As I ventured into the castle in the forest, I entered the throne, only to come fact-to-face with a sort-of-familiar lunar goddess

“Have you come to bask in the gloriousness of Nightmare Moon?” the mare cackled insanely.

I exploded into a molten fireball of rage, the walls, windows and ceiling exploded, shattering and instantaneously melting as I let out an unearthly roar, initiating ‘Gear Second,’ charging toward the mare, firing Gatling-like punches as fast and hard as I could, fists blazing, the fire becoming pure liquid and dripping to the floor, resulting in a light hiss as the stone floor melted, creating twin large spheres of magma and slamming them against the Nightmare,

“Eigo Hoseki Ryū..!” I bellowed as the mare went flying into the air, seemingly unconscious as she fell down to the ground “Suishō hasu Guren Yōgan Ryū Ken!” I boomed, firing more jabs toward the pitch-black entity, sending her flying, resulting in a crater as she soared toward the remains of the far wall, letting out another inhuman roar as the entire castle exploded in an almighty wave of almost godlike magic energy.

“That one’s for Puppysmiles, Bitch” I snarled, inhaling copiously, and then exhaling a vast torrent of both fire and magma toward the fallen demigod.

I blinked, looking around the remains of the castle

“What was I doing again?” I tilted my head, “Fuck if I care…” I turned and left, walking back toward Ponyville as I started whistling a familiar tune.

“Where have you been..?” Celestia boomed, her voice laced with venom.

“Out, though I can’t remember why for the life of me….” I blinked.

“And there just so happened to be an explosion in the centre of the Everfree forest at the time?” she frowned, eyes narrowed, “I find it to be rather suspicious, she nodded behind me.

I glanced toward the throne room door, where Nightmare Moon stood, quickly teleporting, now standing beside Celestia.

“Nightmare Moon tells me of your newfound power, that of magma, how do you plead?” she scowled.

“I’m a fire-based wizard, not magma, and besides, it’s not possible in any way, shape or form for fire to liquefy, at least, not to my knowledge,” I bit my lip.

“She states that you turned into a killing machine, unceasingly attempting to end her life, how does that sound?” Celestia snapped.

“I don’t take a life unless I feel like I have to, Celestia, I assure you, if I want someone dead, I’ll bloody well do it properly.”

“So you admit to doing it then?” she spa.

“I never said that I did it, implications disregarded of course,” I rolled my eyes, “Besides, if I did do such a thing, I’d at least remember it, wouldn’t I?”

“So you would,” she sighed, “but I cannot let this event slide, I’ll be having words with your mother about this, Rick.”

“=-=”

“So, how’d it go?” Blaze stood opposite me as I exited the throne room.

“Apparently Nightmare Moon is a new Citizen of Equestria; and that I’m to be ranted at by mother,” I sighed.

“You want to get something to eat?” she smiled, weakly as we began to walk, my family quickly joining me.

“I’m not hungry,” I shook my head, “besides, all my money’s back on the other world, and I can’t wait to get back,” I snorted, “who knows, I might be a certain somepony a nice present.”

“A muffin?” she blinked, I shook my head, “your heart?” I shook my head again, “then I’ve no idea…”

I quickly glanced around the area, then toward each of my family, “I was thinking of a nice bouquet…”

“Are you alright?” she stared at me in horror, “you, buy flowers for someone,? I call bullshit!” I gave her the flattest stare I could imagine.

“You’re actually serious!?” she burst into laughter, quickly stopping herself with a snicker, “SO, who’s the lucky mare?”

“That’s none of your concern, Blaze.”

“It is if it involves my family,” she frowned, I winked, “Touché…”

“This is really goodbye…?” the new Twilight blinked as she stood beside her friends and her home-world’s variants of the princesses

“I’m afraid so,” I gave a forlorn nod as a sense of nausea overcame me

-=-

“So, here we are…” Blaze mumbled, glancing around the immediate area, “Irt’;s nice to see that nothing’s changed, much…”

I hurried to where my house would’ve been, sighing with relief as I found it standing where it’d always been, quickly turning and sprinting into the forest, eventually finding the statue I’d made, complete with the array of weapons scattered around its base.

“Thank Christ…” I breathed another sigh of relief, clapping my hands together, slamming them down upon the ground as cyan lightning stormed across the ground and a pinkish filly wearing a yellow ‘space ‘suit with a blue streak in her mane appeared with the other characters that stood there alongside a purple unicorn mare with an orange mane, both smiling down at me

Quickly bringing out my hammer and chisel I etched the word ‘Puppysmiles’ and ‘Rainy Days’ into the base of the new parts of the statue, respectively, placing the tools back into my inventory afterwards…

“Rick..?” I didn’t bother turning to see who it was, simply choosing to stare into the eyes of the character known as Puppysmiles, “Are you alright?”

“I’ll be fine,” I half-lied

“Are you sure?” Twilight appeared beside me, staring at the newest addition to the statue.

“Puppysmiles, “she read aloud, glancing toward me “She didn’t…?”

“She’s dead,” I hissed, “and I wasn’t there to save her, like I should have been.”

“But, can’t you bring her back?” her gaze shifted between myself and the statues

“There’d be no honour in bringing back the dead, besides, she’s with her mother now,” I nodded toward Rainy Days.

“So she is…” she muttered, glancing toward me again, “why don’t we see if Pinkie Pie can cheer you up?”

“I’m not in the mood for games,” I frowned.

“I know you feel down, but moping isn’t going to help anypony” she giggled.

“Down..?” I snapped, she flinched “I’m not down, I’m annoyed beyond recognition, Twilight Sparkle, those ponies,” I gestured toward the statue, “died, because of my incompetence, do you have any idea what that feels like?” I glowered icily toward the lavender mare, “just go…”

Twilight turned, galloping as fast as she could toward Ponyville.

“The five virtues of the wasteland,” I mumbled once she’d left, “Perseverance, Sacrifice, hope, innocence, and compassion,” I growled “Where on god’s green earth did I go wrong?”

Changing to eon form, I retrieved a pen and sheet of paper from my inventory, writing down a quick note, leaving it by the state under one of the plasma rifles; soaring toward the nearby gorge, reverting to human form, stepping closer to the edge.

“Daddy..!” I was knocked off my feet and dangerously close to the edge by an icy-blue filly.

“What’re you doing here Snowdrop?” I blinked at the little filly, who snarled, rearing back a hoof and striking me across the face.

“Don’t you dare die on me; you promised me that you wouldn’t, remember!?” she shrieked, panting for breath afterward, hitting me again across the face.

“I remember, I promised that I’d not die on you, and that I’d always be there for you, my little Snow Angel” I pecked her forehead, she frowned, standing beside me as I sat there on the edge, perching herself upon my head, pecking one of my horns as she always used to.

“Then please, don’t do it again,” she whimpered, I steadily got to my feet gliding back home, sitting on the front lawn.

“I won’t Snowdrop, you can count on it this time,” I set her down in my lap, draping my wings around her.

“We love you Daddy…!” Snowdrop clung onto me as Gracy Gloom, Scootaloo, and Winter Bell, launched themselves at me, nuzzling into me,

“And I you my little Winter Bell, Saving Grace and rising Star, and I you,” I pecked each of them on the forehead, noticing a light pump on Snowdrop’s head.

“Are you Ok, Snowy?”

Oh, this…” she pulled back her mane, revealing a short, pointed horn, “it’s nothing special…”

“You’re an alicorn” I whispered “that makes you my little snow princess.”

“And you’re my little eon” she giggled, pecking me on the nose with a cute little smile.

“Rick..!” Autumn Heart tackled me to the ground, lavishing my face with small kisses, “oh I missed you so much! Where were you?”

“Out,” I winked, “nowhere special…”

“Everywhere you go is special, that’s another reason I love you so much,” she pecked my cheek, “So, how many worlds have you and Blaze been to before you came here?”

“A few, one even has basic-level magic in it, although they require magical stones that they constantly refer to mas ’Runes,’” I rolled my eyes, “It’s a wonder I’m not being poked and prodded with ever examination and/or translator spell they have in their arsenal, although that would be a waste of time.”

“They must’ve thought of you as odd then?” she giggled.

“Not half,” I laughed.

“So, what type of spells did they have?” she leant into me, placing her head on my shoulder.

“Well, there’re the basic elemental spells that range from a basic fire strike to a water surge, the status-type spells like stunning an opponent or lowering their strength and attack power, and then there’re the lunar Spells… I glanced toward her with a grin.

“Lunar spells,” she blinked, “what’re they?”

“I don’t really know, didn’t get a chance to take a good look at any of them,” I shrugged,

“Well, it doesn’t really matter, so long as you’re Ok then I’m happy,” she nickered, walking back into the house

“I’m gonna take a shower,” I gave a slow nod as she winked flirtatiously at me, “and you’re gonna join me, big boy…”

“Ok….” I mumbled, standing upright and walking into the house, closing the door behind me as Snowdrop and the others raced into the lounge…

After the impromptu ‘shower,’ Autumn Heart dragged me by means of magic into the bedroom, sitting me down on the edge of the bed, after locking the door, placing her hooves on my legs as she took my quickly-hardening member into her maw, sliding her tongue along the base, pulling away for a moment to slide her tongue around the head, before pressing her lips down in it.

I shuddered as she slowly began to slide her head back and forth, smiling up at me as pre leaked from the tip of my cock, flowing down her throat as she guzzled it with gusto, beginning to pick up the pace, sliding her tongue along the base of my shaft

“Oh… god…” I mumbled, quickly taking hold of her horn as I climaxed, holding her head in place, causing her to gag slightly at the amount of seed filling her oral passage, letting her go after the flow stopped

“Like that big boy?” she smiled as she all-but devoured the cum I’d so-graciously donated, turning and lowering her front half to the floor “Come get me tiger!”

“Pun intended?” I laughed.

“Only you…” she giggled as I crawled, forward, kneeling behind her, lining our crown jewel’s up, sliding my dick into her cunny, taking hold of her clock-shaped cutie marks as I began to ‘plunder her plot,’ so to speak…

“Ah yes, harder…!” she gasped as I began to thrust into her sex,, our hips colliding as I repeatedly hilted her, causing her to give a sharp inhale each and every time, “Faster… make me your little whorse!” she begged, I snorted, pounding my dick into her tight little cunt, “Yes, buck me…!”

As I felt her inside’s warm up slightly, I started tracing little circles along her cutie marks, she screamed, climaxing, her juices coating my manhood as I continued to pile-drive her

“Oh, Sweet Merciful Faust, Yes!” she all-but bellowed, as I came, flooding her insides, our fluids mixing as one as her innards were whitewashed with sperm.

“Holy shit…” I mumbled, collapsing back against the bed as I pulled out…

“So, what’re we going for, a filly or a colt?” Autumn Heart giggled, turning as she fell; landing on my abdominal area with a sigh of relief, “personally I’m hoping for a colt, so he can be as charming and wonderful as you, my love…”

“And I’m hoping for a filly, so she can be as beautiful and caring as you, my little tinker,” I pecked her on the forehead.

“OK, so we want a filly then…” she nuzzled into me, but what’ll we call her?” she gave another, lighter, giggle.

“I don’t know, it’d depend on what type of pony she is, that way, we can get a name to suit her respective type.”

“I‘m rather liking ‘Honey Heart’ if it’s an earth pony,” she smiled, pecking my cheek as she lay along my stomach and chest.

“Ok, but what If it’s a Pegasus or a unicorn?”

“Charmer for a Pegasus, Zephyr for a unicorn,” she smiled…

-=-=-

“So, where’s the human torch?” I raised an eyebrow as my family, Autumn Heart, Blaze and I stood at the entrance to the Fairy Tail guild hall

“Some pony named Lyra demanded that he go with her and dragged him off someplace else,” Grey raised an eyebrow, “Why?”

“Just curious,” I smirked, “I see, so Lyra’s gotten her hooves on him, did she say what she was going to do with our wayward salamander?”

“She mentioned something along the lines of ‘Love and Tolerance,’ whatever that meant,” he shrugged.

“Help me….”I turned, Natsu was flat on his face, staring up at me as Lyra landed on his back with a wide grin

“Found you again Natsu, say, you’re awfully good at this aren’t ya?” Lyra giggled, “Now, we’re going to go back to the apartment and I’m gonna love and tolerate the HAY outta you!”

“Someone get a camera…” I laughed; someone quickly arrived with a camera, taking a photo of the spectacle, placing it on the bulletin board for all to see.

“Why…?” Natsu mumbled, pouting up at me, quickly being dragged away from the guild hall.

“Happy Birthday Natsu..!” I called out, Lyra stopped, turning to the human in her primrose magical aura, gasping as she did so…

“It’s your birthday, well then, I’ll have to be doubly careful this time around won’t I?” and with that she vanished taking Natsu with her via teleportation.

“It’s not really his birthday is it?” Autumn Heart chortled.

“I don’t think so,” I shook my head with a light chuckle.

“Strange people in this town…”Grey mumbled, I gestured toward Snowdrop and the others “Save for a few, of course…” I grinned.

“So, when she says ‘Love and tolerate,’ you don’t that she means… Y’know…?” he rolled a hand with a sly grin.

“Probably,” I nodded, “That remind me I’ll have to ask Celestia about building an extension to the house at some point soon.”

“Really, why…?” he blinked, I nodded toward Autumn Heart with a wink; “I don’t know whether to feel somewhat disturbed or to congratulate you on that…”

“I can take both with little-to-no trouble, so it’s not really a problem,” I shrugged.

-=-

“Is there something I can do for you, Rick, Autumn Heart?” Cellsy smiled as we quickly bowed in the throne room.

“There is a minor problem we have, Princess,” Autumn Heart’s cheeks turned almost beetroot coloured, turning a rosy shade of red ; “We’re thinking of having a foal, but I don’t think the house is large enough, we were wondering if it would be possible to build an extension of sorts?”

“And the foals name, before we go any further?” Cellsy gave an unruly smirk in my direction.

“Honey Heart if she’s an earth pony, Zephyr if it’s a unicorn, and charmer if she’s a Pegasus,” I bit my lip.”

“Quite thoughtful names, Rick,” she smiled again, “would you like the extension to be another floor, or another series of ground-level rooms?”

“Ground level,” Autumn Heart and I smiled together.

“I take it this is going to critically wound my bank account, or what’s left of it?” I sighed.

“Not at all; any and all purchases you make within the next two years that’re to do with you or your family are hereby to be redirected to the royal Canterlot treasury,” Cellsy giggled,” have fun you two…!”

(-)+=+(-)

“So, what’ll we do first?” Autumn Heart smiled as the building process was complete, and the bills had all but been sent to Cellsy herself, the construction itself had taken more or less half a year, seeing as Autumn Heart insisted on having more room for the foal/foals to play…

“Paint, then carpeting, then the furniture, that way it’ll make sense,” I smiled, pecking her forehead.

“What’re you two doing?” I turned; Natsu and Erza were stood beside Grey

“Decorating the newly constructed parts of the house,” Autumn Heart smiled, nuzzling into me, glancing toward me once the contact faded from feeling, “so, what colours did you have in mind?”

“What are you, having a foal or something?” Natsu laughed, everyone stared at him, “you owe me by the way.”

“How so..? I smirked

“Lyra had me locked in there for three whole weeks, and I still can’t feel my legs,” he frowned “and you didn’t answer my question, Rick.”

“So what if we are?” I shrugged, “I don’t see your little marefriend complaining.”

“So, you’re having a foal?” Erza aww’d, it was a little weird, to say the least, “what’s her name?”

“It’s pending, dependent on what type of pony she is,” I smiled.

“So about that paint…”

-=-

“The first room’s been done,” I smiled, Autumn Heart smiled, glancing about the room that’d been freshly painted a vibrant lavender colour, and the ceiling had been coated with a whitewash-coloured paint.

“It’s lovely, Rick” she smiled, gesturing for me to follow her, I did so, walking with her into a room the walls of which had been painted with a pinkish-scarlet colour, and the ceiling was a mild-pale-ish cyan colour.

