The ponies all stood there in dead silence as the words left Grevin's mouth, the shock of it heavy in the air. “....They are from when I tried to take my own life.”

The group stood there frozen with dropped jaws and wide eyes. They all silently sat down, even Rainbow Dash who made no sound as she floated to the ground. Grevin sat there quietly for several moments lightly tapping his fingers together his eyes lost in thought. After about four minutes he looked up at them once more. “I don't suppose you'd let it drop at that would you?”

Applejack's face turned into a scowl as she narrowed her eyes. “You say something like that and expect us to just let it go?!”

Rainbow Joined her friend “No bucking way we're letting it just drop.”

Pinkie pie's hair was totally straight and her bright blue eyes seemed to become dulled and filled with sadness. “Why would you try to do such a thing? To do that...you'd have to be soooo sad...” She sniffed as a small tear fell slid from her eye to her cheek.

Grevin sighed as he once again brought his hand to the bridge of his nose his eyes closing as he tried to find the right words to calm the clearly angered girls. “Alright...listen, I'll tell you why I did what I did and what led me to it...but you have to calm down.”

Twilight nodded as she sat down before him, soon joined by the others her own eyes narrowed a frown still plastered on her face. “Fair enough, go ahead Grevin.”

He nodded taking a slow breath before letting his eyes meet all of the mane six, the look of pain and worry on their faces making him feel ashamed for what he had done in the past. “Well...it starts when I was orphaned at a young age. In Bastion, orphans are fairly common and mostly ignored. Many times they will grow up and join a form of military service, either for a local kingdom or as a kind of mercenary. The people pay no attention to the orphans, even some people adopt them. It wasn't the case for me due to my appearance.”

He raised a finger and pointed to his eyes and cynical smirk on his face. “These beautiful peepers actually helped to make my life hell for a time. Imagine the look on the faces of the towns folk when a little child with red eyes and dark skin comes up wearing tattered rags asking for food or money. Combine that with my other...talents, my strength, speed and magic and more often than not they thought I was some kind of demonic entity there to trick and kill them...all I wanted was something to eat. “

He paused hearing a small huff come from the lips of Rarity. “That's terrible! How could they ignore the needs of a child!? Even if you looked different you were still only a child.”

He nodded “I agree, but sadly that's how I grew up. Often I would be forced to eat rotten food that was thrown at me just to stay alive. I was also lucky to be able to heal quickly because I would often receive beatings in alleyways. Needless to say I wasn't exactly the most confident, not trusting person around as I grew. I managed to survive many years, through terrible summers, horrid winters, long nights sleeping in alleys and everything in between. Finally I survived long enough to try and enlist for military service...which meant clean clothes, a warm bed, food on a regular basis, and a purpose for me to focus on.”

Applejack tilted her head “Wait a minute...a purpose? I don't follow what you mean.”

Grevin smiled a bit. “Well, it's kind of like a reason to keep living...to keep pressing forward through all odds.”

Twilight grinned as it hit her. “Girls, its like our cutie marks! We all find our special talents which allows us to find our calling in life. Like how mine is for magic and Pinkie, yours is for finding laughter in all things and having fun.”

Grevin nodded. “Yes, I suppose that would be an accurate way of describing it. I...was turned down for traditional service in the kingdom so I tried to enlist through one of the mercenary guilds and as it turns out I passed their tests on my abilities alone. I received training and found myself surpassing several of my peers rather quickly and was beginning to take pride in what I could do. I would go on strike missions to eliminate bandit camps, assassinate certain lords, collect bounties of escaped prisoners, kill for money, even fight in covert sieges of keeps in political power struggles...I never realized just how terrible the things I was doing were until a good while later.”

He paused taking a moment to look at the ponies hoping none would question him about what he did. “Alright...well, things began to go south when I met a woman. You have to understand, I had never exactly had that kind of attention so needless to say she had me wrapped around her fingers within days. Turns out she used my inexperience and shy nature with females to her advantage. She had me doing all sorts of favors for her which eventually grew into larger favors some of which were a bit dark, but I never worried about it, I just continued to do as she wished because I thought she loved me...until things came to a head.”

Rainbow Dash scoffed “You let yourself get pushed around by some girl you had a crush on?”

Grevin let out a small growl from his throat as he grit his teeth. “Believe me...if I knew then what I know now...”

Rainbow took a small step back while placing a hoof behind her head “Eh...sorry.”

