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My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic - Fallout Edition

by CrystalSeeker

Chapters

Chapter I

Chapter I

My name is Ethan, Ethan Mason, and I should say I have gone through hell of earth (or what is left of earth), and I've had to deal with shit like Deathclaws, Aliens, Robots, Brains in Jars, my own brain, loss of my spine and heart, the Divide, a simulation about Anchorage, red necks from Point Lookout, Tribals, Super Mutants, Trogs (don't ask what they are), slavers, raiders, Ghost people (again, don't ask), and Lobotomites (poor bastards). I've also dealt with, and I shit you not, insane people who say they've traveled through dimensions. Crazy, right? Hell, one said she was a... what was it? A... pony? I don't know, but she smelled of alcohol and jet, probably a simply junkie. God, I even remember something the Brotherhood of Steel got online, called a Liberty Prime. Fuck that thing was awesome.

My life was simple, to say the least, I killed jackasses, helped survivors and settlers out, and even made my own settlement. And boy did I get a lot of friends that I travel with, making my own little army. Thanks to a Enclave Radio I found, I now got my own Enclave forces, got tons of experimental armor and weapons, and so much more. I was, to other's eyes, a Messiah. Though I prefer the titles Lone Wanderer and Courier.

So, what happened next, was what confused me the most. I was simply walking across the ruins of New York, fighting off hunters, until I felt something hit me on the head, and everything went black. So, I don't really know what happened, and I've been out cold for a long time now. Hopefully I'll come too soon.

...

The first thing I noticed, which indicated I was alive, was the feeling of being lifted up, and placed on something hard, like wood. This made me groan slightly, but I failed to awaken since I couldn't really feel my body. It felt... different, wrong, as if I was... something. I don't know what, but it felt strange. I could hear faint voices around me, but that was about it. I didn't feel like I'd go out any second, but I couldn't do anything either. Maybe I'm just too tired to move, but not too tired to hear and feel. Hell if I know honestly.

I then felt myself being placed on a soft, and rather comfortable bed, before feeling something like a blanket being placed over me. This wasn't bad, from what I've gone through, so I think I could deal with it for now. I plan to stay calm through this, and not cause a scene just yet. I want to be fully aware before I do. I could still hear voices, though they seem to be a bit further away, while I felt something... warm, go over my body. This also caused my Pip-Boy to go off, which made me worried, they were using radiation, shit.

I finally gained a bit of control as I let out a groan, which caused the voices to stop, and I tried to move, but instead of sitting up, I fell off the bed with a thud, which made someone speak, enough for me to hear. "Hey, relax, everything's okay, just relax."

I spoke in a groggy tone. "Get that... damn... radiation away... from me..."

I couldn't feel my body anymore as I began to lose control of it, though I felt myself being placed in the bed again, and felt the warmth go over me, and my Pip-Boy was ticking again. This made me hear some of the words.

"...device... what's radiation?... quickly... He's losing..."

"Get that... I want... I will not lose... keep him alive!"

And like that, everything went black.

...

Unknown Location

12:35 PM

...

I gave out a groan as I slowly felt consciousness coming back, before I slowly pulled myself into a sitting position, and placed my hands against my face, and began to rub my eyes. But, my hands felt weird, different... like... little stubs.

I opened my eyes and looked at me hands... but instead of hands, I had two brown stumps. This made me go wide eyed, and followed these stumps down to my body, revealing that I had a brown coat all over my body. I still had lots of scar, sting marks, burnt skin, and tons of other stuff, but I was... something. Something from history back in the Vault, what was it? I looked over at the mirror. Maybe that mirror could help me remember.

I rolled out of bed, and earned a thump when I hit the ground, making me groan a bit, and got to my... stumps, before I slowly took a step forward, then another, and another, quickly getting an idea of how this worked, before I finally made it to the mirror. And I then looked in said mirror, and was shocked by what I saw.

In front of me stood a strange, human like head, with a muzzle, and very large, almost cute looking eyes, except for the scar over my left eye. I had a messy black... mane? Or is it still called hair? I'm just going with the random words that pop into my mind here, so excuse me if I get it wrong. I had a small patch of red in my hair too, while what I'm guessing to be a tail was long and messy, with it's own patch of red as well. I had some strange tattoo on my ass, which appeared to be the symbol of the Enclave, which soon changed to the symbol of the Brotherhood of Steel, and then to the NCR, and all the other factions I either helped and/or a part of. Strange. I couldn't tell what I was, but something was slowly coming to me.

Am I a... Dog? No, they don't look like this... at least, none that I've seen. I'm not a Yao Guai, that's for sure, and I sure as hell ain't a scorpion. Hmm... what did Mister Brotch call that thing on that holotape? A... Horse? Yeah, but this is smaller, and more cute then that. He said there was a name for those too... But what was it?

I placed my stumps on my forehead to try and think better, but yelped out a little upon getting poked by something long, pointy, and sharp on my head, this made me look in the mirror again, and saw a massive, overgrown horn on my head. Lovely.

Come on, it's on the tip of my tongue, Dad used to give me these old fashioned fairy tale story books when I was a kid, to get a better understanding of life before the war. A... um... a Unicycle... damn it, that's a toy, not some form of horse! What was it? I stomped my stump onto the ground. A Unicorn! Right!

I then raised an eyebrow as I examined the mirror more intently.

Are those... wings? Fucking hell, I have wings?! Fuck yeah! I then raised an eyebrow. Horses with wings were called... Pegasuses... I think, fuck it, I'm sticking with it. So I gotta be... a cross between a Unicorn and a Pegasus. But that doesn't answer the original question, I'm a type of horse, of course... but smaller and more miniature... what were those called? Um... god damn it, I should know this! I was on the top of my fucking class, so I gotta! I began to hit myself on the head, until that little light bulb switched on. Of course, you idiot, it's a Pony! Why the fuck couldn't I remember that?

I gave out a small sigh, and looked around, trying to find out where the fuck I was. I was in some kind of massive... almost primitive building, that still held quite a bit of elegance. Almost royal if I'm not mistaken, but that has yet to tell me where I was. The windows were too high to look from, and there wasn't another... intelligent, creature around I could ask. This was going to make my life even harder, and I still need to figure out a few more stuff. Like how the hell I became a Hybrid, and what this place most likely held in the form of history. Personally I loved to learn, research, test, and the such. I was, as I was back home, a nerd, though I was able to lead a little, even though I have horrible skills at it, and tended to be the whole 'Lone Wolf' kind of guy. But still, I managed to be in command of the newest Enclave, the Brotherhood, and all those other places. Of course, not the NCR, because they had President Kimball, and that guy gave me a few suits of his. Same for having almost every, and I mean every suit, armor, and the such from there, even a ton of weapons, medical equipment, ammo, and the such. I had tons of stuff, and I think I still had the stuff from Mothership Zeta too.

Alright, there's that massive door over there, and I doubt I could open it with stumps... I mean hooves, since I'm a pony, and the best bet to find someone, would be to look around... maybe scavenge if no ones nearby, even loot dead corpses for some rare shit. Heh, wonder if any of them are holding grenades, boy were there tons of those all over back home.

I slowly got to my hooves, and began to walk towards the door, keeping myself steady as I did so. I didn't want to fall like a dumbass, and I sure as hell don't want to be bad at walking if I get into a fight, so I needed to be careful.

Once I reached the door, I placed my hoof against it, and gently began to push it, getting it to open. I then looked out the door, looking back and forth, and thankfully not seeing anyone around. So I softly closed the door behind me, and began to quietly walk through the halls of this place, easier said then done. I would occasionally hear the sound of a voice, or footsteps, which would make me slide into the shadows, and wait for something to happen, though nothing yet.

As I soon came to the third corner, I came face to face with... another pony? This one was in heavy gold armor, and was wide eyed upon seeing me. He quickly took out a sword and aimed it at me, with his teeth no less. And he was glaring daggers at me, which made me step back, and was a bit worried now. I stayed silent as he slowly came up to me, ready to plunge, before he tried to, and I spun out of the way, and grabbed his head with my hooves, before I headbutted him, making the helmet dent a bit, while I had a major headache, but I wasn't done. I grabbed his foreleg, threw him over my shoulder, and ripped off his helmet, then slammed my head in his again, effectively knocking him out cold.

I took a few deep breaths as I tossed the helmet to the side, and gave him an annoyed look. Damn... that armor's thick. But that doesn't mean they're deadlier the Caesar's Legion, those guys fought better then these idiots.

I wiped my forehead and looked down the hallway, seeing no one nearby, which made me nod, grab the pony by the shoulders, and hefted him onto my back. I then grabbed his helmet, and headed to a dark corner, before tossing the pony in said corner, then thought of something. If ponies are the main force here, then it'd probably be best to disguise myself as one. That way I could get by easily. I looked down at the pony, and pulled off his armor, before sliding it on, and my coat changed from brown to a clean white, my mane turned blue, and I had the same tattoo the pony once had. This made me nod, and placed the helmet on, grabbed his sword, and latched it to my side.

I then took the form of one of those NCR Rangers, and began walking like a natural born soldier. This should easily work, and given the way I look, I should pretend I have a steel pole up my ass as well.

I began walking through the halls of the massive building I was in, and spotted more ponies, who didn't give me a second glance, which meant I was in the clear. Good.

I soon came up to a large golden door, with two ponies standing at the sides. This made me smirk a bit, and speak. "I come with a letter for the..." I thought a bit, trying to think of something, then pushed my luck. "(Luck 9/9) Princess."

The ponies nodded in response, and began to open the doors. Damn, that was close.

I walked in, still acting like a soldier, as I spotted a very large... pony? No, she's too big to be a pony... a horse maybe? And she's a hybrid like me, that's gotta give me some points here. Hmm, her mane and tail... they seem strange, moving when there's no wind... and she seems to be powerful, I guess anyways. But I also detect a hint of sadness, and a little bit of pride maybe? That one's a bit hard to figure out, maybe not.

I soon stood in front of the Princess, and gave a proper bow (White Glove Society: Liked)

I didn't stand up until she spoke. "Ah, Captain Sweet Tooth, what brings you here?"

Sweet Tooth? Seriously? Did they name him that as an insult or what?

I stood up, and gave a salute, which felt like the proper form of these guards. "Princess."

This made her narrow her eyes. "Captain, what happened to your voice."

Shit.

I looked around, and spotted many of the ponies beginning to surround me, all of them getting ready to draw their weapons if I resist.

Why the hell did I even come this way? Why not just leave? God, I'm such an idiot.

I looked up at the 'Princess', and sighed heavily, then shook my body a bit, causing the armor and helmet to fall off, and the helmet regained it's massive dent, while my body went back to normal. This made them all draw their weapons at me, while one barked out. "We have an intruder!"

I rolled my eyes at him, then looked at the giant horse. "Honestly, I wouldn't have thought of going with the armor if one of your friends here hadn't attacked me on sight."

The horse stood up at that. "Stand down." The guards looked at each other, before slowly complying. This made me glance up at the horse, and she was giving a soft smile. "I see you have finally awoken, after we put you in the medical wing."

I shrugged in response, and dusted off a foreleg. "Well, given that your 'help' consists of radiation poisoning, I don't find you all that friendly."

The horse... or should I go with mare? Whatever, she raised an eyebrow. "So that is what your... machine, on your foreleg there, was saying."

I nodded in response. "Yep, radiation, something that, if not treated, can mutate you, kill you, or turn you into a kind of undead... uh... pony, with a heart."

She was surprised by this. "Truly?" I nodded. "Interesting, it must be different back where you're from." My response was a shrug. "Hmm... from where do you hail, my little pony."

I scratched my ear at that. "That a catch-phrase or something?" She raised an eyebrow. "Nevermind." I looked around a bit. "I come from a place called... um... America, which has gone into an all out war with another place called... China, over the last remaining resources that were left back home. I guess that would have been 200 years ago by now, and it's still a... wasteland, from the Great War. A ton of Nuclear Warheads can do that to places I guess."

The mare was wide eyed by that, then shook her head and gave a small smile. "Well, I am glad you have gotten away from that place. May I be the first to welcome you to Equestria." She then tilted her head. "What might your name be?"

I looked down at this. Should I even tell her? Hell, would it even count as a normal name here? Fuck it, I've fought through worse. I then looked up at her. "My name is Ethan, Ethan Mason, though many just call me the Courier, or the Lone Wanderer."

The mare smiled at that. "Of course, a pleasure to meet you, Mister Mason."

I chuckled lightly at that. "Heh, yeah... never was called that before."

She smiled once again, then bowed her head. "My name is Celestia, Ruler of Equestria, and the raiser of the sun."

Of course, something crazy to add to the partially normal place. Go figure.

I nodded, looked around, then shrugged. "Well, I should say I don't got anywhere to go. Do you have any suggestions?"

Celestia thought a bit, then looked at me. "So, if magic is considered dangerous for your kind." Magic? Seriously? "Might I consider you becoming my personal student? I have need of one, and I am sure you would like to learn how to control this magic, am I right?"

I thought myself. Different place, different customs, different rules. Why not? I doubt anything bad'll come from it. "Sure, why not?"

Celestia smiled at this. "Wonderful, please follow me while I show you around, and I will have to run you through a few tests to see how powerful your magic is. And I do truly believe you are going to love it here."

My response, which was for everything else back home, was a simple shrug.

...

Canterlot Palace

16 Years Later

10:45 AM

...

I sighed heavily as I looked through this new book I found in the library while my number one assistant (a dragon I named Rex), and a prototype Eye-Bot I made from one of those schematics I got (ED-E, in honor of my friend), were going through the stacks of books and papers I had all over my desk. I was too busy tearing through this book to notice them, and soon finished the 20th chapter. (Started the book earlier this morning, honestly.)

I then heard Rex speak. "Hey, Ethan?" I gave a small nod in response. "You've been in here all morning, reading that one book, what's got you so interested in it?"

I tore my eyes away in response, and rubbed them to get the stinging to stop. "I honestly don't know, Rex. Celestia said there was some important and major facts in it, and I thought I'd find something... but nothing yet."

Rex hopped up onto the seat he placed next to me. "What'd ya fine so far?"

I shrugged. "Some story about a old member of the Royal Family, somepony named Luna? Or was it Nightmare Moon? I don't quite know."

Rex nodded a little, and stretched a bit. He was a teenage dragon, with black scales, that held red markings on them. I told him that it made him a cool dragon back home, which made him like his appearance. He had a red military cut style head, with ruby eyes. He also learned a lot about fighting and defense from watching me practice every morning and night. And he was a bit of a genius too, though he preferred tinkering over the actual science.

I also should say I have tons of prototypes in my tower, all of which came from the Capital Wasteland. There was the prototype XV Enclave Colossus Power Armor, the Prototype Garden of Eden Creation Kit, the prototype Laser Rifle, the prototype Plasma Rifle, the prototype Sentry Bot, and a whole lot of other prototypes I have been researching ever since I left Vault 101, meaning I personally enhanced the originals and made them much more powerful. As for the Enclave Armor, I had one that'd fit Rex, and one that'd fit me. I also made ED-E a bit more armored, and gave him a plasma blaster, a laser blaster, and a pulse blaster.

I had tons more, of course, but I tended to keep them to myself before I make the perfect one for the ponies across Equestria.

I sighed as I sat the book down, and looked at Rex. "Wanna go see if there's anything good in the kitchen?"

Rex gave a smirk. "You know, that sounds great, but I'm trying to cut back on those Hay Fries... they're good and all, but I gained a little bit of weight, and wanna lose it."

I chuckled lightly, because Rex wasn't necessarily fat, and was actually quite thin, while having some muscle that made him not completely thin. He could easily beat the royal guards, and after watching me for so long, he began to teach them what he knew. And boy was he good at it.

Just then Rex burped out a letter, and handed it to me. This made me slide off the insignia, and looked inside.

My Faithful Student,

Tomorrow is the Summer Sun Celebration, and I have decided to have it take place

in a small town known as Ponyville. Mayor Mare was quite honored that I have decided this,

and has began getting everything ready. I requested that you look over the preparations

and make sure everything goes wonderfully. I also would like to ask you to try and find some

friends, I know you have made quite a bit here, but I wish for you to get out of that lonely

tower and get out into the fresh air. I understand that you have been working on quite a

bit of stuff over these last 14 years, and I have ordered the Royal Guards to help you in getting

them all into your new home. Look for the large tree, it is the town's local library.

Princess Celestia.

I raised an eyebrow at the letter, but shrugged anyways, and looked at Rex, who was looking at the book I sat down. "Alright, Rex, we're going to be moving."

Rex gave a grunt in response. "Go figure, and I was finally starting to like the low amount of room in this tower."

I couldn't help but chuckle lightly, which made him chuckle as well, and we got to our hooves (or clawed feet I guess), before we began to get what we could move with us ready.

...

I sat there in the carriage, with Rex next to me, and ED-E on his lap, since he'd fly off otherwise, and we continued to sit in silence. Until I finally looked at Rex. "So... anything you hope this place might have?"

"A good place to work out, decent grub, and maybe even a place that carries a lot of machines."

I chuckled lightly, and patted his back. "I understand, buddy. We'll figure out what's there soon enough."

Rex gave a reluctant nod in response, and we continued to sit in silence, enjoying the cool breeze as we also enjoyed the view. Just then the carriage landed in the middle of what I'm guessing to be Ponyville, which made me hop out of the carriage, with Rex, while ED-E began floating again. I then looked at the carriage leaders. "Thanks."

One simply nodded in response, while the other gave a salute. I then nodded to Rex, grabbed our stuff, and we headed into town. The first thing I noticed was the Pink mare trotting over to me, which made Rex whisper in my ear. "Here comes one of the mares, wonder if they're going to greet us, or flirt with you."

I glared at him. "That only happened once, Rex, and she was drunk." His response was a snicker as I looked at the mare, who stopped in front of me, and I gave a warm smile. "Hello, I'm..." But before I could finish, she gasped loudly, floated in the air a bit, then was gone, leaving behind a long trail of dust. "Ethan..." I looked at Rex. "Um... shall we head to the first destination?"

Rex nodded in response. "Yeah, I'd rather forget about that too."

...

I soon found our first location, Sweet Apple Acres. I looked at Rex, who nodded in response, and we both walked on into the farmstead. We then heard what sounded like a mare yelling something out, which made us head towards it, and spotted a tan mare, with a blonde mane and tail, which were both in a ponytail, had three apples as a cutie mark, and wore a stetson. She was... cute, I guess... in that cowgirl sort of way.

We walked over to her as I smiled. "Hello, Miss, my name is Ethan, Ethan Mason, and-"

She spun around, a large smile on her face, as she grabbed my hoof, and shook it vigorously, which made me grunt at her pressure. "Well howdy Mister Mason! Ah'm Applejack, and this here's Sweet Apple Acres, home of the best apples in all of Equestria!"

I let out another grunt when she finally let go of my hoof. "That's uh... *clears throat* quite the claim."

She just continued to smile. "It might be, but Ah've yet t' find any better apples."

I slowly nod in response. "I see, well, Princess Celestia sent me here from Canterlot to oversee the preparations over the Festival. So I am here to check in on the food, to see if it's qualified and the such."

She smiled even wider. "Ah can do more then tell y'all!" With that, she took my hoof, dragged me over to an outside table, then rushed to a hanging triangle, and rung it while calling out. "SOUPS ON!"

The next thing I knew, Applejack began to place down apple products, as well as telling the names of both the food and her family members. I tried to get a say in all of this, but didn't get a word as she stuffed an apple in my mouth, and introduced the last member, named Granny Smith. I simply watched as the old mare slowly began to make her way towards us, while I began to test the apple in my mouth. Being a master of science has taught me a few tricks at testing stuff without having to use my hooves. It was surprisingly a good apple, and held a good bit of sweetness, while being well balanced with a hint of sour. It was also rough enough to survive a fall from a house over a road, but soft enough to be eaten. Not bad, to say the least.

Applejack then spoke. "That's right, Granny Smith, he'll be treated like a member of t' family."

I narrowed my eyes at her in response. "As much of an honor as that sounds, Miss Applejack, I have just met you, and cannot accept such an offer without actually learning a bit about all of you, so I am afraid we will simply go by acquaintances. And it appears your apples are quite good, and would appear perfect in many eyes. Now if you will excuse me, I have to check on the weather for the Princess."

I then got to my hooves, with Rex quickly standing as well, and we began our walk back to Ponyville, until I heard a little fillies voice below. "Can't you just stay for lunch?"

I looked down, and saw the saddest puppy eyes I've ever seen. Thankfully I'm used to such tactics as I gave a sad smile. "I'm afraid not, little one, I need to make sure everything goes well, I don't want to upset Princess Celestia. But how about we make a deal." Her ears perked up. "If you let me do this for the Princess, then I'll make sure to come by tomorrow and eat lunch with you, alright? And hey, if I can, I'll see if Princess Celestia herself could visit too, deal?"

The fillies eyes were wide as she smiled widely in excitement, she then offered her hoof. "Pinkie Promise?"

I smiled gently, and took her hoof. "Pinkie Promise."

She smiled at this, while the others gave out an 'aww', which made me smirk inside, and left with Rex and ED-E close behind.

...

I soon came up to Ponyville, and looked up at the sky. Man... still don't know what's wrong with a cloud or two, but apparently these ponies are very picky. I then examined around. Where is this Rainbow Dash Celestia told me about?

"ETHAN! LOOK OUT!"

My eyes widened, and everything slowed down for me as my senses went into overwork. I looked further to the side, and spotted a rainbow blur heading for me, which made me dive forward, and rolled onto the ground while time sped up again, and a lot of dirt flew up from where the rainbow blur crashed. I sighed heavily as I dusted myself off, and walked over to the small crater, spotting who I am guessing to be Rainbow Dash (if the rainbow mane was no indication).

She groaned a bit as she looked up at me, which was by the time I was offering a hoof to her. She accepted the offer, and I lifted her out of the ground. She then began to try and get the dirt out of her mane while I spoke. "That was a nasty fall, you alright?"

She nodded in response. "Yeah, just another mess up in that dang stunt."

I tilted my head at that. "Stunt?"

She nodded. "Yeah, something that happened when I was a filly. I was falling through the sky so fast, I broke the sound barrier, and created a Sonic Rainboom. Still trying to perfect that."

I thought for a minute. "I think I remember reading about that a few years ago, I was in my tower though, so I wouldn't have seen it."

She nodded at that, shook her body a bit, then offered her hoof. "I'm Rainbow Dash, Fastest flyer in all of Equestria..." She then blushed slightly. "Or at least, I'm trying to be."

I gave a soft smile. "I'm sure it'll happen eventually. Just practice a lot, put your heart into it, and never give up, and you'll be it in no time."

She smiled back, and offered a hoofbump, which I obliged in, and she smirked a bit. "Thanks. So, what's a stallion like you doing here in Ponyville?"

I shrugged. "Princess Celestia sent me here to overlook the Summer Sun Celebration, as well as make friends. So, here I am." I then glanced up at the clouds. "So, it seems stupid to me personally, since I have no problems with clouds, but... why aren't they out of the way?"

Rainbow shrugged. "I haven't gotten around to it yet."

I gave a nod. "I still don't get what the point is, honestly. I mean, there's nothing wrong with a cloud or two being up in the sky, heck, back home the entire sky is filled with them, so I had no say in it."

She simply shrugged again. "Heck if I know, but they're a bit too picky about it."

"On that I agree."

We both shared a chuckle, before I looked at her. "Mind getting them out of the way? I don't want the Princess to be upset with me and all."

She nodded in response. "Sure, hang on." She then sped off into the air, and took them all out, within eight seconds no less. She then landed next to me. "Heh, told them I could do it in ten seconds."

I gave a small smirk. "It was actually eight, and counting."

She went wide eyed, and hoofpumped. "Booyah! I knew I could do it!" She then smirked at me and offered another hoofbump, which I obliged, and she flew up into the air while waving at me. "I gotta go, see ya later..." She then thought a minute. "What's your name?"

"It's Ethan, a pleasure to meet you, Miss Dash."

She chuckled lightly. "Just Dash is fine. Well, see ya." And with that, she flew off.

I looked down at Rex, who was listening to some music from one of my newest creations, a IPod. "Come on, Rex, let's go check on the decorations."

Rex nodded in response, and we headed off towards the largest building in the entire town, the Carousel Boutique.

Once we reached it, I knocked on the door, making a mare's voice call out. "Come in, I'll be with you in a minute!"

I nodded to Rex, and we walked in. The place was a mess, by mare standards, decorations and cloth everywhere, but the place was still beautiful. So with a shrug, I walked in, Rex next to me, and ED-E (who I recently forgot about) floating above. Once we reached the main room, I spotted who I was guessing to be Miss Rarity, who seemed to be a bit of a fashion freak, and had her mane in a... well groomed, I guess, style. Whatever honestly.

We came up to her, making her speak as she turned around. "Hello, and welcome to the Carousel Boutique, I am Rarity, how can I-AAAHH!"

I winced slightly as my ears flopped down when she cried out, staring at me with some form of horror. Did I know her? Heck if I knew honestly. I glanced over at Rex, who had his claws over his ears, growling out a little in response. I then looked at the mare, and followed her eyes up to my messy mane.

This made me sigh heavily. "I don't have time for this." I took a deep breath, and raised my hoof before she could say anything. "Miss Rarity, I have come here on behalf of Princess Celestia to oversee the preparations for the Summer Sun Festival. All I am here for is to see how the decorations are going, then I will be on my way."

She then asked. "But what about your mane, darling?!"

I glared at her. "Is there a problem with it?"

She heard my hint of hostility, which made her eyes widened, and she quickly shook her head. "Oh no, of course not, Darling! It's just... it's..."

"My mane has been like this for many years, Miss Rarity, and I have no intention on changing it, understood?"

She quickly nodded. "Of course!" i nodded. "Um... is there anything else I could help you with?"

I thought for a moment, then glanced at Rex. "Got anything?"

Rex shook his head. "Nope, though I think ED-E will need to be repaired. Sometimes loud noises tend to mess with his functions."

I glanced back at ED-E, who gave out a few of those old beeps that I have understood so well. This made Rarity look at him, and was truly astonished by it. "My goodness, what is that, darling?"

I smiled a little. "That's one of my latest prototypes, he is a Eye-Bot, ED series, though I just call him ED-E. He's an attempt at making a... old friend I lost long ago."

Rarity gave a sad look. "I'm sorry to hear that, Mister... Um..."

"Ethan, Ethan Mason."

She nodded. "Mister Mason, I am truly sorry to hear that, I am sure it was a good friend."

"He."

Rarity slapped her hoof over her mouth. "Of course, he, I am truly sorry, Mister Mason."

I nodded, while ED-E bobbed a bit, letting out some music, which made Rarity smile. "I don't understand what he's saying, but he does know some good music."

I smirked. "I apologize about that, I was so busy in making it so I'd understand him, that I forgot to make it so others would also. I think I could fix that later."

Rarity nodded with a smile. "I am glad."

I then gave a wave. "Well, I got one last thing to take care of before I start setting up my new house. It was a pleasure to meet you, Miss Rarity, and I hope we get a chance to talk, hopefully over some tea and bread."

Rarity nodded with a smile. "Of course, Mister Mason, that sounds wonderful."

I nodded in response, and left with ED-E and Rex.

...

We soon came up to the edges of what I'm guessing to be the Everfree Forest. Not as scary as others claimed, and honestly, that Deathclaw nest was scarier. So, with a small sigh, we headed down to where I heard the music coming from. And once there, I spotted a young, butter yellow Pegasus mare, teaching some birds how to sing. I smiled as the birds sung perfectly with her, which made me think a bit, and decided to be cautious here. I began to sing with the birds, which made the yellow mare jump at the sudden addition, while the birds continued to sing, all the while I sung with them. I was surprised my voice was doing well on this, since I hadn't sung for a good few years. I expected myself to be a bit rusty, but apparently not.

Once the birds stopped, I did as well, and had a small smile as I walked up next to the mare. "Apologies, but I didn't want to startle your birds away with my sudden intrusion."

The mare gave a soft smile as she spoke very softly. "Thank you."

I smiled again. "I take it you're Miss Fluttershy?" She nodded. "Princess Celestia has sent me to look over the Summer Sun Festival, and I wished to oversee and check on them. And from what I've seen, things are going wonderfully here."

Fluttershy blushed at this, and hid a little behind her mane. "Thank you."

I smiled at her. "Don't worry, Miss Fluttershy, I was told about your shyness, and do not wish to upset you. I will be leaving now."

She slowly nodded in response, while I looked over at Rex. "Come on, Rex, time to check out that library."

Rex walked over and gave a mock salute in response. "Aye, Aye, Boss."

I chuckled lightly at him, but before I could speak, I spotted Fluttershy zoom right next to me, and begin speaking to Rex. "Oh my gosh! A dragon! Wow, and you can talk!" Rex stepped back in awkwardness. "Oh please, tell me everything."

