Applejack trotted her way through Ponyville, a cart load of apples hitched up to her back. Ever since they had started having Grevin work in the fields last week the amount of produce the farm could send into town had nearly doubled. She had been worried the first morning when she had to leave for town and let Big Mac show him the ropes, especially since Big Mac can be a bit protective of the family and the farm, but she had worried for nothing. As it turns out Big Mac had given Grevin a chance to prove himself handy and it had paid off.

She even learned that Grevin was pretty creative...and stronger than he looked. He had taken a hooked harness, similar to the ones she and Big Mac wore when carrying baskets full of apples, and attached a few pieces of scrap wood to them so that when he held it by the middle, the two hanging baskets, which would normally rest against her sides, would now rest on that wood allowing him to carry two baskets with one hand. She didn't expect him to be able to do it, but he carried load after load while her brother cleared the tree's of the precious fruit and by the end of the first week they had managed to get more produce in than what they had done by this time last season.

She pulled the cart next to their apple stand in the market and began to sort the produce on sale for the day, as well as the various baked treats that Granny Smith and Apple Bloom had created the night before. While all of this would be bringing a smile to her face, she couldn't help but be bothered by something. All during the week she hadn't seen Grevin open up or relax even once. She knew as little about him now as she did when she first bucked her hooves into his chin, and that bothered her.

At first she thought that he was being shy or that he was simply tired from the work, but as the days went on she found that while he was polite, he was about as tight lipped as her brother. He never pulled that dang hood of his down, and he never took that heavy looking armor off, even in the intense heat of the sun in the middle of harvesting. He always seemed tense or frustrated but not once would he admit it. She had even asked him as few times at night before going their separate ways to bed, if he was alright or if wanted to talk and he would always politely decline and go up to the loft leaving her feeling slightly saddened. She didn't think anypony was this stubborn except for herself.

This just didn't sit right with her, being the bearer of the element of honesty she felt like she needed to get him to open up and be honest about what he was thinking, but she wasn't sure about how to go about things.

“Oh, hello Applejack”

The Orange mare turned her head to see her friend Twilight standing next to her saddlebags weighed down by several books. “Oh, howdy there Twilight, picked up a new order of books for the library?”

She smiled and nodded. “And I was hoping to pick up a few apples while I was out. How much for a dozen?”

Applejack pushed several apples across the counter “I reckon four bits should cover ya.”

Twilight took the red delicious treats and took a seat looking at her friend noting that her brow was furrowed and she appeared to be concerned about something. “So...how are things going on the farm with Grevin? Is he beginning to fit in?”

Applejack sighed “Kinda Twi. To be honest though, I get the feeling that he isn't trying to fit in. He is distant and locked up tighter than our cider profit lock box. He hasn't shown his face, and he hasn't even taken off a single bit of that armor, even when he's helping in the orchard.”

Twilight looked down a moment with a small sigh. “I know that it could take some time to get used to living here...but I would think that he would begin to relax by now. Maybe he is still worried about what happened the first night he arrived in Equestria...or maybe he has other things on his mind.”

“Maybe he misses his home - “ A pink blur rushed into view, her blue eyes wide and bright matching her smile. “Or maybe he just doesn't feel like he fit in quite yet, or maybe he is just afraid to open up, or maybe-” She was interrupted by an orange hoof making its way into her mouth pausing her rapid fire thoughts.

Applejack smiled softly and pulled her hoof back. “Morning Pinkie.”

The pink poof pony beamed and nodded. “Hiya.”

Twilight smirked “I have a feeling that we should just have everyone meet in the library so we can figure this whole thing out. Pinkie Pie, can you tell Rarity, Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash?”

Pinkie gave a simple nod and was off like a flash leaving a small trail of dust in her wake causing both remaining friends to break out laughing.

An hour later the mane six were all seated around the main floor of the library talking idly while Spike walked around passing out treats and drinks to his friends. Twilight cleared her throat and drew the attention of her friends. “Alright, so we're here because we are worried about our new friend.”

Rarity tilted her head a bit “Well, what's wrong with him darling? Is he having a hard time on the farm?”

Applejack shook her head “Shoot no, he's working hard and fitting in fine there, but he isn't opening up. He's more tight lipped than Big Mac. He seems tense and I don't know why.”

