Author's Notes:

Hey everybody! Swiftriff here, and gotta say.... it's about damn time I get back into this story! Been way too long, about 3 years actually since I've let it hanging, but am currently polishing all the chapters up, and will be getting everything up to speed.
Though I should mention that it might take a bit with the new chapters to come out since I spend my time doing digital art and whatnot, but I'll do my best to make time to progress in this story.
With all that said and done, I hope you enjoy ^_^

I felt a strange sensation, as if I was drifting away as I only saw red and white stars flash by in the darkness. Then I began to feel a stir as my body felt like it was briefly lifted before falling back down, collapsing to my hands and knees.

I opened my eyes to see the familiar plain white surrounding. So bland and empty, like an empty canvas just waiting to be painted. I recalled this 'canvas' as my Mindscape, which made me wonder. "Are other Mindscapes more fulfilled or less empty, or are they just like mine?"

"Good to see you're back, kid." Davian's voice sounded for my attention, breaking me from my thoughts. I only replied with a glare as I spoke with venom in my tone.

"I can't say the same for you." He only stood there a few feet away as he shrugs while shaking his head.

"You still holdin' a grudge on me? Even after I said I'd help you learn Nether magic?" He asked with a falsely hurt tone. I crossed my arms as I stared daggers at him.

"Just because you're teaching me doesn't mean I have to respect you. For all I know, you're helping me with an ulterior motive. So if you want my kindness, you're gonna have to earn it." I chastised to him. He only waves it off as he replies.

"That's good to know and all, but we're on the clock here and I'd rather not waste it on petty matters like this immaturity. So let's get passed this shit and get to the important stuff." He spoke in a more seriously assertive tone. I scoffed as I sarcastically replied.

"Off to a good start." He ignores my comment as he crossed his arms and began to speak.

"If you want to use Nether magic, let alone control it, you must follow five important rules, otherwise the magic may backfire or have serious consequences." I looked at him with concern as I began to question him.

"I didn't realize Netherlings had rules, I always thought it was some sadistic impulse of theirs. Especially those horned guys." Davian smiles before replying with an answer.

"It may seem as such, but they were trained to act as such and bred to be cold and ruthless, even though the 'horned guys' seem to use a bit of magic, don't underestimate the others for they too can use magic, only…differently." I raised my eyebrows in surprise. As I was about to ask about them, Davian interrupts by raising his hand as he spoke.

"I'll answer questions later. Let's cover the rules first so you can begin your training." I closed my mouth to listen to what he had to tell me. He lowered his arm and began his teaching.

"Like I said, five rules, very important, you'll get fucked if you forget em'. First rule: Desire – You need to feel compelled or motivated to perform a spell with a set action or effect. Let's just say for example if a big ass rock was tossed your way, you can dodge it, block it, destroy it, whatever. But you have to choose your action and be driven to perform that action." I nodded, presumed to ask for full understanding.

"Okay, so let's say I wanna stop it in mid-air, do I focus on the rock to stop?" He scrounged his face as he replies.

"Not exactly, the way you express it falls under Natural Magic, where using some natural magic can do something from almost nothing. The basic form of Nether magic is by using the shadow to your command…"

"Why isn't it just called shadow magic then?" I interrupted. He sighs as he answered.

"Shadow is the basic form, there are other forms it can take like fire for example. Anyways," He quickly states as he resumes his lesson, "if you wanted to stop the rock, you would use the shadow to do so, which comes to the second and third rule: Timing and Imagery. Timing refers to when your desire is at its peak, or when you're fully certain for your choice of action, as well as the opposing target for when it's susceptible to use your magic on."

"So timing is like a ready stage then. Imagery I can guess I have to picture what I'm doing, right?" I deduced.
"Pretty much, whether it applies to a visual image, mental image, or a verbal phrase that may present an image. Now the fourth rule is Direction. This is where you guide your spells course of action, which means you have to visualize it and its motion."

"That sounds pretty cool. I mean I wouldn't want my spells to just stand still after I use it I suppose." I went in thought as I remembered something from earlier.

"So wait, how did you control my body last time I was here? I thought something like that falls under 'Natural magic'. I mean, can you control me by controlling my shadow? If that's the case, why doesn't any of the Nethers do that and just call it a day?" I questioned.