He nodded with a slight sigh. “Anyways...One night she had asked me to meet her out in a field far from the walls of the village we were staying in. I thought that perhaps I had the opportunity to let tell her my true feelings, but I was terribly wrong. It turned out that while I was doing those favors for her, she was actually checking my abilities from afar to confirm a suspicion that she had about me. She had figured out my heritage which I hadn't even realized at the time, and had contacted an evil group that wanted me for my blood. They attacked me and I learned that all my feelings were for nothing...I ended up killing most of the assailants but the girl I loved and her lover, the one who wanted me dead, got away and was left heart broken. I was so disheartened that I found I couldn't even bring myself back to the place I called home and took what I had on me and began to wonder from city to city trying to find a new purpose in life.”

His eyes darkened a bit as he looked down at the fire his voice growing soft. “After about six months of wondering I had ended up getting pretty low...too low. I had a broken heart, no purpose in life, no higher calling, no family, no friends...it was like being an orphan all over again but I could handle myself in a fight now...so after one night after having several drinks and getting into a few brawls I found myself with a bloodied nose in a back alley. My anger and frustrations at the world came to a boiling point and I found myself holding my dagger to my wrists and forearms...I had grown to the point that I didn't care about myself in the slightest and felt that there would be no difference in the world if I were gone from it.” He turned his left arm so the scar was exposed and lightly traced his fingertips over the scar there. “I hesitated for only a moment before I drove the blade in and began my attempt at ending my existence.”

A small whimper made him pause and look at Fluttershy who had tears flowing from her wide cyan eyes. “Its...so sad....”

He nodded in agreement “Indeed...but it does get better.” He cleared his throat a bit before continuing. “ I had just finished my second arm and was trying to fall into an endless sleep when I was jolted back to consciousness by a solid hit to my face followed by a warmth that seemed to surround my arms. I found myself on the ground with a man standing over me. He had bright blue eyes and some tattoos on his bald head...I later learned he was a monk of sorts. He had seen me in a fight and noticed how I fought with nothing to lose, without care for myself...and it bothered him. He convinced me to tell him my story.”

Grevin looked up a smile on his face his eyes showing some bright light in them for once. “His name was Galen...and after he heard everything he convinced me to join him and become a member of his guild...which as it turns out was in it for the right reasons. I was able to turn things around from there...I had found purpose. We would defend caravans sending aid to plague ridden villages, fight off invaders trying to dominate lands...and when we could we would explore historical ruins to learn about our worlds past. That guild was the one I was a part of when I was on my quest before I was pulled into Equestria. So...that's the story in a nutshell...” He looked at Fluttershy who had managed to pull herself together “See...told you it would get better.”

She smiled a bit and nodded. “Oh yes...and I'm so glad that you're alright now.”

Pinkie Pie poked her head out next to the cream colored pony, her hair had regained its poofy quality and her eyes shined once more.. “We all are! I bet you've been on all kinds of adventures!”

Grevin nodded “I have...but still nothing quite like this...you all are quite different than the society I knew in my world...very kind, with very little judgment of other beings. “

Twilight placed a hoof over her chest. “We all do our best to represent Equestria, right girls?”

“Uh-huh!”

“Absolutly darling.”

“Oh yes.”

“Darn Tootin.”

“You bet!”

Grevin couldn't help but smile at the ponies, their bright personalities had begun to worm their way into his heart and it was somewhat difficult for him to wrap his mind around it. Other than a choice few such as his mentor Galen, he wouldn't allow anyone to get close to him...but these ponies...they did it with ease. “Well, I am thankful that you don't think less of me for what had happened in the past.”

Rainbow Dash grinned. “Well of course we don't”

Applejack nodded. “Shoot sugar-cube, we know that you're not like that anymore, and we are sure happy you're here.”

Grevin smiled as he felt a yawn overtake his features a small glimmer of light catching his attention. He glanced over his shoulder to the east and shook his head. “Girls...I'm afraid that I've made you waste a lot of time with all of this...here I've been talking and talking and now here comes the sun. It's morning.” He pointed over his shoulder where in the distance shrouded by the leaves of the numerous trees was the rising sun washing the land in the bright rays of a new day.

Rarity smiled at the beautiful colors in the sky as the shining orb rose over the horizon, the purple and orange shades stunning everyone with it's beauty. “My Princess Celestia really outdid herself this morning didn't she? That's simply beautiful.”

Twilight smiled and nodded her mane bouncing slightly. “She sure did...but I guess this means we need to start packing things up and head back home.”

Pinkie frowned “What? Already? Awwww....” She suddenly brightened. “That means we'll just have to have another party sometime soon!”

