sure there was a few times they mentioned my relationship with Applejack but I wasn't sure as the lyrics were just so messed up. I noticed several ponies in town look at me and my mini followers, I just waved trying to conceal my embarrassment. Soon the entrance to the forest came into view, we all just stood there staring before entering. I admit I was intimidated and scared, this was going to be my first time entering the forest; I mean I have read about it but like the human phrase 'experience is the best teacher'. Man was I going to get a lot of experience.

“Girls? You know when we go in, I am responsible for you ok? We are going to Zecoras and back....Understood?”

“Yeah.” They all say.

“Right! Let's go!” We all walk in, me still feeling afraid.

The first part of the journey was interesting, out of all the books I read it never mentioned how fascinating the forest was. All the books seemed to do was point out the dangerous side of it, they never said anything about the brightly coloured flowers and weird trees. Now I think about it I’ve definitely seen that tree before.

“Uh? Girls are we lost?” I ask looking down to the fillies at my side.

“Ah'm not sure,” Apple Bloom Replies. I notice the shaking in her tone.

“I think we should turn back!” I states as I hear a growl behind me. The girls hear it too.

“John? What was that?” Sweetie Belle asks me grabbing my leg.

“I don't know, but it sounded close.” I know I should have lied but what's the point of lying to children. Anyway i'm not into the habit of lying when i'm scared, it just seems to freak me out even more. The growling happens again this time to the right of us, and to the left.

“We're surrounded!” Scootaloo blurts out. The three fillies are now grabbing my legs and shaking.

“Girls, what ever happens I want you to run back the way we came!” I state not looking at them.

“What!?” The girls shout out.

“You heard me! I want you to run and don't look back till you get to safety.”

“We can't just leave you!” Sweetie Belle cries.

“Yeah ma sister would kill me if ah left you here alone!” Apple Bloom says tearing up.

“You girls are my responsibility, if anything happened to any of you, I couldn't show my face in Ponyville again.”

“But ah-” Apple Bloom was about to reply when a shape leapt out of the trees ahead of us.

“Timber wolf!” The girls shout out tightening their grip on me.

“So that's a timber wolf?” I ask the girls.

“Yeah! They are so scary!” Sweetie Belle cries.

I have read about the timber wolves in the books Twilight gave me. I remember the descriptions but they don't do them justice. The real thing was much more evil looking, glowing green eyes, wooden body almost as dark as the forest it's self. Truly they were frightening to look at, but I had to hold my composure as I was the only thing keeping this wolf from the girls.

“Remember what I told you girls! Run when you have the chance!”

“Ok!” The girls all nod and reply.

The timber wolf never moved it just stood there glaring at us, that was until I heard the rustle to the sides of me. Clever I thought, keeping my attention on the first while it's companions encircle us.

Two more wolves burst from the bushes causing the CMC to scream out. I move my head around trying to keep all of them in my eye sight, my hands clenched tight; I dropped my book when the first wolf jumped out. The wolves started to circle us slowly, a nasty green ooze dripping from their wooden fangs. I remembered that the books stated timber wolves to be magical in essence, but still acted like living creatures. I also started to see that the first wolf was larger than the two others, probably some pack leader or something if they followed the same hierarchy as wolves from earth.

I looked to each wolf in turn as they kept circling slowly, then as quickly as I saw it one of the smaller wolves pounced for me. What happened next shocked me more than the wolf I think, I grabbed it in mid air and using it's momentum I flung it towards the other wolf off to my left. The wolves collided with a sickening thud, their parts and limbs splitting apart. When I was sure they weren't getting back up, I turned my attention to the last larger wolf now eyeing me in reply.

“Come on! What are you waiting for!?” I shout at the large wolf, I look around but notice the girls have disappeared. I smile. Now it was just me and this creature, and the girls were safe. “Come on! Or don't you have the balls!?”

The wolf eyes me then the broken parts of it's companions, it turns slowly back to me as it's eyes grow brighter. With a howl the beast charges me, I wait till it's nearly on me then I role out of the way causing the wolf to impact the ground. I laugh as the wolf picks itself up.

“Seems I'm not such easy prey now does it!” I shout while pointing to the wolf.

The wolf turns to me again and growls, it then charges again causing me to roll but this time I wasn't quick enough as two of the beasts claws dig into my back. As I come up I feel the pain across my lower back, I put my hand around and feel wetness. I bring my hand back and see my blood coating it, I look up and smile.

“Touché, But that's not going to bring me down wolf!” I scowl as the wolf claws at the ground ready to charge. The green ooze dripping more brightly. I lift my hand and give the wolf my best bring it gesture.

The wolf charges again, but I don't roll and I don't move. I ball up my fist and pull my arm back, as the wolf leaps into the air I fling my hand forward. I feel the pain in my chest and notice my hand tingling, I pay it no attention as I scream before my hand collides with the face of the wolf. The wolf's body shatters in mid air, several parts fly in all directions. I smile as I know the wolf is dead, it has to be! No creature, magic or no can't survive that! I turn to walk away but cough out a small amount of blood.

I look down and see the front leg of the wolf sticking out of my stomach. I reach down and pull it out, I know it says never to do that but it's a human reaction to do it. When the wolf's bloody leg hits the ground, I walk forward several steps before collapsing. I hold one hand to my wound feeling the blood coming out between my fingers. I try to crawl with one hand, my mind thinking I can't die like this! I can't, not here! As my vision blurs with pain I notice a hooded figure approach me, I reach out my hand as the figure bends down and takes it in a black hoof.

“Applejack......I'm......Sorry.....” The figure nods as my vision finally fades.