As I was coming back from working in the Southern Fields with Applejack, pulling the cart full of apples as AJ was sitting on top of a bushel. With her rope tied around me, of course without impeding my hands from carrying the cart, she kept whipping the rope all while yelling "Mush". I looked at her with a slight annoyance as she continued this for a while during our trip back to the barn.

"Ya know, YOU could be the high horse pushing the cart and I'LL be the one whipping you." I directed to her as I received a sultry smirk in return. My eyes shot open as I realized the words that came out of my mouth as I nearly facepalmed myself. Before I had the chance to correct my mistake, she replies back.

"If ya'll wanted meh so badly, then ya'll should have asked sooner. Or we can just wait til we make it to the barn." Applejack teased as I blushed from her bold reply. She chuckled from my reaction and continued.

"Ya know, ya look cute when ya'll blush like that." I blushed even more as I turned myself away as she was chuckling even more from my fluster spree.

"Shut up!" I spouted.

"Aww Sugarcube, ya'll need to lighten up. Ah was only playin'." She lectured as I looked back.

"Careful how you tease cowgirl, ya might find yourself in a tight spot you don't wanna be in." I teased back as she raised her eyebrows, taking my words as a challenge.

"Whatcha gonna do bout it, huh? Ya'll gonna tie me up and have a hay day?" She jested as I smirked.

"Wow Applejack, I didn't know you were really into that kind of thing." I teased even more as she realized what she said and blushed incredibly. I was laughing so hard before an apple hit the back of my head.

"OOOUUCH! What the hell was that?!" I groaned out while rubbing the back of my head. Applejack smirked as she lift her hooves and rest them on the end of the cart,lying back on the bushels under her.

"An Apple a day keeps the pain away." She chimed as I looked back, rubbing my head as I was even more confused by her response. Her words only making my now throbbing headache even worse.

"What? What are you even talking about? Did you just throw an apple at the back of my head?" I asked as she looked at me and smirked.

"That's what ya'll get for being such a painful tease." She said.

"Not my fault you're into that kinda thing." I countered as she look taken aback from my comment.

"And what kinda thing are we talkin' about?" She questioned.

"You know exactly what we're talking about?" I answered as we looked at each other adamantly, our gaze meeting without falter or intent to yield before Applejack looked up and pulled her rope to the left, directing me to move the cart to the left to stay on the road as I was veering off to the side. I looked back at Applejack and chuckled awkwardly.

"Hehe, sorry about the AJ." I apologized as she was fixing her hat from her quick reaction.

"It's okay sugarcube. Just as long as we get these here apples back to the barn, we'll be right as rain." She stated back to me.

We continued our short venture before arriving back at the barn, meeting along with Big Mac as he was finishing offloading his load into the barn. He waved to us and making his way into the house. Then we rolled the cart up to the entrance and began offloading our cargo into the barn.

"Hey Sugarcube, I almost forgot, there was something I was supposed to tell ya." Applejack mentioned. I dropped the bushel with the rest of the pile as I turned my attention to her and replied.

"Oh yea? What did ya wanna tell me?"

"Would ya'll mind heading over to the school to see the girls real quick? They said they wanted to see ya for something?" She explained. I drew a curious look at her as I wondered about the reason for them wanting to see me.

"Did they ever explained what it was about?" I asked as Applejack shook her head.

"Nope. They just asked if you can come over to see them." She repeated. I was even more curious, my questions unanswered but I merely shrugged it off as it being for the little fillies.

"Sure. I don't see the harm in me going. Besides, I get to see what the school life is like for the little ones." I commented as Applejack smiled.

"That's more like it. Well, ya'll better run off now. Oh wait, let me get ya pay first before ya'll skedaddle." Said Applejack as she made her way out the barn and came back with a bag of bits. I took it from her hand and gave her a hug, surprising her as she nuzzled back into me, holding this moment for a short while before releasing and I fastened the bag on my hip.

"Alright Applejack. So I'll see you tomorrow then. Take care." I bid farewell as I left the barn and made my way down the dirt road back into ponyville where at the end of the road was the school. As I came to the front of the school, seeing a lot of little fillies and colts galloping around, playing and having a good time. It reminded me a lot of when I was back in school, of course we didn't have the little playgrounds, merry-go-round, and teeter tots. But still, we had our basketball courts and the swimming pool, I mean it was pretty cool but what made it memorable was hanging with my friend Shonato...

