The Man Inside the Colt

Chapter 4: Monetary Gain and Losses

I ran around the desolate city, jumping over crevices and scaling walls. I spot a group of demons guarding the entrance to my objective.

Unsheathing my great sword, flames formed around the enchanted metal. I walked up onto the stage, the demons spot me and charged towards me.

I shoot out a storm of fire, burning the first group. Charging into the fray, my sword cut into their flesh. A bolt of lightning slammed into my back, and I tumble to the floor.

I spot the demon mage, as it casted another spell. Rolling out of the way, I shoved my sword into the gut of a demon. I used his corpse as a shield against the onslaught of lightning as I ran towards the mage.

Flicking the carcass off the mighty sword, it rocketed towards the spellcaster. His spell chanting was interrupted, giving me time to pull off a combo.

My sword slammed down on his shoulder cutting his arm off. Retracting the sword, I held my armored hand in front of the demon and casted a fireball from the enchanted gauntlet. The mage fell to his knees, my sword rose then fell, and his head follows.

His body dissolves and I absorb his soul into my gauntlet. His life source the price for my upgrades.

With the area clear, I headed towards the next level. I entered the building, my reflection shown mirrored by the polished marble.

I heard a rumble, and stared at a wall. A pony of blackened coal, shown through the polished wall. His white mane reflecting the light of the moon.

Burning eyes shown through the dark, and a beaten grey armor masked his bulging form.

The wall started to crack, and a giant beast broke through.

"God Dammit," I yelled, slamming my mattress with closed fist. I reached for the light and my orderly room was in view. Books piled on my desk, as my notes piled with it. I turned to the mirror, glaring at the pony within, “No. Just No! You can have my precious memories with my family… but you cannot. You cannot have my video games!”

At that point my chest was heaving. My heart slammed against my rib cage, as my ears pounded.

I was angry, because I didn’t know how I got here. I was angry because no one could help me. If I told them, they’d think I was insane… I’d think I was insane. No one in their right mind would believe that an alien took over the body of a kid and was living his life.

“You know… for some great and powerful mage that made thousands of spells,” I said, turning my gaze towards the new magic book I acquired, “You are no help at all… you fucking worthless prick.”

I know I shouldn’t be insulting the dead, but I was getting angry. For someone that created so many spells, not one of them had to do with memory. Though I couldn’t help but laugh once I read how a spell was made.

It was so simply, yet those horned idiots make it so damn hard. The process was just like programming, tell it what to do and it will do it. Even the lowliest mage with the right code could easily move the sun, but no… this stupid horned fuckers think you need to have near unlimited amount of mana just to do that.

Hell, they didn’t even need to move the sun, since the law of physics still existed here. Though it took a bunch of greedy asshole unicorns to decide ‘Hey… we can control the sun. So we're going to be douchebags and use it to enslave you guys!’ fucking pricks.

“I really wish I could channel magic.” I grumbled, remembering that nosey librarian and that, ‘Never gonna happen, but I feel sorry for you’ look she kept giving me. “At least that dragon was kinda cool.” I grumbled, remembering the purple scaled dragon with the green mouth and belly.

Still wondering what a fire breathing reptile is doing in a tree… with flammable books and a crazy, asshole mare. I really don’t like her.

Sighing, I looked out into the night sky, "I'm so happy mom's out of town right now... she'd probably be running in because of my screaming… or think I’m batshit insane… or am I?"

The fine line of sanity has been long gone. There was no telling if this was all in my mind, or I was dead and this was hell. Really shouldn’t leave a thirty year old man inside a body of a child, with a mother like that. I was running out of excuses on going to the bathroom, whenever she hugged me or the time she walked out the bathroom naked. These ponies have no shame.

I looked at the time and got out of bed. I began stretching and grumbled because of the lack of equipment, "I definitely need to get some weights in here... or even a pull up bar."

I ran into the problem that many people or ponies had, money. I want weights, but my allowance couldn’t cover the cost of these things.

“Rotten bastard.” I grumbled, at the pony in the mirror as I squatted, “Can’t believe you used up all your money on the arcade… not even a piggy bank in this room.”

Tig ol’ bitties only gave this kid five bits a week. Enough for a happy meal or two, but with my needs… I needed to get some cash in my pockets before this research reached the point of my pockets.