"That question falls under the fifth and final rule: Balance Factor. When knowing your spells limitations, your targets limitations, and grasping the situation as well as your target." I was slightly confused by his answer. He sees my confusion and sighs as he clarified.

"I sensed your capability and knew my power overwhelmed yours, allowing me to control you." For some reason, that hit a nerve as I was a bit pissed from his reply.

"What do you mean, 'your power overwhelmed me', who's the one 'paying rent' to stay in my body, huh?" He narrowed his eyes at me and replied.

"You're not in control of your own body, you let your feelings get the best of you, leaving you vulnerable." I was breathing heavily from his ridiculous remarks and was ready to retort as I realized my involuntary action. I was getting worked up over his words, proving it further more that, to my displeasure, he was right. I refrained and tried calming myself as he smiled upon my change of action.

"That's it. This is why I said 'train your body'. It's more than just your strength, it's who is in control when it matters most. Be clear and collected, while being strong and grounded. The Nether magic is only as strong as your strength, but it can also consume you if you aren't in control of your own body." I took his words in with great consideration, despite who he is, his words seem to hold truth to them. "That probably explains how Davian came forth when I was fighting Gilda. But it shouldn't be so much of a problem now with this seal. But never hurts to be prepared." I thought while viewing my left arm, but to my surprise I didn't have the seal on it. "Must be with my real body and can't come to my Mindscape…for some reason. I'll ask Celestia about that later." I looked back to Davian as I open my mouth to speak.

"So if I was to stop the rock, I would need to use the shadow, visualize it blocking the rock, and guiding it to do so. Does that also mean I would need to imagine it being a solid black wall as well so it doesn't, for example, let the rock fly through it?" Davian nodded, bringing me to full understanding and taking this lesson to consideration.

"Now it would be difficult for a human to use Nether magic as it can be stressful to use it naturally and consecutively. So with the five rules in mind, I'm gonna teach you how to create a Conductor." Davian explained, earning a questioning gaze from me.

"What's a conductor, and what's the point of it?" I asked. Davian raised his left arm and after a moment, his fingertips grew to a point like claws as its skin tone changed to a dark black hue that spread along his arm and led inside the fur of his jackets arm-openings.

"My arm is now my Conductor. The purpose of it is to be the main channel point of where to use your magic. It makes channeling smoother, easier, and more efficient." He explained. I looked at it with interest, seeing it like a wand for wizards or something of the sort. It seems beneficial but I could see a flaw to this form.

"So what if you had your arm cut off? You would lose your Conductor right?" I asked, earning a grin from Davian.

"Good question, and yes…for a moment. You can create another Conductor if that happens, but it still draws from your body, plus losing a limb doesn't help any on the matter." He answered as I was now in thought to think of a way to prevent that from happening.

"Give it a try kid. Focus on the shadows and let it become a part of you. Like a permanent shadow that won't diminish even in the light." He urged. I had to admit, that sounded pretty rad and only inspired me as my mind was flowing with ideas at this point. Then, an answer dawned upon me. I looked down to my left arm, thinking of it as a container for the darkness, repeller of the light, and a heavy plated bracer to guard from any attack. I imagined the durability of my arm like Salvation, taking shape of a black armored arm with overlapped plating that scales up my arm with a wicked grim edge to it.

Once my mind was set, I gave it its image from the tip of my fingers to my shoulder. Sturdier then metal but light and flexible with edges that were subtle to not harm myself but shows intimidation. I focused on the shadows beneath me to make this desire come to life, and as I urged it further, the shadow grew dimmer as my arm began to expel a black mist from my pores and slowly spread as it enveloped my arm. It barely graced my arm as it delicately pushed through the hairs on my arm with a cool touch. Then I felt a pressure like it was squeezing my arm for a brief moment as it's dark color grew bold and defined it's shape to mesh with the tiny details of my arm, to the very muscle as it fitted plate after plate to meet my expectation and comfort as it slowly lost the pressure.

It came to an end as my arm was now glimmering like black satin, revealing my armor plated claw-arm. I raised my arm and moved my fingers around and closed it as it clicked with the tough metal rubbing against each other. "This is so fucking AWESOME!" I stretched my new arm out and flexed it as the plates expanded with my muscles without discomfort. I looked at Davian as he was clapping with an amused look.