“I’d say this is better,” I smiled, pecking her cheek.

“Shall we?” she gestured to the new set of rooms, I grinned.

“Done,” I smiled, having applied a coat of golden yellow paint to the walls and a second coat of orange, walking into the room Autumn Heat was painting, the walls were a burgundy colour, and the ceiling was an odd shade of brown, “neat.”

“Thank you, Rick,” she giggled, finishing the ceiling with a smile, climbing down the stepladder to the bare, wooden floor “Just that last room to do now…

=-=

“That wasn’t so hard, was it?” the lovely brown unicorn smiled as we finished applying the carpet.

“Not at all, Autumn Heart, not at all,” I winked.

“So, what should we do for the furniture?” she hummed.

“That’d depend on who sells what, and for what price, my little Tinker,” I smiled.

“Or, we could ask the construction ponies if they do furniture?” she suggested with a light shrug.

As it turned out, they did, and we soon had a menagerie of antique-styled furniture in our inventory, and I was currently placing the first sofa into place near the fireplace

“A little to the left, but not too –off-centre” she held a hoof to her chin, I nodded following her instructions, “perfect,” she smiled with a gracious nod “now onto the next piece…”

Once all the furniture was in a place where we both felt would be best suited for a foal, we sat in the newly placed couch, nuzzling together as Snowdrop sat between us, and Winter Bell, Scootaloo and Gracy Gloom joined us also, sharing a family hg, arms and wings both involved in keeping us as one, if only for a moment.

“Hey Rick where, are you, what the hell…?” Blaze gasped at the sight of the bonding moment, “Rick, why the hell is your house now bigger?”

“I asked- no, we asked Cellsy for an extension to the house, and she agreed to fund it,” I smiled.

“You aren’t planning for anything are you?” she narrowed her eyes.

“We’re going for a little filly, her name will depend on what type of pony I birth,” Autumn Heart gave me a serene smile.

“Honey Heart if she’s an earth pony, Wind Charmer if she’s a Pegasus; and Golden Zephyr if she’s a unicorn,” I gave a sagely nod.

“And you want me to be the wet nurse?” she smiled with a forlorn sigh.

“What’s a ‘Wet nurse’?” Autumn Heart blinked.

A ‘wet nurse’ is a woman who breast feeds and cares for another's child,” I gave a faint smile, “Blaze is offering to be our babysitter, me-thinks.”

“Only for you, Brother, and to you also, Autumn Heart,” Blaze made a quick bow, a slight smile spread across her face.

“I’d be honoured, Blaze,” Autumn Heart gave the widest grin I’d seen a single pony muster, ‘twas almost extraordinary…

-=-=-

Several years past, and Honey Heart, as Autumn Heart had once again insisted, had grown to be quite the handful of an alicorn foal…

“Can’t catch me Daddy..!” Honey Heart giggled with unbridled glee as she whizzed round the room, I sighed, hovering up to her level, placing a fragile finger upon her side.

“Tag,” I grinned, she darted around my arm, lightly placing a gentle hoof on my nose;

“Tag-back!” she laughed.

“Drat,” I cursed as she rocketed upstairs, closing one of the doors behind her.

“Is she doing the ‘Tag!’ thing again?” Blaze smirked; I nodded, “what she needs is somewhere to place all that energy.”

“And where might we find such an item?” I raised an eyebrow.

“How the heck should I know, I’m just the local foal-sitter, apparently,” she laughed.

“And you’re doing a wonderful job, Blaze,” Autumn Heart sang as she headed upstairs

“You didn’t find me~!” Honey Heart smiled in a sing-song tone as she glided toward me as I sat on the couch beside the fireplace.

“Alright, you win,” I smiled, holding out a lightly clenched fist, which she bumped with a playful hoof

“That means I get a treat right?” she giggled

“One sweet and cookie of your choice, as per the usual,” I smiled “I trust you know where to find them?” she nodded, quickly darting off into the kitchen with a wide beam spread across her muzzle…

-=-=-

“She’s an alicorn?” Cellsy blinked as we entered the throne room, Honey Heart’s black coat and golden yellow mane and tail with orangey highlights running through both gleamed in the sunlight filtering through the windows.

“She’s our little Honey Heart” Autumn Heart nickered with a smile, bowing alongside me.

“Who’re you?” Honey Heart giggled with a tilt of her head.

“I’m Princess Celestia, or, as you father seems to call me, Cellsy,” Celestia held out a hoof, Honey shook it with a wide grin and a giggle, quickly bowing.

“Princess Celestia!” Twilight and her friends burst through the door, quickly stopping in their tracks as they caught sight of the new foal, “who’s she?” the lavender mare raised an eyebrow in my direction.

“Honey, why don’t you introduce yourself?” Autumn Heart nickered, Honey Heart marched toward Twilight, head held high.

“I’m Honey Heart, who’re you?” Honey held out a hoof, Twilight shook it with a small smile upon her muzzle.

“My name is Twilight Sparkle, and these’re my friends,” Twilight gestured to each of the ponies who stood beside her in turn;

“Applejack,”

“Howdy there,”

“Rarity,”

“I must say you do look rather befitting of your title, Miss Honey Heart,”

“Pinkie Pie,”

“I can’t wait to throw you a party!”

“Rainbow Dash,”

“You’re an alicorn, huh, one day you might be as awesome as me!”

“And Fluttershy,”

“Oh, you’re adorable…”

“Thank you Fluttershy,” Honey Heart bowed.

“She’s certainly got your mannerisms, Rick” Cellsy giggled.

“So she has” I rolled my eyes with a slight/sheepish grin.

“I trust that this is what you’ve been hiding from us for the past nine years?” Twilight smirked.

“You say that like it’s not a surprise, Twilight Sparkle,” I laughed.

“So, are you heading back now or are you staying for lunch?” Cellsy gave a light giggle.

“Can we please stay, Daddy?” Honey Heart gave me her best puppy-dog-eyes impression.

“You know that I can’t say no to a face like that,” I pecked her on the forehead, “oh, and a word of advice, if Cadance finds us on the way down there, watch out.”

“Okie Dokie” she giggled, walking with me and the others to the dining hall.

“Ricky-o..!” Cadance cheered as she came galloping toward us at speed, skidding to a halt right before us.

“Hello, Cadance” I raised an eyebrow.

“Guess what I just caught news of?” she gleamed from ear to ear with a wide grin.

“I’ve no idea,” I rolled my eyes indignantly.

“I just so happen to hear from Aunty Celestia that you’ve a new foal in the family- where, is she?”

“I told her to be careful around you, because I knew that you’d be anxious to meet her,” I side stepped, Honey Heart quickly darted behind me.

“Come on out little one, I won’t harm you, I promise…” Cadance cutely cooed as she crouched down to Honey Heart’s level.

“You promise?” Honey Heart edged forward from behind me.

“I’m Cadance, what’s your name?” the alicorn of love held out a hoof.

“I’m Honey Heart,” she fragilely shook Cadance’s hoof, clinging onto me afterward.

“That’s a lovely name, how about we take our time getting to lunch, Honey Heart?” the filly in question quickly clambered up the back of my leg, using my wings as a set of steps as she climbed atop my head, quickly shaking her head, “Oh, Ok; well have fun anyway.”

“Now that she’s met you she’s going to be less invasive, so to speak, so you should be fine from here on,” I smiled

“Ok, Daddy,” Honey Heart giggled, pecking one of my horns with a smile.

“-=-“

“Word is that there’s a new filly around, is this true?” Shining Armour smiled as we sat around the dining table.

“Honey,” I nodded toward the filly; that of whom, gleamed, standing on the table, giving a quick bow.

“I’m Honey Heart, and it’s nice to meet you all,” Honey Heart, smiled, sitting back down beside me, a few-dozen ‘aww’s’ filled the room, Honey Heart blushed.

“She’s certainly got your mannerisms, Rick,” Cadance giggled, “Maybe I could-?”

“Hooves away from my hubby, Princess Cadance,” Autumn Heart snapped, several ponies, Cellsy, Twilight and her friends alongside Shining Armour included, spat out their drinks, flooding the table in cold, frothy liquids

“We beg thy pardon?” Luna raised an eyebrow toward me, then toward Autumn Heart, “did we hear thee correctly in thy stating about thy… marriage..?”

“Yeah, we’re married now, and I’d not gave it any other way,” Autumn Heart pecked my cheek

“Mommy says it’s rude to spit, especially at the table,” Honey Heart gave a cute frown.

“Please forgive us for being so surprised, Honey Heart,” Cellsy gave a faint smile.

“Alright…” she rolled her eyes...

When we got back to Ponyville, Honey Heart let out a stifled yawn.

“Looks like somepony’s tired” I gave a soft laugh.

“Just a bit Daddy,” the filly resting upon my head giggled as I gently tucked her into bed, pecking her on the forehead.

“Daddy,” Honey Heart held onto my hand as I sat on the edge of her bed, “can you sing me a lullaby?”

“Ok, Honey,” I smiled, gently clearing my throat;

“When I see your smile

Tears roll down my face I can't replace

And now that I'm strong I have figured out

How this world turns cold and it breaks through my soul

And I know I'll find deep inside me I can be the one

I will never let you fall (let you fall)

I'll stand up with you forever

I'll be there for you through it all (through it all)

Even if saving you sends me to heaven

It's okay. It's okay. It's okay.

Seasons are changing

And waves are crashing

And stars are falling all for us

Days grow longer and nights grow shorter

I can show you I'll be the one

I will never let you fall (let you fall)

I'll stand up with you forever

I'll be there for you through it all (through it all)

Even if saving you sends me to heaven

Cuz you're my, you're my, my, my true love, my whole heart

Please don't throw that away

Cuz I'm here for you

Please don't walk away and

Please tell me you'll stay woah, stay woah

Use me as you will

Pull my strings just for a thrill

And I know I'll be okay

Though my skies are turning grey

I will never let you fall

I'll stand up with you forever

I'll be there for you through it all

Even if saving you sends me to heaven

I will never let you fall

I'll stand up with you forever

I'll be there for you through it all

Even if saving you sends me to heaven..” I sang as softly as I could, Honey Heart, by now of course, was fast asleep, giving a cute snore every other moment, I tip-toed as quietly as I could to the door, silently losing it behind me as I left.

“That was amazing,” Autumn Heart gave a serene and/or sincere smile

“So are you” I whispered

“Thanks dear” she cooed.

-=-

The next morning, I was awoken by a light shaking;

Opening my eyes, I saw Honey Heart, with a wide grin spread across my face, levitating a small plate of muffins over to me as Autumn Heart yawned herself wake, glancing toward the little filly.

“I bought you breakfast,” Honey Heart giggled/squee’d.

“Where’d you get these?” Autumn Heart blinked.

“I took a small walk to Sugarcube corner, they gave me a free plate of muffins, which I put in the kitchen for later, and I’m giving these to you now,” Honey Heart explained with a sheepish grin.

“Works for me,” she gave a slow nod, yawning again, covering her mouth with a hoof as she did so, quickly eating one of the muffins.”

“What time is it?” I mumbled, glancing toward the clock as I sat upright “Eight-thirty, guess I slept in a little…”

“I love you Daddy, you too Mommy,” Honey Heart placed the small plate of muffins down on the bedside table, climbing into bed with us, lying snug between us.

“And we love you too, Honey, with all our hearts, and perhaps more,” I smiled “You’ll always be our Honey Heart, don’t let anypony tell you differently, Ok?”

“Okie Dokie,” she giggled, nuzzling into comfort between myself and Autumn Heart.

“Did she make it back Ok?” Blaze appeared at the door, sighing with relief at the sight of the filly who was currently humming with glee “Thank Arceus…”

“I take it you escorted her to Sugarcube Corner?” I smiled.

“I walked on four legs, she used me as a type of ‘mount,’ so to speak,” Blaze mumbled “I’m just glad that she’s back Ok.”

“And we can’t thank you enough for it, Blaze,” I simpered.

“I just thought that, if it were my pups, you’d do the same,” she bit her lip.

“And once again, we thank you for your kind and considerate actions, Blaze” Autumn Heart smiled.

“Good morning Rick,” Twilight smiled as she opened the door to the library “Would you care to enter?” she sidestepped, allowing us entry to the literal treehouse, Rainbow Dash and the others were already inside.

“So, Honey Heart,” Twilight gave a light giggle, Honey Heart glanced toward her with a quick/light hum, “what books do you like?”

“I like the scientific ones, the ones that tell you lots of stuff, something more knowledgeable for me please,” Autumn Heart glimmered, everyone -save myself, and Autumn Heart’s - jaws slammed to the floor as they sated at her –wide eyed and slack-jawed

“Another egghead…” Rainbow Dash mumbled.

“And she’s still awesome, so to speak,” Autumn Heart gleamed.

“Being an egghead isn’t awesome, it’s about showing off how much greater you are than everypony else!” Rainbow Dash rebuked.

“You seem to have forgotten who the two demigods are in this conversation, Rainbow,” I smirked.

“But that still doesn’t make her as awesome as me!” she countered.

“And what’d be the case if it were ‘awesome’ of a different variety,” I frowned, “just as there are mane shades of colour in the universe there’re just as many combinations of traits and personalities also, it’s something you might want to think about when you’re not being so self-centred, arrogant and cocky, Rainbow Dash.”

“I’d no idea you could be so poetic,” Autumn Heart giggled.

“Only for you, my love,” I winked toward her.

“How sappy can you get?” she frowned.

“It’s called a relationship, Pegasus, I do believe, and this is my guestimate, that you’ve never been in one?” I scowled.

“How would you know?” she snarled.

“Well, I know I wouldn’t want someone like you if you’re being like you are now, mind you, humanly speaking, who would..?” I tutted with a curt nod, glancing toward Honey Heart who was staring at me in awe, the wide grin upon her face visible for all to see…

“Now, which book would you like, Honey Heart?” I smiled.

“Anything but Daring Doo,” she gagged slightly at the mention of the book series.

“That’s my Heart,” I laughed.

“So, any of these take your interest, Honey Heart?” Twilight placed a small pile of books in front of the filly, who took a quick look at each, before selecting one on astronomy “you want that one?” Honey Heart nodded “Ok, I’ll need it back in three months though.”

“Okie Dokie,” Honey Heart giggled, handing the book to me, smiling as she bowed, turned and left, Autumn Heart and I quickly followed her, “thank you for the book,” she smiled as she exited the library.

“Where do you want to go next?” I smiled.

“Somewhere quiet…” Honey Heart chimed, clambering unto the top of my head, directing me home, guiding me to her room, once there, she sat on her, taking the book from me within a silvery magical aura, her horn glowing in an aura of the same colour.

“Can you stay here Daddy?” she held onto my hand with a gentle hoof as I sat on the edge of the bed, lying down the middle of it.

“I’ll stay as long as you want me to, Honey,” I beamed.

“I love you Daddy,” she smiled up toward me.

“I love you to, Honey Heart, and I always will, now let’s see what you got,, shall we?” I used my hand to wipe away the dust from the cover of the book.

“‘Astral Magicka,’” I read aloud “I’m not sure this is right for a pony your age…”

“Please~?” she pleaded, forming her puppy-dog-eyes impression.

“Fine, but just this once, Ok…?”

“Thank you Daddy!” she chorused with glee, flipping the book open with gusto…

=-=-=

After the three months had ended, I’d noticed that Honey Heart had finished the boo within two, and had revised the spells contained within for the last of the three, hopping with glee as we walked back to the library, her friends once again present in the main lounge.

“How are you Honey Heart?” Twilight smiled as we entered the library, Honey Heart handed her the book; “Are you sure this is the same book?” she blinked.

“Same book, I just wiped the dust from its cover,” I explained.

“Please tell me you’re joking…” she mumbled, both Honey and I shook our heads.

“What is this ‘Astral Magicka anyways’?” Rainbow Dash studied the cover of the book, in which there appeared to be a ring, with smaller rings inside it, and dozens upon dozens of stars scattered between each ring, “it doesn’t look all that special to me.”