I cast my eyes down as I was thinking about my friend, coming back from watching a movie and...my mother passing away. That's when everything changed, when...those damn Netherlings took something very dear to me. My family, my friend, and...my old life. Gone.

"Hey Mr. Vincent, um...are you alright?" I came back to my senses as I can hear the adorable squeaky voice of little Sweetie Belle as I looked down at her and smiled.

"Yea, I'm okay Sweetie Belle. How are you doing today, young lady, you doing okay here in school?" I asked kindly as she smiled back and replied.

"I'm doing great. We got to draw today, and I drew my sister and I spending time together. Look!" She spoke as she reached back in her backpack she was carrying and pulled out a piece of paper with her drawing on it. I took it from her hand as I looked at it and couldn't help but smile from how adorable it looked. It weren't no Mona Lisa or anything, but it was still precious to see that she thought so much about her sister to where she would draw something so nice for her. It showed a little stick drawing of her holding her big sisters hand in a purple room which I could guess was the inside of the Carousel Boutique since there were other stick figure ponies and clothes and stuff scattered around the room. I gave her back her drawing as I complimented.

"It looks really nice Sweetie. I'm sure if you showed Rarity, she will love it very much." She took it back as she looked at it for a moment before looking up at me with a hopeful gaze.

"You really think she'll like it Mr. Vincent?" She asked innocently, making me smile even more as I found her just too adorable. I tussled her mane, earning a giggle from her as she closed her eyes and enjoyed me petting her as I responded.

"I know she will. If I know Rarity well enough, then she'll love to see her little sister make something nice for her, and accept it genuinely." She smiled with a ~squee~ sound as the sound caught me off guard like always before she hugged me, nuzzling her head over my stomach as I ignored the weird, abnormal, and possibly imaginary sound as I returned the hug to the bundle of cuteness before me. Shortly after, I saw two other fillies making their way towards us before I recognized one of them as little Applebloom, but the other one I didn't. She was a little orange filly with a wild, almost tomboyish-like purple mane, actually it reminded me a lot of Rainbow Dash's hair. She was the shortest of the bunch with light purple eyes, a slim petite look to her, slim hips, small chest, but she seemed like she was toning her body like an athlete. Honestly wasn't that bad for a little filly.

As they stopped beside Sweetie Belle, they said their hello's to one another as the orange filly had a rough tomboyish voice to match her physical feature before Sweetie directed their attention to face me.

"Crusaders, this is the knight I was telling you guys about, his name is Vincent and he works for the Princesses." I blushed as Sweetie introduced me to her friends, which Applebloom I already knew as the little mini Apple spoke out.

"Yea, Ah know 'im. He works at the farm now with Applejack and Big Mac." Sweetie Belle looked at Applejack with interest.

"Wait, he does?!" Sweetie then turned her attention to me with large gleeful eyes and a wide smile. "I didn't know you work for the Princesses AND you work with the Apples. That's amazing." She continued.

"Yea, that's pretty cool. But not as cool as Rainbow Dash though." Said the orange filly. I turned my gaze at her as she mentioned one of my friends names as I was now curious.

"You know RD? Don't tell me...you two are sister's right?" I asked her as she blushed a deep red before her eyes were gleaming as they were lost in her own imagination, she then came to and responded.

"Well of course I know Rainbow Dash, she's like a big sister and a hero to me. But...it would be awesome if she was my real sister though." She looked a little down at the thought as I couldn't help but find that touching.

"Hey, it's cool. I know Rainbow as well, she's a friend of mine and we're pretty cool with each other. Heck, not too long ago she came by AJ's place and wanted to have a race with me." I commented as the orange filly lifted her gaze at me in sheer wonder, engulfed by her thoughts of my little tale to tell.

"You raced against Rainbow Dash?!" She asked enthusiastically as I nodded.

"Sure did."

"But...you don't have no wings. So, how could you race against her, did you run?" She asked. I chuckled from her question, knowing very well I wouldn't last in a race with her if I just ran.

