Author's Notes:

This is my work of fiction. It has no relation at all with any person existing, least that I know of, at any point in time or place. Everything is a work of fiction.

This work is the property of Equinox Starshifter at FIMFiction.net.

You shouldn’t read this work if you are under the age of 18 as it may contain any of the following and more depending on what I put in there: Foul Language, Sexual Situations both implied and explicit, Death, Dismemberment, Violent acts, Rape, BDSM, Torture, Various kinds of blasphemy, and more. Or maybe not who knows, but read at your own discretion is what I am saying. You have been warned.

Feedback is welcomed, both positive and negative as long as it’s constructive. If you send me a comment saying ‘lol u suck’ or something similar, chances are I won’t read it. However spelling errors, grammar, and the like I will try to fix if you point it out, unless its intentional for it to be that way.

Beyond that I hope you enjoy this plot bunny of mine that I am freeing to the world for free for all to enjoy and gain entertainment from.

Special note: this is my first MLP:FiM fic, so if I do something a tiny bit different chances are either its unintentional or I changed it on purpose…feel free to guess which and point it out.

‘’ Thoughts, “” Speech

The Alter Accords

Chapter Two: New Job and Party

Starshifter was on his cloud bed, not really doing or looking for anything, just thinking. Normally he would have been on his back staring up at the sky but even with the fluffy cloud he couldn’t do that just now cause of his injured wing. ‘Great, the Element of Magic wants nothing to do with anything that might even be related to changelings, and considering my mystery might especially if other specialists are right then I will either be blasted, imprisoned, or blasted then imprisoned if I ask her. So…what do I do now?’

That question would run through his mind for a good while now a couple of hours before sitting there in one place for too long gets to him. “Buck it, sitting here thinking won’t do any good, plus I do need a job so let’s do something about that first. I can think of other things later.”

Hopping up and onto his hooves he starts heading to the place he told Mrs. Cake about: Sweet Apple Acres. The nice white fence that led to an arch opening with a vine and apple motif was a nice touch. Though before Star would get a chance to take in the rest of the sights there was a loud THUMP followed by a burst of staccato lighter thuds.

Not sure what to think the first instinct that came to get over to the source as quickly as possible to see if anypony was hurt. “I heard the noise is everypony ok?”

The sight that he was met with was not one he expected. Then again he wasn’t sure what to expect in the first place. Instead there was just an orange mare, toned muscles easily noticed under her coat but in a way that made her look extremely fit instead of bulky or anything else, a natural type of fit. Her blonde mane was covered partially in a hat, which if Star had to guess, was a Stetson. Her tail ended in a tie which he himself was used to wearing when he was doing hard work.

The green eyes of the mare stared at his own gray ones for a moment as her head tilted. “Wha in tarnation are ya goin’ on about? Also ah havin’t seen ya around here before.”

For a moment that southern drawl nearly got to him again touching that spot he didn’t know about before but he quickly surpressed it. The look of concern from before never left the Pegasus’ face though confusion did come to it as well. “Well, I heard this thump and I don’t know thought somepony might be in trouble so I came to look.”

For a moment those green eyes took in Star and for a moment he felt like he was under an extreme amount of scrutiny for a moment before she smiled. “Well shucks that is might kind of ya. Though chances are ya just heard the apples bein’ bucked is all. Any-a-ways ah am Applejack and ah help run Sweet Apple Acres here, how can ah help ya?”

The look she was giving was now friendly and Star briefly wondered what he felt a second ago before he replied. “Oh I am Starshifter. I was recently working with the Cakes as a temp till their other employee returned. So with her return I find I am out of work and am in need of something to do.”

She gave him a brief look before spotting his wing. “Ah don’t know, ya sure ya can work with your wing like that?”

Giving her chin a thrust towards his mending appendage as his practiced smiled. “Well I don’t think I will be flying for a while but that doesn’t mean I am helpless or can’t do work.”

For a moment something seemed to pass over Applejack’s face when he smiled but it quickly passed. “Follow me, ah will have ya meet Big Mac’. If he says your good then you’re good to work here.”