“It’s what Luna uses to move the moon and stars every night,” Twilight bit her lip, glancing between the book and Honey Heart.

“But that’s impossible, she’s but a filly!” Rarity argued.

“She’s a demigod,” I raised an eyebrow.

“Touché” she gave a slow nod and a low hum.

-=-=-

“Is there something that thou wish to speak to us about?” Luna raised an eyebrow alongside Cellsy and Cadance.

“Can I?” Honey Heart glanced toward Autumn Heart and I, we both nodded; she grinned with absolute, unrestrained glee;

“Open gate of the dragon Draco Minor!” she declared with gusto, nothing happened, her horn was blazing with a silvery glow, shining with radiance equal to only the sun itself.

“We fail to see the point of-!”

Luna was interrupted by a moderately-sized dragon made of stars and space-dust bursting through the stained-glass windows to the right of me, said dragon turned to Honey Heart, holding out a clenched claw; Honey Heart bumped it with a gentle hoof.

“That’s impossible!” Celestia stared at Honey Heart with quite apparent horror, “I made it so that that book was hidden to all but myself and Luna; how is it that your daughter has managed to scale its contents with such ease?”

“It was in the library, with a thick layer of dust covering the front of it,” I raised an eyebrow, “not that hard to find actually, though I will give credit for hiding it in plain sight, even if it is a little clichéd.”

“Rick, do you not realise the severity of the situation that Honey Heart has placed herself in?” she frowned, “she could be bullied, and then have to use her only form of defence as a last resort, and then ponies would find out that anypony with enough magical energy in them, or enough potential, could use the exact same Magicka!”

“And you’re going to start talking like that without giving it even the slightest bit of a chance?” I snapped, “The exact same rules apply to my dragon slayer magic, yet you don’t see Crystagia wanting to end my life because of it though, do you?”

“She was a coward at the best of times, and little more than a fool at the worst,” she snorted.

“And commenting makes you oh-so much better, because how?” I growled “you were right, I’m not your son, and if you’re going to be like you are, I’ve no want and/or need to be as such.” I scowled, “and the next time you insult my only parent, I gut you like a fish.”

“Close, gate of the dragon..!” Honey Heart chimed and the dragon faded from view, the stars it was composed of flying back out through the windows into the sky

“Nicely done, my little Heart,” I clapped my hands together in applaud.

“Thank you Daddy, at least somepony appreciates my work,” Honey Heart frowned toward Celestia, “I don’t like you anymore Princess.”

“I know that feeling, Honey,” I laughed as we turned and left, “I know that feeling…”

“Thou knowest nothing…” Luna spat, her voice dripping with both malice and venom.

“And now the royal Canterlot Monster’s having a row at me, and coming from me that‘s saying something,” I snarled, glancing back toward the trio, “but you know what, at least I have the nuts to admit what I’ve done in the past is wrong, and get over it.”

I stopped again, “and by the way, I did beat the living tar into Nightmare moon on that other world, have fun contemplating what you’re going to do about that for the next half-hour or so~” I waved as we exited the room.

“How was your trip, Dear?” Autumn Heart smiled as we arrived home.

“Eventful, but I daren’t speak of it now, my love,” I winked cautiously; she nodded, sidestepping, allowing my daughter and me entry, closing the door after us.

“So, what happened?” she sat down on the couch opposite to Honey Heart and I.

“Celestia, more-or-less, has just threatened, to take Honey Heart away from us, just because of the spells she’s learnt from a certain book in the library.” I deadpanned.

“No…!” she gasped, I shrugged, “how can she do such a thing, isn’t a princess supposed to care for her subjects?”

“That’s the irony of I,” I hummed with a curt nod, “but if push comes to shove, I’ve a few new spells of my own to use, just as a last resort, and only as such.”

“New spells?” she blinked.

“I can use magma as well as fire in my magic reserves now…” I raised an eyebrow; her eyes turned the size of dinner plates, her pupils and the like turning to mere pinpricks.

The following morning there was a knock at the door;

“Who is it?” I knocked on the door in return.

“It’s Twilight,” Twilight’s voice, echoed from behind the door, albeit reluctantly.

“And you’re alone?” I growled; bursting into flames.

“No, Celestia’s here with me,” she seemingly bit her lip, I sighed, opening the door…

Cellsy was indeed there, stood beside Luna and Twilight

“There a problem, princess?” I faintly smiled.

“You lied to me,” Cellsy frowned “you said you didn’t harm Nightmare Moon, dark as she may have been.”

“And I’ve also attained the powers of a magma dragon slayer, what’s your point?” I spat.

“We’d like to request a little time with thy daughter, if only for a moment,” Luna bit her lip.

“And I suppose in an alternate universe that you might think that I’d just let you walk away with her, unscathed?” I laughed, “Not bloody likely!”

“We only wish to talk to her” Cellsy gave a forlorn sigh.

“And I’d like the first twenty years of my life to go the way I wanted it to, you don’t see that happening though, do you?” I snarled.

“I only wish to discuss the consequences of her having learnt the spells that she has, Rick, why’re you making this so hard?” she gave me a worried look.

“Because I don’t feel like I can trust you with anything, let alone my daughter of all things,” I chided, slamming the door in her face, locking it behind me, breathing a sigh of ‘relief,’ before walking into the lounge, where Autumn Heart and Honey Heart were waiting for me, staring at me in apparent fear.

“Is everything alright?” Autumn Heart winced.

“I don’t know,” I frowned, lightly, “all this could’ve been avoided, had Twilight not judged a book by its cover like she did with Zecora.”

“A shame too,” Blaze sighed “so what do we do?”

“We protect her with everything we have,” I frowned.

“I understand” Autumn Heart gave a forlorn nod “I’ll do what I can-!”

“I’ll not risk another being risk her life for family, I’ll do it,” I shook my head.

“If you say so, but be careful, Ok?” she pecked my cheek with a small smile.

“I’ll be fine,” I smiled…

-=-=-

“Where do you think this leads Honey?” I smiled, standing beside Twilight, her friends, Autumn Heart, Honey Heart and the rest of my family in front of a staircase that actually appeared to have neither an end, nor a bottom.

“I don’t know, Daddy,” Honey Heart giggled, perching herself on my head, “but we’re going to find out anyway!”

“And so we are,” I smiled, heading down the stairwell, fists blazing as I sued them as makeshift torches as we ventured into the depths…

“I am the Rune Guardian,” a medium-sized golem composed of stone and secret magical arts stepped forward at the opposite end of the room we ended up in at the base of the stairwell, toward each of the corners of the room stood a large statue, two of which looked like wizards, one of a Valkyrie-like warrior-woman, and the forth, of a paladin-type warrior;

“Have you come to join the Wizard's tower, young apprentices?” the golem tapped the base of its staff against the dull, grey stone floor as the others stood/hovered beside me.

“Wizard's tower..?” Twilight blinked, “I’ve read all the history books in Equestria and not once is there any mention of a Wizard’s Tower!”

“Then perhaps not all of your books have been justified, or printed correctly,” the Rune Guardian shrugged.

”Let’s assume we’re here to learn magic, what then?” I raised an eyebrow.

“Then I have a test for those who wish to do so, a simple, five-question quiz of sorts,” the Guardian apparently smiled, without a mouth it was hard to tell.

“Then what?” I tilted my head ever-so slightly.

“Then I shall put you into one of the four groups in which all wizards are placed into, and then I shall allow you entrance to the basement of the tower

“Then I’m up first then” I stepped forward

“Then we shall begin with relative ease,” the rune anomaly hummed with apparent content “the first question; You are behind in your studies due to illness, and a test is coming up. Your place at the tower is safe, but if you fail you will lose some respect. Another apprentice offers you an opportunity to cheat, what do you do?”

“Don’t cheat; as it’d be wrong and I wouldn’t learn anything,” I replied with a smile.

“Interesting” the Guardian gave a slow nod, “the second question. An elderly wizard - the last practitioner of a unique branch of magic - dies. Her diary might contain details about her unique magic, but her will, states that the diary should be destroyed on her death, what do you do?”

“Copy out what appear to be the most crucial parts of the book for future reference, but then destroy the book later,” I blinked.

“Good, now, the third Question,” the Rune being tapped its staff once again on the floor “A rival wizard is spreading lies about you and has made you the laughing stock of a nearby village. They believe you are of low intelligence and poor moral character, and throw vegetables at you when you visit. What do you do?”

“Attempt a friendly compromise, but challenge the wizard to a duel before the village if nothing non-combat-related seems to work,” I frowned.

“Nearly there, the fourth question;” The Rune Guardian gave a low hum;   "You have become a senior wizard and are asked to take on an apprentice. The boy is talented but undisciplined and does not apply himself out his areas of interest. What is your approach?"

“Either attempt to teach him magic that’s related to his weakness, to give him a balance learning curriculum, or two show patience and kindness so he has a safe place to learn

“Good almost there, the fifth question;” the ancient being tapped its staff once again “senior wizard asks you to take part in a ritual that will greatly benefit the tower. Before the ritual starts, you discover that he learned part of it from a demon. The ritual appears safe, but demons are expert liars, what is your response?"

“Stop the ritual, as it is never wise to trust a demon, and it could be unsafe in a way that most wouldn’t be able to detect,” I raised an unamused eyebrow

“Welcome, Blue Wizard,” the guardian raised its free hand, an orb of alabaster/snow-white energy hiding its hand from view as a pendant appeared around my neck,” you may proceed…”

After everyone had passed the ‘Test,’ and received their respective pendants, we ventured through the doorway behind the Rune Guardian, marching down a spiral staircase toward another doorway.

As we passed through the doorway, Twilight’s jaw fell to the floor,

“What is all this?” Twilight gasped her eyes darting from one part of the cavernous room to the next.

The room itself, like the one before, was quadrilateral in shape, and there was a raised platform in the shape of a ‘+’ in the centre of the room, that of which we were stood on, with countless bookshelves filled with tomes, scrolls and the like, and in the centre, there was an intricate pattern carved into the ground, a large ring with around two-hundred other rings surrounding it, each with a different symbol engraved into the floor, the main, centre ring had a pattern I was familiar with,  a crescent moon in front of a circular sun, and hovering in circles around the beams were what appeared to be a small colony of wisps.

“If I had to guess, it’s the ruins of an ancient, wondrous civilisation,” I gave a faint smile.

“This is incredible…!” Autumn Heart gaped, staring at the contents of the room.

“And to think this has remained mostly untouched for countless moons…” I whistled.

“It’s unbelievable!” Rarity swooned, almost.

“I wonder how old all of this is,” Littlepip hummed.

“If Cellsy and Luna kept this place all ‘hush-hush,’ so to speak, there’s probably a good reason for it,” Honey Heart giggled, “Right Daddy?”

“Correct, little one, and if she’s kept this quite for this long, I wonder what other dark secrets we’ll find down here whilst we’re at it,” I frowned.

“What’s that?” Autumn Heart pointed to a nearby skeleton, dressed in ancient roes and wielding a just-as-ancient staff.

“A Mage of the ‘Wizard’s Tower’ perhaps..?” Blackjack shrugged.

“Most likely,” I nodded, “But it’s a human skeleton, so it’s at least a billion years old…”

“How long has this place been kept a secret?” Velvet Remedy gave a wicked glare.

“Longer than I’d have liked it to, apparently,” I frowned, walking to the skeleton, rifling through the pockets of the robes, finding a dusty old tome alongside a selection of small circular stones with symbols on them, the symbols appeared to represent the four elements.

“A journal maybe..?” Autumn Heart blinked, but what’re the stones for?”

“It’s the basics of magic; they’re runes, used in spell-casting, Autumn Heart,” I smiled, “the skeleton is that of a mage of old, but what was he doing here with these entities?” I gestured toward the wisps with a free wing.

“Studying them maybe?” Twilight stood beside me

“Perhaps,” I shrugged, opening the book, it read;

Rats!

Cant’ believe I got stuck down here on sentry duty, these damn wisps are nothing but trouble, and are the sole spawn of the lord of chaos himself!

Sometimes I wish what it’s like in Celestia’s hooves, I really do, but I cannot dawdle on such thoughts, as I have a job to do, protecting Equestria from the dangers of this tower, and the wisps themselves, if need be…

If anyone finds this, and this is assuming anything should go wrong, I want whoever is reading this to tell Lily that I’ll be home as soon as I can, and tell  Rick that daddy’s coming home soon

If you yourself, Rick, are reading this, I want you to know that I’m sorry.

I’m sorry for being the father I could’ve been, I’m sorry for not being there for you when I could’ve been, and I’m sorry that I probably won’t make it this time, and make sure you take care of Lily, Ok?

I love you, son…

Que Sera…

“That can’t be you, he’s referring to; can it?” Autumn Heart stared at me.

“It could be, I am an eon old after all,” I slowly closed the journal, placing it into my inventory, picking up the staff after also placing the runes into the same inventory, standing between my friends, family and the wisps “someone has to tell Celestia about this, and I’ve to stay here to watch over these little monstrosities.”

“Rick, I…” Twilight stammered.

“Go!” I boomed, glancing toward the lavender mare with an icy glare, she quickly nodded, leading her friends back up the staircase with a gallop/sprint.

“Rick…?” Autumn Hearts stood beside me, placing a fragile hoof on my leg, I glanced toward her; a worried expression plastered across my face “Are you alright?”

“Don’t worry,” I crouched down, allowing Honey Heart to clamber safely to the ground, “as soon as I’m done here, we’ll all go home.”

“But I don’t want to wait for you at home,” she snapped, “I want to know that we’re together at home, safe.”

“And we will be, just give ait a little time, Autumn Heart,” I gave a faint smile.

“I don’t want to wait, Rick, I want us to be a family, away from here!” she argued glaringly, “I don’t think your father would want you to be wasting your life on something like this, he’d want you to be having fun with your friends and family, so please,” she continued with a sigh, “come home…”

“I was hoping to keep this place a secret,” Cellsy appeared beside me, standing opposite Autumn Heart and Honey Heart, “I suppose I’m to give you an explanation, Rick?”

“I’m guess that Equestria was built upon the ruins of Gielinor?” I scowled.

“That is correct, the realm you humans called Gielinor has been razed to the ground and built upon by ponykind,” she gave a slow, curt nod, “Is, this your resolve then to stay here whilst the world changes around you?”

“Half arsed trash like you doesn’t have the right to talk about resolve,” I spat.

“You didn’t answer my question,” she frowned.

“I’ll be here as long as I need to be.”

“So you’re going to waste your life waiting for something that might not even happen?” she snorted.

“I shall do just as my father did before me; protect Equestria,” I fumed.

“I can do that on my own, Rick,” she raised an eyebrow,

“Victory is secured, not from the throne, but from the front lines,” I rebuked.

“Then what of your family?” she chided, “they need your care as well, Eon.”

“Alright, but I’ll still have a look around, see if I can’t find anything interesting in here,” I sighed with a roll of my eyes.

“That is acceptable,” she nodded, teleporting away.

-=-=-

After taking only the most readable books, tomes and scrolls into my inventory, I headed back into the castle above, reading the journal as I went, Autumn Heart and the others quickly following me

“So, after all this time, you finally found your legacy?” Blaze gave a forlorn hum, “I’m sorry”

“Don’t be, it wasn’t your fault, and it never will be,” I sighed, flipping to the back of the book, discovering a type of map scratched into the hard leather of the rear cover.

Following the map to the appropriate destination, I came across a seemingly abandoned house, with broken windows, a battered front door, and a few missing roof tiles

“Hello?” I knocked on the door; a sudden breeze caused it to swing open, revealing a mess of a landing.

“Is anypony here?” Autumn Heart called out; the only response we received was a deafening silence,

“Mom?” I bit my lip, taking a step forward, feeling something soft beneath me.

Glancing to the floor, I noticed a book, bound in leather, with a thick layer of dust covering it

“No…” my eyes became wide with unparalleled fear for the worst “please, god no…!

“I’m sorry…” Blaze reiterated.

