What awoke me from my sleep was the sudden sensation of freezing cold air across my whole body. I groaned, trying to find some way to hide form the cold but it was pressing in from everywhere. Eventually I couldn’t ignore it and forced my heavy, slightly sticky, eyelids open. I looked down, or up really since I was upside down, and I found I was hanging halfway out of Ruby’s mouth. It was incredibly strange to see half my body disappearing into Ruby’s unhinged jaw and the bulge in her neck, what I could assume, were my legs. Ruby threw her head down and I flopped onto the floor, realising the cold had been a reaction to the cool air in the room since I was covered in saliva and pre-digestion juices from Ruby’s stomach. Ruby sat down on the floor and I glanced lazily around. We appeared to be in my wagons little bathroom, which I was thankful for since tiles were easier to clean than bed covers. Ruby had now curled up onto her tail and was breathing heavily.

“It’s nice… Having such a large meal but… I hate having to regurgitate it back up… Tastes same but the sensation is horrible.” She mumbled.

“Is it worth it?” I asked Ruby nodded and smirked.

“No objections to eating you if you let me.” She said.

I managed to drag my sleepy hooves up so I was standing. I walked slowly over to the shower and set it running, before walking back to Ruby and half carried half dragged her along. I pulled Ruby’s pony half inside, she stared up at me with a tired smile and I sat down beside her, the water from the shower cascading down onto our heads. I managed to pull a good amount of Ruby’s tail inside the shower with us and sat down, leaning against Ruby, pulling her tail over us like a blanket. The water caused Ruby’s tail to sparkle softly in the light.

“You’re really beautiful… You know.” I mumbled. Ruby shifted her head so she was resting it against mine as well.

“Thank you.” She mumbled.

I think I zoned out, most of my brain was asleep as I absent-mindedly washed both myself and Ruby incredibly slowly. The warm water attempting futilely to wake both of us up, it seemed to almost be putting us back to sleep in fact. Next thing I knew I was suddenly back in the harness, dragging the wagon along, Ruby was leaning her head against the side of the harness, eyes closed. As I watched she slumped slightly.

“Careful, you’ll fall under the wheels if you’re not careful.” I said blinking the sleep out of my eyes and rubbing them, forcing my body to wake up.

As the hills, fields and distant little farmhouses passed by I began to recognise small landmarks. An old stone farmhouse with a missing roof, scaffolding surrounding it but long since abandoned.

“That place was like that even when I left.” I mumbled to Ruby.

“It looks like it might have once been nice.” She noted softly.

“It was… Burned down, well as much as a stone house can burn down. Old owners didn’t have the bits to fix it so they simply moved. My town wanted to rebuild it, but funding got cut so… It’s just a shell now. Lot of this town is like that.” I said sadly.

“Did you know the owners?” Ruby asked I nodded.

“An old couple, used to let me and my friends mess around in their fields. We helped em with the land sometimes and got ice cream, cause we thought that was what the future currency would be.”

“So you kept eating your money?” Ruby asked with a soft laughed I nodded with a grin.

“My friend, Skitter, he ate so much one time that he turned blue from the cold.” I said and Ruby laughed.

I looked ahead as the nearest hill began to turn into a decent, I could see the distant houses of Oakbark, curling trails of smoke as the distant murmur of ponies going about their business began to reach us. I stopped at the top of the hill and Ruby kept going for a little bit until she realised I’d stopped.

“Bolt?” She asked softly.

“I always thought I’d gotten so far from here,” I mumbled searching the little houses “But, despite how long I’ve been gone, it seems I was never very far away.” Ruby slid back beside me and took my right hoof.

“R-Ruby,” She held up her free hoof pointing it at me.

“You are not backing down now! You are going to go down there and find your parents!” She grumbled in a commanding voice. I stared at her, fearful of what lay ahead of me.

“C-can we at least wait until night?” I asked hopefully. To answer, Ruby slid around the back of the wagon.

“Get moving or I’ll push this thing down the hill and drag your unconscious body to your house.” She threatened and I felt the wagon give an ominous shove. I began to move gently forward, bracing on the ground to keep the wagon from rolling down the hill rapidly.

“Don’t you want to get in the wagon so nopony sees you?” I asked.

“As much as I want to, I will simply have to bare the gazes I will attract. If I go inside you might just lead us back out.” I looked at Ruby but she had a steely expression, this was not up for debate.

I think this was almost a nightmare for me. Walking into my home town in broad daylight, probably during market hour with something that would draw massive attention. Namely, Ruby. When we first reached the houses I almost managed to cling to the vane hope that nopony would see us, first turn and that was kinda dashed on the walls. Several ponies, some in groups, pairs or alone, were traveling along the road mostly in the same direction as Ruby and I were going. A single pony looked back at the noise of my wagon and froze, their eyes widening as they took in Ruby’s form.

It spread like wildfire, the pony behind the frozen pony looked over as well and the one in front stopped to look at the lack of response to his words. Finally the whole street was staring at us and we, like the ponies ahead of us, had stopped. You could have heard the breathing of everypony present as they took in Ruby. She suddenly looked uncomfortable and shifted slightly, looking between all the ponies. She tried for a small smile and that seemed to wake some of them up. A few simply turned around so they faced us, a pair of stallions ran fit to break the sound barrier and the rest hid behind anything they could find. Ruby looked nervously at me.

“This was your choice,” I mumbled “And we’ve been seen, best start moving.” I mumbled and began to set the wagon moving again, Ruby following beside me.

The ponies in the street slowly moved aside for us to pass, many goggling at Ruby, the few that couldn’t see her pony half staring at me or her tail trailing behind the wagon. Things seemed bent on getting worse, a small crowd of ponies came jogging down the street ahead of us to our left, which was thankfully not the way we had to go. Ruby moved a little faster so she could see the crowd and they broke out in talk, several backing away as we approached. Then I got temporarily blinded. I blinked, something bright had flashed near my face and when I looked over a bright blue Earth pony with a lighter blue mane, leaf green eyes and a camera cutie mark grinned at me, before jogging in front and around my wagon.