Rainbow Dash flapped her wings and began to rise into the air. “Well, I'd better get to clearing the skies - “ She brought a hoof to her mouth covering a large yawn. “so I can get back to my house and take a nap. See you guys later.” With small wave and a solid flap of her wings she was gone in a blue flash leaving the others to clean up.

Grevin rose to his feet and began to gather up the blankets being careful to fold them before returning them to Pinkie Pie. The others also talked quietly amongst themselves gathering up the remaining food and putting out the fire. After everything was put away he made his way over to where his gauntlets lay and bent down to pick them up tucking them under his arm only to pause when he heard...silence. No talking...no giggling, just silence. He slowly rose up and turned around to see the remaining mares all smiling at him their saddlebags over their backs, their bright doe eyes smiling at him. It made him feel a bit uncomfortable.

Applejack trotted over a small smile on her lips. “Ready to head on back Grevin?”

He nodded as he began to reach for his hood. “Yes, I just need to get put my hood up and get my armor back on-” A soft hoof on his hand made him pause. He looked up to see Fluttershy gently holding his hand a small frown on her face.

“Please don't...um...if you don't mind that is...”

He blinked quite surprised. “Well...I know you all don't mind my face...but what about the others? Won't I scare other ponies like Apple Bloom or Big Mac?”

The girls paused a moment before all beginning to laugh causing a small shade of red to form over his cheeks. Twilight stepped forward shaking her head a bit. “I'll answer that. Apple Bloom is probably one of the most accepting ponies in Ponyville. When Zecora, a pony who looks totally different from us and has a unique way of talking came to town, Apple Bloom was the first to try to really get to know her. She won't blink twice at how you look, and I think she'll be thrilled to see your face for the first time. Her friends are the same way so I wouldn't worry about that. As for Big Mac...he's so laid back I don't think he'll do more than blink a moment before getting back to work.”

He said nothing but looked at Applejack who grinned and nodded in agreement. “He frowned but slowly nodded letting his hands drop. “Alright...We'll try it your way.”

He focused his attention on his gauntlets only to hear Rarity clear her throat. He looked over at her only to see her shaking her head. “No armor either?”

Fluttershy lightly shook her head her mane covering her face for a brief moment. “Um...well...we'd like it if you would consider leaving your armor off...only if you want to that is.” She looked down a moment before looking back into his eyes. “You see, we all know that working in the orchard is hard work and it can get so hot out...well we just didn't want you to come down with a case of heat exhaustion...besides you don't really need it at the moment do you?”

He paused for a very brief moment before slowly sliding the gauntlets back onto his arms and began to fasten them down. He kept his gaze averted knowing that the group would be frowning at his actions but it was very rare for him to not wear his gear. “I'm sorry but perhaps another time...I'll consider it though.”

The girls all nodded and within a few minutes they were making their way back to the farmhouse of Sweet Apple Acres. Twilight trotted closer to Grevin as the barn and path leading to Ponyville came into view. “Grevin, I was hoping to ask you a question.”

“What do you need Twilight?” He turned his gaze to look at her as she trotted beside him, his own stride slowing a bit to match hers.

“Well, after learning that your cloak has magic imbued in it, I was hoping that at some point you would be willing to come to the Library in Ponyville and answer a few questions that I have about it? Also I was hoping to learn more about magic in your world, and how you use it...aaaannnd....possibly-run-a-few-tests-on-you?” She quickly beamed as he slowed his step his mind processing what she had just said.

“Um...Twilight, I'm not quite sure I heard you correctly... did you say you want to run tests on me?”

She chuckled as her eyes avoided his a sheepish smile on her face. “Well...yes, but not its not like it sounds. You're the closest thing to a human we ponies have ever seen. The chance to learn from you, as long as you're okay with it, is to good to pass up. Would you be willing to give it some thought? I promise it won't be a terrible experience.”

He quietly crossed his arms and brought his right hand up to his chin not saying anything as he walked on leading the group to the front gate of the farm. The other ponies were curious as to what he would say. If he agreed, this would mean that he would actually come into the town at some point which would allow him to enjoy everything that Ponyville has to offer. After a few moments of awkward silence several of them had reached the end of their patience. Rarity lightly tapped him on his side pulling him out of his thoughts.

“Well...dear are you going to answer her? Don't forget I'm curious about putting magic into clothing and knowing Twilight she'll be able to figure out how to do it in no time at all.”

“Oh-Oh-Oh, if you come into town you'll have to come to Sugar Cube Corner and try out all our tasty treats! It'll be awesome!”

