I was watching the girls go over rehearsals, I was writing down notes in my notebook. It seems like that they're pressured to do this, maybe they need to relax a bit. Never realized that these girls played instruments, I wondered if these talents carried over to equestria? I then heard Rainbow's electric guitar and thought against it. Considering that electricity is relatively new to equestria. The girls finished their set and Rainbow asked me. "What do you think?"

I didn't even look up at the notes I was taking. "I think it was terrible."

Rainbow was insulted and screamed. "WHAT?! DID YOU NOT HEAR THAT? IT WAS GOLD!"

"More like fools gold, the music was forced not fluid." I looked up from my notebook. "These sirens have music in their veins and you just formed a band less than a month ago, adding to the fact that you're inflating your own ego." I looked straight at Rainbow. "There's still a level of distrust that I can sense and it's not directed at the band members but Sunset."

"I did try to take over the school..." Sunset rubbed the back of her neck.

"Yeah, but now there are 3 other people that have the ability to make others do what they want trying to take over the school." I pointed out. "The point is. Whatever the fuck happened in the past. Keep it in the fucking past, MOVE ON." I looked at all of them, except Twilight and Spike and they all had their heads down in shame. I looked at Rainbow, "And seriously Rainbow? Awesome as I wanna be?"

"It sounded good in my head at the time I wrote it down." Rainbow said.

"Putting that aside. The fact of the matter is this, you need cooperation in order to succeed." I got up and held my hand out. "Let me play the guitar. I got a song."

Rainbow held her guitar for a moment and then handed it over after a little bit. "Be careful with it. It's expensive."

I hummed to myself and tuned the guitar. Then started to strum it to get it just right, "Okay I got it." I started to play and the girls joined me, as if magic took over their limbs and they played the song on my mind.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyoeJr6ZcPM

I finished the final riff and looked up at Rainbow. "See?"

"Wow, I had no idea...that sounded so smooth." Rainbow complimented, "How long have you been playing the guitar?"

"I'd say about seven years. My band had a gig but our lead guitarist broke his fingers punching a brick. So I had to pick up the guitar, this ones a bit lighter though." I handed Rainbow her guitar back then I looked to Twilight. "Hey Bookworm."

Twilight blushed and was flustered at my pet name for her, "I hate it when you call me that. Especially in public." She pointed her finger at me.

I gently guided her finger away from my face. "Don't point it's rude. I needed your attention, we rushed into this place all gung ho without thinking of a place to sleep tonight, because it looks like it's getting late." I looked out the window and the sun was already setting.

"Yeah we did forget about that didn't we?" Spike asked.

"That's no a problemo!" Pinkie said while popping up between us. "We were going to have a sleepover at my place! I'm pretty sure Maud won't mind if I bring a few others along with me!"

"I know how she would feel about bringing a boy home." I said. "I met Maud in equestria, she was NOT happy when I met her."

"Well, I don't think that she would mind if I told her that you were Twilight's boyfriend." Pinkie smiled.

"What about Limestone and Marble?" I asked her.

"Limestone moved out and Marble keeps to herself. How do you know so much about my family?"

"I talk to the other you in equestria." I said. "Now what about your parents?"

"They're out of town at a Crystal and Ore convention." Pinkie said.

"I didn't think those were a thing." Rarity said.

"All the gems you incorporate into your dresses come from the earth, in order to be a diamond you must first be a lump of dirt." I told her. "So enjoy the stuff that's underneath your feet."

Sunset leaned over to Twilight and whispered. "Where did you find this guy?"

"He crash landed into our lives and it has never been the same." Twilight whispered back and the two girls giggled.

Rarity had a new perspective on getting dirty and then I realized something. "Twi, Spike, we need clothes."

"Well I'd be more than happy to supply you with some sleepwear." Rarity said.

"Thanks, but how should I pay you?" I asked, at first Rarity tried to refuse but then I pulled out my bag of gold coins and that changed her mind faster than I could snap my fingers.

"I would be glad accept your charity." Rarity pocketed a few golden equestria bits.

"You brought some bits with you?" Twilight interrogated me.

"Twilight, you and I both know that it is well documented that I carry at least 1,000 bits on me at all times." I replied to her. She opened her mouth to say something but then closed it.

Sunset tapped me on the shoulder, "Can I speak to you in private?" Sunset and I stepped out into the hallways as Twilight caught up with the others. I looked at Sunset, I knew that look before. Desperation mixed with a bit of shame. I knew what she was going to ask me before I even knew what she was going to say. "Look, Mickey. I am not proud to say this but."

"You need money." I cut her off, she just nodded.