“What is a Big Mac’?” Star asked as he watched her turn around. Of course this gave him a good look at her cutie mark, the three apples with single leaves, as she turned…and her flank. ‘Not bad looking at all, can always appreciate a well carved-Not the time for those thoughts.’

As they approached the barn Star’s eyes kept going back to those toned flanks. “AHHH!” THUMP.

Applejack turned around to find Star’s head against a nearby tree. “Wha’ may ah ask are ya doing to mah trees?”

‘Remember this pain Star, you don’t look at your boss’ flanks like that.’ “Oh no reason, just thought I would try my head at bucking one of these things.” Star said only to cause Applejack to break out laughing.

“Listen Sugarcube ya don’t buck like that ya buck like this.” Still laughing she turned around and thrust out her hind legs striking the tree with her hooves causing every single apple to fall to the ground.

He couldn’t lie about that feat at all. “That was impressive.” Eyes wide at that feat he just saw, of course being one of action and not thought he turned and right away tried his own hoof at the same feat.

Big Mac’ had found them both soon after that with Applejack on the ground holding her sides in laughter. The giant red stallion just looked at the two with a raised eyebrow.

“Whooeeee that was downright funny.” The farm mare said catching her breath.

Star on the other hoof wasn’t looking as pleased. He was currently rubbing his back hoofs. “Got to be a trick to it, but, hey got one apple down.”

The yoke wearing draft pony just looked down where one solitary apple was on the ground. “Eeyup.”

This caught the pegasus’ attention right away. ‘Oh…that is a Big Mac’.’ Standing up and moving over to the red pony he held out a hoof. “I am Starshifter, I take it you are Big Mac’ if not and you are only Medium Mac’ I may have to call somepony from the record books about the biggest pony alive when I meet him.”

Big Mac’ took the offered hoof and shook it, almost to Star’s regret as the grip of the hoof almost hurt his own. “Eeyup.”

The Pegasus couldn’t help himself when hearing that. “Is that a Eeyup to being Big Mac’ or to being Medium Mac’?” He only got another Eeyup in reply.

“Mac’ this here feller is lookin’ for a job. Coming back from Canterlot after a week like that we are behind on our work. Ah reckon’ we can spare a few bits for somepony to help out for abit, after all most of the Apple family came to the wedding and they are all behind on their work too so ah reckon it wouldn’t be fair to call them down here.” Applejack spoke up breaking Star out of his little joke.

While Mac’ seem to be thinking on it, as indicated by his hoof resting and rubbing at his chin, Star got to take in some details about the both of them. ‘Both of them have cutie marks that are closely tied to what they do, kinda jealous actually. It is also easy to tell they are siblings both by their attitudes and their looks…though the freckles look a lot better on Applejack there.’

An lazy sounding Eeyup brought Star back to Equus as he looked at them both paying more attention now. “Alrighty partner, seems ya get to help us out after all. Though ah reckon ya need to learn proper buckin’ form.” Of course with how his thoughts were going proper buckin’ form conjured different images in his mind and it was quickly followed by a heavy thump. “Sugarcube ah thought ah told ya that ya don’t buck trees with ya head.”

After learning Proper Buckin’ form without the thoughts of before, Star found himself at odds with himself. He already knew proper bucking form it seemed and he should have remembered that. Problem was…

‘I don’t have the strength to pull this off like they do. I have to buck two to three times to get all the apples down.’ Giving a momentary chuckle he thought. ‘Maybe I should tell them I am bringing my brother down to help. Least then it should be one buck to a tree, that is Lego doesn’t take all day to observe before doing anything with his lazy rear. I could get Novo but…with how likely he is to do an experiment and miss a key detail I could wind up with whole trees going missing or ending up as something else.’ Of course this was the time, when he was paying the least attention, that something happens.

The next buck to a new tree shook it, and with the sound of "HEY WOAH!" being scream out was only slightly proceeded by the heavy object landing on Star’s back causing his own yelp of surprise and pain.

Star wasn’t even looking as the displeased cyan Pegasus rolled off him and was giving a glare. “Hey, I was sleeping in there, and what do you think you are doing bucking AJ’s trees mister.”

While the Pegasus was gesturing wildly at him then the tree Star barely heard it. ‘I think that dislocated my wing, BUCK this hurts.’