Rex stepped back a bit more. "Uh... I'm good, I got enough creepy animal friends back home who already got me to do that a few years ago."

Fluttershy went wide eyed, and blushed madly. "Oh, I'm sorry, I just was surprised to see you! You're a dragon, and I never got to meet one. And you can also talk, which makes me even more excited."

"Oookay... Hey, Ethan? Could we head to the library now? I'm getting kinda freaked out."

I nodded in response, then smiled at Fluttershy. "Rex isn't much of a talker, Miss Fluttershy, but I'm sure ED-E would love to talk to somepony." Fluttershy raised an eyebrow, then gasped as ED-E came up next to me. "Fluttershy, this is ED-E, one of my closest friends."

ED-E spoke in his usual beeps and robotic sounds, which made Fluttershy gasp. "Oh, it's nice to meet you too, ED-E! You are just as amazing as Rex!"

ED-E began to speak with Fluttershy as we headed for the library. I began to whistle to myself to pass the trip, while Rex was listening to the Ipod again. Once we reached the library, Rex spoke as he pulled the earpieces out. "Huh... not as amazing as I expected. A bit smaller actually."

I smiled at him. "Don't worry, Rex, Celestia taught me a spell that could expand the entire inside without changing the rest of it. It'll look bigger on the inside then on the outside, to put it simply."

Rex nodded in response as I pushed the front door open, revealing the pitch black room, which was a bit weird, and Fluttershy was gone too. I simply shrugged and went inside, with ED-E and Rex behind me. Once we were inside, I looked at Rex. "So, you got anything to turn the lights on with, Rex?"

"Nope, and I'd use my Ipod, but the batteries are dying."

I nodded. "What about you, ED-E?"

His response was the usual beeps. "Alright, though I'd rather not catch the house on fire, ED-E, so save the lasers for later."

Just then the lights went on, while we saw the entire library was full of ponies, and I bet the entire town was in here. This made me a little worried as they all called out. "SURPRISE!"

I sighed heavily, while Rex spoke. "Alright, I'm outta here. See ya in the morning, Ethan, and if the parties still going, tell me so I can head back to sleep." And with that, he walked to the stairs and headed up them.

I couldn't help but roll my eyes at him, while the pink mare from earlier bounced up to me. "Hiya! I'm Pinkie Pie! I saw you when you got here, and I was all *gasp*, and left so I could get this party started because you're new here, and I can tell because I know everypony, and I mean EVERYPONY in town! Oh my gosh, do you like chocolate? Ooh I bet you like Chocolate! Do you like cupcakes? Wait, everypony likes cupcakes, except me because I super duper love them!"

I kinda just tuned her out at that as I walked over to the buffet table, and spotted a bottle with a cup next to it. I picked up said bottle, poured the contents into the cup, and stuck a straw in it, before I began to calmly drink it. My ears were lazily hanging to the side now as I opened my eye slightly to see her still talking. I then rose a eyebrow at the strange flavor and the large amount of spice in it. This caused me to pull back. "That's a strange flavor for punch."

Pinkie Pie picked up the bottle at that. "This isn't punch, silly! This is my special Hot Sauce!"

I simply shrugged in response, and went back to drinking, not really caring to be honest.

Then I finally heard her call out. "Let's party!"

And with that, the music went off while I continued to calmly drink the Sauce. I wasn't really paying attention to anything around me, until I felt somepony gently jab me in the shoulder. This made me glance over, and spotted Rainbow Dash as she spoke. "Don't you think?"

I swallowed the sauce. "I'm sorry, Miss Dash, I tuned out Miss Pinkie and forgot to go back to listening, what was that you were saying?"

She chuckled a little in response. "I said that Pinkie sure knows how to throw a party, huh?"

I shrugged in response. "It's better then any I've been to, I'll give her that. But the best party? I'd have to look up history to say for sure."

She snickered at that. "Yeah, I guess you're right." I turned around and leaned against the table, while she thought of something. "So, you're moving in here?"

I nodded. "Yeah, Princess Celestia said I needed to get out and get some fresh air, and also make friends, though I think I already told you this."

She blushed slightly. "Right, sorry."

I simply chuckled. "It's alright, I've been in my tower for a long time, making so many prototypes and the such that I hardly get to talk to anypony. Only Rex and ED-E."

Dash nodded in response, and looked at the little Eyebot, who was bobbing up and down on the dance floor, dancing with a random, mint green unicorn. "Yeah, don't know what he is, but he sure knows how to get a mare dancing."

I chuckled again, and then sighed. "Yeah." I then raised an eyebrow. "Hey, have you heard of somepony called Nightmare Moon?"

She nodded. "Yeah, I was told about her as a little filly, why?"

I shrugged. "Princess Celestia gave me a book, saying everything in it was important, and true facts. In one of the pages I read about Nightmare, and how she used to be called Luna, Princess Celestia's younger sister. Don't know why it's so important right now, but you know, I went with her warning and began reading."

Dash nodded at that. "Yeah, I'm curious about that too."

I yawned a little. "Hey, I need to go check on Rex, mind making sure Pinkie doesn't stop me?"

Dash nodded with a smirk. "Sure thing, Ethan."

And with that, I went upstairs, and entered Rex's room. He was fast asleep, and was curled up into a ball, though he appeared to have his earpieces on, and I could hear faintly the sound of Indie Music, which made me smile slightly, gently pulled them out of his ear, and pulled the blanket over him. This made him groan slightly, grab the blanket, and finish the job to keep warm. I couldn't help but smirk at the fact he's still adorable, which I hardly found in anypony now.

I gave out a small yawn again, and left the room, closed the door, and went back downstairs. I spotted ED-E who was speaking with Fluttershy, and Miss Applejack, which made me smile, and trotted back to the buffet table. From there, I got a glass of actual punch, and took a sip, which was a bit better then the sauce. As I began drinking my punch, I spotted Rarity walk over, and speak. "Hello, Darling, a pleasure to see you again."

I smiled. "A pleasure to see you as well, Miss Rarity. How are you enjoying the party?"

She smiled a bit. "I am quite enjoying it, thank you." She then glanced at my mane, and appeared to still have a problem with it, which I simply ignored. Then decided to break the ice. "Miss Rarity." She looked at me. "I had this haircut during the time my father died."

She went wide eyed. "Oh, darling, I am so sorry." She then grew worried. "How did he die?"

I sighed heavily. "Back home, the land is a nuclear wasteland." She gasped. "Everything's in ruins, or being reconstructed. Many ponies made different factions to survive, and some are very cruel. It's been 200 years since the Great War, and the land is still in ruins, but thankfully, there's no black rain." She gasped again. "My father put his entire life into bringing something the land lost long ago, fresh clean water. Most of the water is contaminated with radiation poisoning, so it's no surprise. Father then met my mother, and the had me... but not without my mother dying during birth." Rarity was on the verge of tears. "Father was a broken stallion then, and brought me to a place called Vault 101. From there, he raised me until I was 19, before he found what he needed to continue his work, so he left me alone. In response, the Overseer of Vault 101 lost it, and began to hunt down anypony to figure out how he left... including going as far to beat a friend of mine to death." She gasped in horror. "I had no choice but to leave the place, to keep anypony else from getting hurt. And I soon found myself in the wasteland America now is today. I looked everywhere for my dad, until I came to where all his work began, and it was called Project Purity. He left notes about where he was going, a place called Vault 112. I went there to find him, and in the process met a crazed Vault-Tec scientist named Doctor Stanislaus Braun. He was... a very cruel old stallion, who was only humored by his Vault residents being tortured and killed, over and over again. The only sane one, spoke for all of them, begging me to end their misery... I... I couldn't... I just couldn't kill so many innocents... but... I couldn't let them suffer either, and there was no way to free them... I was locked between two very hard choices... until I did what they begged for, and made the Great War happen there, as it did on my own world. I heard them thanking me as they perished... and I still hate myself for it. And I got dad in the process, and we went to Project Purity. But... once we got it up and running, a Old World military called the Enclave invaded the project, and ordered my father to turn it in. When my father refused, their leader, Colonel Autumn, shot one of the scientists in cold blood. My father then said he would, but instead of giving it to somepony who'd force ponies who needed water to pay for it, or possibly infect it to kill all mutation, which, in return, would kill everypony in the wasteland, he overloaded the project, filling the room with radiation..." Tears began to run down my cheeks. "I didn't even get to say goodbye, as he died from the massive dose... right in front of me... with a sealed door blocking me from even trying to get to him... and leaving me with no choice but to leave him..."

I finally fell to my knees, tears running down my face as I spoke. "It's all my fault... if I was stronger, and if that door wasn't there... I could have saved him! It's all my fault!"

I just curled up into a fatal position and began to cry, unable to hold it in anymore.

I also heard the party stop when I started to tell my tale, and all I heard from them was crying as well. But my mind was solely on myself, hating myself for not being stronger. I really could've saved him, I truly could've. If Doctor Li had let me open the door, I could have got him out before the radiation got me! But... I wasn't strong enough.

I then felt somepony place their hoof on my shoulder, and sniffled as I looked up, seeing the four mares giving me understanding smiles, and they all gave me a group hug, them crying as well. I didn't know how to respond to this, I used to be able to keep that buried down... but I let it out like a fool.

I sniffled again as I just let the emotions flow out, to try and get a hold of it once it's done.

After a good hour or so, I finally could get a hold of myself, and I wiped the tears from my face, before speaking. "I... I'm sorry, I just... I couldn't keep it in anymore."

Fluttershy pulled back with a soft smile. "It's okay, you went through a lot, and just needed to let it out, I have to do that sometimes too... but you really needed it."

I slowly nodded as Applejack spoke. "Yeah, y'all deserve t' get it off yer chest. Ah wouldn'tve been able t' hold it in mahself."

Rarity nodded. "Agreed, sometimes ponies need this, and like Fluttershy said, you definitely needed this."

Rainbow wiped the tears from her eyes. "Your a good pony, Ethan, and we all know that. You need to stop blaming yourself for that, you couldn't have been able to do anything."

I slowly nodded in response, as Pinkie spoke. "Somepony needs a super duper big hug." And like that Pinkie gave me said big hug, which, surprisingly was a little effective. Then she pulled back. "You know what this needs? I feel better party!"

Everypony yelled out their agreements, and Pinkie quickly changed the banner to what she said, and she cried out to begin partying.

I couldn't help but smile weakly at how nice everypony in this world was, back home the people just ignored me or said to think about it later, leaving me to deal with it alone. But... maybe not everywhere's as bad as the wasteland.

...

I groaned as Pinkie Pie pushed me out into the crowd of ponies who were waiting to see Princess Celestia. Personally I just tuned everything out and waited for Celestia to show up, not interested in the other stuff. Though I was a bit tired.

As I continued to look around, I raised an eyebrow at something, there was no carriage that arrived. This made me narrow my eyes, and look around a bit. The guards were here, but they were here earlier today, so yeah. There was no movement going on behind the curtains, and the night was a little bit darker then usual, even a little colder, like the sun was never here. And you'd usually feel at least a hint of warmth around this time. So what gives? There was also something odd about the Moon, instead of that usual strange shadow on it, it was a full moon. Something going on here, but what?

I narrowed my eyes, and thought back. I read about this somewhere, something about how on the thousandth night, the stars will build a bridge from the moon to this world. And from there... something showed up... I know this, so why can't I remember? Thousandth night: Check. Stars aligned with the moon: Check. Then something... no, somepony shows up. Hmm... somepony very important, somepony that Celestia was related to. Her original name was Luna... AHA, Nightmare Moon! So... if she's released from Moon... then that means...

My ears went behind my head at this.

Just then a purple shadow swirled around the upper levels, making, who I am guessing to be, Nightmare Moon, appear. She smiled down at us. "Hello, my 'faithful' subjects."

I felt my eye twitch a little. That voice... oh... god how I hate that kind of voice.

Rainbow then cried out as she tried to fly straight at her. "What did you do to the Princess?!"

Nightmare Moon gave a evil smile. "Do you not see? I am your princess. Have none of you read the signs."

And that ego... oh that awful ego... Oh yeah, I THINK I'm back, bitches.

Nightmare Moon waited for an answer, but received none, making her sigh in annoyance. "Do any of you even know who I am?"

I responded as I pushed through the crowd. "Should we know you, big, black, and ugly?"

Everypony gasped while the mare glared at me. "And who might you be?"

I gave a mock bow. "The Courier, and the right hoof of Princess Celestia, who will personally KICK. YOUR. ASS."

Everypony around me was shocked by my complete change of attitude, while Nightmare Moon snarled. "You dare threaten Us?"

I shrugged. "Well, personally, I usually ain't like this, but after going through an emotional breakdown, and hearing both YOUR voice and MASSIVE ego, I decided to act the way that usually pisses off the asshole who wanted to destroy the world or something. Once again, this ain't usually me, but I really gotta get my mind off of my emotions, so how about we get down to the beat down, and talk afterwards."

Nightmare Moon snarled again. "You expect you, a mere mail pony, to stand a chance against me, Princess of the Night?!"

I shrugged. "Well... I did kill something called a Legendary Deathclaw, and the damn thing was around four times bigger then you, stood up on his hind legs, had claws the size of you, massive horns, and white eyes that stared into your soul as it began to devour you."

Everypony gasped in horror that such a thing existed, while Nightmare Moon seemed impressed. "That might be an impressive feat, but you are talking to the Demigod of the Night."

I simply shrugged. "Honestly, you look like a mare who needs to work on fashion, and most likely needs to bathe too."

She roared out in anger. "You cursed foal! You know nothing of who I am, and you will be the first I hunt down after I bring night to the world, forever!" And with that, she disappeared in a cloud of shadows.

I simply shrugged and turned to the crowd. "All in favor of going after that mare, say I."

Nopony responded at first, until Rainbow Dash stepped forward. "I'm in."

This caused Applejack to as well. "Ah'm in too."

I then spotted Rarity step forward. "I guess I'll help as well."

Then Fluttershy. "I... I will go, that is if it's okay with you..."

Then finally Pinkie. "Ooh! Ooh! I'm in! I wanna go, I wanna go!"

I nodded and motioned the to follow. "Alright, girls, then let's head on over to the library, I need to check on a few things."

...

Chapter II

Chapter II

"REX! Get down here! I need your help with a few things!"

I trotted into the library, and went to the 'E' section of the bookshelves while the five mares walked in, surprised to see all the prototypes that I magically made come out of the basement. I then brought three different books that I grabbed from the shelves, and placed them on a nearby desk. I then flipped all three open, and began tearing through them all quickly, looking for that item in the book about all this.

Just then Rex came down the stairs as he rubbed his eyes. "Yo, what do you need help with, Ethan?"

I glanced over at him. "Start up the Securitrons, then the ED Eye-bots, and finally run the start up routine of the XV Enclave Colossus Power Armors... and get the Laser and Plasma rifles up and running, just in case."

Rex whistled as he walked over to my set of armor. "Sure seems excessive, so I'm guessing something bad is happening. Let me guess, a total war?"

I soon found what I needed in a book. "Possibly, it's Nightmare Moon, turns out she's back, and she plans to make night eternal. If plan A doesn't work out, then we need a plan B."

Rex nodded in response as he started up his armor. Rainbow then spoke as she watched Rex. "You know, he's actually right, this all seems a bit extreme."

I shrugged as I was halfway done with making an exact copy of the map to the Everfree from another book. "Maybe, but it's better to be safe than sorry."

Rex was now starting up the tenth ED Eye-bot, before he looked at me. "So what are the Eye-bots for?"

"To keep the towns, cities, and the such distracted from what's going on. Don't want Equestria to go into full-on panic."

Rex nodded, and soon had all the Eye-bots running and sent them on their way, before he began to start up the two securitrons I personally made to be bodyguards. I then slid the map into a saddlebag I found, and looked at Rex. "Once you're done, hop into your armor and grab the Plasma Rifle. I'll get into my armor in a sec, just wanna make sure what I read was right."

Rex nodded as he finished starting up the second securitron, then began to put on his Power Armor. I then nodded at the book, and used my magic to put on my armor. And once I slid on the helmet, Pinkie spoke. "What did the book say?"

I used my magic to bring the book up to my visor. "It says here about something called the Elements of Harmony." The girls perked their ears up. "There are six Elements of Harmony, but only five are known, Kindness, Laughter, Generosity, Honesty, and Loyalty. The sixth is a complete mystery."

Rex raised his claws to his head and gave a mock spooky tone to his voice. "Oooooo."

The mares huffed at him as I continued. "It is said the last known location of the five Elements was in the ancient castle of the royal pony sisters. It is located in what is now the Everfree Forest."

The five girls spoke at once. "The Everfree Forest?!"

I raised an eyebrow at them. "Um... don't take this the wrong way, but you five are really scared of something as ridiculous as that forest?"

They looked between each other, before Rainbow spoke as she puffed up her chest. "Heck no! I ain't scared of some forest! I say bring it on!"

I shrugged in response and sat the book down, before nodding to Rex. "Get those Securitrons' data set on follow, and we'll head off."

Rex nodded, and walked over to the robots, before he finished, and we headed for the forest.

...

"So, none of you have been in here before?"

I shook my head in response to Fluttershy's question, while Rarity spoke. "Oh, h-heavens, no. Just look at it, it's dreadful!"

Applejack spoke as well. "And it ain't natural." I gave a snort, which made them look at me. "What?"

I shook my head as I pushed into the lead. "Back home, this would be considered the closest to a natural in the old world, and there was no such thing as controlling the weather or plants. But now, the newest normal there was a very rare amount of plants, and a lot of sand and ruins. Trust me, this forest would be considered heaven back home."

They stayed silent in response, until Rainbow spoke. "You know, they say that anypony who's come in here, has never come out."

I looked at her with a disbelieving look. "Seriously? I heard the same thing about that Deathclaw Nest, and I came out alive. Hell, I've been abducted by aliens and took over their ship before coming back down. This place is nothing compared to that."

They all screamed in unison at my claim. "WHAT?!"

And just like that, the ground crumbled beneath our hooves, and we began to slide down to the very low bottom, all the while the girls were screaming, and Rex was trying to dig his feet into the ground. I soon spotted Rainbow grab Pinkie, Fluttershy grabbed Rarity, and Applejack bit onto a root. I wasn't so lucky as I skidded to a halt on the ledge, and almost fell off. I let out a sigh of relief, and tried to get to my hooves, but failed miserably. I then spotted Applejack slide down. "Ah'm a comin'!"

She grabbed my hooves, which surprised me that she could hold the weight of the armor, although she looked ready to let go. Applejack then looked up, and seemed to gain an idea before looking down at me. "Let go."

I gave a snort. "I'm not the one holding your hoof, it's the other way around Applejack."

She blushed slightly, nodded, and let go, which made me expand my wings, and glided down to the ground, before touching down, and shook my body, which got the dirt off of the armor. I then spotted Applejack hop down, which made me wave at her. "Thanks for the save, Applejack, even though I could've gotten down myself."

She still had the blush on her cheeks as she nodded. "Right, sorry 'bout that."

I gave a nod in response, then looked at the others. "You all alright?"

Pinkie jumped about at this. "Ooh yeah! That was fun! Let's do it again!"

I smirked at her response then looked at the others, as Rainbow spoke. "You know, I was beginning to think you never use your wings, so that was so not expected."

I shrugged at her. "I personally prefer to walk, easier for me, though I do fly too."

Rainbow nodded while Rarity began to brush the dirt out of her mane. "Goodness, darling, I wouldn't do that again if it was the last thing I'd do."

I snorted again, making her glare at me, as I began to trot forward. "Well, seeing as everypony is alright, I think we should continue on, no?"

They raised eyebrows at my attempt to sound french, until we were stopped by a massive paw slamming into the ground, and in front of us was a Manticore."

I groaned slightly. "Great, a Manticore, and I was hoping not to have to use our guns."

Rex loaded his Plasma Rifle in response. "Yeah, me too. But, it gives us a chance to test out our armor."

I gave a nod at that, as the Manticore leaped forward, and swung a paw as Rex, who got hit hard, and skidded back a bit, all the while the Manticore grasped it's aching paw, and roared again, leaping at Rarity, who dodged it's paw and bucked his face. "Take that, you ruffian!" The Manticore roared at her, making her hair a frizzled mess, which I must say the original look fitted her better. "MY HAIR!"

She then looked at the Manticore, yelped, and bolted away. Fluttershy then spoke, though only I appeared to hear her. "Wait."

I trotted over to Fluttershy while Applejack landed on top of the Manticore. "You got an idea to calm that Manticore down?"

She nodded and pointed at the paw it wasn't using. "He has a thorn in it."

I nodded as Applejack was flung off of the Manticore. Rainbow the bolted for the Manticore, before I yelled out. "EVERYPONY, STAND DOWN!" Everypony stopped in their tracks, same for the Manticore, while they stared at me in confusion. I then looked at Fluttershy. "He's all yours."

She blushed slightly in response, and trotted over to the Manticore. The Manticore reared back his paw to attack, making the other girls and Rex cover their eyes, until Fluttershy spoke in a calm voice. "Shh, it's okay." The Manticore was wide eyed in confusion as she nuzzled his paw, before he lowered the paw down. "Oh, you poor, poor little baby."

Rainbow raised an eyebrow. "Little?"

Fluttershy gently placed her mouth on the thorn. "Now, this might hurt for just a second." She then plucked the thorn off, making it pick her up and roar in her face."

Everypony then yelled out. "FLUTTERSHY!"

But all they saw next was the Manticore licking Fluttershy's face, hugging her in thanks. She laughed in response. "Oh, you're just a little old baby kitty, aren't you? Yes, you are. Yes, you are."

I trotted over to the girls, and bowed as I waved my hoof towards the new way pass. "Ladies first."

They simply smiled and trotted past the two, while I trotted forward, and Rex spoke. "How'd you know?"

I smirked a little. "I was an Animal Friend back home, so once Fluttershy told me what was wrong, I knew what to do. Now let's head on off."

Rex nodded in agreement as we went after the girls.

...

Rarity shuddered as we continued through the forest. "My eyes need a rest from all this icky muck." I snorted in response as the forest became much darker, which caused me and Rex to turn on our Night Vision. "I didn't mean that literally."

I then heard them speaking as we continued onwards. "I didn't see you there." "My apologies." "Are you there?" "Right here."

Applejack then stopped. "Oh, wait, I think I stepped in something." Fluttershy then screamed. "It's just mud." She then saw one of the most ugliest trees I've ever seen, making her scream and jump away.

I couldn't help but roll my eyes as the trees growled at everypony, making them all scream. Rex sighed heavily as he turned off his helmet's earpieces to mute the girls out, all the while I began to laugh. This caused the girls to look at me with much confusion, then spotted Pinkie laughing too. Although we were laughing about two completely different things. I was laughing because of how easily scared these girls got, while Pinkie was making faces at the trees.

Rarity then asked in worry. "Pinkie, what are you doing? RUN!"

Pinkie simply looked at them with a smile. "Oh, girls, don't you see?"

"When I was a little filly, and the sun was going down."

Rex groaned as he clasped his claws against the sides of the helmet. "Oh Lord, please tell me she's not."

"The darkness and the shadows, they would always make me frown."

Rarity simply answered as she stared at Pinkie. "She is."

My simple response was to turn off my earpieces, which made the singing simple muffles, and I continued forward, all the while the girls were laughing at the trees left and right, making the trees, strangely enough, go back to normal.

Just then I bumped into Pinkie who was standing in front of me, with a large and crazy river ahead of us. This made me turn the earpieces back on, and raised an eyebrow. Pinkie then spoke. "How are we gonna cross this?"

I glanced at Rainbow. "Well, given that three of us have wings, we could help the other three get across... though that can't be done, given the Securitrons, and Rex would simply refuse to be picked up."

Rex gave a nod. "Yep, not gonna go there."

Just then we began to hear sobbing coming from down a short ways, which made me raise an eyebrow, and look through a bush, seeing a giant sea serpent crying heavily as he held his head. He also appeared to only have half a mustache.

I trotted over to the edge, and spoke up. "Yo!" The serpent looked down at me. "Why are you crying?"

"Well, I don't know. I was just sitting here, minding my own buisness, when this tacky little cloud of purple smoke just whisked past me and tore half of my beloved mustache clean off."

My eye began to twitch at this. Seriously? SERIOUSLY?! He's throwing a fit just because half of his mustache is gone?! I was expecting something like his marefriend leaving him, or a recent relative dying! But this?! This is just getting ridiculous!

Thankfully, Applejack and Rainbow beat me to it. "That is what all this fuss is about?"

Rarity looked at them with wide eyes. "Why of course it is. How can you be so insensitive?"

Rex growled at this. "Oh, I'll show you insensitive you little..."

I jabbed my foreleg into his gut, making him go silent.

Rarity began to trot towards the serpent. "Oh, just look at him. Such lovely, luminescent scales."

The serpent sniffled. "I know."

"And your expertly coiffed mane."

The serpent leaned his elbow on the ground and laid his head on his hand. "Oh, I know, I know!"

"Your fabulous Manicure."

The serpent gasped. "It's so true."

Rarity gave a determined look. "All ruined without your beautiful mustache."

The serpent cried out at that. "IT'S TRUE! I'M HIDEOUS!"

I felt my eye twitching a bit too much for comfort.

"I simply cannot let such a crime against fabulosity go uncorrected."

She then bit on one of his scales and ripped it off, making the serpent cry out. "OW!" He then looked down in sadness. "What did you do that for?"

Fluttershy then spoke as Rarity lifted the scale high. "Rarity, what are you-"

The serpent fainted, which made me so glad I wasn't like those two, and Rarity lifted up the tail she cut off, and made it join the mustache, making it rather... weird. But the serpent was quite happy as he laughed. "My mustache! How wonderful!"

Rarity gave a large smile. "You look smashing."

Fluttershy trotted over to Rarity with a sad expression. "Oh, Rarity... Your beautiful tail."

"Oh." Rarity placed a hoof against her chest while her eyes closed. "It's fine, my dear. Short tails are in this season. Besides..." She looked awkwardly at it. "It will grow back."

Rex dragged his claws against his helmet, leaving deep scratches on it. "So would the MUSTACHE!"

Rarity huffed at him in response, while I was halfway through the river. I then looked back at them. "You girls coming or what?"

The securitrons rolled into the water to follow me, as did Rex, and we got across, before the serpent spoke for the girls. "Allow me."

I snorted as they began to hop across his long body, before they reached the other side, and I let out a small chuckle. "You know, it would've been easier to simply walk... or fly."

The girls blushed in response as we continued onward.

...

We soon came up to the bridge and could see the castle ruins across said bridge. This made me speak in relief. "Thank god, it's finally within eyesight." I trotted forward with the girls behind me, before I stopped at the bridge, and motioned them to wait. I looked at said bridge, and saw that it was not connected to the other side. This made me sigh heavily, and look across, seeing a spot where you could tie them up.

I then looked at Rainbow. "So, should I go and tie up the bridge, or do you want to?"

Rainbow puffed up her chest. "I can definitely do that, no problem!"

I gave a playful smirk. "Oh, is that so?"

She narrowed her eyes at me, her own smirk on her face. "You giving me a challenge?"

I stepped towards her. "How about this, you get the bridge up and tied on the other side, and I'll think about making you a set of this armor, as well as training you how to use it with and without wings."

Her eyes twinkled as she smiled widely. "Deal."

I smiled and shook her hoof, then thought of something. "Hey, Rainbow?" She looked at me. "You'll become a great pony if you keep up on being loyal to your friends, and I bet you'll even become a Wonderbolt some day. And just so you know, you kinda look cute."

She blushed madly in response as her eyes went wide, her mouth hung open, and she tried to form words, but failed quite badly. I then headed towards the other girls, while Rainbow shook her head, and flew off to the other side.

...Five Minutes Later...

I looked across the gap, and saw Rainbow finishing with tying up the bridge, though I thought I saw some ponies with her, but they weren't there anymore, so it must have been a trick of the light or something.

Rainbow soon flew over to us, making the others cheer for her a bit, while I walked up to her side, and smirked. "Looks like I owe you some training and some armor."

Rainbow simply blushed in response, still not speaking as we headed across the bridge.

Once we were across, we entered the ruins, and spotted a tall statue in the middle of the room, with five stone balls on small little platforms. I simply trotted up to these stones, and raised an eyebrow. "These are the Elements of Harmony?"

Rex grunted in response. "Looks like nothing that important to me, just five ball statues."

I ignored him as I lifted the stones with my magic, and carefully placed them in front of me, all the while Pinkie counted them. "One, two, three, four. Oh, there's only five."

Rainbow stepped forward. "Where's the sixth?"

I thought for a moment as I examined them. "The book mentioned something about that. I think it went like this: When the five Elements are present, a spark will cause the sixth Element to be revealed."

Applejack raised an eyebrow. "What in the hay is that supposed to mean?"

I narrowed my eyes at the Elements. "Hmm... A spark, that could mean anything. A spark of Magic, a spark of Recognition, a spark of Friendship..." My eyes widened. "Of course!"