“Don’t be” I gave an audible gulp, tears threatening to burst from their ducts as I picked the book from the floor, wiping the dust from the front cover with a light finger, revealing a photo that’d been glued to the front…

The picture was somewhat faded, but it was clear who was in it, two people, one, a young man with fair skin, black hair, sapphire eyes and Wizard's robes, complete with a staff, standing beside a young lady with long, flowing dark brown hair and emerald eyes, and in the centre, there was an eon, hovering between the two of them, a smile appeared on all three of their faces, the eon itself had black and white scales and golden eyes, just as I did, but lacked the crystalline chest symbol, instead, he/I had the same triangular pattern every other eon had, but he smiled nonetheless…

I collapsed, falling to the floor as I let my emotions flow, crying without holding anything back, tears cascading like miniature waterfalls down my face as I lay there, holding the book close to me.

“Rick…” Autumn Heart levitated me, sitting me against the outer wall, nuzzling into me alongside Littlepip, the two mares draping their arms around me, I fainted.

()=+-+=()

When I next awoke, my vision blurred;

“Hey,” Autumn Heart nuzzled into me as I slowly sat upright, draping my wings around her and Honey Heart as the filly launched herself toward me, clinging onto me with all her might.

Just at that moment, Twilight, her friends and the princesses walked into the room.

“What happened?” I mumbled, glancing over to the bedside table, where the same book lay, I quickly looked away.

“You were rendered catatonic,” Cellsy bit her lip, “something not even I expected from you, Rick.”

“I…” I blinked, quickly shaking my head, “What about the tower?”

“That depends on what you want to be done with it, Rick” she raised both eyebrows, “do you wish for it to be made public, or to keep it a secret?”

“I’ll keep it as it is, don’t want the whole country in a nation-wide panic over a few wisps, do we?” I rolled my eyes

“Those wisps are an eon-old descendant of the parasprite, but rather than eating physical objects, they devour magic,” Cellsy began to explain, “the only reason you’re still conscious is because they haven’t worked out your magical anatomy yet, you’re an anomaly to them, your father however, was not so lucky…”

“I understand…” I muttered, “He died trying to keep the rest of Equestria safe, we owe him that much at least…”

“And what, of the tower’s contents?” she gave a short, light, hum.

“Keep them as the rest of the tower is, I don’t want anyone dabbling in what isn’t their business in the first place,” I gave a light frown.

“We missed you Daddy, “Snowdrop, Winter Bell, Scootaloo Gracy Gloom and Honey Heart chimed as they clung onto me.

“And I you, my little family, and I you,” I draped a wing around each of them with a small smile.

“Now, what do you plan to do next..?”

=-=

“Are you sure this is wise?” Cadance chewed her lip as we entered the Wizard's Tower’s basement.

“I’ve got to, who else’s going to do this?” I growled as I stood before the colony of wisp, bursting into flames, the flames quickly liquefying into magma, the superheated liquid dripping to the ground with a light hiss as it made contact with the floor.

“Eigo Hoseki Yōgan Ryū…!” I bellowed, inhaling copious amounts of air “Hokou!” I exhaled a vast torrent of magma straight toward the colony of wisps, all but obliterating them as the magic infused magma melded with the beam of magic, said beam of magic turned a vibrant orange, before turning into a light shade of Cyan-blue, bursting through the ceiling.

“Well, that was interesting,” I mumbled, changing to eon form, Snowdrop perched herself atop my neck as Honey Heart landed on my head, and Scootaloo, Winter Bell and Gracy Gloom glided unto my back.

Suddenly, there was an eruption of light as the runes in my inventory flew out before me, also fusing the beam of energy/light, stabilizing it, the aged contents of the bookshelves regressing to their younger selves, and the room became lighter, with hovering orbs of snow-white light lining the walls.

“Son..?” I turned, the man from the photograph was standing there, complete with the staff, robes and all, is aid nothing, merely staring at the man.

“Is it really you?” he eyed me from ear to tailfin, I gave a weak nod, he burst out laughing, “I guess I didn’t need to write that farewell letter after all!” I flinched, he blinked “what is it son?” I handed him the journal

“But, this doesn’t make sense, if I died then, how is it that I’m alive now?” he glanced between myself and the book

“Much has happened in the past billion years,” he turned, facing my friends, Blaze, and the princesses

“I’ve been gone, for how long?” he gasped.

“You’ve been dead for a whole eon, Dad…” I shuddered at the use of the word

“And what of Lily?” he asked with only the utmost urgency.

“Rick’s little spell not only bought you and the tower back to life, it most likely bought the others back as well” Cellsy gave a weak smile.

“But that’s impossible, you can’t simply reverse time on an entire Tower, much less a single human being!” he frowned, glancing toward me, “what have you done!?”

“I don’t know, to be honest with you,” I bit my lip.

“I just hope Lily’s alright…” he mumbled.

“As do I,” I nodded

“Edward..!” a woman, just like the one in the photo, burst forth from behind Celestia and the others, rushing toward him, wearing similar, sky-blue robes, embracing him in a warm hug.

“And who’s, this…” she awed at me, staring at me in quite apparent horror “Rick, is that… it can’t be!”

“It is,” I clenched my claws “Hello, mum.”

“I can’t believe it’s you!” she rushed up to me, eyeing me from ear-to-tailfin-tip, “And I see you’ve made friends too!”

“So, where do we stand, as of now?” ‘Edward’ raised an eyebrow, folding his arms in my direction

“It’s been a whole eon since you, passed away, I’m sorry…” I grimaced,

“I don’t care Rick, so long as I get to see you again” Mom smiled, pecking my cheek.

“So, how was it that you got us back to life anyhow?” Edward hummed.

“I used magic, that’s all that should really matter,” I flinched.

“And what type of magic was it?” he frowned again “it better not be some Zamorakian cursed reanimation spell!”

“Nay, ‘twas dragon slayer magic,” I winced

“Dragon Slayer magic?” his eyes narrowed, “and where did you get this magic from, my son?”

“A dragon God, one known as Crystagia, she….” I inhaled sharply, and then exhaled “she acted as my foster mother whilst she tutored me, you’re not mad are you?”

“So long as it’s not a demon from the books of Zamorak…” he rolled his eyes

“So, what can you do with this ‘Dragon Slayer’ Magic?” the lady known as Lily gave a faint smile, Snowdrop and the others, save Honey Heart, who remained rested atop my head, landed safely on the floor as I reverted to human form, fists blazing.

“So, it’s fire-based?” Edward blinked.

I shook my head; “It can be any element depending on which dragon you get it from.”  

“So, which element are you?” Lily giggled, poking my horns with apparent glee

“Gemstone, but mostly fire-based,” I smiled, “can you please stop that?”

“Why not..? It’s fun, besides; I just wanted to make sure they weren’t fake,” she smiled.

“Fair do‘s,” I shrugged, “now, about the tower?”

“I saw it being rebuilt on my way here, as if by magic!” Lily laughed.

“So you can reverse time…” Edward hummed, unfolding his arms, “looks like I owe you an apology or two, son,”

“Nah, it’s fine, you had every right to be suspicious about my words, and therefore, who I am,” I smiled.

“So, what happens now, seeing as the tower’s being rebuilt?” Lily gave a light giggle.

“We might as well go and see what’s going on upstairs then” “Edward said with a smile.

And so we made the short journey to the Wizard's Tower, Twilight almost had an aneurysm upon entering the spacious first floor.

The tower itself was several storeys high, and octagonal in shape, the same beam of light/energy from the basement acting as a lift to the upper levels, and almost-cylindrical bookshelves hovering between the many pillars that supported the upper floors.

“This is….” Twilight’s eye twitched, almost convulsing.

“Is she going to be alright?” Edward nodded toward the lavender mare.

“She’ll get over it, she’s a rather studious mare, and therefore, has a passion for books, reading and the like,” I explained, changing to eon form.

“Ah, so I see,” he gave a slow nod.

“Ah, Edward, I was beginning to wonder where you were” a mild/darker skinned woman with greying hair sat at the receptionist’s podium beside the entrance.

“I’m still here, Valina, you don’t need to worry about me.”

“And this is your son, my, gosh, hasn’t he grown up quickly!” Valina gasped, staring at me “he looks to be quite the charmer, hope he’ll fit in well with the others.”

“As do I Val, as do I,” Edward patted my back.

“I trust these are your friends, Lily?” Valina gestured toward Twilight and the others.

“We can talk Y’know” Rainbow Dash frowned.

“So you can” Valina rolled her eyes, voice laced-and-dripping with sarcasm, “Shall I allow them entry?” she turned to Lily and Edward.

“I trust that they’re not here to cause trouble, Valina,” Lily smiled.

“Then I’ll let them pass, after laying down a few ground rules,” Valina smiled, giving the twisted root-like wand in her hand a flick, and a cyan screen-like projection appeared in the open doorway

“No pestering the wizards, only a select few questions are allowed. Secondly, no using the teleportation beam for your amusement is to be allowed. Thirdly; treat everyone at the tower fairly,” Twilight read aloud, “I can agree to those terms,” She smiled.

“Then I shall allow you entry, young equine” Valina smiled, and, with another flick of her want, the screen disappeared.

“So the infamous gatekeeper has returned?” a short mane with a long-grey beard and moustache wearing the same sky blue robes and hat as my parents laughed as we entered the main area/library of the ground floor

“We’re back, are we not?” Edward frowned, “I always did find you to be a little too senile and decrepit for the role of librarian, Borann.”

“Such slights..!” Borann gasped in mock-shock-and-awe. “And coming from the father of a freak; no less?”

“I’m also sentient, Borann,” I hissed.

“So you are,” he gave a slow nod “tell me, why do you insist on staying around those two, you’re old enough to live on your own, are you not?”

“I’ll take a caring family over an annoying half-pint midget any day,” I scowled.

“Your choice,” he shrugged.

“And here I thought blueblood was agitating…” Rarity spat

“We let talking unicorns into the tower now?” Borann snapped, glaring right at me.

“At least they’ve got an actual set of brain cells between them, you, on the other hand, have only age, corruption and a cocky and/or smug attitude about you, Borann,” I cracked my knuckles.

“Would you care to repeat that, young scholar?” he frowned with an icy glare.

“Gladly, old fool,” I snorted, “how about you make the right choice and step down, give someone who knows what they’re doing the job, eh?”

“You have no right to threaten me…!” he silenced himself as I reverted to human form, wings, horns and all, breathing a small fireball in front of me “what in Saradomin’s name are you!?”

“I’m an eon, a human, and a dragon slayer, and that’s all you need to know,” my eyes turned to slits as he took several steps backward, walking into a nearby wall, by now, several wizards had turned to face us, staring in awe at me, some preparing spells to attack, others, to defend.

“Do with your spells as you wish, either attack me or defend yourselves, only know that I mean you no harm,” I held out my hands with a small smile.

“What are you?” the Wizard in the middle of the small group stared at me, fire spells at the ready.

“Part dragon, part human, part eon, and part rubber, take that how you will,” I shrugged.

“And the horns?” he frowned.

“Are those; of a dragons’, you needn’t worry about me going all demonic on you,” I laughed.

“Then I think we can get by, if at all,” he nodded “I’ll let the Archmage know right away,” and with that he ascended the beam of magic energy in the centre of the library…

“So, that thing’s your son?” A second wizard raised an eyebrow, glancing between Lily and Edward, who both nodded.

“We may not be related by blood, but we’re still family” Lily smiled.

“So be it.” the wizard from before re-appeared down the beam, turning to face me.

“The Archmage will see you know, second floor, first on the left.”

“I’ll be there,” I turned to Twilight “Sparkles, try not to break anything.”

As we entered the Archmage’s office, sat behind a desk, a middle-aged man with silvery hair and a set of gold-trimmed Wizard's robes smiled at me, albeit, faintly.

“A wizard visited me just a moment ago about you,” the Archmage raised an eyebrow, “and I’d like to hear it for myself, what are you exactly?”

“I’m a human, an eon, and a Dragon Slayer,” I bit my lip as Edward placed a gentle hand on my shoulder.

“I see, and you’re presence at the tower?” he gave a light frown.

“I wish no harm to come to the tower, nor any of its occupants, Archmage,” I boldly declared.

“As you say,” he nodded, “I hereby request that your parents keep an eye on you whilst you remain in the tower and on its grounds, is this acceptable?” I nodded, “Then I’ll let the others know of your acceptance to the Wizard's Tower…”

-=-

After Sedridor’s speech had finally managed to convince the occupants of the tower no harm, he returned to his office, and I was left with my friends and family to roam the tower;

“So, what happens next?”

Twilight twitched as she looked around the library.

“Go on then…” I rolled my eyes with a heavy sigh.

“She can levitate items, how?” Lily glanced toward me as Twilight picked several books from the nearby bookshelf, sitting down by the nearby wall, opening the first with her magic, behinning to read.

“Pony magic differs from that of a human,” I began, smiling, “ “there’re two types of magic where I’ve been, ability-type, in which the magic in a user is freely flowing through them, and holder-type, where you have to use a certain item to use any form of magic.”

“So, when we use runes, that’s holder type magic, and the same applies for combat staves?” Edward tilted his head.

“Right,” I nodded,” now just think of what we could do if we needn’t use runes in our magic, but rather, what if we could use our minds instead?”

“That’d certainly make things easier,” Lily gave a soft laugh, “So, are unicorns here holder-type or ability-type?”

“I haven’t managed to work that out yet, but I’d have to say ability-type,” I gave a short hum, glancing toward the lavender mare, who was busy, indulged in her book, a little too indulged, as she didn’t seem to notice the amount of stares she was receiving.

“She’s cute I’ll give her that,” Edward glanced between the two of us; “are you two… Y’know?”

“I’m not sure how to answer that…” I blinked, “I mean, officially I’m with Autumn Heart…”

“I see, and where is this Autumn Heart?” Lily smiled; I nodded toward the earth-brown unicorn who was currently showing Honey Heart around the library “You have a child?” suddenly, all eyes in the room were on us, one could hear, assuming one were to be lost, a pin dropping to the ground, giving a slight tinkas it hit the floor.

“Please at least tell me that she’s adopted…” Edward mumbled.

“Oh how I wish I could,” I crouched, holding my hands out, Honey Heart galloped over to me, quickly clinging onto me, quickly climbing her way onto the top of my head.

“So, you had intercourse, with a pony?” Lily whispered, this of course, did nothing to avert the stares we were getting, “are you a blasphemer!?”

“No, I’m an atheist mostly,” I flinched

“Well, to each his own I suppose,” he frowned, glaring at Honey Heart, who poked her tongue at him, “So, how long has this been going on?”

“How long have I been here?” I glanced toward Snowdrop, who was now perched upon my shoulder

“Around thirty-to-forty years, Daddy” Snowdrop giggled.

“How many of these things have you even…?” Edward glared at me icily, I mouthed the word ‘Two’ at him “For Saradomin’s sake Boy, and you have the nerve to bring us back, alongside the Wizard's Tower!?”

“I ‘had the nerve,’ because I wanted my parents back, obviously you can’t appreciate what someone else has done for you, nor the gravity of that said action, Edward,” I scowled

“Get out of my sight; you’re no son of mine” he growled.

“Maybe you’d like to go back to playing dead then?” I snarled.

“You wouldn’t dare!?” he bellowed.

“You wish to risk your life on a gamble,” I spat “why didn’t you say so?”

“Enough!” Lily boomed at the top of her lungs, panting for breath afterward, “both of you stop it, you’re acting like children, now why don’t we get over this, and try to work out a compromise!?”

“Yes Mum/Yes Dear,” Edward and I glanced at one another, eyebrows raised.

“Now, apologize,” she fumed.

“I’m sorry for threatening you, Dad,” I held out a hand, he glanced toward Lily, who gave a menacing leer.

“And I’m sorry for not giving your relationship a chance, Rick” he shook my hand with a weak smile.

“Now, can everyone go back to what they were doing prior to this little excursion?” Lily lanced around the room, gradually, the wizards of the tower returned to their duties…

“Remind us never to annoy thy mother,” Luna giggled nervously.

