For the first time in a month I walked out into the sun. I reflected on how much of a new man I felt. Though I was dressed in my now much mended hunter green shirt, jeans, boots, and vest, gone was my oily and dirty hair and beard. One of the hospital nurses, Red Heart I think her name was, had been kind enough to buzz-cut my hair and allow me the use of a razor and scissors to trim my beard back into a goatee.

After I was done tending to my appearance I saw clearly the toll the last two years had taken on me since Yvette had passed. My once brown hair was streaked at the temples with white and gray and my facial hair was salt-and-pepper colored at best. I looked older than my forty years.

With my bag slung across my back I walked towards the small garden outside the hospital and was unsurprised to find Fluttershy, Twilight, and their friends. On seeing them I forced a small smile and was met with six more in kind. Moments later I was met with a small yellow missile that clung to me with all four legs and wings and gave a rib-cracking hug.

“Well, I missed you too little miss.” I said in a strained voice.

Looking over at her friends I saw Twilight giggling, the rainbow one making a “gagging” gesture, the cowgirl one blushing, the pink one with a Cheshire smile, and the marshmallow one with her hoof over her muzzle giggling daintily.

“Fluttershy, why don’t you introduce me to your other friends before you put me back in the hospital.” I said with my depleting oxygen reserves.

Fluttershy hopped down from her death-grip of a hug and gave an embarrassed, “S-sorry, I am just so glad to see you up and about.”

The Tripod of a kitten, who had taken to riding my shoulder, stared at Fluttershy and gave a plaintive mew at her. Fluttershy looked to him and said, “I am glad to see you too little fellow, have you been taking good care of Bear?”

Tripod made a rather smug kitten face in reply.

A polite cough behind Fluttershy made her turn, “Goodness, look at me being so rude, Bear, these are my friends Applejack, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, and Pinkie Pie. You of course have met Twilight Sparkle.” She indicated each mare in kind as she introduced them.

“It is nice to meet you all...I guess you have a lot of questions about who and what I am huh?” I said with a little trepidation.

Rarity was the first to speak up, “Darling, Fluttershy has told us all about you and your actions saving her from those beastly monsters have said all we need to know about what kind of pony...err man you are.”

Applejack then spoke up, “Durn tootin! Why anyone who would face down three timberwolves for someone they had only known for a couple days is OK in my book. Besides, you got a kind look about ya. I think yer alright.”

Rainbow Dash was the next to speak up. By speak up I mean she flew up to me and hovered like a hummingbird and orbited me a moment like she was some sort of multihued satellite. Finally she stopped with her muzzle mere inches from my nose, her magenta eyes boring in to my soul. She then said in a loud voice, “DON’T. YOU. EVER. SCARE. HER. AGAIN. GOT. THAT?”

I was taken aback. This avatar of pride was yelling in my face like R. Lee Ermy. Then she said in a whisper almost too quiet to hear, “Thank you for saving my best friend.” Then she poked me in the chest with her hoof and zipped back to the group while Rarity and Applejack gave her the stink-eye.

Shaking my head I looked to Pinkie Pie, "Well I guess it is your turn."

Pinkie Pie just stared at me for a moment, her Cheshire smile from earlier gone replaced with an intense look of concentration finally she said in a deathly serious voice, "Do you...like parties?"

I blinked, "Yes...?"

To this day I still don't quite understand Pinkie Pie. She seemed to shoot roughly ten feet in to the air and then landed with a "boing" sound. Then began speaking in tongues about a party and welcoming me. I looked to Fluttershy and Twilight and both shrugged while Twilight said, "Just roll with it."

Tripod and I were escorted back to Fluttershy's cottage by all six mares. Occasional questions would pop up about humans, what Earth was like, and what did I do for fun. Honestly it was a bit exhausting. I did learn some things though, such as tomorrow, like it or not, I would have a party thrown at the local confectionery as a "Welcome to Equestria/Ponyville" gathering. Attendance on my part is mandatory.

On reaching Fluttershy's cottage the group split leaving myself, Fluttershy, and Twilight Sparkle behind. After goodbye's were said and Fluttershy set about her daily routine of looking after the animals in her care Twilight sat down with me at the dinner table inside, quill, ink, and paper out as well as a two cups of tea.

"I suppose this is round two of Q and A?" I asked.

Twilight nodded, "Yes and no, there are matters I need to speak to you about. First the artifacts in your bag, can we go over these please?" She asked this as the carefully levitated the contents of my backpack on to the table and spread them out in a neat fashion. I explained to her the basics of the tablet and assured her it was not magic but technology. She was equally fascinated with the solar charging unit. Beyond that she showed some interest in my Leatherman tool, Zippo, and hatchet but indicated her world had equivalents if not exactly the same.

I had a good laugh as Twilight tried on one of my spare tube socks "for science" and walked around the table high stepping like a cat with wet paws. "How can you stand to wear these things?" She said in an incredulous voice.

"You get used to it." I replied cryptically.