Just then purple smoke entered the room, making me go wide eyed as it began to take the stones. I huffed in response, and dove into the tornado, leaving behind the girls, Rex, and the Securitrons.

...

I coughed a bit as I found myself in what appeared to be the throne room, with Nightmare Moon at the spot the throne would be at, and the five Elements floating around her.

This made me growl a bit, and began to brush my hoof, getting ready to charge, which made the mare glare at me. "You're kidding. You're kidding, right?"

I grunted in response as my horn glowed, and my armor began to go into overwork, which made a few of the attachments I added to turn on, like the Nuclear Reactor that controlled my Shields that I've yet to activate, as well as more armor clinking over the first layer, making it tougher then before. And with that, I charged forward. Nightmare Moon huffed and charged at me as well, my horn still glowing.

Just as we were about to smash into each other, my horn grew brighter, and I disappeared before reappearing in front of the stone. I then let my horn glow, and it engulfed the stones, lifting them up and to my sides. I then used the teleport spell and reappeared at the doorway, which made me smirk, and heard my friends running up to the room.

I then spoke with a smirk. "So, still think you'll take me down? The... mail pony?"

I could see her face getting redder upon hearing that. "So, I think these Elements should go to the spirits of Harmony, don't you think, Miss All-Mighty Demigod?"

Nightmare Moon growled. "You can't! You didn't even try to spark them!"

I rolled my eyes at her. "There's more then one type of spark, Moon."

The stones then shattered into little pieces, while I looked at Applejack. "Applejack, who told me the truth, even though it was a bit unneeded, represents the Element of Honesty."

Some of the stone shards began to float around Applejack.

"Fluttershy, who tamed the Manticore with her compassion, represents the spirit of Kindness."

Fluttershy flew up and raised her hooves in awkwardness while they floated around her.

"Pinkie Pie, who even though I have been ignoring all this time, has quite a way in making ponies laugh in the face of danger, and also represents the spirit of Laughter."

Pinkie jumped up and down with a large smile on her face as the stone shards surrounded her.

"Rarity, who I'll admit now is a complete fashion freak, also is a very generous pony who calmed a serpent with a meaningful gift, representing the spirit of Generosity."

Rarity looked down at the stones with worried eyes.

"And Rainbow Dash, who's stayed by her friends and went as far to refuse her heart's desire, represents the spirit of loyalty."

Rainbow smiled at her stones while I looked at Rex. "And Rex, my closest friend, has been brave throughout his entire life, and refused to fear anything thrown at him, represents a new Element, the Element of Courage."

Rex made a peace sign as the stones flew around his neck.

"The spirit of these fine ponies got us through every challenge you threw at us."

Nightmare stomped her hoof on the ground. "You still don't have the sixth Element!"

My smirk became a full on grin. "Oh? Well it is here, and I know it. I saw the spark it needed, and I felt said spark when I became friends with these six, When I see them, how much of good friends they truly are. The spark ignited inside me, when I realized this."Just then a stone appeared above my head, and floated down to me, which made me smile now and look at the dark mare. "You see, Nightmare Moon, when those Elements are ignited by this one great realization that resides in the heart of us all, it creates the sixth Element, one that I honestly can't believe - the Element of Magic."

The stone above me shined brightly while the stone shards became necklaces around the girls' and Rex's neck, while I got a crown, which was solid gold, held a beautiful green gem that was in the shape of three numbers, 101, and it was truly an amazing crown.

And then a large beam made out of a rainbow launched out of the Elements, and made a tornado around Nightmare Moon, all the while she was screaming in horror, then everything went white.

...

I groaned as my eyes slowly opened and I heard Rainbow speak with a groan. "My head."

Rex got to his feet, and began to dust himself off. "Everypony okay?"

"Oh my goodness!"

We all looked over to see Rarity admiring her tail, while Fluttershy was admiring her necklace. "Why Rarity, it's so lovely."

"I know, I'll never part with it again." And with that she hugged her tail.

Fluttershy shook her head. "No, your necklace. It looks just like your cutie mark."

Rarity looked down with wide eyes, then looked at Fluttershy with a smile. "So does yours."

Fluttershy gasped in response, while Pinkie jumped over to Applejack, staring down at her necklace. "Look at mine! Look at mine!"

Rainbow stomped her hoof with a large smile. "Aw, yeah!"

I simply glanced up at my crown, feeling a slight sting in my heart as I remembered those three numbers on the crown. Thankfully I was pulled away by Applejack's voice. "Gee, Ethan, I thought you were just spouting a lot of hooey. But I reckon we really do represent the Elements of Friendship."

I opened my mouth, but a very recognizable voice beat me. "Indeed you do."

We all looked over and saw Princess Celestia standing at the window, her wings spread out. This caused the girls to bow to Celestia, while I waved at her. "Good to see you again, Celestia. You look good."

Celestia smiled, with that small hint of red on her cheeks. "Ethan Mason, My Faithful Student." She then smiled at me. "I knew you could do it."

I sighed as I sat down. "Yeah, well, when you're called a Messiah by everypony back home, you tend to know others believe in you."

Celestia gave out a small giggle in response. "Indeed." She then looked at the former Nightmare Moon. "Now if only another would accept friendship."

We all looked over at the now filly looking mare, as Celestia stepped towards her. "Princess Luna." Said princess gasped upon seeing Celestia. "It has been a thousand years since I've seen you like this." She laid down with a soft smile. "Time to put our differences behind us. We were meant to rule together, little sister."

The girls all asked at once. "Sister?"

I looked over at them. "You all seriously need to read up on history."

The girls blushed in response as Celestia stood tall among Luna. "Will you accept my friendship?"

Luna clenched her eyes shut, then jumped over at Celestia, pushing into her for a hug. "I'm so sorry! I missed you so much, big sister."

Celestia wrapped her head around Luna in a hug. "I missed you too."

Pinkie Pie had a piece of cloth. Where the hell did she get that?! And she cried heavily, before going straight to a large smile. "Hey! You know what this calls for?"

...

"A Party!"

We all stood in the center of Ponyville, which made me raise an eyebrow and began looking around. How the hell did we get here all of the sudden?! And since when did all these ponies hear of Celestia returning?!

I sighed heavily and let out a grunt as I hopped off the sudden chariot and spotted ED-E floating right over to us, before he bobbed a bit and landed on my back. This made me chuckle lightly, while Rex stood next to me. We saw everypony having a great time, which made me sigh slightly and sit down. Rex looked down at me at this. "What's wrong, Ethan?" I gave him a 'Are you serious' look, making him slap himself in realization. "Right, everything's over, so now we're heading back to Canterlot." Rex sighed heavily. "And I was starting to like this place too."

Celestia then trotted over to us. "Why so glum, My Faithful Student? Are you not happy that your quest is complete and you can return to your projects in Canterlot?"

I hung my head in response. "That's just it, I just made five of the most amazing friends anypony could ever have, and even made a strong friendship, and now I have to leave them."

Celestia gave a soft smile. "Rex, take a note please."

Rex gave a grunt in response, pulled some parchment out of his armor, as well as a pen, and began writing.

"I, Princess Celestia, hereby decree that

the alicorn Ethan Mason, shall take on a new

mission for Equestria. He must continue to study the

Magic of Friendship. And he must report to me

his findings from his new home in Ponyville."

I smiled at this as the girls surrounded me in a big hug, while I smiled at Celestia. "Thank you, Celestia. I'll study hard for you, so long as I can stay with my friends."

Everypony began to cheer in response, while Celestia smiled.

Just then I thought of something. "Celestia?" She looked at me. "I kinda promised a little filly that I'd get you to have lunch with me and her family if she'd let me get the festival ready. Do you think you could pull something through?"

Celestia smiled. "I think so."

...

Five Hours Later

...

I took another bite of the well cooked Apple Pie, while Rex sat next to me and literally dug into a Apple Cake, eating it all. And my five friends sat with us, as did Celestia, Luna, and the entire Apple Family.

Just then the little filly ran up to me with a large smile. "You did it! You actually did it!"

I gave a small smile in response. "Hey, I Pinkie Promised, didn't I?"

Her smile went even wider in response.

...

Chapter III

Chapter III

"No. Nope."

Rex continued to look through the apples in his bags while Applejack spoke to me. "Thank you kindly, Ethan, for helping me out. I bet Big Macintosh I could get all these golden delicious in the barn by lunchtime. If I win, he's gonna walk down Stirrup Street in one of Granny's girdles."

She giggled while I raised an eyebrow. "You told me he got hurt and needed help collecting apples. You didn't say anything about a bet."

Applejack blushed heavily as she stuttered. "I-I-I mean... uh... Nice weather we're having today, huh? Hehe..."

I sighed heavily. "Applejack, that was a bit mean of you, going against his back to get help. I don't think he got any help himself."

Applejack sighed in response. "Yer right, Ethan, Ah'm sorry. Ah'll tell Big Mac that he don' need t' go down the street."

I nodded in response, then felt my stomach grumble slightly. 'Shit.' I looked at AJ. "Hey, think I could buy one of these apples before you put them away? I'm a bit hungry."

Applejack shook her head in amusement. "Not at all, Ethan. What 'bout you, Rex?"

Rex looked up from the apple that his teeth were sunk into, bit the bit off, and chewed a bit while speaking. "Surr, Ab'll Bay."

I rolled my eyes at him. "Don't speak with your mouth full, Rex." He shrugged and swallowed. I then looked at him with a raised eyebrow. "Hey, didn't Celestia say something about sending a letter around this time?"

Rex raised an eyebrow. "She did?"

I nodded. "Yes, before she left to Canterlot, during our lunch with the Apples. You were there, Rex."

He simply grunted, then burped as a letter came out of the flames. He put out his hand and caught it expertly, twirled it around, and pulled off the seal, then rolled it open, before reading.

"Here ye, here ye. Her grand royal highness, Princess Celestia of Equestria, is pleased to announce the Grand Galloping Gala to be held in the magnificent capital city of Canterlot for the twenty first day... yada yada yada... Cordially extends an invitation to Ethan Mason and one guest."

He grunted. "She really went all out on this one, didn't she?"

I was about to respond, until Applejack cried out in my ear. "THE GRAND GALLOPING GALA!"

Rex began to dig earwax out of his ear while speaking. "Could you mares get anymore louder?!" He then burped up two tickets, and caught them. "And here are the two things that mares always beg for when they see you or me, Ethan."

I gave a nod as I took the tickets with my magic, and began to trot towards Ponyville. "Come on, Rex, We need to send Celestia a letter."

Just then Applejack spoke. "Ethan!" I glanced at her. "You know how great the Grand Galloping Gala is?"

I sighed heavily. "No, but I bet you're going to tell me."

She quickly hopped over to me, following me towards town. "It's a heap good more than just nice, Ah can tell y'all that! Ah'd love to go! Land's sakes! If I had an apple stand set up, ponies would chawing our tasty vittles till the cows came home. Do you have any idea how much business I could drum up for Sweet Apple Acres? Why, with all that money, we could do a heap of fixin' up 'round here. We could replace that saggy, old roof. And Big Macintosh could replace that saggy, old plow. And Granny Smith could replace that saggy, old hip." She stared into the sky. "Why, Ah'd give my left hind leg to go to that Gala."

I rolled my eyes as we were really close to Ponyville now. "Yeah, well, just give me a little while and then you'll--"

"WHOA!"

I quickly rolled out of the way, while a rainbow blur crashed into Applejack. I then began to dust myself off while I heard Rainbow Dash's voice. "Are we talking about the Grand Galloping Gala?"

Applejack glared up at Rainbow while Rex was dusting off his scales. "Rainbow Dash! You told me you were too busy to help me harvest apples." She got to her hooves. "What were you busy doing? Spying?"

Rainbow turned her back on Applejack, and I heard that cute crack in her voice. "No, I was busy napping."

Rex let out a small chuckle. "I should've figured, given that rainbow tail hanging from that tree branch."

Dash then continued as her face was close to mine. "And I just happened to hear that you have an extra ticket?"

I smiled slightly. "You smell nice, different shampoo I take it?" She blushed madly, but didn't back down. "Yes, I do, and--"

Rainbow interrupted me. "YES! This is so awesome!" She then got in my face again, and I smelt that nice shampoo. "The Wonderbolts perform at the Grand Galloping Gala every year!" She stared up in the sky, like Applejack did. "I can see i it now., everypony would be watching the sky, their eyes riveted on the Wonderbolts. But then, in would fly RAINBOW DASH! I would draw their attention with my super speed strut, then I would mesmerize them with my fantastic filly flash! And for my grand ffinal, the Buccaneer Blaze. The ponies would go wild! The Wonderbolts would insist that my signature moves be incorporated into their routine, and then welcome me as their newest member."

I stepped back as she got closer. "Don't you see, Ethan? This could be my one chance to show 'em my stuff." She was then a bit too close. "You gotta take me!"

I gave a soft smile. "Really? Well, it just so happens I will be revealing one of my greatest inventions to the party as well, though I still need to work on it a bit." I then placed a hoof on her forehead and pushed her back a bit. "Now, what I was going to say is--"

Applejack then dragged Rainbow away from me. "Hold on just one pony-pickin' minute here." She spat out Rainbow's tail, and glared at her. "I asked for that ticket first."

I sighed at this. "Girls, if you'll let me explain---"

"So? That doesn't mean you own it."

I began to rub my temples. "Would you both just listen for a---"

"Oh yeah? Well, I challenge you to a hoof wrestle. Winner gets the ticket."

They then pressed their forelegs on a nearby stump, and started hoof wrestling. This made me sigh and look at Rex. "Please stall them while I try to get this fixed."

Rex nodded. "Sure thing, Ethan." He then walked over to the girls, and pushed them apart. "Ladies, please, just hold on a minute." He then folded his arms. "Ethan will deal with this, alright? Just give him a few minutes and--"

They pushed him away and got back to a hoof wrestle, making Rex growl, while I had finally gotten far enough away to not hear them anymore. I then gave a grunt as I thought a bit. 'Sweet Lord, I really need to send a letter to Celestia, before this gets out of hand.'

Just then I heard something at high speed heading for me, making me stiffen up, and was rammed into by a pink blur.

I let out a groan as I heard Pinkie cry out. "AAH! Bats! Bats on my face! HELP!" I bit on the tickets that fell on the ground. "Wait! These aren't..." Her entire face lit up. "Tickets to the Grand Galloping Gala?!" She then began to rant as I stuffed the tickets in my mane. "It's the most amazing, incredible, tremendous, super, wonderful, terrifically humongous party in all of Equestria! I've always, always, always wanted to go!"

She then began to sing.

"Oh, the Grand Galloping Gala is the best place for me."

I sighed heavily. "Pinkie--"

"Oh, the Grand Galloping Gala is the best place for me.

Hip, Hip, Hooray."

"Pinkie."

"It's the best place for me, for Pinkie.

With decorations like streamers and fairy lights.

And pinwheels and pinatas and pincushions?

With goodies like sugar cubes and sugar canes and sundaes

and sunbeams and sarsaparilla?

and I get to play my favoritist of favorite fantabulous games

like pin the tail on the pony!"

"PINKIE!"

She stopped in her tracks, and fell face first in the ground.

"I get it, you really, really, really wanna go. Now, just let me explain something--"

Pinkie began bouncing around me. "Oh, thank you, Ethan! It's the most wonderfullest gift ever." She was then close to my face, closer then even Rainbow.

"I think you were never told of personal space." She pulled back. "Now, as I was going to say--"

I then heard Rarity gasp as she pulled the tickets out of my mane with her magic. "Are these what I think they are?"

"Hold on, I--"

Pinkie interrupted me, making this the tenth time... I think. "Yes! Yes! Yes! Ethan's taking me to the Grand Galloping Gala in Canterlot!"

Rarity was smiling widely now. "The Gala?"

I groaned. 'Here we go again...'

"I design ensembles for the Gala every year." She then gave me a seductive smile. "But I've never had the opportunity to attend." She stared into the sky. "Oh, the society, the culture, the glamour. It's where I truly belong." She then grew sparkles in her eyes. "And where I'm destined to meet HIM!"

"HIM!" Pinkie then raised an eyebrow. "Who?"

Rarity gave me dreamy eyes. "HIM. I would stroll through the Gala, and everypony would wonder, 'Who is that mysterious mare?' They would never guess that I was just a simple pony from little old Ponyville. Why, I would cause such a sensation that I would be invited for an audience with Princess Celestia herself. And the Princess would be so taken with the style and elegance that she would introduce me to HIM! Her nephew... the most handsome, enligible unicorn stallion in Canterlot. Our eyes would meet, our hearts would melt, our courtship would be magnificent. He would ask for my hoof in marriage. And of course I would say, 'YES!!' We would have a royal wedding, befitting a princess, which is..." she giggled. "what I would become upon marrying him, the stallion of my dreams!"

She was then in my face. "Ethan! I simply cannot believe you would invite Pinkie Pie so she can party and prevent me from metting my true love. How could you?!" She then turned her back on me with a 'hmph!'

I scratched my head a bit. "You just love to dream, don't you?" She glared at me. "Look, just let me explain."

Just then a rabbit ran up and snatched a ticket from my magic, before scurrying off. This made me groan as it ran up to Fluttershy and held it in front of her eyes.

Fluttershy gasped. "Angel, these are perfect."

She then eeped as I snatched the ticket away with my magic. "Will anypony even listen while I try to explain--"

Fluttershy then interrupted me, making me groan loudly. "Um, excuse me, Ethan, I would just like to ask -- I mean, if it would be alright, if you haven't given it to somepony else --"

Rarity glared at Fluttershy. "You?! You want to go to the Gala?"

Fluttershy looked down. "Oh, no." The rabbit then kicked her. "I-I mean, yes. Or actually, kind of. You see..." She stared off into the sky, like everypony else. "It's not so much the Grand Galloping Gala as it is the wonderous private gated garden that surrounds the dance. The flowers are said to be the most beautiful and fragrant in all of Equestria. For the night of the Gala and that night alone will they all be in bloom.. And that's just the flora! Don't get me started on the fauna. There's Loons and Toucans and Bitterns, oh, my! Hummingbirds that can really hum and buzzards that can really buzz! Blue Jays and Red Jays and Green Jays, Pink Jays and Pink Flamingos."

I stepped back. "Now I'm getting tired of this, now listen and--"

"Wait just a minute!"

I groaned and looked up to see Rainbow Dash, with Rex hanging tightly onto her tail, terror in his face. He's afraid of heights, just so you know.

I looked at Rainbow. "Were you following me?"

She hopped down, a large blush on her face. "No, I mean, yes, I mean, maybe." She huffed and got in my face. "Look, it doesn't matter, I couldn't risk a goody-four-shoes like you giving that ticket away to just anypony!"

I rolled my eyes as Rex began kissing the ground. "Look, I--"

"Wait just another minute."

I growled slightly. "Applejack, were you following me, too?"

She shook her head. "No, I was following this one." At least she's being honest. "To make sure she didn't try any funny business. Still trying to take my ticket."

"Oh give me a b--"

"Your ticket?!"

"But Ethan's taking me!"

They all began shouting at each other now, before I felt my blood begin to boil, and I cried out. "SHUT IT!!!!"

Everypony (except Pinkie) stopped speaking. "And then I said 'Oatmeal? Are you crazy--' Oh..."

I took a few calming breaths. "Now, all of you listen very closely, I have to send a letter to Celestia, and once I'm done, I will tell you what my plan is. Now if you'll all excuse me, I am getting tired of all of your pointless arguing!" I then stomped my hoof and stormed off to the library, with Rex close behind.

...

Instead of going to the library, I found myself outside a restaurant with Rex across from me, and a menu in my hooves.

Rex then spoke. "So, about the whole letter to Celestia..."

I sighed heavily. "I just need to get the girls out of my head and fill my stomach first, then I'll send the letter."

A waiter then came up to us. "Have you decided yet?"

I thought for a minute. "Hmm... I'm craving something filling, how about your number one dish, sir?"

He nodded. "At once, and you?"

Rex scratched his neck. "Hmm... how about a salad, and hold off on the flowers and stuff."

The waiter nodded and walked off. I then looked at Rex. "If we only had the one, who would you choose?"

Rex shrugged as he pulled out his Ipod. "Beats me, personally they all need to chill out. It's not going to be the last one, and I mean, we got our whole lives to do something worthwhile, instead of some royal party. plus, doesn't it always end badly?"

I nodded. "Yeah, every year we attended it ended badly, last year Blueblood threw a massive fit, and fired off a good amount of servants, and I mean good ones. I'd hate to deal with that again."

Rex gave a nod as well. "No kidding, Blueblood is a little uptight, but I'm sure he could be a great stallion, so long as he left his snob attitude at home."

We both shared a chuckle at this, and our food was soon brought to us. Rex's salad was well mixed and looked quite good, while I got a beautiful plate of roasted vegetables, and flowers on the side.

I smiled at my food, and gave a nod to the waiter, using my magic to place twenty bits in his hoof. "Thank you, good sir, and keep that tip."

He gave a bow. "Of course, thank you."

I nodded, since I quickly became friends with him before yesterday ended, and took a small bite of my food.

Just then most of the ponies ran past us, while the waiter spoke. "Sir, are you going to eat in the rain?"

I raised an eyebrow, and looked around, seeing that the rain was hitting everywhere except my location. This made me sigh heavily. "Let me guess, Rainbow Dash is above us?"

Rex nodded as he ate some of his salad. "Yep."

I looked up and saw Rainbow while she spoke. "Hi, there, best friend forever I've ever, ever had."

I took another bite of my dish, then swallowed. "Rainbow, if you're trying to ask me out on a date or something, it doesn't work that way."

Her entire face went red from her blush. "W-W-Wha... Oh... i... Uh..."

I sighed heavily. "It was just a joke, Rainbow." She let out an awkward chuckle. "What are you doing?"

"What do you mean? I just saw the smartest, most generous pony about to get rained on," Her blush was getting redder as she went on. "So I thought I'd kick a hole in the clouds to keep him dry so he could dine in peace. That's all."

I gave a snort at this. "Yeah, I would rather it kept raining."

Rainbow sighed. "Fine." And with that, she closed the cloud.

I took a few more bites before the rain hit the food, and sighed softly while Rex began to cover his head from the rain.

Then I heard Rarity. "Ethan, it's raining."

Rex gave her an annoyed look. "No, really? I would never have guessed!" He then snarled and flipped her off.

Rarity then grabbed my shoulder, and pulled me away while speaking. "Come with me before you catch a cold!"

...

I shook the water off my body as I stood in the Carousel Boutique, then let out a calm sigh, before speaking. "Sorry, Rarity."

I looked back to see her drenched now. She simply gave me a large smile. "Oh no, it's quite alright! After all," She got WAY too close to my face, muzzles almost touching, and a innocent smile. "the best of friends, are we not?" She then pulled back a little. "And you know what the best of friends do."

I spoke at that. "They all get too close to someponies personal space, which I would rather have some space over that."

She shook her head. "No, MAKEOVER!"

My pupils shrunk as my whole body went cold, like a deer in front of headlights. I then spun around quickly and bolted for the door, and rammed right out of said door, galloping as fast as I could from the place.

I could hear Rex behind me crying out. "YOU TRAITOR!!!"

I simply shook my head and kept running.

Just then I tripped on something, and crashed into the ground face first. This made me sit up, cough out some mud, and spoke. "Sorry about that."

I then felt a hoof grab me, and dragged me away while I heard AJ's voice. "Ah heard y'all've been needin' lunch. And boy to Ah got the spot fer y'all."

She then plopped me down in front of a wagon full of apple products. I smacked myself with my hoof. "This has to be a bad dream."

Applejack began to name off all the food, before putting a pie in front of me while speaking. "What do y' say, Best Friend?"

I narrowed my eyes at her, and turned my back to her. "No thanks, I already ate. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going home to send that letter to Celestia now."

...

I sighed as I came up to my front door. "Oh man, I hope Rex won't be mad." I then pushed the door open, and spotted Fluttershy humming as she cleaned the bookshelves. This made me sigh. "And of course Fluttershy would do the same."

She went wide eyed upon hearing me. "Oh! Well, hello, Ethan. I hope you don't mind,  but I've done a little spring cleaning for you."

I sighed. "Something tells me that doesn't involve Spring."

She looked around a little. "Oh, well, better late then never, right? It was Angel's idea."

I looked over and spotted that demon rabbit making a salad. "You're not doing this for the ticket, because I already told you all--"

Fluttershy interrupted me. "Oh, no! I'm doing this because you're my Very Best Friend, right, Angel?" Angel was glaring at her now. "Yes, we are just doing this for the ticket."

The rabbit slid to me, with the salad in his paws, which made me sigh heavily, and push him to the side. "No, I heard the same thing from Rainbow Dash, Rarity, and Applejack. I don't intend on giving the ticket to anypony. Now please leave."

"But--"

"NOW!"

Fluttershy eeped and quickly left, with Angel close by.

I sighed heavily, and looked out the door, causing confetti to shoot out into the library. Oh for Fuck's sake! Pinkie then grabbed my hoof and dragged me out of the house, before she began singing, which I immediately tuned out. Then, after much annoyance, I looked at Pinkie. "Just stop." She did. "Now, i can take the other girls' trying, and I'll say it now, they were subtle. But you?! This ticket is a--"

"Wait, what ticket?" "What Gala?"

Pinkie looked at the large crowd. "Oh, you didn't know? Ethan has an extra ticket to the Grand Galloping Gala!"

Fuck.

Unison "GRAND GALLOPING GALA?!"

I could see them all giving me compliments now as I could feel blood pulsing from my forehead. I then got to my hooves, and galloped faster then ever before. They were everywhere! Left and right, ahead and behind, they were relentless and all of them wanted that ticket! I would hide in a pile of hay, and the next thing I know, a pony's face would be in mine. I couldn't get away from them!

Eventually they all cornered me in an alley, making me scream out in rage, and my horn went off, before I found myself back in the library. This made me sigh heavily, until I heard a door open, and saw Rex in a very adorable shirt, with a wig, and he was fuming.

He stomped over to me, pointed his claw in my face, and spoke with much rage. "YOU! You fucked up, asshole of a son of a bitch, going so far as to abandon me at Rarity's! Do you know what she fucking put me through?! I NEVER FELT SO HUMILIATED!"

My ears went back as I sighed. "Sorry, Rex, I just... I can't let go the memories my mane holds, with Dad gone and then the Enclave almost killing me, I just wasn't ready to let go."

Rex let out a small sigh. "Alright, Ethan... just don't leave me there next time you run."

I nodded. "Alright." I then looked at him. "Come on, we need to lock the doors, before the ponies get here."

Rex nodded and we went to work.

...Eight Minutes Later...

I let out a soft sigh as everything was locked, and the lights were turned off. I then looked at Rex. "Think we're safe?"

Just then the lights went on, and the five girls stood across the room, making Rex groan. "No..."

I sighed heavily, got to my hooves, and stomped over to the girls. "Alright, THAT'S IT! I was trying to keep this a surprise so you'd all be happy, but now I am just pissed off, and I am very temped to not go with a single one of you! Hell, I won't even go myself!"

Their ears went behind their heads as Pinkie spoke. "W-W-What was the surprise?"

I narrowed my eyes at her. "I WAS going to send a letter to Celestia, saying to either send tickets for all of us, or I wasn't going, but now I am really tempted to just say FUCK IT and burn the tickets now to get it over with!"

They all gasped in unison. "NO!!"

"Give me one good reason, one GOOD fucking reason why I should still get the tickets?"

They looked between each other, then sighed heavily as Applejack stepped forward, and spoke. "Ah'm sorry, Ethan. Ah should have just listened t' y'all. Ah apologize."

Rarity did as well. "I am sorry too, I was just... so excited to meet HIM, that it got the better of me."

Then Fluttershy. "I'm really, really, really sorry."

Rainbow. "Yeah, I'm s... s... s... sorry, too."

Finally Pinkie. "If it'll make you feel better, I'll give you a super duper big hug."

I stared at all of them, and couldn't help but shake my head, losing my anger at their puppy eyes. Then I sighed. "Alright, just let me explain from now on, and I'll get the tickets."

They all agreed, making me look at Rex. "You ready to send the letter?"

Rex nodded, pulled out paper and a pen, and wrote down my words.

"Dear Princess Celestia

You know I don't like it when you play this prank on me.

As always, I will not accept this ticket without my friends.

Something tells me you already knew this, and was testing me.

For that I say 'please don't do that again.'

Your Faithful Student."

Rex nodded, opened a window, and blew the note on fire, before he folded his arms, then let out a small burp, before catching the letter, and opened it to begin reading.

"My Faithful Student Ethan,

You used to be so fun when it came to stuff like this.

I hardly get to do that many pranks here in the palace.

Anyways, I will be sending the tickets to you now.

And do try to lighten up a little.

Princess Celestia."

He then pulled out the six tickets, and handed them to the girls, making them all gasp and begin to cheer.