“Oh I wouldn’t worry about it, I have to be like this to put up with these two,” Lily placed an arm around Edward and myself, “if not me, then who?”

“True,” she smiled “forgive us for not introducing ourselves; we are Princess Luna, herald of the night, and guardian of the stars.”

“And I’m Lily” Lily shook Luna’s hoof as she held it out

“Indeed,” Luna nickered as Cellsy made her way toward us also, “and this is thine sister, Princess Celestia.”

“Nice to meet you,” Lily smiled in return, shaking Celestia’s armoured hoof.

“Likewise Lily,” Cellsy smiled “so, how does your magic work?” Twilight’s ears and head both turned toward us as the conversation changed to one of Magicka.

“We use runes, something Rick refers to as ‘holder-type’ magic,” Lily gave a serene smile, “with the runes we can cast anything we can think of, but without them; we can’t do much except make more.”

“And where do these runes come from?”

“Rune essence” Edward smiled also, “it is from theta certain mineral that any type of rune can be made, and from there, they’re used in all sorts of arcane arts, most predominantly in combat magic.”

“Combat magic?” Celestia raised an eyebrow.

“Only for self-defence of course,” Lily bit her lip.

“But of course, just as we use basic bolt spells when defending ourselves, such as in the past wars with the dragons and gryphons that’ve been waged on us as a nation.”

“You’ve been in wars?” Edward blinked, glancing toward me, I shrugged.

“A few, but we ponies prefer to avoid conflict, if possible,” Luna stated with a slight amount of pride in her voice.

“So I see,” Lily smiled, again.

“And where might this Rune Essence be exactly?” Luna raised an eyebrow.

“It has its own mine in another plane of existence, which was discovered by Zamorakian priests a few decades ago,” Edward explained with a light frown.

“And you have means to travel there?” Celestia tilted her head slightly.

“We have a teleportation spell, yes” he nodded with a slight grin.

-=-=-

“So, that was fun,” I rolled my eyes as we arrived in Ponyville

“I hope I can go back there again!” Twilight exclaimed with apparent glee.

“I don’t see why not,” I sighed.

“So, you’re Ok then?” Autumn Heart trotted beside me.

“I’ll be fine, Autumn Heart,” I simpered as Discord popped into view right in front of us.

“Does anyone know why there’s a tower in the middle of the Everfree Forest?” Discord beamed.

“You mean you don’t know?” I blinked, “it’s the Wizard's Tower.”

“Ah yes, the Saradominist wizards of old…” he sighed with a wide grin, “So, who not attack me?”

“I came to realise something,” I smirked, “compared to the villainous scum that Fairy Tail as a guild has come across, you are but nought, trash that has merely yet to have been disposed of, a freak of nature, etcetera, etcetera.”

“Really?” he frowned, “you tell me the lord of chaos, that I’m nothing?”

“Compared to anyone from Grimoire Heart, Tartaros, or the Oracion Seis,” you’re nothing, especially when compared to Zeref himself,” I snorted with minor amusement.

“You think a mere child is better than me?” he laughed hysterically, “that’s rich!”

“He’s the lord of death magic,” I smirked “given the chance; he’d kill anyone with a mere thought, nothing more, nothing less”

“You’re joking…” he stared at me with a slight of fear, I raised an eyebrow “well I’ll be damned…” and with that he vanished, teleporting away.

“You have a wizard who utilizes death magic?” Celestia blinked.

“Not in the guild, but somewhere in Fiore, yes, the Black mage; Zeref,” I gave a forlorn nod.

“And around four centuries ago, he attained immortality,” Blaze smirked, appearing at the doorway to the house “you left the front door unlocked again, Brother.”

“So, how powerful is he?” Twilight shuddered.

“That much is unknown, other than his abilities and his immortality, there’s not much I do know, other than his hatred for mankind,” I frowned.

“There’s one thing I still don’t get though,” Twilight glanced toward me, taking a small backward step; “how did you become a magma dragon slayer?”

“The same way Natsu can use lightning,” I raised the other eyebrow, “and in a similar way Sombra uses his dark magic; anger and emotion.”

“You must’ve been extremely annoyed for your fire to turn solid, Brother,” Blaze whistled.

“Quite so, and since I’ve had dark magic literally ripped from my being, there’s no risk of corruption.”

“I should hope so,” she gave a slow nod, sidestepping, allowing us entrance to the house.

“So… we’ve an astral mage and a lava-surfer” Blackjack laughed, I tilted my head ever-so slightly, “what?”

“Nothing at all, Blackie, nothing at all…” I slowly shook my head.

Honey Heart’s stomach growled as she lay atop my head; “Daddy, I’m hungry,” she giggled nervously.

“Well, let’s see what we can do to sate, that appetite, hm?” I smiled, walking with my family into the kitchen, Blaze causally following me there, smug grins aplenty.

“So, what can I get you, Honey?” I smiled; Honey Heart levitated the cookie Jar over to me, placing it in my grasp with a light giggle as her stomach growled again.

Judging by the way your stomachs grumbling, I’d say you need more than a few sweets, Honey,” I smiled, “let’s see what we can get at Sugarcube corner.”

“Okie Dokie!” she nickered, glancing down to my shoulder as Winter Bell perched herself there on our way toward the confectionery.

“Can we sing?” Honey Heart smiled down to me on the way there.

“I don’t see why not, my little Honey Heart,” I said with a smile.

“I've been watching you stumble

through the darkest night

Let me tell you

It's gonna be alright

I can see you've been trying but

your wings got clipped

been waiting in line but

your turn got skipped

I'll be there when you need me

I'll be there when you call

Yeah I'll be there to catch you when you fall

Know that I'll never leave you

Out here on your own

I'll be the lights that guide you home

Been a long time coming

Feelings for you

My hearts been skippin' a beat

Maybe two

Right now you're weak but,

But you'll be strong

I know where there's a place

That you belong

I'll be there when you need me

I'll be there when you call

Yeah I'll be there to catch you when you fall

Know that I'll never leave you

Out here on your own

I'll be the lights that guide you home

I don't know if you want me

Or if you care

But even if you don't I'll be there

'Cuz when I'm beside you

My soul burns bright

Let me be the one

Let me be your light

I'll be there when you need me

I'll be there when you call

Yeah I'll be there to catch you when you fall

Know that I'll never leave you

Out here on your own

I'll be the lights that guide you home

Now I know you've had problems

We could solve 'em

We could make it through

Tried and true

We could fight 'em off, all of 'em

We could make it through a brighter day, anyway

Gettin' by another way

So I guess I'm trying to say

I wanna be the lights guiding you through the night

When things get dark, when you don't know what's right

I wanna hold your hand, and tell you that you can

So don't worry, it's gonna be alright

I'll be there when you need me

I'll be there when you call

Yeah I'll be there to catch you when you fall

Know that I'll never leave you

Out here on your own

I'll be the lights that guide you home” Honey Heart, Snowdrop and Winter Bell sang as we made it toward Sugarcube Corner, now on the receiving end of quite a few stares…

“I didn’t know you sang,” I turned; Natsu, Erza, and Grey were there, grinning.

“Yeah well, don’t expect me to do it often,” I rolled my eyes, glancing toward Natsu. “So, how’s Lyra?”

“I was about to meet her here actually…” Natsu mumbled.

“Good for you,” I smirked as we entered the shop, Lyra was sat at a nearby table, Natsu dragged himself toward said table, sitting opposite Lyra as she levitated a milkshake from the counter, placing it between them, gazing at him dreamily as she started to drink, Natsu reluctantly followed suit, glaring at me as he did so, I merely shrugged.

“What can I getcha?” the cyan mare behind the counter smiled, winking at me, I frowned.

“I’ll have three triple-chocolate milkshakes and four blueberry muffins please,” Honey Heart giggled, Mrs Cake nodded, returning not a moment later with the consumables that the little filly had requested.

“How much do I owe you?” I gave a weak smile as Honey Heart levitated the items over to a table opposite Lyra and Natsu

“It‘s fine, I’ll not charge you anything if it‘s for your daughter,” she smiled with a dismissive wave of her hoof,, glancing toward Lyra “the same also applies for Lyra’s new coltfriend over here.”

“Oh, we’re not together…” Natsu trailed off, seeing the pony’s saddened expression before him, “I mean; we’re to get married soon…” Lyra leapt at him, somehow avoiding the cold drink as she lavished him with kisses.

“So, you’re to be married?” I smirked as we left Sugarcube corner, Lyra skipping merrily alongside us with a look of pure glee upon her face, “do you even know how a wedding works, Natsu?”

“Not really, no, why?” he blinked.

I sighed, “Snowdrop, could you please get Twilight, and ask her to bring Cadance along?” I glanced toward Snowy, who nodded, pecked my cheek and galloped off toward the library.

-=-

“I heard that you required my assistance, Rick?” Cadance smiled at me as she teleported beside me, I nodded toward Lyra and Natsu.

“Natsu said that he and Lyra are apparently getting married soon, he’s then gone on to tell me that he has no idea how a wedding works,” I smirked.

“Oh, I can tell you all about it Natsu, but first we need to get you a suit, we should head over to Rarity’s for that,” Cadance chimed, picking the human up in her magic, skipping happily toward the boutique, Lyra quickly following suit.

“You are in so much trouble…” Erza sighed with a smirk as Snowdrop perched herself back on my shoulder.

“Yeah well, that’s the way the cookie crumbles,” I laughed.

“So it is,” she laughed.

=-=

“I’d never thought I’d ever see this happen…” I bit my lip as Natsu, now wearing a suit, complete with his trademark checkered scarf, stood beside Lyra at the end of the aisle

“I do,” he smiled, more-or-less completing the wedding;

“I now pronounce you colt and mare, you may kiss the bride,” the priest smiled awkwardly, Lyra leapt up, planting her lips firmly on Natsu’s.

“What’ll you do for your honeymoon then?” I smirked as the newlyweds marched from the town hall.

“I’ve an idea, but I’ll need to save up a little for it,” Lyra giggled, now perched on the back of Natsu’s head.

“Take what you need from me; or rather, the ridiculously large bank account that I have, assuming there’s anything left of it…” I rolled my eyes.

“You mean it?” she gasped, awing at me.

I nodded, “take what you want, just tell Cellsy that I sent you,” I said with a wide grin.

“You’re a gem,” she exclaimed with glee, winking at me.

“I’m also part dragon,” I smirked.

“So, what’ll we do for ourhoneymoon?” Autumn Heart smiled, nuzzling into me as we sat on the couch in the second lounge,

“I think spending time with you is nice enough as is, Autumn Heart,” I pecked the tip of her horn with a smile.

“Aww, you’re too sweet,” she giggled pecking my cheek.

“Anything for you, my little Tinker,” I draped a wing around her and each of my daughters, holding them close “we’re family, let’s at least act like one.”

“And so we are,” she nickered.

“Must you wear clockwise whilst doing this particular method of training, Brother?” Blaze chortled as we stood atop the hill near the library.

“Why not, it’d compliment the fire that I’m to use for my next ability, Blaze” I grinned, clapping my hands together, bursting into whitish-golden flames, said flames began to grow exponentially, building up as they took shape;

First came the legs and body, then the medium-long neck and tail, which, alongside the back were lined with triple-file spines, after that, the wings of great-golden flames burst forth as the head sprouted from the top of the neck, a horn pointing from each angle of its head, and a third, smaller horn from its snout

“Second level dragon’s apparition, Tenkyu no Karyu!”  I bellowed, the dragon above me gave an almost ethereal roar as I yelled, letting forth a vast torrent of alabaster fire directly into the sky.

“Celestial fire dragon,” Blaze whistled, “that’s quite tha ability, Brother.”

“What in the hay..?”

I turned; Twilight and her friends were there, awing at me

“What is that?” Twilight nodded toward the large dragon I’d ‘summoned’

“Second stage Dragon’s Apparition,’” I smiled.

“How did you summon it?” she blinked.

“The same way I conjure up a basic flame, only with more focus and concentration, I think,” I laughed.

“Could it be something to do with the ‘Dragon Soul’ Celestia mentioned once?” Blaze tilted her head

“It could be, perhaps we ought to ask her about it at some point,” I folded my arms as the dragon re-moulded itself back into the usual golden veil of flames

“Uh, Rick…” Twilight giggled, eyeing me from head to foot, I looked down at myself, now appearing to be a bright whitish-golden-yellow in colour.

“Looks like we’re doing a Naruto crossover now, brother..!” Blaze guffawed.

”So it does, Blaze, so it does,” I smiled as Honey Heart leapt toward me, perching herself atop my head.

“Human torch,” she laughed.

“Coming from the fire-ferret..!” I snorted.

“Avatar reference intended?” she smirked, I nodded.

“Quite so,” I said with another smile.

“So, how is she not bein’ harmed by your fire then?” Applejack blinked.

“Fire does more than just burn, Applejack, I smirked, “it only burns when I wish for it to do so, it’s an extent of the ability known as ‘Purple Flare,’” I winked.

“It’s actually kind of cosy,” Honey Heart giggled, nuzzling into me “I love you Daddy.”

“And I you, my little Heart,” I sat on the ground, moving Honey Heart into my lap, draping her wings around her.

“That’s nice…” she yawned, curing into a ball as she fell asleep in my lap, giving a light snore with every other breath

“When I see your smile

Tears roll down my face I can't replace

And now that I'm strong I have figured out

How this world turns cold and it breaks through my soul

And I know I'll find deep inside me I can be the one

I will never let you fall (let you fall)

I'll stand up with you forever

I'll be there for you through it all (through it all)

Even if saving you sends me to heaven

It's okay. It's okay. It's okay.

Seasons are changing

And waves are crashing

And stars are falling all for us

Days grow longer and nights grow shorter

I can show you I'll be the one

I will never let you fall (let you fall)

I'll stand up with you forever

I'll be there for you through it all (through it all)

Even if saving you sends me to heaven

Cuz you're my, you're my, my, my true love, my whole heart

Please don't throw that away

Cuz I'm here for you

Please don't walk away and

Please tell me you'll stay woah, stay woah

Use me as you will

Pull my strings just for a thrill

And I know I'll be okay

Though my skies are turning grey

I will never let you fall

I'll stand up with you forever

I'll be there for you through it all

Even if saving you sends me to heaven

I will never let you fall

I'll stand up with you forever

I'll be there for you through it all

Even if saving you sends me to heaven…” I softly sang as Honey Heart slept, gently rocking he rack and forward

“Ahem?” I glanced behind me; Celestia was stood beside Twilight and the others

“Hiya Cellsy,” I smiled, turning back, gently stroking Honey’s mane “what can I do for ya?”

“I’d like to know where you got your current form from,” Cellsy raised an eyebrow.

“I just thought of it, and surely enough, it worked,” I gave a light shrug

“And the dragon that appears to have mysteriously vanished?” she gave a faint smile,.

“I really don’; think my daughter would appreciate me ruining her state of apparent bliss, Princess,” I rolled my eyes, she blinked, standing beside me as I unveiled my wings, quickly returning them back to their place around Honey Heart.

“So she wouldn’t,” she smirked.

-=-=-

After what felt like eternity, the flames around my being began to flicker, and eventually died out.

“Aww, is it over already?” Honey Heart gave me her best puppy-dog-eyes impression.

“When my magic level returns, we’ll do it again, Ok?” I smiled, pecking her forehead.

“Okie Dokie,” she saluted me, yawning as she clambered onto my head as I staggered to my feet, Snowdrop perching herself atop my shoulder, Winter Bell doing the same for the opposite appendage.

“Where have you been?” Autumn Heart frowned rather glaringly once we entered the lounge.

“Taking care of Honey Heart, don’t worry Tinker, she’ll be fine with me,” I crouched down, allowing my passenger to climb to the floor, save Honey Heart, who remained upon my head.

“And where was this exactly?” she snapped.

“Around the library,” Honey Heart chimed with apparent joy, “Daddy became all golden-coloured and warm; he even allowed me to sleep in his lap.