Great just what I needed, press. I turned to warn Ruby who was staring directly at the strange pony jogging beside our wagon, another flash from his camera made Ruby jumped slightly in surprise.

“What do you want?” I growled at the photographer, but he didn’t answer somepony else did.

“Just doing a piece for the paper, you understand. Have to make a living.” I glanced over at the second pony.

A unicorn this time, lime green with a black mane, hazel brown eyes that felt as if they were drilling into me and reading me like a book and a pad with a pencil cutie mark. The stallion had sneaked up and begun to walk in line beside me.

He was levitating a voice recorder, in a bright white aura, between us and smiling in a slightly casual way, I didn’t like it.

“So, can you introduce yourself and your interesting friend here?” He asked leaning the recorder towards me, I glanced at Ruby.

Speaking would encourage him, not speaking would make him shift to Ruby which was even less preferable.

“Boltblood Thundercloud, and this is Ruby Scales. She’s a lamia, that’s a half pony half snake hybrid.” I said Ruby leaned over and politely said.

“Hello.” With a slight smile whilst the reporter’s friend took another picture.

“Thundercloud… Thundercloud… You’re the younger brother to Digital Canvas, the artist and game developer, correct?”

“…Yes.” I whispered thinking of my brother sadly.

I had hoped the crowd would have dispersed, but, thanks to the reporter questioning us, they seemed to have gathered the bravery needed to remain close behind us. The reporter teleported, as if to show off that he could since few unicorns can, to the other side of the wagon. Ruby gave a cry of surprise and shifted away from the reporter slightly.

“Don’t do that.” She muttered, but the reporter paid no heed.

“So, recently down in Ponyville, a story was released about a similar creature to yourself, he looked exactly like you though he was a different colour, are you aware of any other lamias in the areas around Equestria?” The reporter held out the recorder but me and Ruby stared at him.

“Another lamia… In Ponyville?” I asked slowly, the reporter nodded.

“You said it was a he?” Ruby asked.

“Yes, why is that a surprise?” Ruby hesitated glancing at me then back to the reporter, several ponies jogged forward a little to listen.

“Where I come from, the badlands that is to say, I live within a village of my kind. However our population has no male lamias, since our children are always born gender dominant to the lamia parents if it’s between a lamia and pony. We… We haven’t seen a male lamia in a long time, I actually believed they’d died out.” Ruby said, the reporter raised an eyebrow and mumbled something into his recorder that I couldn’t hear.

“So, you said you lived in the badlands, how exactly did you two meet?” Ruby and I shared a glance at one another, silently debating whether to tell him.

Finally I nodded grimly and Ruby turned back to the reporter.

“Bolt sorta had an accident at an event on one of the mountains around the badlands, his wagon came crashing down the hill…”

Ruby went into detail how we’d met but she left out certain parts, the hypnosis, our talk, and how she cried when I cowered from her anger, which she seemed bent on keeping to herself down to the grave, and, thankfully, the events at Canterlot castle.

“You’re friends with Princess Luna?” The reporter asked looking between us both, I nodded slightly.

“I suppose we are.” I said.

“Interesting. So what exactly is your purpose for visiting, if I may ask?”

“Just… Just visiting my family.” I said hesitantly.

“Asking for your parents blessing?” The reporter asked with a grin.

My entire body seemed to try and reject the information, my left leg twitched and my right one raised in in defence, my wings stretched out awkwardly and I made a really weird noise that I can’t even duplicate now (And if I ever find that tape recorder I will destroy it!).

“Bolt hasn’t seen his parents in a very long time, so I… Ah, convinced him that he ought to visit.” Ruby said.

“Are they aware that he travels with you?”

“I’m not sure they’ve know where he’s been for the last couple of years.” Ruby whispered glancing at me sadly.

“You’re dancing on thin ice.” I whispered, too both of them.

The reporter shifted slightly attempting to find a different subject, clearly not wanting to ruin such a good story, but he’d have made a mental note no doubt.

“So, what exactly is your relationship? Friends? Are you her guardian on some sort of exchange program?” This didn’t seem to dangerous.

“I’m her friend but I’m also looking after her whilst she visits Equestria, showing her around.” I said. The reporter leaned close.

“How close is ‘friends’ for you two?” He whispered audibly.

Ruby said nothing but gave a knowing grin and the report held his hoof to his mouth trying not to laugh and the photographer fox whistled.

I looked at Ruby who continued to grin at the approaching lamppost, not even glancing at me.

“I hate you so much right now.” I hissed under my breath but Ruby simply chuckled.

“Right well that should be enough for me to get started with, I hope you won’t mind if I visit you some time in the future for a little interview about where you live, if that’s alright Miss Ruby?” Ruby nodded smiling. The reporter leaned close.

“There’s a little pub near the town centre, called the tipsy mares, has a picture of two flushed mares like the name implies, I’ll be there tomorrow around one if you have time.” He said.

“We’d love to be there.” The reporter smiled, nodded at me with a slight grin at my embarrassment like a friend and set off with his photographer.

With the departure of the reporter and his friend, the crowd seemed to lose the moral needed to hang so close to us. They began to slow down until we eventually lost them through a couple of quick turns. I breathed a sigh of relief, last thing I needed was an honour guard following me up to my parents’ house. I then got a fearful thought.

“What if my parents don’t live in the old house, they could have moved, what…” Ruby held her hoof to my mouth and smiled.

“You have your dad’s coat.” She said with a smile.

I looked at Ruby who nodded forward and I turned to look. He was just stood there, out in the front of the house. Looked like his was making cement for something in a flat wooden box with a shovel. My dad was an Earth pony in the very centre of his life, fifty, leaving his prime behind, his fur was dark blood red like me but without the peachy muzzle and his tail was jet black, but both were starting to grey, he had no mane since it had all fallen out, a little after I was born (He always use to joke it was the stress of me that had caused it) his cutie mark was a saw with several nails scattered around the handle and his dark blue eyes were very much like mine just a little more wary. I froze, he hadn’t noticed us yet, he was sideways to me turning over the mush of greyish cement, it was definitely him just a little more grey, and he had weird, giant, plaster, bandage, things along his front legs.

