“I can’t believe we caught you wearing that” Twilight frowned “I wondered what you were going to do with those clothes, now we know”

“I’d like to point out that at least I wasn’t going around looking like a twenty-foot-tall demon from the pits of hell” I bit my lip

“I suppose so” she slowly nodded

“I promised Rarity that I wasn’t going to wear it again, and I don’t plan on breaking any promises that I make, least of all with you, my little gleaming star” I smirked, sitting on the front porch

“My little eon,” she pecked my cheek, sitting beside me “what’s in the boxes?”

“Take a look” I handed her a pack of cards from the box next to me”

“How many of these are there?” she blinked

“Tonnes, almost literally too” Blaze sighed

“Where did you find these?” Twilight opened a pack, handing me the cards stored within

“Storage room in the basement” I smiled, looking through the cards, placing them in my pocket

“What’s the strongest card in the game?” she tilted her head

“Number Ci-one-thousand, with an attack and defence of one-hundred-thousand

“How’re you supposed to beat that?” she blinked, I bought out my deck, picking out a certain card

“Mini-guts’ effect;” I smiled “By sacrificing one monster on my side of the field, I can select an opponent’s monster and lower its attack to zero, then, if it’s destroyed, they take its original attack points as damage, which is easy considering what my deck can do in one turn”

“Right, the ‘hieratic’ monsters can easily swarm the field, so by tributing one to weaken an opponent’s monster, you can then attack with a second” Blaze explained

“So, are we going to open any of these?” Blaze nodded toward the boxes

“If I get bored enough” I shrugged

“Which will probably be sooner rather than later, am I right?” she gave a wicked grin

“What’re you getting at?” I tilted my head

“I’ve seen what you do when you think nobody’s looking mister,” she beamed rather smugly “glancing at Twilight’s flanks everytime you see her, and Luna’s and Celestia’s too”

“I do not!” I snapped

“Denying it already Tesla, I thought better of you” she laughe1d

“You’ve no proof” I chided

“I’ve a very good memory, brother, you forget who I am, need I remind you?” she smirked

“Shutting up” I quickly sealed my lips

“Good boy” she patted my head, passing me a card from one of the packs

“‘Stardust dragon,’” I blinked “Blaze I’ve already got one of these”

“I know, I just thought that since you’ve got ‘Shooting Star Dragon,’ you could use it as a secondary booster for your deck”

-=-

“Are thou well, Sir Rick?” Luna smiled

“Is this what you meant by ‘no whips and gags’?” Celestia stifled a laugh; Luna was once again wearing the outfit

“Sort of” I mumbled

“And what do you think of her?” Celestia turned toward me

“”Well, she’s great to be around, and she’s an amazing pony.”

“I overheard your thoughts on the night I found you two together, when she kissed you, you felt the same about her didn't you?"

“Wait, you knew I was there the whole time?” I asked in confusion

“I did.  Everything you did; everything you said and thought; I knew it all,  Apart from the noises this morning," Celestia smirked

“So why did you act like you didn't know?”

"To find out the truth from you,  a little test, it seems, as  I was aiming to see if you'd try and lie about why you were there in the first place,  But you didn't, you were truthful and I thank you for that, Rick"

“So, you heard my thoughts...even when I was thinking about her?” I bit my lip

“Every single one of them” she nodded

“I… I felt attached to her when we were talking on that night,  I felt an instant connection when we talked about our lives, how similar they were, and because of that, I felt I could relate to her, she’s my Nakama, as are you, Princess, never lose sight of that, although I suppose spending some personal time with her in her hour of need made me realise how well I thought of her,  I just...I feel that this friendship has been made because I took advantage of her when she was vulnerable...” I clenched my fists

“But you didn't, what matters, is that in her worst hour, you cheered her up and helped her feel better,  that's an amazing friend if I ever knew one,  I know you feel strongly about her, especially when she kissed you,  Tell me, when she kissed you, you thought she was more beautiful, correct?"

"Without question" I softly said.

"And when you woke up next to her this morning and she made you comfortable, did it look like she felt the same way about you?"

“I suppose” I shrugged

“No ‘suppose’ about it; I know my sister so well; how she spoke when she was with you, how she acted during breakfast, how she was always staring at you,  She feels strongly about you as well,  I'm sure of it”

“She does?” I blinked

“Of course, don't you believe in love at first sight?” she laughed

“I don't know, I've never really experienced it” Celestia put her hoof on my shoulder and leant down towards my ear;

“You have now, my dear Eon” she quietly giggled, I quickly darted outside, I won’t repeat my string of language-most-foul

“Is there a problem, brother?” Blaze smirked

“Not at all” I collapsed onto my back, smiling as I stared into a pair of magenta eyes, those of which belonged to a cyan Pegasus “Something wrong, Dashie?”

“I was just wondering what you’re doing today, since I’ve got the week off” Rainbow Dash smiled

“Not very subtle” Blaze muttered

“What’s going on here?”

Upon hearing the sudden intrusion, I suddenly bolted upright, coming into contact with the cyan Pegasus, who draped her arms around my neck, placing her lips on mine, gradually parting, I collapsed again

“Was that necessary?” Blaze turned to the newcomer, an eon of red and white scales with golden eyes

“Anything for my little Ricky-boy-o” Crystal laughed, I steadily got to me, walking over to the garage, opening it “So, your old house teleported here, how?” she blinked

“Fuck all if I know” I mumbled

“I guess we now know what your grandparents had in the garage” Crystal whistled “They even had it in my favourite colour, too” the Toyota Celica, I had conveniently/apparently forgotten to mention, was a deep crimson shade of red, I unlocked the doors, opening it Snowdrop quickly climbed inside

“We could modify it so it has your chest symbol on the bonnet” I suggested, my family having walked with me to the garage

“It’s got a letter inside,” Snowdrop exclaimed, handing me a letter she’d found in the glove box

Opening the envelope, I unfolded the letter, which read:

To our dear Crystal and Rick Hawkins

If you ever receive the letter, we’d like you to know that we love you as the family that you are, you mean the world, and everything in it, to us, all that, and more, which is why, behind the seat, you’ll find a few items I kept safe for you from my days in the war, I won’t ruin the surprise, but I’d imagine each of them to be worth a small fortune, the car, however, I’d like you to share, as I’m sure Crystal would like it.

She always did seem to be the responsible type of girl, make sure you take care of her like you did us, and vice-versa, now though, I’m afraid I’ll have to leave you, with our best wishes and regards for the future, and I’d like to once again remind you, that no matter who you might meet or  what you might do, that we shall always love you, even if we’re worlds apart, farewell both of you, and may this letter find you well

Yours sincerely, Harold and Sharon Hawkins

Forever you’re loving grandparents

When I finished reading the letter, I turned to Crystal, who was biting her lip in an attempt to stop herself from crying, I handed the letter back to Snowdrop, draping my wings and arms around the red and white eon with eyes of gold

“Let it out, Crystal, trust me, you’ll feel better for it later” I smiled as she started crying, tears cascading down her face like small waterfalls

“I miss them,” she sniffled “I didn’t even know them that well and I miss them, what do I do?”

“You remember them” I pecked her on the lips “you do what you can in honour of both them and their memory, to live as they would’ve wanted you to, happily, together with me”

“And live, I shall” she gave a weak smile, wiping away her tears “Thank you, Rick, I don’t know where I’d be without you, my love” she glanced toward the car as I let her go “so, when do we get to drive it?”

“I’m not sure there’s anywhere we can” I tilted my head as Twilight, having noticed me, trotted toward us, sat by my side

“You’re grandparents took part in a war?” Rainbow Dash stared at me

“World war Two, to be exact,” Blaze folded her arms

“What did he do in the war?” Snowdrop perched herself on the back of my head

“He used to be a fighter pilot; and one of the best in his squadron, one of the best in the war,” I smiled at the thought “took down some fifty to a hundred enemy flyers within the first two years of the war, and he didn’t just stop there”

“Sounds like an alright kinda pony; or; person” Rainbow Dash patted my back “Guess being awesome runs in the family, right Rick-o?”