My stomach then growled, making Rarity speak. "Allow us to treat you to dinner."

I shrugged and headed out the door with the other five girls,

Just then Rex cried out from the Library. "SERIOUSLY?! WHY DO I HAVE TO GO?!"

I couldn't help but chuckle lightly.

Chapter IV

Chapter IV

I yawned as I climbed out of bed, and stretched out a bit, hearing a few satisfying pops, then shut off the alarm. With that, I headed to the bathroom to do my daily routine, and was soon heading downstairs to find Rex cooking up eggs, hay, and toast. This made me smile as I sat down at the table, and spotted ED-E floating around.

I then spoke. "Hey, Rex?" He glanced at me. "Where was ED-E yesterday?"

Rex flipped an egg into the air and caught it in the pan. "He was charging up, since his battery was low and could've went out any second."

I nodded as I grabbed a nearby paper, and began to read. I then raised an eyebrow. "Ever heard of somepony called 'Spitfire'?"

Rex shook his head. "Nope, why?"

"It says here she was awarded the spot of Captain in the Wonderbolts."

Rex shrugged as he handed me my breakfast and apple juice. "Good for that mare, then."

I nodded as I took a sip of my drink, and continued reading.

...Later...

I stepped out of the library, ED-E by my side as we headed for the Market. As we did so, I felt the ground begin to shake violently, which made me raise an eyebrow, then heard Rainbow cry out in the distance. "STAMPEDE!"

I looked off towards Sweet Apple Acres and spotted the massive amount of cows heading this way, while everypony around us began to run around in panic, then run inside and lock the doors. I then spotted Pinkie being... herself, standing upright, and vibrating as she went up and down. "Hey! This makes my voice sound silly!"

I gave a sigh, and grabbed her with my magic, lifting her off the ground as I narrowed my eyes at the stampede.

The Mayor then began speaking. "Everypony calm down, there is no need to panic."

Rarity then trotted over to her and placed a dramatic hoof against her forehead. "But Mayor, whatever shall we do?!"

Rainbow cried out in response. "Look there!"

We all spotted Applejack rushing ahead of the crowd with a puppy next to her. This caused the girls to cheer, but I could tell things might end badly.

Pinkie then spoke before stuffing her face in a random bag of Popcorn. "This is the best rodeo show I've ever seen!"

I rolled my eyes at her, and began using my magic, which caused a massive barrier of magic to surround the entrance of Ponyville, then another, and another, until it was sure enough to at least slow down time for the stampede. (Time Control Spell)

But instead of heading for the spell, Applejack somehow got the stampede to go the other way, making me sigh in relief and remove the spell. The girls began cheering once again, while Applejack soon came over the hill. She let out a 'YEE HAW' and ran off, making Pinkie copy her, and began to play around.

I glanced at The Mayor who spoke. "Applejack was just -- just --"

Pinkie then fell from the sky while crying out. "APPLETASTIC!"

The Mayor simply smiled "Exactly! We must do something to thank Applejack for single-hoofedly saving the town."

Pinkie smiled widely. "I know!" Just then, the entire town was covered in decorations and the such, making me raise an eyebrow. How did she... "A Party!"

I was very confused now as Rarity put up a Apple Family Banner. This made me trot over to Rarity. "How did Pinkie..."

Rarity ignored me. "Now, is Applejack all set, Darling?"

Rainbow floated over, and blushed upon seeing me. "Hey, Ethan." I waved at her which made her blush a little more, then look at Rarity. "Actually, I haven't seen her all week. Not since the stampede." She then gave a smile as she placed a hoof over her chest. "But she'll be here for sure. Applejack is never late,"

I went wide eyed. "IT'S BEEN A WEEK?!"

They raised eyebrows at me as Rarity nodded. "Um... yes, darling, how could you not know?"

"But Pinkie--"

Pinkie interrupted me. "Hey, Ethan! You gotta give the crowd a few words!"

My eye twitched slightly, then sighed heavily as I trotted over to the wooden speech stand. I then scratched my ear with slight worry, then thought of something.

"(Speech 60/60) Welcome, everypony. Today, we are here to honor a pony we can always count on to help in matters great and small. (Speech 80/80) A pony whose contributions to everypony here, and has helped many of us. (Speech 100/100) And that pony is... Applejack!"

Everypony cheered and stomped their hooves on the ground as The Mayor took my spot. "And so, with no further ado, it is my privilage to give the Prize Pony of Ponyville Award to our beloved guest of honor, a pony of the utmost trustworthiness, reliability, and integrity, Ponyville's most capable and dependable friend, Applejack!"

Everypony began to cheer as Rex walked up to my side. "Man, ponies sure love to rant on about this stuff."

Everypony then gasped as Applejack wasn't behind the curtains, which made me raise an eyebrow. "Well, there's always a first, I guess."

"I'm here! I'm here!"

We looked over to where we heard one of the most adorable yawns (in my opinion anyways) and Applejack got to the stand, the most tired look in her eyes and small, and hardly noticable bags under her eyes. "Thank you kindly for this here, uh, award thingy." She yawned again as she looked in the reflection. "It's so bright and shiny, and" She began to chuckle weirdly. "I sure do look funny." She then began to play with the reflection, which Pinkie somehow joined in on.

I let out a groan and got up to the stage. "Alright then, I think you've been up a little too late, Applejack, so let's just grab the award and I'll take you home."

She yawned, and seemed to hear something completely different. "Yeah, I like helpin' the pony folks and--" She yawned again as her ears went back. "And stuff." She then fell asleep. I sighed heavily, trotted over and wrapped a wing around Applejack, before getting a few hoofs away before she quickly shook her head awake. "Oh! Uh, yeah! Uh, thanks!" She then looked back at the award. "Um... what about the... thingy?"

I sighed in response, and picked up the award with my magic, then looked at the crowd. "Sorry about this, everypony! Please feel free to eat some of the food at the buffet table!"

Rainbow came up to me with a slight blush. "Do you have to help her like... that?"

I raised an eyebrow. "Like what?" I then looked at my wing. "Like this?" She nodded. "Why?" I then gained a light bulb. "Rainbow, are you jealous?"

She went wide eyed, blush on her face, as she shook her head quickly. "Who, me?! No!! I was just... um... curious, is all. Hehe?"

I gave a coy smile. "Uh-huh, well if you want, I could lead you home as well, with my wing around your body."

She went even more wide eyed as the blush went redder. "Oh! I, uh... Well... Is it getting hot out here?" I chuckled lightly. "Um, what I was trying to say was... um, you know, stuff... and... I'm going to go see if Rarity needs help with anything." She then was gone with a rainbow blur following her, which made me chuckle lightly.

...

Once I made it to Sweet Apple Acres with Applejack, she began to buck trees with many buckets under them, which made me raise an eyebrow. "Um, Applejack, I think you should go and get some sleep, instead of working hard."

She shook her head slightly. "No... mm... Ah gotta, do this thingy... before it's too late." She yawned after that.

I let out a sigh as I summoned a few buckets from her farm, and made the apples float off a few nearby trees, and land in the buckets, making large piles as I spoke. "At least let me help."

She narrowed her eyes at me. "Help?" She scoffed. "No way, no how!"

I grunted at her pride she was showing. "I'll say this simply. There's no way you can do it all on your own, and you only got Big Mac. And since you told me your family lives all across Equestria, that means you REALLY need help."

She then got in my face. "Is that a challenge?"

I snarled as I pushed her back with my own forehead. "It was an offer to help, and you don't have to be a bitch about it."

She stepped back in anger. "Well, Ah'm gonna prove to you that I can do it." She then pushed past me. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got apples to bucket."

I glared at her in response, then my horn glowed, and a good three-fourths of the trees around us fell into the buckets, making Applejack cry out in anger, while I began trotting away.

...

I took a sip of my tea, and sighed calmly, before I heard Rex cry out. "AAH! MISSILE!"

Rex ran down the stairs and dived under a table, while I heard a crash upstairs, sighed heavily, and went up said stairs. Once up there, I spotted Rainbow on the siding of the balcony, which made me raise an eyebrow, and trotted over. "Hey, Rainbow." She looked up and blushed slightly. "You know, you're beautiful and all, but ponies usually come over from downstairs to ask somepony out."

She blushed heavily, still not getting the joke. "Wha... Well... I... Um... Applejack..."

I raised a hoof. "When will you know I'm just trying to joke around with you?" She sighed in relief. "So, I take it you would rather I help Applejack then you?"

She gave an annoyed look. "Yep."

I nodded, and offered my hoof, which she took, and I helped her up. She then flew up a bit, and waved at me. "See you around, Ethan." Then flew off.

I sighed heavily, jumped off the balcony, and glided over to the edge of Ponyville, before walking towards Sweet Apple Acres.

...

I soon came up from behind Applejack, seeing her hit her head on a branch, which made me wince slightly. "Applejack, we need to talk." She shook her ears slightly, then looked at me. "Applejack, we really need to talk."

She narrowed her eyes at me. "We bees squawk?!" She scratched her ear. "Ah don't think so."

"No, WE. NEED. TO. TALK."

"Oh! Well, why didn't you say so?! What you want to talk about?!"

My horn glowed, and her head did as well, before she stayed silent, then spoke. "Hey, what happened to that ringing?"

I sighed. "Rainbow Dash dropped in to see me today."

"That's quite neighborly of her."

I gave a deep frown. "Indeed, especially the fact she crashed onto my balcony after you launched her into the air."

She hung her head. "Oh, yeah. Ah wasn't feeling quite myself this mornin'."

I trotted to her side. "Exactly why I offered help, because your working too hard."

She went wide eyed. "What? Kelp? I don't need kelp. I don't even like seaweed."

Must have forgot to hold the spell a little longer.

"Help! You need help!"

She glared at me for the second time today. "Nothin' doin', Ethan. Ah'm gonna prove to you, to everypony, that I can do this on my own." She then bumped into the same branch, and her eyes were now uneven. "Now, if you'll excuse me, Ah gotta go help Pinkie Pie."

I let out a sigh as Applejack trotted away, looked at the trees, then grew an idea.

...

I finished taking down the apples for almost half of the farm, before I heard ED-E float up behind me. This made me look over. "Hey, ED-E, what's up?" He beeped a few times. "Of course, and I bet it was Applejack, wasn't it?" ED-E bobbed. "Well, at least she'll have a lot less work to do now. Come on."

...

I entered the hospital and looked at the nurse. "I came as soon as I heard."

Rex ran up to my side. "Yeah!"

The nurse gave a relieved sigh. "Thank you, Ethan, we need all the help we can get."

Everypony inside was sick, and there were muffins on the ground as well. Rex picked one up, sniffed it, and placed a claw into it, then grunted. "Looks like a failure at baking muffins." A worm then poked out. "AAH!"

Rex fell over from the sudden revelation, while I rolled my eyes at him and looked at the nurse. "What happened?"

"It was a mishap with some of the baked goods."

Pinkie then spoke from her bed, her face completely green. "No, not baked goods. Baked bads." Her cheeks then puffed up, making me growl. "Applejack."

Rex tossed the muffin in the trash, and grunted. "If I was a baby dragon, then I MIGHT try to eat one. But I'm not stupid anymore.

...

I trotted over to Applejack, who was fast asleep, hanging upside down from the sideways wheel barrel. "Applejack, I am close to the point where I won't give you an option, now listen closely. YOU. NEED. HELP!"

Applejack's eyes shot open as she yelped in surprise. "What?! Huh?! Oh, it's you, Ethan." She yawned. "I know what you're gonna say. But the answer is still no."

I grunted as I trotted over to a tree, and looked at her. "How about a test then." Applejack got down and trotted over to me. "If you can knock these apples down with one buck, without my help, then I'll leave you be."

Applejack gave a groggy nod, and bucked the tree, which only made it shake slightly. She then gave me an annoyed look, and I gave a buck as soft as hers, making the apples fall into the buckets. This made her go wide eyed, as I spoke. "See, you need help, and lots of sleep."

She scoffed again. "No, Ah don't. No, no, no!"

She then trotted off towards Fluttershy's. And I thought a Super Mutant was stubborn. Well, I'll just wait until she messes up again, and then I won't give her a choice.

...

"STAMPEDE!!"

I grunted as I looked over from my table at the restaurant, along with Rex and ED-E, and we saw a stampede of bunnies running through town. Many mares fainted as the bunnies ran past them, and began crying out in horror with too much drama. I then spotted the bunnies eating all the plants, even those mares' flowers.

I gave a grunt. "Come on Rex, Applejack doesn't get anymore chances."

Rex nodded as we got to our hooves, and headed for Sweet Apple Acres... again.

...

I stormed up to Applejack, while Rex was holding a camera to record the whole thing, and I spoke in annoyance. "That was the last strew, Applejack. Thanks to your Apple Bucking, it caused problems for more then just you. It's overpropelled pegasus, practically poisoned plenty of ponies, and terrorized bushes of brand-new bouncing bunnies. I don't care what you say, no way, no how, you're getting help."

She bucked the tree behind her, and got the apples in the baskets, making her smirk. "HA! No, Ah don't. Look, Ah did it. Ah harvested the entire Sweet Apple Acres without your help. How do you like them apples?"

I gave an annoyed look, then pointed my hoof to the other side, making her look over, and gasped upon seeing an entire forest of them. Then she began whimpering. Then, after a little bit, she fainted.

Rex then began laughing. "Comedy gold!" I glared at him, took the camera from his claws, and crushed it in my magic, making him slump down with an annoyed look. "Not cool."

I trotted over to Applejack, and shook her a little, making her open her eyes. "Applejack."

"Huh...?"

"Enough of this, Applejack, as much as I respect your family and their ways, you're always there to help anypony in need. So maybe, you can put a little of your stubborn pride aside and allow your friends to help you."

She sighed. "Okay, Ethan."

I nodded. "Well, I wasn't going to give you a choice anyways, so..."

She chuckled awkwardly as I helped her to her hooves. "Right."

...

All the girls began to buck down apples, while Rex was shaking trees to make the apples fall, and ED-E flew through each tree, gaining enough altitude to knock apples out. As for me, I simply lifted a good three-fourths of the remaining trees and dumped them into buckets.

Applejack then came over with a cart full of Apple Juice. "How 'bout y'all take a little break? Ah got some fine Apple Juice waitin' fer you."

I trotted over and took a sip as Applejack sighed happily. "Girls... and Boys." I gave a mock salute. "Ah can't thank you enough for this help. Ah was actin' a bit stubborn."

I snorted. "A bit?"

"Okay, a might stubborn. And Ah'm awful sorry. Now, I know the town gave me the Prize Pony Award, but the real award is having you seven as mah friends."

Rex was crying as he tried to scramble up the remains of the camera now, while ED-E bobbed happily, and Rainbow spoke. "Whew! That applebucking sure made me hungry."

I nodded and pulled out some pies from my saddlebags. "I may not be as good a cook as Applejack or Pinkie, but I think I did well with these."

I sat the pies on the table, making everypony get a slice, and began eating, and seemed to really like it. I then raised an eyebrow as Rainbow leaned against me as she ate, her eyes closed, but shrugged it off as my wing wrapped around her. She blushed but didn't open her eyes, and we continued to eat in peace.

Chapter V

Chapter V

"Hoof-Fighting action overlord!" I grunted as I finished putting another piece on to the massive robot head that sat in front of me, and it was big enough to match... I'll tell you once we get to the Grand Galloping Gala, when I reveal it to all of Equestria's nobles. "She was like a stunt superstar, flying higher and higher, and then Rainbow Dash swooped down -- swoosh!" I glanced at the ranting Pinkie, shrugged, and looked back at my almost finished project. "And right before she hit the ground -- she pulled up, vroom!"

I gave a absent nod as I adjusted the lenses. "Uh-huh."

"And then she looked around and around, like WHOO! WHOO! WHOO! WHOO! WHOO! WHOO! WHOO!" I smirked at Pinkie's adorable childish heart.

I then looked up and sent a small wave. "Hey, Rainbow!"

Rainbow stopped at my voice, and smiled shyly. "Oh, hi, Ethan! What are you doing?"

I grunted as I finally pushed in a wire. "Trying to finish up the preparations on my greatest achievement. I plan to reveal it at the Grand Galloping Gala."

Rainbow flew down and was at my side now. "Anything I could do to help?"

I nodded and pointed at the other side. "Grab that wire over there, and when I say 'go' I want you to plug it in."

She nodded quickly with a slight dreamy sigh. "Sure, Ethan."

She grabbed the wire, and I slowly put my wire over a nearby plug. "Alright. Three... Two... One... GO!" We both plugged the wires in quickly, and the blue visor of the head went on. This made me smile widely. "HAHA! It worked!" I then examined it a bit. "Now I just need to give him that voice, and his original speeches."

Rainbow nodded, and leaned over my shoulder as I began to go to work. I then smirked slightly. "Did you want a kiss before you leave?"

Rainbow's cheeks were a deep maroon as she quickly pulled back. "Who, me?! Nah!!" She then blushed slightly. "But would you have if I said yes?"

I chuckled lightly. "I might, but we'd have to go on a date first."

Her eyes lit up. "Is that an offer?!" I nodded, making her squeal like a little filly. "WOW!! REALLY?!" She then went wide eyed, cleared her throat, and seemed to have cooled down. "I mean, cool. Pick me up this Friday night."

I nodded in response, and waved as she flew away, while spotted Pinkie rush after her.

...

I began to drag the massive robot head through town, which gained the eyes of many ponies who were confused upon seeing me, and they stared in awe at the head. I then brought the head with me to the bookstore, and was about to head in, until I heard Pinkie behind me. "Ethan, have you seen Rainbow Dash anywhere?"

I thought for a moment. "Not really, not after earlier today. Though I think she would be somewhere in the sky, don't you think?"

Just then I saw Rainbow Dash bolt away from the area, which made me groan. So that's why Pinkie can't find her. Explains that loud thud I heard. I then saw Pinkie bounce after her, making me call out. "Um, Pinkie!" She looked at me. "I'd suggest leaving Rainbow alone for a while. She has to be hiding for a good reason."

Pinkie shook her head, making me groan, rush over, and bit onto her tail to try and stop her, but quickly fell to the ground as she trudged forward, dragging me along and making a small ditch in the ground.

...

Pinkie dragged me through Sweet Apple Acres, my house's branches, a long plain of grass, and into the water, before she finally caught up to Rainbow, making Rainbow speak. "Oh forget it."

I grunted as I was dragged out of the water, and spat out Pinkie's tail, while speaking in anger. "WHY DOES YOUR TAIL TASTE LIKE COTTON CANDY?!?!"

Pinkie raised an eyebrow at me, bit on her tail, and hummed softly as she began nibbling on it. I then dragged myself further out of the water, and collapsed next to Rainbow as I spoke. "I can see why you're running from her... she's relentless."

Rainbow nodded as she continued to catch her breath. And Pinkie spoke when she took a break from her tail. "I totally promise it'll be totally fun!"

Rainbow sighed. "Okay."

...

I floated next to Rainbow as we both put the cloud in place, while Pinkie spoke. "Over to the right." We pushed it that way. "No, no, a little to the left." We did so. "Oh, wait, back to the right."

I looked at Rainbow. "I got this, take a quick break."

She nodded and laid down on a cloud, while I gently pulled it to the right. "Now a little left-ish while staying rightly."

My eye began to twitch. "That makes no sense."

I pushed it slightly left. "STOP!" She hummed slightly. "Maybe a few inches to the south."

"WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOUR MIND?!"

"Now a couple centimeters north. Okay, one more smidgimeter to the--"

I let go of the cloud. "THAT'S IT, I GIVE UP! THERE'S NO PLEASING YOU!" I then stomped on the cloud, and it separated into four pieces, taking up the four spots Pinkie mentioned.

"Perfect! Now, wait for my signal!"

I grunted, and got on top of the cloud, before she nodded, and I kicked the cloud. The cloud made a loud crack, and I went wide eyed upon hearing Rex's voice. "OH FOR FUCK'S SAKE!"

I looked down and saw Rex picking up parchments while hiccuping every once in a while, then glared at Pinkie. "I swear on my ancestor's scales, I will come to your house when you're sleeping and slit your throat."

Pinkie and Rainbow began laughing with so much amusement. I then floated down and wrapped Rex's lungs with my magic, and ceased the hiccuping. Rex then gave a small nod. "Thanks, Ethan, that will let YOU off the hook... for now."

I nodded and patted his back, which made her clear his throat, and spoke. "Now, if you will all excuse me, I have to get these parchments home... and rewrite my new ideas for Ethan's project." And with that, he picked up all the parchments, and stormed off.

Rainbow then kicked the cloud again, and Pinkie began hiccuping as well, all the while laughing. Rainbow then smirked. "I didn't take you for the prankster, Pinkie Pie."

I snorted as I sat down. "You don't even know about me, so it's not much of a surprise."

Rainbow blushed slightly, and floated down next to me. "Hehe, right... So... Tell me something."

I thought for a moment. "Well, five years ago, I auditioned for the Fastest Flyers Competition." Dash went wide eyed. "The Wonderbolts were the judges, so it was a pretty big deal. Anyways, I was number 12, and from my appearance, they thought I didn't stand a chance."

Rainbow stopped me there, wide eyes and a large smile. "Wait a minute, YOU were number 12?"

I nodded. "Yeah."

She squealed again. "Oh my gosh! You're number 12! THE Number 12! He was the--"

Pinkie got in our face. "He was what? What? WHAT?!"

We leaned back from her, as I continued. "Anyways, I was Number 12, and on the final competition, there was only me, and this Griffon who were left. The judges were leaning towards the griffon, but the crowd cheered for me. So, we got ready, and I blasted ahead upon the start of the bell, with the griffon far behind. We were going fast, she caught up to me, and nearly past me, but then I did something she couldn't. The VoidBoom. It sent me through all of Equestria, passing by many towns and cities, until i was back at the start, and the entire crowd was silent." I then smirked. "And then they cheered, and I got 10/10."

I then laid my forelegs behind my head. "I was even offered a place as the Wonderbolt's Captain."

Rainbow was squealing like a fanmare! "OH MY GOSH! THAT WAS AMAZING! I SAW IT FROM FLIGHT SCHOOL! IT WAS SO AWESOME!"

Pinkie raised an eyebrow. "What's the VoidBoom?"

I chuckled slightly. "An old trick I perfected on my eleventh year here in Equestria. It's impossible to beat, and the only thing that comes even close is a Sonic RainBoom." I sighed. "But I gave that up long ago, and even refused the Wonderbolts. I don't plan to do it again, because that almost killed me. One of the dangerous speeds in flying, and I wouldn't suggest trying it until I create a machine strong enough. That speed was never meant for a living being, so don't try."

Rainbow was still excited, while Pinkie was confused. I simply shrugged at this, and looked at Rainbow. "So, what do you think of Pinkie now?"

She had very dreamy eyes as she asked in a soft voice. "Huh...?"

I waved my hoof in front of her face, but she didn't respond, which made me shrug, get to my hooves, and waved at them as I began trotting away. "I'm going to head to the bookstore before it closes. See you girls around!"

I heard Rainbow cry out with much happiness. "Sure thing, Ethan!"

...

Next Day

...

I plugged one of Rex's ideas into the machine as I spoke. "So, Pinkie Pie. You mentioned somepony new was hanging out with Rainbow, somepony, mean?"

Pinkie nodded as I flipped on a light. "Um, yeah! She keeps stealing Rainbow Dash away, she popped my balloons, and she told me to buzz off! I've never met a griffon this mean."

I raised an eyebrow. "She's a griffon?"

"Yeah, though I never met a griffon before, I bet she wouldn't be as mean as Gilda!"

I stopped in my tracks, my ears pointing at Pinkie. "Gilda?"

Pinkie nodded. "Yeah!"

I hummed slightly, then sighed heavily as I adjusted another lens. "Should have known I'd hear of her again."

"Huh?"

I sighed as I stepped back from the head. "Gilda, that rude, female griffon that can't even take a joke. We were both the last competitors in the Fastest Flyer Competition, and I beat her easily. After that, she grew a grudge and tried to deface me in front of everypony, even going as far to say I cheated. Though to be honest, she cheated by messing up the other competitors' tricks. I found a way to outsmart her though, which I'll say now, was very easy. Now she tells other ponies she comes across that I'm a wimp, a loser, and that I don't deserve to be in any position."

I sighed heavily. "Typical Gilda, honestly."

Rex tossed a apple into the air, and caught it. "Man, I remember her, and she was an annoying bitch." He then tossed it up again, but it didn't come back down, making him look up, and saw ED-E holding it with a new arm attachment I added inside the body. Rex growled and tried to catch it, but ED-E went higher up and made beeps in the form of laughing. This made Rex snarl and leap into the air, missing ED-E, and began chasing the poor robot around the room.

I then gave Pinkie a smile. "Just take a few deep breaths, and try to relax for the day. Don't hang out with Rainbow for a while in case Gilda's with her, alright?"

Pinkie slowly nodded. "Alright, Ethan! Thanks for the advice!" Then she zoomed out of the library, making me sigh heavily and went back to my project.

...

I trotted through the Market place, and trotted up next to Fluttershy upon seeing her. "Hey, Fluttershy, what's going on?"

She looked at me with a smile. "Hi, Ethan! I'm just looking at some carrots, today is Angel's birthday."

I gave a grunt as I remembered that devil rabbit, before nodding and smiled at her.. "Alright, would you like some help?"

She nodded. "Yes, I could use help in--EEP!"

She looked behind herself as I heard a voice I wasn't much of a fan of. "Hey!"

I turned to the voice, and spotted Gilda, who saw me, and pushed Fluttershy out of the way, snarling at me.

  She then pushed her head against mine as she spoke. "So, looks like we find each other here again, Number 12."

I sighed at this. "I don't go by that anymore, Gilda, I go by Ethan now."

She smirked. "THAT's your name? That's one of the dumbest names I've ever heard!"

I rolled my eyes. "And for a griffon, your name is stupid too."

She snarled and grabbed me by the throat. "Is that so? How about we make a bet?"

"No thanks."

"What's wrong? You chicken?"

"No, I remember. Now walk away, before this gets messy."

She huffed and pushed me a little. "Still the same wimp who's too cautious. And not smart enough to have joined the Wonderbolts either. I bet you don't even got a marefriend."

"You'd be surprised how much they prefer ponies like me over bitches like you."

The crowd around us gave out low 'Ooh's while Gilda scoffed,  and flew off. This made me shake my head in disappointment, and trotted off.

...

I sighed as I entered the party that Pinkie made for Gilda. I honestly don't know why she did this, but maybe she's just trying to be a good mare. Heck if I know.

I then spotted Rainbow trot over to me with betrayal in her eyes, making me raise an eyebrow. "What's wrong, Rainbow?"

She sniffled as she pointed at me. "YOU! You're what's wrong!" I raised an eyebrow. "Gilda told me everything about what you did at the competition, as well as how you treated her in the Market!"

I rolled my eyes at this. "Sure, and I bet she told you how I cheated, and how I beat her up or something. That's so Gilda." She raised an eyebrow as I turned away from her. "Look, I came here for one reason, and one alone." I looked at her. "I came here for you." She went wide eyed. "And just so you know, if you really believe Gilda on something that I bet all of Ponyville, who were all there by the way, would say about it, then I say that date, it's over, and the whole we're friends thing, it'll be over too if you take Gilda's side."

Rainbow went wide eyed as tears began to form in her eyes, and I began trotting for the door. "Since I know you, I'll be outside, waiting for your choice."

I then left.

...

I spotted Gilda fly off in the distance, making me roll my eyes. Dash still has yet to choose.

I then heard said mare's voice. "Hey, Ethan."

"Prank party?"

"Yeah."

"Gilda lost it and you saw her true colors?"

"Yeah."

I sighed heavily and looked at Rainbow. "I'm sorry for how I acted, Rainbow, I was just angered because I thought I'd..." I looked away. "Lose you."

She blushed at that. "Oh... well... I guess I would have over reacted if you acted differently."

I slowly nodded. "Yes, but I went too far, and for that I apologize."

Dash smiled as she sat down next to me. "It's fine, Ethan, and, to tell you the truth, you weren't going to lose me."

I smiled slightly, then felt her lean against me, which made me wrap my wing around her, and spoke. "Just so you know, even if you chose Gilda, I would have stayed with you. You're my favorite mare in all of Equestria."

Rainbow looked up at me. "Really?" I nodded, making her smile and got closer next to me. "And you're my favorite stallion in all of Equestria."

I smiled as we sat there in silence for a long time, then looked at her. "Special Somepony?"

She smiled with her blush. "Special Somepony."

Chapter VI

Chapter VI

"So... what are we doing again?"

I looked at Rex in response. "You once asked if a dragon could grow a mustache, so I'm going to test it out."

Rex grunted. "Right, and will it make me look alright, or make me look worse?"

I thought for a moment. "I'm not quite sure, but I figured I owed you a favor before I continued with my project."

Rex folded his arms in response. "Fine, do it."

