Chapter 14

“Stupid dragon burning me alive” Dave grumbled to himself as the girls continued to stare

“Don’t worry about the chests” Twilight levitated them out of reach “I’ll carry them”

“How kind” Dave said sarcastically

One of the guards looked to where the dragon had flown to “So that was what was causing the problems” he glanced at Dave before quickly looking away “makes sense”

Braeburn looked nervously at the ponies “umm Dave? Do ya reckon you could hide that thing away like all us other guys do?” he was getting very uncomfortable looking at Applejack’s wide eyes

“My species can’t hide it” Dave began to explain in an effort to distract himself

“Why would you want to?” he heard Rarity mutter under her breath

“That is why I need clothes” Dave finished as he began to walk back to the train cart “I should have some in my bag”

‘And spoil the girl’s fun?’ Dave’s mind mocked ‘why not enjoy yourself? Get to know them all?’

Dave gritted his teeth in an effort not to yell at himself

‘Fine ignore me… but it wont be long until another situation arises between you and one of them’

“And how would you know?” Dave growled angrily

‘Because it’s you’

“Did you say something?” Spike asked as he rested on Twilight’s back “you looked angry all of a sudden”

The purple dragon caught Dave’s attention “I didn’t say anything”

As they reached the campsite Dave hastily took out a random set of clothes and put them on, getting a collective “Aww” from the girls

“Really? All of them find it that fascinating?” Dave whispered in disbelief “I need my own house to stay in”

The guards also began to collect their possessions “well we are done here” He placed his helmet on “thank you for the assistance Braeburn and thank you Dave for sorting the cave”

“Not a problem” Braeburn smiled as he bowed his head

“Yeah anytime” Dave chuckled weakly as he placed on some new shoes

The guards stood close to each other as one of the unicorn’s horn began to glow “Don’t forget to message Princess Celestia” He reminded Dave as his horn flashed and the guards disappeared

Dave sighed as the guards left “I’ll get right on that” he then turned to where Twilight at set the chests down “So how are we going to get these back?”

Braeburn looked at the size of the wooden cart “Well ya could put them in here but it would mean less space for the others” He looked at the chests “And it would make it heavier”

“Me and Fluttershy can fly alongside you” Rainbow Dash suggested, “We aren’t that far from Appleoosa”

Fluttershy agreed, “If it helps I’ll do it”

Dave looked at the carts and then the others “Ok so I will put the chests in, Dash and Fluttershy are flying, the others can just about fit on top of the chests and Spike you can sit on the peddle cart”

Applejack spoke up “ya take a break sugarcube, ya done enough today” She hopped onto the peddle cart “I can work with Braeburn and ya start writing the letter to Celestia”

“Thanks Applejack” Dave smiled “but I haven’t got any paper”

Pinkie tapped his arm and as he looked at her, she held out a parchment and quill

“Thanks Pinkie” he took the paper and quill “hang on where did you? Ah it doesn’t matter”

Dave sat down on the edge of the peddle cart and began to write his letter

The others all took their places as the Apple cousins began to get the carts moving

Dear Celestia

I have helped the residents of Appleoosa with their cave problem, it turns out there was a dragon that wanted a gem really badly

Anyway, I have helped the dragon get his gem and he has left the cave, I return he gave me some chests, I have no idea what is inside of them, what should I do with them?

Also, I have been meaning to ask if it is ok to have some materials to make a small house, just basic things like a bedroom, kitchen and bathroom

I do not want to impose on the girls as they have been so kind already and have been a big help for me to feel welcome

Hope to see you soon

Dave

Dave rolled the letter up and passed it to Spike “so how long do you reckon it would take Celestia to respond?”

Spike blew the letter away in a puff of green flames “Not long if she isn’t busy” Spike leaned back and watched as the ground rolled by “What was the dragon like? Dangerous?”

Dave giggled “Well he was definitely protective of his gem, but he was also a bit mean I guess”

“How so? Did he say anything?” Spike looked up at Dave “What happened to your clothes anyway?”

“Oh they got burned by the dragon,” Dave said normally as he scratched the back of his neck

“Did you take them off?”