"I-I don't like begging for money, and I'll repay you in any way I can. Even if I have to use...my body." She nearly cried and I hugged her.

"You don't have to repay me for anything, I'm giving you this money. It's not a loan, it's a gift."

That moment she became a blubbering mess and just gripped to my jacket repeating the words thank you over and over again. I hugged her tight and held her there. She really needed this, "Thank you, I don't deserve this." She thanked me as she wiped away her tears.

"That part of you is in the past, now we move forward." I rubbed her back.

She looked up at me and then kissed me straight right on the lips for a brief moment then separated. "Thank you, I think that should suffice as a way of paying you back."

I hesitated then I looked at her. "You're the one telling Twilight, not me." She nodded.

We jammed a little more and then we all went home. Twilight, Spike and I went to Rarity's. Spike blushed as Rarity measured him, she isn't my wife so I can't really do anything to stop him. I smiled as I put some of our stuff into Twilight's bag. I also put some of my stuff into a bag that Rarity lent me. We all piled in to Rarity's white mini cooper as she got in the drivers seat. We started to talk and chat a bit, she mostly asked about how similar and different she was from her counterpart. She was excited, also she saw Spike in a different light. Instead of an animal, she saw a handsome young man. The way he was meant to be, I still haven't disclosed the information of the kiss with Sunset with Twilight. Personally I don't think Twilight would mind, but she'd probably be a little upset that Sunset didn't ask first.

We soon got to Pinkie's house, it was a slate gray house with pale purple shingles. "This is her house." Rarity said while we got out of her car. We unpacked our stuff and got into Pinkie's house. To her word Pinkie introduced me as Twilight's boyfriend.

"Just don't do anything naughty here." Maud said in her monotone voice.

"Yes ma'am." I nodded and held out my hand to her, she shook it her grip was tough but I had met Maud in Equestria before and we were about equal strength so I strengthened my grip and she was a bit shocked. The night moved pretty quickly after that, we watched a movie. It wasn't bad not a masterpiece though, then we moved to Pinkie's room where she had a game station. Eventually Sunset told Twilight about the kiss, Twilight wasn't too upset. She trusted me and I was busy watching Applejack and Rainbow Dash play video games. I was still writing in my notebook and Twilight had laid down next to me. I looked down at her and smiled. "What's up?"

"You are." Twilight replied.

Before I could say anything else Pinkie jumped in with a empty bottle. "Hey girls, and two guys. I got a game we can play!"

I looked at Pinkie. "I'm not playing spin the bottle."

"Not that silly. Truth or dare!" Pinkie said and we all soon sat in a circle. There were some silly things, like how Applejack admitted that she liked orange juice, Rainbow about how she had an accidental gay experience with Spitfire, they were talking and someone bumped into Rainbow causing her to trip forward and kiss Spitfire.

Rarity spun the bottle and it landed on me, "Mickey, truth or dare?"

"Dare." I said as the first dare of the night.

"I dare you to.... snuggle Fluttershy for the rest of the game!" Rarity said.

I got up. "If I must." Fluttershy squeaked and I held her close to me. "Is this good?" Rarity nodded.

The game continued for some time until it came back to me. It was Pinkie who spun the bottle.

"Truth or dare?!" Pinkie nearly popped out of her seat.

"Truth." I said.

"Do you have anything really embarrassing that you have never revealed to anyone?" Pinkie said and I thought about it.

"I used to have a tattoo." I admitted.

Twilight looked at me, "Really? Do tell."

"It was an ex girlfriend of mine, I got her name tattooed on my arm and I thought it was going to last forever, turns out it didn't. So a few weeks after that I boxed a few boxing matches and then I got it removed with laser removal." I admitted. "It was after I came back from deployment in Iraq so if anyone mentions it I just say that it's a battle scar. Also I'm partially deaf in my left ear, which is why I ask a lot of people to repeat themselves. That's just the nature of the beast, war is hell."

"Wow." Rainbow said. "Do you have any funny war stories?"

"Yeah we did do some funny shit to keep ourselves entertained back then." I said and departed with some funny stories of my unit and how we fucked around. I had a lot of people rolling on the floor laughing. I had others almost cry because of how sad they were. I had come to the point in my life where I was able to accept my past as a marine, some things still haunt me. But I have my girls to be there to help me. We soon wrapped up and got into our sleeping bags. Pinkie lent Twilight, Spike, and I a spare sleeping bag she had. Spike took one and Twilight and I slept in the same one since we were used to sleeping together. Later on in the middle of the night I had to go to the bathroom to take a piss. After flushing the toilet I heard some talking coming from the kitchen when I walked in I saw Twilight and Sunset talking. I decided to leave it alone and returned to bed.