If you read the last chapter and got a good idea on what Dustin now looked like I changed it so he had multi-shaded grey hair, white fur, and his blue eyes still. He still get's the shield with an hourglass cutie mark.

Now the rough morning I had was just awful. I woke up from my floor mattress with people moving around outside Elizabeth made breakfast, woke everypony up (including me which involved a lot of yelling and insults revolving my age.) When I got up, walked out, took a seat, and ate I just now got to notice their room.

"Wow guys. Nice house."

"What? Are you telling me a hero like yourself didn't have a big room like this?"

"No. Too rich for my blood. I had a small guest room at the castle."

"So it was better than this?" asked Sally.

"Oh no. A lot smaller. Wood. It was... home-y."

"I have a question." said Charity. Oh god more questions.

"Yes?"

"Are you going to leave again?"

"Hmm... I don't know. I do know that Twilight is expecting a visit from me. I also have to check on Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Niko, Octavia, Vinyl Scratch, Eden, Free Melody, The Doctor, Derpy, and I think Spike."

"So... you have a busy schedule by the sounds of it." said Elizabeth handing me a plate with eggs, bacon, and a muffin on it. I had tears in my eyes. "Oh are you okay? If you don't like this-" she tried to take it away.

"No... I love it... but... I haven't had meat in so long..." I said placing some bacon in my mouth. "Thank...you..." I whispered to her keeping my tears mostly in my eyes but a few too manly ones trailed down making me wipe them away.

"Aw... don't cry!"

"I'm not crying. It's just so beautiful..." I said putting another piece in my mouth. After the emotionally draining breakfast I got a rucksack from Liz. She gave me medical equipment in case my stitches reopen. She packed me a lunch, a map, some water, a compass, and she gave me a copy of Labyrinth to read. I told her thanks and she and her friends were nice enough to see me off.

I made it about... a quarter down before I got bored. I mean yeah I could teleport but what's the point? It's boring. So very boring. Then I heard a song in my head. Why... it was Perov Stellar with Catgroove! Oh this is the best traveling song for someone like me. I stood on my back legs and started dancing with the beat until I made it about 2 more quarters down. See? What did I tell you? That song is the best!

"You hey yeah you!" said a voice from up the hill. I turned to see some 'nice' young colts. "Give us all you got man."

"I got some lunch I got some tools, I got some bandages...see?" I pointed to my forehead wound.

"Oh...I mean uh... you should keep those man. Seeing as... you are hurt and all."

"Oh are you sure?"

"Yeah. Sorry."

"Alright. If you say so."

"I do say so! Take your stuff and we won't bother you!"

"Alright. Bye." I started walking back down the hill. Reverse psychology is so fun. Now as i walked down hill I saw a hot dog stand.

"Hey man..." said the chilled out owner.

"Hey dude..."

"Want some dogs man?"

"Yeah boy!" I said handing him 5 bits and taking the dog. We did a small street styled bro-hoof and looked at each other. Respect. RESPECT! Is it me or am I having more fun than I should? Wow I am. I really am! Without having all of those worries on my shoulder I'm a free bird! Then I walked to a sign. It had two directions.

"Hey buddy. You got two choices man." said the stump. "The left choice makes you a loser as you take the safe way to Ponyville. The right way proves how either awesome or manly you are." Hmm... Left does sound nice this time of the year. Okay. It's settled! Left!

"I choose to go l-right." I quickly turned and got a running start as the saw blades and traps started to kick in. I quickly dodged every single one of them gracefully without getting cut again. Now... when you get to a small one way bridge with a mean ol' minotaur on it across from you. What do you do?

"Listen hear small man! I IRON WILL will destroy you if you try to cross." I stood on my back legs and began to hop on them with my front hooves in a boxing position. Then my theme song filled the air. It was Guile's Theme! From SF2! You know how it goes with everything. "What is that wonderful noise I hear?"

"Sonic boom!" I yelled running at him, ducking under his punch, teleporting behind him and ramming my back hooves in his back. When I did I grabbed his leg and held him in a painful position.

"Ah! Okay... you win!" he choked out. I happily dusted myself off and continued to walk down hill. I didn't see anymore traps. I made it to town soon enough. It was bigger with more ponies in it. Humans. I walked over to the library only to see a pony with green fur and blue hair come flying out of it.