“I suppose” I mumbled, letting out an exponentially elongated sigh

“Let’s see what they gave you then, err, us” Crystal giggled, I nodded, opening the car, retrieving a foot-long, three-foot-wide, black box, which worked in the same way as a suitcase, with a four digit code, the case in question was a matte black colour

“What’s the code?” she blinked, I rolled my eyes, changing the code to ‘1996’, the case clicked open “your birth-year, interesting, if a little obvious” she chuckled, as I pulled out a folded-up world-war-II pilot’s uniform complete with hat and goggles

“That’s his uniform?” Twilight glanced toward the clothing, and then toward me, I nodded

“Might need rarity to make a few repairs” I smiled, setting the uniform down on the roof of the Celica, bringing out from the case, a firearm

“What the heck is that?” Rainbow Dash stared at me

“It’s what’s known as a revolver, looks like he wasn’t just satisfied with using bombs” Blaze tutted “That there’s a common infantry sidearm, the Webley Mk-VI”

“And what’s this?” Crystal pulled a card from the case, wiping the dust away with a fragile claw

“That, most likely, is his licence,” I smiled, she handed it to me, I quickly pocketed it

“What’s this?” Snowdrop handed me a key-ring with a single, brass key attached to the stainless steel loop

“That’s a key-ring,” I smiled

“That’d mean that there’s still something else hidden somewhere in the house, or in one of those boxes outside” Crystal hummed

“And so the somewhat small quest continues” I simpered

“So it does” she sniggered

-=-

Searching for the ‘mystery box,’ as Snowdrop labelled it, was more than a bit annoying, it wasn’t in any of the boxes, it wasn’t under any of the beds, neither was it in any cupboards in said bedrooms, nor was it in the basement

“What about in the lounge?” Blaze suggested

“Might as well” I shrugged, walking into the lounge, where cupboard stood low above the floor with shelves set above it, all in ornately carved mahogany

“Perhaps it’s in there” Snowdrop pecked one of my horns

Opening the cupboard, I found three large lockboxes

“Bingo” I grinned as the brass key slid into the lock, lifting the box out of the cupboard, I set it down on the neatly carved teak table,

Opening the box revealed several sets of jewellery, two golden rings, bracelets and rings, each with a variety of gems in them on one shelf, which I set on one side, the next revealed a pair of keys, one was silver, the other, a solid gold, I lifted the shelf, placing it to the other side of the lockbox, revealing the final layer, which had a pair of dog-tags with my granddads name etched into them

“I wonder how much you could make out of these” Blaze stared at the rings

“I’m not selling them” I lightly frowned

“I was just wondering” she held up her paws defensively, I rolled my eyes, moving back to the cupboard

“What’re you doing?” Rick?” I turned around; Celestia was stood there, in her human form, a small smile appearing upon her features

“Snowdrop found a letter, which then led to the discovery of a brass key which then led to a house-wide search which finally led to us discovering these, I lifted one box to the table, with Blaze lifting the other as I opened the first, trying and failing with the key of gold,, trying again with the key of silver

“What, on, earth?” Crystal stared at Celestia

“I’m sure you’ve already met Celestia, Crystal” I smirked

“How in the actual fuck has she done that?” Crystal laughed

“Laptop” I grumbled

“That much is evident” she rolled her eyes at me as I turned to face the box’s contents= “‘How…?’” is all I could say as I was too busy trying to face the cats of what I was looking at

“That’s, a soul dew!” Crystal gasped

“There’s a note to go with it” Snowdrop pointed her hoof at the floor of the box, in which, like she exclaimed, there was indeed, a note, I placed the dully glowing sphere back into the box after taking the note out, reading it aloud:

Rick, we found this on our vacation in new Zealand, we don’t know exactly what it is, but we’d like you to have it, as we know we can rely on you to take care of everything that we ask of you, that being said, I ask that you keep it on you at all times, for who knows, it may bring you good luck, or it might not, that’s for you to find out

Lots of love, Harold and Sharon Hawkins

XOXOX

“They found a Soul dew whilst in the middle of New Zealand,” Crystal blinked “How?”

“That’s just another mystery that I think needs to go unsolved” I bit my lip, placing the soul dew atop the note, locking the box

“What’s the other one got in it?” Crystal peered over my shoulder as I opened the third and final lockbox with the key of gold, revealing a second soul dew, also with a note placed under it, this soul dew, however, was a pitch black colour with a deep, crimson ‘mist’ appearing every now and then in certain parts

“Another one, how is this possible?” Crystal gaped; I picked up the note sliding it out from underneath the pulsating orb, it read as follows:

Dear Son, your mother and I found this when we found you as an infant, we don’t know whose son you actually are, but I pray that we did just as good a job as they might’ve, wherever they are

Your mother’s passing was, difficult, to overcome, but I managed, somehow, to take care of the both of us, I know you may not believe it and you may throw away this letter as soon as you get it, let alone start reading it, but I want you to know that I love you, just as much as your mother would’ve it’s times like this that I look back and regret all that I’ve done to you that may be considered wrong by even the kindest of people, so wherever you go, whatever you do, or whomever you might meet, I want you to know that we both love you, even from beyond the grave if need be, I’ll bet with anyone on any amount of money that your mother would be proud as your real mother would be if she could see you now

Stay safe, lots of love, Adrian Hawkins

XOXOX

When I finished reading the letter, I collapsed, tears streaming down my face

“I can’t believe it…” Crystal stared at me

“Nor can I” Celestia glanced between me and the soul dew

“Tesla, you’re…?” Twilight stepped forward; I wiped away my tears as I pulled myself upright

“I was never truly reborn, merely reverted, stripped of my power, as it were” I frowned

“So, you’re a billion years old, literally and physically?” Crystal blinked

“I’ve no clue”

“That is correct” the soul dew began to glow with a bright light, hovering before me “Rick, I’m the old ‘you’ from one billion years ago, you’re the new ‘me’ living in the present, let’s skip the pleasantries, shall we?” the soul dew’s angle shifted “I see we’ve another eon, as well as Celestia in a new form, interesting, state your name, young eon”

“Crystal,” Crystal frowned

“Didn’t know the old ‘me’ could be such an asshole” I quipped, only for the soul dew to ‘face’ back toward me, firing a small dart of black energy at me, I flinched as it hit my stomach

“Next time you’ll think twice before commenting, eon boy” the gemstone snapped, “tell me, what year are we in?”

“Twenty-one-ninety-two-ish” I shrugged “why?”

“That is irrelevant to your concerns, little one” the blackish-crimson stone scoffed “now, onto more pressing matters…”

“You’re right, the old ‘you’ is an asshole” Blaze laughed

“Good thing I’ve changed then” I smirked

“Did we just insult you?” Crystal stared at me, blinking

“I’m not the one affected by petty comments; it’s the gemstone that’s the one with a serious attitude problem” I rolled my eyes, the sphere fired another dart, I flinched again

“I believe that pain and discipline go hand-in-hand,” the soul dew huffed “how many blasts will it take to get you to learn?”

“Can anyone else see what’s happened here?” ii stifled a laugh

“What’s happened?” Rainbow Dash and Twilight blinked in unison

“It’d appear that my personality was halved, and I got the good half, whilst the rest remained in the soul dew

“That is correct, but for now, I believe you need to be disciplined” the glowing orb hovering above the table hummed “how do you propose we do that, Rick-y boy?”

“I’d hate to see you in a bad mood” I mumbled

“Indeed,” it seemingly nodded “now, discipline,” it continued “how do you propose we perfect it upon your being?” I opened my mouth to speak “and before you mention your scars, those are from the war, not your parents, I only replaced them so it’d not cause you to be rendered catatonic, young eon”

“Although rather dark, I can accept that, I mean, if I end up brain-dead before the age of two, who’s going to look after you lot?” I glanced toward Celestia, laughing

“You’re demented” Crystal and the soul dew sighed together

“Aren’t I just, but that’s what separates me from you, I turned to face the soul dew, “I’m not like you, I’m not some stuck-up sadistic dictator who thinks he can do what he wants and get away with it,” I snarled “for every action in the universe, there is an according reaction and consequence, didn’t anyone teach you that, scum?”