Ruby gently pushed me and I began to walk forward, I gulped staring directly at my dad. I glanced back at Ruby and was very thankful she hadn’t decided to hang back, I didn’t think I’d make it to the front of the house. As the shadow of the wagon passed near where my dad was working he glanced up. He looked at me raising an eyebrow.

“Hello, can I help you?” He asked propping the shovel up. For a second I just stared at my dad then kicked off the harness and tackle him in a hug “What the bloody hell!?” My dad cried pushing me back “What do you think you’re doing?” He asked.

“D-dad… It’s me.” My dad blinked then his eyes widened as he finally saw me.

“Bolt?” He whispered. He didn’t seem able to form a response, he took a single step forward and hugged me “I should be beating the shit out of you, damn little git!”.

“Wouldn’t blame you.” I said as my dad stepped back “W-where’s mum?” I asked softly. My dad smiled slightly at me and turned towards the house.

Our house… Well my parents now, I don’t really live there do I, is a two story building. Looking at the front you’ll see a garage door with the house number on the left and a little further around some steps up to the second floor door. The inside was built like two single story houses built on top of each other. The first floor had a kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, the garage that had a workroom where my mum usually was and a small room with all the freezers (It was artic temperature all year and I use to sit in there during summer) the second floor had a living room that connected to the kitchen, three bedrooms, one which led to a balcony, two bathrooms, one of which connected to my parents room, and then the attic which was just storage.

My dad pushed open the garage door and called into the house.

“Cotton I think you need to see this, it’s urgent.” My dad called inside.

“Can’t it wait a minute?” My mum called back from her workroom.

“I imagine it can but I doubt you’ll want to wait for this.” I heard a soft distant scraping sound then soft walking, next second my mum appeared in the doorway.

My mum was a deep summer sky blue unicorn with oddly spiky hair that reached her neck, her mane was bright sunshine yellow but the roots showed their original colour, my dark brown (She dyes her hair and tail regularly, if she didn’t I imagine it would be turning a bit grey as well since she is the same age as my dad) her cutie mark was a sewing machine. Her chocolate coloured eyes glared for a second at my dad then she looked at me.

Unlike my dad, I imagine my mum had never quite wiped the image of my face from her mind. She took one looked at me and started crying. My mum ran forward and smacked the air out of my lungs as she hugged me, I could feel the tears rolling down into my fur.

“M-mum get off!” I coughed.

“Bolt! Where have… Oh my Celestia I thought…” She didn’t seem able to form the words to describe what she thought “Where have you been?” Here we go.

I looked nervously to my dad who was stood beside me then to my mum again, who had finally backed up but was still sobbing slightly.

I shifted on the spot nervous.

“I’ve… Been traveling a bit. Seeing Equestria.” I said.

“W-why did you leave we could’ve sorted it out.” My mum sobbed.

“Yeah,” I said darkly “Like all the times before when we ‘sorted it out’ remember them?” I asked, my mum looked away sadly and my dad frowned.

“It was no excuse to run you should of…”

“Don’t tell me what I should and shouldn’t have done!” I shouted and my mum choked while my dad growled.

This was going about as well as I’d imagined if not a bit worse. I imagine a full on brawl might have escalated but my mum, unable to meet my eyes, had glanced around me to try and find something to inspire her on what to say to calm me down, to not lose me again. Instead her eyes fell upon Ruby, who, unfortunately, was in full view watching with concern our argument. For a second I glanced back, then to my mum, aware the two mares were staring at each other, confused my dad followed my gaze. Complete silence for several seconds then my mum whispered.

“Who is that Bolt?” My mum glanced at my dad who was staring at Ruby wide eyed, clearly praying she was seeing things. She was disappointed.

I looked at Ruby, pleading for her to hide away I think she miss understood my look. Ruby slowly approached, standing beside me. She glanced between my mum and dad, who were staring at her with a mixture of fear and confusion. Finally I managed to break the silence.

“Mum, dad, this is Ruby Scales, a friend who I’m showing around Equestria on a… Exchange.” I said slowly, catching Ruby’s eye and warning her not to argue “Ruby this is my mum; Cotton Patterns and my dad; Metal Cast.” Ruby nodded her head in hello.

“It’s nice to meet you.” She whispered uncertainly. My mum blinked and managed a polite nod while my dad scowled.

“How exactly did you two meet… And why did you decide to bring her here of all places?” My dad asked.

I glanced at Ruby but she had already started talking.

“I convinced Bolt to come and visit you.” She said. That took a second to process.

“You’re the reason Bolt came home?” My mum asked slowly, Ruby nodded slightly and all our jaws dropped in surprise.

My mum took several steps forward towards Ruby and embraced her, bursting into tears again, shaking with uncontrollable sobs. I stared blankly, confused at my mum’s actions, just like my dad and Ruby were.

“Th-thank you f-for bringing him-m h-home!” My mum sobbed.

Ruby looked at me for help and her face made me smile faintly, it was clearly awkward for Ruby, she’d been expecting to be shunned away in fear not… Well this.

Ruby awkwardly brought a hoof up and petted my mum’s back, glancing at me again with a plea for help

“Okay mum,” I said stepping forward attempting to correct my face “I think you’ve scared Ruby enough.”

My mum awkwardly pulled away from Ruby whispering a hasty ‘sorry’ and my dad stepped forward. He looked Ruby grimly up and down a little then held out a hoof, Ruby gently shook it.

“Thank you, for bringing my son home.” He said softly, hopefully genuine in his thanks. For more than just the sake of being polite to Ruby.

For a few seconds my mum attempted to control her breathing then she smiled slightly at us both.

“How’s about you two come in for lunch?” My mum’s tone was casual, with a little break in her speech from her recent crying, but her eyes spoke her pleading truth. She didn’t want me to disappear again.

“Sure we’d love too.” Ruby said. So that was settled, Ruby gently pushed my back making sure I was still walking as I stepped back into my old home.