My horn glowed a little, making Rex's upper lip glow, until a big, bushy and black mustache appear. This made Rex place a claw over the mustache, and think for a minute. "Could you change it to red?"

I shook my head in amusement, then trotted over to the basement door while speaking. "I'm going to start the maintenance routines on my project, it still needs to go through a whole load of tests, so if anypony comes over, tell me."

Rex nodded as I went down to the basement, and entered the massive room, which had a large blast door over the project, and an elevator ground under the robot. Too heavy to move all five pieces with magic at once, so yeah.

I trotted over to one of the terminals I've made, and began to type down on it, before a very mechanical, and quite epic voice boomed through the basement. "Voice module online. Audio functionality test initialized. Designation: _______ _____. Mission: The Liberation of Equis, Equestria."

I nodded as I shut off the robot, and smiled that it resembled so much of that one I knew. And with that, I went up the nearby stairs and pulled out a small remote, before I began to use it with my magic, causing the robot to begin moving. I had the robot stretch it's arms, stomp it's feet a couple times (which most likely made the ground shake around Ponyville), and made the robot reach back to grasp one of the EMP bombs, before leaving it, then tested it's laser eyes. Said lasers shot out, and tore through a wall, almost making a tunnel to a nearby dig site I was told about.

I smiled that both functions worked perfectly, before running the shielding I added, and the Nuke Resistant shields went online, which could easily stop anything. This was perfect, so I turned off the robot, and headed for the main door, still not giving out the name of the robot until the Grand Galloping Gala.

Once I reached the library, I saw Rex who was speaking to Mayor Mare, who came over. "Relax, Mayor, I'm sure the ground shaking was nothing, now I'll ask Ethan about it personally. Go on and head back to the Town Hall, and relax."

Mayor Mare nodded in response and left, while Rex gave me an annoyed look. "You just had to test the robot's mobility, didn't you?"

I nodded. "It had to happen eventually, Rex, and everypony would've most likely have felt it eventually."

Rex grunted and headed for the stairs. "Just tell me next time so I could come up with a better excuse."

"I did tell you."

"Sure, whatever."

I rolled my eyes at him, and headed for the door, before seeing ED-E float over to me. "You want to come along, ED-E?" He beeped in response. "Then let's go."

...

*Beep!*

I looked at ED-E. "That was my 50th trick?"

*Beep beep beep!*

"Wow, that must be this year, yes?"

*Beep!*

"What do you mean 'This Month'?"

*Beep.*

"Oh..."

Just then we spotted two colts running towards us. "GANGWAY! COMING THROUGH!"

Just then two of the local colts, Snips and Snails, ran right under ED-E, almost bringing him along with them. This made me raise an eyebrow and looked as they rushed off around a corner. I looked over at ED-E, and nodded, before we headed after the two unicorn colts.

We soon caught up to them to the town square, and spotted a stand in the middle of town. This made me raise an eyebrow and push through the crowd while ED-E floated from above, and we soon made it to the front where we heard a mare speak. "Come one! Come all!" I smiled as I saw Rarity, Applejack, and Rainbow, before it went on. "Come and witness the amazing magic of the great and powerful TRIXIE!"

I raised an eyebrow in response. I think there's a bit too much ego here.

"Watch in awe as the great and powerful Trixie performs the most spectacular feats of magic ever witnessed by pony eyes!"

I gave a small grunt as I heard Rex's voice from somewhere in the crowd. "WHAT A LOAD OF SHIT! I'VE SEEN BETTER MAGIC THEN THAT LITTLE LIGHT SHOW!"

I looked at Rarity who commented of 'Trixie's' boasting. "I guess if she's right though, then there's nothing wrong with being talented, is there?"

Applejack shook her head. "Nothing at all, except when somepony goes around showing it off like a school filly with fancy new ribbons."

I thought on that while Trixie finally spoke in a more boasting. "Oh really? And who did you see do magic better then muah?"

"ETHAN MASON!"

I grunted at him mentioning me, while Trixie spoke. "Really then? Why don't you have this pony come up on stage then?"

I gave a grunt and raised my hoof, making her look at me. "Because I'm not one for competitions or boasting. Plus I keep it to myself instead of showing it off."

Trixie huffed. "Well, I challenge you to a magic duel!"

"No thanks."

"Oh? Are you afraid of losing to the Great and Powerful Trixie?"

"No, I just don't want to show off and make myself seem better then anypony else, given that we're all equal."

The crowd began to murmur their agreements, causing Trixie to scoff. "What a pathetic reason. I was hoping to prove that I could show how I have a strong enough magical power to stop a great Ursa Major!"

I raised an eyebrow. "I think I read something about that in the newspaper."

She smirked. "You see!"

I interrupted her. "Now I remember, there was a mare with the same look you did, who boasted about the same thing, but was easily bested by a teen unicorn filly who's been researching magic since she was four. And she'll be turning 16 next month."

Trixie went wide eyed while the crowd began to disperse. This made her growl, and looked at me. "Show me your magic, now! I want to prove I'm better then you!"

I grunted, and shook my head as I climbed up to the stage, making the crowd come back within seconds. I then sighed heavily, and looked at Trixie. "You know, if you want this so bad, then I'll go all out, but not for boasting, but to get you to shut up."

She huffed while the crowd seemed to be pleased with my answer. I then took a deep breath, and let my magic flow through my horn. This caused me to tap my Pip-Boy, and one of my newest devices, a Sentry Bot, appeared right next to me, gaining gasps and looks of awe from the crowd. I then let my horn glow brighter, and I began to make clouds swirl around the sky, then begin to swirl around me while the Sentry Bot spoke in it's emotionless voice. "Sentry Bot online... Awaiting orders..."

I looked at the robot. "Activate Project 47."

The robot stood still for a moment, before it rolled around. It then aimed it's arm at a nearby stall, and fired off a storm of red lasers, which tore through the stall, and made it light on fire. This gained gasps from the ponies, before the robot rolled over to me, and spoke. "Project 47 at 27% Working Capacity..."

I nodded and let it roll back to the Library, before I launched off the clouds, which swirled around the stall, then floated away, and the stall was even better then it was before. This made the crowd cheer, but I wasn't done. I let the clouds head back to the sky, and took a deep breath, then my horn began to glow brightly, and aimed it where nothing could be harmed except a small patch of grass. And with that, a large wall of flames, lightning, and ice launched out onto the spot and gained gasps of amazement from the crowd.

The spell then began to increase, which was making me feel sweat run down my forehead as the spell turned into a large dragon. Said dragon flew into the air, and roared loudly, enough to echo throughout a good fourth of Equestria, before it slammed into the ground, sending up flames and knocking out nearby light bulbs, while the ice froze the ground at the end.

This made me collapse to the ground, breathing heavily as I could feel darkness taking over. That was way more then I expected, which made me call out weakly. "Rex!"

Rainbow and Rex rushed over to me, same as my friends, as Rex pulled out a energy bar, handed it to me, and I took a large bite out of it. It didn't help that much, but I'll have to keep away from magic for quite a while. That was too much for me, and I don't think anypony could do it without going unconscious... Thank you Celestia for teaching me that spell, because that should've shut that boasting mare up.

I looked over, and saw a wide eyed, slack-jawed, and awe inspired Trixie as she stared at me, not uttering a word. This made me smile weakly as I spoke. "Can somepony help me get home? I need to get some sleep."

Rainbow nodded and wrapped her wing around me as she helped me up. "Sure thing, Ethan, just take it nice and slow, and try not to over due something like that again."

I nodded weakly, on the verge of falling asleep, and I could feel my heart pounding harshly now that I think about it. Man I need to get some rest.

...

Rex's POV

...

I looked over Ethan as he slept peacefully in his bed, with Rainbow laying down next to him, and her head over his stomach, which made me roll my eyes at her, and headed downstairs. Once down there, I spotted Applejack and Rarity with ED-E who were in the living room, waiting. This made me hop onto a couch, and laid back as I spoke. "You girls need to relax. Sure, it was Ethan's first time doing it without Celestia giving him extra magic, but he did it, didn't he?"

Rarity huffed at me. "How could you not be worried about him? Isn't he your best friend?!"

I shrugged as I grabbed a nearby bag of chips. "Sure he is, but I don't worry about him too much, since he survived a lot." I then pointed a claw at her. "And if you survived two bullets to the brain, you'd get the same response from me."

They went wide eyed. "WHAT?!"

I then thought of something. "Come to think of it, he said somepony told him he was called special because of it... either him or his brain. Maybe that's why he was able to survive that spell... because everypony else I've seen do it either died or were out cold for a good five years."

The girls were now even more worried, which made me grunt. "I'm not saying Ethan'll be out for that long. He'll be out until nighttime, I can tell because I ran the tests on him."

The girls sighed in relief at that, while Applejack spoke. "Hey, Rex?" I gave a nod. "Tell us more 'bout Ethan. He always mentions stuff, but we hardly know that much 'bout him."

I though a bit. "Well, he did say something about his brain, spine, and heart being taken out of him, and were replaced by metallic replacements."

The girls almost cried out, but I put up my claw to silence them, making Rarity speak quietly. "Tell us more about this, Rex."

I nodded, sat up, and set out my hands to try and make the scene. "Alright, it all started when Ethan got this message on his Pip-Boy about a late night show at someplace called the Mojave Drive-In, and instead of a show, he found a satellite dug into the ground..."

...

Later

Third-Person POV

...

Snips and Snails trotted through the Everfree Forest until they came up to a large cave, went inside, and Snails was the first one to speak. "Whoa! How we gonna find an Ursa Major when I can't even see my own hoof in front of my face?"

Snips spoke at that. "Hold on." He then strained a bit as he made his horn glow into a little light, and it finally went on.

Snails smiled. "Oh. Heh. That's better."

They then head a snarling as they went wide eyed, then looked behind them to see a very large Ursa, who stood up, and growled. The two's responses was screaming as the Ursa roared in anger.

...

Rex and ED-E walked through the night, and were silent as ED-E made a few beeps, which made Rex grunt. "Yeah, Ethan's fine, he woke up a little while ago, and now he's having his date with Rainbow."

*Beep, beep, beep.*

"Yeah, they do make a cute couple I guess... why, you got an id--"

They then heard some screaming, and saw Snails and Snips run past them. This made them confused, then heard a loud roar behind them. They looked there, seeing an Ursa Minor.

*Beep?*

"Yeah, run."

Then they both bolted as fast as they could for Ponyville.

*Beep?!"

"Yeah, I got an idea! Find Ethan!"

...

Ethan's POV

...

I smiled at Rainbow as I took a bite of my vegetable soup, and chuckled as Rainbow got some of her food stuck on her nose. I smiled and wiped it off, then thought for a moment. "So... what should we do after dinner?"

Rainbow thought for a moment with a small smile. "Hmm... how about a movie?"

I smiled, and used my magic to make the daisy in the middle of the table turn to a beautiful, red rose. This made Rainbow go wide eyed as I took it, and offered it to her, making her blush madly as she giggled. I then put it in her mane, and sat back. Rainbow tried to speak, but I beat her. "It's one of my ways to offer another date, next Friday?"

She smiled. "Yeah, definitely."

Just then we heard a mare scream, and spotted Trixie, Snails, and Snips run past us, then spotted an Ursa come out of the forest. This made me groan slightly, and look at Rainbow. "I'll be right back."

She gave a nod as I left the area, and skidded next to Trixie, Snips, Snails, and surprisingly Rex and ED-E.

I then heard Snails speak. "Great and Powerful Trixie! You've got to vanquish the Ursa."

Snips nodded at that. "Yeah! Vanquish so we can watch."

I gave a grunt at this as Rex spoke while Face-clawing. "You still believe in her?! Didn't Ethan go through enough to show you he's better?!"

Snails ignored him. "It took a lot of trouble to get that thing here."

I felt my eye twitch as I spoke for Trixie. "Oh sweet lord, YOU two brought him here?!"

Trixie went wide eyed and looked at me. "HIM?!"

I rolled my eyes at her. "Animal Friend is one of my games." I then looked at the Ursa. "I'd stand back if I were you three."

Trixie pushed past me. "No, I'll do it." I rolled my eyes and gave the go ahead. She then gulped a bit, and her horn glowed, causing a small, black cloud to appear over the Ursa. The cloud then shocked the Ursa on the rump, making him glare at Trixie. "Uh-oh."

He roared at them, causing the three to zip away with a dust trail following them.

Just then all of the ponies of Ponyville came out of their homes, and stared at the Ursa with wide eyes and all began running around in terror. This made me sigh heavily, and aimed my horn at the Ursa. He roared straight at me, while everypony looked at me, worry and horror in their eyes, which made me roll my eyes, and my horn glowed.

Deciding to go calmly through this, I made the wind begin to pick up, and it rustled through quite a few plants near the lake, which made a soft music. I then let my vocals take over a bit, which caused the Ursa's ears to go up, and his eyes were wide with confusion. He then let out a smile and a soft cooing, He also began to rock back and forth to the soft music and vocals while my horn gained a second layer, and I used my magic to lift up the nearby water tower, tossed out the water, got milk in it from the nearby cows. I then closed it's top, caught the Ursa before he could fall on Trixie, and gave him the giant thing of milk. This made it curl up and begin drinking milk, then I managed to put it back in it's cave.

I then grunted as I took a few deep breaths. Not as tough as the other one, but still pretty tough.

Everpony began to cheer wildly, while I saw Rainbow trot over to me, a wide smile, a large blush, and her wings were spread out quite a bit. Rainbow then smiled and spoke. "You're even more special then I knew, Coltfriend." She then kissed me on the cheek, which made me smile and wrapped my wing around her.

Just then Trixie trotted over to me, a smug smile on her face. "Ha! You may have vanquished an Ursa Minor, but you will never have the amazing, showstopping ability of the Great and Powerful Trixie!" She then stomped her hooves on the ground, making a cloud of smoke, before it disappeared, revealing Trixie halfway out of town.

Rainbow growled. "WHY THAT LITTLE..."

I chuckled. "Just let her go. Maybe someday she'll learn her lesson." I then got in front of Snips and Snails who almost snuck away. "Now, about you two."

They chuckled nervously. "Uh... We're sorry that we woke up the Ursa Minor."

"We just wanted to see some awesome magic."

"Yeah! And the way you vanquished that Ursa Minor was awesome!"

I narrowed my eyes at them. "Given that I showed something that was more powerful, and almost knocked me out for five years..."

They went wide eyed, and shrunk in their spots. "We deserve whatever punishment you give us."

I looked at the mess around Ponyville. "For starters, you can clean up this mess. And..." I thought for a moment. "What do you think, Rex?"

Rex smiled evilly as he began to rub his claws together.

...

Me and Rainbow sat in the livingroom, and were sitting next to each other while we watched TV, until I heard Rex speak. "That's right, you two, EVERYTHING. My room won't clean itself."

"BUT IT'S SO GROSS!"

"YEAH! AND WHY IS THERE A TENTACLE IN THAT PILE OF ROTTING FOOD?!"

"That's my pet, Dino, and he loves the trash, so he'll be pretty upset when it's all clean."

We both then heard a loud roar, then heard the two colts scream in horror. This made me shake my head in amusement, while Rainbow ate some Popcorn.

Life is so amazing here.

Chapter VII

Chapter VII

I smiled a bit as I trotted through Ponyville with Rainbow Dash and ED-E next to me. It's been a while since the Trixie event, and they were relaxing a bit now. ED-E was with them because he needed to get out of the library, and Rex has been spending most of his time in his bedroom. As for me and Rainbow, we were going out for the day to spend some time together. We've been together for a good two weeks now, and I wanted to treat her to something nice.

Just then I accidentally bumped into somepony, making me speak. "Sorry."

The stallion in front of me was a bronze coated unicorn with a brass mane and brown eyes, and his cutie mark was an unraveled scroll with a vague image of a spell diagram. He also appeared to drop some scrolls he was holding, which made me a little worried.

"Need help?"

The stallion nodded and I began to pick up the scrolls with him, before I had a large pile in my magic, and looked at him. "Mind if I ask why you have so many of these?"

He gave a calm smile. "Not at all, they are one of my attempts at making non-unicorn spells." He then slumped a little. "Though I haven't gotten very far in it."

I gave a soft smile. "Maybe I could help you out with it?" Rainbow then gave a soft jab to my side. "Oh, er, I mean... Why not come by the Library later, I'll help you out then."

The stallion smiled, then offered a hoof. "My name is Mage Script."

I nodded and took his hoof. "Ethan Mason."

Mage tilted his head slightly. "That's a strange name."

I couldn't help but chuckle lightly. "I felt the same way about everypony else's names when I moved here from back home."

Mage nodded, still holding that smile. "That sounds interesting."

I nodded, then began walking away as I spoke. "So, I'll see you around I guess." I then looked at Rainbow. "Come on, Rainbow, I still got that surprise I promised you."

Rainbow giggled as she trotted up next to my side, and we headed for one of the most expensive restaurants in town.

...

Rex's POV

...

I scratched my head slightly as I looked at Fluttershy. "So... what is it you want me to do again?"

Fluttershy smiled as she handed some birds a few worms. "I need help feeding all the animals, could you please go check on Angel for me?"

I nodded in response and headed over to the rabbit's little house. That's where I spotted the little rabbit quickly going through a carrot. This made me raise an eyebrow. "Hmph, you're quite the strange one."

The rabbit swallowed his food, and glared at me before tossing the carrot aside and dusted off his paws. This made me glare at it. "You need more then that, you skinny little furball."

Angel huffed and threw the carrot at me, causing me to catch it, and growled slightly. "You ungrateful little--" Just then a storm of carrots began to hail on me, making me scream while running. "YOU DEMONIC LITTLE SHIT!!!"

The rabbit ran after me, throwing carrots like there was no tomorrow, before I tripped on a hose, and smirked as I grabbed it, and aimed for the rabbit. "PAY BACK, BITCH!"

The rabbit went wide eyed, and ran for it with me close behind. That is until we stopped and stared at the nearby mountain.

I then heard Fluttershy. "Hey, what are you two doing?"

I pointed at the mountain while still staring at it, much astonishment in my eyes. Fluttershy then gasped. "That's a giant cloud of scary, black smoke!"

I rolled my eyes at her. "It ain't scary, it's just a bit unexpected." I then began walking towards Ponyville. "Come on, we need to tell the girls and Ethan."

...

Ethan's POV

...

I smiled as I sat there with Rainbow across from me, and we waited for our lunch while Rainbow spoke. "So... this is our third date?"

I nodded. "Yeah, why?"

She blushed slightly. "Well... I was just curious if we were going to keep dating or... if we were due for a kiss?"

I thought for a minute. "Well, you know I'd say yes to another date with you... I'm not sure how many dates it needs to be before you go for the first kiss."

Rainbow blushed a little more. "Could we.... do it right now?"

I smiled at her, earning a larger blush. "Sure, we can."

She smiled as we began to lean towards each other, I could see her puckering out her lips, which was kinda cute, while I simply continued to lean forward. We then both closed our eyes, and I could feel her lips barely close, before we heard the voice of Fluttershy. "Ethan! We need help!"

I sighed as I opened my eyes and pulled back, Rainbow doing the same as she had an annoyed look on her face.

I looked over at Fluttershy, who had worry in her face, and Rex who was tossing an apple in the air. "What's wrong, Fluttershy?"

She shuddered slightly. "There's smoke coming from a nearby mountain, and we need to do something."

I groaned slightly. "I can't... I told a stallion I'd help with his project, but maybe Rex could take my place."

Rex gave a grunt in response. "Go figure, leave me in charge. Just because you almost had a kiss with Rainbow. Sure, I'll get it over with."

...

I sighed as I entered the Library with ED-E behind me, and began to get the place ready for the stallion that's coming over. There got's to be something he could help with, otherwise he's wasting his time here. Just then I heard a knock on my door, and opened it to see Mage who smiled kindly, and I motioned him to come in.

"Have a seat on the couch over there, I need to grab a quick thing."

  Mage nodded before taking a deep breath. "Just so you know, I'm a Changeling."

  I raised an eyebrow. "So?"

Mage looks at me incredulously. "Changelings are known as monsters because they 'feed on emotions'."

I gave a shrug. "I met something far worse then one of you, and they could both talk and be good friends. Just so you know, it was an intelligent Deathclaw. Nothing like that really surprises me anymore."

Mage ponders it over and shrugs, "Fair enough.  Though I will advise you to interact with other changelings with caution.   Most changelings aren't very friendly, if found out."

I simply gave another shrug. "Well, given that I went through a godforsaken town known as Silent Hill, I think I can handle them. Plus I can either turn them to green goo or ash with my projects. So they don't scare me."

"Scare, no. Deceive, yes.  Us changelings can take the form of other ponies, griffins, or dragons for that matter.  The old way of gathering emotions for the hive was to either replace the recently deceased, kill and replace, or replace those during their time of passing.  Now they do abductions and pose as the abducted."

I slowly nodded absent mindedly. "Yeah... I think there was something like that going on between two factions I knew. The NCR and Caesar's Legion. Send in troops to play people you know well, and give the information meant to be kept secret to the enemy. I remember that trick well..."

Mage grins, "it seems that you're able to prove my point even moreso than before."  His grin lessens ever so slightly.  "I also happened to notice that you are close to Ms. Dash.  Keep her close, especially if you make yourself a big enough target for the changelings.   If not for your sake, then for hers."

I narrowed my eyes at him. "It's one thing to threaten me, but don't you EVER threaten Rainbow, or I'll go far enough that you'll be begging the Changelings to take you away from Equestria for the rest of your life."

Mage gives a stern face, "Do you think I like this?  I'm only giving you a fair warning.  And don't even think I'm affiliated with those changeling bastards.  I severed my ties with them."  Breathes in deeply and exhales.  "Eighteen years ago, I suggested that changelings and ponies could coexist.  Chrysalis, the hive Queen, laughed it off and admonished me for it.  I was able to escape the hive mind and cut off all ties to them.  From then on I vowed to show her wrong and prove that coexistence is possible.  I do believe an apology is in order for giving you the wrong message.  Can you forgive me?"

I give a nod as I headed for what I needed to do. "Sure, just make sure not to talk like that again and we're good. I may have only been with her for two weeks now, but I truly love her... even though I try to keep from showing it. It's just a part of me I never shook off. But trust me, I intend to protect Rainbow, so don't worry."

Mage smiles, "hopefully I'll never have to."

Mage sat down while I grabbed one of my projects, and tested it for a second, seeing it light up and launch a small, blue laser into the ceiling, which made ash fall down, and I grunted. I then headed for the chair across from Mage, and spoke. "So, before we get started, I need to know how these... non-unicorn spells work. Or, these scrolls you've got."

Mage placed his hooves together. "The scrolls, or Easy Casts as I like to call them, use a new mixture of ink and changeling mucus that will absorb a certain amount of ambient magic for the spell on the parchment it's written on.  In the center is a circle connected to the various algorithms of said spell, acting as a cast 'button'.  The complexity of the spell also correlates to the time between casts, or cooldown duration.   All that is needed to use the Easy Cast is to focus your primal magic into the limb that is in contact with the 'button'."  Looks off to the side and mumbles, "at least that's how it would work theoretically."

I placed a hoof on my chin. "Really?" He nodded. "Hmm... mind if I test one out?"

Mage handed me a scroll, which made me roll open the scroll, and sat it down before placing my wing on it. The result was my wing catching on fire, which made me sigh heavily, summon a bucket of water, and dipped my wing into it. Then looked at Mage. "So... a work in progress I take it?"

He nodded with a little worry. "I'm afraid so, and sorry about that."

I shook my head as I pulled the wing out. "Don't worry about it, I used to go through worse back home."

Mage nodded as he grabbed a scroll. "So, think you can help me with this?"

I nodded and grabbed another scroll as well. "Of course. Let's start with this fire spell..."

...

Rex's POV

...

"What in the name of all things cinnamon swirl is a full grown dragon doing up here in Equestria?"

I rolled my eyes at her as I thought the first thing I'd do. "Sleeping."

"Huh?"

I shrugged. "It's what I'd do, find a lone, abandoned mountain to sleep at... maybe keep one of my hordes there too. "

Rarity sighed slightly. "Well, at least he's not snoring fire. What are we meant to do about it?"

Rainbow answered as she floated in the air. "I'll tell you what we're meant to do -- GIVE HIM THE BOOT!"

She then began to buck the air, which made me grunt. "I honestly can't see what Ethan sees in you, Rainbow." Rainbow glared at me, making me flip her off as I continued walking. "I say we just talk to him, get him interested in sleeping elsewhere. No need to be a bitch to him."

Just then we heard a very loud snoring, which made me chuckle. "Oh yeah, he's full grown. You piss him off, and you're done for."

Rarity then spoke as we continued upwards. "I hear the only thing that sparkles more then a dragon's scales are the jewels they use to build their nests."

I grunted. "Remind me to keep you FAR AWAY from my room."

Rarity huffed in response.

I then called down to Fluttershy. "Hurry up and get over here, we can't do this without an Animal Friend!"

Two more snores, and Fluttershy's wings clasped shut, while she went still as a statue. This made me groan and look at Applejack. "Take her around, we'll wait for you up top."

"Understood, pardner."

...

Later

...

I sat there on my rear and continued to use my knife to carve the wood I held into a very small, and beautiful pony head copy. This made me smirk and began to admire it, before setting it down next to my other 19 of them. Then I looked at Rarity and Pinkie. "You girls see Applejack and Fluttershy yet?"

Pinkie drew a circle on the ground and looked at Rarity. "WHOO-HOO! I win again!"

Rarity let out a sigh. "That's 35 games in a row." She then smiled at Pinkie. "Best of 71?"

I growled and looked up at Rainbow. "What about you, Colors?"

Rainbow huffed at my nickname for her. "It's Dash."

I rolled my eyes. "Sure thing, Colors. Now tell me, you got anything?"

She groaned at this. "Nothing."

I smirked a little. "Ethan stuck in your mind?"

She went wide eyed as she fell to the ground, and let out a small groan before glaring at me. "Not cool."

My response was a snicker. "But it's true, you can't get Ethan out of your mind."

She got to her hooves. "Sure I can, I just don't want to."

I snickered again, until we heard Applejack climbing up, breathing heavily as she dragged something up here. Which appeared to be Fluttershy as she spoke between breaths. "We... made... it." Fluttershy was still frozen as a rock.

I got to my feet, and nodded to the girls. "Alright, everypony, let's deal with the dragon." I then snickered a little more. "After we go along another long path."

They all groaned in defeat.

...

A small gap, another song from Pinkie, an avalanche, a small fashion talk, and another climb later

...

I folded my arms as we stood in front of the cave entrance. There was a lot of smoke blocking the way, which made me look at Dash. "Colors, you'll use your wings to clear the smoke."

Rainbow growled. "It's Dash." She then flew into the cloud.

I looked at Rarity and Pinkie. "You two, you'll create a diversion to distract the dragon if things go south in there."

Pinkie bit onto a random rubber chicken, while Rarity gave a raised eyebrow.

"Applejack, you'll ready the apples in case he decides to attack." She tossed the apple in the air, and caught it, making me groan. "God I wished I grabbed the Plasma Rifle and taught you how to use it."

She rolled her eyes as I looked in the cave. "Plan A is Fluttershy waking up this big boy, and helping me talk him into moving his hibernation." I then grabbed Fluttershy by the tail, and dragged her in with me, before thinking a bit. "Usually the best way to wake me up is the scent of food. So, let's wave some food in front of his nose, shall we?"

Fluttershy simply eeped in response as we soon were in front of the dragon. I then pulled out a large diamond I've been saving for someday, and waved it over the dragon's nose, making it sniff, open it's eyes, and grow a large smile.

I gave a smile of my own. "Mornin' Big guy."

He looked at the diamond, then at me, before speaking in a deep voice. "What brings you here, young one?"

I scratched my neck a little. "Well, you see, your snoring a bit, and it's sending smoke all across Equestria. Mind sleeping somewhere else? Equestria wouldn't be able to survive a 100 year dark haze."

He laid his head against his hands. "What might be in it for me?"

I thought for a bit. "Well, my friend gave me something that could help me keep my horde to myself. I'd be willing to give you some of it in exchange."

"What exactly will be in this, exchange?"

I lifted my wrist, revealing a Pip-Boy 4000 (One of Ethan's Prototypes), and typed down on it a bit, before a large pile of armor, guns, gems, and gold fell on the ground around me. I smirked up at the intrigued dragon. "Does this look like enough? Because I got plenty more if it isn't."

The dragon let out a low chuckle in response. "No need, little one. Keep your horde, you've amused me enough and shown a great deal of courage for going this far to help your home. Consider it as a 'You Are Worthy' from me."

I gave a small bow as the dragon collected all of his horde, and exited the cave before flying off.

I smiled, and grabbed my horde before dragging a shocked Fluttershy with me, and we soon came out in front of the other girls, with a smile on my face. "It's done, now let's go home."

...

Back At Ponyville, Ethan's POV

...