Rainbow Dash flew up into the air and hovered a few feet off the ground “Maybe he just needs a pony to come and knock some sense into him.”

Twilight shook her head “No Rainbow, I don't think that's what he needs.”

Rarity raised her hoof “Well, maybe he just needs a way to relax, perhaps I could introduce him to the local spa. Their treatments are fabulous and should help him relax quite a bit.”

Applejack shook her head this time. “Nah, he won't take that hood off.”

Fluttershy cautiously stood up “Um...well...I - “

Pinkie Pie shot herself in front of the cream colored mare whilst taking a deep breath “Well what if we throw him a super duper party! We'll have games, balloons, punch, pie, cake – oh! Cupcakes, lemon bars, cobbler, fritters, ice cream, banners, confetti, streamers, music – I bet Vinyl Scratch would help, and all of us could - “ Rainbow Dash shoved her hoof into Pinkie's mouth

“No way, a serious dude like that needs a serious workout, get the blood pumping and loosen him up.” She pulled her hoof back and turned throwing a few punches

Rarity sighed “I swear Rainbow, you're so over the top, Perhaps he just needs to enjoy a small dinner with his friends?”

Fluttershy once again tried to get into the conversation “Um...excuse me but - “

Twilight frowned as she pushed past the timid Pegasus pony. “What if we wrote to Princess Celestia to see what she thinks?”

Applejack shook her head pushing her stetson back a bit “No way, what did she say when you first wrote her about him?”

Twilight sat back and raised her hoof to her chin in thought. “Well, she told me that we should try to help him but be cautious due to his mysterious nature.”

“Right, so if we tell her about him becoming less friendly she may be forced to lock him up. “

“I don't think the princess would do that Applejack”

The ponies began to argue back and forth all while Fluttershy tried to get their attention. “Um...excuse me...um...girls...girls, um...could you stop arguing for a moment? Girls?” She took a deep breath and narrowed her eyes “GIRLS!”

The room fell dead silent as all eyes in the room widened and slowly moved to meet the gaze of one agitated Fluttershy who now stood with narrowed eyes and breathing deeply a frown upon her lips. Spike even peaked his head out from the kitchen for a moment his eyes wide in surprise. Fluttershy took a few breaths before sitting back down and resuming her normal timid, shy appearance. “Um...I...um...thought you might want to know that I've seen Grevin...late at night...”

Rainbow smirked as she shot forward and put an arm around her friend. “Oh really Fluttershy?” She patted her on the back, “So, you've been following him around huh? Seen him without that cloak yet? I didn't expect you to be that kind of mare, way to go!”

Applejack rolled her eyes as she moved closer to her cream colored friend. “Shoot Rainbow, don't tease her, besides, no one has seen him without that dang hood over his head keep his face all covered.”

“Um...well...to be honest...”

Applejack paused mid step as the other ponies moved closer. “Y...You mean to say that you saw him without it? Fluttershy...I have to ask ya, and please don't be offended or nuthin, but just where did you see him like that? Were you spying on him out on the farm?”

Twilight laughed a bit as she moved to sit next to her timid friend. “Applejack I'm sure there is a reasonable explanation for all this. Fluttershy please explain.”

Fluttershy nodded whilst hiding a bit behind her hair, her hoof lightly pawing at the ground. “Well...I was on my way home after walking with most of you to the edge of town but I noticed that some of my chickens had managed to wander away from their safe coop and were heading towards the Everfree Forest. Well, after that incident with the Cockatrice I didn't want to risk anything so I rushed after them, but the silly things wanted to play so I ended up following them all the way to the edge of Sweet Apple Acres. I finally caught up to them after a long chase and sent them home after giving them a good talking too, and I was about to go as well when I heard something.”

She looked around at her friends who all were leaning in, curious as to what happened next. “Normally I'd run away and hide...but it sounded like yelling...and it was Grevin's voice. I was really worried that he was hurt, especially after he helped me so I followed the sounds until I found him...and what I saw wasn't anything like I expected.” Her cheeks reddened a bit as she continued to paw at the ground.

Rarity was the first to speak “Take your time darling. What was it you saw?”

“O...Okay. Well, I hid myself up in some trees and I saw Grevin doing some sort of training. He had his swords drawn and was moving so quickly and gracefully but it was so intense. I couldn't stop watching as he pushed himself to move faster and swing harder...and then there was a bright flash that made me cover my face. I don't know what happened exactly, but when I could see again, he had put up his swords and was running to the pond near the outer edge of the orchard.”