The house was just the same, the garage being a jumbled storage room for my dad’s woodworking stuff, my uncle’s racing equipment. My uncle used the bottom floor as his home, since his old house had been bought because part of the edge was on some new property or something. He worked on repairing racing vehicles (Well non Pegasi ponies have to have their own form of racing with cars and after all somepony has to keep them in good condition) Finally my mum had set up the fabrics for her clothing line, she mostly specialised in bags but often times did dresses and a few other things, seemed she was doing alright, judging by the mess.

We went through the garage door and into a hallway then up the stairs, at the top I stopped and looked back. I went halfway down again and found Ruby still near the bottom.

“I hate stairs.” She mumbled.

I climbed down and she wrapped her hooves around my neck as I carried her up, my mum watching on with an odd expression. I thought she was actually smirking.

“What’s so funny?” I asked, my mum blinked and glanced at Ruby and they shared a slight smile with each other “What? What’s so funny? Tell me!” I demanded slightly annoyed as they started to laugh.

As I dragged Ruby up the last couple of steps, and she dragged her tail up behind her, I turned to her as my mum walked away.

“I don’t want you to swallow your food whole.” I whispered.

“I know how scared your parents are, and I can guess most ponies would be nervous around a lamia like me. But you don’t have to worry, I do know how to eat politely.” I raised an eyebrow “I do!” Ruby insisted.

“Then please show me at lunch… I just don’t…”

“You don’t want to upset them after so long?” Ruby asked and I nodded my head.

Ruby and I sat down around the large oak table on a pair of thick black woollen chairs in the living room, furthest from the hole leading to the kitchen, Ruby having carefully laid her tail in a circle around her chair as well as my own, her tail mischievously threatening to coil me up should it get the chance. I wasn’t very focused on that however, I was staring right at my parents who were having a quiet heated discussion. It didn’t take a genius to figure out what the topic was about, not to mention whenever they raised their voices at each other in anger my name rang clearly like a bell. Finally the pair glanced at me and fell into silence before approaching the table, my mum levitating the four plates towards the table.

My mum sat in front of me with my dad facing Ruby. I mumbled a soft thank you which Ruby copied with a slight smile at my mum, which she returned. It was so strangely familiar to be eating around the table again, little of my home had changed, though my mum had managed to collect a few more cute little ducks which she was fond off and several cards lined the tables against the walls and over the fireplace.

“Who’s birthday did I miss?” I asked softly.

“It’s alright this is the best present I got.” My mum said with a teary smile. The smile made me look back down at my food, my insides twisted with guilt.

“So, how did you two meet?” My dad asked, waving his fork between us, a piece of salad stuck on the end like an odd mini green metal detector.

I glanced at Ruby but she simply smirked at me and popped more salad into her mouth, twirling the small bit of cutlery in her red aura. I looked back at my parents and sighed.

“After I… Ran away,” No other word for it really, when I considered it “And began to travel I set up as a sort of traveling food vendor, you know because I liked cooking. Sometimes I liked to attend events, drum up some extra business and entertain myself. I choose the snow tipping marathon, which is on one of the mountains around the badlands.” At the word ‘badlands’ my mum and dad put two and two together immediately. My dad turned, with a slightly accusing face, to Ruby.

“You’re from the badlands?” He asked.

“That doesn’t…” I started.

“Yes, I’m from the badlands.” Ruby said softly. My mum gawped at Ruby and my dad looked slightly smug, though he was still frowning.

Finally my mum gulped and turned back to me.

“It doesn’t matter, she didn’t choose where she grew up or lives. And bringing my son back healthy and whole proves she’s not that bad.” My mum said then looked to me “So you were on the mountains over the badlands, what did you do jump over?” My mum asked with a slight bit of a joke playing in her voice, attempting to mask the thick fear.

“I… Er… Set up a little too close to the edge right and… The ledge couldn’t handle the weight and… I went down the hill for a VERY entertaining ride.” I said my voice thick with sarcasm.

After that I explained how Ruby and I met, Ruby jumping into the conversation every so often. Large chunks of what actually happened were cut out, such as the fact I was a slave and Ruby had to battle for my freedom, I worded it so it sounded like Ruby and Midnight had simply fought but I found no way to cut out that Midnight broke my leg when I attempted to save Ruby. I also, for good reason, left out the wager me and the Queen had made, and that Ruby and I had had… Well, a bit of fun in Canterlot.

At the end my voice felt a little raw but I felt a lot happier for some reason, as if something rotten had been forced out with my words. My mum had held her hooves to her mouth when I spoke of breaking my leg and Ruby and Midnight fighting. My dad had looked rather grim but finally sighed as I finished, he looked at Ruby. My dad looked like he was trying to scan her brain for lies but the lamia met his eyes and held them. I thought she showed great restraint not showing them the skill I'd left out she possessed; hypnosis. Finally my mum spoke.

“S-so… You really HAVE to go back with her?” I nodded.

“Yes mum, the lamia Queen set that down as a rule, return once a month. I don’t really have to but… It helps if Ruby travels with a pony.” I said.

“C-Couldn’t another pony return with her?” My mum asked.

“Don’t worry I’ll make sure he comes back here, I know where you are now.” Ruby promised. My mum turned to her and smiled faintly in thanks.

Ruby leaned back in the chair then glanced at me, then outside. The season had changed in my short time in the badlands, going from late winter to early spring, the sun was outside feebly attempting to warm up the land.

“Mind if we go outside, I’ve missed the sun?” Ruby asked.

“We? Why does Bolt have too…?” My dad began but my mum let out a soft chuckle.

“Course, go ahead you two.” She said with a smirk.

Carefully, Ruby uncoiled herself from around the chairs and I waited beside the living room door as she escaped the table’s maze of legs.

Ruby and I retreated out into the back bedroom and out onto the balcony. The sun, beginning its slow descend as the afternoon dragged on, gently warmed the wooden decking of the balcony. Ruby curled up in the bright rays of sun as the weather Pegasi beat the majority of the clouds away, leaving it vaguely cloudy. Ruby glanced up at me and I looked through the glass doors into the room behind me.

“Afraid of your parent’s opinions in your tastes?” Ruby asked I nodded slightly “We are… We are a thing, you and me… We are dating right?” I looked back at Ruby.