I walked out of the library, and gave a nod to Mage as he began walking away. "It was good to talk, Mage, and I hope I can help out with anything else you need."

Mage nodded as he left, while I trotted out into the town, and spotted the girls along with Rex come back. "Hey, girls, how'd it go?"

Rex folded his arms. "That dragon just needed to talk to another of his kind, that's all."

I gave a nod. "Come on, Rex, I bet Celestia would like a letter by now."

Rex gave a nod, and we headed for the Library.

Chapter VIII

Chapter VIII

...

Rex's POV

...

I sighed heavily as I walked through the fields of the town square of Ponyville, watching over the Pegasi, Earth Ponies, and Unicorns set up everything for the storm that was requested for the day. I then spotted Rarity putting a branch back on a tree, then turned the leaves into sculptures of ponies.

This made me groan slightly and walk over to Rarity, while speaking. "Rarity, how many times do I have to tell you, branches this long cannot be on the trees. What if the storm knocks the tree over? Then the branches will crash through somepony's window and make a big mess."

Rarity looked at me, a glare on her face. "It won't do something like that. And what do you know? You're not a pony."

I scoffed at her. "I obviously know more then you, fashion freak."

She growled. "Well maybe you should take a few lessons in fashion."

I growled and pushed my forehead against her's, anger in my eyes. "I got more important things to do then dumb stuff like that. And I say this branch goes down."

She pushed me back. "I say it stays up and continues to be a sight of beauty."

We snarled at each other in response, until I heard the branch fall down, and we looked to see Applejack tear the branch away. She then glared at us both. "Both of you knock it off. Rex, you're right, these branches will break through a window." I smirked at Rarity. "And Rarity, beauty is great an' all, but sometimes it ain't best done on trees."

Rarity huffed. "Somepony has to do the beauty work, and you are making an absolute mess of the town square, Applejack."

Applejack rolled her eyes. "Yeah, well, the storm's gonna make an even bigger mess if we don't prune all these loose branches so they don't tumble down on anypony."

I pumped my fist at that. "Told ya!"

Rarity stuck her nose up and away from us. "I simply cannot imagine why the Pegasus Ponies would schedule a dreadful downpour this evening and ruin what could have been a glorious sunny day."

I snorted in response as Applejack scoffed at Rarity. "Think more practical-like, will ya? They accidentally skipped a scheduled sprinkle last week, so we need a doozy of a downpour to make up for it, is all."

It began raining, which made me smile. "Ah... something cool to get my mind off you, you wretched fashion freak."

Rarity glared at me. "What is wrong with you and fashion?!"

I snorted slightly. "Nothing, I got a great jacket and pants back home, but you take it way too far."

Rarity huffed, then stared at her mane with much worry. I then grunted and began walking away, while Rarity cried out, galloping after me. "It's coming down too fast!" She then began to make annoying gasps and horrifying grunts.

Applejack then suggested a nearby bench, but Rarity's response was. "I'd rather not get my hooves muddy."

I roared out in anger. "THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS PLEASING FASHION FREAKS!!!"

Applejack grunted at me as she began to talk to Rarity. I simply stared at the sky with a defeated groan, and scratched my head a little. The rain wasn't bad at all, so what was wrong with that mare?! I've dealt with a far worse rainstorm, and that one deserved how she's acting to the rain. God she's annoying!

I looked down at the ground, and saw puddles beginning to grow, which made me think a bit, stick my claw in my mouth, pulled it out, and tested the weather. The wind is going to pick up soon, no surprise there. So, with a grunt, I looked at the two mares who were shouting at each other like fillies, which made me bark out. "SHUT IT!" They both looked at me. "Now, you can both head home now, and keep from getting wet, or you could both keep fighting, and get hit by lightning. Your call."

They looked between each other, before Applejack looked at me. "Um... Rex?" I gave a grunt. "Would y'all mind if we stuck with you and headed to y'all library for shelter?"

I shook my head. "Nope, Ethan's practicing a spell and a new thing he started this morning. He plans to show it to Rainbow and needs the place to be absolutely quiet while he's there."

The two looked between each other, until a crack of thunder went out, and they both grabbed me, dragging me towards the library.

...

Ethan's POV

...

I played one of the keys of the piano I bought a couple days ago with a claw (Alteration 80/80) and could feel the claw getting much more used to being used on hooves. This spell was a bit hard to control given I started testing it yesterday, but it's actually helping with playing this instrument. I hope Rainbow will like the song I plan to play for her.

Just then I heard the front door open, and looked over to see Rex on top of Rarity and Applejack. This made me raise an eyebrow. "Hello, girls, can I help you with something?"

Rex groaned as he got to his feet and spoke. "Just for the record, I didn't suggest this."

Rarity spoke at that. "Ethan, darling, would you be a dear and let us stay here until the storm passes? We promise not to be a problem."

I let out a small sigh in response. "Come on in, I guess."

Rarity entered, then stopped Applejack from entering, and pointed at the rug. "Uh, do be a polite houseguest and go wash up, please, won't you?"

I rolled my eyes at Rarity as I played another key. "Relax, Rarity." I then heard a clash of lightning. "Huh, that sounds like a strong storm. I guess the Pegasus Ponies went all out on this one." I then looked at the Piano. "Hope you two don't have any problems getting home."

Rarity gave an awkward smile. "It may, indeed, be a problem."

I shrugged. "Well, you're both welcome to stay, so long as you leave me in peace. Just watch out for Rex, he doesn't seem very happy."

Rarity grunted slightly. "That is a bit of an understatement."

I gave a small wave. "Well go on ahead and make yourself comfortable,  it may be a while until the storm settles down."

Rarity nodded in response, then spoke to Rex. "Would you be a dear and fetch me some tea?"

I heard Rex snarl slightly. "Get you're own. I need to lock my room."

I couldn't help but let out a sigh. "I hope this doesn't end badly..."

...

Rex's POV

...

I began to rub my temples as I came downstairs, and spotted Rarity who had put some kind of green stuff all over her face. This made me groan and slap my claws over my face. I then spoke. "I SO don't like where this is going."

Applejack then spoke. "Now wait just a goldarn minute." She then pointed at Rarity. "You make me wash the mud off my hooves, but it's okay for y'all to have mud all over your faces?"

She looked at me, making me put up my hands. "Don't look at me! I just locked my door to keep her out of there!"

Rarity waved Applejack off. "Silly. This is called a mud mask. It's to refresh and rejuvenate your complexion."

I looked at her with much confusion, then folded my arms. "Translation, please?"

Rarity grunted. "I'm giving myself a makeover."

I grunted, and waved her off. "Yeah, I'm just going to go over here and watch some TV."

I began walking for the couch, and hopped onto it, before hearing Applejack speak. "What in the world is this for?"

I then heard a sigh from Rarity. "To reduce the puffiness around one's eyes, of course."

"Puffiness, shmutin', this stuff's good eatin'."

I groaned as I flipped on the TV, getting nothing but static. I groaned at this and shut it off. I could then hear the girls speaking to each other in anger, which made me look at Ethan, who was still busy practicing with the keys. This made me nod and look at the girls. "Alright, be quiet if you plan to be staying here for the night."

They looked between each other, then nodded in agreement.

...

Nighttime

...

"So..." I grunted and looked at the two girls. "How are you getting along over there, Applejack?"

They both had curlers in their hair, making them look absolutely ridiculous, and also made me fall down laughing while Applejack spoke. "Just fine, Rarity."

I dragged myself off the ground, and sniffled from the laughter, before clearing my throat, and looked at them. "You both look ridiculous!"

Applejack then spoke. "Time to tell ghost stories." She then looked at Rarity. "Ah'd like to tell y'all the terrifying tale of the prissy ghost who drove everypony crazy with their unnecessary neatness." She then glared at Rarity. "I'm sure y'all heard of that one?"

Rarity shook her head. "Never heard of it, but I have a much better one." She then gave wide eyes. "It's the horrifying story of the messy, inconsiderate ghost who irritated everypony within 100 miles!"

I grunted. "That's it, I'm going to tell you both a ghost story Ethan told me a long time ago." They both looked at me. "It all takes place in the Mojave Wasteland, when Ethan got a radio broadcast on his Pip-Boy called the Sierra Madre Broadcast..."

...

Rarity and Applejack looked to be terrified as I continued. "The survivors of the Sierra Madre thought about gathering at the fountain and waiting for the Courier, in the end, the collar silence made them uneasy. And the fear of turning on each other made them hesitate, and leave the goodbyes left, unspoken. The radio message at the fountain was enough for them, and there was no need to put down another farewell on all they had suffered."

I then smiled as I sat back. "I could go on, but I think I'll tell you both the rest later."

The two slowly nodded, glad of the happy ending they heard. I then got up and headed for the kitchen. "I'm getting some s'mores, anypony want some?"

...

I bit onto my s'more as Rarity continued to explain how to do it to Applejack. I pretty much muted them out, and nibbled on my s'more. Once it was gone, I let out a small sigh and scratched my ear, until I heard the girls begin playing truth or dare. This made me groan slightly. They began to start fighting once again, making me claw at my ears. They then began a pillow fight, making me growl lightly, and went into the kitchen.

I grabbed a apple, and bit into it, before tossing it into the air, and for some reason it didn't come down. I looked up, and saw ED-E holding the apple again, making me groan. "We already talked about this, ED-E, don't do that again."

*Beep!*

I growled and tried to grab the apple, but ED-E flew out of the room, making me charge after it, and ended up getting a face full of pillows. This made me cry out. "THAT'S IT, IT'S BED TIME!"

I then heard Ethan speak. "Quiet, Rex, I need to get this just right."

I groaned in response.

...

I yawned a bit as I slowly blinked my eyes open, and rubbed them, before I sat up, and looked around.

I then jumped nearly three feet in the air as a loud crash came out from the living room. This made me jump from my bed, and rushed to the living room, seeing the large tree sticking through the window. This made me cry out in anger and dive in the tree, trying to get it back outside.

...

Ethan's POV

...

I groaned as I heard Rarity speak. "I tried to tell you it would come crashing down in here!"

Applejack climbed up to the room. "Well, you should have tried harder!"

I stepped away from the piano, turned off the spell, and heard Applejack speak to me. "Ah'm mighty sorry, Ethan."

I sighed at this. "This is not okay. There's a giant tree branch in the middle of the living room. And I said to keep quiet while I practiced."

Applejack sighed heavily as she went to Rarity, then back to me. "We gotta do something!"

I thought for a second. "We need somepony outside to drag it out while we push it out."

Applejack nodded and grabbed her rope. "Ah'm on it!"

I then looked at Rarity. "I need you to push it out with me and Rex."

Rex's head popped out of the leaves. "Already on it, Boss!"

I nodded as we got to work.

...

Later

...

Once the tree branch was out and the window closed, I smiled as I sat back, and took a deep breath. "There we go, it's done."

The two girls nodded in response, and began laughing together as they spoke with each other. This made me smile and look at Rex, who was nibbling on an apple, and I smiled again. I then spoke. "Hey, Rex, I need to send Celestia a letter."

Chapter IX

Chapter IX

I smiled as Rex, Rainbow and I walked along a path, while Rainbow spoke. "Wow, what a gorgeous day."

I chuckled lightly as I wrapped my wing around Rainbow, and felt her snuggle into my side as we kept walking. "I bet everypony is gonna be out enjoying the sunshine." I then raised an eyebrow upon seeing nopony around. "Where is everypony anyways?"

A nearby window closed with a squeal, while another pony closed the door behind her with much fear in their movements.

Rex stretched out his arms before wrapping them behind his head. "Their loss, to tell you the truth."

I gave a nod as we continued through the town, but still saw nopony, until i heard Pinkie from a door. "Ethan! Rex! Rainbow! Come here!" She then stuck her head out. "Come here! Hurry! Before she gets you!"

I raised an eyebrow and trotted over to the door. "Before who gets me?"

She squeaked out her answer. "From her!"

I looked around the corner, and spotted a female zebra in a brown cloak. "A zebra?"

The zebra looked over at me, making Pinkie dive in, while Rainbow dove in with her. This made me very confused, while Rex spoke. "This is very different from how they responded to us being here."

I gave a nod in response, then looked in to see that little apple filly speak. "Did you see her, Ethan? Did you see... Zekora?"

Applejack snapped at her. "Applebloom, I told you never to say that name."

I grunted at them. "This is sad, even for you five." They looked at me. "How could a simple zebra be bad? Hell, they don't even know magic. Plus, all she did was glance this way."

Pinkie pointed a foreleg at me. "Glance e-e-evilly this way."

I rolled my eyes while Rex snorted. "And then all of you flip out for no good reason."

Applejack was shocked, while Rainbow was giving a disbelieving look. "No good reason?! You call protecting your kin no---"

I interrupted her. "Like I said, no good reason. She could possibly just want to buy some food, and visits every once in a while to say hi. But given how you're all reacting, I'd say you're all racist."

They all gasped in response, while Rainbow spoke. "How could you call us such a thing?! She's--"

"A mere zebra who wants to buy food, unless I see her do something different." I then turned my back on the building of ponies. "I'm going to settle this thing once and for all."

They began crying out my name as Rex and I headed for the zebra. Said zebra looked at me, and a faint smile crossed her muzzle as she spoke. "Well hello there, pony of Ponyville. My name is Zecora, and I would be wondering if you could share a moment of time?"

I gave a faint smile, while Rex was listening to his Ipod. "A pleasure to meet you, Zecora. My name is Ethan, Ethan Mason."

I offered my hoof, which she took and shook gently. "Such a strange name, for such a strange pony."

I simply shrugged. "Well, I don't get freaked out by different races." I then smirked a little. "Especially different races." I sighed slightly as I remembered Raul, Charon, and Gob.

Zecora seemed to be thinking of old friends as well. "Indeed, good friends are hard to come by in such strange lands." I gave a nod. "Perhaps you would help me? I require food and ingredients for a home made brew as well as to feed myself."

I gave a small nod in response. "Of course, though I don't think you'd be able to get any from the stalls, they seem to get scared way too much. I think I got some food and ingredients back home I could part with."

She was a little shocked. "Truly one would not simply give away food and herbs, as one would usually pay for it."

I shook my head, the smile still on my face. "Don't worry, it's perfectly fine. Now come on, I'm sure it's getting a bit hot in that cloak."

She didn't lose her smile either. "The temperature out is quite warm indeed, a cool time of relaxing would be welcome."

I nodded and looked at Rex. "Go ahead and check on the girls, I'm going to try and help Zecora out as best I can."

Rex nodded and headed for the nearby house, while I led Zecora towards my own house.

...

Rex's POV

...

I walked into the dark house, and spotted the five girls who dragged me in, and locked the door behind me as Applejack spoke. "See? Ain't she strange?!"

I shook my head. "Nope, she just came to town for some food and herbs, and spoke in rhymes too."

They stared at me like I was insane, while Applejack narrowed her eyes at me. "She lives in the EVERFREE FOREST! The place where nothin's natural!"

Fluttershy spoke next. "And the animals protect themselves."

Then Rainbow got in my face. "And the clouds move on their own!"

I grunted as I pushed her out of my face. "Keep that up, and I don't think Ethan'll date you anymore." Rainbow went wide eyed while I looked at them. "You're all just too paranoid about different races, so get used to the fact that ponies aren't the only species that live in Equestria, and let me leave."

They huffed in response.

I groaned and rubbed my temples. "This is all such a load of gossip and rumors." I then narrowed my eyes at them. "Now, tell me, what exactly have you actually seen Zecora do?"

Rainbow thought for a minute. "Well..." She then narrowed her eyes. "Once a month, she comes into Ponyville."

I gave a grunt. "And...?"

Rarity took over. "Then... she lurks by the stores."

I folded his arms. "Which...?"

Then Fluttershy. "And then she digs at the ground."

I motioned to them. "Like every single other pony I know." I sat back. "Okay, this proves nothing, so tell me something that actually points out she's bad and not a pony looking to buy something? Maybe she just comes to visit."

Applebloom nodded in agreement. "Yeah. Maybe she's just trying to be neighborly."

"And maybe she's not lurking by the stories and is, like I said earlier, going to them to do some shopping?!"

Applebloom nodded. "Yeah, everypony likes to shop. You know what I think?"

Applejack snapped at her. "Applebloom, hush and let the big ponies talk."

I shook my head. "No, Applejack, I wanna hear what she has to say." Applejack opened her mouth, but I stuffed an apple in there to keep her quiet, and gave a friendly smile to Applebloom. "Go ahead, Applebloom, tell us what you think."

Applebloom smiled in that adorable way. "Ah think she's just a friendly mare who wants to make some friends and help steer ponies away from bad parts of the Everfree Forest."

I clapped my claws together. "And we have a winner! A good reason to go on top of all those accusations of her being evil when she hasn't done a damn thing. This filly just proved to be more mature then ALL of you." I then got to my feet. "Now if you will all excuse me, I feel like going home."

I then left the building and headed for the library.

...

Ethan's POV

...

"That is truly a large claim, dear Ethan, for I have never heard of a pony who has little to no skin, almost no coat, and was still intelligent enough to be far friendlier then other ponies."

I smiled as we trotted into the Everfree, and the stuff I gave her was in her saddlebags. Just then I accidentally tripped and fell into a pile of blue flowers, which made Zecora gasp. "Poor friend, that there's Poison Joke, one that plays cruel tricks on upon contact. I am afraid I will have to make a brew to get rid of it before it takes affect."

I gave a small nod as I climbed out of the pile. "Yeah, that was an accident. And boy do I hope it doesn't do something bad."

Zecora gave a small nod in return, and then we heard Applejack call out. "Applebloom?!" We looked back to see Applebloom a few feet from us, and Applejack with the girls were on the other side of the flowers. "You get back here right now!"

Zecora cried out. "Beware! Beware, you young pony folk! Those leaves of blue are not a joke."

Zecora then began trotting away as I waved at her. "See you around, Zecora!"

Applejack then got to my side. "Y-You keep your creepy mumbo jumbo to yerself, you hear!"

The other girls then began yelling in agreement, all of them in the Poison Joke, which made me bark out. "SHUT IT!!"

They looked at me. "You should all be ashamed of yourselves, treating her bad simply because she was warning you all about those flowers!" Their ears went back. "And since your all being so rude to such a nice mare, I think i'll keep from telling you all why she warned you about the flowers."

I then trotted passed them, and began my trek back home

...

Next Morning

Rex's POV

...

"AAAHH!!!!!"

I groaned as I sat up on the couch, being woken up from a great dream by the sound of a mare crying out. This made me groan again and roll onto my feet, and began to head for the stairs. Once there, I headed up for the bathroom, and knocked on the door, hearing a very beautiful mare's voice call out. "Not now, Rex!"

This made me raise an eyebrow. "Hey! Who's in there?! Come out now before I break the door down!"

"Rex, trust me, you don't want to know."

I raised an eyebrow. "Do I know you?"

"Given that I raised you from an egg, yeah I'd say you do!"

I went wide eyed. "HOLY SHIT! YOU'RE A MARE!!!"

"No shit, detective." I then heard a very seductive groan. "Ugh, it's that damn Poison Joke that did this, and it really messed me up a bit too."

I thought for a moment, before the door opened and my jaw slammed to the ground while my eyes were wide as saucers.

Ethan was now, well, beyond beautiful! His... er, her, coat was a soft brown that looked much like silk. Her mane was a beautiful style of messy black with a very sexy red patch in it, and her eyes were even more beautiful then Rarity's. And boy did her body fit her well, slim and seductive.

She then spoke in a very hot annoyed tone. "You say one word about this, or even go so far to laugh or try ANYTHING, and you are dead meat."

I stuttered in response as I gave a nod. "S-S-Sure thing."

She pushed past me, and her coat really did feel like silk as she headed downstairs, me close behind, and she sat down on the couch. "I gotta wait for Zecora to finish making that brew so I could get back to normal. I just know Rainbow will kill me for being like this."

I then thought of something. "Well, if your a girl now, does that mean you're..."

"Technically, yes, I am gay, but I ain't moving shit in that direction. I would rather get back to normal instead."

I let out a groan in disappointment, and folded my arms in annoyance.

...

Much Later

...

Ethan... or Elizabeth as I began calling her, continued to look through books in hopes of finding some way to get rid of the spell instead of heading for Zecora's, but she found nothing. She then collapsed with a defeated sigh, and spoke. "I got no choice, I gotta go out there and get to Zecora's... meaning going through many mares, and possibly a few stallions." She shuddered. "I am so going to regret this."

Just then we heard a loud gasp and much spit, making us look over, and spotted a wide eyed pinkie, with a swollen tongue, covered in blue spots.

Elizabeth spoke in anger. "You may be like that, but I still understand everything you say. And no, this is not permanent, and Zecora will have a brew to fix this when we get to her hut in the Everfree."

Pinkie went wide eyed, shock in her eyes, as she quickly shook her head in response. Just then Rainbow flew in, and went wide eyed upon seeing Elizabeth as she crashed into a shelf. She stuttered a bit upon seeing her. "E-E-Ethan? Is that y-you?"

Elizabeth gave out a soft sigh. "I'm afraid so, Rainbow."

Rainbow was on the verge of tears now, making me speak. "Relax, Colors, once we get to Zecora's we'll--"

"WHAT?!"

I groaned and looked at Rarity, before stopping dead, and fell to the ground laughing at Rarity's messy mane and coat. We then all spotted Applejack on the back of Big Macintosh with Applebloom next to him. "Ah hate to say Ah told you so, Ethan, but Ah told ya so."

Big Mac went wide eyed upon seeing Elizabeth, and sat Applejack on Applebloom, trotted over to Elizabeth, and smiled coyly. "Yep."

Elizabeth stepped back, and let out a scoff. "Yeah, right, nice try big guy, but I'm only this for temporary purposes."

Big Mac simply wiggled his eyebrow, and leaned towards Elizabeth, making him pull back, and soon a chase started with Elizabeth running for her life from the big stallion.

Applejack shook her head as we all got together (Minus Elizabeth). I then looked at Fluttershy. "What about you?"

Fluttershy gulped, then spoke in a deep male voice. "I don't wanna talk about it."

Rainbow fell to the ground while I was laughing my ass off. This was just too perfect, all five girls and my friend were turned to their worse nightmares, and I was the only one normal.

As I laughed, I heard Rainbow speak. "Ethan! Stop messing around with Big Mac and let's go get Zecora to get rid of this!"

Elizabeth spoke as she dodged Big Mac, causing him to crash in a pile of books. "Yeah, let's go now, and leave Big Mac here."

I sniffled as the tears from laughing ran down my cheeks, and I spoke a little. "A-Alright... just come on, I'll lead us there..."

...

Later

...

We ran into the forest, while I was actually on Elizabeth's back, and eating an apple. The others were right behind us, and we were heading straight for Zecora's, while Rainbow pretty much crashed everywhere she went.

...

I sighed as I got off of Elizabeth's back, and we could see Zecora's hut now. This made us trot over to it, and Elizabeth knocked on the door. "Zecora! It's Ethan... after the Poison Joke kicked in! We need help!"

"One second, my good friend." She then opened the door. "Ah, welcome good... friend..." She was shocked to see Elizabeth, before motioning us to come inside, which we did.

Upon entering, we saw a large pot in the center with masks and stuff hanging on the sides and the such. Zecora then trotted over to the pot and poured in some pink herbs, then spoke. "Would any of you mind if I sing a lullaby to give myself some luck?"

Elizabeth shook her head. "Of course not, Zecora, go right ahead."

She nodded and began speaking in her native tongue, which made the girls scared out of their minds, while me and Elizabeth were just fine. She then tasted it and smiled. "Hmm, should be the perfect temperature for ponies, would you agree, Ethan?"

Ethan took a small taste, and spoke in response. "Doesn't taste too hot or cold, no. Is this the brew you told us about?"

She nodded. "Indeed, the brew the reverses the affects of Poison Joke are within this cauldron."

I smiled at this. "Great! Now you can just turn everypony back and we'll be good."

Zecora nodded, that is until rainbow crashed into the hut, making us all go wide eyed as Applejack cried out. "Ah'm here to save ya, Applebloom!"

Zecora raised an eyebrow in response. "Save? Little Applebloom came here to ask me to help you, and help I shall."

Elizabeth nodded in agreement, then looked in the cauldron. "So, how does this work?"

Zecora smiled. "It is quite simple, is it not? Take a bath, and become who you once was."

Elizabeth nodded, and spoke as she looked at the bath. "I call first dibs!" Then she dived in said bath.

...

Ethan's POV

...

I sigh as I got out of the shower, and looked in the mirror, seeing myself back to normal, which made me smile greatly, and left the bathroom, heading downstairs. Once there I spotted Rainbow who was quite annoyed by her wings. This made me smile gently and trotted up behind her, used my spell to give myself claws, and began messaging the wings, which made Rainbow yelp in surprise, but calmed down as she lowered to soft purrs.

I smiled at this as I kept messaging her wings, getting the stiffness out of them, and soon heard Rex speak. "I will never understand you two." And headed upstairs.

I simply rolled my eyes at him as I got a spot that made Rainbow moan slightly, while I spoke. "So... forgetting about the craziness of yesterday, how about we save today as a special date for just the two of us?"

Rainbow slowly twitched her ear up. "Mmm... That sounds good... I wanted to spend some time with you lately..."

I smiled as I messaged the tips, which made her shiver slightly in delight. "Hmm... I'm no expert, but you feel quite tense. Bad night sleep?"

"More like nightmare." I raised an eyebrow. "I was worried you'd be stuck as a mare forever."

I chuckled slightly. "So not going to happen, I'd rather stay who I am."

She giggled in response.

Chapter X

Chapter X

...

Rex's POV

...

I yawned slightly as I walked with Fluttershy in the field of animals, and Fluttershy was collecting flowers while singing slightly. Just then a little squirrel stopped Fluttershy and offered a dandelion, making Fluttershy smile at him. "Thank you, little squirrel. But remember, these flowers are for Princess Celestia."

I looked at the dandelion. "I don't think that's a flower, but more of a root." I then shrugged. "Ethan might think differently though."

Fluttershy shrugged and continued. "Only the prettiest ones will do."

Just then the wind blew all the leaves off, making the squirrel put it behind his back, smiling awkwardly, before bolting away.

We continued on with collecting flowers, until we heard an animal make noise, which made Fluttershy yelp and hide behind a bucket of apples, while the basket of flowers fell to the ground. This made me raise an eyebrow and look at the rock, seeing a small creature with bug like wings climb out. This made my eyes twinkle slightly. "Fascinating, a Parasprite, one of the adorable, and also most troublesome creatures around Equestria. I never got to examine one up close before."

I knelt down to the creature and examined him while Fluttershy spoke. "Hello, little guy. I've never seen anything like you before."

It began to sniff the apple nearby, which made me raise an eyebrow. "He's hungry. And from what books usually say, once you feed one, it'll follow you everywhere and bring along it's entire swarm, begging for more."

Fluttershy ignored me at that, and crushed the apple for him. "Here you go."

I shook my head. "They prefer food that's kept together instead of mushed." The Parasprite then ate the entire bucket of apples. "See?"

Fluttershy continued to ignore me, while the Parasprite snuggled into her mane, which made her smile. "You're the cutest thing ever!"

I went wide eyed. "Fluttershy, I wouldn't get too attached to it if I were you, they can reproduce rapidly, and will cause a lot of trouble."

She still ignored me. "I can't wait to show you to my friends."

I slapped my claw over my face. "Oh lord, this is going to go south real fast."

...

Ethan's POV

...

I smiled as I and Rainbow sat in front of the TV, and watched as the movie rolled into the credits. This made me sigh slightly, and look at Rainbow. "So... you asked for a kiss once, right?"

She looked at me, a blush on her face as she nodded. "Mm-hmm."

I smiled as I gently pulled her closer with my wing, earning a giggle, and we began to lean towards each other. We were mere inches away from each other by now, and I could feel her lips barely touching mine,

Just then we heard Rex's voice. "Ethan, we got a problem."

I cracked one of my eyes open, not moving from my spot, neither did Rainbow. "And that is...?"

"Fluttershy found a Parasprite, and has grown attached to it."

I thought for a moment, then sighed slightly. "Could you let us do this one thing first?"

"Well... sure, I guess."

I smiled and pressed my lips against Rainbow's in response, which made her moan slightly and get entranced in it. And we sat there, making out for a good few minutes, before we pulled back, and Rainbow spoke with a dreamy sigh. "Best. Kiss. Ever."

I smiled and pressed my forehead against hers, making her do the same in response, and our noses were touching the other's. I then spoke. "How about we continue after we get this problem settled with, that way we can have the rest of the day to enjoy each other's company?"

She nodded. "Deal."

I kissed her one last time on the lips, before we pulled back, I got to my hooves, and nodded to Rex. "Let's go and deal with this."

I followed Rex out of the library, and noticed all the decorations being put up, which made me groan slightly. "Oh no... Princess Celestia is coming to visit, isn't she?"

