Author's Notes:

Holy shit everyone. I have hit 100 likes. I am so honored that so many of you have shown your support. I am staggered. thank you so much. And to commemorate this grand occasion have a second chapter.

As I walked down the hallway from the throne room, I thought back to how I handled that entire situation. I really did feel like I had managed to give them Justice. It felt right. Although I was a bit upset that Celestia and Luna sprung the whole Knighting thing on me. I wasn’t prepared for that.

It sounded like a group of people were running up to me, so I turned around to face them. Running up to me were three mares that had become a staple in my life. My student and charge, and with Pinkie and Rainbow. Maybe more. “Hoe there girls. How can I help you?”

Twilight ran right up to me before looking me right in the face “You never told me that you were a necromancer! That branch of magic has been forbidden for centuries. Why would the princesses allow you to use it?!”

I nodded with understanding “I know what you are scared of Twilight. My brand of necromancy is something tied directly to my birth giver. It is one of the realms that she holds power over. It is also, at its core different from the necromancy used by beings on this world. That kind forces the dead into servitude. Mine requests them for aid or knowledge. Or in the case of the Apples, closure, and justice.”

I turned to continue my walk when Twilight grabbed my arm “Please don’t walk away from us. We just want to talk.”

I shrugged “then come with me, I’m rather tired and would like to sit down in a comfortable chair. There is a nice sitting area in the room that I have been given. We can continue our talk there.”

The girls looked at each other before nodding. We continued our walk down the hall until we came to the rooms that I was being allowed to use. Twilight looked at the door with what seemed to be almost horror. With my eyebrow raised, I asked “What’s up Sparkles? Something the matter with my room?”

Her face lit with a blush “these are my rooms when I stay here.”

I looked at the star pattern on the door then back to her. I take it that the Star pattern is your cutie mark?” she nodded in the affirmative “Heh. Trollestia strikes again I guess. Well, I guess you will know where the most comfortable chairs are then. By the way Sparkles, you really should clean up when you leave somewhere. When I got here, you had a ton of books on various tables open. I cleaned it up and reshelved the books. I had a bit of free time when I was here for my first month, so I changed the shelving system to something that makes more sense.”

She looked horrified that I had touched her books. So I added “don’t worry it’s an advantageous system that almost every library on my world uses for its research books, I just had to modify it to add options for magic subjects. The nonfiction is ordered alphabetically by author last name, then my series, of course, shelved in order of the series.” She gave me a critical eye as we moved deeper into her old room to the sitting area.

After sitting down, I waved my hand through the air to summon a teapot filled with water as well as my favorite blend. Next were a set of four teacups. After putting the leaves into the pot, I set it over a small burner that was built into the table to let it heat up. “So what did all of you want to talk about first?”

I lay back with my head against the back of the couch as I wait for their questions, Pinkie was first “How did you see AJ’s parents. Nopony has been able to before.”

My head snapped back up to look at her with a critical look in my eye. Something had been bothering me about her for awhile now, and I wanted to prove a crazy theory. “Before I answer that Pinks. Would you answer a simple question for me?” she nodded “How many of us do you see right now?”

The other two looked completely confused by my question, but Pinkie just smiled “you know the right kind of questions Maggie. The answer is all of you.”

My mind tried to snap, but I didn’t let it. Pinkie had just revealed that her mind existed thought out all possible permutations of reality. In short, Pinkie proved string theory “So that’s how your Pinkie Sense works.”

She nodded and placed the back side of her right hand against the left side of her mouth as if to make it look like she was trying to whisper to me in a regular speaking volume “Don’t tell Twilight. I almost broke her once when she tried to figure it out.”

I grinned and mimed locking my lips with a key and tossing it to her. “Well to answer your question Pinks, Depending on the situation I can see the souls of people that have died but have been unable to move on. On the day of our jam session after Rainbow put her foot in her mouth and I went out to get some air, I saw them looking at the barn.” Turning to Rainbow “That is what I told you I had to look into. I was wondering what a pair of lost souls was doing hanging out around the barn. After I talked to them for a bit, I knew I had to help them.”

Rainbow smiled at me “That was really cool what you did for AJ and her family. Giving them a whole day to say goodbye for real. She deserves that you know.”

I smiled at her “Everyone deserves to be able to hug their parents one last time Skittles. I can never do it again, but the chance to give that to someone else. I would never pass that opportunity up.”

Rainbow looked at Pinkie and Twilight before speaking up again “I think that your good deed deserves a reward.” Looking right into Pinkie’s and then Twilight's’ eyes she licked her lips “What do you say, girls?”

I could understand Pinkie, I had already exposed that she had kissed me to Rainbow, but why was she talking to Twilight like that. Twi’s face lit up cherry red before Pinkie spoke up “Twi hasn’t had the courage to kiss him yet Dashie. So before we do anything, we need to let her kiss him first.”