The rainbow maned Pegasus though was now starting to see that he was hurt. “H-hey are you ok?”

This time he heard her and looked up at her. He wanted to respond to her by he was currently clenching his teeth do to the pain. ‘Rainbow hair…has to be dyed.’ Feeling his wing he was sure it was dislocated. ‘Well only two things to do, either get a doc to help or…’ “AHHH!” he said loudly ramming his side and wing into a nearby tree followed by a yelp.

The mare with the cloud and rainbow lightning bolt as her cutie mark just shouted looking concerned at him. “Hey what did you do that for you are hurt!”

Taking a moment to clear his head he nodded. “Was.”

His response made the Pegasus mare look confused. “Huh?”

“Was hurt. My wing got dislocated there so I just popped it back into place.” Star said rolling his wing a tad. ‘Welp that just added another day or two to the healing time…great.’

“That is cool.” Star blinked hearing those words and looked to the Pegasus that had landed on him and gave her a single huh. “What do you mean huh? Not many pony’s let along Pegasus will pony up to fix themselves like that, takes a lot of guts and that makes it cool. Of course if it was me I would have been at least twenty percent cooler about it.”

Of course this didn’t stop the Pegasus from talking, no she kept going letting Star take in the one who just landed on him fully. ‘Cyan coat, not sure what her real mane color is, but this actually works for her. Sleek body…obviously works out more towards speed, I wonder if it’s more to distance or agility? Her cutie mark though shows she is into the weather, must be part of the weather team that went off to Canterlot with some of the others in Ponyville.’

“What do you think?” She said to him expectantly.

‘Buck I wasn’t paying attention again…time to wing it.’ “Well I think my name is Starshifter and I should introduce myself. Hi I am Starshifter.” ‘Nailed it.’ He thought.

Apparently so because she seemed to remember she hadn’t done the same. “Oh, ya sorry ‘bout that. I am Rainbow Dash, fastest Pegasus in Equestria.”

‘Wait wait…I think I heard something similar to this from somepony else in Ponyville…who said something about it.’ “We will have to test that when my wing is better then. I don’t claim to be the fastest but I am not the slowest for sure.” Star boasted to Dash.

Dash for the boast was already in the air hovering with a smile. “Will hold you to that, though I don’t think it will be a long contest if we just race, I mean would look bad if I lap you twice before you get through one lap.” Star was about to say something when she looked up. “OHMYGOSH, sorry didn’t realize I slept this late, got to get to work, okbye.”

She was gone leaving a blast of wind behind that nearly knocked the dark blue Pegasus over. ‘On second thought, ya she would win a race for sure. How come no pony ever challenges me to an obstacle course or something, least I am great at that but no, everypony has to-’

It was approaching night now and Applejack had came earlier and told him to go ahead and call it a day saying. “Ya helped out a right bunch today. Not as much as if ya were an Earth Pony, but ya did good. When the harvest is over we will pay ya then, but till then try to hold out.”

‘So…why am I here again when its dark and everypony is asleep…oh ya I need the bits.’ Star had to go see the doctor after being set free for the day by AJ. Him popping his wing back into place had cause some nasty inflammation and he had gotten some pills to help with that and the pain, just they cost him most of his bits he had in reserve. ‘Ok so what am I to do, I have to be quiet about this so can’t actually buck the trees meaning Lego is out as well as me…hmm…guess that leaves Novo…just don’t experiment and change the trees.’

He was lucky all of the Apple clan was sleeping; as they would have surely seen a light illuminate the trees for a moment before a soft glow the same color as the tree leaves start to picking the apples.

Star didn’t get to his bed till late that night, and with a massive headache. ‘Oww I hate over using it like that. But it was really worth it.’ Head, body, and wing hurting him to no ends he was quick to fall asleep. Though one last thought made him smile despite all the pain. ‘Wish I could see the looks on their face when they see my note.’

Feeling refreshed after his morning bath in the cold lake he smiled and stretched some. ‘Glad that goo that Zecora gave me helps my wing for pain…wish it did the same for the rest of me but oh well.’