"Whoa... what happened to you man?"

"I tried to ask out Twilight and she rejected me."

"Any reason why?"

"She's waiting for somebody." he got up and walked away angrily. I went to the open door and knocked on the side of it.

"Hello? Twi?"

"I recognize that voice anywhere. Grimm?" she asked looking around the corner.

"It's me!" I said happily running and hugging her. "Oh I missed you."

"You have no idea how long I've been thinking about you."

"And Twilight... it's Dustin again. I'm retired."

"Doesn't that mean you won't live forever?"

"Why would I want to live forever? Just trust me. I had my reasons."

"So Dustin... oh hey you've been cut!"

"I fought the legendary brick monster with my face... and I won."

"And these holes in your chest?"

"I also fought the legendary impaler... with my chest... and I won."

"Oh your such a bad liar."

"Yeah I am. But it's fun that way. I did get hit with a brick and then I got shot a few times."

"We need to treat your wounds!"

"Hospitals aren't for me." I just remembered. A few years ago... when I first caused a Time Paradox and David got me out of the hospital... I forgot to pay Redheart. Oh boy. "Besides they've already scabbed up."

"Well in that case why are you all packed up?"

"Liz thought it would be best if I was heavily packed with equipment in case I got lost. What she doesn't know is that I know this place better than anybody."

"Liz? As in Elizabeth? Is she okay?"

"Yeah. Do you know her?"

"She was a good friend of mine. We studied a lot together. Than her friends did something and they had to leave town. Two words: Pinkie Promise."

"Oh man... OH HAH HAH HAH! HAHAHAAHAHAH! Hah hah... hah..."

"That's not funny."

"It's always funny Twilight."

"Have you ever broken a Pinkie Promise?"

"Well...no..."

"Than don't laugh at other people's pain. I have one question for you." Just one? Oh your a saint Twilight Sparkle! An adorable little saint! "It's been 3 years since I've seen you. How long has it been for you."

"Twilight it's been 2 days."

"Wow." You know she looks exactly the same. And if she's older...

"Twilight your 25 now right?"

"26." Yes! Oh she's in my age group! Elizabeth seems way too young for me to date.

"Oh I was close."

"Why do you want to know?"

"Just seeing if my memory is in good shape. Yep!" I said knocking on my head with my hoof. "Decent shape."

"Well if your all nice and happy are you free for lunch?"

"Yes. Yes I am." I do have that lunch Liz packed me. What did she say?

'Dustin! Don't you dare waste my food you hear?' said the thought bubble of Elizabeth. I wiped it away and looked at Twilight.

"Did you see that?" I asked her.

"Yeah. What did she mean?"

"Liz packed me a lunch. In case I got lost and hungry."

"Oh. So do you want to go out with me?"

"Yes! A date it is!"

"A...date...?" she had a heavy blush.

"Yeah! You, me, food. Date!"

"I wouldn't call it that if we are just... you know..."

"Oh. I figured you'd like to go out on one."

"You really mean it?"

"Yeah! What's the worst that could happen?"

However... in a bush...not so very far away.

"How dare he!" said Lightning in a bush. "He... he took my Twilight...Oh he will pay..." Lightning started to charge a lightning ball in his hooves. "MUWAHAHAHA!"

"Lightning." said David teleporting beside him. "Dude. Come on now."

"David! But... he..."

"Listen to me Johnathon. In a past life Dustin and Twilight were married. They really loved each other. Than his life went to hell and he just now got it back. Don't mess this up for him please."

"Than he already knows what it's like to be with Twilight! Why should he hog it all to himself?"

"Lightning... listen to yourself. You sound like a jackass. The dude had Vinyl, died, had another part of his mind come to life in Eden, who married Vinyl, and now they both have moved on without him."

"Eden's related to Dustin?"

"She makes up about 75% of his mind."

"How is that possible?"

"You don't want to know what happened to him. But the dude just got back after being dead for 3 years. And this is his last life."

"Fine. I understand you David. But if he hurts her I'm moving in for the kill."

"I forbid you to kill him."

"But..."

"John."

"You only say my name when you get serious."

"I am serious. There are plenty of other ponies out there."

"Well I'm just going to play the waiting game. I bet that this will be the worst date ever!"

"You'd be surprised. Dustin's good with women. He even got me with Celestia and Luna."