She blushed hard as the memories came back to her causing Rainbow Dash to chuckle while lightly elbowing her side. “Sheesh Fluttershy, you're blushing so hard that I'm beginning to think that you saw him totally without clothing.”

“Well...”

Pinkie Pie gasped and started laughing as the remaining ponies each turned gained a small hue of red on their cheeks. Each one of them looked awkwardly to the side, Applejack lightly scratched her neck with her hoof while Rainbow stood motionless with a dropped jaw her wings extended. Twilight was similarly slack jawed while Pinkie continued her little giggle fit. Rarity was the first to recover out of all of them. “Fluttershy...dear...you mean that you saw...” She glanced downwards her cheeks reddening a bit more.

Fluttershy gasped as she realized the intention and quickly shook her head her own cheeks flaring up once more and her wings spreading a bit. “Oh, no no no! It was so dark and so late that I could barely see at all, let alone...that. All I saw was him taking off his cloak, armor and clothing. I couldn't see any detail like skin color or hair color...or even his eyes, it was to dark. I also felt bad about intruding so I left as quickly as I could without drawing attention to myself. “

She sighed as she laid down on the floor. “I was worried though since his workout seemed very intense so I came back the next night to see if he would be there again...and he was. He was there the next day, and the next day too...I think he's been going there all week now, and when he's there he seems so angry...nothing like how he is when he's around us.”

Twilight frowned as she listened to Fluttershy's tale. “Well I think some of it is understandable. He is alone here and we don't exactly know what he was doing before he arrived. Maybe we should ask him.”

Rainbow nodded her head “I agree Twilight, but I think we need to catch him with his guard down. I have an idea. Why don't we have a little slumber party out at the Apple Farm?”

The rest of the mane six leaned in as Rainbow Dash explained her plan and as she did each one began to smile and nod in agreement. They had a friend in need, even if he didn't realize it, and they were going to do all they could to show him the magic of friendship in Equestria.

-Two Days Later-

Grevin grunted slightly as he shifted his shoulders while carrying two of the modified apple carrying harnesses in his hands. It had been a long day of harvesting with Big Mac and he was already feeling his level of frustration grow inside him, combined with the lack of sleep he's been having lately due to his more...vivid nightmares, and he was more than ready for his 'workout'.

Falling in step behind Big Mac he made his way to the barn making certain not to spill the baskets contents. A sudden shrill whistle made him stumble a bit drawing his attention towards the farmhouse. Turning his head he saw the now familiar Orange mare Applejack as well as her other friends Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Twilight, Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash, all of whom were waving and motioning for him to come over. He gave a slight nod but jerked his head to the barn telling them that he would like to finish his task first.

Depositing the baskets in the barn he gave a small nod to Big Mac who nodded in return before continuing to prep the plow for the next morning. Grevin made his way up to the farm house where the mares sat all sipping on glasses of lemonade. “Good evening. How is every...pony doing today?”

Twilight smiled and was about to speak when a hyperactive pink blur stepped in front of her a gigantic smile plastered across her face. “Hiya Grevin, how are you? I'm great! There's going to be a party and - “

Rainbow Dash pulled back her frantic friend with a small chuckle as Twilight stepped forward once again. “What Pinkie Pie was trying to say is that we're having a sleep over.” Her horn glowed a shade of purple and a book levitated in front of his face a moment before drifting back to her side. “I have a book that shows all kinds of games, and activities that are supposed to happen at them. It's going to be a lot of fun.”

Applejack grinned and nodded. “That's right. We're going to have a lot of fun and we thought that since you're new and our friend, we'd offer you an invitation to join us.”

Grevin shifted his weight from foot to foot for a moment the surprise weighing on him somewhat. He didn't exactly feel comfortable with the situation and he was feeling the familiar itch of wanting to get out his frustrations. “Um...”

Rarity pouted a bit as she batted her eyes “Oh you simply must join us. It's a great way to get to know one another and relax darling.”

Fluttershy flapped her wings and floated up to eye level with him her cyan eyes gazing into the shadow of his hood. “We'd love to have you join us...um...if you want to that is.”