All things considering though he was in a good mood, that only lasted till he came to the gates of Sweet Apple Acres where a certain orange Earth pony was waiting with a glare on her face. ‘About face and leaving now.’

That worked as well as anypony would expect as Applejack had already seen him. “Where do ya think you’re going Mister?” Turning his head to see Applejack was still angry, he did what any logical Stallion would do when facing an angry, and extremely powerful, mare. He bolted.

That lasted all of two seconds before a lasso had him in its grip and was dragging him towards her. ‘Buck, and today was looking so good till now.’ “Look Applejack, not sure what I did to make you so angry but-”

Applejack of course snapped at him for that. “Don’t lie to me, ah found your note this morning along with the rest of the work ya were assigned all done.”

Blinking owlishly before he tilted his head he asked. “That is what you are mad about?”

Stopping the pull on her lasso she looked at him and nodded. “Darn tootin’ ah am.”

Knowing he would either not understand the answer or just make her angry he flew into the face of danger to ask anyways. “Why?”

The glare she gave him would have withered weaker willed ponies. “Ah sent ya home early yesterday cause RD come and told me she done hurt ya by fallin’ on ya dislocatin’ ya wing makin’ ya pop it back in. Ah done know ya was hurtin’ before that, so when ah find out ya came back and bucked the rest of the trees in that condition of course ah am right angry at ya.” Star blinked a few times before he couldn’t help himself and started laughing. AJ of course didn’t take kindly to it. “And wha’ may ah ask is so funny?”

Getting his laughter under control he smiled. “Sorry, sorry, I just thought you were angry at me doing the rest of the work cause it took work from you or something.” Seeing her look getting a bit less angry…least till he continued talking. “Honestly AJ I have so many bumps and bruises from my life that I live with a lot of little aches every day. One or two more is something I barely notice anymore.” ‘Like my right forward fetlock from Saddle Arabia, ya definitely not back there any time soon. Thing still aches when it gets cold.’

That last statement brought back the angry look to Aj’s face of course. “If ya was hurting so much why were ya bucking despite that?”

Seems he wasn’t going to leave anytime soon, especially being wrapped up in a lasso and hogtied. ‘Wait when was I hogtied?’ “Cause, it simply needed to be done. You said yourself you were backlogged and needed it to get done. Let me ask you, if I didn’t come to help, would you have continued to buck even if you were hurting or exhausted?”

He won that argument and knew it by the look on her face. She was biting her lip and looked as if she wanted to say otherwise but ended up sighing and untying him. “Maybe ah would but still, ya need to take care of yourself Sugarcube.”

Rubbing his fetlocks Star smiled and nodded. “I will if you will, so tell me, that mean you are taking today off?”

The farm pony just rolled her eyes and motioned for him to get into the field.

Stretching and relaxing against a tree with a glass of apple juice that was brought to him by sweet little apple bloom. She was strangely shy giving him the juice before scampering off. The apple juice was fantastic, cold, refreshing, and very tasty. He was enjoying it so much that he didn’t even notice the bouncing ball of pink party pony in front of him.

“Hey there Mr. Mind reading space alien!” Pinkie exclaimed. Her response was now a forced gulp in surprise from Star that left him coughing on the now burning juice in his lungs. “Silly billy you don’t breath juice in you drink it.” Star wanted to glare at her but was too busy trying to get air back into his lungs properly. “Anyways I came here to give you this.”

Hoofing over a card Star took it and started to read it. ‘You are invited to a Pinkie party for Starshifter, the new friend and pony in town, at Sugarcube Corner at 8:00 PM tonight.’ He gave a blink wondering how many of these she sent out. Though when he looked up to ask her about that but found she was gone. ‘Wait what where did she go, she was just here.’

Getting up to go ask AJ if she needed him for much more today since it was getting close to quitting time he stood up. Or he would have at least till as he got up he felt the twinge in his wing and fell to his belly in pain. ‘Damn it, knew I should have taken them earlier but didn’t want to stop for something to drink…well I got some now.’ Reaching back and pulling the bottle of pain medication and dumping two tablets onto the frog of his hoof he down them then drank the last bit of the apple juice he had. ‘Have to wait for them to kick in that means thirty minutes where I can’t move unless I want to be groaning out in pain every moment I do. Which of course would bother my new boss a lot I would think.’

