Today I awoke without any pony or dragon poking me, at that I knew it was going to be a good day. I looked over and checked the small clock on my bedside table and saw it read 8.05am. I smiled. Today I was going to the one place I had wanted to go in my almost six weeks of being here, Canterlot. But I knew in my mind that I had to make an impression, going to the nations capitol wearing a t-shirt and trousers was not going to cut it. Then it was a good thing I asked Rarity to make me some 'proper' attire for some such occasions.

After I had taken a shower noting that Twilight and Spikes room was empty, I shrugged and went back to my room to see what glorious clothing Rarity had made. I approached the small cupboard and took out the brown box Rarity had put my clothes in on my suggestion. I surveyed the contents and began to pull the items out one by one carefully putting them on the bed. I picked out a pair of well crafted black dress pants followed by a perfectly arranged red shirt of silk like material. I also found Rarity had included a belt and cuff links with the trousers and shirt. I lifted out several ties that had been made to complement the shirt or other tops inside the box, I made no effort and choose to go with a black tie.

I stood in front of the full size mirror spinning around after donning my new clothes. I made sure the fabric didn't crease or bunch as I gave myself one last look before pointing and grinning to myself in the mirror.

“Damn! I look good in red.” I laughed to myself before exiting and heading for the stairs. Before I could reach them however a voice stopped me in my tracks.

“I wouldn't go down there if I were you!”

I turn to see spike standing behind me.

“Hey Spike, what's up.” I hold out my fist and he bumps it happily. “And what do you mean don't go down there?”

“Twilights having one of her famous 'have I got everything' attacks.”

“Really? About what?”

“You actually, she's getting somethings together for your trip with Rarity.” I couldn't help but notice Spike lower his tone when he mentioned Rarity.

“Spike you know I have no interest in Rarity, I have Applejack remember. Nothing will happen to Rarity on this trip I promise.” Spike grew a smile.

“Thanks John, I knew you weren't that type of um...guy!”

“No problem Spike, well I better go down and stop miss worry.” Spike and I laugh before I cautiously walk down the stairs.

**** **** ****

I took me the best part of half an hour to calm Twilight down, by then I had twenty minutes to wait before the train to Canterlot arrived.

“Look Twilight i'm only going to Canterlot, not halfway around the world.”

“I know but I just want you to be prepared!”

“Prepared for what?” I ask.

“Well, anything! Canterlot isn't without it's demons you know.” Twilight states.

“I wasn't implying that, but i'm not defenceless Twilight. I can handle myself.” I say crossing my arms.

“I-I just want you to be safe.”

I pick up the bag Twilight made for me and approached the library door. “I know Twilight, I thank you for that but I have to go now. I'll see you later when I get back.” I give her a smile and she returns it. I know Twilight's just being protective but sometimes she can go a little overboard.

I walked to Ponyville's train station, getting several wolf whistles from known mares. I ignored them but the blush evident on my face. I arrived just before quarter to ten according to the clock above the ticket booth. I saw the conductor standing on the platform and gave him a friendly salute, he returned my greeting with a nod. I spotted one of the benches nearby and walked over to it, sitting down I took in the fresh morning air and sighed as I closed my eye's thinking about the trip ahead.

It wasn't long, probably a few minutes or so when I heard hooves land on the stations wooden deck near me. I opened my eyes and saw Fluttershy facing away from me holding what seemed to be a bag in her mouth.

“Hello Fluttershy.” I call out. She jumps a little and drops her bag before turning around. “Sorry I didn't mean to scare you, guess I should have waited for you to turn around.”

“No, it's ok John.” Fluttershy picks up her bag and puts it down next to the bench. “Your here early.”

“I couldn't wait, I mean you've probably gone to Canterlot plenty of times but me; this will be my first time. I'm just so excited.” Fluttershy smiles at me. “So? How come your here early too?”

“Oh, I usually come a little bit early to avoid the crowds.”

I look around seeing only the conductor and the pony in the ticket booth. I turn my gaze back to Fluttershy and raise my eyebrow, she saw my confusion.

“Well, sometimes there are a lot of ponies here.” Fluttershy states trying to hide behind her mane.