"Well, that's one hell of an improvement. You got your Conductor, now let's start learning to manipulate the shadows." His arm began to resonate a black mist as something poked out of the ground, growing larger as it took the form of a black tendril that was barely taller than Davian.

"Now you try kid." He said. I looked to my arm and envisioned a tendril like his to appear, but out of my hand instead of the ground. I made a mental command as it did so and my hand extended into a large black whip. Davian chuckled as he said.

"We're beyond beginner's lesson kid. Try it somewhere that's not on your body."

"You do remember this is my first time right?" I questioned, he only smirked as he replied.

"First timers don't usually create an armored Conductor, that's a higher level technique, so we're skipping the tutorial shit and getting to some good stuff." His face then grew to a wicked smile as he stared at me. I didn't like where this was going, so I braced myself for whatever bullshit he had in mind.

"Defend yourself kid." He exclaimed as he thrust his palm to the floor, expelling black spikes as it traveled my way. I readied to defend myself as I directed my Conductor to the ground and with a raising motion, created a half-dome wall to protect me. I could hear his spikes crash against my barrier as it stood its ground, intact and unflinching. I smiled upon my accomplishment, but then a black claw stretched from the wall I created and grabbed me, pulling me through the wall.

I saw a brief black void that for some reason had a chilling but familiar sensation before I was pulled from the void and saw Davian's face with that same grin as I was pulled from the ground below him.

"We're not done yet, kid." He exclaimed as I was lifted out of the shadow on the ground, hanging before him in the air, then he kicked me in the gut, launching me away as I skid along the white floor.

I finally came to a stop and was coughing from the blow I took, trying to collect myself before I saw Davian's feet a short distance away, quickly making his way towards me. I stood on my feet and used the shadow, extending it from the ground and split them into two large black tendrils, making their way towards Davian.

They began to whip down towards Davian as he side-jumps to avoid them. I focused for the tendrils to follow in pursuit as they began thrashing to attack him while Davian kept dodging them with ease.

"Not bad kid. Although you're a little slow, but at least you can handle two at the same time. But…" His body resonated with a black hue as he grabs both tendrils while they descended upon him. "You're gonna have to do better." I only smiled as I responded.

"Who said there were only two?" Davian looked at me with confusion before another tendril sprouted from his shadow and slammed him into the ground, releasing the other two tendrils as they followed suit to hammer him down. I fist pumped as I exclaimed.

"Hells yeah, gotcha you son of a bitch!" It felt good to get the upper hand on him after all his shit I had to deal with. He looked up from the ground with the tendrils now holding him down as he smiled.

"It ain't over yet kid." He said as a black hue emitted from under the tendrils before a large black spear-like pillar stabbed through them, then the pillar opened two-ways, splitting the tendrils apart as they scattered away like dust, revealing the pillar from Davian's back. It then opened fully and unfurled, revealing the pillar to be burning wings. Davian stood as he took to the air and looked down at me with a smirk. I was mind blown that he could use the shadow to create wings, burning functioning wings.
"That's not fair, you didn't tell me you can use magic to fly!" I shouted to him as he shrugged.

"You didn't ask." He replied. "Fucking smartass." He stared at me impatiently as he said.

"Are you gonna just stand there, or are ya gonna join me so we can continue?" I glared for a moment before I sighed and decided to focus, using the concept of creating a Conductor, I imagined my wings and used the shadow to my bidding. The familiar black mist spread out of my back as they swirled and pressed together to create my new wings. They weren't burning like Davian's, instead they were black feathered wings that for some reason emitted some black smoke. Kinda reminded me of a fallen angel. Once satisfied, I tried to move my wings, it took a while for me to get it down. It was like moving a numb part of your body, but eventually I got the feel for it before I gave them a good flap, lifting me in the air. I was surprised by this and frantically kept flapping, afraid to fall back down as my actions only made me go higher and higher. Did I forget to mention I was kinda afraid of heights?

Davian was laughing his ass off as he held his gut.

"Gwahahaha, wh-wha-what the hell are you doing? Swimming in the air?! Ha ha, seriously kid, you gotta brush up on your flying. It's really bad." He mocked as I was struggling to control myself as I was gaining and losing altitude at random. Davian finally calms down as he wiped a tear from his eye.