It took nearly forty five minutes before he could get up to go talk to AJ, but by then the painkillers had dulled the pain so it didn’t show on his face. “AJ, are you here?” He got no answer as he called out to the barn. He then tried the house and similarly got no answer there as well. “Guess they took off…I am sure they had a good reason. Let’s see what time is it.” Looking at the Apple family clock he found he had nearly an hour before it was time for the party. “Guess I will buck a bit more go to the lake get washed up and see if it’s a decent party.”

Thirty minutes of bucking, five to put all the apples away, fifteen more minutes to walk to the lack and wash up, and five to get to town leaving him with five minutes to spare. “Looks like I managed to get here early, good, I hate showing up late.” ‘Well here is hoping there is good food and drink…wait, buck I can’t drink cause of the meds.’

Shrugging he went inside and was greeted with a loud. “Surprise!” from everypony gathered and it seemed that nearly the whole town was there too. It also seemed like he caught them off guard as everypony seemed to have popped out from the closest spots to where they were before.

Chuckling softly he asked. “Showing up early gave you all less time to hide didn’t it?” there was a round of nervous or embarrassed chuckling to be had with that. “Well don’t stop partying on my account, let’s DO THIS!” he punctuated that with a hoof raised and wings extended. Of course this caused him a lot of pain quickly but no pony seemed to notice among the hurrahs.

Normally Star would be right up in the festivities however with his wing sending him cease and desist orders he found it hard to lighten up and join in. instead he found himself in a booth off to the side enjoying a slice of cake and some punch somepony brought him. ‘Cake is well made, but the Cakes didn’t make it as it tastes slightly different. Punch is also not spiked thank Celestia. Would hate to get blitzed cause of the reaction the meds would cause with that.’

“Hey Big guy, what are you doing over here?” It was Rainbow Dash that asked this as the cyan Pegasus was hovering before him. She wasn’t alone either Pinkie was with him as well as another Mare he didn’t know, a pure white Unicorn with a well groomed purple mane that was also styled.

“Yes dear what has you all alone over here?” The accented voice of the cultured pony before him asked.

A practiced smile was his answer. ‘No need for others to worry so just tell a little lie after all they don’t need to know how badly my wing is bothering me right now, might need another pain killer after all this is over…or two depending on how long it lasts.’ “Kinda tired from working over at Sweet Apple Acres and just over all worn out.” Forcing himself to stand up he gave a bit of an overdone bow to the mare that obviously went out of her way to style her hair, either for the party or just in general. “I am Starshifter it’s nice to meet you.”

The Unicorn giggled and held out her hoof to him “I am Rarity and I am in the business of Couture here in Ponyville.”

She obviously expected him to kiss her hoof from her gesture. ‘Well when in Roam.’ Taking the hoof and applying his lips gently to it in a kiss before letting it drop. “A pleasure it is Miss Rarity.”

Rarity just gave a girlish giggle and smiled “Oh my, what a gentlecolt you are.”

“Only where appropriate.” He smiled as he spoke. Of course he got a reaction out of somepony else when he said that.

“Hey, you weren’t all fancy when you met me, you saying I am no appropriate for that?” Dash said angrily to him with a glare on her face, least to her it seemed genuine, anypony else looking at her knew she was teasing.

He shrugged and motioned to his wing. “Well I was kinda busy popping my wing back in place, but if you want I can redo my greeting.”

The comment seemed to take some of the false bite out of her attitude as she momentarily looked ashamed. “Ya sorry about that.”

“Rainbow dear what are you two talking about?” The prim and proper Unicorn asked seeing the exchange of looks.

Deciding to get a bit of revenge on Dash for the fall he grinned. “Oh well you see I was bucking apple trees over at S.A.A. and she lands right on top of me, of course the way she landed on me gave me a nice look at certain things and well, you can’t blame a Pegasus for having a small wing extension now can you?”

The reactions were mixed in the group with it ranging from dead silence with a blush that turned the cyan an almost purple from the red bleeding through, to a giggle, to an Oh my.