“No I was wearing them and then the dragon breathed fire on me” Dave looked at Spike “and it hurt a lot”

“He burned you alive?” Twilight worriedly looked over at Dave “Well if we see that dragon again we will have to have a talk with him” she said angrily and the other mares agreed

Dave noticed all the angry looks on the girls “I don’t see why you are all complaining, I mean he did burn my clothes off,” He cheekily suggested and all the girls began to blush

“Well I guess I didn’t see any injuries on you so I’ll let it go” Twilight said, hiding her face from the others

‘Yeah you all looked at every part of my body’ Dave thought irritably ‘you especially paid attention to one area’

Spike belched out a letter and Dave caught it out the air and began to read it to himself

Dear Dave

I am shocked to hear a dragon was the source of the problems but I suppose it makes sense and you may keep the chests and their contents

Are you alright? I would hate to think you got hurt because I asked you to do this for me, I would never forgive myself if anything serious had happened

As to the question of your living arrangements, draw a layout of the house you are going to build and I will see what I can do

From Celestia

P.s. Are you sure, you are alright? Luna and I are very concerned

Dave giggled “aww she’s worried” Spike poked his sharply in his side “Ow what was that for?”

Spike looked angrily at him “of course she is! She did send you in there after all”

Dave rolled his eyes “Yeah I know” Pinkie handed him another sheet of paper “Thanks Pinkie I… ok seriously now where are you getting these?”

Twilight coughed “The letter?”

Dave began to write but gave a quick glance at Pinkie “I will find out” He whispered

Dear Celestia

I am fine don’t worry and thank you for the chests

I will do a rough sketch on the back of this parchment of the house I would like to build but I would like it built slightly outside Ponyville if that is ok

Dave

P.s. thanks for everything, I know this must be annoying because I am messaging you

Dave then drew a simple square house with a living room, kitchen and bathroom downstairs and then drew a small upstairs that was mostly his bedroom with a private bathroom and a small spare room in case Spike wanted to stay

Finishing his sketch Dave passed the letter to Spike who blew it away again “What was with the drawing?”

“Oh I asked for a few materials so I could build a small house for myself, basic things” Dave relaxed again “I just don’t want to be a burden on anypony”

All the ponies disagreed but Twilight looked at the last letter Princess Celestia sent “Did you write Princess this time?”

Dave playfully shrugged “Might have forgotten”

Spike belched another letter and passed it to Dave

Dear Dave

Thank you for the sketch, I shall have specialists build it in time for your return

I insist that you let me have it built as payment for what you have done today

Celestia

P.s. I enjoy hearing from you so please message me at anytime

Dave began to roll up the letter and receive another one from Pinkie but Twilight butted in “Can I write something to send as well?”

Dave nodded and wrote his section of his letter down

Dear Celestia

Thank you very much for having the house built for me, I cannot thank you enough

Dave

P.s. the next bit is Twilight

Dave passed the letter and quill over to Twilight who began to write quickly

Dear Princess Celestia

Are you ok? I noticed in your letters to Dave that you have forgotten to write some things down and was worried you were ill or very busy

If it is either, I shall stop Dave from writing until your situation improves

From your faithful student
Twilight Sparkle

P.s. sorry Dave forgets to recognise your royal status

Twilight levitated the letter over to Spike who blew it away for a fourth time “Can’t you learn a spell which sends letters?” Spike said angrily “This isn’t exactly the best feeling in Equestria”

Twilight smiled apologetically at him “Sorry Spike but your way is quicker, safer and more secure than any magic I could learn”

Spike crossed his arms in annoyance “I want ice-cream when we get back to Ponyville” he belched a letter and without looking handed it to Dave and Twilight

Dear Twilight Sparkle

I am perfectly fine and I am sure Dave would appreciate you not snooping in his letters, as they are private between him and me

As for the way he addresses me, I have asked him to write to me like this and I am sure he would have wrote Princess otherwise

I assumed you had more sense in these matters

From Princess Celestia

Twilights ears dropped in shame, she turned away from Dave, as he read the final bit to himself

Dear Dave

Sorry if I was a little hard on Twilight, she should have not been reading our letters