"Really?"

"Yeah. So think about what he'd do for you."

"Than why is his cutie mark that of an hourglass?"

"He protects the secrets of time. Why? Do you want him to have a heart?"

"Yeah!"

"That's gross dude..."

"What?"

"We already made the heartthrob joke. Well he did. With one of his consciousness. It's confusing."

Meanwhile...

We had the best date. Lunch, skipping through the flowers, laughing as other ponies cause harm upon themselves accidentally in town, anything a good date would have! But I did notice something. I saw the same black unicorn about 5 times now. He's so freakishly tall that it's impossible to not see him.

"Twilight. Whose that guy?"

"That's Lightning. David's friend. He's like the babysitter of their kids."

"For when they go out of town for meetings?"

"I think so."

"I see. I've seen him a lot now." I don't want to say this but he totally keeps on cheeking out Twilight. Every time she sees him he turns away. "He might be looking for love."

"What makes you say that?"

"It's pretty obvious about who he likes."

"Really? Who?" I looked at her with a blank face. "Oh... OOOHHH... it's me isn't it?"

"Yeah."

"Then what do I tell him?"

"You let him down easy."

"Are you sure? I heard that he kinda has a temper..."

"Than I'll talk to him." I turned around with her and we both walked to him. "Hey bud."

"Oh...uh...hi."

"Listen. I've seen you around but I never caught your name-" He quickly saw Twilight and looked like he was going to faint. Then he teleported. "...friend...Well that went better than I expected."

"I don't know what to do!" said Twilight.

"Well it's your call. You do have an opinion in this."

"I like you but he likes me! So how do we fix this?"

"I use to play match maker. Leave him to me."

"When will you do it?" I don't want to lose my date now.

"In a couple of days. Sound good?"

"Yes! I mean-uh... *giggle* Yes."

"That's the spirit."

A few hours later...

"*yawn* Glad we made it back." I said walking into the library.

"Thanks for an awesome day Dustin!"

"Anytime Twilight. A date's a date."

"Does this make us... you know..."

"Do you want it to be?"

"Yes."

"Than we are dating as of now."

"This is so great. I can't wait to write to Celestia." Oh shit... I forgot to check in on them... Oh no oh no! "You don't look to good."

"I forgot to tell Celestia that I'm alive!" Just then a flash of light lit up the house and there stood both princesses. "Huh...me and my timing."

"Dustin your alive!" they both pulled me in for a hug. I don't know how many hugs I'm going to receive but I think I've had enough. "Why didn't you tell us?"

"I...can't breath..." they dropped me. "Alright. Now I wanted to say that I am sorry for not telling you girls that I'm alive."

"It's okay. David told us." said Luna.

"Have you met our new family?"

"You have really cute kids Tia and Luna."

"Well we won't be here long." said Celestia. "We just wanted to see if you were blending in and it appears you have chosen the best form."

"What do you mean?"

"It's nothing. Your appearance just shows exactly what your life is. You appear as a blank pony sort of. White and grey but on the inside you know every single thing of everything."

"I do don't I?"

"It's also pretty cute." said Luna nudging Twilight earning a blush. "I knew it! That's why your here!" she said pointing at me. Then she offered me a hug. When I accepted it she pulled me in to whisper. "You take good care of Twilight Sparkle... or next time you won't come back from the moon."

"*gulp* Y-you got it..." I said nervously back. That was scarier than the rape face they gave me.

"Alright. Bye!" they both said leaving.

"Anyways..." said Twilight looking away with her blush. "I'm... going... to bed. You can come up when your ready."

"I'll be up in a minute." I said looking out the window. I saw Lightning walking this way. Yeah. That guy again. When Twilight dimmed out the lights and went upstairs, I hid behind the door as he walked up to it. I noticed he had flowers through the window I was looking through.

"*Ahem* Okay... okay I can do this. I'm going to be a gentlecolt... and I'm going to ask her out." He went to ring the doorbell but his hoof was shaking tremendously. Somehow... he mustered the courage and rung the door. I think that's the proper word. Rung. I mean I wouldn't thing he rang the door... Look at me. I'm having a English lesson in my head. Still he rung the door.

"Hello?" I said in my impersonation voice. I sounded exactly like her and he couldn't see me due to the dark lights.