Of course those reactions changed as he started to speak. “I am just kidding it-”

Given that he didn’t get a chance to finish thanks to the pain in his wing from Dash shoulder bumping him causing him to crumple to the floor. “Hey that isn’t what happened and you know it, you should tell them what really happened.”

He would have but he was currently in too much pain to move. Keeping his eyes closed as everything was slightly blurry from the burning sensation in his wing making him nauseous. ‘Don’t think about the cake you just ate, don’t think about the cake you just ate, after all you want to keep it in right?’

It only took a few seconds before Dash and the others realized he wasn’t getting back up before the brash Pegasus started to apologize. “Oh I am soo soo sorry I forgot your wing was hurt I didn’t mean to-I-I, I will go get Fluttershy, she will help out.”

Star didn’t see her take off to find whoever Fluttershy was nor honestly did he care. Right now he was focusing on keeping his stomach contents on the inside, although he did feel himself being levitated into the seat of the booth. His guess was Rarity did it.

“Where does it hurt.” Came a calm confident voice, one he recognized but couldn’t place at the moment through the pain.

‘Guess that this is the Fluttershy that Dash mentioned. Must be a doctor or something.’ He moved one of his hooves to point at the joined and at the Radiale.

There was a feel of magic prodding the points he motioned too. “There seems to be some serious inflammation of those points and some swelling around the tissue and muscles there.”

‘Pretty much what the doc that examined me said. Still glad nothing is broke.’ He gave a nod and kept his eyes shut. Next she asked what was being done to treat the issues and he managed to tell her to look through his bag to grab the jar of ointment, bandages, anti-inflammatory pills, and painkillers.

He didn’t, however, expect her squeal of surprise. “Oh this is a First Edition of Magical Focus and Theory.”

He heard Rainbow Dash walk up with a pfft. “Egghead.”

Fluttershy just gave out a huff. “Hey I just appreciate the finer points of reading about such things as this.” The next part was mumbled mostly to herself but no doubt everypony heard it. “Though why a Pegasus has this is curious.”

Everypony else shrugged it off but Star opened his eyes quickly only to shut them before he could see anything to stop the spinning of the room. “I-It’s my brother’s. He is a Unicorn and likes to read it.”

Most ponies seemed satisfied with that answer except one of them. “OH OH where is your brother, is he with you, should I have gotten him some cake too? OH he will need a party too.”

‘BUCK IT ALL!’ “They are in town, but mostly been doing research.” Star managed to say through the pain. Only to feel a couple of pills being held up for him to take along with some water.

“They?” Came the voice of Fluttershy once more. “You have more than one sibling with you?”

‘Alert Alert, Abort, Abort, Scatter, Run, Hide, Abandon ship *Splash*’. Star ignoring his imagination and the sounds it made just nodded. “Ya, one is a Unicorn and the other is an Earth Pony.”

He couldn’t see it but he could hear the bouncy enthusiasm…’Wait how do I hear that?’

“Oh Oh what is there names, I will go get them now.” Said the pink party pony of positivity.

‘Well time to get abit esoteric on them…wait is Novo’s vocabulary leaking in again?’ “Well you see, like my their name is Starshifter, it’s our last names. Where we come from you are only supposed to get your first name to friends who have earned your trust.” His thoughts quickly devolved into the wishing of ‘Please buy that!’

“Okey Dokey Lokey.” Said the same cheerful voice that had asked him before. He almost gave a sigh in relief when she asked. “So what is your first name then? I mean we are all super duper best friends now so you can tell us.”

He thought for a moment trying to find a reason to say no, but honestly couldn’t find one. “It is Velox.” He said gently. ‘Its not exactly as if it’s a lie, but…its true enough I suppose, plus not the first time I pulled this, just have to keep it up.’

“Well it is nice to meet you Velox Starshifter, I see you already met Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash. I have heard you work for Applejack, and I am sure Fluttershy will come around to see you eventually.”

‘Alert Alert warning warning!’ He was almost angry at his brain when suddenly he realized what it was talking about.

Opening his eyes he was gazing at a lavender coated Unicorn whose mane had a darker purple then his own mane with a violet stripe in it. “Hello there I am Twilight Sparkle, Resident librarian, student to Princess Celestia, and the Element of Magic.”