"No I didn't run. I kinda have wings of my own." Her eyes gleamed as she looked at me then her expression drew confusion as she was looking under my jacket and behind my sword before she looked at me accusingly.

"I don't see any wings. Are you just making things up?" She questioned as I smirked. I was about to respond before Sweetie Belle spoke.

"Maybe he can show us when we're in class." My eyebrows raised in question as I approached them to know more of the details, probably as to why he was there to begin with.

"Um...what do you mean when you say in class?" Sweetie Belle gave her attention to me as she responded.

"Didn't you know? Today is Show and Tell Day, and I wanted to introduce you to my classmates." I slowly formed a smile at the thought of Show and Tell Day back when I was a little kid myself. It was actually pretty cool where you get to show something that really mattered to you or you felt very proud of. In fact...I looked back at Sweetie and after thinking back, it made me wonder. "Does she actually view me as someone important to her? Maybe it's because I'm with Rarity, or maybe she likes the idea that I'm her 'Knight Friend'." As I was in thought, I heard the orange filly call out to me, breaking me from my pondering.

"So, are you going to show us for Show and Tell Day?" She asked eagerly as I looked at Sweetie Belle to see her looking at me with a hopeful gaze as I replied with a smirk.

"Absolutely. So when is this gonna start?"

"Right after Lunch. I really wanna see how you managed to even race against her. This is gonna be pretty cool." The orange filly exclaimed. I looked down at her in curiosity as I realized something so simple that I completely missed.

"By the way, I never did get your name." I asked the little filly. She gave me a puzzled look before realizing we never introduced one another.

"My name is Scootaloo. Hehe, sorry about that, I got really into our talk that it kinda slipped my mind." She stated as she rubbed the back of her head nervously.

"Yea I know what you mean. Well, as you know, my name is Vincent, it's nice to meet you. So, how long does lunch..." The bell the rings, interrupting me as the girls looked back towards the school as they exclaimed in unison.

"Lunch is over!" Sweetie Belle turned around to take my hand as she pulls me towards the school.

"Come on Vincent. It's time for Show and Tell." Sweetie beckons as I couldn't help but chuckle as the other girls came behind me and urged me along into the school.

"What is that thing?" My friend Silver Spoon asked in disgust. I watched as those Blank Flanks walked back to the school while dragging their little pet around with them into the school ground. Honestly I've never seen anything like that in my entire life. It looked like some weird Diamond Dog, but...ugly in a different way.

"I don't really know. Whatever it is has gotten them and a lot of other ponies interested. I keep hearing things from daddy about there being a new creature in Ponyville. Something like it fighting off some Gryphon or whatever." I responded as Silver Spoon looked at me in disbelief.

"A gryphon?! No way, I don't believe that. Gryphon's are supposed to be like, strong and stuff. How could something like that beat a gryphon? Are you sure you heard right?" I looked at my friend Silver Spoon as she waited in question. She was a little shorter then me, had wavy Gray hair with light gray highlights that was pulled in a braided ponytail and wrapped in a purple hair tie, dazzling violet eyes behind her thick brimmed light blue spectacles and a pearl necklace around her neck. She had a cute navy blue uniform with a white blouse and a navy blue skirt. I approached her as we were walking side by side back to school.

"Of course I'm sure. But it's still hard to believe it though. Until I see proof that he did what ponies say he did, he's just some low-class garbage that's begging for attention." I stated as we both chuckled before entering the school and being greeted by our teacher as we took our seats. I saw those Blank Flanks talking to the teacher as she looked at the weird creature and nodded before she went up to the class.

"Okay my little ponies, settle down now please." She spoke with gentleness as the classroom went quiet and everypony was seated and awaiting for Ms. Cherilee's instructions.

"Now as you know, today we are having Show and Tell Day, where everypony gets to bring a little something they like to share with the class and talk about it and why it is important or holds some meaning to you, and...we have a special guest who is participating for Show and Tell. Cutie Mark Crusaders, would you like to start it off?" She asked kindly as the Blank Flanks leaped forward in excitement.

"YEAH!" The girls lined up as Sweetie Belle took the lead, which was different because I thought usually Applejack would take the lead but, whatever. Sweetie cleared her throat as she began with their introductions for Show and Tell.