I shall have some free time soon so I shall come visit your new home with Luna

From Celestia x

Dave read the letter again ‘a kiss really? Appreciation or just to annoy Twilight if she was reading this?’ Dave pondered for a moment before deciding to place the letters in his bag ‘probably annoy Twilight’

Dave watched as the Appleoosa began to roll closer and the residents of the town were gathered at the train station

They did not seem to notice Dave and instead began to pester Braeburn with questions about the dragon as he settled them down

“Now folks y’all calm down now” Braeburn hopped off the peddle cart “the dragon was causing all the problems lately but it has been sorted now”

A brown stallion with a thick moustache and wearing a sheriff’s badge pushed ahead of the crowd “Now Braeburn how did ya get rid of it?”

Braeburn walked over to Dave and put a hoof around him “It wasn’t me Mr Sheriff, it was this fella”

The crowd all began to swarm around Dave but his friends all quickly leapt in the way, preventing the crowd from stampeding over him

“Back off” Rainbow Dash warned the crowd “you only get to talk to him with our say so”

“Wow I have bodyguards? Yeah I agree with Dash, I would prefer it if the sheriff asked the questions” The sheriff walked past the six defensive ponies and up to Dave

“So what did ya do ta get that dragon ta leave?” the sheriff raised an eyebrow as his moustache bobbed up and down

“Well he just wanted something from the cave, so I helped him get it” Dave looked at the crowd as hey began to mutter amongst themselves

The sheriff calmed the crowd down before turning back to Dave “Did ya fix the cave as well?”

“Well yes because it was the dragon causing all the problems,” Dave removed the chests from the cart “It’s gone now so you can all go back in there”

“Well thank ya kindly mister,” the sheriff shook his hand “we sure owe ya for this”

“Not a problem,” Dave let go of the sheriffs hoof “I was asked to come along by Celest… I mean Princess Celestia” Dave smiled weakly at the frowning Twilight

“Well she chose the right um… thing for the job” the sheriff nodded slightly before getting the crowd to go back to town

Dash turned round to Dave “aren’t you going to do something?” she asked irritably

“About what?”

Dash raised an eyebrow “About him calling you a THING”

“Well no,” Dave shrugged “I mean he didn’t know what I am”

“Fine but you beat the snot out of those guards when they called you a freak” the girls all looked between Dave and Dash, waiting for an answer

“But they did that on purpose” Dave sat down on one of the chests “and they were annoying”

“But it was so cool, the way you jumped around and beat them all in a few seconds” Dash jumped and did some flips in the air

Dave began to fiddle with the silver lock on the chest “If it was as cool as you say it was, then why did you run away?”

Rainbow Dash looked to her friends for reassurance “Well I err…” she quickly looked around for a possible answer but Dave spoke up again

“I know you were scared” Dave dropped the lock and looked at Dash “I was scared afterwards as well, I was worried about what I had done”

“Well I suppose I was a little startled by what happened but scared? Pssh I am never scared” Dash turned her head away

Dave decided to drop the subject and turned back towards Braeburn “So when is the next train to Ponyville coming?”

“Well um…” Braeburn tapped his chin “I suppose if the driver is on time he will be here in about hour or two”

“Hopefully the journey back to Ponyville is less eventful than the trip here,” Dave said to the group as he stood up “Braeburn is there a place we can eat around here?”

“Well sure there is” Braeburn began to lead them towards a large saloon, all the girls walked in front of Dave as Spike climbed onto his shoulder “Welcome to the salt block”

The saloon was an old western type that Dave found hilarious and all the ponies merely ignored his random giggles as the sat at a large round table

“Wow I wonder if they have a Clint Eastwood pony… what would it be called.” Dave muttered to himself as he received a menu from a dark brown, earth pony bartender “Colt Eastwood? Clint Easthoof?”