“Why do you do that Fluttershy?”

“Do what?” She replies quietly.

“Hide behind your mane? I know your shy, hell I was back on earth; but it's only me here you have nothing to be scared of.” After saying that my brain clicked. “Unless, it's me your scared of?” Fluttershy looked away from me. Yup thought so! “Fluttershy you have nothing to be scared of from me, what's makes you think I'll even be a threat to you?” My brain clicked again, man I was slow today. “Of course!” I say throwing my hands up. “It's my change, you have no idea what's happening to me so your scared of what might happen when I do!” My tone was a little more harsh than I realised.

“That's not it at all!” Fluttershy shouts rounding her gaze back towards me, I saw she was crying.

“Then, what?”

“I like you!” Fluttershy realises what she just said and puts her hooves to her mouth. I sit there wide eyed.

“Y-You like me? In what way?” I know stupid question but It had to be asked.

“I really like you.”

“Oh.” I turn my gaze away like I was staring at something distant. “I don't know what to say.”

“Please say you like me too!”

“Fluttershy, i'm with Applejack. I love you like family but not...love you, not in that way.”

What Fluttershy did next shocked me. Fluttershy flew up level with me and hugged me. Well being me, my head was going 'what the fuck is going on'; my face matched my thoughts. Fluttershy released me and fluttered back to land on the bench. I saw that her tears were completely gone.

“You passed.” She simply states.

“I what now?”

“You passed my test, my loyalty test.”

“I still don't get you.” My mind was blank.

“I use it on stallions that date my friends to see if they are loyal. You passed.”

I leaned back on the bench. “Wait! Your saying you come on to stallions to see if they remain loyal to the mare their dating?”

“Yep. Oh my gosh! I hope I didn't scare you off Applejack!?” Fluttershy really got worried. I just laughed. “What's so funny?” Fluttershy asks hitting me in the arm.

“Scare me off Applejack, really?” I almost fall off the bench. “Fluttershy, the only thing that can scare me off Applejack is Applejack herself.” Fluttershy just smiles then breaks out into laughter.

“Oh, it's so nice to see you two getting a long!”

Me and Fluttershy stop laughing and look over to the stations entrance, Rarity was standing there smiling. I stand up and brush myself off trying to look presentable. Rarity trots over giggling.

“Hi Rarity, lovely morning.” I say rubbing the back of my neck.

“Why yes it is, I didn't notice. But I must say i'm glad you two are talking.”

“Yes, we have discussed our problems; and I couldn't be happier.” I say while rubbing Fluttershy's mane.

“I'm so glad.” Rarity states looking across at the station clock. “The train should be a long any minute now, are you set John? We wont be back in Ponyville for a few days.”

“Yeah, I have everything I need here in this bag. I just hope I don't cast a threatening image.”

“John if you have any reservations, we could postpone this trip.” Rarity replies.

“No it's ok Rarity, i'm excited to go. There is one thing though I must discuss with you on the way over, actually it concerns both of you.” I state.

“I hope it's nothing bad.” Fluttershy says.

“No it's nothing bad but I think you will like it.” I turn my head as the sound of a steam train draws near. Rarity tried saying something to me but it was drowned out by the train arriving and my heart beating faster.

**** **** ****

The train ride itself was beautiful, the scenery as we travelled was a mixture of different colours and hues. Me, Rarity and Fluttershy had sat down in a relatively empty carriage. I was staring out of the window, a small smile graced my expression as I found myself loving scenery over the company I was keeping.

“I take it you find Equestria beautiful John?”

I turn my head to the seat opposite me. Rarity was looking at me intently while Fluttershy had fallen asleep.

“You wouldn't believe Rarity, we had places called national parks back in my world; but nothing like this. It just seems to me that all of Equestria was crafted to be beautiful. Just like everypony in it.” I realise what I just said, I turn my gaze back out the window blushing intensely.

“Well, um thank you. I think.” Rarity fidgets slightly. “I wanted to ask, what are you planning on doing when we get to Canterlot?”

“I never really though about that to be honest. I was granted an invitation by Princess Luna to visit if I ever came to Canterlot, but it did happen in a dream so I don't no if it was sincere or not.” I reply shrugging.