"Hi everypony, my name is Sweetie Belle, and these are my friends, Applebloom and Scootaloo, and today I brought another friend of mine who I met who is somepony I find very special. Now you may have heard of somepony who was battling out a Gryphon and came out the victor, but to me, that's not what makes him special. He is special because he is a good, kind-hearted Stallion who listens, cares, and makes it his duty as knight of the Princesses to protect others. When I first met him, I thought he looked kinda strange, um...no offense Mister Vincent." The creature chuckled in a casual and cheerful tone as he responded.

"It's okay Sweetie, no harm done." He actually sounded very pleasing to the ear, its...so weird when you were expecting an ugly gurgle instead of...that.

"But after I got to know him, I found him to be amazing." Sweetie Belle resumed.

"And he's a strong worker. Mah sister tells the family how good of a worker he was. Quick, strong, and very per...per..." Applebloom continued before falling victim to just words.

"Personal?" Scootaloo suggested.

"Nah, it's not that. Oh, what was that word?!" Applebloom struggled, trying to find the right word.

"Um...persistent?" Sweetie Belle offered.

"YEAH, that one." Applebloom exclaimed in relief. I laughed under my breath as I couldn't help but find it sad that she couldn't figure out a word that was so simple.

"Mah sister is always happy when the work is done, like she has more of a glow to her, and I feel it's because of Vincent here, always doing his best to help out mah sister and make her happy." Applebloom continued in that weird accent of hers. It's like, all these feely stuff sounds nice and all, but it sounds like something every other pony would do themselves.

"Aaaand, he also raced against Rainbow Dash!" Scootaloo announced as the class began murmuring to one another, wondering if what she said was really true, I couldn't stand all of this. I stood up from my chair as the class now focused me as I put my hands on my hips and breathed in.

"I highly doubt that that thing could race against Rainbow Dash, let alone even any pegasus. Look at him. He's got no wings. Isn't it obvious that what is said about him is not true at all." I disputed out of annoyance from their ignorance as the creature only smiled before taking a step in front of the girls as I raised my eyebrows in curiosity. He had a confident gaze in his eyes, as if what isn't there in plain sight is actually real. He has no horn, so he can't perform magic, he's just a weird abnormal creature, so why is he looking back with such confident eyes? He stood there, casting his eyes around to everypony in the class before he took a deep breath and spoke.

"I would like to say, first off, that it gives me great pleasure for me to stand before the future generation for Equestria. My name is Vincent Valor, and I am considered alien to this strange and mysterious world. I know it may seem unreal for all of you to believe what you may hear, whether it speaks truth or not, I myself know and hold such events as memories of my encounters. Though curiosity is at its peak in the eyes of the young that I see all around me. I bare no threat, nor do I wish such baring. I stand before you, as a friend to your fellow classmates, and as a good man. Now, I take it you all wish for proof to back up the answers you all desire, am I right?" His words enthrall me, beckoning me to heed and listen to him. Though I stand to not believe such rubbish, his words, they hold such strong confidence and consideration, as well as...intellect. I shook my head to wipe the spell his words lay upon my attention as I spoke out.

"I think we would all like to see some proof to at least validate some of your claims." He directed his attention to me as I was caught staring into his pool of hazel eyes, drowning me in his gaze as he gave me a gentle smile.

"And may I ask what your name may be?" He asked courteously as I responded.

"Diamond Tiara." He then examines me with eyes shifting up and down before he bows, much to my surprise as I couldn't help but blush.

"It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance Diamond Tiara. Now, if everypony wishes to see proof, might I ask we step outside to make it easier on me?" He requested as the teacher spoke.

"Of course Vincent. Come along now everypony, let's head outside to see what Vincent has to show us, and remember save your questions for when he is finished with his demonstration."

"Yes Ms. Cheerilee." All the students replied in unison as Ms. Cheerilee returned her attention to Vincent.

"Lead the way Vincent." She urged as he nods before turning and stepping out of the class as he made his way outside while everypony else followed. He stopped and removed his bandaged-wrapped sword, I don't know why it was wrapped in a bandaged, I thought it was pretty weird. But he laid it down against the wall as he made his way out to the clearing and turned around to face us all with a smug look on his face.