“What are you talking about?” Spike burst Dave’s thoughts

“Nothing Spike just talking to myself” Dave looked down at the menu “I guess I’ll have the apple pie”

The bartender nodded as he wrote Dave’s order on a small notepad and continued to take everypony else’s orders

“So what was it like in the cave?” Spike asked as he handed his menu back to the bartender

“Well dark to start with but then as I went deeper the dragon’s fire produced some light that was reflected off the gemstone walls” Dave felt around for the ruby he pulled out of the wall “Damn I thought I still had it”

“Still had what?” Spike asked

“I took a ruby about the size of my fist out of the wall, but I guess I must have dropped it when the dragon burned me,” Dave pondered for a moment

“How did you get your clothes burnt anyway?” Rainbow Dash asked

“Well the dragon got a bit over protective and burned me alive” Dave thanked the bartender when he placed his apple pie in front of him

“Burned you alive?” Dash gawped at him “but when you came out you were fine”

“Yeah because I healed” Dave took a bite of his pie, it still had the same taste of Granny Smiths pie but it tasted less sweet and had a slight spiciness to it “Mmm… good pie”

“You make that sound like it happens every day,” Dash giggled as her food was placed before her

“Well to be honest I think it has happened every day since I have arrived here” Dave took another bite of his pie “maybe one day it hasn’t but I’ve lost track”

Twilight shuffled nervously “Umm Dave you said that you couldn’t heal like this back on your world, so how are you doing it now?”

Dave shrugged “I don’t know,” he took another bite of pie “maybe an effect of me being sent here”

“Well when we get back to Ponyville we could do some research” Twilight resumed eating her food

“What time would it be when we get back to Ponyville anyway?” Dave asked as he finished his meal

“Early morning, you probably would want to go see your home and leave your chests there” Twilight gathered up all the dirty plates and passed them to the bartender

Braeburn walked over to the bar “So how much do we owe ya” He asked as he rummaged around for some bits

The bartender shook his head “Nothing Braeburn, after all that guy there deserved a meal after what he done for us”

Dave thanked the bartender as he walked out following the others back towards the train station Pinkie Pie bounced up along side him “I don’t see why you have to get your own home” She grinned widely at him “You could always stay at Sugarcube Corner”

“Or Sweet Apple Acres” Applejack butted in

“Or Carousel Boutique” Rarity trotted beside Dave poking him with her horn

“Or my library” Twilight smiled with Spike nodding on his shoulder

“I’m sure my animals would like to have you around at my cottage,” Fluttershy suggested as she flew above his head “I mean… if you want to”

Dave smiled weakly at them all before looking over at Rainbow Dash “Well?” He asked raising an eyebrow

“Well what?” the cyan Pegasus asked

“Aren’t you going to suggest I stay at your place?” Dave motioned at the other ponies

“Well I would but I don’t think you can walk on clouds” Dash flapped her wings slightly to show Dave what she meant

“Yeah, I don’t think so to be honest” Dave tapped his chin

“Well you can stay at my home” Rarity butted in “I have an entire spare room for you to use”

“So do I” Twilight added, “I’m sure Spike would also like you to stay”

“I have an entire barn he can use” Applejack protested

“I have plenty of rooms in my cottage nopony ever uses” Fluttershy weakly whispered

“I HAVE CANDY!” Pinkie Pie cheered “CAKES, SWEETS, TOFFEE, CUPCAKES, CHOCOLATE, BROWNIES…” she continued her endless list of food

Dave groaned in frustration as the ponies all began to talk over each other loudly “I want my own place so I can live alone,” he growled at the group

“Well why would you want to live alone sugarcube?” Applejack asked sweetly as she lowered her voice

“So I can do what I want” Dave held his arms out “Go where I want, say what I want and not have to worry about following anypony else’s house rules”

“I don’t mind if you don’t follow the rules” Twilight winked

Dave rubbed his eyes “listen when I get my own place, you can all visit when ever you like” Dave’s eyes widened in shock as the other ponies all opened their eyes in excitement

“Visit when ever we like?” Twilight gasped

“Umm well I…” Dave regretted opening his mouth

“That means I can come visit as well,” Dash said excitedly

“I suppose if you wanted to” Dave turned to Spike for help

“Does that mean I can come over too?” Spike grinned happily

“Well yes but…” Dave began to get swarmed by the girls and Spike was not any help