‘Don’t sound stupid, don’t sound stupid, don’t sound-’ “Hello Miss Sparkle Twilight I am Starlox Velshifter” ‘Damn it!’ This of course earned a round of giggles from all the mares around him.

It was Rarity, surprisingly that saved him. “Twilight dear I think you startled him with all your titles.”

Twilight for all her previous comments blushed through her coat gently and giggled. “Oh sorry about that, I had just got finished re-reading How to greet strangers volume 1 again and it said to say all your titles and such…guess I forgot how impractical that is sometimes.”

‘There is a book about that sorta thing…Wait there are more than one volume? Wait somepony actually reads them?!’ “Ya I suppose that would do it.” He wanted to say it with a chuckle but it just ended up sounding nervous.

Pinkie of course hearing that nervous noise ended up grabbing him up in ad big hug that left him hurting worst then before. “Don’t be like you Silly willy Shifty-Whifty…wait that didn’t sound right. I mean we all have titles like that, I mean Rarity here is the Element of Generosity and has her own Couture line, Rainbow Dash is the Element of Loyalty and the only pony who can do a Sonic Rainboom, Applejack is the Element of Honesty and owns her own orchard that sends apples all over Equestria, and I am the most perpetually perky party pony Pinkie Pie Element of Laughter. Oh there is also Fluttershy the Element of Kindness who takes care of all the local animals but you havent met her yet. Here let me go get her.”

There was literally a poof of smoke as she vanished and normally any sane pony would be questioning that…but considering the truth that was just dumped on him he was suddenly very nervous and thinking rapidly.

‘Crap-baskets all the Elements right here gathered, did they figure me out and intend to banish me, turn me to stone…something else nasty that I can’t think of right now?’ “Wow, I somehow managed to meet nearly all the Elements in a couple of days, and if Pinkie is really going to go get the last one I will…I hope I am not the occasion you are all gathering.”

He said that with as best attitude he could manage till Twilight grinned and spoke. “Of course you are.”

Outwardly he was calm and composed, inwardly…’BUUUUUUUUUUUUU-’

“I mean it is your party right?” Twilight finished saying.

‘-CCCKKKK….oh…nevermind. Lower the threat level from putting head between your flanks to kiss your plot goodbye, to mildly terrifying once again.’ “Haha no going to lie thought you were about to banish me or something, I mean isn’t that the reason the Elements normally gather?” He chuckled at the joke.

“PFFT, we don’t need to use the Elements to hang out; I mean we are all like, the bestest of friends.” Dash spoke hovering behind and slightly above the others.

Suddenly on the table before him a yellow coated mare with a pink mane was placed with an eep by the party pony. “Say hi Fluttershy.” There was a noise of some type from the pony but for the life of him, Star couldn’t hear or understand it. “Oh come on Fluttershy he isn’t a bad pony, I mean sure he doesn’t always smile with his heart but he seems like a good pony.”

“What what she said-” ’Wait what?’ ”What do you mean about my smile.” This had him curious, especially if somepony could see through some of his practiced smiles. ‘Could have sworn that I perfected them.’

Pinkie looked to have been about to answer then Flutteryshy finally got to speak. “H-hi I am Flutter*Mumble*”

“Oh come on Fluttershy I am as far from you as he is and I couldn’t hear you at all.” Dash spoke loudly in annoyance.

“I-I am Fluttershy.” This was heard a bit easier than before but only just barely.

The adorable shyness was making him more relaxed…till Filthy Rich appeared in his line of sight and spoke to everypony at the booth. “I see you girls have met our newest resident hooligan. Come come now get away from him before he does something to make you regret his presence even more.”

‘How about I rip that R off your name and add a B and T somewhere in it.’ However what he thought and said was two different things. “Nice to see you again too Mr. Rich, though I am surprised you are here, I thought you might be going around stealing foals lunch money or something.” Velox said with a smirk on his face.

Of course Filthy just kept on smiling and chuckled. “My boy just cause I made you pay for my cake that you ruined doesn’t mean you need to think of yourself as a foal.”