“Good, now you’re getting there” the soul dew laughed “I’ll be in here, should you need me, young eon” and with that, the light faded from the crystalline orb, and it slowly lowered back into the box, which automatically closed and locked itself, as if by magic (pun intended, assuming there’s one to be made)

“Tesla,” Crystal inched forward, placing a gentle hand on my shoulder, I spun around, draping my wings and arms around her, holding her close to me as she did the same, having changed to her anthro form, draping her angel-like wings around me “I’m so sorry” she whispered, barely audible

“You’ve no reason to be” I shook my head, pecking her on the lips “I love you Crystal, you’re my little gem, one of the only two in existence in fact”

“Who’s the second?” she grinned, I nodded toward Winter Bell “Fair do’s”

“There are, or have been, ponies who’ve been observing this house, curious as to where it came from” Celestia smiled “what do you propose to do about it?”

“Curious how, exactly,” I tilted my head slightly

“They wish to see what it’s like inside” she sighed “Will you grant them that request, Rick?”

“And have possibly millions of pounds worth be damaged or stolen?” I laughed

“I’ve got priceless artefacts in the castle in canterlot” she shrugged

“You’ve got an army of guards to serve you as and when you please,” I shrugged “I’ve got none of that”

“You’ve got a dragon” Kiary perched herself on her shoulder

“What in the actual hell,” Crystal stared at Kiary

“I thought those dyes and spells would’ve worn off by now” Kiary shrugged

“That doesn’t explain why you look like a death-wyvern” she laughed

“It was for Nightmare Night” Kiary smirked

“And you haven’t tried dousing yourself with a little water?” Crystal blinked

“…” Kiary opened her mouth to start speaking, but then closed it again “Damn you”

“I know, I’m the best aren’t I?” she chortled

“One of the best anyway” I raised an eyebrow as Kiary wandered upstairs

“You flatter me” Celestia winked

“Would thou likest us to help with anything, Sir Rick?” Luna appeared, in her outfit, with a duster in-hand

“Tesla…” Crystal grumbled

“It was Blaze who suggested it!” I quickly rebuked, her gaze turned toward the Typhlosion now lying along the sofa, who shrugged

“I thought Tesla could use the extra help with the house” Blaze smirked

“And that involved having the lunar goddess being reduced to a mere housemaid?” I raised both eyebrows

“I don’t see you arguing!” she gave a smug grin, Crystal turned her gaze back toward me

“You want me to argue?” I spat “how about the fact that it removes any shred of dignity and decency she had, no offense, Tsuki”

“None taken, Master”

“You pay her to say that?” Crystal gave a sly grin

“I don’t pay her anything” I bit my lip

“Makes it all the sweeter would ya say, brother?”

“Oh, fuck you, Blaze,” I shook my head “though I think you already did anyways”

“When did this happen?” Crystal folded her arms

“When she evolved” I shrugged

“And you didn’t tell me that because why?” she raised an eyebrow

“Wouldn’t want you going mental about it” I hummed

“I’m not going to” she sighed, “Honestly, Rick, I wonder how you get into these situations”

“That makes the three of us” Blaze laughed

“I know, right?” I laughed

-=--=-

The following day, and I was sat on the sofa reading the letter from my dad, my family and friends elsewhere, save Snowdrop and Littlepip

“It hurts, doesn’t it?” Littlepip placed a fragile hoof on my side

“More than I can bear” I clenched my fists, she’d read the letter, and had subsequently been reduced to tears

“Just don’t let it be all you think about, my love” she pecked my cheek

“How can I not, my scars weren’t from my family, but from an age old war fought an eon ago, put that with the fact that Celestia controlled my love-life throughout my time on earth for her own selfish gain, what am I to do?”

“Be grateful that you’re here, with us” she nuzzled into me “We love you Tesla, and we know that you love us just as much, if not more, so what if you’re old life wasn’t that good, here you are, surrounded by new family and friends in a new world, why not make something of it?”

“I need to be somewhere” I stood up, Snowdrop perching herself on the back of my head, Littlepip walking with me to the front porch, smiling as I locked the door, changing to eon form, Climbing onto my back as I took off for Canterlot

-=-

As I entered the throne room, I saw Faust sat on the throne, and Cadance sat beside her

“Rick, such a pleasure to see you again” Faust smiled, I rolled my eyes “Is there something bothering you, young eon?”

“I found a letter in my home,” I began, she nodded “from my dad,” I went on” she nodded again” it says that I’m not their son, and that they found me with a soul dew,” she hummed, slowly nodding “so I’ve a question I’d like to ask of you, your majesty”

“You wish to know who you parents are?” she raised an eyebrow, I nodded “I’m sorry, but I alone cannot answer that, not until I am with Luna, Celestia and the others, namely Stella, or as she likes to be called, firefly, the concord flame, Iridia, or as her preferred name, Iris, and Galaxia,” she sighed “but, I ‘m afraid I can’t simply just ask for a summons with all of them simultaneously, that might give certain ponies the wrong idea”

“I understand” I quickly bowed

“Is there anything else I can help you with?” she smiled

“No, your majesty, that is all I had to ask” I shook my head “I’ll see you later”

“The elements of creation are to be summoned then?” Cadance giggled as I turned and left, stopping momentarily

“If Tesla so wishes, which I’ve no doubt that he does” Faust cooed, I nodded, walking out of the throne room

-=-

“The elements of creation, are to be summoned?” Luna blinked on the following week, quickly changing to her pony form, the outfit she apparently insisted on wearing now gone, replaced by her normal royal regalia “Let us make haste for Canterlot at once!”

On the return trip, I glanced behind me, my friends and family upon my back, Snowdrop once again atop my head as I flew beside Blackjack and Luna; Celestia soared up from the ground, perfectly matching my speed

“Show-off” I rolled my eyes, Celestia winked

As we entered the throne room -having knocked first and then been allowed entrance-, my friends and family walking beside me as Celestia and Luna appeared via teleportation beside Faust and Cadance, who were stood beside a white alicorn with a flowing cyan mane and tail, a pink Pegasus with a mild lavender mane and tail, a second white alicorn with a golden mane and tail wearing a pale green cape

“This is the element of nature you spoke of in your summons?” The pink Pegasus eyed me up and down, Faust nodded, “looks like an ordinary typical human to me, your majesty”

“Ah, that’s where you’re wrong” Faust nickered, the Pegasus shot her a rather perplexed look, Faust nodded “Show them Tesla, might as well have a little fun while we’re here, after all” I nodded, lowering Snowdrop to the ground, stepping forward, bursting into flames

“So he can set himself alight, what’s the big deal?” the Pegasus rolled her eyes, I exhaled a small fireball, spreading my wings, she stared at me

“You have wings?” she gawked at me, I lowered my head “and horns also, what are you?”

“I’m a human, an eon, and a dragon slayer,” I chuckled “which is a little ironic considering I’m one third dragon”

“A dragon, who’s also a Dragon slayer,” she blinked, I nodded “Well I’ll be damned if that isn’t irony at its best”

“I know, right?” I laughed

“So, you wish to know where you’re parents are?” The white alicorn with the cyan mane and tail smiled “I’m Galaxia, and these are Firefly and Iris,” she gestured to the alicorn and Pegasus that stood beside her, respectively

“The concord flame, as Faust told me” I bowed

“You needn’t bow; we’re all elements, are we not?” Faust simpered

“We’re not” Blackjack raised a hoof “we’re Rick’s Nakama”

“Nakama,” Firefly stifled a laugh

“It means a friend who’s closer than family, one who you’d do anything to protect,” I explained

“In all of my years, I’ve never heard of such a concept” Iris smiled “you’re name is rick, correct?” I nodded “I can see already that you hold a heart greater than anyone present, you just need to unlock its full potential, we can help with that, if you so wish,” she winked “tell me, have you activated your element of nature yet?”

“Not yet, as I’m sure of how to do so” I hummed

“That’s not true,” Blaze patted my back “when you went rampant, somewhat, you unleashed a wave of sub-par cataclysmic energy, that’s what destroyed the everfree forest”

“You destroyed the everfree?” Firefly raised an eyebrow

“Harmony repaired it” I bit my lip

“He awakened harmony?” she glanced toward Celestia, who nodded “A fool’s errand; assuming it was deliberate, which, knowing the typical human, it was,” she frowned “was it?”