"Twilight...I...I...I...I..." Aw...he froze up. It's so adorable.

"Are you okay?" I asked still in my fake voice.

"I wanted to say... I'm in love with you!" he yelled with his eyes closed. He held his arms out for a hug. This caused me to stop my fake voice.

"Back off jack off!" I yelled smacking his hoof out the air.

"What?"

"I'm just messing with you. I'll get Twilight if you want to talk to her." I stood in the light so he could see me.

"YOU!" Okay... now he sounded pissed.

"Yeah. I'm... a you in your eyes. But in my eyes I'm me. So yeah. Me. What about it?"

"You ruined everything!"

"Relax dude. Lightning was it? I said I'd get Twilight and then you could confess your love to her face. Alright? Take the anger down a notch Jethro." God is he socially awkward.

"What was that?" he asked.

"What?"

"Sorry... I was reading your mind through your facial expressions."

"Uh huh... that's... different. I think your socially awkward. Listen though. Honestly wait here for a minute and I will get Twilight. I'm not a jerk. I'm a really nice guy. You'll see." I walked upstairs getting the mare. "Twilight! You have a visitor."

"At this hour?" she asked.

"Yeah... It's Lightning..." I whispered the last part.

"Oh... okay. Well I'll just go talk to him." She walked downstairs and I decided to eavesdrop. "Hi." she said to the guy. I decided to get a good look at him. He was freakishly tall. I mean no one besides an alicorn could be this tall. He also doesn't have a cutie mark. Yeah. How does one not have one?

"Um..." Great. He froze up again. "Hi Twilight. I w-w-wanted to a-ask y-you on a d-d...d...d..."

"Yeah?"

"Date?"

"Oh... Well... I um... *sigh* Sorry... I kinda... already have a boyfriend."

"What?" He looked up the stairs and saw me. "YOU!" he yelled again.

"What do you want from me?"

"You took her away from me!" she looked surprised.

"I don't think you know who I am." I said walking down and looking eye to eye with him. It wasn't easy since he was a lot taller but I did.

"I don't need to little man."

"Okay hot head. I really don't want to fight. I'm tired and I want to sleep. You want to be the gentlemen? Than why are you scaring the damsel in distress?" I asked pointing to Twilight. "Look. We can settle any score you have with me any other time. But please leave. Okay?"

"Tomorrow. At 7. Meet me here."

"Uh..."

"Bye." he teleported away.

"Twilight... how awkward was that?"

"That was the most awkward thing that happened to me all day."

"Yeah... it was." So we went to bed. It was the best sleep I had in a long time. I wasn't on the floor. I wasn't in some random cabin. I wasn't in a time machine. No I was cuddling with Twilight Sparkle. (We did not have sex. I repeat. No! What kind of guy has sex on his first date? An asshole that's who. And I am a gentlemen. Yes. Yes I am) I did have a rude awakening. I was downstairs about to begin drinking some coffee when Lightning walked in through the door, winked at Twilight, grabbed me and teleported outside. There was a gigantic crowd.

"Hello ponies!" he said. "I am here to challenge this man and anyone else who wants to stand between me and Twilight."

"You can't do that." said Rainbow in the crowd. "She can date whoever she wants." Go Rainbow! Yeah! My luck just go 20% cooler.

"I accept your challenge!" said some pony in the crowd. He was a grey pony with black and red hair. "I am Shadow Gears." Perfect. Now I have more competition. I'm too tired to fight anyways. I tried to crawl back inside but Lightning stopped me.

"Where do you think your going?"

"Look... I'm still pretty tired. Let me grab my coffee please."

"No way. You'll just run away."

"You can ask David. I never run from a fight."

"How do you know David?"

"You'd be surprised."

A few more of Twilight's friends tried to fight for her freedom. I don't blame them. They have to stand there and listen to this jackass talk about winning Twilight in a game by beating me. He wouldn't even give me my coffee! Now... even if I was a jackass terrorist or something like that do you know what I would do? I would let someone get their coffee or whatever they wanted before I put them in some rigorous test of unneeded things. I don't care what it is if it's a box of donuts or a gun to kill themselves I would let them take it. But this Lightning guy is a total jerk. A hot headed, socially awkward, jerk. He's a meanie face.

"You ready?" he told me.

"Ready for what?"