“Nah, normal friends generally kiss each other and have sex, didn’t you know that?” I asked in a very calm voice as I took a seat in Ruby’s coils, which flexed so I fell backwards.

Ruby giggled softly as she appeared in my vision, overlooking me like some sort of guardian angel… With a tail.

“Good point.” She muttered as she began to absentmindedly, or more likely on purpose, coil me up.

“What do you reckon they’re arguing about?” I whispered, closing my eyes as Ruby began to stroke my mane, lulling me into a slight daze.

“How do you know they’re arguing?” Ruby asked.

“They’re my parents and I doubt they’ve changed much, they’re likely arguing about us.” I said.

“Yeah… Your mum took to me rather well, your dad not so much. Why was that?” Ruby asked. I mulled it over, my brain a little slow in the comfortable place of Ruby’s coils.

“I think… I think because I’ve been gone so long I left a hole, as well as carved one in myself, and when I returned I filled the hole a little… But there was room for you to help fill it in, my mum was so thankful to have me back that she… Well accepted you either way.” I said.

“I think your mum has guessed we’re a thing.” Ruby said casually.

“So has my dad.” I muttered.

“That why he’s acting like a grumpy mule?”

“Yeah, he’s normally pretty funny and cheery… And he took the mick when I use to have a fillyfriend. I think he just didn’t think I’d… Well date somepony… A little different.” I said as Ruby snorted.

“A little? Come on Bolt I’m half snake, does ‘this’ class as little?” Ruby asked.

Ruby lifted her tail up, causing it to pile on top of me so only one eye was able to see out like a snow avalanche. Ruby giggled as I grunted in annoyance, but I quickly became silent as Ruby began to pamper my body with her tail.

Ruby dragged me out of the scale slide, smirking as I stared up at her as if pleading for more.

“Hay, you know it’s almost a tradition for couples too have sex in one of the couple’s parent’s houses without them knowing. Wanna follow tradition?” Ruby whispered into my ear leaning back to grin at me seductively. I smirked rolling over and pushed her down so my hooves were either side of her head.

“Sure, wanna get it on?” I asked before laughing along with Ruby.

“We do NOT do seductive at all.” Ruby said with tears in her eyes.

“I’m glad you’re joking because you’d have regretted it otherwise!” Ruby and I whipped our heads around to look at my dad standing in the bedroom doorway.

He had his teeth gritted together and looked as if he might roar at us like a feral animal. Ruby and I scrambled away from each other, though even when we separated I still had a considerable amount of Ruby’s tail hanging around my body. My mum had her head poking in the door and was watching the scene with an odd twinkle in her eyes.

I looked back to my dad who was rapidly changing colour in his face, my dad strode past me and right up to Ruby.

“Let me make one thing clear, my son is only looking after you and showing you Equestria he is NOT in any way going to…” My dad leaned close to Ruby and muttered something only the pair could hear.

“Last I checked,” Ruby said in a dangerous voice “He was mature enough to make his own choices… And I doubt you’d be able to stop me.” I glanced at my mum who had a very strange grin.

“Touch my son and I’ll…” Ruby laughed cutting through my dad’s words and slid around him. Ruby promptly climbed onto my back with her pony half and wrapped her hooves around my neck.

“Bite me granddad.” She said grinning.

My dad’s mouth dropped then closed, then opened again like a silent fish as his brain attempted to process what he was seeing. Next second my mum was beside him and gently leading him away, at the door she glanced back at Ruby, clearly suppressing laughs.

“Try not to over anger him, he’ll come around.” Though she winked at Ruby, I was sure she did. I glanced back at Ruby who raised an eyebrow.

“My family.” I said waving a hoof towards the door and we both chuckled.

“So is this your room?” Ruby asked.

“No it’s the spare bedroom or the one my brother uses when he visits on holidays, mine’s at the end of the hall, follow me.” I said leading the way.

I pushed opened the door to my old bedroom. I didn’t know what to expect; maybe boxes lining the walls, a thick layer of dust. I didn’t imagine it’d be… The exact same. I looked slowly around the room, my desk with my computer still sat in the corner by the window, my large bed taking up almost the whole middle of the room, my little bedside table still with the clutter of spare bits I’d left… I felt a tear run down the side of my face.

“I kept it clean for you… In case you came back.” My mum whispered walking in behind me. I looked back at her and slowly walked up to my mum and hugged her.

“Thank you, mum… I’m so sorry.” I whispered and I felt her instantly return the hug, though it was still strange to have to lower my head since I was taller than her.

“It’s okay. You show Ruby around, I’ve got to get back to work, be good.” My mum pulled away and I turned to Ruby who was politely staring into the room as if she couldn’t hear.

I walked up beside Ruby and kissed her cheek.

“Thank you for bringing me home.” I whispered, she smiled.

“Figured I could return the favour… Just glad YOU don’t have to fight for me to leave.” I chuckled slightly.

“Yeah, that would’ve sucked.”

“So… What do you want to do…? Bolt?” I’d frozen again because I’d just looked at my computer desk.

There, the only things that hadn’t been touched, with a thin layer of grey dust settled upon them, were four little boxes wrapped in red wrapping paper and one in what looked like checkered flags.

“Bolt are you okay?”

“They’re my birthday presents.” I whispered walking slowly up to the boxes and running a hoof to clear the dust. My mum and dad, my uncle and...

“Digital…” I muttered softly.

“Bolt… Are you okay?” Ruby asked I nodded stiffly my eyes not leaving the innocent little boxes “Do you want to open them?” I looked at Ruby and her horn began to glow and the little boxes floated towards me, the dust falling off like a grey slow motion waterfall.

Ruby glanced at the names and couldn’t seem to decide which to start with. Finally she choose my uncle Wrench’s present, the one with checkered flags. I pulled off the paper slowly, inside was the most psychotic thing anypony could send. A large, likely blunt now, meat cleaver shone under a thin plastic covering with a little note saying .