“Why would I deliberately do something that would no doubt lead to the disrupting of the universe, or at least Equis?” Iris whispered something to Galaxia, who nodded

“Well spoken, I can now acknowledge you as a sub-par element of nature, somehow” “she nickered

“We too, acknowledge your abilities, even if we’ve yet to see them in combat” Galaxia smiled alongside Iris

“And that moves us onto the next topic at hoof, or in your case, hand” Firefly leapt forward, getting into a battle ready position

“Fight me” she growled, launching herself at me, knocking me to the floor, I gave her the flattest stare I could muster “didn’t you hear me?” she frowned, “I asked you to fight me” she hit me square in the face, I didn’t even twitch, she tutted hitting me again in the chest as the flames around me dissipated

“Why won’t you hit back?” she yelled, picking me up and throwing me into one of the pillars in the room

“Tesla is a being of chivalry” Blaze smirked “he doesn’t hit females”

“Weak!” Firefly spat as I fell to the floor, turning me over, only to be tackled in the side by a familiar icy-blue Pegasus

“You leave Daddy alone,” Snowdrop scowled as I stood upright “mercy isn’t a sign of weakness, but of wisdom, Daddy taught me that first-hoof!”

“Alright, how about I take you out first?” she spat, I lunged at her, knocking her on her back, Dawnbreaker drawn and paced against her neck as I held her down

“You even so much as lay a fraction of a hoof on my daughter and this room will become a bloodbath” I growled, my eyes, I had later been told, had become slits

“I thought you didn’t hit females,” Firefly gulped audibly

“I can make an exception for my little snowflake, especially for ponies like you, Firefly” I snarled “you can piss me about all you want, I’ll either shrug or laugh it off, you mess with my family, and it won’t matter who or what you are, so may the gods have mercy, for mercy shan’t be mine that day” I stood upright, sheathing the Dawnbreaker, turning and walking back toward my family, crouching

“Are you alright, Snowy?” I smiled

“All-the-better, knowing you’re Ok, Daddy” Snowdrop perched herself on the back of my head “She didn’t hit you too much, did she?”

“She acts like a bitch and hits like one also, just like the ex-wife” I laughed, vacating the room with my friends and family in tow

-==-

“Did you know that somewhere in America there’s a pub with a large cardboard sign outside it that says ‘we serve beer as cold as your ex-girlfriend’s heart’?” Blaze smiled

“So, it’s like magma then?” I smirked

“I see what you did there, brother” she laughed “but what’s with you teaching Snowdrop cheesy Bionicle quotes, not that I’m complaining?”

“Sometimes, courage means not knowing when to take a life but when to spare one” Snowdrop pecked my horn

“And now J.R.R Tolkien movie quotes also, what the hell Tesla?” she chortled

“Just proving that we can be the cheesiest beings on Equis” I shrugged

“Prove it” she folded her arms, giving me a smug grin

“If I had to choose between loving you and breathing, I’d use the last of my breath to declare how much I love you” I tutted

“Touché” she glimmered “So what’re we going to do about finding your parents?”

“Well for one, I wouldn’t know where to start, and second, chances are good they’re already dead, save for what a scarce few immortals might know of them” I sighed

“Once again, touché” she slowly nodded “Like win that episode when Applejack said that ‘if you believe amazing things can happen’”

“Hasn’t Gainax studios been doing that since nineteen-eighty-four?” I tilted my head

“So they have” she smirked, waiting outside our house with my friends and family as I retrieved my rucksack from the lounge, setting it down by the door on the porch, reaching into it, pulled out a large, heavy, silver blade with a  creamy-yellow glowing patters running down the middle, propping it beside the bag up against the wall

“Where in the hell did you get that?” she gaped

“An appropriate use of the word ‘hell’,’ dear sister” I grinned

“You went to that dimension, of all places!?” she stared at me

“I’m sorry for making you worry, sister” I patted her gently on the head, she quickly nuzzled my hand as I removed it

“You’re here now, and that’s what’s important, though Crystal might disagree, although she’d still love you all the same, Brother” she almost giggled, giving a light chuckled as she smiled

“May we be together, even if worlds apart” I held out a fist

“Our bond will strengthen us regardless” she clenched her paw, lightly bumping it against my fist

“And I thought I could be somewhat ‘cheesy’” I laughed

“It was rather a team effort than two individual projects, brother” she smiled

“So it was, Blaze, so it was” I simpered

“Where’d you go to get such a fine blade?” Velvet Remedy tapped the large weapon lightly, resulting in what sounded like a minute-long chorus of angels

“All that matters is that I have it, the Daybreaker, ten thousand times stronger than the Daybreaker, and two million times more resilient, at the very least” I sighed, sitting on the ‘garden’ outside the house

“To think that such a weapon could be forged,” Blaze shook her head “I guess even angels need to defend themselves, or in this case, dragons and eons”

“Tesla, you’re…?” Littlepip stared at me as I placed a gentle fingertip on the intricate patter within the circular part of the hilt of the Daybreaker, my wings immediately becoming a pearly silver colour

“I am that of which cannot be, and therefore, eventually shall be no longer” I riddled as a thunderous roar echoed from the forest as a large bear appeared, this one, unlike the first, was a smaller variant, with a six pointed star upon its head, and it’s colouration that of a bold/cobalt blue sort

“You wish to challenge us?” I stood upright; taking flight lunged toward the beast, fists blazing

Then the unexpected happened;

The star upon the Ursa’s head flashed a bright white glow for an instant, I stopped, mid-flight, looking down at myself, my arms had been reverted to their mechanical forms,

“Is that your best shot?” I scoffed, only to be sent crashing down to the ground, one of the mechanical arms literally shattering into hundreds of shards of metal as I came into contact with the grass-laden earth

“Tesla,” Blaze slammed the Daybreaker into the ground next to me “Kick its ass” I cast a moment’s glance toward her, nodding, grabbing the blade, soaring toward the enormous entity, bringing it high above my head

“Metsuryū Ogi Kai, Hoseki Ryū Jin ken!” I roared bringing the blade down, releasing an unbelievable wave of golden white pulsating fire toward the creature, splitting it in half, skidding to a halt as I landed

“That was amazing” I heard one pony gasp

“And he did it so effortlessly!” a second pony whistled

“And with one arm, and also in a single swing, no less!” a third added

“Never underestimate a dragon slayer” Blaze glimmered, my family and friends standing beside me as I went back to the garden situated in front of the house at which by rucksack was rested against the wall, slamming the blade into the ground

“Tesla, are you Ok?” Blackjack glanced toward my sleeve, which I shook as it continued to produce broken parts

“I’m in sub-par satisfactory condition,” I shrugged “this is only temporary, I hope” I laughed “wouldn’t want one of the only eons on Equis to go partially unarmed against whatever comes next, would we?”

“Quite so” Celestia smiled as she appeared beside Luna, Faust, and Firefly, her horn glowing as my arms were both repaired and restored to their human forms

“Y’know, I’m beginning to see a similarity or two between you and Asura, other than the mechanical arms”

“I’m not a demi-god,” I chortled “close to it perhaps, but not so, I would require the strength of an army of eons to earn that title, sister”

“No,” she shook her head “your compassion and solicitude for your Nakama, your friends, family and loved ones, it leaves you somewhat vulnerable, angry, enraged, you need to learn to supress that, find another way to win when there’s a life on the line, per se, don’t die like he did”

“You insist that I do nothing?” I frowned “I will do what’s necessary to protect Snowdrop and the others, violence or otherwise, and when I make a threat concerning my family, I intend to follow through, unless my self-control gets in the way”

“Case in point” she sighed “you’re a loose cannon Rick, learn to supress that fiery hatred for those who’d bring your family harm, morph it into something else if you can, just don’t end up hurting yourself doing it”

“…” I remained silent for an instant before saying; “No promises”

“That’s good enough for me” she rolled her eyes at me “you’re insane, you know that?”