"I-I think we should call it. I lost the mood to keep fighting you. Just work on…hehe whatever the hell you're doing." He snickered as he descended to the ground. When he was on…land, I suppose, his wings dissipated before he sat down and watched me as I continued to struggle in the air. "Why is this so fucking difficult? I can perform Nether magic with ease, but flying is being a real bitch?! I call inconvenient BULLSHIT!" I mentally cursed. It took me some time as I finally learn to flap my wings together in conjunction with one another and differentiate between light, steady flaps to just hover, heavy flaps to raise altitude, or just 'parachute' my way to descend. "Okay, I'm slowly getting the hang of this. Now to work with steering…and the 'brakes'." I looked down to see Davian slouching like a lazy fuck. "Guess he got tired of watching me make progress. Seriously, he's supposed to be helping me and he's proving to be a god awful instructor." I shook my head in disappointment as I resumed with my 'flying lesson'. But as I was flying around clumsy-like, I felt my head spark like firecrackers as my body lightly shook. Davian sat up and stood on his feet as he said.

"Well kid. That's the end of today's lesson." I looked at him with stupidity.

"Lesson? All you taught me were rules and the Conductor. Everything else I had to guess." I commented with agitation.

"And you did a good job. Not many Nethers can make progress like you have, especially when acting on impulse. This is why I fought you in the first place. To give you that lil push." I scowled at his reasoning, but in the end I did make excellent progress, plus I can fly and use magic.

"Now remember, when you wake up, train your body, practice your magic and work on your damn flying. It won't be as easy using magic out there then it is in here. You got it?" He instructed.

"Yeah yeah, I got it. So just do my thing and I'll see you next time. Later you lazy fuck." I bid to him as I felt myself slip away as I thought I heard Davian laughing before I came to, opening my eyes as I lay on Pinkies bed in her room.

I was surrounded by pink, pink, and guess what, MORE PINK. Seriously, Pinkie really lived up to her name. Speaking of Pinkie, I took notice of her sleeping against me, her body snuggled against me with a peaceful smile on her muzzle as she slept soundly. But then I looked and saw that Lyra wasn't in bed but instead was getting her clothes back on as she lifted her skirt up, giving me a nice view of her cute little buttocks.

"Lyra?" I called out, scaring her from surprise as she jumped before tripping over her skirt and falling to the ground.

"Ouch, that's smart." Lyra mumbled. I quickly rolled to the edge of the bed as I got up and crouched to her.

"Are you alright Lyra?" I asked with concern.

"Yea, I'm…fine." She said as she stared at me with a blush on her cheeks. I looked at her with curiosity as I raised my eyebrow.

"Whatsup?" I asked. She slowly pointed under me as she replied with a crimson-hue on her cheeks.

"You're…uh…thing is showing." She said almost to a whisper. I looked to where she was pointing and realized I was stark naked in front of her. I quickly looked around to grab my boxers and slip them on, and then I looked at her embarrassed and with a sheepish smile.

"Hehe, um… sorry about that Lyra." I apologized to her as she looked back at me.

"It's okay. So, what are you doing up so early?" She asked as I looked at her with a playful smile.

"Funny, I was gonna ask you that. But I'm up because I have to get ready for work." I replied, earning an interested look from Lyra.

"I didn't realize you were already working. Where at?" She asked happily.

"Over at AJ's farm." I answered. I then directed myself to her and asked.

"So Lyra, why are you up so early?" I asked with a teasing tone.

"I wanted to hurry up to get back to Bon Bon before she gets upset again." I nodded in understanding before she looked at me hopefully.

"Um…Vincent? Do you mind not telling Bon Bon about…ya know, last night?" She asked. I was curious on why she would ask something like that, so I asked her.

"Why do you not want Bon Bon to know?" She looked a bit ashamed as she softly replied.

"Well, she's my…marefriend." I was surprised by this, and she saw my expression as she quickly said.

"Don't get me wrong, I love Bon Bon a lot, more than anything really. It's just that I have this…deep fascination with humans and I just couldn't help myself. I like you, you're a really sweet guy, and yesterday was simply…*shivers* oh my Celestia, was so amazing. But I just don't want Bon Bon to think I don't think much of her or maybe betraying her, ya know?" She looked really sad, almost to tears. I felt pretty bad for her, and decided to comfort her in a hug. She was surprised but hugged back as I said.