I was dumbstruck. Looking to Twi, I noticed her blush. Speaking up I addressed her “Sparkles are you all trying to say that you all want to be with me?”

Her face deepened it’s blush as Pinkie began to rapid fire nod while Rainbow just gave her usual cocky grin. Swallowing I stood up and walked over to Twilight and sat next to her. “Just tell me if you feel uncomfortable okay?” she nodded before leaning in.

As our lips brushed against one another, I felt a spark. It was almost static, but it also felt like it was charged with magic if only a little. As the kiss intensified, she started to struggle with air. Feeling this I pulled back to let her breath, she gasped for air for a moment before speaking “w-wow. T-that was… That was incredible.”

I just smiled as I realized that she tasted like Lavender, and maybe wine. I was about to speak when Pinkies grabbed my head and pulled me into another kiss. Where Twilight was inexperienced and hesitant, Pinkie was much more forceful. She knew what she wanted and was going to work to get it. After she finished her assault of my mouth with her tongue, she let me breathe again. I swear I could see stars at this moment in time.

Rainbow looked like she had more on her mind that just a makeout session. She got up and sauntered over to me before sitting herself on my lap and putting her hands on my chest. “Wow Mag, you really are jacked” the lust in her voice was unmistakable. I shivered as she traced her fingers across my chest. She hooked my shirt with her fingers before pulling it up over my head. After getting rid of my shirt, she pulled me in for a kiss as well. I could now call myself the luckiest man on the planet.

I’m not sure what Pinks and Sparkles were doing before, but it felt like they were tracing some kind of pattern on my shoulders. Pulling back from the kiss I looked over to Sparkles “Hey not that it doesn’t feel nice, but why are you tracing a pattern on my shoulder?”

Twilight looked like she was lost in thought. “Mag? When did you get these tattoos? You didn’t have them when you were dancing at the party.”

That was news to me too, I hadn’t found a tattoo parlor here, and as far as I knew, there wasn’t one. With my arms still wrapped around Skittles, I looked at my right shoulder first. What appeared to be a set of golden scales being held by a robed figure how stood out in sharp relief in the arm. I jerked my head over to my left arm to find the same mark. “What the fuck is this? I never got matching Tattoos on my arms.”

Twilight got up and came around to look at the second mark with Pinkie. Her Horn lit up, and the area around the mark started to glow with her lavender light. After a few moments, she gasped “Magos! I think these are Cutie Marks!”

I looked utterly shocked “I thought that only ponies get Cutie Marks! There has to be some other explanation. This isn’t possible.”

Twilight’s horn lit again as she examined the marks more closely. After a few seconds she pulled back and looked at me with confidence “I don’t know how this happened Magos, but these are Cutie Marks. You must have earned it during the trail. I think that must mean that your special talent it delivering Justice.”

My mind went into overdrive before I shouted out “WHAT DO YOU MEAN I HAVE A FUCKING CUTIE MARK!!!”

I was quickly silenced as Rainbow caught my mouth in another kiss just to silence me. After a few moments, she pulled back “feeling better now?”

I swallowed again before taking a deep breath “yea, I’m fine. Thanks for that Skittles. I was freaking out there for a minute. But still, how is it possible that I earned a cutie mark? That doesn’t make any kind of sense.”

Twilight looked at me before asking “Um… Magos would it be okay if I took a little of your blood? I want to do some tests. Maybe I can find out what caused this.”

Not really seeing an issue with this I nodded and agreed “sure it’s no issue for me. If you can figure this out, It would be a lot of help. Now I know that things were getting a little heated there for a bit, but I really am tired girls. I’m going to take a nap for a bit. Is that okay?”

They all smiled and each one, in turn, gave me a lite peck. Pulling myself up I walked over to the bed that I had been using and chuckled to myself now realizing that this was Twilights old bed. I lay my head down for only a few moments before drifting off to sleep.

In my dreaming mind, I began to float through space, my mind not having fully formed the dream yet. But just as my dream seemed to be developing, the scene snapped away to be replaced by a sitting room. I was now in a comfortable chair sitting across from Celestia and Luna. Scratching my head, I spoke “Um… Hi, is there something that I can help you two with?”

Celestia gave me a severe look “We have much we need to discuss Magos. The trial is at the top of it. Will will have to have a full press release about what happened. There are likely going to be a lot of ponies that will say that the trial was a complex hoax to take out two unliked nobles. We need to have something prepared for this. In addition to that, we will have to give a full interview on who you are and why I allowed you to use Necromancy.”

Luna spoke up “What Celestia says is true, in the past the ponies would have taken our word on what transpired without question. However, things it seems have changed quite a lot. They will demand answers and more proof than just the testimony of two spirits.”