Twilight ruffled her feathers in agitation but let the matter drop. She finally turned her attention to the "artifact" I hoped she would forget.

"Now what is in this box?" she said and made to open it.

Unthinkingly I slammed my hand down on it and said in an annoyed tone. "That is not for you to know!"

Twilight Jumped back in fright almost knocking over the table in the process.  Her eyes began to tear up and she looked torn between anger and hurt. Feeling guilt eating at me I said, "Please...sit back down. This...this one is very personal."

Cautiously Twilight sat back down and eyed me coolly, "Bear I know you are not of this world so please understand as one of the Princesses of Equestria I have to look out for threats to the ponies who live here. Some of the stuff I read on your tablet...if they are true humans are dangerous. You have shown yourself to be trustworthy so far and I think Fluttershy probably trusts you more than most ponies at this point. I think of you as a friend but we must have total honesty with each other."

I could not refute her words. These ponies had shown me nothing but kindness and hospitality.  I knew Twilight had been reading up on human history from the various books on my tablet and so I knew this would likely be a conversation we would have to have.

"Twilight, I do not trust easily, but you and yours have shown me nothing but kindness and friendship. Alright. I will show you." I said with a heavy heart.

I opened the box and showed Twilight the contents. Inside lay three objects, a photograph, a ring, and an object wrapped in an oil cloth. First she levitated the ring out, it was a simple gold band, and set it before me. "That is my wedding band." I said.

Twilight looked at me in shock, "You're married!?"

"Widower." I replied coolly.

A look of understanding began to dawn on her face. Then she levitated out the photograph. It showed a fair-skinned woman with dark hair and eyes sitting under a tree with a quirky smile on her face. "That was my wife, Yvette."

Twilight nodded looking at the photo, "She's beautiful..." she trailed off.

Lastly she looked at the bundle in oilcloth as the glow of her magic began to envelop it I shut the lid on the box and snapped the little latch on it in place. Twilight looked at me in confusion, "But what about tha-" I cut her off.

"That is something that should not have ever been brought to this green and pleasant land of yours and that is all I will say on it." I said with an edge to my voice.

"Now Bear! You said you-" I cut her off again.

"Twilight listen to me. I am going to show you trust." I slid the box to her. "Can you seal this box with magic so that only you or Fluttershy can open it?" I asked.

"Well yes but-" I held my hand up.

"Then please do so then take it with you and lock it away. Swear to me to never open it. Swear to me to never return it to me unless I directly ask you and even then only when it is a matter of life and death." I said gravely.

"O-ok. But you have to tell me what this is." She said meekly.

"A weapon." Was all I would say to her.

She looked at the box as if it may bite her. Then a purple glow surrounded it and she said it was done then floated it to her saddlebag.

"Bear, I-I'm sorry I pushed so hard. The other princesses are relying on the report I am writing about you so we can decide what to do with you." She said hesitantly.

I looked it her in confusion, "But Twilight, that weird being that brought me here, I told you he said something about the princesses sending him there to find a champion of some kind."

Twilight fidgeted, "Bear, I asked all three of the other princess, none of them cast any spell or sent anyone looking for a champion. They are all confused as to how you got here..."

I sat there in stunned silence.

I sat brooding. Twilight had left earlier to go make her report to the other princesses and Fluttershy was in the kitchen preparing the evening meal. I had been informed I was going to remain a guest of Fluttershy while her housemate, some fellow named Discord, was off in other parts of the world on errands for the princesses.

Fluttershy announced the evening meal done and I sat down at the table. Before me was a salad and a generous portion of bread as well as a bowl of baked beans. I was thankful that protein would not become an issue. I ate mechanically and in silence, occasionally glancing up at Fluttershy as she ate and pondered the mystery of the hooves as she effortlessly manipulated her flatware.

The evening was wearing on as I sat stretched on the couch with my feet propped up and the soft glow of my tablet illuminating my face. I was only half paying attention still lost in thought. I was back to square one. No place for me in my old world and now in this one. I will need to find a means to carry my weight, I can't just live off Fluttershy's kindness like a bum.

I was shaken from my thoughts by a soft yellow pegasus planting herself firmly in my lap then hunkering down much like the little cat on my shoulder.

"Can I help you Miss Fluttershy?" I asked feeling mildly uncomfortable in such an intimate position.

Fluttershy looked at me with those intense blue eyes of hers then produced my ring and the photo of Yvette from under her wing and sat them on my chest. "Tell me about her."

I looked at her trying to discern motive in her action. All I saw was the gentle concern of a friend. "It's a long story Fluttershy."

She looked at me and rested her chin on my chest just below when the photo and ring lay, "You're my friend and savior Mister Bear, I want to know all about you. Even the sad parts."

With a heavy sigh I idly stroked her mane like I would a dog or a cat, "Alright, I suppose I owe you that much." I said.

"A long time ago, there was a boy who loved a girl very much..."

By the end of the story neither man nor pony had dry eyes. Next Chapter: 07 - Hedonism Estimated time remaining: 4 Hours, 44 Minutes