“I thought we established that not a century ago?” I smirked

“So we did” she pumped a paw against my fist as I held it out

“Besides, Asura or ‘Ashura’s,’ are meant to have six arms and three heads, not one” I smiled

“That depends; can you imagine him with three heads?” she gave me a ‘are you serious?’ look

“Touché” I quickly nodded

“Where did you get that?” Celestia glanced toward the Daybreaker

“A place where angels soar and demons fear to tread” I winked “You may have it if you so wish, a gift, and a token of my service as my being your knight, and Nyx’s”

“I’ve a feeling you’d need it more than me, so whilst I appreciate the thought, you may keep it, Sir Rick” she smiled

“All’s fair in love and war, I suppose” I sighed

“You cheesy little bastard,” Blaze guffawed

“I know, sometimes I even scare myself” I gave her a shit-eating grin “Because you know you’re a tad awkward when you’re strength lies not in your physical prowess, but rather, in your heart”

“Just stop already,” she groaned “before I have an aneurysm”

“Only for, you, Blaze,” I grinned “only for you” I began scratching the vents on the back of her neck, she flinched, suddenly exhaling a short stream of fire

“Not bad, a little bitter, if a tad spicy” I grinned as I inhaled the flames, devouring them

“You…” Firefly stared at me ate fire?”

“Don’t be too impressed” I laughed “I can also eat gemstones, like an ordinary dragon of Equis”

“Please don’t do that, Rick” Blaze hummed

“I won’t do anything my friends don’t want me to do” I smiled

“Tesla,” Blaze sat beside me, nuzzling into me “you said once that you’d ‘do it for her,’ how do you feel about that now?”

“A little different, I’ll fight for those who I care about, be they eon, pony, or otherwise” I draped a wing around her

“Rick, draping your wing around somepony means you’re ready to mate with them” Celestia raised an eyebrow

“Ready this time, are we?” Blaze smirked

“I’m using it instead of an arm” I shrugged again

“Fair-do’s, brother” she smiled, lying on the ground with her head in my lap

“What’re you doing?” I tilted my head

“Just relaxing” she winked

“That’d mean that-” she grinned, sitting in my lap, pressing her lips against mine, glimmering as she parted

“Your idea of ‘relaxing’ is insane” I frowned

“So are you” she shrugged “So I guess the talon’s on the other claw”

“Touché” I mumbled as she patted my head, curling up in my lap

-=-

As I wandered around the house, I peered under the double bed that was placed against the wall in my bedroom, pulling out a rather old guitar, sitting on the bed, playing the strings a few times, attempting to tune it correctly

“Where’d ya find that?” Blaze smiled as she entered the room

“Under the bed, probably didn’t think of it whilst searching for the lockboxes because it wasn’t as important at the time” I shrugged “it’s even signed on the back”

“Signed, by who exactly?” she blinked, a little out-of-character, I flipped the guitar over, revealing a signature by a certain musician

“Bryan Adams” I smiled

“Making it priceless, almost” she glimmered “at least nowadays anyway, that thing’s worth a fortune”

“The most expensive guitar is signed by Bryan Adams and nine other guitarists, it sold at an auction in Qatar for around two-point-seven-million dollars” I shrugged

“Daily Telegraph?” she smirked

“Quite so” I nodded

As I walked with Blaze onto the ‘front lawn,’ assuming it could be called that, I spotted a silvery Pegasus with a blonde mane and tail sat there

“Hiya Rick,” the Pegasus known as Derpy exclaimed smiling, waving toward me, I smiled back

“Hello Derpy” I ruffled her mane a bit, she giggle, hovering beside me, nuzzling into me, handing me a box with a few letters tied to it via elastic band, pecking my cheek, winking at me as she flew away

“She’s cute” Blaze smiled “right up your alleyway, so to speak, eh brother?”

“Perhaps,” I nodded sideways “Now I just need her address and a way to dip into my bank account without being noticed or sounding too awkward”

“I can help you with that,” someone from above me yelled as a pair of magenta eyes filled my vision

“Good morning, Rainbow Dash” I smirked “Ponyville’s local spy, are we?” before she could retort I continued “I must say, you’re not very good at it”

“I wasn’t spying, I was napping” she gestured up to the cloud above me

“So, you said you could help Rick” Blaze Simpered

“I’ve been around Derpy’s place a few times, so I can take you there, but that’s assuming she’s even there later on” Rainbow Dash grinned “I told you she had a thing for you, Rick-o”

“So you did” I smiled again

=-=

“Are you sure about this, chances are good she’ll lock the door, trapping you in there for about a week” Rainbow Dash lightly punched my arm

“If it’s with a friend, I don’t see the problem” I shrugged, knocking on Derpy’s Apartment door, which was opened shortly afterward by the familiar silver Pegasus

“Tesla, I…” Derpy blinked “I wasn’t expecting visitors, come on in” she stood to one side, I entered the room, she closed the door behind me, locking it, just as Rainbow Dash said she would

“What rings you to see little old me?” Derpy sat beside me on the sofa

“I just wanted to see how you were” I smiled

“And I’m glad” she cooed “you’re all my little muffin talks about, and all I think about,” she simpered, tears welling in her eyes “Dinky’s always wondering when you’ll come to see us, even for the briefest of moments,” she leant into me

“Tell me, Tesla-”

“Rick” I stroked her mane

“Huh?” she blinked

“Call me Rick” I pecked her cheek

“Looks like somepony’s making it to second base” she purred, Dinky shouldn’t be back for the next three hours, she’s at school you see” she rolled onto my front, her head resting on my chest as she stared up at me

“What’re you doing?” I tilted my head

“Making myself comfortable Hon” she pecked me on the lips “I love you, Rick, do you love me?”

“I love all of my friends, especially ponies like you, Derpy” I smiled

This of course, may, or may not have, been the wrong thing to say, because as soon as I finished speaking, pecking her on the forehead afterward, she slid down my body, sitting between my legs, pulling my trousers and boxers down to my ankles, climbing back up slightly, trailing a thin line of saliva along the base of my shaft, taking it into her mouth, all the way to the hilt, quickly pumping her head up and down as she sealed her lips around it, smiling up at me as she sucked me off, gleefully devouring whatever trace amounts of pre made it out of the head of my manhood, her tongue rubbing along the base of my cock, I pulled her away, slouching down to a more even level, setting her crotch around my neck so she was facing downward, she once again took my length into her maw, as I slipped my tongue into her folds, she moaned as I twirled and danced my oral muscle around her depths, causing her to quickly orgasm, her folds clenching around my tongue as the fluid flowed between my teeth

“You’re amazing, my love” Derpy cooed, sitting in my lap

“Anything for you, my little silver cupcake” I smiled, she clambered onto my stomach, lining herself up with my member, slamming down on it, flinching slightly as a ever-so slight amount of blood trickled down from her entrance

“Are you Ok, Derpy?” I bit my lip

“I’ll be fine, just…” she paused for a moment, exhaling sharply “just keep going”

“If you say so, silver” I gave a weak smile as I began to buck my hips in sync with her thrusts, hilting her each time she bought herself down on me, lightly taking hold of her flanks as she bounded up and down, releasing wave after wave of seed into her she almost wailed as I climaxed, her folds once again clamping down on me as she collapsed onto my chest

-=-

“That was amazing…” Derpy sighed, my lower attire back up where it belonged

“Truly” I smiled, as a key turned the lock on the door

“Dinky,” Derpy gleamed as a silvery lavender unicorn filly with a blonde-ish mane and tail appeared at the door, the two of them sharing a hug as Dinky leapt toward her mother “How’ve you been?”

“Diamond Tiara kept bullying the me and the crusaders again because we don’t have our cutie marks yet” Dinky nuzzled into her mother

“Have you talked to Cheerilee about it?” Derpy draped a wing around her daughter

“More than once, and she says she’ll talk to Diamond Tiara’s parents about it, but she never does, because she keeps on bullying us,” she glanced toward me “Daddy!” she charged at me, I gasped for breath as she collided with my midsection  

“You get bullied at school, how come?” I stroked her mane

“We don’t have cutie marks, so Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon constantly picks on us for it, they’re the worst!”