Rex nodded in response. "Yeah, and if we don't stop the problem now, it'll ruin everything."

I nodded in response as we trotted over a bridge, and past Daisy as well as a few other ponies, seeing a sign that read "Welcome Princess Celest"

This made me raise an eyebrow. "What happened to the rest of her name?"

One answered. "We couldn't fit it all in."

I thought for a moment, then used my horn on the sign, which caused the poles to widen out a little, and the rest of the name was written on the new room. "There, that should do."

They smiled and spoke their thanks while we headed further down the place, and I spotted BonBon. "That looks nice, BonBon. Keep up the good work."

She nodded in response as Rex and I pushed further into town, and towards SugerCube Corner, which made me look at Rex. "This is where Fluttershy is?"

Rex's response was a shrug. "I lost sight of her a few hours ago, so I came to you."

I sighed heavily at this, and nodded as we headed towards the bakery, and spotted both Mr. and Mrs. Cake. "Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Cake. How's the banquet coming?"

She gulped a bit. "Uh, I-It would be coming a little better i-if..."

We all saw Pinkie eat the cake that was the only thing left standing, which made me sigh. "Pinkie. What are you doing? I'm guessing that those sweets are meant for the Princess."

Pinkie gave an awkward smile as she poked her hooves together. "I-I know. That's why I'm tasting them." Her smile then grew. "Somepony needs to make sure that everything is tasty enough to touch the royal tongue." She poked her tongue in emphases. She then was in front of another cake. "And I, Pinkie Pie, declare that these treats are fit for a king... or a queen..." She was then too close to the cake. "Or a princess!"

I grabbed her with my magic, and dragged her away from the cake, which made her groan in annoyance, while we heard Fluttershy. "Ethan, Pinkie -- You won't believe!" She then stopped near the doorway. "Oh, I'm sorry. Uh, am I interrupting?"

Pinkie shook her head, still in my magic. "No, not at all. Come on in, and make yourself at home." She then snapped her mouth at a nearby cake, but I got her away before she could get it, causing her to hiss slightly.

I looked at Fluttershy. "Rex told me what you have, Fluttershy, and I would suggest you send it back out to the wild. Parasprites are too dangerous to keep as pets, and trust me when I say you should not keep it."

Fluttershy made puppy eyes. "But, Ethan, please? Just look at the little guy and tell him no." The Parasprite flew out of her mane, and floated in front of my face, before two more came out with him, making her gasp. "Three?"

I groaned as I trotted to the Parasprites, and spoke with a stern tone. "No." They began to whimper. "No, go back to the Everfree and reproduce there. We cannot have this growing into a major problem."

Fluttershy whimpered slightly, while Pinkie spoke. "Ugh! A Parasprite, I don't want one." She then huffed. "Now I gotta go find a trombone."

I rolled my eyes as her as she left, while I caught the three in my magic, same as Fluttershy, and dragged them all out of the building, before making Pinkie trot away, and looked at Fluttershy. "Take these three to the Everfree and send them back home. We cannot keep them, not even you are prepared to."

Fluttershy sighed slightly, and nodded as she trotted away with the three. I then looked at Rex. "Come on, I promised Nurse Redheart I'd help out over at the Hospital."

Rex nodded, and breathed on his claw before smelling it, giving a nod, which made me raise an eyebrow. "Something you want to mention, Rex?"

He looked at me with a false calm look. "Nothing at all, Ethan. I just don't want my breath to smell bad in front of..." He then sighed with slight delight. "Nurse Redheart..."

I rolled my eyes at him. "Uh-huh, well come on, Rex. We need to get there soon."

Rex nodded as he left Sugercube Corner.

...

Nighttime

...

I sat there in my bedroom, with Rex who was trying to make his scales look presentable, which made me roll my eyes. "Rex, just because Redheart said yes to going on a date with you tonight doesn't mean you need to make a fuss about your appearance."

Rex soon made his scales slicked back, and adjusted the tie that went with one of the Grimy Business Suits I had from the Capital Wasteland. I had to admit, he would make any mare blush with that outfit, but I have had yet to figure out how he gained that crush on Redheart in the first place.

Rex dusted off his clothes a little. "Come on, Ethan, you're going to do the same for Rainbow when you play that song for her."

I shrugged in response. "Maybe, but aren't you worried about something bad happening? Like you accidentally say something that'll upset her?"

He shook his head. "Nope, been going over to the Hospital most days to help out there, and soon learned a lot about her as I helped."

I let out a small sigh. At least I know how he gained the crush. "Hey, did you see Rainbow anywhere?"

He nodded. "She's downstairs, playing with a new pet she got."

I went wide eyed. "Don't tell me it's a..."

"Yeah, it's one of those."

I groaned as I trotted to the stairs. "I told Fluttershy to get rid of them, but she obviously didn't listen. Just great?!"

I soon got down to the lower levels, and saw Rainbow on the couch, playing with the Parasprite. This made me sigh. "Rainbow." She looked at me. "I am guessing you got him from Fluttershy, yes?"

She nodded and kissed the thing. "Yeah! Isn't he just so cute?!"

"And very dangerous, and reproduces like crazy, and eats everything, and will cause a massive swarm of problems for Ponyville if we don't send them back to the Everfree RIGHT NOW."

Rainbow looked between me, and the Parasprite, before gulping. "Um... so these things are dangerous, and can grow into... way too many problems?" I nodded, making her sigh and offer him to me. "Sorry, I guess his cuteness got the better of me."

I nodded and grabbed him with my magic, before opening a window, and used my magic to send him all the way to the Everfree, and twist the location a bit to make it lost, before letting it go, and closed the door. I then smiled at Rainbow. "I know they are cute, and you really want to keep one, but nopony is ready for that, and you need to trust me on this subject."

Rainbow slowly nodded. "Alright, Ethan." She then looked at me. "Um..."

I smirked slightly. "Yes, you can sleep with me instead of going home."

She giggled in response, and I wrapped my wing around her while we headed upstairs, and got into bed, I then nodded to Rex who left, and turned the light off before we went to sleep.

...

Next Morning

...

My eyes slowly open to being shaken awake by Rainbow, which made me raise an eyebrow. "What?"

She had worry in her eyes. "We got a problem."

I raised an eyebrow in response, and looked at the window, seeing a massive swarm of Parasprites outside, begging to come in. This made me groan, and get to my hooves, while looking at Rainbow. "Come on, we got to find a way to fix this."

Rainbow nodded as we headed downstairs, and found Rex on the couch, fast asleep, and mumbling to himself about having a wonderful night. Maybe that date did go well.

We headed outside, and I closed the door behind us, while narrowing my eyes at the massive swarm. I could see the other girls having problems, having massive swarms following all of them, which made me growl slightly, and used my magic, catching the first swarm while Pinkie began to sing, which I ignored and began pushing the swarms out of town.

I then forced my way to Fluttershy's house through the massive swarms, and quickly opened the door, causing a swarm bigger then the one currently on our hooves fly out. I then cried out while Rarity and Rainbow got to my sides. "FLUTTERSHY!!! I TOLD YOU TO SEND THEM BACK TO THE EVERFREE!!"

Fluttershy eeped upon hearing me, and stuttered. "E-E-Ethan... I-I'm so s-s-sorry."

I shook my head and grabbed all the Parasprites from the cottage out of the place and used my magic to catapult them far, far, far away from Ponyville, but there were still a ton more to deal with.

Just then Applejack came over with a large carriage of apples. "Here's all those apples you wanted, Fluttershy, but I still can't figure out why you need so many." Just then some of the remaining Parasprites ate them all, making her cry out. "HEY!"

Fluttershy then asked. "What do we do?"

I furrowed my brow in response. "I think I got an idea, but I need Applejack to herd all the Parasprites into a group to make it work."

Rainbow nodded. "Yeah, nopony can herd like Applejack! We can drive them back into the forest!"

Applejack sighed at that. "Ah'll rassle them up, but Ah'll need everypony's help to do it."

I nodded and trotted over to her, my horn glowing slightly.

"Ethan, you and Rarity wait over there. Ah'll herd the little critters straight at y', like a funnel."

I nodded as me and Rarity headed over to the spot. I then heard her speak to the other two. "Rainbow Dash, you and Fluttershy stay on top of them. Don't let them fly away."

I readied my horn, and spotted Applejack begin herding, while Rainbow and Fluttershy stayed over the Parasprites, and we soon got them into a massive ball."

I then grabbed the ball with my magic, and took a deep breath as I lifted it high in the air, and spoke. "Let's hope this works."

I began to lift the ball, and began sending it to the Everfree, before hearing Pinkie as I began to trot slowly into the Everfree. "Gals and Ethan! I need help! I need a tuba! Follow me!"

I ignored this as they began talking to each other while I got deeper and deeper into the Everfree. And let them go into the forest, then galloped back to the girls. But instead of everything being good now, Fluttershy opened her door and a swarm that was far bigger then the one I sent into the forest launch out.

I then heard Rarity cry out. "WHERE DID THEY COME FROM?!"

Fluttershy blushed. "Well, I may have kept just one." She chuckled while I slammed my hoof against my face, while the others glared at her. "I couldn't help myself. They're just... so... cute." She kissed it on the forehead.

I growled deeply. "This is the problem I have with Parasprites, they catch a mare's eye, and will never be let go."

Rainbow then made a massive tornado, and picked them all up before. But then Pinkie came in with two instruments, which flew into the tornado, and caused it to collapse, while Rainbow was flung into a tree. This made me rush over to her, and wrap a wing around her, which made her speak with a grunt. "So much for that plan."

I nodded and helped her up, before we saw all the critters fly into Ponyville, making us all glare at Pinkie. "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!"

She responded with her own glare. "I've lost a brand-new pair of cymbals! That's what I've done!"

I growled at this. "Forget the instruments for one second. You're ruining out efforts to save Ponyville!"

She placed a hoof against her chest, wide eyed. "ME?! RUIN?!" She frowned. "I'm not the ruiner! I'm the ruinee!" She pulled back. "Or is it 'Ruiness'?" She sat down on her flank. "'Ruinette'?"

I ignored her. "Come on, girls, there's no point in fighting her. She's a little too..." I shook my head. "Nevermind, let's just go."

We rushed off while Pinkie cried out at us. "HEY! I'M TRYING TO TELL YOU ALL THAT THE RUINING IS ON THE OTHER HOOF! IF YOU'D JUST SLOW DOWN AND LISTEN TO ME!"

We ignored her as we soon came up to Ponyville, seeing all the residents beginning to panic as the Parasprites began to eat all the food, ruin the flowers,  and cause a massive mess.

I began to hit my head a bit. What was it that these things love more then food?! I need to remember this! I read about it a few years ago, so I should know!

They simply continued to eat the food.

Do I cast a spell here? No, that would make them eat wood and stuff, not a good idea. That'd make a very bad mess.

I gave a sigh. "I need some help." I turned towards the Everfree. "Keep them distracted while I try to find out how to fix this."

I then galloped for Zecora's.

...

I rammed through Zecora's door, making her gasp and fall to the ground, and spoke. "Have you gone mad?"

I grunted as I whacked the side of my head, making a Parasprite fly out of my ear. "Zecora, these little guys are devouring Ponyville's food, and if I cast a spell, they'll eat the town itself. And I can't remember how to stop these things! We really need your help."

She gave an adorable look to the Sprite. "Oh, monster of so little size. Is that a Parasprite before my eyes?"

I gave a nod. "Yeah, and we need to get rid of them."

Zecora trotted over to me, a grim look on her muzzle. "Tales of crops and harvests consumed. If these creatures are in Ponyville..." The Parasprite spat out another. "You're doomed."

I cried out in anger. "THAT DOESN'T HELP THE SITUATION!!"

I shook my head and galloped back for Ponyville.

...

I continued to gallop and spotted Celestia's carriage floating over to the town, which made me wince slightly. At least this gets back at her for pulling that prank... heh... heh... I groaned at my mind and continued galloping.

I soon found Ponyville as it was beginning to be devoured by the creatures... making my eye twitch. Somepony cast the spell... didn't they?

I dropped to my flank in defeat, and began to rub my temples. "Why does this kind of stuff always happen to me?"

I then heard music playing, and looked over to see Pinkie trying to be a one-mare band, I then spotted all the Parasprites beginning to dance along with the music, no longer eating everything, and began to follow Pinkie.

I slapped myself. Of course, music... I sighed heavily. God I hate myself right now...

I trotted over to the other girls, who were looking with shrugs, and us close behind. I then spotted Celestia's chariot land a few feet away and groaned as we all trotted over to Celestia, while Pinkie kept leading the Parasprites.

I fell to my flank as Celestia spoke, while the girls bowed. "Ethan Mason, my prized pupil."

I gave a grunt. "Hello, Celestia."

She smiled at me. "So lovely to see you again, as well as your friends."

I sighed as Rainbow got to my side, while I wrapped my wing around Rainbow. This made Celestia go wide eyed and speak. "What is this?"

I looked at her. "This is Rainbow, my Marefriend." Celestia seemed to go into shock slightly by that. "Is something wrong, Celestia?"

She blushed heavily in response and shook her head, giving out an nervous chuckle. "Not at all, my faithful student, nothing at all."

I raised an eyebrow in response, before we heard Pinkie playing the music, and trotted past with the Parasprites behind her.

I gave a grunt. "Parasprites, and I forgot they love music."

Celestia slowly nodded in response. "I see, then they must be much trouble?" I nodded in response. "Very well then."

I then rubbed my neck slightly. "Yeah... don't take one unless you want them to eat the palace."

She went wide eyed, then chuckled awkwardly. "I see." She then sighed slightly. "I'm afraid an emergency has come up in Fillydelphia. Apparently there's been some sort of infestation."

I groaned. "I swear I put them in the forest!!!"

Celestia giggled in response. "Relax, my faithful student. I will see to it that they will be gotten rid of." She then stopped a bit. "Mind if you give me the latest report on the magic of friendship, Ethan?"

I raised an eyebrow, seeing a seductive smile on Celestia, which made me even more confused. "My... report... right." I nodded. " Yeah, I learned that sometimes the solution to your problems can come from where you least expect it. It's a good idea to stop and listen to your friends." Even though I did that with Raul and my companions

Celestia continued to smile. "I'm so proud of you, Ethan Mason, and I'm very impressed with your friends, as well. It sounds like you're all learning so much from each other."

I gave a nod. "Thanks, Celestia."

She gave a wink to me, which made me raise an eyebrow again as she soon left.

We trotted over to Pinkie, causing her to speak. "Hey, what happened to the princess?"

I smirked as I wrapped a wing around Rainbow and we kissed each other. "Emergency in Fillydelphia."

Rainbow grew a smirk. "Some sort of... infestation."

Pinkie gasped. "Oh, no! Have they got Parasprites, too? Well, have tuba, will travel."

I shook my head as she blew into the instrument. "I think Celestia can handle it." I then gave Pinkie a high hoof. "Sorry for earlier, because you obviously remembered what I forgot."

Pinkie smiled at this. "You're welcome."

I nodded, then groaned slightly. "Now we gotta deal with fixing Ponyville."

They all slumped their shoulders in defeat, which made me smirk. "Come on, we got a lot of work to do."

Chapter XI

Chapter XI

I yawned slightly as my eyes slowly opened deep in the night, and looked around to see Rainbow fast asleep next to me, and Rex was mumbling to himself as he walked in, and stretched while speaking quietly. "Hey, Ethan, Merry Winter Wrap-Up Day."

I gave a silent chuckle as he scratched his ear, and fell backwards, eyes closed as he began snoring, which earned another chuckle from me, and I got to my hooves. I stretched out a bit, then glanced over at Rainbow who had her foreleg over the spot I was sleeping on, which made me smile and kiss her on the forehead, which earned a blush on her cheeks as she tried to find my body through her sleep.

I then trotted over to Rex and tapped his nose, causing him to crack his eyes open slightly. "Mommy?"

I held back a laugh. "No, but we need to get ready."

He grumbled and rolled onto his face, letting out a mumble. "You're not mommy."

I held back another laugh. "Rex, the first day of Spring is tomorrow, so everypony in Ponyville needs to clean up winter. It might help us get ready with a few stuff."

Rex pushed himself to a sitting position, and rubbed his eyes. "I'd rather sleep in for once, I'm tired. Plus, cleaning up winter? Who cleans up winter? Didn't you say it has the power to control itself and the such? Or maybe use magic to change the seasons like our days in Canterlot?"

I chuckled lightly. "No, Rex. Ponyville was started by Earth Ponies." I slid on a long duster and also a long black shirt and pants on, then slid on some boots. "So for hundreds of years, they've never used magic to clean up winter." I slid on the metal back piece to cover up the hole of the duster. "Call it tradition."

He gave a grunt, and looked at a nearby apple. "Never heard of a town not using magic on that stuff."

I gave a shrug in response, and slid on my Stormchaser Hat. "Come on, Rex, didn't you always want to try something new like this?"

Rex grabbed the apple and bit into it. "Maybe, though I don't really see how I can help." He then looked at me. "Hey, why was there an Apple in your room?"

I nodded to Rainbow. "She brings up snacks for if she missed dinner or something, must've forgot one."

Rex slowly nodded as he took another bite, then felt a hoof slap the apple out of his claws. This made him look to see a Rainbow who was sleepwalking. He got to his feet and grabbed the apple again, only for her to slap it away as well. They glared daggers at each other (well Rex did, Rainbow was still asleep). They then both darted for the apple, and began fighting each other, until Rainbow flew out of range, rubbed her eyes, and glared at Rex, then raised an eyebrow. "Hey! Where did that stallion that took my trophy go?!"

Rex growled at her. "You were dreaming, dumbass, and it was an apple that I was trying to eat before you slapped it away."

She blushed heavily at that. "Whoops... hehe..."

I lifted up a list. "Let's see, everything here that explains what is needed for this tradition is right here, so let's go over it. Protective Clothing, check. Boots, check. Supplies..." I looked at my Pip-Boy, which showed a flamethrower and stuff. "Check." I then popped the door open, causing the sun to shine down on us, which made me smirk. "Looks like we're right on time."

...

I trotted up into the crowd outside of the Carousel Boutique with Rex and Rainbow next to me, and ED-E floating above us. I then noticed something. "Hmm... team color vests, huh?" I examined the ones with wings. "Blue for weather team, i guess." I glanced at another group. "Green for the plant team." Then spotted tan. "And tan for the... um... animal team?" I then groaned. "Please don't tell me I'll be wearing a vest."

Rex folded his arms in response. "I'll take a green vest, the animals here are jackasses to me."

I rolled my eyes at him as ED-E floated up to me. *Beep.*

I gave a nod. "Don't worry, ED-E, you can just be painted for the team, then I'll paint you back to normal."

*Beep!*

I chuckled as we soon heard Mayor Mare speak. "Thank you, everypony, for being here bright and early. We need every single pony's help to wrap up winter and bring in spring." Everypony cheered in response. "Now, all of you have your vests and have been assigned to your teams, so let's do even better than last year and have the quickest winter wrap-up ever."

Everypony began to cheer in excitement, while Rainbow snuggled up to my side. "Man... I am tired."

I gave a small smile and wrapped my wing around her, making her feel the warmth of the wing which made her sigh contently. Mayor Mare then spoke some more. "All right, everypony, find your team leader and let's get galloping."

Everypony headed off to their leaders, while Rainbow spoke. "I'll catch you later, Ethan, I need to get my team ready."

I nodded as she flew off, then looked at Rex, who slid on a green vest. "Which team should I join, Rex?"

He dusted himself off as he headed for Applejack. "Choose whichever you want, I just wanna get this over with."

I gave a nod to him, and looked over the three teams, thinking a bit. Let's see, the plant team would be dealing with growing plants, the weather team would be dealing with the clouds, and the animal team would be dealing with the suggested name. Hmm... I gave a shrug, and began trotting along the teams as they sung for some reason, which I fail to see why exactly, then felt a pile of snow dump onto me. I pulled my head up and looked up to see Rainbow fly down to me, a blush on her cheeks, then she kissed me before flying off.

I rolled my eyes at this, and looked over at Applejack, who was dealing with moving the snow and planting the seeds. This made me raise an eyebrow and noticed what all of them do, and hummed slightly, seeing that I could easily do all three. I tapped my hoof slightly, then looked at Rainbow as she was nearby. "Hey, Rainbow!"

She glanced over, smiled and trotted over, making us nuzzle each other as she spoke. "Hey, Ethan. What's up?"

I let my wings spread out slightly. "Need any help?"

She smiled. "Sure, could you clear out the clouds?"

I nodded as my wings expanded, beating almost Celestia's wingspan, and flew up into the air, taking out cloud after cloud. It was rather easy, and I soon had almost all of the clouds gone, before Rainbow called out. "Hey, Ethan!" I looked down at her. "That's enough, leave some for us, please?"

I gave a nod and glided down to her, before giving a playful wink. "Sure thing, Rainbow, if you need any help with anything else, just call."

She blushed at that as thoughts other then the work crossed her mind. "Um... sure, hehe." She then flew off.

...

I trotted over to Rarity as she finished putting a bow on a bowl, which made me smile and speak. "Hey, Rarity, need any help?"

She gave a smile. "Well, how would you like to help create Ponyville's finest bird's nests?"

I looked down at what I'm now guessing to be nests. "Sounds interesting, why though?"

She gave a smile. "When the weather team guides the birds back north for the Spring, they'll need a place to live and lay their eggs."

I looked at the nest, and raised an eyebrow. "Looks easy, give me some materials and I'll get to work."

She nodded and dumped one of the baskets full of stuff onto the table. "Okay, now, take this straw, leaves, and branches, and begin weaving them through there." I did so. "Yes! Take some ribbon. Yes, ooh! That would do splendidly, oh my, that looks amazing right there. Yes! Oh, Ethan, it looks absolutely beautiful!"

My nest was, well, from the looks of it, kind of looked like a bird sized castle. It fit the description pretty much, and the ribbons were used as miniature flags on the tips of the spires.

I examined it with a thoughtful look, until I heard Rarity speak. "Darling, this will do wonderfully for a few bird families. You have amazed me. Now, I suppose you could help by making five more of those, then I think that will be enough for a good amount of birds."

I gave a nod as I went to work.

...

Later

...

I trotted calmly through the snowy mountain like area, until I heard Pinkie across the way. "Hello, Ethan!" She was skating along the frozen lake, and was having much fun, which made me smile. "Wow, Pinkie Pie, you're quite the skater." I trotted down to her as I noticed ED-E sliding along the ice, and bobbed back into the air, then shot a laser at part of the ice, and traced it along until he stopped, and there was now a carved out face of Princess Celestia. I looked back at Pinkie. "Probably the best skater I've ever seen. But not the best sculptor since ED-E just took that title."

Pinkie slid up to me. "Thanks, Ethan. I've been doing this since I was a itty-bitty, little, little twinkie Pinkie. Just comes naturally" She then hopped up, and landed with grace. "Which is probably why they designated me the lake scorer. I cut lines in the lake with my skates. That way, when the rest of the weather team comes here to break the ice, it'll be easy as pie."

I rolled my eyes. "Easy as pie, something only some cooks can say." I then placed a hoof on my chin. "Clever actually, because when the thick ice begins to melt, it'll break along the lines." I smiled. "Well, you sure have a lot of work ahead of you. There's quite a few lakes in Ponyville now that I think about it." I placed a hoof against my chin again, deep in thought.

Pinkie gave a nod. "Tell me about it!" She then looked at me. "Hey, Ethan, want to help me out?"

i gave a small smile. "Sure thing, Pinkie."

She pointed over to a nearby spot. "Come on, put on those skates over there. I bet you'll be a natural too."

I gulped slightly. "Um... maybe... I don't think a natural would be the best words though."

I slipped on the skates, and hopped onto the lake, which made me gulp and try to hold my balance, then took a deep breath, and began to skate along the ice. It slowly began to get easy to do, albite slowly, and I could hear Pinkie instructing me to keep from doing something wrong.

After a bit of skating, I calmed myself as I stopped near Pinkie, and spoke. "So... how did I do?"

Pinkie smiled and pointed at the lake, making me look over, and go wide eyed at seeing a very detailed image of Canterlot. (Luck 10/10)

I stuttered as I pointed a hoof at it. "H-H-How did I d-d-d-do that?"

Pinkie smiled at me. "You were so busy watching your movements, that you must have missed it! Good job!"

I was still very confused as to how though. "B-B-But I w-w-was there... then I w-w-was there... a-a-and what?"

Pinkie simply giggled at me, and waved at me. "I gotta go and do the other lakes now. Why don't you see if Fluttershy needs any help? I'm sure she'd love some."

I slowly nodded, looked at the thing I couldn't have possibly done, and sighed as I trotted off, sadly not receiving an answer.

...

I spotted Fluttershy looking in a log, and ringing a bell as she spoke. "Wake up, little sleepyheads. Hope you had some wonderful dreams and restful hibernation, but it's time to get up now. Spring is coming."

The small hedgehogs yawned and stretched out a bit as they climbed out, and began heading off to do the things they did before hibernation, which made me smile. "They look rather cute this morning."

Fluttershy smiled in response. "Aren't they? This is my favorite task of the whole season, when I get to see all my little animal friends again." She then trotted over to another hole. "Wake up, little porcupines."

I gave a soft smile. "The term is Hedgehog, I think."

She shrugged as she looked at the small ones who had bigger spikes then the hedgehogs, which made me think a minute. They hugged each other, and yelped upon getting the little hairs stuck in their little arms and chests, which made Fluttershy sigh. "Oh, but just look at all these warrens and dens. I'm worried that I won't be able to wake up every animal before Spring comes."

I gave a soft smile. "Maybe I can help."

Fluttershy smiled. "You will? Oh, that would be wonderful."

She handed me a bell, which made me smile and take it with my magic, before waving goodbye, and trotted over to one of the little homes. I gently shook the bell. "Wake up, little guys, it's time to wake up and welcome Spring." Snakes crawled out of the little homes, and hissed slightly, which made me smirk, and pulled out a small flute. I began to play soft tunes, which made the snakes stop hissing, and began to dance silently along with the music.

I smiled as the snakes let out soft hissing noises, before slithering out for the day, while I headed to another cave, and softly woke up the bats. That is until I heard a small crack, looked up, and saw a bee hive falling down, this made me catch it with my magic, and slowly sat it back in it's position. I then trotted over to a nearby home, and softly woke up the skunks, which crawled out, and certainly held that stench, which made me cover my nose as they walked by.

...

I yawned as I trotted along the snowy fields and spotted Applejack up ahead, which made me smile as I stopped next to her. "Hey, Applejack, how's everything going?"

She smiled with that usual smile. "Oh, just dandy. little slow starting, but peachy, all the same. There's a lot of ground to clear, ya hear? We can't even start the plantin' and the waterin' until we get all this heap of snow hightailed out of here."

I gave a smile as I did the other times, and spread out my wings. "How about some extra help?" I then felt the metal attachments began to shift over the wings, and now they were like those shovels. "Been wanting to test this prototype out for a while now."

Applejack was wide eyed at the prototype, then shrugged. "Well, Ah don't know, Ethan, but y'all look like ya can do it. Go ahead."

I gave a nod, and trotted over to the ground, before placing the tips of the wings together, which completed the massive shovel, and I began trotting forward, which made it begin to push through the snow, which was quite easy given the metallic attachments to my bones, as well as the hardened skin. And I soon had finished a good five rows.

"Alright, Ethan! That should be enough now, we could get the rest done ourselves!"

I gave a nod and removed my wings, leaving the large stretch of dirt uncovered by the snow. I then trotted over to Applejack as the armor subtracted back into the metal back I added that morning. "That should be good, right?"

Applejack gave a nod. "Sure is, Sugarcube. Thanks fer the help, now it should be a bit easier."

I nodded and waved at her as I began trotting away. "See you later, Applejack."

She waved back. "Ah reckin' so, Ethan!"

...

I yawned as I looked around, before I heard Applejack nearby. "Rainbow Dash! Y'all on the weather team need to melt the rest of this snow here on the ground and the trees pronto"

Rainbow nodded. "Got it!"

She sped forward, before Fluttershy got in her way. "You can't. My poor little animals' homes will get flooded if the snow melts too fast."

Rainbow nodded. "Got it."

Applejack stopped her at that. "Ah'm tellin' you, Rainbow, you got to melt that snow now."

Fluttershy shook her head. "No! You simply must wait."

I trotted in before they could push forward. "Okay!"

I spoke before the other two could speak. "Hold on, she can't do both you two, so think of a way to compromise."

They looked between each other and began yelling 'Go' and 'Stop' which made me groan slightly while Mayor Mare spoke. "Oh, what in Equestria are all you arguing about? This sort of silliness is why we were late for Spring last year, and the year before that, and the year before that!"

I looked at her. "Did you say, late?"