Applejack frowned seeing her friends pressure him and she glanced at Fluttershy who also was beginning to have a look of concern wash over her face. “Now hold on there girls. This is a big deal for him and we don't want to put to much on him. Let him mull it over and get back to you.”

“Oh yes, that would be for the best. You can't rush things.”

Meanwhile Grevin had begun to step back from the five ponies as they moved to face one another, watching them debate his potential choice with all manners of valid arguments and opinions. He couldn't help but feel a small smirk come to his lips as he watched them argue back and forth. They really cared about what he did...almost to a fault. The conversation was beginning to get heated when he decided to intervene before things got to far out of hand. He took a deep breath, brought his fist to his mouth and roughly cleared his throat causing the five ponies to take pause and turn to face him, all their faces slowly showing small shades of red, their embarrassment showing clear as day.

He smiled for a moment which helped them all to relax. “Girls...I believe I've come to a decision. For the moment I think it may be best for me to remain here out of sight and mind, but perhaps in the near future I will venture into town one night so I can avoid drawing to much attention to myself.” He turned his gaze to Twilight his smile still lingering. “Is that a fair compromise?”

Twilight grinned. “Yes, absolutely. Feel free to let me know when you'd like to come by and I'll take care of all the arrangements. It shouldn't be to difficult to-”

Pinkie Pie popped out from behind Twilight standing on her back and head forcing it down while interrupting her mid sentence. “Awesome! We'll have another all night party then! We'll have all kinds of sweets, play games, tell ghost stories! It'll be a blast!”

He couldn't help but laugh at the pink ponies antics, and neither could Twilight who began to laugh and was joined by the others within moments. “Well that settles it...but for now,” He glanced over his shoulder to the barn where Big Mac could be seen wandering into the wide doors preparing for the work ahead of him for the day. “I need to head over to the barn and join Big Mac for today's chores.”

Fluttershy, Rarity, Pinkie and Twilight all nodded and said their goodbyes heading back to their homes to catch up on their daily chores and even take a nap leaving Applejack standing next to Grevin who closed the gate behind his friends. She had a frown plastered on her face staring at him intently as he turned around locking eyes with him as soon as his back was against the white posts.

Seeing her intense stare worried him for a moment until she broke the gaze with a small smirk. “Do you really think I'm gonna let you go help Big Mac after you spent almost thirty six hours awake?

He relaxed somewhat and broke into a slow walk moving past her. “Yes. I'm still a guest here and I still need to earn my keep.” He paused mid step when her hoof shot out across his stomach blocking his path. After he regained his balance he turned his head and looked at her only to find her face mere inches from his her eyes showing a hint of determination in them.

“Oh no you don't mister. I already know what that feels like from when I had to harvest the apples by myself when Big Mac was injured. A few hours of sleep ain't gonna hurt ya.”

He began to step back from the orange mare, the closeness from her making him feel slightly uncomfortable. “Applejack, I understand what you're saying but I'm really not that tired. I'll be fine, and besides, it's hardly fair to expect him to work in the orchard by himself .” He attempted to side step only to have her step into his path while shaking her head.

“Nothin doin. He'll be fine. Don't forget he did this before you came along.” She wasn't going to budge.

He frowned trying to side step again only to be blocked once more. “Applejack, please. I'm more than capable of handling a few hours of being awake.”

She shook her head. “Nope, now am I gonna have to make you go up to that loft and get some rest?”

He paused and slowly shook his head. “I don't think you could.”

She stepped closer narrowing her eyes. “You wanna try me?”

He sighed and shook his head. “Fine, I'll rest up for a couple of hours but then I'm back out there helping out....fair?”

She smirked and nodded holding out a hoof. “Only if you shake on it.”

He reached out and took her hoof in a firm hold and gave it a shake. He couldn't help but let the thought of leaving his armor off enter into the back of his mind as he stepped around Applejack and made his way to the barn. It was something to consider...after all what would he need with it here in a place without violence?

Meanwhile, as the two friends went their separate ways to get some shut eye, a little red haired filly was watching them with wide eyes and a curious look. Her young mind was filled with all sorts of questions, the first and most prominent one being...is that what Grevin looks like without his hood?

Authors Notes: Hi everyone. I want to say thanks again for reading my work. The initial reception to Grevin's appearance was better than I expected so thank you. As always please bare with any mistakes I make and I'll do my best to keep things as close to cannon as I can. As always I hope you enjoy reading my story and I hope to have another chapter out in good time. I do ask that you leave your thoughts in a review. Thanks very much. Have a good day.