"Don't worry, what happened last night will be our secret. But I have to insist that we keep this relationship as friends, okay? I don't wish to cause something to break your relationship. So this'll be between you and I…oh, and Pinkie." I chuckled as I see Pinkie curled in a ball as she slept peacefully. I then felt a kiss on my cheek as I looked to Lyra with a sweet smile on her as she was released from the hug.

"Thank you Vincent, and I promise I won't say anything. Cross my heart, hope to fly. Stick a cupcake in my eye." She said as she made some hand gestures in suit with her 'promise'.

"Cute." I commented. She giggled as she replied.

"It's a Pinkie Promise, and trust me, you never want to break a Pinkie Promise."

"Thanks Lyra, I'll keep that in mind." I said as Lyra made her way to the door as she waved goodbye before leaving. I looked at Pinkie as she continued to sleep, and I couldn't help but smile at her adorable state. I leaned forward to move the blanket up closer to her and caressed her head as she smiled and muttered.

"Hnng…Vivi, that's the chocolate syrup…mmm, silly willy." I chuckled at her sleep talk and decided to start my morning as I rounded my clothes and went to a door off to the side. I opened the door and found it was a bathroom, so I made my way inside and start the shower and placed everything down. I then noticed a plug-in on the wall over her counter. "So they have electricity here? Well, let's find out and hope it works." I reached in my pants pocket and pulled out my phone and a charger as I plugged everything together. Then my light glowed red as I fist pumped. "Holy shit it actually works. Fucking awesome." I immediately powered my phone on and decided to play some music while I got ready to take a shower.

After setting up the water to a nice, warm temperature, I got undressed and hopped inside. I sighed in relief as the water hit my skin, it felt so nice and rejuvenating, almost to the point where I could fall asleep…if I wasn't standing of course.

I searched for a decent shampoo, where a majority had some sweet candy fragrance, but eventually I found one that was kinda minty. I decided to use the minty shampoo and lathered my hair. Suddenly I felt something big and slippery rubbing against me, I couldn't see what it was because of the shampoo so I called out.

"Who's there?" I heard a familiar giggle before something wrapped around me and started rubbing my chest down.

"It's just me silly."

"Pinkie?!" I was shocked to hear Pinkie in the shower with me.

"What are you doing in here?!" I asked.

"It's my bathroom silly." She responded playfully as she continued rubbing me down, working on my abs as I felt her soft body rubbing against my back.

"No, I mean what are you doing in the shower with me?" I clarified as she replied with a giggle.

"Helping you get clean, unless you can reach your back." She said innocently as she pressed herself against me. I was getting turned on as she continued to rub me down with her soft body pressed against me. Her perky nipples gliding across the ridges of my back as I felt her lathering my body with soap. I hung my head down, releasing sigh from the pleasure of her soothing touch as I rinsed the shampoo out of my hair.

"Aww, are you enjoying me cleaning you Vivi?" She asked sweetly. I slowly nodded as I was too enthralled by her treatment as she then started cleaning my waist and worked her way to my groin.

"Oh wow, I'm glad to see you are enjoying this." She said as she grabbed my erect member and started rubbing it slowly. I rest my hand on the wall to support me up as she began jerking me off. She held me in a close embrace as her body pressed against me while jerking me off, her free hand on my chest, rinsing my body off under the water as she placed small pecks around my neck. I couldn't contain myself any longer as I reached down to grab her hand on my member, releasing her grip as I turned to face her. She stood there in wonder on what I was going to do as I pushed her against the wall before I kissed her lips. She sounded with delight, sending vibrations in my mouth as the water were hitting our bodies during our kiss.

She wrapped her arms over my shoulders as she pulled me closer, my throbbing member now rubbing against her slit. She released from our kiss as she pants with desire.

"Now it's my turn to take care of you." I said in a sultry tone as I grabbed one of her legs to lift up as I inserted the head of my cock into her marehood. Pinkie's pants grew heavier as I began to tease her.

"Oh Vivi, please give it to me." She begged before I thrust myself into her, earning a gasp as I began to slap against her. I felt her pulling and thrusting her hips against me as I thrust into her in a steady pace. Her tongue was lolled out as she stared up in a haze while I continued to fuck her.