“Oh, you spoke to Princess Luna?”

“Yes, she appeared to me in one of my dreams. Though now I think about it, I think it was more of a suggestion than a invite.” I tap my chin.

“Well I think it's wonderful the princess spoke to you, it shows you have made an impact in Ponyville.” Rarity states pointing at me with her hoof.

“I guess but there was a reason she came to visit me but I don't want to mention it yet, it's a private thing at the moment.”

“I understand.” Rarity replies. “I won't press the matter.”

“Thanks Rarity, I appreciate it.”

“It's ok darling, I know when something is too important to somepony.” Rarity seems to look at Fluttershy then back to me. “John, what was the um matter you wanted to speak to us about?”

“Oh yes right! I think you need to wake up Fluttershy for this.” I point to Fluttershy's sleeping form.

Rarity leans to Fluttershy and whispers in her ear. “Fluttershy darling, can you wake up please?” Fluttershy slowly opens her eyes and looks between both of us.

“Oh, are we there already.” Fluttershy asks.

“No dear, John is about to tell us that news he had for us.” Rarity answers.

“Oh ok!” Fluttershy pushes herself into a seating position.

I clear my throat. “Right, how can I say this? Ok I guess I should just come out with it.” I look to my friends and see they both look confused. “As you know I came to Equestria and lost everything I had back in my old world.” I see both of them nod. “Well I have thought to myself that I might never get back and have realised that I have no family here or a home; I mean I do have a home but not a permanent one and I don't want to scrounge off Twilight the entire time i'm here. So I have decided to seek out my own place but that is not the main point, the main point is the family part. Since I have been here you ladies have treated me with respect and friendship, more than I deserve.” I see Fluttershy's eyes tear up upon saying that, Rarity just stares but with a sad expression. “What I want to say girls is that, I see everyone of you as my family now and I want to make it official. I would like to make you my step sisters, I have already spoken to Twilight and she has accepted; now i'm asking you two. Will you accepted my family proposal.”

A silence permeates for several minutes as the two ponies share glances. I sigh in my head. They think i'm crazy, I don't blame them I don't know any of them aswell as I know Twilight or Applejack. I guess I should have realised they might be sceptical. My fears were unfounded however when Fluttershy and Rarity both lunge at me and crush me in a combined hug.

“Oh of course we will accept!” Rarity shouts.

“I would be so happy!” Fluttershy replies.

“Wait! I just thought Rarity, how would this effect your sister? I mean I didn't think about her, I'm such an idiot.” The two mares don't let up on their crush.

“I'm sure she would be fine with it, I will explain it to her; actually now I think about it she would enjoy having a big brother.” Rarity settles further into my shoulder. “Besides I think the biggest obstacle will be my parents.”

I tense. “What do you mean?” Freak out beginning in 1..2..3...

“Well my mother would not stop hugging you and my father would insist on taking you fishing.”

….Or not. “Well I wouldn't mind that, considering I haven't met them yet.”

“Oh yes your right! I should write to them about this when we get to Canterlot.”

“Rarity, I don't want anypony else to know until I tell Rainbow, Applejack and Pinkie.”

“We won't tell pinkie promise!” I look down and see Fluttershy resting her head on my lap. How did she get down there? You know what screw it! I can't figure these ponies out...No scratch that! I can't figure my sisters out. Heh that sounded nice to say that.

“Thanks girls.” I hear the train give out a whistle. “I guess we are coming up on Canterlot.” I move to the window when Rarity let's me go. I lookup to the mountain coming into view and see the white and gold silhouette of Canterlot perched on the side of it. “Wow! Now that's impressive!”

“Oh you haven't seen nothing yet!” Rarity says leaning out the window with me.

From what I read in Twilights books Canterlot was built directly on the side of the mountain, but even that didn't prepare me for what I was seeing. Though I wasn't even there yet I knew without a doubt, there was no city on earth that could trump this mountain city on beauty and dizzying heights. There was one thing I knew, the trip was about to get a whole lot more exciting.

Author's Notes:

Here's chapter 9. Hope you are all enjoying it so far I have alot more chapters to go and even a twist(well more of a you saw it coming twist).