“If you ever feel like cooking for griffins in the future, or if you dad gets a little too annoying, you can use this.” I laughed softly and pulled the thing out. Sure enough, once I got it out its packaging, it was as blunt as a hammer.

“Remind me never to piss you off in your kitchen again now you’ve got that.” I gave another odd laugh and set the knife beside me.

Next, Ruby pushed over the matching boxes from my mum and dad. This sent a pang of guilt and sadness up me but I still grabbed the larger of the two. Silver cans with bright red letters winked merrily up at me and I chuckled, guessing the second gift.

“Apple cola? Strange gift; some drinks.” Ruby said.

“I was younger, just starting to drink, like my brother, so I didn’t get as much alcohol as my brother and this will be… Yep.” I said holding up a small bottle filled with a clear liquid with more silver and red writing.

“What is that?” Ruby asked.

“This, my long tailed friend, is alcohol. Vodka from the griffin kingdom… Strong stuff.” I said.

“…Em, what exactly is alcohol?” I looked at Ruby and smirked.

“I am sorry but I’m afraid such an insult means we can no longer be friends.” I said holding my head up like a snobbish noble and Ruby giggled “No, just kidding. Alcohol is an odd drink. It’s not exactly GOOD for you… It’s a comfort thing but too much can make you do stupid things, but it’s fun to get drunk either way… I guess they got me this when I was a much lighter drinker… Then again I have the world’s worst alcohol tolerance so it won’t matter.” I muttered.

“What sort of stupid things?” Ruby asked.

“You know… Hitting on ponies, things you shouldn’t do. Stupid dancing.” I said.

“Sounds like hypnosis.”

“Close, but nopony will control you except your own idiocy.”

“Drink some.” Ruby pushed the bottle to my chest but I shook my head smirking.

“Oh no, I can guess what you’ll make me do.” I said setting the bottle next to the cleaver.

“Come on, I have to get you a present too.”

“Just pass me my brothers please.” I said grinning. My happiness faded quite quickly.

I opened Digital’s present almost like I was young again, a colt at hearts warming eve, but as soon as I took out the box everything hurt. My brother was a game designer and an artist and for my birthday he’d made a cool picture. Before I’d left, my brother had still been a student learning how to make games and it seemed he’d turned a project into a present. The picture featured myself and my brother in a desert based area, we were clad in the royal guard armour, spears propped up next to us. I was sat upon the ground, my brother on a box pushing my helmet down over my eyes, we were both laughing. It was incredibly detailed, the armour and all the extra ponies in the background, I also saw something comical, a soldier in the background appeared to be using an arrow to launch his bow, looked as funny as it sounded.

“That looks amazing,” Ruby whispered leaning over to look at the picture “Your brother made that?” Ruby stared at the image of me “But I think you’d look better with spirals in your eyes and sitting in my coils.” Ruby purred.

I made an odd sound, between a twisted sob and a laugh. Instead of answering though I simply folded the paper back over the picture and pushed it away from me.

“I hate myself.” I muttered.

Ruby stared at me, surprise. She reached down to take my hoof but I pulled away, feeling as if I was some form of feral animal that had escaped being put down and I didn’t deserve the love I was receiving from anypony.

“Bolt, please, they’re just presents. They gave you them because they love you and it was to celebrate the day you joined them.” Ruby whispered.

“It must have been a very dark day.” I grumbled.

“Or a very bright one. Bolt you put too much blame upon yourself when you do not need too. Your family loves you and you do as well, and that love brought you back together.”

“No, you dragging me back did.”

“Stop whining about upsetting your family, at least yours is still alive!” Ruby suddenly barked. I flinched looking up at her and she seemed embarrassed and upset “I’m… I’m sorry I just…”

“What do you mean ‘at least mine is still alive’ Ruby?” I asked.

Ruby stared down at her tail.

“Will you stop beating yourself up over mistakes you cannot change, if I tell you?” Ruby whispered. I looked down at the hidden picture.

“I’ll try.” I said.

“Will… Will you promise not to leave your parents again, like you made me promise?”

“I made you do no such thing.” I said.

“You did, just not verbally. So, will you?”

“…I promise.” I finally said. Ruby sighed then smiled slightly.

“When I was about four, my dad was still alive and willingly living with my mum, who he had taught all he knew about medicine. However when he set off to get something for a lamia who was ill he… Found some place that he described as unnatural. At first he, nor anypony else, paid any attention to it. But slowly he started to act funny, he became angry quicker, he began to have odd twitches and pains that got steadily worst and he couldn’t fix them. Finally one day he just didn’t wake up, he lay propped up against the back of the bed and…” Ruby didn’t seem able to finish.

She was looking at some unseen horror and, whilst I didn’t think she deserved to be touched by me, I wrapped her in a hug which she gratefully leaned into.

“He’d bled out through his eyes, Bolt. Black rotten blood.” Ruby finished “I was the one who found him… I’ll never forget the way he looked like he was screaming as he lay there…” Ruby looked up at me but her eyes were hard “So, don’t you ever go abandoning YOUR parents. Don’t hate yourself because you left them. Don’t think you should leave them because of yourself, they won’t always be there just hope… Hope they don’t die such a gruesome death.” Ruby lowered her head and I let her snuggle up to me.

I hadn’t ever given her father’s death thought… I hadn’t expect something so… Horrific. I let her remain in the hug I was giving her for I don’t know how long, whilst she calmed down, and I won’t lie I quite enjoyed holding her like that.

The odd little bubble that had formed, supporting the pair of us as we thought of our families, was popped abruptly by my mum calling.

“Bolt, Ruby, Come on.”

“W-what?” I called back having lost track of time.

“Bed.” My dad cried.

Oh right, tea. I glanced at the window and noticed the room was getting steadily darker but we had been elsewhere, Ruby and I, in memory land. I dragged myself up onto my hooves, Ruby following suit, and we marched into the kitchen. My dad looked up at me and glanced at Ruby, then back down at the local paper. Ruby paused on her way to her chair, staring at my dad. Once more he glanced up and, almost as quickly, back down.

“You were listening?” Ruby asked. My dad continued to stare at the paper as he said.