"Hang on to me Pinkie." I urged as she tightened her grip around me. I reached down and now had both her legs up, suspending her in the air as she held on to me while I held her soft, plump legs. I pounded harder into her and she returned with the same intensity, her round plot slapping against my waist as I was impaling her wet pussy.

"That's it Vivi, juaawww…just like that…AAAH." She squealed in delight as I kept pounding into her against the wall. I looked straight in her eyes as she was in euphoric bliss. I leaned against her and kissed her lips, our tongues intertwined with one another in a blind passion. We were moaning in pleasure before Pinkie's walls clenched against my cock as she cried in pleasure in my mouth. I felt her shudder as she climaxed, coating my cock in her sweet love juice. We slowly parted our lips as we rested our heads together with a smile on our face.

"You felt so good, but now it's time to finish you up." She said blissfully. I lowered her down on her hooves as she slid off my cock and got on her knees. She lifted her huge breasts, wrapping them around my cock, my member melting in her soft breasts as she was giving me a titjob. Her jugs felt so amazing, they were incredibly plush and silky soft, and the way they would jiggle as they rubbed against my member was simply incredible.

"How do you like my fun bags?" She asked sweetly. Her soft mounds felt so amazing, they were engulfing my dick as they squeezed me, rubbing me down in every delicate spot with the head of my dick poking out of her luscious breasts.

"Huff…huff…don't stop…ahh, it feels so good." I pant in lust, drowned in pleasure by the mixture of the warm water on my skin and Pinkie's breasts wrapped around my cock.

"Hehe, then you're gonna love this. Aaaww…omm." She devoured the tip of my cock in her mouth as she began sucking me off , rotating her breasts on my cock and licking around my head inside her maw, sending me to cloud nine.

"Oh shit, Pinkie…I'm about to…to…Gaaaah." I exclaimed before I pulled her head down my cock as I blew ropes after ropes of my load in her mouth. She continued to suck me off like a vacuum until there was nothing left as she swallowed everything down, releasing my dick with a pop as she giggled.

"I told you you'd love it." She said as she kissed the head of my dick, making me shudder from how sensitive I was. She stood up as we shared another kiss, but ended it shortly as I held her soft body against me.

"Is this gonna be an ongoing thing with you?" I teased.

"Hehe, maaybee~." She giggled in response.

"Well, we should finish up. I still have to get ready for work." I urged to Pinkie.

"Okie dokie lokie." She replied, and with that we finished washing up as we dried each other off and got into some clothes. She was in a blue bra and thong while searching her dresser for some clothes, I was already in my normal attire with my phone and charger in my pocket as this morning's conversation with Lyra came to mind.

"Hey Pinkie, did you know about Lyra being Bon Bon's marefiend?" I asked as she found some clothes. She began slipping them onto herself as she replied.

"Of course I did. Why do you ask?"

"Well, she asked me not to tell Bon Bon about last night." Pinkie poked her head out of her shirt as she asked.

"Are you?" I shook my head.

"No, I'm not, and I was hoping if you could do the same. I don't want to see anything happen between the two." Pinkie sat on her bed as she looked at me.

"That's pretty thoughtful. Do you like her by chance?" She asked curiously.

"As a friend, yeah."

"So do you sleep with some of your friends?" She teased with a wink. I blushed at her question.

"O-o-of course not. In fact, I usually keep to myself back where I'm from." Pinkie tilted her head in confusion as her ears flicked.

"Really?! But you seem pretty sociable around us."

"That's because I got to know you girls, usually I just mind my own business unless I feel I should do otherwise. The inhabitants on Earth aren't all as friendly as here in Equestria." Pinkie's head and ears drooped at my statement.

"That sounds pretty sad." I nodded before I urged Pinkie once more.

"So Pinkie, can you please keep last night a secret? For me?" She looked up as she smiled.

"Of course I will." I leaned forward to hug Pinkie as she returned the hug.

"Thanks Pinkie. Now I gotta get going. Don't wanna make a bad first impression by being late." I said as we released our hug.

"Take care Vivi. Don't work too hard and come see me again." Pinkie says as I strapped Salvation on my back.

"Sure thing. I'll stop by as soon as I can. Later Pinkie." I replied as I approached the door.