Grevin took a slow step back away from the ponies which had begun to surround him, their bright innocent eyes burning into him. He shook his head “Thank you but I am feeling fairly tired after working in the fields...I think I may just call it a night and hit the hay...so to speak.” He began to turn away pausing mid step when he felt a strong tug on his left arm. Looking down he saw that Pinkie Pie had latched onto his glove with her mouth in a gentle but firm bite a sad look in her eyes, even her hair seemed to be drooping a bit.

He gently pulled his hand away from her as she stepped back over to her friends. “I'm sorry, but perhaps next time I can join you?”

Twilight gave a sad smile but nodded. “It's alright Grevin. We'll make sure to invite you to the next one and we'll also try to keep things down so it's not to loud for you in the loft.” He gave a small nod turning away making his way to the barn not seeing the smirk and wink that Twilight gave her friends as he did.

-Evening-

Grevin peaked his head out of the large barn doors taking a long look at the farm house. The windows were bright with the illuminated forms of the mane six moving around the sounds of laughter and music faintly filling the air. He knelt down and stepped lightly using small steps moving between pieces of equipment and apple baskets until he finally reached the tree line and broke into a light jog heading to his usual training location.

As he ran his mind took him back to the nightmares he had been dealing with the last week. They were always the same, him fighting in a familiar land of Bastion, a powerful voice berating him followed by him being overwhelmed and reminded of how useless he was. What usually followed was him waking up shaking and covered in a cold sweat...followed by him feeling shaky most of the day. It was putting him on edge, but every time he trained he would feel less stressed and ready for another day, tonight would be no different.

-Sweet Apple Acres Farmhouse-

Fluttershy watched Grevin run into the orchard from her perch on the roof of the barn a worried look in her eyes. She knew that what they were about to do was meant to help him feel more comfortable around her and her friends, but she wasn't sure he would appreciate being followed. She glided down to the farm house porch and knocked lightly on the door which promptly opened revealing the other ponies all with their saddle bags on ready to go. In the background behind them were several card board cutouts shaped like them, some being manipulated by strings attached to a sleeping Granny Smith in her rocking chair a small boom box next to her playing various sounds of her friends laughing and having fun. “Girls, I just saw him head into the orchard...um...I can show you where he is going now. Are...Are you sure this is a good idea? What if he just wants to be left alone?”

Twilight smiled and placed a reassuring hoof on her friends shoulder. “It will be alright Fluttershy. We just want to try and help him, if he wants to be left alone and says so then that's what we'll do. I just want the opportunity to get to know him better and to learn about the magic he uses. I've never seen anything like it and I'm very curious.”

She nodded as she felt her saddlebags placed on her back by Rainbow Dash. “A...Alright, follow me but please stay as quiet as you can.”

Pinkie hopped in place the excitement overflowing from her in her usually manner “Okie Doki Loki! I'll be so quiet that you won't even know we're here. We'll be like ninjas, or ghosts, or-!”

Applejack laughed a bit as she pulled her friend back and covered her mouth with her hoof a moment getting her attention. “Alright sugar-cube, we get it, but we need to start being quiet now. We don't know how well he can hear us...or how far ahead he is, so lets get going.”

Fluttershy watched her friends quietly before turning and walking out the door leading into the orchard. As they walked she thought back to when she first met him the pain from the deep cut and broken bones burning through her in an all encompassing pain. Then she saw him towering over her speaking in a calming voice that made her want to trust him. Then the warmth came when he put his hands on her making her feel safe, secure, like being wrapped in a blanket on a cold stormy night...a feeling that she didn't want to have stop. Even when it did there was still a small warmth left in coming from where she had the deep cut. She remembered watching him fall after pulling away from Twilight and the blood...it nearly made her sick. She pushed the memory away before her tears could start.

The sound of grunting pulled her thoughts back to the task at hand causing her to slow her trot to a slow walk. They were close now, and she could hear Grevin already into the first parts of his training regimen. She turned to her friends and nodded motioning to the tree's telling them that they needed to move silently and hide. She turned and flapped her wings and rose to the trees along with Rainbow Dash while the others spread out approaching the edge of the orchard where the sounds of Grevin's fighting grew louder with every step of their hooves.

-Perspective Change-

Grevin felt the familiar flow of sweat down his back as he swung the first of his blades before him in an all to familiar pattern. This part of the training was more of a warm up, and he felt ready to pick up the pace. He reached behind him and pulled the second blade from it's holster and begun to move through the more quickly paced motions, spinning and weaving with each sweep of the blades his breathing quickening as the familiar feeling of adrenaline flowed through him...as well as his anger.