Wiping a hand down my face, I removed the sweat threatening to sting my eyes. Flicking my hand, my floor was splattered with salty droplets, but I paused.

I saw my hand and the image of the gauntlet flashed through my mind.

“Y-you don’t think?” I asked the mirror, remembering the fireballs that came out of the ruby encrusted accessory, “Maybe…” I saved the idea down in my notes as I returned to my workout.

“This is depressing,” I said, observing the silence of the house as I walked towards the kitchen, “I somehow wish mom was here… it’s kinda creepy being the only one at home.”

I quickly made my way to the kitchen, where I can make a meal distracting my mind from the near empty house.

Opening the fridge my heart sank. There were only leftovers, and no ingredients for me to cook with.

“Dammit,” I cursed, grabbing last night’s sandwich,”looks like I’m going to have to go shopping today… she didn’t leave me any money did she… fuuuck.”

Looks like I have to dip into what little savings I had. I hate this kid a lot right now.

It was midmorning before I made my way out. The weekend was a busy day because of the market, and the stall owners came early for the best spots.

I only had twenty bits on me, and I needed to make sure it’ll last me well beyond the weekend. Mom maybe in Canterlot right now, but shit can happen and I do not want to beg. I still have my pride as a man, even though I was a kid again.

“That’s weird,” I mumbled, noticing the flea market being set up, “I thought those don’t go up till tomorrow.”

I walked up to a unicorn that was setting up her shop, “Excuse miss.”

She turned her attention to me and smiled, “Well hello there… what can I do for you today?”

“Um… yes.” it became really acquired as she bent down a bit, showing off her cleavage. ‘I know that we have fur and all, but would it kill them to put some more clothes on?’ I inwardly sighed and stared into her eyes, “Why are you setting up for the flea market?… I thought that was for tomorrow.”

“That’s simple!” She answered, and handed me a flyer, “The Princesses are coming tomorrow… and the Mayor decided to move up the market days.”

My jaw dropped at hearing the news, “Wait… don’t tell me the farmers aren’t here today!”

She shook her head, “They are here… but they’re a little further down the road.”

She pointed down the path of stalls, and I looked at her, “How far down exactly?”

The mare tapped her chin, “Close to town hall I think.”

I mentally face palmed, putting on a smile I thanked the mare and started making my way through the maze of stalls.

“At the bloody other side of town…” I grumbled, watching out for the random pony either shopping or setting up shop. ‘I wonder what’s so important about this town a Princess would bother visiting?’

It’s was a strange thing for near gods to just come to this little town. They control the rise and fall of the sun and moon, and this was Ponyville we’re talking about. A place that was predominantly a farming community, nothing of significance happened here.

I finally entered the market area, and the first stall I went to was the flour stall. The strange thing about these ponies, they may have the freshest, tastiest ingredients, but they don’t know how to cook.

All mom ever made, even though it was delicious, was soup. Monday to Friday, soup and on the weekend we’d hit one of the restaurants in town, and it was either a sandwich or more soup.

I can’t tell if this place was messing with me, but I’d be damned if I had to go through another day of soup or sandwiches. Not even going to put hay on that list… I extremely hated that jaw killing crap. It’s like chewing taffy every night and ending up with giant piles of spaghetti poop.

“Hello,” I said to the stall owner, “can I get a pound of bread flour please?”

The owner smiled. “That’ll be three bits.”

I returned her smile with my own and handed her the bits. She took my money, and handed me a bag of that amazing flour. Now all I needed was some yeast and this guy’s gonna make himself a pizza.

I continued to hit up the rest of the shops, my bag getting heavy, while my pocket grew lighter.

It was almost lunch and by my count, I had about four bits left.

“Looks like that’s it for the day,” I said, peeking through my bag and handling what was left of my life savings. ‘Really wished mom left me some money.’

I turned to head home, but that new kid caught my attention. He was sitting in a stall with a much older mare by his side. It wasn’t her dark blue bat wings that drew my attention to the stall. It was the mare’s clothes.

She didn’t have on what I consider western clothing, it seemed more of an eastern affair. Her chest was covered by an orange cloth, that went from the back of her neck and crossed each breast. Somehow connecting at the back by something, it’s hard to see with her wings in the way. Then there was the skirt of the same hue as the cloth, it was short but not revealing compared to the rest of the mares.

“What are you looking at?”