“Golden?” Autumn Heart stared at me “you set yourself on fire?”

“Not exactly,” I bit my lip “if we have any gems, I could show you, but it’d have to be outside.”

“So, this is what you used before?” she blinked, awing at me, I nodded “it’s impressive, I’ll give it that.”

“And it’s also my newest form of magic,” I smiled, dissipating the golden glow.

“Well, I suppose I can forgive you, since she did come home unscathed…” she sighed indignantly.

“She’ll always remain that way when she’s with me, you can count on me,” I grinned, she frowned.

“I hope so, Rick, I really do,” she bit her lip, pawing at the ground nervously.

“I hereby promise that, no matter what, Honey Heart will always be with be when we return home, come hell or high water, I’ll defend her with everything I have,” I smirked.

“You’re quite the noble pony- err, person, Y’know that right?” she smiled.

“I’m aware…” I mumbled, “So anyways, how goes the business with the shop?”

“Oh, it’s doing Ok I suppose…” she smiled, “I made a few new clocks for us also, they’re easily noticeable, so you should be able to spot them fairly easily.”

“So I should…”

“So, I wonder how many times more powerful you are than the average mage at the newly created Wizard's Tower,” Blaze raised an eyebrow, I blinked as we made our way to the tower, “I heard about it from Autumn Heart,” I nodded.

“I’m on level with a demigod or two, so there’s something at least,” I hummed.

“Rick,” Edward smiled as we entered the tower, having been allowed entrance by Valina, “How’re you doing?”  

“I’m fine, Dad…” I blinked, still getting used to the fact that I’d bought back my dead relatives.

“And who’s this?” he glanced toward Blaze

“I’m Blaze, Rick’s adoptive sister,” Blaze held out a paw, which Edward, reluctantly, shook.

“What are you?” he blinked.

“I’m what‘s known as a Typhlosion,” Blaze sighed, “or you could just call me a giant estranged ferret, if it’s any easier.”

“So I see…” he gave a light frown, “and how long have you been with your ‘brother’?”

“Just over three-and-a-half-hundred years,” she flinched

“How old are you again?” he stared at me

“In form, around three-point-five-hundred years old, in spirit, around an eon, why?” I tilted my head.

“And you never thought to bring us back sooner?” he frowned, again.

“I didn’t find the basement of your tower until just before last week!” I argued back.

“And what, of our home?” he scowled.

“I’m three hundred years old; I think I can take care of myself, Dad,” I rolled my eyes agitatedly, “besides, when I found out about you, when I found the house, and your remains, I was practically rendered catatonic!”

“So that’s where you were for the last month,” Blaze laughed.

“I was out for a month?” I blinked, glancing toward the Typhlosion who was busy grinning at me, beaming from ear to ear.

“Basically,” she smirked.

“So, what brings you out here this time?” he raised an eyebrow, Lily now standing at his side.

“I just found a new type of spell, I think<” I concentrated, bursting into flames, which then moulded around me, shaping into the same golden form I had before.

“That’s amazing,” Lily gasped, “what is it?”

“it’s a veil of magic, sort of,” I tilted my head ever-so slightly, seeing as Honey Heart was perched atop my skull, draping her wings around my horns as she lay there, “it may be an amalgamation of fire-based magic and energy, I don’t know just yet.”

“It’s amazing is what it is!” Lily exclaimed with a huge grin “never in all my years have ai seen such magical prowess! I’m proud of you son.”

“So, you got this magic from a dragon you say?” Edward laughed,

I nodded, “Not just any dragon, Dad, Crystagia’s the gem dragon goddess.”

“Well, tell her that I might be interested in having a nice chat with her soon,” he chortled.

“There won’t be any need to wait, young human,” an almost-ethereal voice echoed from outside, my family and I quickly rushed to the entrance, where Crystagia lay in an arc around the tower.

“You’re… Crystagia…?” Lily stared at the large dragon, who gave a solemn nod.

“I am,” Crystagia nodded, “and might I ask your names?”

“I’m Lily, and this is my husband, Edward,” Lily mumbled almost incoherently, “you’re the dragon who’s taken care of our son for these years?”

“I am the one responsible for his teachings of the lost magic known only to dragon slayers, yes, and I’ve also been keeping a rather watchful eye on him, isn’t that right, son?” she glancved toward me with a grin.

“Son…?” Lily gasped “but, how…?

“I have taken care of Rick to the best of my ability, and in turn, he had, at one point or another, deemed we worthy to be his foster mother,” Crystagia sighed as she explained, glancing toward me again “I see you’ve finally unlocked your ‘Dragon Soul’ then?”

“My what?” I blinked.

“All dragon slayers, be they of ‘first,’ ‘second,’ or ‘third’ generation, have a dragon’s soul implanted into them at some stage, you however, seem not to have noticed, even when using ‘Dragon Force,’” she raised an eyebrow, “so it falls to your latest ‘spell,’ to get you any notice of your true capabilities.”

“This is my….?” I glanced down at myself, taking in my now-golden form.

“It has another form to it, but I assure you, I wouldn’t advise using it, for reason I refuse to elaborate on, Rick,” she smiled; holding out a clenched claw, which I lightly bumped using my fist.

“Crystagia, was it?” Lily gave a nervous laugh, the dragon goddess gave a slight nod “I can’t thank you enough for taking care of our son, we’re eternally in your debt, if ever you need anything, feel free to ask, we’ll be at the Wizard's Tower for a long while anyhow,” she giggled.

“I’ll be sure to remember it Lily,” Crystagia smiled with a nod.

“So, she’s your foster mother?” Edward glanced toward me, I nodded, “at least she shows kindness; that of which, by the looks of things, wasn’t completely lost upon you, my son.”

“You flatter me, Edward, really, I am just an Elder Dragon, no more and no less,” Crystagia laughed.

“Rick here says that you’re a dragon god,” Lily smiled.

“Now where might you get that information, young dragon slayer?” she glanced once again toward me, eyebrow raised.

“Cellsy said that the original dragons of Equis that spread out across the universe with humans were, in their own right, gods, and she said that you’re one of them,” I gave a wide grin,

“Never a dull moment with you, Brother..!” Blaze burst into a fit of laughter.

“Indeed,” I laughed, turning toward the dragon goddess who lay out before me “but would you say that her analysis is true or false, Crystagia?”

“It is, to a certain extent true, be it my modesty or the truth, there’s only one way to find out,” she smiled, “you’ll have to seek th other elders, I trust you know at least one of them?”

“Something tells me that you’re not referring to Grandoa….” I raised an eyebrow.

“Correct, but you didn’t answer my question, Rick.”

“Igneel…”

“That’s one; can you name any others, my dear son?”

“Grandeeney and Mettallicana,” I blinked.

“And that’s three now,” she simpered “I’m impressed with your knowledge on the dragons of old, Rick, who else are you aware of?”

“Weisslogia and Skiadrum, although they’re… Y’know,” I bit my lip.

“I’m aware of their unruly demise at the hands of their sons, and I’m glad you didn’t follow a similar path, my son,” she smiled.

“So, this ‘Dragon Soul,’” I gave a short hum “I got it when I became an eon?”

“Correct, you see, when you merged with that soul, its powers, for a time, were locked, but the your new eon form was given to you nonetheless,” The gem dragon nodded, “such is the way of two souls merging in our time, the second soul of which has their form, no matter how many, and their powers also, transferred to the new ‘host,’ as it were, even more proof of the new soul inside of you would be your horns.”

“When I first became an eon, all those years ago, did I have a dragon’s soul then?” I clenched my fists.

“I cannot say for sure, as I was not aware of your existence an eon ago, Rick, it would be better to ask Celestia to see if she knows anything on the matter,” Crystagia tilted her head slightly, “though it’s more than likely that you did, whether you were artificially created or naturally born, I do not know.”

Her gaze shifted upward slightly, “and I see that you’ve a new friend?”

“He’s my Daddy,” Honey Heart gleamed with a cheer.

--=-=--

“Got played like a piano, did we?” Blaze smirked as my family, Twilight her friends and I stood with the princesses in the throne room.

“Immortality is a price, not a gift, Blaze,” I frowned “besides, I don’t even play the piano.”

“Yeah, you use a guitar, we know,” she smirked.

“And the violin,” I mumbled under my breath”

“Didn’t know you were like that, Brother,” she grinned, pulling a violin case out of nowhere, handing it to me.

“Where do you get these things?” I frowned again, she winked.

“A true magician never reveals her secrets,” she laughed, suddenly stopping, looking at me almost expectantly “well play then, I’m not sitting here waiting for nothing ya know!”

“And in clockwise nonetheless,” Rarity chimed, “this should be interesting.”

-==-==

After the few select songs were over, I stopped, placing the stringed instrument back into its case, only then noticing the design of the case in general.

“Blaze,” I clenched my fists, “where did you get this?”

“Agatha, you know; the one you went through hell and back to get that thing for?” my sister gave an audible gulp.

“I know that, what I don’t understand is why it’s not in my possession,” I growled.

“’twas her final wish that she pass it down to you, Brother,” she gave a forlorn sigh, “I’m sorry…”  

“So, I’ve got a violin that’s nearly as old as I am?” I grumbled, “if not older…”

“How old is it?” Rarity stepped forward as I re-opened the case, running a gentle finger over one of the strings.

“Well, assuming it were twenty-five-ninety by now, it say almost nine-hundred years, it was made in seventeen-fourteen,” I explained, “originally made by Antonio Stradivari at the time, it’s almost priceless as it is now…”

“You have a guitar signed by Bryan Adams, do you not?” Blaze gave a weak smile.

“That was made in the late twentieth, early-twenty-first century, Blaze; this was made in the early-eighteenth, it belongs in a museum for what it’s worth!” I exclaimed, “After the great war, this may be the last Stradivarius in existence, making it priceless enough as is.”

“But if it‘s almost ancient, and this is no offense to Agatha, then how is it so… perfectly well preserved?” Twilight stared at me, then toward the violin,

“It was kept in what’s known as a ‘Vault’ an underground bunker designed to keep people safe from the outside war that was going on, and in that Vault; Vault Ninety-Two, they strived to keep musical talent alive, but after a few testes involving white noise went awry, the violin was kept on its own in an especially-made case, preserved thanks to the artificially created humidity in the case, where it remained untouched for over two centuries,” I explained.

“Its case is the only reason it‘s in perfect working order?” Cellsy blinked, glancing toward the violin, perfectly preserved through the infinite sands of time.

I nodded, “it’s a wonderful masterpiece, I‘m just wondering what to do with it.”

“Keep it, you’ll need it for your part in the orchestra,” she glimmered.

“My, what..?” I blinked in return.

She giggled “You’ve proven yourself to be quite the expert with the guitar, your voice, and now of course, the violin; don’t you think it logical to be part of something bigger, Rick?”

“I’m afraid that I must decline, Princess,” I smiled, “I’ve a family to look after, and I’d rather sell the violin than lose them.”

“You’d sell the violin, priceless as it is?” Rarity gasped.

“I’d rather not sell it at all, but if it came to it, I’d sooner sacrifice it than those close to me,” I gleamed.

“Noble, if anything” Luna smiled, “we shall see you later, Sir Rick…

-=-

“Rick..!” Octavia, after a long period of not seeing her, sprinted toward me, knocking me to the ground as I crouched down to her level, thankfully, Blaze was carrying the violin case, so nothing was damaged.

“How are you Octavia?” I smiled; she pecked my cheek, giggling as she nuzzled into me.

“So, long time no see Rick!” Vinyl marched up beside me as Octavia stood opposite her, allowing me to steadily get to my feet, “and before you ask, Celestia told us your name,” she winked, “what’s with the violin case?”

“I didn’t know you could play the violin, Rick” Octavia gleamed with a lustful look in her eyes.

“Yeah well, I’ve been meaning to get in a little practice,” I smiled.

“Perhaps we could do so together?” she winked.

“I don’t see why not, lead the way Tavi,” she giggled, walking with me to the theatre as I collected the violin from Blaze, who merely grinned at me with a devious smirk.

“So, where do we begin?” The silvery mare almost-purred as I sat upright on the edge of the stage

“How about you start and I’ll see if I can’t follow?” she gave a faint nod, taking her place on a seat upon the stage, cello in hoof, beginning with a slow start, after a moment I began to attempt at following her lead in a duet…

=-=

“Well, that was certainly peaceful,” Octavia said with a smile, placing her cello in its case, giving me another, flirtatious wink.

“Same time next week..?” I smiled in return; she tilted her head slightly for a moment, before sighing;

“I’m sorry to say that I can’t, “she shook her head, “I’m due for the royal Canterlot Orchestra next week, and as such, I need time to practice.”

“Fair enough, just feel free to stop by my house if you need anything, or want to do this again,” I grinned.

“I’ve heard of ‘Making Music,’ but this is ridiculous!” I turned, Twilight her friends, the princesses and my family were all there, smiling right at me.

“Long enough…?” I raised an eyebrow;

“Quite so,” Cellsy raised an eyebrow, “it appears that you truly are skilled with such instruments, how do you do it?

“Practice, I guess,” I shrugged, placing the Soil Stradivarius back into its case, Octavia sat beside me, examining the case and its contents.

“Where did you get such a fine piece of craftsmanship?” Octavia stared at me.

“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you,” I rolled my eyes

“Try me<” she smirked.

“A post-apocalyptic warzone,” I raised an eyebrow.

“…Ok, wasn’t expecting that….” She blinked “but still, both you and the violin are in perfect condition which means that, should you choose to, you’ll be able to qualify for the Orchestra,” I nodded toward Cellsy, she gasped; “No…!”

“Apparently,” I sighed, “though I’ve got a family to look after, so I’m a little pressed for time.”

“About that…” she bit her lip, “I’d like to join your herd, and to move in with you, if that’s all right with you, Rick.”

“…I’m not saying no, but is there a reason you’re asking me this?” I blinked after a moment’s silence.

“I’m a little low on money due to recent uprisings, and as such, I can’t really afford to be in Canterlot for much longer,” Octavia winced somewhat as I raised the other eyebrow.

“Did I say no?” I grinned, she gasped, leaping at me, lavishing me with small, affectionate kisses…

=-=-=

“So, Octy tells me that she’s moved in with you, how’s that working out for you?” Vinyl grinned.

“It’s going brilliantly so far, I’ve managed to rearrange the third lounge into a bedroom, and the second into a music room, so yeah, it’s pretty awesome,” I beamed.

“I was wondering, is there a place I could store my equipment when it’s not being used?” she raised an eyebrow; her shades perched atop her horn.

“There’s probably room in the spare room in the basement, so I should imagine so,” I nodded.

“Thanks Rick-o, you’re an awesome friend!” she leapt up, pecked my square on the lips, then darted off.

=-=

“So, what d‘ya think Cellsy would look like, if she were a warrior?” Blaze tilted her head as we sat in the lounge.

“I’ve already taken care of it,” I winked.

“You didn’t…” she gasped as a small set of folded artworks were dropped into my lap with a note, “So you did…”

“So, when’s our next practice?” I glanced toward Octavia, having hidden/burnt the artworks.

“We can do it now, if you like,” Octavia smiled with a light giggle.

-=-=-

After the practice

-=-=-

“Well, I’d definitely say you’re Orchestra-material, Rick,” Octavia nickered, placing her Cello in its case as I did the same for the Soil Stradivarius.

“Tell me,” she began, her form changing to a curvaceous anthro one, with her mane still as long as it was in her normal form, long pale-lavender arm stockings that went from her fingertips to halfway between her shoulders and elbows, a lavender dress, and a pair of bunny ears, also lavender, “what is it that you find so interesting about me?”

“Well, you’ve great musical talent, plus you’re classy, but unlike most nobles, you’ve a sense of decency about you, and you’re beautiful to the point where most would consider one to be an angel,” I gave an audible gulp, placing the case for my violin on the floor.

“I think a reward is in order for those kind words that are continuously birthed from that silver tongue of yours, Rick” pecked me on the lips as she picked me up, dragged me into the bedroom, locked the door behind us and throwing me on the bed.