“And bullies never learn, which is why you need to stand up to them,” I smiled “show them that you’re not going to be messed with any longer, non-violently of course, and they should leave you alone, plus, there’s at least four of you and two of them, if you band together as a group, you’d be able to do anything” I pecked her on the tip of her horn

“And if that doesn’t work?” she squee’d, gleaming at me in sheer glee

“Then you get to bring in your secret weapon” I winked

“Which is?” she giggled

“Me” I winked

“I’ll try” she nodded

“Just do what you can, without resorting to violence; I don’t want anyone to get into trouble because of this” I set her on the seat beside me, petting her lightly on the head “Now then, Derpy, I’ll see you later” I walked to the door “and thanks for the muffins, silver”

-=-=-

“So, how’d it go?” Blaze smirked, lying beside me as I sat cross-legged on the front lawn, again

“Quite well, I’d say,” I smiled, staring into the sky “And I don’t think Diamond Tiara will be a problem for at least a year”

“Who’s that?” she laughed

“Just a bully” I chuckled

“Ah, so I see” she nodded “Take care of them, have you?”

“Not just yet, Blaze, not just yet” I shook my head

“Tell the would-be victim to stand up to this ‘Diamond Tiara,’ did we?”

“What else can I do,” I shrugged “I asked Dinky not to resort to violence, as I don’t want Derpy to be blamed for it”

“Wise,” she nodded again “and if all else fails?”

“Then I get involved” I frowned

“And what would you do, ask the teacher, assuming this is a school-based event, that her parents be bought to the school?”

“It’s the least I can do” I clicked my neck

“So be it,” she sighed

=-=-=

As the days progressed, I got no word of any events at the school, until on one morning not half a month later, Derpy appeared, as she always did,  handing me a small pile of letters, staring at the ground

“Are you Ok, Silver?”

“It’s Diamond Tiara, they hit my little muffin” Derpy began to weep, clinging onto me, I draped my wings around her, holding her close

“Then that means that it’s my turn I stroked her mane “don’t worry, this’ll work out fine, trust me”

“I’d trust you with my life if I thought it’d make a change” she pecked my cheek

-==-

As we -Blaze, Dinky, Derpy and I-, made it to the school, there were two ponies, one was a grey earth pony with a silver mane and tail styled into a braid wearing pale blue glasses and a sterling silver spoon for a cutie mark, the other a pink unicorn with a lavender and white two-toned mane and tail with a tiara for a cutie mark

“Get ‘em daddy” Dinky mumbled perched upon my head

“That things your daddy?” the unicorn spat “no wonder you’re so weak, it’s a freak!”

“And you’re a pathetic bully,” I set Dinky down by my side, stepping forward “and bullies never learn, unless they’re stood up to”

“Is there a problem?” a magenta pone with a pink mane and tail with three smiling daisies for a cutie mark blinked, trotting toward us

“Diamond Tiara’s being a bully again!” Dinky frowned

“What do I keep telling you about doing this, Diamond Tiara?” the pony groaned

“We’re not doing anything!” Diamond Tiara gasped “how dare you?”

“How dare she?” I boomed “how dare you lie about being what you are, a stuck-up, good-for-nothing pile of festering trash?” I growled “If I hear so much as a whisper of you laying so much as a fraction of a hoof on my daughter again; I will personally see to it that you spend the rest of your miserable life in the worst type of hell I can bring, dragon’s honour” she ran away, tears streaming down her muzzle as she sprinted toward the school, the silver filly quickly followed her

“I believe that shall we all I need to do, my little muffin” I crouched down, draping a wing around the silvery lavender filly beside me, who clung onto me with all her might

“Harsh brother, harsh” Blaze whistled

-==-==-

“Tesla,” Twilight galloped toward me, holding a letter within a magenta magic aura “I’ve got a letter from Cheerilee, she says she wants to meet you this afternoon, any idea why?” she blinked, passing me the letter, I quickly read it, handing it back to her

“It’s best you don’t know” I mumbled

“But you only go there at that time of day if you’ve done something to upset one of the students,” she tilted her head “What’ve you done, Rick”

“I did what I felt was necessary,” I spat “I’ve said it countless times before, and I’ll say it again now, you can do what you want to me, but mess with my family, and we’re going to have a problem”

“What, did, you do?” she frowned, putting emphasis on each and every word

“I did what most teachers that I know of fail to do, I saw the problem, and I acted how I felt was according to the problem, thus, solving it” I scoffed “albeit, temporarily”

==--=--==

As I walked toward the school, Snowdrop perched upon the back of my head, and Blaze and my friends walking beside, Winter Bell, Gracy Gloom and I, I was met outside the building with a familiar pony

“Oh, it’s you” Filthy Rich scowled as we entered one of the classrooms “Weren’t happy with tormenting me, were you?”

“Please, let’s be civil here” Cheerilee held up her hooves defensively

“I’ll be civil when Filth here decides to teach hell-spawn some manners” I snarled

“She is as perfect as the day she was born, how dare you question that!” Filthy Rich scowled

“I dare because you’re obviously blind,” I snapped “if you’re daughter’s so perfect, then why is she not in Celestia’s school for gifted unicorns instead of here, surely you have the money, as your name suggests, yes?” he slowly nodded “well then what’re you waiting for?”

“She’s not old enough” he sighed “if she were any older, I would take her without hesitation, believe me I would

“Winter, show him what you can do” I smiled as Winter Bell hovered above one of the tables, both front hooves blazing as she exhaled a small stream of fire

“She’s a demon” he snarled

“She’s a dragon slayer, and judging by your reaction, you’re no better than the insults you give”

“Pardon,” he frowned

“She’s using dragon slayer magic, an ancient form of spells given to humans by the dragons of old, you might want to ask Crystagia about it, if we feel that you’re eyes are worthy to bask in her presence”

“I can buy anything you can think of,” he scoffed “don’t make me laugh!”

“No, you can’t” I smirked, changing to eon form, tapping my chest symbol “I have Crystagia’s heart within me, it’s the only one in the universe, a priceless artefact, no matter how you put it, and it, being a part of me, belongs to Celestia, as I am her knight and lord in less-than shining armour”

“So I can’t” he whistled “how much do you want for it?”

“I’m not selling my heart; I only give it to those of whom I love dearly” I snorted

“Well then, what do you propose?” he raised an eyebrow

“Should you choose to tell Diamond Tiara to leave Applebloom, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo and Dinky alone, and I’ll leave you be, both of you”

“And if she continues anyway, regardless of my actions?” he smirked

“I’m sure I’ve already done enough to last a few eons of damage” I grinned “I needn’t do more, me-thinks”

“You’ve a deal” he held out a hoof, I shook it

==-==

“That went rather well, Daddy” Snowdrop giggled

“So it did, Snowy, so it did” I smiled

“What happened?” Celestia raised an eyebrow

“Filthy Rich self-acclaimed that he could by everything, I proved him wrong” I tapped my chest-symbol

“What did you say to him?” Twilight tilted her head

“Snowdrop,” I simpered

“You said, and I quote;” she cleared her throat ‘“I have Crystagia’s heart within me, it’s the only one in the universe, a priceless artefact, no matter how you put it, and it, being a part of me, belongs to Celestia, as I am her knight and lord in less-than shining armour’” she squee’d after finishing

“Your heart belongs...” Celestia stared at me “to me?” she blinked “you flatter me, truly, to think that you’d bequeath such a gift unto me is…” she bit her lip “it’s unbelievable, truly”

“Were it possible for me to survive, I’d tear it out of my chest and hand it to you, but alas, even if I were to survive such an act, I’d be rendered powerless in the world of magic”

“When I asked you to prove how cheesy you could be, I didn’t mean over the course of a year” Blaze grumbled

“Lighten up, torch,” I laughed “I mean, it can’t get much worse, right?”