He pushed himself to move faster a growl escaping his mouth as he ducked, weaved and struck at his imaginary targets. His thoughts took him back to his nightmares and the taunting, haunting voice that drove his self loathing and anger. All of this made the awareness of his surroundings dwindle so that he failed to see six different ponies begin to surround him watching with wide eyes.

Twilight watched in awe as she saw him move fluid through his movements, but then something caught her attention. She narrowed her eyes her horn taking on a faint glow as she tried to track the magic the she had begun to sense coming from him. What she found shocked her. She could feel a familiar, strong magical sensation beginning to build in the area, but it felt similar to the magic Grevin had used once before, but different at the same time...darker. She frowned trying to get a better feel of it but it was interrupted when Pinkie Pie hopped past her moving into Grevin's path a bright smile on her face her blue eyes shinning in mirth.

Twilight's jaw dropped as she watched her move closer and closer to Grevin's path, fear beginning to move through her. “Pinkie Pie! Watch out!”

Grevin's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of Twilight's desperate cry causing him to take a stumbling step his right arm stopping mid downward strike stopping right in front of the face of a smiling, pink pony. “Hiya Grevin!”

Grevin took a quick step back pulling the blades back and sheathing them quickly his breath still coming in quick hard bursts. He growled a bit trying to push his anger down as his mind raced to explain why he was out there. “Erm...hello Pinkie Pie....” He glanced around seeing the others begin to step out from their hiding places. “And everyone else for that matter.”

Applejack stepped out from her tree as Rainbow Dash landed next to her. “Hi sugar-cube. Uh...fancy meetin you here.”

Grevin sighed as she allowed himself to rest back against one of the trees crossing his arms. “Alright...I'm guessing that this isn't a coincidence. So...why have you followed me?”

Rainbow frowned shooting forward getting right into his face. “We want to help you! Duh! It's been over a week and you haven't opened up to any of us and its pretty clear somethings bugging you...” Her eyes softened as she landed in front of him “We just want to help.”

Twilight sat down next to her friend and nodded. “Exactly. You're our friend Grevin, and we just want to get to know you more. “

A soft hoof landed on his shoulder and turning his head he saw Fluttershy floating next to him, looking at him with sad eyes. “Please...please please let us be your friends.”

Grevin slowly looked around at the wide hopeful eyes of the ponies surrounding him. He felt a small pang of guilt wash through him. Looking down he let out a sigh he lowered his arms and gave a small nod. “I'm...sorry. I haven't been the most gracious of guests. I...have a hard time opening up to anyone...but you've been kind to me and deserve to know more than what I've told you.”

Rarity smiled “Wonderful darling, but...” She looked around. “It is rather late...and dark....perhaps we should go back to the farm?”

Pinkie Pie hopped over to a nearby bunch of bushes, reached in and pulled out several logs, packages of chocolate, marshmallows, graham crackers, sticks and blankets. “No problem. I keep camping gear stored all over the place in case of a camping emergency. “

Within a few minutes the seven were sitting around a warm camp fire each one of them preparing smores while sitting on some warm blankets. Grevin cleared his throat as he looked to each one of the ponies, Applejack and Twilight sitting on either side of him “Well...I'm not sure where to begin to be honest.”

Rainbow Dash smirked as Pinkie Pie gobbled up a gooey treat beside her. “Pffft, that's easy. I want to see what you look like with that hood, cloak and armor off...the real you.”

This caused Grevin's breath to catch in his throat before sighing. This was something he never enjoyed. Usually when someone saw his face it would end poorly. “Are you certain that is what where you would like to begin?”

There was a series of nods as all their eyes turned to look at him. “....Very well....” Slowly he raised his hands and began to slide the gauntlets from his arms a sense of worry beginning to grow in his heart.

Authors Note: Well, another chapter down. I hope I'm not skipping to around to much, I just thought you readers might like to finally get into a little more of who and what Grevin is, as well as how the other ponies feel about him. I appreciate the reviews I've been receiving and, as always, welcome more. Please tell me how I'm doing because I want to do my best to tell a good story. Thanks again for reading and I hope to have more out for you soon. Until then have a good day.