"Alright everypony, you ready to see something cool?" He asked the class as he received approval from everypony. I noticed something weird as I thought I saw something black around him, but only shook it off as I continued to watch, but the more I watched him, the thicker the imaginary black smoke appeared before it became apparent as it was engulfing his backside until black wings unfurled from his back. My jaws literally dropped from the sight before me, as it's wingspan was larger then any other Pegasus I have ever seen, its black smoke still fumed out, but it was apparent as it was emitting from the wings itself. I was baffled, left speechless at the sight before me as the class were at awe from his display. His wings relaxed as they came to a close, resting on his back as he looked out to the class.

"Where I am from, something like this is merely a dream brought to reality. This is the work of magic that was bestowed upon me from another source. I can't quite explain it, but I've learned to use this magic like it was my own and have learned to create wings of my own." He explained, as if he was telling us a tale as even I was enraptured by his words before Scootaloo spoke out in eagerness.

"So you really do have wings. That is so cool! But I doubt you beat Rainbow Dash though, even if you had wings that big, she is the fastest flier out there." He smiled as he crossed his arms.

"And she still is to this day. I lost on our race, but I enjoyed the experience racing with someone so capable with such expertise in flying that it helped me learn to be a better flier in such a short moment. Maybe one day I may win, but until then I shall continue in growing and bettering myself. Because I have those important to me that I need to be strong, plus..." he paused as everypony looked at him in wonder as he cast his eyes down, as if something troubling was corrupting him and making it difficult for him to speak or act. I regained my composure and directed myself to him as I brushed my mane aside and spoke out.

"Okay. So maybe you did race against Rainbow Dash. But that still doesn't mean that you fought against a Gryphon." He looked up with an intimidating glare directed at me as it made my hair stand on ends.

"Honestly, it means little to me if I beat up another living creature, whether they deserved it or not. For those who pride on such methods for boast and glory is someone I personally find hard to trust. So I don't care if anypony believes whether I hurt someone or not, because that's not something I am proud of. What I am proud of doing, is being there to help somepony who really needed it so they can carry on with their day in a positive light." My eye was twitching as I was hearing this...this...creatures petty lectures. It felt so infuriating, as if he was directing his statement to me, and to make it worse, his face changes back to his old smug-looked self as he began answering other filly and colt's question as I was too heated to think clearly. I turned around and walked away as nobody noticed me. I wanted to get back at him, to show him he's as weak and vulnerable as any other creature out there. I then saw his weird looking sword as I made my way to grab it while dragging it away with me. It was incredibly heavy as I was struggling just by dragging the thing.

"How can...somepony...carry...this huge thing?!" I complained while dragging this thing, huffing and I wanted to rid of this thing to vent out from his stupid nonsense. 'Protecting ponies and being better', please. He's just trying to glorify himself, and this thing is just to showoff, I bet he can't even use this heavy thing.

"Diamond Tiara, what are you doing?! You drop Vincent's sword right now!" I turned to my annoyance as I saw Sweetie Belle making her way towards me and huffed.

"No, and there is nothing you can do to stop me. Your little pet is a egotistical, glorified showoff and deserves to be exposed for what he is. I'll show you that he is nothing more then a fake and is only seeking out attention, and things like this..." I barely raised the weapon before continuing, "is nothing more then fashion accessories for him. So we're gonna see what he-h-h-HEY, LET GO YOU BLANK FLANK!" I was interrupted as a green glow wrapped itself around the handle and was tugging the weapon as I tugged back, looking back at Sweetie Belle to see her horn glowing a light green hue.

"NO! This is Vincent's and I'm going to give it BACK!" She squeaked as we kept tugging it back and forth as I noticed her magic was getting weaker, then I saw Vincent before he had a horrified look on his face before dashing his way at us. I was kinda scared as he was coming to us at an alarming speed before he shouted out.

"SWEETIE BELLE, DON'T TOUCH IT! LET GO OF THE SWORD!" I was confused as I looked back at Sweetie and saw her eyes roll up with her mouth gaping open, her body swaying before her magic let go and she dropped on the ground. I looked at the sword, then Vincent, and finally at Sweetie Belle as I was worried that...something terrible had just happened.