“Don’t say that, you know the cliché well enough not to” she stuck her tongue out at me

“Ah didn’t think ya’ll could get any kinder than ya have thus far” Applejack whistled “Looks like ya’ll have proven us both wrong, pardner”

“So I have” I rolled my eyes, Celestia changed to her anthro form, draping her arms and wings around me

“I’m glad you came to Equis, my little eon” she pecked my cheek

“And I’m glad I got the chance to know you, Celestia” I smiled, taking a few steps back, bowing on one knee “I’m yours to command, your majesty”

“Quite the charmer” she giggled, her horn glowing as she set me back on my feet via magic

“Ah yes, the silver Pegasus known to many as Derpy hooves, I must congratulate you on managing to help her” Discord popped into view beside me

“You so much as make eye contact with her, and I’ll skin you alive, and then laminate your skeleton and place it out in the gardens as a nice trophy, clear?” I grabbed his hand, just as he was about to place it upon my shoulder

“You wouldn’t dare,” he began “I’m the lord of chaos; I’m needed on Equis, lest things fall into disharmony”

“Otherwise known as chaos” I raised an eyebrow, glaring at him “if you wish to prove that I won’t do what I say that I ill, you’re free to go ahead and try” he popped out of view

“Why do we let him live again?” Blaze sighed

“He breaks the monotony” Celestia nickered

“You’ve already got me to do that” I smiled

“You helped tha local mailmare, how so?” Applejack simpered

“Dinky was being bullied, so I helped solve the matter” I shrugged “child’s play, pun not intended”

“Although I will say that I think you went overkill in the process” Blaze rolled her eyes

“Me, overkill on such a sensitive matter, Blaze my dear you forget who I am” I laughed

“If you say so” she slowly nodded, suddenly, a golden ticket appeared before me, landing in my grasp

“For this year’s Grand Galloping Gala” Celestia smiled “I trust that you’ll attend?”

“Not this time, I apologize,” I shook my head “I’ve got personal matters to attend to”

“As you say” she nodded

=--=--=

“You’re giving this to me,” Derpy gasped as I handed her the ticket to the gala “but who’ll take care of Dinky?” she glanced toward me, I winked “I knew I could count on you, I’ll plan for the evening’s dinner, unless you’ve got your own money and plan on treating her to something?” she giggled

“We shall see” I slowly nodded

“Daddy’s going to be with me for a whole night,” Dinky gasped “yes, yes, yes, yes; yes!” she bounded up and down in absolute glee

“You’ll behave for us, won’t you, my little muffin?” Derpy draped a wing around the unicorn filly

“You bet I will,” she exclaimed “I’ll be on my best-est behaviour for Daddy, mommy, you don’t need to worry”

“You’ll take care of her, won’t you?” Derpy tilted her head

“Come hell or high water, on my title as Celestia’s knight and lord, no harm shall come to her” I bowed quickly

“Thank you, my love” she cooed

(--=--)

“You’re doing what now?” Blaze stared at me, giving me the best ‘are you fucking kidding me?’ look she could muster

“It’d be nice for her to relax and enjoy herself, if only this once” I smiled “and I offered to take care of Dinky for her, and I promised on my title that she’ll be fine, so there’s no need to worry”

“So you have,” she sighed “changing the subject, I’ve noticed a rather interesting clock shop nearby, wanna check it out?”

“Sure” I smiled, standing upright, slipping my rucksack on, changing toe eon form, Gracy Gloom leaping onto my back simultaneously with Winter Bell, gliding alongside Blaze as she bounded toward the shop

“Good morning Rick” a brown unicorn mare with a flowing chocolate brown mane and tail smiled as I entered the shop, a clock on one of the shelves clicked, and all of a sudden, we were surrounded by an ocean of almost mystical tones as the store came to life, some clocks displayed both light as well as sound, others portrayed actual moving ponies decorated onto their surfaces, gradually, the sound died down again, I was left speechless

“If you think that’s good, you should come again when the hour strikes, I promise you that you won’t regret it” she winked

“I see you know who we are,” I reverted to human form, my passengers landing safely on the floor of the shop as I did so, walking to the mare; bowing “but might I ask for your name, fair maiden?”

“I see you’re quite the charmer, Rick” she giggled “I’m Autumn Heart, I run Stems and Gears”

“Quite the nice shop you’ve got here, Autumn Heart” I smiled

“Thank you, milord” she nickered “But, if I may ask, what brings Celestia’s lord and knight down to see little old me?”

“I was informed, shall we say, by Blaze,” I smiled

“Would you like to make a purchase, milord?” she smiled

“I’d like something for the mantle, something that’s elegant, and yet somewhat sturdy also” I hummed

“I believe I may have something for you,” she winked “please, wait here” she walked into a back room, returning a few moments later with a cuboid-shaped, tower-like clock with roman numerals for the numbers, and what looked like a identical tiny rapiers for the minute and second hands, and a miniscule broadsword for the hour hand, with twin gargoyles on the front corners of the timepiece, the clock itself was a crimson work of art with golden pillars and frames with a silver frame for the clock itself, the frame around the clock built like an archway, small circular patters indented into the archway itself, each one with the depiction of a type of animal, the patters above the archway were almost indescribable, per se, the background was a deep, blood-red crimson with chandelier-like patterns of pearly white and gold

“How much do you want for it?” I tilted my head

“Fifty bits” Autumn Heart winked again, “And I get to join your herd” she giggled “that’s all I ask, milord” I set by rucksack down bedside me, reaching into one of th side pockets, pulling out a medium-sized pouch -each coin in said pouch was apparently  worth a hundred bits-, handing it to her

“You’re charming as well as generous, I’ll have to remember that” she purred, walking around the back of the counter, placing the clock into a box, the clock having been wrapped in an unknown material, sealing it with tape “Have a good day now, sweetie” she waved as I walked out of the shop with Blaze and the others

-=-

As I got home, I undid the tape with a knife I found in the kitchen, fragilely unwrapping the material from the clock, carefully placing it on the mantle, setting it to the correct time

“That’s quite the clock for fifty bits” Blaze whistled “although I assume that love is priceless, isn’t it, brother?”

“That it is, Blaze,” I nodded “Love is only worth the time spent searching for it”

“Those awfully cheesy lines of yours are really beginning to tick me off” she grinned

“But you’ve got to hand it to me, that I make a good joke” I laughed

“Damn you” she growled

“I know, right?” I beamed

“So how much did you give her anyway?” she raised an eyebrow as we walked back outside

“Around a few grand” I shrugged

“How much do you have on you now?” she grinned, again

“Not a damn coin,” I gleamed “There rest of it’s in Canterlot, in the treasury”

“You’re generous, somewhat charitable and charming” she laughed “No wonder she likes you, brother”

=-=-=

That night, I bolted upright, changing to eon form, making my way into the plaza, going quietly as not to disturb the others, my ears pulling me toward an alleyway, fluttershy stood there opposite four stallions dressed in black coats and hats, I quickly reverted to human from, changing from there to Alphamon

“Whaddya think we should do with dis one?”  The fourth stallion asked.

The first stallion laughed; “We’re gonna give her the special treatment.”  He replied evilly.

“Special… t…treatment,  that doesn’t really sound so…”

“You must be feeling tense; why don’t you stay here and relax with us?”  The third stallion asked.

“Thanks, but I really should be getting home…  my animal friends wouldn’t like it if I’m late…”

“C’mon, I’m sure they won’t mind!”

All four stallions began to close in on Fluttershy.  She ducked down on the ground while making small whimpering noises.  Three of the stallions began to feel up and down her back.

“P…please don’t do that…you’re making me very uncomfortable…”

Ignoring her plea, one of the stallions took off her saddlebag, and threw it aside.  Fluttershy gasped.

“Please, I need that!”

“Not anymore, you don’t.  You ain’t goin’ nowhere.”

“Let me go!  I need to get home to my animal friends!”