Braeburn watched in confusion the entire time as they neared the train station “Well I’ll be seeing y’all some other time” He tipped his hat to Dave “And thanks again for helping get rid of that dragon”

“No problem Braeburn, see you around” Dave waved goodbye to him as he walked away and Dave was left surrounded by smiling group

Dave sat down on one of his chests and rested his head in his hands “I hope there are a thousand locks on my house,” He whispered to himself

The sound of a train approaching managed to get Dave’s attention and he turned to see the train heading towards the station, the driver waving out of the window “Well if it ain’t you again” he yelled as the train began to slow

Dave moved to pick up his chests but Twilight and Rarity both levitated them for him, they both walked onto the cartridge they used before and placed the chests under the tables

Dave walked over to the driver “Do you need the tickets again?”

“Not for you” the driver tapped his hoof on the train’s engine “you saved the train earlier so count this as if it was free whenever you need me”

“Thanks, by the way I stopped all the earthquakes from earlier so you can get to Ponyville as quick as you can” Dave received a nod from the driver

“Sure thing, you in a hurry or something?” the driver asked as he shovelled some coal into the fire

“Something like that” Dave replied as he climbed into the cartridge with the others

The train suddenly lunged forwards as soon as Dave climbed in and shut the door behind him, all the ponies were relaxing in their bunks talking and Dave sat down at one of the tables, looking out the window

Fluttershy watched Dave stroke his chin and climbed out of her bunk “Are you ok Dave?” She asked quietly as she walked over to him

Dave looked over at the shy Pegasus “Yeah I’m fine Fluttershy”

She sat down on the other side of the table to Dave “I’m sorry for the way I was when we came back from Canterlot”

“Do you mean when you were… ill?”

“Well I wasn’t ill I-I was… scared” She winced when she said it “I-I’m sorry, I know you wouldn’t do that kind of thing on purpose” she hid behind her pink mane

Dave stroked her mane away from her face “I’m sorry I even acted that way, but I’m glad you still like me”

Fluttershy looked nervously at the her friends to make sure none of them were watching, they were all talking apart from Rainbow Dash, who was facing the other direction, probably sleeping

Fluttershy turned back and beckoned Dave closer “That is something else I’ve wanted to talk to you about” she whispered nervously

“Yeah what is it?” Dave was also whispering now

“Well when we first met you I felt sorry for you” Fluttershy looked around again “But it changed”

“Changed? how do you mean?” Dave had a hunch about what she was going to say next

“Well I-I um… like you” She hid behind her mane again “As in I-I like you a lot” she barely managed to whisper

Dave looked over at Applejack, Rarity and Twilight ‘well isn’t this a surprise’ he thought “Well Fluttershy listen, I like you as well”

“As in just a friend right?” She whispered sadly

‘yes’ he thought but his mouth said “no” ‘WHAT?”

Fluttershy’s eyes opened as she leaned back to Dave “R-really? As in more?”

‘NO!’ he mentally screamed but again his mouth said the opposite “Yeah” he sighed with a smile

Fluttershy blushed heavily “That’s good” she whispered as she looked at her friends yet again and then moved her head close to Dave’s “c-can I-I have a-a kiss?” she asked nervously

Dave responded by lightly kissing her on the lips and she giggled happily “um… thank you Dave” She happily sighed as she returned to her bunk

Rainbow Dash meanwhile wasn’t asleep and was listening in carefully ‘Great Fluttershy finally made her move’ she thought angrily ‘wait am I jealous? No I can’t be’ she looked over at where Fluttershy had gone to sleep and then over at Dave who was still at the table ‘I should be happy for her but…’

Dave sighed and walked over to his bunk while Dash pretended to be asleep again ‘but she doesn’t deserve him! They aren’t right for each other, she is the definition of scared and he is totally awesome’ she tapped her hoof against her head ‘he deserves somepony awesome like me… yeah me!’

Dash turned over in shock ‘I am jealous’ she thought suddenly to herself ‘but what if Dave wants to be with me instead of her? I know I am supposed to be the element of loyalty but who should I be loyal to? Fluttershy or myself?’ the Pegasus thought long into the night as she drifted to sleep