I turned my head to the voice, Creese was glaring at me from his seat. I looked around hoping he was staring at someone else, but sadly I was the only one he was glaring at.

Not wanting make things awkward, I walked up to the stand with smile on my face, “Morning Creese.”

Creese didn’t return the greeting, he just glared at me, but the mare on the other hand was more than happy to talk.

“Hello,” She said, smiling at me, “are you by chance one of Cree’s friends?”

‘Wait… did she just say Cree?’ Thought, but just chalked it up to me mishearing because of that oddly familiar accent. I stared at the mare trying to be nice school kid, “We do see each other at school… but other than that we haven’t talked properly outside of class.”

Her face fell when I said that, and looking at Creese he gave me that ‘I’ll kill you’ face. Not wanting to make things worse, I looked at their stall and froze.

There before me was the holy grail of beverages, coffee. My life blood and what helped get me through most of my life.

“A-are those coffee beans?” I asked, staring back to the mare.

She smiled and gave me a nod, “Oh yes. Just got them from Indoneighsia.”

“Really?” I asked, nodding and turning my head to the the pan and burner. I couldn’t tell if my cartoony eyes grew wide, but they did. I wiped my head back at the mare, “Didyoujustroastthese??”

She blinked and I believe Creese did as well from my rapid fire question. Before anyone could answer I reached into my pocket and grabbed the last of my bits, “Here… give me whatever three bits can get me!”

The big blue mare just nodded and made me a fresh brew. Though it may not impress anyone, but she used the french press method, and with great anticipation that I stood there, watching as she roasted, grounded, and brewed me that cup of coffee.

Throughout it all, I never noticed the mare that came up to the table. If I did, it would have been an awkward explanation why my pants was bulging.

“Cream or sugar?” She asked, and at that moment my head rose very slowly staring into her eyes.

“Just black… always black.” I said, returning my gaze to the cup. It was a long time since I freshly roasted coffee. The crap they called coffee, that came out of those tin cans did their job at giving me a kick, but that’s all they did.

The blue mare handed me the cup of black gold, and as any coffee addict would do, I examined the brew. I placed it near my nostrils and took a deep breath.

“Smells like… ohmyGod peaches!” I didn’t know or I didn’t care that everyone around me was honing their attention towards me. I take a sip from the cup, smacking the warm liquid on the roof my tongue. At that very moment froze.

I couldn’t place the flavor, but a part of it was definitely vanilla. Even stranger how she never once added anything else in the cup.

I turned my attention back to the blue mare, “How long are you opened today?”

She blinked, letting my question sink in, “U-until three.”

“Good… good.” I said, nodding my head, “This is going to be a strange question… but do you know where I can do some work for a quick bit?”

They just blinked at me not knowing what’s going on, and it wasn’t till the mare next to me broke the silence, “Ahem… I might be able to help with that.”

I turned my head towards a stunning white coated mare. Her sparkling blue eyes stared at me, as her lavender mane was in an elegant curl. Her breast weren't as big as mom’s, but they were none the less spectacular.

“Hi.. umm… I’m Button,” I said, raising a hand towards the mare. She met my and we shook.

“Rarity,” She said, as we let go of each other, “And if you're looking for a quick bit… I do have a job for a colt such as yourself.”

“Really… what’s the catch?” I looked at her with my eyebrows raised. This was a candy and van moment or an actual income.

She giggled and smiled, “Nothing much.” Her eyes sparkled for a moment, but I blamed that on magic on the fact her horn was glowing and bags floated behind her. “I just need a model for some clothes I have lined up. You seem like a perfect candidate… so what do you say?”

I thought it over for a second, ’Let’s see… all I have to do is put some clothes on. That doesn’t seem so bad!’ I turned to the mare giving her a nod. “Sure… as long as I can get back before she closes.”

The mare blinked and stared at the blue bat mare, then back at me, “If you don’t mind… how about I pay what you need for now?”

“Really… are you sure?” I asked and she gave me a nod. I turned to the batmare, “How much for a bag of roasted coffee beans?”

The mare smiled and pointed to a stack of bags. “Five bits a bag and two bits a cup.”

“Wow,” I gasped, looking at the cup in my hand, “that’s cheap.”

“Really!” This time Creese voiced her opinion.