“I am sorry… To hear your dad died the way he did… It doesn’t sound like something you’d forget… Family is everything.” My dad said wisely (Not like him at all). Ruby looked down and sat down, curling her tail under her chair.

“It is.” She said silently eating.

Halfway through the silent dinner my dad made an odd choking sound and we all looked at him as he cleared his throat. He suddenly looked furious again as he stared at the paper.

“Mum, when did the paper arrive?” I asked slowly.

“Huh? Maybe a couple hours ago, why?” But my dad answered by silently turning over the paper showing the page he was on to me and Ruby.

There, smiling at the real versions, was an image of Ruby and I. I glanced up at my dad, who made an odd sort of ‘read’ gesture, so I did.

“Today the residents of Oakbark played host to a strange visitor. As shown in the picture above, a lamia, going by the name of Ruby Scales, was escorted into town by a former town resident; Boltblood Thundercloud. Indeed the strange visitor is not that different than the one apparently residing within Ponyville, however whilst they made accusations of that lamia being a monster I went to investigate before making a decision. Ruby appears to simply be a mare with an odd little twist to her body, or several depending on how her tail is stretched out. She spoke politely and made no sign of hostility, contrast to her friend however, whom I would bet my bits she supports a crush, which is likely returned. I managed to get a rough idea of where she lived before she moved here to Equestria, however, before I make a full article I plan to have a more detailed second meeting with the pair so as not to make any mistakes. The pair appear to be visiting Boltblood’s parents, an innocent visit or are they hoping to find a way to sneak out a blessing from the pair. We’ll, hopefully, all know soon enough.” At the bottom I finally discovered the pair’s names. Written by reporter Paper Pad and pictures taken by Photo Shoot.

“So… So ‘she supports a crush, WHICH IS LIKELY RETURNED’!?” My dad shouted.

Though it was oddly comical for some reason now, since he was a head shorter, to see him angry. I glanced at Ruby and smirked.

“Problem?” I asked.

Whatever he had expected me to say, it hadn’t been that. My dad sputtered then managed to find his voice once more.

“Yes I do have a problem! You dating that-that-thing!” And he pointed a hoof at Ruby, completely ignoring the fact that she had ears. My mum tried to say something but my dad shook a hoof “She’s not a pony, bringing Bolt back does not change that, how can you stand her?” My mum paused then looked at Ruby.

“Because, despite her appearance, she is much more like a pony that you’d like to ever admit… And didn’t you just apologise for eaves dropping on her father’s death story?” My dad seemed to deflate at that and he looked at me with a face attempting to show that he believed to be doing the right thing.

“Did you know I wouldn’t be here without Ruby?” I asked slowly closing my eyes “We made it sound a lot better than it was, but I was in fact a slave, I managed to help change the old laws but Ruby had to fight Midnight. Remember her? She broke my leg and almost killed me, then Ruby fought for MY freedom and nearly died for it, you wouldn’t be treating her like you are if you could have seen how mangled she was.” I muttered opening my eyes again. My mum was staring at Ruby, tears prickling her eyes again but my dad still frowned.

“They kept slaves at her home?” He asked.

“They’ve done away with that thanks to Ruby, Princess Luna I think and a little from myself.” I said.

“Don’t be so modest, it was mainly you.” Ruby said. I didn’t have the strength to spare to argue with her, I was too intent on staring down my dad, who looked down at the paper he’d pulled back again.

“So… Do you return this crush…?” His tone of voice made me do it.

I stood up, walked beside Ruby and, in clear view of both my parents, leaned down and kissed her. She made an odd squeaky noise then sighed and I heard my mum ‘aww’ at us. When I pulled back and stared at my dad I got a real kick. My dad had turned purple slightly and his tail was frizzled and appeared to be sparking with lightning, something that I inherited if I ever got really angry. Ruby stared at my dad and began to laugh and I joined in immediately followed by my mum. The sound of us laughing was pierced by a high whistle, having snuck in under the cover of us laughing my brother Digital stared in at me from the kitchen with a slight grin.

Digital was a lot different since his last visit, back then his hair had been a lot shorter, now, clearly, living alone he had become like most stallions in their first house; lazy as hell. His black hair had grown wild all the way down to the base of his neck and it stuck out around the top and curled around the edges, much like his tail. He had begun to grow sideburns but I could still see his white fur beneath the new hair on his face, his horn still appeared to be okay so he was at least filing it (Don’t ask why they need to do that, I’m a Pegasus I think it has something to do with using magic) he had blue eyes similar to mine and his cutie mark was a white canvas with a computer mouse drawn on it.

“Wow I never thought I’d see the day, Bolt you got a mare.” He said “Well not a mare really, but close enough, ay?” My dad appeared to have given up.

The appearance of my brother and him confirming Ruby and my relationship seemed to have done it. He stood up and walked from the room, not even glancing back at the heightened laughs from me and my brother.

“So, the devil returns and I was just getting used to being rid of you.” My brother said stealing the vacant seat my dad had left.

While he appeared to be teasing me, like he almost always did, he was smiling a little more sincerely “Open my gift at last?” I nodded.

“It was… Really impressive, thanks.” I said he nodded then turned to Ruby.

“I’ll have to make one for the pair of you. How’s about a lovely little picture depicting what you two just did, maybe with dad raging in the background for some comedic effect?” He asked and Ruby chuckled.

“Yes I would appreciate that.” She said “I take it you’re Digital?”

“That’s me, Digital Canvas, Boltblood’s big little brother, as he likes to CONSTANTLY remind me.” Digital said.

“Big little brother?” Ruby asked.

“Bolt is taller than Digital and he finds it entertaining.” My mum said.

“So, if I may ask where do you live exactly?” Digital asked.

“Oh, I live in a village composed of lamias in the badlands.” Ruby said.

“And there are more of you?” Ruby nodded “Will you be returning anytime, I’d like to join you if you don’t mind?” Ruby and I looked at one another then back to my brother.

“We have to go back once a month to check in with the lamias Queen, Sunny, but first we plan to visit Ponyville, Princess Luna suggested we should get a potion or something for Ruby to look like a normal pony from Princess Twilight.” I said.