Fluttershy began to struggle with the stallions; she jerked her body around while kicking her hooves, trying to free herself from the attackers’ grasp, but while doing so; she accidentally kicked the first stallion right in the jaw

The stallion reeled back, and put a hoof up to his face

After a few seconds, he pulled his hoof away slowly, upon seeing blood, he snarled angrily, and somewhat demonically

“Alright boys, get her, Do whatever you want to her!”  He ordered, as he said this, he pulled a knife out from his coat

“What do you think you’re doing?” in a flash, I was right behind the quartet, cracking my knuckles

“Who da hell d’ya think you are?” the first stallion spat

“Call me Alpha” I growled, giving the pony a roundhouse kick to the jaw, sending him sprawling, in an instant the pony with the knife bought the makeshift weapon down on my leg, the blade snapped clean in half

“If you wish to see her majesties sun, I would advise that you leave immediately” I clicked my neck, the pony, now disarmed, dropped the broken knife, and galloped as fast as he could out of the alleyway, edging past me as he went, the other two carried their fallen ally out also

“Are you alright, my little butterfly?” I crouched down to the yellow Pegasus’ level, she gave a weak nod, slowly climbing to her hooves, only to collapse, flinching in quite visible pain, there were numerous bruises scattered across her wings and body

Gently, I picked her up in my arms, holding her as I stood upright

“Just tell me where to go and I’ll get you home, safely” I winked, she gave a slight smile and a nod, her cheeks turning a bright pink as I carried her away from the scene of the would-be crime, guiding me to her cottage on the edge of town, I set her down on the bed one she was inside, reverting to human form

“I’ll see you tomorrow, my little butterfly” I winked again, pecking her forehead, before I left

As I walked home, I noticed the front door was open, marching into the house, I found muddy hoof-prints around the doormat, walking upstairs, I found a familiar unicorn tucked into my bed

“Oh, the list of cliché’s I can think of now” I mumbled, grinning like an idiot “right, Autumn Heart?” the brown unicorn rolled over in her sleep, messing up the sheets slightly

-=-=-

When morning came, I pulled myself up to my feet, having slept, sat against the wall outside

“Good morning Tesla” Blaze stifled a laugh “have you seen our newest tenant?”

“I have, and if she’s not got a home for herself,” I began with a shrug “then she’s more than welcome to stay, we’ve got enough beds after all, besides, you sleep on the couch”

“That I do” she nodded with a sly smirk

“Really,” I turned to face the front doorway Autumn Heart was stood there, staring at me in glee “I can stay?”

“You don’t have a bedroom in the upstairs of your shop?” I blinked, she shook her head “in that case, welcome to the family” she lunged at me, knocking me to the ground as she lavished me with kisses, planting a big one dead-centre on my lips, gripping onto me with all her might

“I’ll make it worth your while, milord, just you wait” she winked, climbing from my chest to the grass-laden earth, walking back into the house

“Now she’s most likely going to expect to be paying rent whilst living with me?” I sighed, sitting upright

“Uh, Brother” Blaze pointed behind me, I turned, Twilight and her friends, minus Pinkie Pie, were stood there, grinning at me with a bunch of sly smirks

“Mornin’”

“Fluttershy tells us you played the hero last night” Twilight glimmered

“How do you know it wasn’t just a dream?” I raised an eyebrow

“Ah’m the element of honesty, Ah can tell when somepony’s tellin’ tha truth” Applejack beamed

“What happened?” Blaze grinned

“Fluttershy here says that Tesla saved her from would be criminals,” Twilight winked at me “In Alphamon form”

“Cheesy much, brother,” Blaze cackled with laughter “it’s like a bad comedy sketch, straight out of a Monty Python movie!”

“At least I’m not like Ichiya from the Blue Pegasus guild”

“Touché” she shuddered almost uncontrollably

“Honestly, I think you ponies are beginning to rub off on me” I laughed

“No, you’ve been kinder than you’re being now long before you came here,” Blaze’s eyes narrowed as she gave a smug grin “you’re just too afraid to show it”

“Fear and embarrassment are two different things, Blaze” I frowned

“True,” she nodded “but don’t forget that one of the two can lead to the other, just as you taught me, brother”

“God Damnit” I sighed “well, were you there when I was at the castle a couple of days ago?”

“You mean after we solved the issue with Dinky?” I nodded “I don’t think I was, why?”

“Well, remember when Filthy Rich said he could buy anything, and I proved him wrong,” she nodded again as I changed to eon form “I said that it, alongside myself, belonged to Celestia, as I am her knight and lord in not-so shining armour”

“Yes, yes, we all know that” she waved a dismissive paw”

“What you don’t know is that I said I’d tear it out and hand it to her if I could”

“That’s both disgusting and rather charming” she raised an eyebrow “How would you intend to do such a thing anyway?”

“Get me a handful of large gems and I’ll show you” I grinned

“Alright then” she pulled a basket of sizeable gems out of basically nowhere and behind her at the same time

“You’re not going to try and stop me?” she shook her head, grinning maniacally toward me, I shrugged, taking one of the gems into my mouth, crunching down on it as I stabbed myself in the chest with a claw, rending my crystalline heart/chest symbol (they’re the same thing) out, eating as many gems as I could within the shortest amount of time, watching in what almost became awe as my heart regenerated

“Success!” she gleamed as I held the delta-arrow/prism in my hand

“You just ripped your own heart out!” Twilight puked, as did Rarity Fluttershy fainted, Applejack looked somewhat disturbed

“When is aid I’d do it if I could, I meant it” I smirked

“That doesn’t mean you should do it in public,” she shuddered “Please, whatever you do, don’t give it to Celestia, I dread to think what she’d say if you showed her what you’ve done…”

“That’s fair enough” I smiled “oh and if you want to take a look around the inside,” I pointed a thumb toward my house “beware the wandering pony” she grinned, as did Applejack

“Rick, what’ve you done?” she beamed, I reverted to human form,, placing the heart-gem into my inventory, wagging a finger at her

“That’s for me to know and you to find out”

“Really, you have a house-guest now, Dear Rick?” Rarity giggled nervously “It’s not Luna this time is it?” I raised a finger, opening my mouth to speak, instead opting to lower my arm, stand upright, and walk into the house Blaze and the others following me

“I’m telling you I’ve been allowed to live here” Autumn Heart was currently arguing with Luna, who was, once again, in the same outfit as before

“Whilst we find that Sir Rick is a charitable person, we find it somewhat hard to believe that he would let a stranger into his house” Luna sighed, clearly tired of the debate

“That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you, I don’t have a home to live in, so Tesla’s let me stay here,” she turned around, facing me “Rick, tell her that I’m allowed here now”

“Just so long as you don’t damage, steal or break anything, you may stay as long as you wish” I quickly bowed

“By thy own words, milord” Luna smiled

“You’ve quite the eye on ya sugarcube” Applejack nudged my leg with a hoof “So how’s this start then ya’ll an’ her?”

“Blaze suggested a certain clock shop, what she didn’t mention was the beauty that ran the after-mentioned shop”

“Oh stop it” Autumn Heart’s cheeks became a bright red colour as she glanced away from me momentarily

“I’m serious,” I exclaimed “if Blaze had found you any sooner, I can only dream to think where we’d be now” I blinked “did I just say that?”

“Yes, yes you did” Blaze chortled

“Looks like the thing that eons go through that Crystal mentioned is still in effect,” I stared at Twilight “you know; the ‘cycle’ thing?” I slowly nodded

“You’re still being affected by that?” Blaze stared at me, I shrugged

“So it would seem” I mumbled

“But Crystal said that the longest time that anyone’s ever been affected by it is a decade, you’ve been acting like it for the past twenty-two years!” she stifled a laugh at the end “I think coming here and meeting your new Nakama has locked you into a permanent state of it, brother”

“So, what happened next, after ya’ll two met?” Applejack nodded toward Autumn Heart once again nudging my leg

“I asked for a clock that looked somewhat elegant and wouldn’t break easily, she gave me one, which is now on the mantle-piece, I asked her how much she wanted for it and what was her reply?” I glanced toward the brown unicorn mare who was stood beside Luna

“I requested fifty bits and an invitation into your herd, Lord Rick” Autumn Heart smiled

“And how much did you give her?” Twilight smirked

“A couple of thousand bits, all in one-hundred bits per-coin” Autumn Heart gleefully marched up to me, took my hand in her magic which was a light chocolate brown-coloured aura, taking me upstairs, sitting me down on the bed, sitting in my lap, placing her hooves on either shoulder, connecting her lips with mine

“I’m ready when you are, lord of Gemstones” she purred

Next Chapter: Chapter XVI; Family (maybe part 1/?) Estimated time remaining: 10 Hours, 26 Minutes