"We are going to do some challenges to prove who's the best for her. First guy to get 3 points wins!" I looked down the line and saw 12 guys were lined up. He got... 12 more guys to agree to the contest? Then Twilight ran up to check on me. She even brought me a go-cup for my coffee.

"Thank you Twilight! Your a saint." I said accepting the coffee. She smiled and walked back to the crowd. I turned to see everyone on a stage in what looked like a game-show. I hate game-shows. I hate them more than pears. The only thing I hate more is a gigantic metal spider but that's a fear. And I already faced her before.

"Okay guys!" said the announcer pony. "I am Watcher Dawn!" This made my spit up my coffee. "Can I help you sir?"

"Dawn?! Sorry... Go on with the show." I miss him. He was a good friend to work with.

"Anyways... first we need to eliminate half of you. That means 7 need to go. Leave now while you have the chance." I saw 2 ponies get up and leave. "Okay. 5 more to go. Let the games begin!" I heard the crowd cheer. I even saw David and his kids and wives. I waved but got smacked in the back of the head by Lightning.

"Ow... What's your problem?"

"You are!"

"Oh... I'm sorry dude."

"No! I don't want to hear anything you have to say!"

"Uh...fine." I went back and looked at David. I saw his hoof go for another smack so I dodged it, grabbed his arm, threw it behind his back, and put him on the ground. "You gonna stop hitting me? Huh? Are ya?"

"Yeah! Okay! God..." I got off him and helped him up.

"Look. I'm sorry but enough is enough."

"Where did you learn to fight?"

"I'll tell you later." The crowd found the little fight exciting. They cheered and threw flowers at me. "Thank you!" I said waving at him. Then the announcer looked at me and him.

"Well... since he won the fight... Player 1 get's 1 point!"

"The name's Dustin." I told him.

"Okay. Dustin takes the lead!" The crowd wasn't cheering. They knew who I was.

"That's right folks! I'm back from the dead! And I'm here for Twilight! The mare who I really really like!" They went back to cheering as I threw my right hoof in the air like Freddy Mercury. Then the questions began.

"Question 1. What is Twilight's favorite color?" Well... that's a good question. Isn't it yellow? She does wear yellow a lot. And it looks great on her! That might be it. Or is it Aquamarine? No that's not a color... I really need to pay more attention. Then player 8 hit the buzzer.

"Purple!" he shouted. Watcher looked at Twilight who shook her head no.

"No. Sorry. Your eliminated." The guy got up and left. He tried.

"Question 2. What is the meaning of life?" Everyone was silent but I rang the buzzer. "Dustin?"

"42."

"Can you back that up?"

"The meaning of life is to die. You take 2 dice. Add up all 6 sides. Ya get 21. So 2 dice = 42. The meaning of life is 2 die. So 42."

"Correct! Dustin has 2 points. 1 more and he wins the competition." The others looked at me with anger. I mouthed sorry but then I mouthed I really like Twilight. So they smiled (except Light.) and continued to play the game.

11 questions later... 3 more players were eliminated... I didn't listen for their names. I had 2. I could have won at any time but I wanted to give the others a fair shot. Lightning had 1. So did everyone else.

"Next question..." started Dawn.

"I quit." said player 5. "I have to get going. Bye guys. Sorry!" he said leaving what friends he had up their against us.

"Okay. Next part of the contest is the Intelligence section." So he switched the questions and asked each one of us our own questions. He had to eliminate 4 more players. "Razor Blade. What is Schrodinger's Catch?"

"I don't know."

"Sorry. Out." The guy got up and left. 3 more. "Dustin. What is the speed and velocity of a 'European' swallow?"

"Is it...15 beats per second?"

"Yes." Oh great. I looked at Twilight and waved at her again. "Tough Hide. What is an eggbeater?"

"Ahuck..." he said in his redneck accent. Oh ho... oh man... no way... that is so funny. "Ain't it like one of d'em things you put in a bowl?"

"I..." Watcher looked at us stupidly then facehoofed. "I don't know how you did it but I think you made me dumber. Your out."

"Fine... I don't need a pretty little thing like Twilight around. All I need is my hand." He did not say that out loud. Even Lightning looked at me like 'No way. That's just messed up.'

"Lightning. What is best way to fight a draconis?"