‘I WILL KICK YOUR FLANK!’ The Pegasus just kept smiling though. “Its ok, I am sure a shining example such as you can lead me down a path, though I don’t think I will every wish to be a septic tank but who knows, somepony might.”

“Why you stuck up little AHHHHhhhhhh!” The last bit came from Filthy dropping down a trapdoor.

Twilight looked to Pinkie pie that had her hoof on a pull cord. “Pinkie, why is there a trapdoor there?”

The answer was a grin and laugh. “Oh Twilight, why WOULDN’T there be a trapdoor there.” Everypony just facehoofed and let the topic go.

Eventually AJ and Big Mac’ showed up to say hi and to check on him. “Dang ya are lookin’ right banged up, everythin’ alright?” Applejack asked with Big Mac nodding also wondering the same.

“Just a hard day at work combined with running into an unpleasant Filthy Rich, wrapped up in the ball of pain in my side that is my wing and I suppose that would do it to anypony.” He would sip on his punch lazily as he thought to himself. ‘If they are truly friends wouldn’t do good to mention to her Rainbow hitting my wing again.’

Hearing that statement caused the apple farmer to smile and nod at him. “Good, ah reckon that means ya won’t be sneakin’ out to buck apples tonight huh?”

Shaking his head he sighed. “No can do boss, too tired and exhausted to do that. Oh and since I told your friends I suppose I should tell you. Starshifter is my last name, my brothers and I have it, but my first name is Velox. Something of an issue that we don’t tell anypony our first names unless we trust them and are friends. So there you have it.”

“Alright.” The southern sounding mare said. “I reckon ya have your reasons for that, maybe tradition of the like but, if your brothers come around have them say howdy sometime.”

A yes would have been given but…there was a mighty yawn instead. “I suppose that signals the party wrap up for me, tell everypony I headed out and tell Pinkie thanks for the party.” Getting up and thanking that the pain killers were working again, if making him abit light headed from taking so many in a short amount of time in the last couple of hours.

Meanwhile Twilight was confused and pulling out several books from the library. “Spike, did you find my copy of The magic in us all by Harry Hoofdini?”

The little purple and green dragon of an assistant was groaning at having to leave the party early for one of Twilight’s hunches, but then again, she was right about that fake Cadence. “You sure this is important Twi, I mean can’t it wait till we get more cake from the party?”

She shook her head. “I don’t think so Spike, when I scanned that Pegasus his Mana channels were all wrong, well not all of them but he had many more than normal Pegasus, all going everywhere in his body, even more so then a Unicorn.”

Spike froze and looked at her with a look of fear “He isn’t a changeling is he?”

Seeing her number one assistant lock up like that made her go over to him and nuzzle him. “No Spike he isn’t a changeling, I was using a true sight spell that I learned the day of the wedding to see if he was. No something else is up with him, good or bad I don’t know, but it’s something.”

Being calmed by the affection made him smile then frown as he thought of something. “This isn’t going to turn into something like a Pinkie Sense thing is it?”

Twilight froze hearing that and frowned. “I hope not.” Thinking for a moment the lavender Unicorn pulled down a few books that she planned on for her research. “I just want to know what is causing that, in most cases an excess of Mana channels, usually results in the lost of a ponys special abilities after a time cause of burn out, like a Unicorn would no longer be able to cast, a Pegasus no longer able to fly or manipulate weather, or an Earth Pony no longer able to have incredible strength or ties to the land like others. That is at best too.”

The worry in her voice transferred over to Spike as clear as day. “What is the worst case of that do?”

Twilight didn’t answer and instead she just smiled “Don’t worry Spike, I am sure there is something we can do about it, but the thing is, usually a pony loses those abilities even before they get their Cutie Mark. The fact he has it means he either has cured himself of it, or somepony else did. So I just want to know how is all.”

“Oh if that is all then just ask.” Spike said yawning, it was getting close to his bed time anyways.

Picking him up with her magic she carried him up to his basket bed. “Go head and get some sleep Spike I will just be up a moment longer.” He mumbled something and nodded before curling up to sleep. ‘Oh Spike, if only it was just that, something else is up with that Pony and I will get to the bottom of it.’