“Yeah… I mean this is really, really good coffee!” I felt drool fall to the side of my mouth as I stared at the empty cup. “It’s not too bitter. It goes down smooth, and it taste like pure vanilla while smelling like peaches!”
I felt a shiver go down my spine. “It’s like liquid gold… and for five bits… it’s an insult to the grower.” I snapped out of my trance and noticed that everyone was staring at me. “What?”

There was this awkward silence until some mare came up and ordered a cup. I turned back to the white mare. “So about that bag?”

“Oh, yes.” She searched her purse and handed Creese the bits.I grabbed a bag of coffee beans and saw the mare motioning me to follow her which I did.

“Celestia’s flowing mane!” The mare that ordered the cup gasped, “This is amazing!”

It wasn’t long till a line formed, but luckily I was right behind my benefactor before I was engulfed in the body of multicolored pony-people.

“You know… I-I agreed to help you out but…” I began, as I looked myself over. Rarity brought me to her shop, which looked like carousel and was appropriately named Carousel Boutique. Just like the baker that looked like it was made of sweets, it was a bloody fire hazard. From my count other than the windows, there were only two exits the entrance to the boutique and the kitchen door. There was a staircase that went up to another area, but that was it.

I turned my attention to the unicorn ,” So ah… what exactly is this? It’s like a cardigan but what’s the point of the holes on the side?”

Apparently my question did not go through her appraising. She just walked around me, observing every inch of me.

“This won’t do at all,” she said, another pair of clothing floated towards me, “Go try these on.”

She turned to her table laden with sketchbooks and I nodded heading towards the changing curtain.

“Here goes number twelve,” I mumbled, carefully taking my clothes off. They were really well made, even though they made it feel like a hundred degrees.

“Fuuck,” I grumbed, giving up on trying to put on the tight shirt, “this isn’t going to work.” Poking my head to the side, “Umm… Rarity!”

“Yes?” She sing songed, turning towards me.

“Yeah… this shirt is too small,” I said, putting the shirt in her view. A blue aura surrounded the shirt and it levitated towards the mare, “in fact… all of them seem a bit tight.”

“Really?” She observed the shirt, and turned towards me. “What was your size again?”

“To tell you the truth…. I don’t know,” I answered back. The clothes here did not have labels or even a printed marker. “What’s the size on that shirt there?”

“It’s a medium,” She said, magicking the shirt to a rack, “but you're probably a stallion’s s size.”

She grabbed another shirt with her magic, and floated it towards me. “Here, try this on.”

“Alright,” I turned around and with little hassle adorned the shirt. Though I wished I took a better look at it before I put it on. Stepping out from the curtain, “Um… is this supposed to be like this?”
“What do you mean… “ she stopped as she stared at me.

I turned to the mirror looking at the colt with his midriff exposed. The shirt covered my chest, but it was caught off showing off half my abs.

“Huh… I didn’t know my abs were this cut...” I mumbled, looking myself over. Strange thing about this body, even though I have fur all over, my abs somehow poke out. Which is weird since, I’ve never had a six pack.

“Oh, my.” I turned my head slightly to see a blushing mare, coming towards me. Just like before she walked around me observing every detail, “I think this will be it for today.” She headed back to her design table and I just nodded, then headed back to change.

Clothes changed and pack in hand, I was about to head out until a blue aura engulfed the door. Rarity stepped forward, with a blush around her cheeks. “Here… for today’s work.”

She handed me a stack of bits, but I just shook my head. “Thanks… but paying for the coffee was enough.”

I wrapped a hand around the doorknob, opening the door I turn towards the mare. “Thanks again for paying for the coffee.”

“It was no problem,” She smiled, but grabbed my hand placing the bits in them, “I could use your help modeling for more of my clothing.”

“Sure… I guess,” I said, staring into her blue eyes. I couldn’t argue against her nor pull my gaze away from those gorgeous blue eyes.

“Perfect,” She clapped her hands together and my trance was ended, “how’s friday next week sound?”

“Th-that sounds fine,” I mumbled slowly walking out the door, “I’ll head here after school.”

She nodded and I slowly made my way outside. For some unknown reason, I was outside staring at the empty road.

“What in the hell just happened,” I mumbled, trying to piece together the events from leaving the room. Everything seemed to be a haze in my mind, even walking through the boutique was a blur. The grumble my stomach ended that thought as I felt the pains of a missed meal,

“Damn… forgot how long it was since I ate.”

With that thought in mind, I headed home.