"Bye Vivi." Pinkie bids while waving. I returned with a wave and stepped out of her room and closed the door behind me. I made my way down the stairs to the open dining area with nopony in sight. "Makes sense since the store is closed at the moment I suppose." I walked out and closed the door behind me to see the sun barely peeking from the horizon as I tried to figure out how to get to AJ's, and with nopony out or probably awake for the matter, can't really ask for directions.

I then got an idea, why not have an eagle-eye view of the town?! "Hopefully this works." I imagined my wings once more as I attempted to conjure them. It was a lot more difficult than in my Mindscape, I really had to concentrate as I felt an invisible force trying to resist and block my mind, but after some time and a lot of mental effort, I have conjured my wings.

I exhaled in relief as I relaxed and got used to my wings. Stretching them out at full length, with each wing span as big, or probably bigger than my body, although I had difficulty stretching them comfortably with my sword rubbing against my left wing. So I removed Salvation and held it for the meanwhile.

"Alright, let's get these bad boys to work." I stated to myself as I gave my wings a powerful flap, kicking a ring of dust around me as I lifted myself in the air and going higher and higher until I could see all of Ponyville as a whole. The sight was amazing as the sun graced its warm light on me as I reveled in this moment.

I took a deep breath, smelling the cool morning air as it tickled with its cold haze. Even though I was afraid of heights, I felt…comfortable knowing I'm in control of my situation, and seeing this beautiful sight put my mind to rest without a thought to worry for. I set myself to the task at hand and scoped the area until I found acres of land with fruit-filled trees a short distance away with a red building in the middle.

"That must be it." I stated as I flew my way over there, feeling the cool wind hit my skin as I flew at a steady pace to keep me from going blind from the wind. As I drew closer to my destination, I took notice of a certain orange mare stepping out of the house as I grinned with an idea.

Ah made mah way to the front door with mah big brother, Mac, behin' me after enjoyin a nice mornin' breakfast to hit the spot before' we get to it. Ah look back at mah brother as ah reminded him.

"Now remember Mac, we got ourselves a new worker who should be on his way, and don't be surprised by the way he looks, he ain't from around here, ya hear?" The big red stallion nodded his head before replyin'.

"Eeyup." Ah placed mah Stetson hat on mah head as we stepped outside. Ah took a nice whiff of that sweet mornin' smell before we all got down and dirty. Lookin' around and openly said.

"Now ah wonder what's takin' Vincent so long. Maybe he was just all taAAHHH…" Ah was interrupted as ah felt a strong gust blow past me quicker than Pinkie's mouth.

"What in tarnation was that?!" Ah stated lookin' around, seeing nothing out of the ordinary as ah placed mah hand on mah head as ah looked up, and that's when ah noticed somethin' was off.

"What the hay? Mah hat! Where'd mah hat go?!" Ah exclaimed with agitation as ah frantically looked all over for mah hat. Ah than heard a chuckle as ah looked at my brother with annoyance.

"Aight Mac, whatcha do wit' mah hat?" He stared back at me in surprise as he replied.

"Ah don't know whatcha talkin' 'bout sis."

"Uh huh, sure ya don't Mac. Now no more games, where is it?" Ah repeated to him, getting' pretty ticked now with this lil shenanigans.

"Yeah Mac, what did you do with it, huh?" Ah heard a teasin' voice from out the blue as ah looked up to the source.

"What the…Vincent?" Ah was surprised to see Vincent up on our roof with a big grin on his face as he waved at me.

"Hey AJ. Top of the mornin' to ya." Ah noticed he had somethin' on his head, but ah had a hard time makin' it out.

"How did ya get up there?" Ah asked while squinting at him.

"I flew up here?" He replied with a teasin' tone. That's when ah realized what was on his head. Ah pointed to it as ah exclaimed.

"Mah hat! Ya'll come down from there and give me back mah hat." He took mah hat off his head as he examined it.

"Oh is this yours? I didn't realize that it was yours." He said pretty sneaky-like. He up to something, ah just know it.

"Yes it's mine. Now get down here and give it here." Ah repeated. He placed the hat back on his head.

"But I like it. It makes me feel like an outlaw." He said with a devilish smirk. Ah narrowed mah gaze at him as ah stated.