“You know Princess Luna!?” Digital asked Ruby and I nodded “Whoa you lucky git!”

“What are you doing here anyway?” I asked.

“Was visiting a mates house, (And the pub I’d bet) so I was staying here for a bit, I was planning on going home tomorrow.” Digital said.

“You still live in the same place?”

“No moved, do that every year, final year now at Uni, see what happens after I finish but for now, I’ve been asked to do an ‘original piece’ …Figured I could use your home town.” Digital said smiling. I looked at Ruby, wondering the same thing; was it safe to take him? Well if things remained how they were when I left…

“Sure, we’ll come back here in three weeks and then head for Ruby’s home town, sound good?” I asked Digital nodded.

“It’ll be nice to catch up with you as well, Bolt.” For some reason that sounded… Threatening.

Either way, Digital stood up, nodded politely and went off to his bedroom to sleep off the alcohol. I stood up and said goodnight to my mum, intending to head to my old bed, Ruby following behind me when my mum called Ruby back.

“Ruby, could you spare a minute to speak to me for a minute, please?” Ruby looked at me and nodded for me to go on. I left the room then hid beside the living room door, listening. And sure enough they spoke of me.

“Bolt… When he argued with Metal he mentioned you earning his freedom. Can you explain, the whole truth?” My mum asked, for a minute I believed Ruby would say nothing, then the whole story seemed to spill out, though she gradually got more speed and confidence. When she finished I could imagine my mum’s frown.

“There’s… One more thing…” Ruby whispered “When… When I was forcing myself into Bolt’s company… Blackmailing him I… Threatened him and finally saw what I was doing… And I broke down,” I could hear the sadness in her voice, we hadn’t spoken of that moment to anypony… But Ruby had chosen my mum to finally speak of this “He… He comforted me… And told me he was bullied and it felt… Nice to be related to, treated like he treated me, like an equal… A friend. It’s the main reason I love him… He understands my pain and wouldn’t ever intentionally hurt me.” Ruby said. I wondered if Ruby was staring at her tail like she often did whenever nervous.

“I am glad that Bolt met such a nice mare. If you really do tie the knot, you have my blessing at least, and look after him. Whilst you made him sound like a tank he has a very weak chink in his armour and I fear what will happen if lethally stabbed… Look after my son, please.”

“I will.” Ruby promised “You are aware he’s eavesdropping?”

“I suspected he would, he’s worried about you though, I suspect.” I blinked then ran for the bedroom, but I was sure they heard me.

A few minutes passed and I heard the door open then close, but I had my head facing away so I couldn’t see. I felt the bed sag slightly under somepony’s weight as they climbed under the covers, then something cold slipped across my chest. I tried not to even shift as Ruby’s tail wrapped around me but I failed when I felt her breath around the back of my right ear.

“You know it’s rude to eavesdrop on somepony else’s conversation.” Ruby whispered “I know you’re awake Bolt, and I’m going to make you sorry you listened in when you shouldn’t have.” I gasped despite mentally telling myself I wouldn’t no matter what Ruby did.

Ruby ran her tongue slowly along the edge of my right ear then turned my head forcefully and forced her tongue inside, I shuddered then remembered when she had last done something similar. I allowed Ruby to continue her licking not even shifting, simply staring forward, finally Ruby seemed to grow worried.

“Bolt… Are you okay?” I turned my head to look at her.

“I was just thinking… ‘Bout last time this happened… I shouted at you afterwards didn’t I?” I whispered.

Ruby remained silent then forced me to roll over and face her. Ruby was incredibly close, I could feel the part of her tail that connected to her pony body pressing against my right leg, curling over me before losing itself in the many coils under the bed, hanging like vines over the edge and sitting in drapes all over the carpet.

“I’m sorry.” I whispered finally.

“Bolt, that was a long time ago let’s just forget about that and focus on the here and now.” Ruby said and I felt her hoof on my cheek “I don’t hate you even slightly for shouting at me, I betrayed your trust not the other way around,” I felt her breath on my mouth and her voice was now quieter than a whisper “And I love you, more than anypony I’ve ever met and I don’t intend to let you go.” I felt her lips touch mine and I sighed. For a creature that was cold blooded she sure was very warming for my heart.

“Now… Back to your punishment.” Ruby chimed and I sighed remaining still as she proceeded to pin my hooves down and nibble on my ear, drawing embarrassing noises from me “Now are you going to eavesdrop on me again?” Ruby whispered.

“You would if it had been me talking about you.” I accused.

“Fair enough but wrong answer.” Ruby looped a coil around my neck and flexed it threateningly “Same question.”

“Love you Ruby.” I whispered smirking and Ruby’s tone changed.

“Yeah… I love you too Bolt.” And with that she lay down on my stomach and buried her head on the coil around my neck “Though you’re still not out of the woods yet for eavesdropping on me!” I chuckled and gently nuzzled her, unable to move anything else.

“Not surprised there.” I said before we drifted away into silence, and then sleep.

Author's Notes:

So, Bolt had returned to his family, and we see what real journalists look like! XD

Also, yes all my stories do link together, I like doing that hopefully I won't confuse you but I imagine I'll have to make a timeline at some point.

Anyway, sorry about the long wait, it's just the Easter holidays screwed up my sleeping pattern, collage is getting more difficult as it begins to end and then I had to do Sine's story... Sorry. But hay at least it's here! :D

Also a footnote about my families jobs: they are based off their real ones, my mum is a saddle fitter (irony huh?) so in pony form that would probably make her a desiner. My dad has worked various jobs but he's mostly at his best when working with wood, so I've made him a builder, though that isn't said. My brother is in uni so... Digital is in uni... And I myself cook, though I'm at collage not a run away, thankfully! XD Doubt that'd work in real life. Oh and my uncle works as a rally car engineer... And let's face it I LOVE the concept of ponies driving rally cars, don't you! XD

Also, new longest chapter, 10,000 words. Damn. Well hope you all enjoyed and hopefully next chapter won't take as logn to come out... But then again it's me, so don't hold your breath. I'm so nice to myself aren't I.