I nodded with understanding “That is to be expected. Before we release the hold manor to the Apple Family, we will need to have it thoroughly searched. I would suggest that you use only guards that have never met me. And have no ties to anything to do with them or me.” thinking on it for a moment more I added “and I think it would also be a good idea to have a private investigator, as well as an independent reporter, join the investigation just to put the public's minds at rest. Bright and Pear never did understand why they were targeted. I expect we will find a lot more than dirty clothes in that place.”

The sisters looked grim “I am afraid that we already have.”

I was confused “What do you mean that you already have?”

“We had them arrested yesterday morning Magos, the guard has been searching their home for the last two days with an independent reporter, carefully logging everything that they have found. It sickens me to say this, but Bright Mac and Pear Butter were not the couples first Victims, nor were they the most recent.” Luna said with a severe look in her eyes.

I knew that they were the scum of the earth, but I had no idea how bad it had been. “H-how much have you found?”

Celestia blanched as she repeated what they had found. Apparently Jet Set was following a family tradition that his house had been practicing in secret for almost a hundred years now. The head Stallion of the house would scout out a young couple that was from lower birth and stalk them before making their move. After capturing them and doing unspeakable acts to them, they would abandon the bodies in an area that was known to have Timber Wolves. The wolves would get a meal and clean up the mess.

I rubbed my head “I take it that this information is going to be released soon?”

Celestia nodded “it is being realized as we speak. After finding this Magos, I am tempted to overrule your judgment and just have them executed. I won’t, but I am sorely tempted to.”

I nodded “I know what you mean, but we have to be better than them. As for the interview with me, when will that happen?”

They looked at each other before looking back to me “in about an hours time.”

I groaned “fffuuuccckkkk! It is always going to be like this?”

Luna giggles “I am afraid so Magos.”

Shaking my head, I groaned again “fine. Luna do you think you could make me wake up. I need to clean myself up so I can get there. Where is it taking place?”

Celestia walked over to me “It’s in the throne room again, Meet us there in 45 minutes” With that, she kissed my forehead again before I shot up in the bed.

“Fuck, why does she keep doing that.” dragging myself out of bed. I grabbed a fresh shirt and pulled my shoes back on before jogging down the hall to wake myself up more. I stopped before the side door to the Throne room, took a deep breath and walked in.

Celestia and Luna were already there waiting for me. “It is good to see that you are here early Magos. That shows good initiative in a knight.”

I gave them a deadpan look “oh har har, is there a reason that you suddenly gave am a knighthood without telling me about it?”

They were about to speak when Dinnity entered the room and spoke up “Your Majesties,” She bowed to the princesses then turned to me “Sir Knight.” I may have imagined it, but her voice almost had a pleading edge to it. I just thought it was me being tired. She continued “Your Majesties, the press is here and are becoming restless.”

Celestia nodded and directed me to take a seat in a chair that was set one level down from her and Luna. the press slowly began to move into the room and fill the benches. After around five minutes the seats were filled with media. Celestia stood up and addressed them all “Thank you for joining us my little ponies, I understand that many of you are here seeking answers for what happened early this morning. We will answer questions one at a time. And please be patient. We will answer all questions possible in the time we have to the best of our ability.”

The journalists all thrust their hands into the air as if they were sitting in class with a teacher all trying to answer a question, only in this case they were the ones asking the questions.

Reporter 1.

“Princess Celestia, why did you allow the use of a banned form of magic in the courtroom?”

Regarding the reporter, she smiled “yes I was expecting that question. To explain that I will first need to have Sir Magos fully introduce himself.” she pointed at me.

Standing up I bowed before the host of reporters before speaking “Hello, My name Is Magos Schmidt. I am a demigod born of my mortal father Klaus Schmidt and the Goddess Hecate. In my world, she is a goddess of many things, but chief among them are Magic, the Moon, spirits, Trivia, and Necromancy. My form of necromancy is very different from that which has been practiced here. From what I have been told, the necromancy of this world uses magic for force the dead to do as you command. Bending them to your will. My form of Necromancy doesn’t do this. I actually have to make a kind of a bargain to accomplish anything. When using my kind of Necromancy, I call out the spirits of the dead that have been trapped in this mortal plane in order speak to them, or in rare cases ask for aid. I fuel this by using the raw magic from the air as well as some form of catalyst. In most cases, it is a form of food. Really it’s just something that helps to give spirits physical form for a short while. When I summoned Bright Mac and Pear Butter into the courtroom, I requested that they appear to seek their own justice for what had been done to them.”

“At any point, they could leave if they wanted to, I charged that spell to give them a full 24 hours so that they could give a final goodbye to their children and mother.”

The room of reporters seemed to take that in for a few moments before the shot their hands into the air once more.

Reporter 2.

“Even with that, why did we take only testimony from a couple of ghosts? No physical evidence was provided for this crime. Many are saying that this trial was a sham.”