"We can do this the easy way…or mah way. Take a pick." He placed his hand on his chin as if in thought.

"How about I get a 'pretty please', or you show me whatcha got?" He challenged with a playful grin.

"Alright partna', ya ask for it. Big Mac, fetch me some ammo." Ah said to mah brother as he nodded and made his way to the barn. Ah gave Vincent a grin as he looked at me with confusion.

"Ammo? What, are you gonna shoot me or something?" He chuckled as ah kept mah grin.

"Somethin' like that." Ah replied as his face dropped in worry. Big Mac came back with a bushel of apples as he sat em down beside me.

"Here ya go sis." Big Mac stated as he stepped back away from me. Ah grabbed an apple as ah tossed it up from mah hand a couple times.

"Apples? That's your 'ammo'? Come on AJ you can't be serious?" He chuckled once more. Ah looked at him with a nice smile on mah face.

"Last chance partna'. Either come down and give me mah hat, or bite the apple." He places a hand on his hip as he replied.

"Not until you say 'pretty please'." Ah caught the apple once more as ah sighed and muttered.

"Okay then." Ah tossed the apple up and pivoted mah leg back, rearing as ah gave that apple a good swing wit' mah legs, sendin' it skyrocketin' towards Vincent. He barely dodged it as it zipped past him and was soarin' in the horizon.

"HOLY SHIT!" He blurted as he looked back at me with worry. Ah readied for anotha' shot as ah grabbed anotha' apple. Vincent waved his hands frantically to urge me to stop as he said.

"Whoa whoa whoa AJ, take it easy. You're gonna hurt somepony with that." Ah smiled as ah replied.

"Aww you're a big colt, ya'll can take it." Ah kicked another apple as he barely dodged it again as it graced his shoulder. Ah kept kickin' more and more apples at him, and wasn't gonna stop until either he give me mah hat back or ah run outta apples, and believe me, ah have plenty of apples.

"Big Mac, would ya mind getting' anotha' bushel ready?" Ah asked mah brother as ah kicked another apple.

"Eeyup." He said as he walked away to the barn.

"Oh come on AJ. You can't do this forever." Vincent commented.

"And neither can you. Oh and by the way, this is comin' outta your pay." Ah retorted back.

"WHAT?!"

~SMACK~

"Bullseye." Ah cheered as ah got him right in the chest as he fell back from its impact.

"Ow." He groaned out of sight as he still lay on the roof of our house.

"Now will ya come down from there an' give me mah hat back…pretty please?" Ah said with a teasin' tone as he responded with a groan.

"Was that so hard?"

"Nah, but it was fun. Now come on, we got work to do."

~Crunch~

"…"

Ah stood there in disbelief of what ah just heard.

~Crunch~

"Are ya'll eatin' the apple ah kicked at ya?" Ah asked in disbelief. He poked his head up with the apple in his hand as he smiled.

"Well you did say I can 'bite the apple'."

"Ya wise-crack." Ah giggled. Shortly after he flipped off the roof as he landed in front of me. He took off the hat and placed it on mah head with a couple pats. He was like a little colt, but it was kinda nice seeing him so friendly and playful. But now wasn't the time to be playful as ah knocked him right in his shoulder.

"Ow. What was that for?" He asked with a smile as he rubbed his shoulder.

"That's for takin' my hat." Ah replied as ah then socked him again.

"Gaah!"

"And that's for dinking around instead of workin'." Ah then walked up to him as ah gave him a hug. It took him a moment as he returned the same hug.

"But this is for putting a smile in mah morning." Even though he was quite the tease and probably have a thing for Rarity, ah couldn't help but feel happy to hold him like this. Although he may not see me as no more than as a friend, ah wouldn't trade him or give him up for anything. There' jus' something' special about him, something which if lost, it would be irreplaceable.

"So where should we start AJ?" Vincent asked, interrupting me from my thoughts. Ah looked to Big Mac to tell him the agenda.

"Alright Mac, you cover the East Field while ah take Vincent here to the West. Ya hear?"

"Eeyup." Mac replied as he went to the east path leading out to the field. Ah turned around as ah walked to the west path and whipped Vincent's rear with my tail as ah passed by him.

"Come on. Let's get a move on." Ah called out as Vincent shortly followed beside me as we made our way to start the day in the fields.