"Elements of harmony?"

"Yeah that's always the answer. Fine. You stay. Shadow Gears... what is... 2+2?"

"4 dude."

"Yep." He walked down the next few guys. "Trip Wire. What is the best way to treat a woman?"

"Put her in the kitchen."

"GET THE FUCK OUT OF HERE!" yelled Watcher throwing him into the crowd and a bunch of mares started beating him up. "and... Yusif. Why is the sky blue?"

"*sigh* I don't know. I get it. I'm out. Bye."

"Bye. Thanks for saving me the trouble." he looked at us last 3. "You guys are all that is left. One more challenge."

"Is it the strongest colt challenge?" asked Lightning.

"No. It's the best all around challenge. In this event the players all must do what the crowd says. Is that understood? If you don't do it your eliminated." Really? No... really? All of this over Twilight Sparkle. I love her. I really do. Even when I was just a figment in Static's imagination I did still feel a connection. She was the best thing to happen to me. Static's life was a paradise and now I can relieve it. But this time I'm the controller.

"You ready?" asked Lightning as we stood on the stage. I didn't know what stupid things to expect from the crowd but I imagine that they are stupid. The only thing I have left to lose is... well I was going to say life but I actually have a lot more things I can lose. But Twilight is not one that I will lose.

"Oh!" said Lyra from the crowd. "Do a handstand!" I quickly jumped up and landed on my front hooves. "Now do a tap dance." I started dancing with my front hooves in an awesome river dance way.

"I have one for Lightning!" said David. He looked like he was out for revenge or something. "Say you like boys! Admit it!"

"I...I...like...boys..."

"Then got off the stage! This is for Twilight Sparkle!" Whoa! When did David learn to troll? Oh wait... he's married to Tia so... *gasp* Mother of god...

"Can someone else give me a challenge?" Lightning asked not walking off the stage.

"Hey Lightning." said Watcher Dawn. "You didn't step off the stage dude. Your out."

"No... but... I..."

"Out. As in... you lose."

"I will have revenge on you David!" he yelled while teleporting. Well someone needs a chill pill. I looked over at Shadow Gears. I was still on my front hooves since no one said I could stop. In the crowd however, I saw a Shadow Gear fan-club. What the cuss? If he has all of these chicks... then why does he want mine?

"Shadow!" they called out. "Strike a pose!" he bent his muscles and flexed. "Now blow a kiss." You have got to be kidding me? He blew the kiss and half of them passed out.

"Dustin!" yelled Rainbow. "Admit whose the fastest flyer in Equestria."

"That would be Rainbow Dash!"

"Now balance your entire body on your nose." I quickly stopped talking, held my breath, and I put my nose down and put my arms back to my body. "So awesome dude. Now jump up, do 4 flips, and land on one hoof."

"Alright." I quickly did what she said, did the jumping, then the flips, then the landing. They all looked at me with awesomeness. "What's next?"

"I think you won." said Dawn. "Unless Shadow here wants to fight you to the death."

"Oh... so?" I asked looking at him. "Which is it?"

"I choose... to stand down."

"Dustin wins!" yelled Dawn. Well I mean duh. I had already one when I asked out the mare. This in my eyes was a waste of time. I walked over to Twilight and got her biggest, warmest, hug yet.

"You did it!" she was very happy that I decided to stand up for love. If anything... I need to thank Lightning for definitely scoring me with her.

"Of course I had to win! I didn't want someone else taking you."

"I still think it's a little messed up."

"Who in the right mind tries to offer their girlfriend as an anti?"

"I'm not sure. But... I still don't approve. I'm just glad you won."

"Yeah! So now... everyone knows I'm back huh?"

"I guess you did reveal yourself did you not?"

"I did. So what do we do now?"

"We visit our friends."

"Oh boy..."

I know this is kinda of a weird chapter and all. I had more of it written but my labtop is giving me more troubles again and I had to simplify most of the story in a small and funny way and do you want to know something? I have received 10 letters about guys with OC's wanting to get with Twilight. I went ahead and threw in Shadow Gears because I think he might be kind of cool for future chapters but I'm hooking Dustin up with Twilight. I also received another letter bout how I should put Dustin with Elizabeth. I can't do that since there is a huge age difference. She's 20. He's 31. That won't work out. I mean it would but it's just weird.