“So, what’ll we do first, hmm..?”

=-=-=

“So what were you doing?” Cellsy smiled as we sat in the library.

“Nothing much” Octavia smiled.

“We could hear you all the way down from in here,” Twilight deadpanned.

“This isn’t exactly how I planned to spend a wintery Sunday morning,” Autumn Heart mumbled.

“Trapped in a library in the middle of an almost-out-of-control snowstorm, yeah, I think I can see a few problems with that,” I rolled my eyes.

“Yo, Rick, ya got any whiskey?” Blackjack sat right next to me opposite Octavia, as Autumn Heart curled up in my lap, and Honey Heart lay atop my head.

I rolled my eyes, “I’ll see what I have,” delving into my rucksack, I pulled out another six-pack of whisky bottles, passing them to her with ‘Purple Flare’.

“Thanks Rick, Love you,” she pecked my cheek, quickly opening the first bottle.

“I’m aware,” I frowned, “getting dragged halfway through a castle by a ‘drunk-out-of-her-mind’ mare, and then being played like a violin, figuratively speaking, I kind of got the picture.”

“You enjoyed it and you know it!” she chortled, I raised an eyebrow, “now Rick, don’t go denying it on me now~ Speaking of which, do you have any cards on you?”

“I might, I’m just wondering if that tower of bottles you expertly crafted is still there,” I rolled my eyes, again.

“What happened?” Twilight blinked, I raised an eyebrow, “Oh...!

“That’s Queen Blackjack for you,” Blaze grinned, “it’s as I said; never a dull moment with you, right Brother?”

“You could say that,” I slowly shook my head.

“Wait, Queen Blackjack?” Rainbow Dash blinked, “what makes her a queen, other than the fact she’s an alicorn?”

“What makes you a pony?” I tilted my head ever-so slightly.

“What I am?” she blinked with a light shrug of her shoulders.

“And there’s your answer,” I exhaled sharply as Blackjack finished her third bottle of whiskey, opening the fourth.

“You aren’t gonna stop her?” Blaze nodded toward the semi-alcoholic alabaster mare beside me, who frowned.

“Should I be?” I raised an eyebrow (again?).

“Probably,” she laughed.

“Yeah well, Blackjack can hold her liquor, it’d take more than a six-pack of bottles to get her even so much as tipsy,” I glanced toward Blackjack, who winked at me, “or, maybe not…”

“And something tells me that you’ve got more than a few ‘six-packs,’” she folded her arms with a sadistic grin.

“I found a type of jackpot of the stuff during a Slaver raid, that’s my story and I’m sticking to it,” I frowned.

“Slaver raid?” Cellsy frowned in return, “explain.”

“Saving the lives of innocent’s from a fate worse than death, yet again, might I add?” I bit my lip.

“So I see,” she gave a slow, curt nod, “I’ll not ask you to elaborate any further

“How much exactly, define ‘Jackpot’,” Blaze chortled.

“Five whole kegs, thirty barrels, twenty small crates and around two-thousand bottles,” I smirked.

“And what is this so-called ‘Jackpot’ composed of?” she raised both eyebrows.

“Whiskey and Cider mostly, might be some Vodka mixed in with it

“And you just found this in the middle of a Slaver camp?”

“Not just any ‘Slaver Camp,’ Dear Sister!” I laughed with a shake of my head, “No, I looted this from paradise falls, which would go a great deal towards explaining the tough-as-nails security I had to go through to get it, alongside two-billion caps.”

“Paradise falls?” Autumn Heart raised an eyebrow, gazing straight at me.

“It’s not something I should be discussing with a foal around, I’ll explain it later,” I gave a forlorn sigh.

“So how many guards did you say again?” Blaze smirked with a sly grin.

“Around forty, maybe fifty or sixty, I didn’t know nor care at the time,” I clicked my knuckles, followed by my neck, and then my upper-back.

“Right, ‘Cuz you were goin for the alcohol stash, eh?” she guffawed.

“Actually I didn’t even know it was in there, I was just there to save lives, burn ammo and then get the hell out of there, believe what you will, Sister,” I tutted “besides, who’s going to use it anyway, I certainly wasn’t going to let it go to waste, but I’m certainly no alcoholic!”

“Whatever you say, Mr Fahrenheit,” she grinned somewhat smugly.

“One time, Blaze, one time!” I rebuked with an icy glare.

“Twice actually,” she beamed.

“I think someone would’ve told me if it happened again, Blaze,” I rolled my eyes indignantly.

“Or maybe we wished to withhold information, thus proving our sick sense of humour?” she shrugged.

“God Damnit…” I mumbled.

“Aren’t I just the best, Dear Brother of mine?” she cackled with laughter.

“That’s debatable,” I snorted with apparent derision.

“You love me and you know it,” she glimmered with glee.

“As family, nothing more,” I retorted agitatedly.

“So, where’re you gonna put your little stash of unmentionables?” she giggled insanely

“Most likely the basement, lord knows I need to use that spare room as is,” I shuddered.

“You have an incredibly warped mind, Brother,” she howled with laughter.

“I’m me, and that’s the end of it,” I smirked.

“So you are…”

Having retrieved various pieces of equipment from my inventory, and also having moved the electric guitar set I’d found from the basement to the front lawn, I placed said pieces of equipment, including valves, pipes and the like –including talismans along/into the various walls, thus, creating a type of fridge, then placing the ‘stash’ of alcohol into said fridge…

“Where’d you get the amp-and-guitar?” Blaze smirked.

“From the basement, having just placed the stash there, or half of it, at least,” I rolled my eyes, “please tell me that Canterlot has even a basic drum-kit in its inventory….”

“I’ve seen it being used,” she nodded “why?”

“Why d‘ya think?” I grinned.

“Please tell me you’re joking,” she groaned.

“But of course, I deal with stringed instruments of the quiet type, not the type to causer buildings to quake and crumble,” I laughed.

“So, you’re just giving this to me, as it is?” Vinyl glanced toward the guitar and amplifier, then back toward me, awing at me.

“I’ve no need for it Vinyl, and besides, it’s you who specializes in that sort of music here, not me,” I smiled.

“I’ll give you two-thousand bits for it,” she smirked

“Half it,” I grinned.

“Deal,” she bumped my fist with a heavy hoof. Taking the equipment in her magic and walking into her home with it, winking at me as she closed the door, teleporting a bag of coins into my hands as she went.

“Well, now that that’s done,” I sighed, taking myself to the music room, violin case in hand, sitting on the stool , placing the case on the nearby table, retrieving the Soil Stradivarius from within, relaxing with an elongated sigh, and then beginning to play…

=-=

“I didn’t know you played the violin,” a familiar, scarlet/snow-white eon with golden eyes appeared at the doorway.

“Crystal, what brings you here?” I beamed.

“Other than the fact that I’ve not seen you in ages for one reason or another; and the fact that I love you and care for you, not much,” Crystal giggled, “may I watch?”

“You’ve been doing so for the past lord-knows-how-long, why do you feel the need to ask?” I rolled my eyes.

“Two hours, by that clock next to you,” she nodded toward a pony shaped clock, which was the spitting image of Honey Heart, “so I hear that you’ve a new marefriend?”

“We’re married,” Autumn Heart smiled as she sat beside me, pecking my cheek as Honey Heart clambered onto my head.

“And she’s your foal?” Crystal nodded toward the filly atop my head; I nodded, “what’s her name?”

“Honey Heart,” Autumn smiled.

“Cute,” Crystal smirked.

“I’m assuming you know how to play?” I raised an eyebrow.

“I can play the guitar, but that’s about it,” she shrugged.

“That gives me an idea,” I smirked with a sly grin…

“Why’re we doing this?” Crystal whispered as we hovered outside Celestia’s bedroom at around six in the morning, my family, plus Blaze, positioned on my back, neck, and head respectively, with Honey Heart atop my head, again.

“Because I love her, regardless of what she may’ve said or done” I raised an eyebrow.

“Touché,” she nodded, beginning to play the guitar, and I began to sing whilst playing the Soil Stradivarius…

“When I see your smile

Tears roll down my face I can't replace

And now that I'm strong I have figured out

How this world turns cold and it breaks through my soul

And I know I'll find deep inside me I can be the one

I will never let you fall (let you fall)

I'll stand up with you forever

I'll be there for you through it all (through it all)

Even if saving you sends me to heaven

It's okay. It's okay. It's okay.

Seasons are changing

And waves are crashing

And stars are falling all for us

Days grow longer and nights grow shorter

I can show you I'll be the one

I will never let you fall (let you fall)

I'll stand up with you forever

I'll be there for you through it all (through it all)

Even if saving you sends me to heaven

Cuz you're my, you're my, my, my true love, my whole heart

Please don't throw that away

Cuz I'm here for you

Please don't walk away and

Please tell me you'll stay woah, stay woah

Use me as you will

Pull my strings just for a thrill

And I know I'll be okay

Though my skies are turning grey

I will never let you fall

I'll stand up with you forever

I'll be there for you through it all

Even if saving you sends me to heaven

I will never let you fall

I'll stand up with you forever

I'll be there for you through it all

Even if saving you sends me to heaven” I sang with Crystal as a duet, with Blaze, Snowdrop, and Honey Heart singing the background vocals

“Uhh, Rick,” Blaze prodded my wing, I glanced toward the balcony; Cellsy was stood beside Luna, Cadance, Faust and Lulania eyebrows raised.

“Don’t judge me.”

“I wasn’t going to,” Cellsy glimmered, “and you sure you couldn’t have said that you loved me in person?” Crystal and Blaze grinned at me.

“Why do anything normally? You do it once you do it a thousand times, do it uniquely, and then you might get somewhere,” I smirked, Cellsy’s/Celestia’s horn shone with a golden-primrose glow as I was dragged through the air toward her, my family landing safely on the balcony as I reverted to human form.

“You certainly have a way with words, my little eon” she pecked my cheek, turning with the others and walking back into her room “I do believe I’m indebted to you now, Rick…”

“Where were you?” all eyes fell upon me whilst we sat around the dining table Twilight asked the obvious question.

“When, as in, a few minutes ago, or, a few hours ago..?” I smirked.

“Both, if it’d help anything,” she frowned.

“Here and there,” I winked.

“Waking the princesses up with a love song, hardly counts as ‘Here and There,’ Brother,” Blaze chortled.

“You did WHAT!?” Twilight shrieked.

“A little bit of this and that,” I grinned.

“Define your meaning,” she scowled.

“Well, Crystal said that she was good with the guitar, so I thought, ‘Why the hell not?’” I shrugged with a smug grin.

“I trust that thou would've done it regardless of her skills?” Luna giggled.

“Basically, yeah,” I smiled.

“Mushy!” Blaze guffawed.

“You have a problem, Sister?” I raised an eyebrow, again.

“Not at all, it’s just that if I were you, I’d use a little more flare, no pun intended of course,” she winked “I raised an eyebrow,” what?”

“Didn’t know you were one for topics such as this, Blaze,” I clicked my tongue.

“Yeah well, I tend to avoid them if I can,” she shrugged.

“Speaking of love” Celestia smiled, “I received word, or image, of a certain set of artworks not mere hours ago, would you mind explaining that?”

“Caught red handed, eh Brother?” Blaze cackled insanely.

“I regret nothing,” I mumbled.

“Clearly” Celestia raised an eyebrow, “honestly Rick, what are we to do with you?”

“I’ve a few ideas, most of which aren’t even legal,” Blaze burst into a fit of laughter, I gave an icy glare, “I know, I know, that’s your line, don’t think I don’t know my limits, Brother.”

“Fuck my life” I muttered under my breath

“Don’t know much about your life, but I reckon Cellsy could sort you out, should you wish to engage in such an act,” she grinned from ear to ear “Or has Octavia beaten her to it?” all eyes were once again on me as several ponies performed somewhat impressive spit-takes.

“Say any more, and I’ll prove that I don’t need to be Celestia to send you to the moon,” I growled.

“You’d hit a defenceless little girl like me Ricky-o, where’s your chivalry?” she gave me her best ‘Puppy-Dog’ eyes.

“You’re hardly defenceless, Blaze,” I frowned.

“You’re right, I can think of at least two hundred ways to castrate you from where I’m sitting” she grinned.

“I’d rather you didn’t,” I grumbled.

“Oh, who’s the lucky mare this time?” she beamed.

“Who says there’s anyone involved, I just said that I’d rather you not do that sort of thing,” I blinked.

“That’s what she said,” she snorted.

“Self-sexism..?” I tilted my head ever-so slightly.

“Nay, verbal masochism,” she winked evilly toward me, “So, what’s it like, being married?”

“Why don’t you ask Natsu and Lyra?” I shrugged, again, all eyes were on me once again as several more ponies performed several more spit-takes.

“I don’t know, why don'tI ask Lyra and the ‘Human Torch’?” she simpered, staring at me with a wide grin, “you planned it, didn’t you?”

“He said it, she went through with it, right in front of Erza, myself and Grey no less!” I laughed.

“I can’t imagine the Salamander wearing a suit…” she shuddered, “was he?” I nodded, “Dear Arceus…”

“When did this happen?” Twilight awed at me, wide-eyed and slack-jawed alongside her friends.

“Last week-or-so,” I tilted a hand.

“And we weren’t invited?” she frowned.

“I wasn’t in charge of the invitations, Sparkles,” I grinned “I was merely another face in the rather large crowd of ponies, standing out like a sore thumb, as it were.”

“So, is that Natsu Heartstrings or Lyra Dragneel?” Blaze blinked.

“Or Lyra ‘Dragneel’ Heartstrings,” I suggested, using air quotes when necessary.

“Touché, brother, touché<” she slowly nodded.

“First it was Grey and Juvia; then it was Natsu and Lisanna, and now its Natsu and Lyra?” Twilight smirked with a somewhat-more-than sadistic grin, “what’re you up to?”

“Who knows, maybe you ponies are finally rubbing off on me,” I rolled my eyes, voice laced with sarcasm.

“I doubt it,” she laughed.

“If you say so Sparky,” I rolled my eyes,” if you say so.”

“I’m not the one with the eight-hundred-year-old violin,” she grinned.

“At least you put it to good use, right Brother?” Blaze folded her arms.

“I’ve no honest idea as to how to reply to such a comment,” I blinked.

“So you say,” she tutted with a roll of her scarlet eyes,

“I don’t see you complaining, Sister” I frowned.

“I’m not the one who’s going to have to explain his motives for performing such an act,” she winked, “and at around six in the morning no less!”

“What time did you wake up this morning?” Twilight stared at me, eyebrow raised.

“Who said anything about going to bed?” Blaze stifled a roar of laughter.

“You what?” she blinked, awing at me.

“I was stargazing, and that’s the end of it.”

“That’s not what I heard until around three in the morning,” Blaze rebuked with a sly smirk, I glowered, “what?”

“Why haven’t I sent you to the local mental home?” I groaned.

“Because you’ve no honest idea what to do with me,” she flashed her eyebrows at me.

“I call harassment,” I mumbled as my stomach let out an unearthly roar.

“How long has it been since you’ve last eaten?” Cadance raised an eyebrow toward me.

“Last week-ish, why?” I tilted my head ever-so slightly.

“Augmentations?” she sighed, I nodded.

Glancing behind me I grinned, “Finally had that door put in like I suggested then?”

“I thought about it for a while, and decided that whilst such destruction wasn’t completely necessary, it did help with the rebuilding,” Celestia smiled.

“Don’t quite yer Day Job Cellsy” I laughed, beginning to ingest/eat the nearby gems that were laid out on my plate.

“Would you rather come peacefully to my bedroom, or come ‘Kicking-And-Screaming’?” she raised an eyebrow, I stopped, choking to near-death on the ruby I was eating, barely managing to swallow the gemstone, staring at her in unrestrained horror, “it wasn’t a rhetorical question, or, if you wish, you can faint, it’d just make my carrying you all the easier.

“I guess you could say she’s being an absolute gem, no?” Blaze laughed, “Now who’s not complaining?”