Mayor Mare sighed. "I was hoping my amazingly inspirational speech would urge everypony to do better than last year, but now it looks like we're going to be later than ever! I mean, just look at this catastrophe! The ice scorers made the ice chunks too big to melt... except that one. The nest designer's horrendously behind... except for those five big ones. We need several hundred, and she's only made one. And don't get me started on all the clouds still in the sky, the icicles in the trees. This isn't good. Not at all!"

Applejack spoke at that. "And it's gonna be all-to-pieces disastrous if we can't get our seeds all planted."

Rainbow leaned away at that. "Chillax, Applejack! We're busting our chops as fast as we can."

"No, not fast." We looked at Fluttershy. "You have to wake animals slowly."

Big Mac then trotted over. "Uh, A.J.?"

Applejack hoofpalmed. "Caramel lost the grass seeds again, didn't he?"

Caramel whimpered as Big Mac answered. "Uh-Eeyup."

A pegasus then flew over. "Ditzy Doo accidentally went north to get the southern birds."

Rainbow sighed. "Oh, that featherbrain! Didn't she learn her lesson last year when she went west?"

Everypony began to argue with each other now, which made me growl slightly, and Mayor Mare spoke up. "Stop this at once! We don't have time to argue! It's almost sundown. Spring is going to be late again. Another year of scandal and shame! If only we could be more organized."

I rolled my eyes at them. "Alright, EVERYPONY SHUT IT!!!" They went silent and all looked at me. "Given that everypony gets by easier with magic in other towns and the such, the least I should do is organize everything before you all begin to panic!" I then looked at Rex. "Go get a clipboard and some paper."

Rex gave a mock salute and ran off to the library , while I had them begin doing well, all the while checking off each thing that was completed once Rex returned. I then checked off the nest, then the ice when I had them carve out blocks, then the seeds when I had them go rows at a time, and finally the bells when Fluttershy used the long rope that held bells over all the holes, causing all the critters to jump out, then finally checked off the final thing when Rainbow and the others got rid of the last of the clouds, using a kind of tornado trick that dragged all the snow off the ground and trees too.

Everything was now going smoothly as I sat there with Rex next to me, checking off anything else we missed, and ED-E bobbing around while playing music. But soon night fell among us, though I kept with the group and helped with planting seeds and carrying hay.

The next morning all of the birds from up south began to flood the sky, and settled in the new nests, and even the castle nests, and water was being dragged around as well, leaving Rex to check off another part of the list, before feeling Nurse Redheart kiss him on the cheek, earning a heavy blush from him.

All in all, everything went smoothly, allowing me to let out a soft sigh at seeing that Spring had finally arrived. Mayor Mare then trotted over to me. "I can't believe it! Spring is here on time!" I smirked slightly as Rainbow trotted up to my side. "And we have you to thank for it. If it weren't for your organizing skills, we would still be arguing."

Big Mac gave a nod. "Eeyup."

Everypony began laughing at his response, while I simply gave a shrug. "I'd thank my old home for that, since I had to organize quite a bit there. So I really learned it all from there."

Mayor Mare nodded with a smile. "And since you helped every team, we have an official vest for you." I gulped as the tan, green, and blue vest floated up to me. "We give you the title All-Team Organizer."

They sealed the vest around my black duster, making it look less then appealing, though it seemed to satisfy the others. "Wow... um... I don't know what to say." I chuckled nervously, not liking the vest one bit. Thanks, uh... everypony."

Mayor Mare looked at the rest. "And hereby I declare that winter is wrapped up on time!" Everypony cheered in response, while I grunted slightly. I then heard Applejack speak. "Rex is sure gonna be in for one Hog-sized surprise when that last piece of ice melts."

I went wide eyed while everypony was laughing, and looked at the lake to see Rex fast asleep on a block of ice, and floating in the middle of the lake, which made me wince slightly. Hopefully he won't be too mad.

"HOLY SHIT!!!"

*SPLASH*

He's going to kill me when he gets out.

Chapter XII

Chapter XII

Rex's POV

...

I sighed heavily as the school bell went off, and folded my arms as I stood next to the Chalkboard, eyeing all the students with wary eyes, because I know full well they could easily get excited. Also, all of them, except three, had cutie marks, don't know why I noted that, but I simply shrugged it off as the teacher, Cheerilee, trotted over to the desk I stood by, where an apple sat. "Let's quiet down, please. We have a very important lesson to get to."

I finally decided to ask. "And you need me here... why?"

All the fillies looked up at me with the same question plastered on their faces, which made Cheerilee look at me. "Because Ethan was too busy to show his specialty, so he sent you to show your's... even though you don't hold it like us." She then looked at the class. "Today, we are going to be talking about cutie marks." She pulled the page out of the way, showing the random ones on the paper.

I then heard a filly speak. "Boring."

This made me look at her. "Oh? And what does YOUR cutie mark stand for?"

She glared at me. "I got it when I... well during the time I... well, father was with me when we..." She grumbled a bit and folded her forelegs in response.

I nodded and looked at Cheerilee, who had a grateful smile. "You can all see my cutie mark, can't you?" It was one of smiles on flowers. "Like all ponies, I wasn't born with a cutie mark. My flank was blank."

I gave a small snort. "Yeah, go figure."

She simply smirked at me. "And as I would have wished to have Ethan Mason come in and explain how he got his many cutie marks, which change from one to another every few seconds." The fillies gasped upon hearing that, as I snickered. "However, Ethan said he would have Rex here explain since he told him how he received them."

I groaned in response, and clawpalmed. "I will find him and torture him dearly for this..."

Cheerilee chuckled lightly, then we heard a filly speak at the picture of Cheerilee as a filly. "Aww... she's so precious."

I grunted in response. "Not as precious as Nurse Redheart."

Cheerilee giggled at my response, then returned to her teaching. "Then one day when I was about your age, I woke up to find that a cutie mark had appeared."

She moved the picture revealing a more techno looking mare, which made one speak. "Look at her hair!"

They all began laughing, which made me burp up a flame, causing them all to go silent, and I snickered since my plan to silence them worked. Cheerilee then spoke onward. "That's how everypony was wearing their mane back then."

I coughed a little. "At least your mane is better now."

The fillies began laughing again, which made Cheerilee smile a little. "I had decided to become a teacher, and the flowers symbolize my hope that I could help my future students bloom if I nurtured them with knowledge." I gave a grunt and sat on the desk. "The smiles represented the cheer I hoped to bring to my little ponies while they were learning." She then looked around. "Now, can anypony tell me when a pony gets his or her cutie mark?" She then looked at me. "Rex?"

i growled as I stood up, folded my claws behind my back, and took a military pose (or so Ethan said the pose was). "A cutie mark appears on one's flank when they discover their hidden and special talent. They can always hold more then one, but the one on your flank will always be the major talent you hold."

Cheerilee was surprised by my answer, since I've been reciting it every single time a filly or colt asked me. "That is quite right, Rex." She then looked at the fillies. "In simpler terms, if you didn't understand his answer, is that a cutie mark appears on a pony's flank when he or she finds that certain something that makes them different from every other pony." I spotted Applebloom writing this all down. "Discovering what makes you unique isn't something that happens overnight, and no amount of hoping, wishing, or begging..."

I then cut her off, seeing the run of a filly trying to catch Applebloom's attention. "Is there something you'd like to share, Diamond Tiara?"

She went wide eyed, and quickly shook her head. This made me narrow my eyes, and walked over to her desk, eyeing her suspiciously, then snatched the letter from her desk which made her cry out. "HEY! THAT'S MINE!"

I looked at the note, and snorted at it being a form of insult to Applebloom's flank, before glancing at Tiara, then to Applebloom, then to the filly next to Applebloom. This made me growl, and crunched up the letter, then looked at Cheerilee. "I think it would be best to move Applebloom's seat away from, Miss Tiara."

Cheerilee raised an eyebrow. "Why is that?"

"Because I've been in school before, and Tiara here intended to have Applebloom pass a letter to that filly just to simply insult her. And YOU would have gotten mad at Applebloom instead of Diamond Tiara." I then smirked at the filly. "I also was taught a bit about drawing up conclusions with a simple glance."

I handed the note to Cheerilee, who read it, and sighed heavily. "Diamond Tiara, you know I will have to tell your father about this."

Tiara went very wide eyed and began begging her not to. I then heard Tiara speak. "B-B-But it's blank!"

I narrowed my eyes at her. "And does that remind you of anypony?" She stayed silent. "I rest my case."

Cheerilee gave a thankful nod as I walked back over to the desk, and sat down.

...

Later

...

I walked out of the school house as the bells went off, and walked alongside Applebloom, who was smiling happily after my little help in class. I then noticed the little filly Diamond Tiara walk out with her friend as she spoke. "I don't know why we had to sit through a lecture about getting a cutie mark. I mean, waiting for your cutie mark is so last week."

I snickered in response. "I bet that's all you did to get yours, you little shrimp."

She huffed in response, and ignored me. "I mean, you got yours, I just got mine. We all have them already." Applebloom and the other filly looked at their flanks, and sighed. This made her slide up to them. "I mean, almost all of us have them already."

I grabbed her by the mane, and lifted her up to eye level, puffing out a cloud of smoke into her muzzle, and making her cough at the burnt oxygen. I then spoke. "You better be silent before I burn you to a crisp... or possibly tell your father what you've been doing and make sure you get a year's worth of grounding."

She whimpered in response and nodded, making me set her down, before she bolted as far away in the playground as possible. This made me smile, and lifted up Applebloom before setting her down on my shoulders. "Come on, I'm sure Applejack would like to have you home now."

Applebloom smiled widely. "Alright!"

I smirked at her, and began running down the way, far away from the school, and given my training, it was almost like we were flying at the speed we were going. Applebloom was squealing with delight at being given this ride, until we soon came up to Sweet Apple Acres, and slowed down near Applejack.

Applejack looked at us and smiled. "Hey there, Rex, and how are you doing today, Lil' Sis'?"

I sat Applebloom down, and she finally let out what she's been keeping in. "It's not fair! It's just not fair!"

Applejack sighed. "Don't get your mane in a tangle. You'll get your cutie mark. Everypony gets one eventually."

Applebloom gave a determined look. "But Ah don' want one eventually. I want one right now! Ah can't go to Diamond Tiara's Cute-Ceanera without one. I just can't!"

I grunted in response, earning both of their attention. "Then don't go, all it's meant for is to insult the ponies with blank flanks, and so Diamond Tiara feels more loved then anypony else. There's no point in going." I plucked an apple from a tree, and tossed it to Applejack, who caught it in her mouth, and put it in the bucket. "I mean, nopony goes to somepony's party unless they are friends, or intend to get revenge. And I believe it's better to save the revenge for me and Ethan."

Applejack gave me a stern gaze. "Ah don't want y'all gettin' revenge when Applebloom's around, ya hear?"

I waved it off. "Yeah, yeah, sure. Not like it matters anyways."

Applejack rolled her eyes at me, then looked at Applebloom. "Y'know, Ah was the last pony in mah class to get a cutie mark, and Ah couldn't be prouder of it. Ah knew mah future was to run Sweet Apple Acres, and these bright, shiny apples sealed the deal." She gasped slightly. "Come to think of it, Grandma Smith was the last one in her class, too." She let out a small chuckle. "Same with Big Macintosh."

I watched Applebloom trot over to a basket with apples. "Ah really don' see how that's supposed to make me feel better. It probably means that bein' the last one in your class to get a cutie mark runs in the family." She then popped up. "'Runs in the family'?" Her eyes widened as did her smile. "'Runs in the family'!" She then sped up to me and Applejack. "'RUN'S IN THE FAMILY'!" She then looked at Applejack's cutie mark. "You've got apples for your cutie mark. Granny Smith has an Apple Pie," She was then in my face, making me fall backwards as she stood on my chest, right in my face. "Big Macintosh has an Apple Half. "My unique talent must have something to do with apples!"

i pulled her off my chest as she began to chant 'apple', making me sigh heavily and let her go, causing her to fall in a bucket of apples, and Applejack cried out. "REX!!!"

I lifted my arms in defense. "Hey! How was I supposed to know the bucket was there?! I was solely focused on the insane filly you call a sister!"

Applejack shook her head at me, which made me roll my eyes, knowing I was going to pay for this.

...

I stood next to the Apple Stand Applejack put up, and had my arms folded, sighing as I spoke, while Applebloom and Applejack were to the side. "Apples! Get your delicious, nutritious apples here."

Applejack gave me a stern gaze. "Speak with more enthusiasm, Rex! We need to reel 'em in!"

I growled at her, and spoke louder, which wasn't much to be honest. I then heard Applebloom speak. "Delicious and nutritious and so many uses. She ate the one she had on her head. "You can eat 'em, play with 'em..." She hit one with a tennis racket. "Create fine art for your home with 'em." The apple then his a painting, and gained an unamused look from the nearby stallion, while Applebloom went on. "You'd be crazy not to get a bushel of your very own."

Applejack grabbed her by the bow, and dragged her away, chuckling awkwardly, and looked around. "She's so creative." She then sped off at a tan stallion with an hourglass cutie mark. "You, sir!, care to buy some apples?"

He kept walking. "No thanks."

She looked at him from a stand. "Why not?"

He chuckled awkwardly. "I have plenty at home."

He bumped into her as she got behind him. "Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm pretty sure."

She got in his way again. "You are pretty sure. But you're not absolutely, positively, completely, superduper sure, are you?"

He began to sweat. "If I buy some apples, will you please leave me alone?"

She smiled. "Alright!"

He tossed some bits to Applejack, grabbed a apple, and sped off, making Applejack call out. "You forgot your change!"

Applebloom was excited now. "Whoo-hoo! There's how you sell some apples and get a cutie mark." Applejack raised an eyebrow as Applebloom began to spin around looking at her flank. "So, what does my Cutie Mark look like -- a shopping bag full of apples? A satisfied customer eating an apple?" She placed a hoof on her chin, seeing there wasn't one. "Maybe Ah got to increase my sales figures first." She then yelled at a now terrified pony. "YOU TOUCH IT, YOU BUY IT!" She then gave an innocent look. "We take cash or credit."

Applejack gave an apologetic look to the terrified mare. "Ah'm sorry, ma'am." She sped off without a second thought. "Ma'am!" She sighed and looked at her sister, all the while I put some bits on the stand, and was going through my fifth apple as I watched the entire event. "Now, Applebloom, you can't just..."

Applebloom was now in front of a mare, a bag full of apples. "That'll be four bits."

She glared at the filly. "I didn't put those in my bag."

She raised an eyebrow, given that I saw her put it in there. "Likely story, four bits, lady!"

Applejack stuffed her mouth with a hoof. "Applebloom!" She looked at Bonbon. "Ah am really, really sorry about that. She's new." She poured some apples into her bag. "Here, take these, no charge." Bonbon was still not amused, making Applejack point at even more. "And these." Bonbon was still not happy, making Applejack sigh, and pulled out a bucket. "And these." She put the bucket on her back, making the mare give out a grunt with a false smile, while she began trudging away. "Y'all come back now, ya hear?"

She then glared at Applebloom, who stood in front of an empty market stand. "What?"

I couldn't help but snicker.

"Sorry, little sis, but your apple-sellin' days are over." She then pulled the apron off of her.

"What?! But how else am Ah gonna get my cutie mark?"

She took the apron back, which Applejack took away again. "Home, now!"

Applebloom huffed in annoyance, while I picked her up and sat her on my back. This made Applejack sigh. "Listen, Sugarcube, I know it's hard to wait for your own cutie mark, but, you just can't force it. Besides, you're not that grown up just yet, ain't there other fillies in your class without one?"

Applebloom sighed slightly. "Well, Twist doesn't have her's yet."

"Do you think you feel better if you went to the party with her?"

Applebloom nodded. "Mm-hmm."

"Well, there you go. Bet you and Twist would have a great time together. Now run along and find your friend."

Applebloom looked at AJ. "You sure you don't want me to stick around till the end of the market?"

Somepony then cried out. "Hey, who's been using my racket?!"

Applejack didn't show any emotion in her response. "Yeah, Ah'm sure."

...

I walked up to the house Twist lived at with Applebloom on my shoulder, and gave a knock on the door. This made Twist open it, and look up at her. Oh, what's up, Applebloom?"

Applebloom rubbed her neck slightly. "So, Ah was thinkin'. Maybe we could go to Diamond Tiara's Cutie-Ceanera together. Ah don't have a cutie mark, you don;t have a cutie mark."

Twist looked to the side. "Well, um..." She opened the lower door to reveal a cutie mark of candy canes, which made Applebloom go wide eyed. "Isn't my cutie mark swell? I always loved making my own savory sweets. But it took me some time to discover that it was my super special talent. Pretty sweet, huh?"

Applebloom had a sad look now. "Yeah. pretty... sweet."

Twist looked at her. "Hey... this doesn't mean we can't go to the cute-ceanera together. You're still gonna come to the party, aren't you?"

Tiara spoke as she began trotting by. "Of course she will."

"It's not like being there without a cutie mark will be like, the most embarrassing thing ever."

I blew out flames in their direction, making them cry out in horror and sped out of the way, galloping for their lives as the ground they stood on was scorched.

...

I grunted as I sat there near a well, with Applebloom next to me, which made me raise an eyebrow as I saw Rainbow look down at us. "Whoa. Looks like somepony's got a dark cloud hanging over her head." There was literally one to emphasize the point. "Let me do something about that." She then pushed it out of the way. She then landed on her hooves, smiling at Applebloom. "What's the matter, kid?"

Applebloom took a deep breath, and began speaking a bit fast. Then finally cried out. "I want it now!"

Rainbow raised an eyebrow. "Cutie mark?"

i stared dumbfounded at her. "You actually got all of that?"

Rainbow smirked at me. "Yeah, and good thing too, I plan to use these skills for my time with Ethan." She then grew hopeful. "Do you think he might ask me to marry him?"

I grunted in response. "So not going to talk about it."

She rolled her eyes at me. "You're just jealous that I'm the new favorite."

I snickered. "Sorry, not gay."

She glared at me. "That's not what I meant!"

"But you were thinking it."

She gave a small cry at this and slumped in a defeated fashion, given that I wouldn't back down. She then looked at Applebloom. "I can get you a cutie mark like that." She snapped her tail in emphasis.

Applebloom had a sad look. "Applejack says these things take time. I have to just wait for it to happen."

Rainbow rolled her eyes. "Why wait for something to happen when you can make it happen?"

Applebloom's ears went down as she had a very adorable face. "But Applejack says that--"

"Hey, who are you gonna listen to -- Applejack, or the pony who was first in her class to get a cutie mark?" Applebloom stood up at that. "I always liked flying and all, but I was going nowhere in a hurry. It wasn't until my very first race that I discovered a serious need for speed." She then brought up her cutie mark. "And -- KAZAAM! -- This sweet baby appeared as fast as lightning."

I folded my arms at that. "You know, Ethan never got his cutie mark until he arrived in Equestria."

Rainbow went wide eyed, then looked away with a blush. "Yeah? Well, he doesn't count."

"He is also a major nerd."

Rainbow's blush increased, and she glared at me. "So what?! He is a special case! He doesn't need to be like everypony else to be perfect!"

I smirked at her, then shrugged. "Whatever."

...

Later

...

I watched as Applebloom did another push up, and another, and another. All the while I heard Rainbow speak. "That's right. Stretch out those legs." I glanced over at Rainbow, seeing she was wearing a white headband, and a whistle, which made her look weird to me. "Got to be nice and loose. The key here is to try as many things as possible as quickly as possible. One of them is bound to lead to your cutie mark. Are you ready?"

Applebloom stood up in response. "Ah'm ready!"

Rainbow picked up her voice. "I said, are you ready?!"

Applebloom did the same. "Ah'm ready!!"

...

Many attempts at different things later

...

"Tried that one, tried that one..."

I ignored Rainbow as I patted Applebloom, who was curled up on my lap, defeat in her eyes, which made me smile softly. "Hey, it's alright, Applebloom. You'll figure it out eventually, you just need to know which one it was, and trust me when I say that's no easy feat. Just keep trying and don't give up."

Applebloom looked up at me, with the saddest eyes ever. "Do you think Ah'll ever get a cutie mark?"

I gave a soft smile and petted down her mane. "I'm sure you will."

She smiled and curled back up. "Ah wish you were mah big brother..."

I couldn't help but chuckle lightly. "I may not be, but how about you just look at me that way."

She nodded in response, and we soon heard the two bullies from earlier laughing, which made Applebloom dive into the bushes while one spoke. "Your new outfit is, like, perfect for the party."

"I know. It totally shows off my new cutie mark."

"I love being special."

I puffed out some smoke, making them look at me, and scream in horror as they were gone with a cloud of dust where they once were.

Applebloom then cried out as she jumped onto my lap. "Ah'm doomed -- DOOMED! Ah'll never find something Ah'm good at!"

I gently petted her mane. "Of course you will, it just takes time."

Just then Pinkie was in front of us. "You look like you'd be good at eating cupcakes."

Applebloom looked over from her spot, a smile on her muzzle. "Eating cupcakes?"

Rainbow raised an eyebrow. "Eating cupcakes?"

Pinkie jumped up while Applebloom had a massive smile. "Eating cupcakes!" Pinkie then began to bounce away.

Applebloom then looked at Rainbow. "Ah really appreciate all your help, Rainbow Dash. You're a really great coach, and Ah've really learned a lot from you." She began to back away towards Pinkie while Rainbow simply stood there. "And Ah'm sure Ah can learn a lot more, but Ah've got some cupcakes to eat!" She then began trotting away from us. "See you at the cute-ceanera!" She then galloped after Pinkie.

I looked over at Rainbow as her mouth hung open, and smirked at her. "Looks like you've lost your job." I then began walking after them. "See ya later, or whenever Ethan's around."

...

"Ah can't believe Ah didn't think of this -- a cupcake eating cutie mark. It's so obvious." I stopped at the door as Applebloom began to look through the cupboards. "Now, where are those cupcakes? Ah'm ready to chow down!"

Pinkie trotted over to her. "I don't have any cupcakes."

"Oh..."

Pinkie then gasped. "But you look like you'd be good at helping me make some!"

She then placed a chefs hat on Applebloom's head, making her speak. "Ah guess a making-cupcakes cutie mark could work, too."

Pinkie then began to sing, which made me groan and clasp my claws over my ears, but I could still hear it. I grabbed a couple hats and stuffed them in my small ears, but still no results. Finally I just stuffed my head in a barrel of water, hearing nothing but gurgling as I stood there. Once it stopped, I pulled my head out, and spat out a fish that swam into my mouth, and turned to the room.

I swear it was a mess now, and batter was flying everywhere while many dishes stood on top of others. Applebloom then tipped over a bag of flour, pulled out a tray of burnt cupcakes while crying out at them being hot, and her tongue hung out while Pinkie spoke. "Ooh! Those look much better than the last batch." She then began to eat one, which made Applebloom try one, and immediately spat it out.

Pinkie and I looked over at Applebloom, who had a sad look again. "Guess Ah'm not cut out to be a baker, either." She then sighed as I walked up to her side. "Ah just have to face it. Ah'm gonna have a blank flank forever!"

I folded my arms at that. "And what's wrong with that, hmm? All it does is make you more special than the others, since you'd have a whole world of opportunities to chase after, and you could be the best at anything."

Pinkie then pointed at the white blob on her flank. "What about that?"

Applebloom looked there. "What about what?" I couldn't help but smirk at this, even though it was obviously NOT a cutie mark. "Is there something on my flank? Is there? Is there? Is there?" She then looked at it from a fallen dish's reflection, and gasped. "A cutie mark!" She then began to rant on what it could be."

I then dusted it off her flank, revealing it to be blank, then dusted my claws off. "It's flour."

Applebloom looked at her flank, letting out a sad sigh. Just then we heard Ethan. "Whoa! What happened here?"

I folded my arms as Pinkie slid up to her, cupcakes on her head. "We've been making cupcakes. Want to try one?"

Ethan pulled his head away. "No, but thank you, they look a bit... burnt."

Applebloom then rushed up to Ethan. "Ethan, you have to help me."

he looked down at her. "What's wrong?"

Applebloom then began to rant on really quickly. She then cried out. "RIGHT NOW!"

Ethan scratched his ear a little. "Uh-huh... care to try that a bit slower this time? Something about a cutie mark?" She nodded. "How can I help you?"

Applebloom smiled a bit. "You can use your magic to make mah cutie mark appear."

I shook my head in response. "Sorry, Applebloom. A cutie mark is something that a pony has to discover for themselves." He then glanced back at his cutie mark, which showed the numbers 101, then went to one of the factions he's been a part of. "And they have to actually mean something to you for them to appear... otherwise they are the same as a blank flank."

Applebloom gave him pleading eyes. "Please, Ethan, just try."

Ethan stepped back. "Sorry, but as I said--"

"Oh, please, please, please, please, please!"

Ethan raised a hoof that that. "Alright, fine." He then muttered silently. "Not like anything will happen.

"Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you!"

Ethan let out an annoyed grunt and let his horn glow slightly, which, made a pulled cart of apples appear for a minute, then disappear. "I'm sorry, Applebloom, but I told you."

"Try again! Try again!"

Ethan sighed heavily, and his horn glowed again, making a kite appear, then disappear, then cupcakes, then a teddy bear, then a unicycle, and a ton of other ones, until Ethan simply stopped. He then noticed the single drop of sweat run down his forehead, and wiped it away as he spoke. "I should have listened to Nurse Redheart about keeping away from magic for the day." He then looked at her. "Told you, magic can't make a cutie mark appear before its time."

Applebloom sighed. "It's hopeless -- HOPELESS!" She then began to trot for the door. "Ah just won't go to the party. Ah can't go! Everypony'll just laugh at me and make fun of me and call me names. It'll be the worst night of mah life."

I walked over to her, petting her small head. "I'm sure it won't be as bad as all that."

"Forget it. There's not way Ah'm going to that..." She then realized that we were all standing in the party she was talking about, which made her gulp. "...party."

i rolled my eyes at her, and patted her head as I walked over to a nearby table, grabbed a cupcake, and bit into it, thankful I got a good one. I noticed all the ponies from around town were here, and Diamond Tiara was showing off, while casting worried glances over to me. Applebloom then hid behind a chocolate statue that stood next to me. "How could Ah have forgotten the time? How could Ah have forgotten Pinkie Pie was hosting the party? How could Ah have forgotten it was at SugarCube Corner?"

Pinkie then placed a hat on her. "Don't forget your party hat, forgetty forgeterson."

Applebloom then began to hide behind each sweet, while I simply stayed close. "Ah have to get out of here before anypony sees me." Just then Snails walked over, and ate some of a cake, which made Tiara yell at him. "HEY! It's my cute-ceanera! I'm supposed to get the first bite of the cake!"

Applebloom hid behind a random mare, dove behind a few balloons, which were all broken by a stallion, and Applebloom dove under a table. She dove behind a pair of fillies, hid behind a cake, and then hid under the punch table. This made me walk over, and pour myself a cup of punch as I spoke. "Relax, Applebloom, it's a party. You don't have to worry about Tiara so long as I'm around."

She ignored me and looked at the doorway. "Okay, Applebloom, almost there." She then began to move with the table, causing a mare to drink some punch, then quickly tiptoed to the front door, and finally found it. She almost left, before Applejack stopped her. "Applebloom, you made it!" She then trotted in. "After Ah heard about Twist, Ah was afraid y' wouldn't show up. Ah sure am glad you came to your senses about this whole cutie mark thing. These things happen when these things are supposed to happen. Trying to rush it will just drive you crazy." She then stopped Applebloom a bit farther inside. Ah'll let you be, looks like your friends want to talk to you."

I looked over at Diamond Tiara, and narrowed my eyes, making her go wide eyed upon seeing me, and quickly went away from us. This made me smile, and walked around with Applebloom, all the while the party continued on. I then noticed Mage Script walk in, which made me smile and wave at him. "Hey, man, what brings you here?"

Mage Script stepped out of the way, revealing a young pegasus filly with a purple mane and tail, and a orange coat. This made me smile, kneel down, and waved kindly. "Why hello there, come to enjoy the party?"

She nodded at this, and offered her hoof. "I'm Scootaloo, and..." She blushed as she looked away, making me notice her blank flank.

This made me whisper to Applebloom. "Looks like you aren't the only one, Applebloom."

Applebloom smiled at that, introduced herself to Scootaloo, and they quickly became friends, walking off to enjoy the party, and were even joined by Rarity's little sister, Sweetie Belle.

I then noticed Ethan walk over while Mage left to enjoy the party. "Seems like today went alright, huh?"

Ethan simply nodded as he let his wings flap slightly. "Sure does." He then glanced at me. "So, I see you and Applebloom have been getting along."

I smirked slightly. "Yeah, we had a good day. She just needs somepony to help her realize she ain't the only one."

Ethan nodded again as he took a sip of punch. "Agreed." He then shook his body slightly. "I better go send a letter to Celestia, mind keeping an eye on those three for me?"

I nodded in response, and he left. Today went good.

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My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic - Fallout Edition

Mature Rated Fiction

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