Celestia spoke up to this “that is true that at the trial there was no physical evidence given. However, that was due to the accused refusing to defend themselves after the testimony was given. After they were arrested yesterday in the early hours of the morning, their home was searched. A disturbing amount of evidence was found in a secret room of their home.” A tear slid down her face as she continued “It was found that Bright Mac Apple and Pear Butter Apple were not the couples first victims, and more disturbing, they were not even their most recent ones.”

Taking a deep breath, she continued “as we have delved deeper into the investigation it has been found that Jet Set and Upper Crust individually are responsible for the murders of at least ten other couples. From what their journals have said, Jet Set is following the example of his father, who was taught by his father before him. This disgusting act has been happening right under our noses for almost a hundred years now. I am ashamed that it has gone unnoticed for such a long time.” She looked right at me as she said “we are lucky to have Sir Magos here, his abilities have helped to stop a great evil. The findings of the investigation will be released in the coming days after they can be properly cataloged in evidence. There was also a private journalist that was allowed in during the investigation and search to document all that was found there. I imagine that their publication should be released tomorrow at the earliest. But to clarify, It has come to our attention that Jet Set and his Wife would find a younger couple as a target. After establishing them as a target, they would stalk them using their power and money to pay ponies to keep tabs on their targets, never telling their pawns the reason for why they were doing this. After some time they would then make their move and abduct the targets. Near as we can tell they didn’t have any kind of pattern. They just looked for an attractive young couple and decide to target them. I wish there were some kind of reason that this happened, even if it was a terrible one. But it would appear from what we have found that Bright Mac and Pear Butter were simply unlucky, and were targeted.”

There was a flurry of writing before the next reporter was called upon

Reporter 3.

“Princess Celestia, why have you given such a deep level of trust in Sir Magos? The ponies of Equestria deserve to know.”

Celestia took this one as well “I can understand why there would be the concern. In addition to the oath that Sir Magos gave as we knighted him today, he has already given us a far more binding oath. I first must explain something to you. As you know, Luna and I are goddesses ourselves.” the collected ponies all nodded in understanding. “As we are goddesses certain oaths are held in greater confidence between us. Sir Magos has sworn an oath that is held above all others. It is very similar to the geas that Jet Set and Upper Crust will be sworn to. The Nature of his oath makes it impossible for him to knowingly do anything against Equestria. To break this oath would destroy him quite literally. That is why I have given him such trust. He has truly earned it with his devotion.”

I stayed silent. The press conference continued on for another two hours before we were able to leave. At this point, I made it back to the rooms just before I collapsed with exhaustion in the bed. I was just glad that this was finally over.

__________________________________________
Three days later
__________________________________________

The last few days have been hectic. All of the information that could be released to the public had been by this point. Some of the evidence was considered too graphic to be released to the general public. However, it was available to be viewed in controlled situations given its explicit content. It was time to head back.

I hadn’t seen any of the Apple family since the trial. I wasn’t even sure if they were still in Canterlot. As I was leaving the private rooms I found AJ waiting for me, Deciding to be a bit of a dick I addressed her with her new title “Lady AppleJack, how can I be of service to you?”

She didn’t look happy with me “Did ya really have to give us their titles too?”

I shrugged “it seemed like a good idea at the time. It does mean that you can claim Sweet Apple Acres as your permanent family home and land. No bank will be able to take it from you. And you don’t have to pay land tax anymore.”

She looked surprised for a moment “I guess that makes it okay. We’ve decided to sell everything that can and send out money to any families that lost a loved one to them. You gave more than mah kin their justice.”

I smiled warmly “It makes me happy to know that. So what did you want to talk about?”

She seemed to choke back some tears “I just wanted to thank you again for giving me a chance to see mah, parents, again. And Granny wanted me to formally offer you a place in the Apple clan. After what you did for us, you are family too.”

I felt tears begin to build in my eyes “really, you want me to be an Apple?”

She smiled at me and nodded “you betcha Mag, I could come to love you like a brother. Ma and Pa agreed with Granny before they left. Twi told me how you lost most of your family. I’m just hoping that we can fill a little of the void for ya.”

I couldn’t help myself, I walked forward and pulled AJ into a tight hug “Thank you AJ. This means more to me that you can ever know.” buried my face into her strong shoulder “more than you can ever know.”

We must have stood there for close to ten minutes before Dittany found us “um Sir Magos, Lady AppleJack your train is set to leave in one hours time. Do I need to schedule a different time?”

I pulled back from AJ and looked down to her “come on sis, we have a train to catch.” With my arm wrapped around AJ’s shoulders, we walked down the hall on our way to the train station.

Behind us Dittany stood watching us walk away as she whispered to herself “You have family right here Magos, I only hope that one day you will embrace me the same way that Big Mac embraced his mother.” she disappeared in a muted flash of light, leaving nothing behind.