“Shut the hell up.”

“Make me buck-o,” she winked again, “Just goes to show that every action has its consequence, does it not?” she suddenly burst into laughter

“What?” I placed a hand under my nose, glancing at it “Oh bugger…”

“Not very subtle are ya?” she patted my back, I quickly changed to eon form, carrying the gems with me as I left; my family perching themselves back upon my back and neck respectively…

Once I was under the shade of a random tree in the gardens, I began my breakfast in a somewhat hopeful peace.

“What’re we going to do today, Daddy?” Honey Heart giggled.

“I don’t know yet Honey, why don’t you go and see if Blaze needs help with anything?”

“Okie Dokie,” she saluted me as she and the others jogged back into the castle.

Making sure no one else was around, I hid behind a nearby tree, changing form to a average-sized snow-white unicorn with a two-tone electric blue mane and tail with silvery-cyan eyes

“Oh Paper ~” I turned as I walked past the throne room, glancing behind me I saw Celestia stood there, smiling at me with a rather large grin.

“Greetings, Princess Celestia,” I bowed quickly.

“Oh, you don’t have to be so formal, you’re my coltfriend after all~” she almost sang.

“So I am,” I rolled my eyes, continuing to trot through the corridors “So, what brings you to visit little old me?”

“I thought that I’d surprise you a little, Paper Sky,” she giggled.

“And so you have, Princess,” I smiled.

“Please, call me Celestia,” she winked, “make anything new yet?”

“Maybe…” I bit my lip “I’m working on making a dragon, not too large, just need to keep at it I suppose,” I gulped audibly.

“Are you Ok?” she blinked.

“I’m fine, Celestia, and I always will be with you around, leading us as you do,” I felt my cheeks flush.

“You don’t have to be like that, just say it,” she smirked.

“I love you,” I quickly blurted out.

“And I you, my little tinker,” she trotted beside me, pecking my cheek, “I’ll see you later, in bed.”

“Of course Celestia,” I nodded, she teleported away, I quickly reverted to my human form “Dumbass…”

“So, are we ready?” Beauty Brass winked at me as I sat in the middle-back of the orchestra, I nodded alongside the other members, with Octavia being stood beside me with a smile, cello in-hoof.

()-=-()

After the orchestra, I sat on the stairs in the main hall of the castle, Octavia on one side, and Autumn Heart on the other, with Honey Heart lying atop my head;

“I didn’t know you played in the orchestra, Rick,” Autumn Heart pecked my cheek, letting out a slight giggle.

“I’ve still that one other piece left to play,” I winked, opening the violin case, taking the Soil Stradivarius from said case, beginning to play…

()=-=()

“That was incredible,” Octavia gazed at me with a sense of wonder in her eyes, “where did you get such a piece?”

“I learnt it from the internet, it’s part of a series called ‘Evening Star,’” I smiled, “it works better with a cello and a piano though…” I turned, almost every pair of eyes in the room were fixated on me.

“An eon-turned-demigod playing an intricate piece of music on a priceless violin,” Blaze whistled, “congratulations, brother,” then, as if to compliment her words, every pair of hooves in the room, came together in a large applaud as  the ponies in the room, smiled, singing words of praise as they clapped.

“So, what’s the one you’ve just played called?” Octavia leant into me.

“I think that’s obvious, Octavia,” I draped a wing around her.

“It’s named after me?” she gasped, wide-eyed and slack-jawed.

“That it is, Lady of Silver,” I pecked her cheek, her cheeks forming a rose-red blush as I gently stroked her mane.

“By the way,” I tilted my head, she glanced toward me; “do you have a last name?”

“Philharmonica,” she smiled, “or Harmony, if you’d prefer, Rick,”

“Octavia Philharmonica, a beautiful name for a beautiful pony,” I smiled.

“Says the one who makes just as beautiful music, my little musician,” she smirked.

“My little Cellist,” she giggled,

“Care to do another?” she nickered.

“By all means,” I gave a quick bow, beginning to play a second piece;

(=)

“That was nothing short of amazing,” Octavia lightly applauded, “what’s it called?”

“Wizards of the Celestial spirits,” I smiled, “it’s quite the intricate piece, if I say so myself…”

)+(

As I sat before the statue in the forest, I changed to eon form, only armour with a, silvery-grey armour –that of which was normally worn by Steel Rangers, removing the helmet, placing it on the ground between the statues of the two fillies, saluting quickly, before firing a volley of rounds from the already-equipped assault rifle, leaving it beside the helmet and flying away …

“Where in the hay did you get that?” Rainbow Dash asked, glaringly as she, her and our friends, stood with my family and the alicorns in the throne room.

“Alternate Equis, see what you have to look forward to?” I growled.

“Horseapples”!” she snarled, “there’s no way pony technology’s that advanced!” I rolled my eyes, bringing out a glassy navy blue sphere, holding it out; Twilight took it, holding hooves with each of her friends, tapping a glowing horn against the sphere, standing rigid for a few minutes, before eventually…

“How…?” she stared at me.

“I say again, see what you have to look forward to,” I turned and left.

-=-

“So, are we ready?” I glanced toward each member of my now-extended family, Blaze included, all of whom nodded; having positioned themselves upon my being, as per the usual formation on my back as I hovered on the stage in an empty theatre, Blaze and Crystal hovering/standing beside me.

=-=

After the ‘practice’

=-=

“I must say that I hadn’t expected such songs, Rick,” Octavia nickered as we ventured the main hall.

“I thought that we might try something …different, Lady of Silver,” I made a quick bow, pecking her cheek as we went “Speaking of different, I still haven’t worked out who Celestia‘s coltfriend is…”

“Heard about that did you?” I turned, the princesses, Twilight her friends, and Faust were there, eyebrows raised.

“You could say that,” I smirked.

“You can talk, did –or didn’t- Roseluck say, and I quote; ‘you can clip my rose any time’?” Blaze grinned.

“So she did,” I rolled my eyes, walking to the gardens, only to see a large, pillar-like structure fly overhead, my family leaping to the floor, landing safely as I quickly changing to my Spartan form as another pillar structure flew overhead, this one more of a trident-shape than that of a pillar, followed by a dozen more, and three more pillars.

“They bought the whole fleet,” Blaze exclaimed, “They actually bought the whole god-damn fleet!”

“So they have,” I whistled, just as a more-or-less-diamond-prism-shaped starship made it into view; “And there’s the ‘Spirit of Fire,’ those bastards actually managed it!”

“Lord Hood’s up to the usual then?” she smirked.

“So it’d appear,” I gave a light nod, “”What, else does the UNSC have in its inventory, I wonder?”

“Well, the Infinityhas four up-to-date MAC-cannons, just a single shot form any one of those could send Canterlot and half of Ponyville to oblivion,” she shrugged, “and let’s not forget all the other armaments the ship has, eh?”

“Ah yes. The secondary, tertiary, quaternary, and quinary armaments, for when one explosion the size of a planet isn’t enough,” I grinned.

“You, what…?” Celestia stared at me, eyes like dinner plates, pupils like pinpricks.

“Yeah, you've got access to swords spears, shields and various combat-based spells; I alone, save a few others, have access to all but the most powerful coil guns and nuclear missiles,” I tilted my head, “I believe this is what’s referred to as ‘Checkmate,’ no?”

“Who exactly has that kind of firepower?” Twilight gasped.

“Anyone who’s at least the rank of ‘Commander’ and/or is in ownership of anything bigger than a standard cruiser,” I shrugged, tilting my head the other way, “Wonder if Lord Hood knows he’s got a demigod on his crew…?”

“I wouldn’t doubt it Brother,” Blaze laughed, “Speaking of which, isn’t that them?”?” she pointed to the largest of the ships, a massive pillar-like structure that almost blocked out the sun; the Infinity was flying.

“So it is,” I nodded, “The Infinityrises once again… mind you, what do I know, I’m just another UNSC Jarhead.”

“Spartan,” Blaze rolled her eyes as I reverted to normal, Snowdrop taking her place upon one shoulder, Winter Bell on the other, and Honey Heart upon my head, “besides, they did prioritize this planet as Tier-1, remember?”

“So they did, even though we’re not as far behind tech-wise, we’re not exactly peacekeepers ourselves, as a species,” I gleamed.

“World wars one and two, the battle of Agincourt, the boar war, the hundred year’s war, the wars of the roses, the fall of Arcadia, Reach, and various other colony-worlds, yeah, we’re just glorious rays of sunshine aren’t we?” Blaze chortled.

“And I still say there’s no way you could be better than Twilight’s brother!” Rainbow Dash gave a sly grin.

“Take a look at each ship in the sky, then back to me, because if it wasn’t for my superiors, I’d be the one in charge of all of them,” I smirked.

“You can’t…!” she gasped.

“I’m a General and/or Brigadier General, there isn’t much I can'tdo,” I beamed.

-=-=-

“So, we’re really back?” Blaze stared at me as I glanced around the area, having somehow learnt to revert to her Quilava form, standing on my shoulder as Honey Heart lay atop my head, and Snowdrop on my opposite shoulder.

“Yeah, it feels somewhat nostalgic,” I smirked.

“He’s back!” I turned, the human world’s variants of Twilight’s friends stood beside a human with blue hair, a white shirt with a navy-blue shield behind a thunderbolt with a black jacket, jeans and trainers

“So we are,” Snowdrop, Scootaloo Blaze and I shared a roar of laughter.

“They talk?” the other human stared at me.

“So do you,” I shrugged.

“I’m human,” he countered.

“And that automatically makes you better than them?” I glowered icily at him, “watch what you say about my family, little boy, because it just might be the last thing you bloody well do.”

“I’m twenty-five,” he frowned.

“And I’m around three-hundred-and-forty/fifty,” I smirked.

“That’s impossible!” he snapped.

“I’m from one of several-million alternate worlds, your argument is invalid,” I grinned, he charged, drawing back an arm, attempting to hit me square in the face, I quickly activated Haki, resulting in the sounds of bones breaking, and the human holding his hand in agony.

“You wish to fight, yes?” I spat, deactivating Haki, he ran into the high-school building, still clutching his hand in writhing agony.

“You beat him without even flinching!” Rainbow Dash stared at me alongside the others.

“So long as one’s willpower is unwavering, and they set their mind to it, nothing is impossible,” I smiled.

“You’re impossible!” she laughed.

“What’s this I hear about you hitting one of my students?” the new world’s variant of Celestia raised an eyebrow ass he and the other human made their way toward me.

“He didn’t move, Brad just hit him and all of a sudden he started clutching his hand, crying like a little girl straight out of kindergarten,” Rainbow Dash winked at me.

“Is that so?” she raised an eyebrow, glancing toward me, “so, you’ve returned…?”

“Rick,” I rolled my eyes…

After a lengthy lecture and debate about events most-recent, I found myself in the gym with Brad and the others;

“Are you serious about this?” I tilted my head.

“Well yeah, since fighting’s not allowed in school, we might as well do something else,” Brad scowled.

“If you say so,” I nodded, gesturing toward the punch-bag; that of which felt as though it were filled with bricks, he threw back an arm, creating a small crater in the apparatus.

“Not bad,” Blackjack stifled bursting into laughter alongside my friends and family.

“What’s with the laughter?” he snapped, turning to face me.

Fists blazing; I hit the bag once, creating a crease in the leathery material, I hit it again, and my fists sunk into the piece of equipment, pulling it back out resulted in a shower of small, metal spheres that poured from the bag onto the floor, creating quite the racket;

“Checkmate!” Snowdrop chimed, nuzzling into me.

“How did you just…?” Brad blinked, awing at me.

“Classified,” I grinned, rolling up my sleeves, “probably doesn’t help any that I’ve got these on,” I quickly removed the weights, each of which created a thundering crack as they hit the floor, bringing forth a second punch-bag, replacing the first, firing a straight jab into the centre, the chain holding the bag snapped as the impact sent it flying into the far wall, bursting open, causing an eruption of small metal spheres to explode from the leathery container.

“That’s impossible!” he barked.

“Well, it clearly isn’t impossible, boy-o,” I laughed, “now, he who asks for a challenge should be the one to clear up the mess said challenge creates, no?”

=-=-=

“How did you do any of that?” Rarity stared at me alongside the others once the mess in the gymnasium had been cleared.

“Like I said, it’s classified,” I winked.

“Sure it is,” Brad snarled.

“Nothing’s keeping you around me, boy, if you wish to leave, then do so, unless you’re trying to play the ‘Cool-Dude’ role and trying to play the hero for those lovely ladies,” I grinned.

“Speaking of bullshit, are we doing an ‘Ao-No-Exorcist’ crossover, because it feels like one,” Blaze chortled.

“Because, of the horns, right?” I smirked.

“And due to the fact that you have a sword that’s almost as long as you are,” she nodded.

“Almost?” I laughed.

“Well, you’ve yet to combine the two that make it as it’s meant to be, Brother,” she grinned.

“So I have, Blaze,” I rolled my eyes in a somewhat-amused manner…

()=-=()

“So, you’re allowing us to fight?”

“Just this once,” Celestia raised an eyebrow

“If you say so,” I smirked as the schools’ populace sat in the crowd surrounding the moderately sized football pitch, “Begin!”

Brad charged, hitting me once again in the face, resulting in the same aftermath as before, broken bones, only with the other hand.

“Is that all?” I tilted my head, activating Haki on my arms, he spat on the ground at my feet as scales appeared upon my face, arms, hands and wrists, “you poor fool,” a sudden jab in the stomach sent him sprawling, another one to the face knocked him onto the ground, his face now bloodied by the crimson liquid pouring from his nostrils.

“Game over, Boy,” I growled.

-=()=-

When I arrived back at home, my family scattered throughout the house, I lay underneath one of the cars on a scooter-board, ‘tweaking the mechanics.’

“Where were you?” Twilight’s face appeared on ground level alongside her friends hooves, princesses included as she peered under the Mercedes-C220-2013.

“Out,” I winked.

“Where is ‘Out’?” she frowned.

“Classified,” I smirked, “it’s not exactly important.”

“It is if it’s you, my little eon,” she gave a faint smile.

“Touché, Sparkles, touché,” I gave a slow no. “So whatcha doin’?”

“Waiting for an honest answer,” she rolled her eyes indignantly.

“What do you want to hear then?” I shrugged, holding out an arm, Snowdrop passed me a spanner, I quickly took it, gently stroking her mane, which she leant into briefly before I went back to ‘tweaking the mechanics’

“I just want to know what you’ve been doing for the past two days,” she raised an unamused eyebrow.

“And if I say it’s classified?” I rebuked.

“Then I’ll not ask any more of you,” she winked.

“Don’t quit yer day job Sparky,” I grinned.

“You’re bleeding,” Celestia tapped her horn against my hands as I bought them together, quickly removing the blood, vaporizing it within an instant.

“I’ll be fine, Cellsy,” I grinned, having finished ‘tweaking the mechanics.’

“Just be careful,” she pecked my cheek, “Faust knows you need to, Rick, by the way, why‘re you using ‘Dragon Force’?”

“I’m just seeing how long I can maintain it,” I smiled.

“So you are, Brother, so you are,” Blaze winked.

=-=

“Daddy, can you use that thing where you turn golden again?” Honey Heart sat in my lap as we sat on the front lawn with the others.

“If you want me to, then by all means,” I quickly burst into flame, the flames moulding into the same golden ‘aura’ as before.

“Thank you Daddy,” she chimed alongside Snowdrop and the others as the nuzzled into me.

“You’re welcome, my little Heart,” I pecked her on the forehead, draping a wing around each of the others.

“We love you, Daddy,” the five fillies chimed in unison.

“And I you, my little Snowflake, Heart, Saving Grace, Rising Star, and Winter Bell,” I smiled.

“That’s a mouthful,” Blaze rolled her eyes amusedly, “care to expand on it any?”

“Rick…?”

I turned; Black Beetle was there, staring at me in awe.

Next Chapter: Chapter XXIII; oddities... Estimated time remaining: 3 Hours, 53 Minutes