My Little Tactics

by Equinox Starshifter

First published 21st of December, 2017

A Final Fantasy enthusiast finds himself in Equestria thanks to the typical means of being displaced. (Displaced Story. You have been warned.)

            (Displaced Fic. Some typically tropes may apply. You have been warned.)

            Dustan is a fan boy of a specific series: Final Fantasy. He loves all of them that he has played and knows more then the casual player about said series. He gets to see all kinds of sights as he gets dragged to a con by his friend. Having no money and a makeshift costume made he still gladly accepts just being happy to go with his friend and experience a con himself. Sadly, or rather happily, he meets the Merchant thanks to his friend’s drunken antics. Sad in the fact his world will never be the same again, but happily in that the Merchant seemed genuinely sorry that he had to send him. What could this mean when he finds himself in Equestria? How will he cope with little to no skills except…wait what? A Squire?

            This is my attempt at a Displaced fic. Does this mean I am open to collabs, right now, no. Does that mean I won’t listen if you want to try to collab, no, I will absolutely listen just do not expect me to agree to do one is all.

Also there are spoilers in the comments section so if you look down there, read at your own risk.

Special thanks to Finalmagnus for all the editing they help me do. Can't thank you enough.

Blinks Hmm whats on the featured board today of 3/5/2020...*Spit takes* ME?! Oh wow, thanks everyone, its all because of you.

Releases chapter goes to do some editing then clicks on FimFic's home page. Sees story has made it to the board again. 4/13/2020 "Nice~"

Chapter One: Class Chosen.

My Little Tactics

Chapter One: Class Chosen.

“Come on man, I just-I just want to check some things out and buy some cool souv-souv-trinkets. Besides its my fuckin’ money why can’t I spend it?” The skinny shirtless man said to his shorter companion. Said shirtless one was wearing only a red cape with gold thread and black emblem on the back, bandages around his middle as well as wearing loose black pants held up by a white belt. All this was combined with an Eastern style bokken, blue hair, and a pair of angular red glasses that anyone who watches anime would recognize from a hundred feet away. This man was dressed as Kamina from Gurren Lagann.

Shaking his head and trying to drag him away from the stands that were closing up for the night was a shorter, though only compared to his friend who was six foot two inches while he himself was only five eleven, friend who was sighing and doing his best to pull him towards an elevator. “Look, the rest of the guys already went up to the rooms so I don’t have to worry about them, but Pat you are wasted. You guys made me and I quote ‘The Sober Guy’ so I can drag all your collective asses back up to our rooms.”

Patrick glared down at his friend as he wobbled to and fro before pulling his arm away and continuing towards the stands. “Don’t give me that good guy shit, I paid for you to be here like a good friend would Dusty. You should be grateful I even brought you to the con.”

Dusty, or Dustan as his name was, simply sighed and nodded. “Dude I know and you have no clue how much I appreciate it. It’s been a blast so far; I sat in on some card games, a game of Werewolf, hell even a live action Town of Salem game, not to mention cards against humanity and more. Saw all kinds of anime and gaming related stuff that I honestly will remember for years to come. I am just happy to be here.”

The Kamina look-a-like once more glared at his friend who took off his fedora with a feather in it to scratch at his shaggy brown hair. “Dude you couldn’t even make decent cost-cost-cost-get up.” Again Patrick had forgotten some of his vocabulary in his inebriated state as he poked fun of his friend’s lack of funds and time to put together something worthwhile. “What are you even supposed to be.”

Dustan himself had no money nor resources to make a good costume and ended up having to cobble together a decent looking costume made up an old renaissance fair of a leather breastplate with male blouse that he had from a few years ago during better times, two leather bracers also from the fair, some loose fitting pants, a home-made carved and painted wooden sword and his shoes along with a fedora with a feather in it.

Sighing once more, which seemed to be common for Dustan at this point, merely stated simple to Patrick. “Look I have been over this before and I doubt you will even remember this tomorrow so I am not going to explain it a-”

“Something about that lame Final Fuckacy right?” Patrick taunted wobbling towards one of the open stalls that seemed to house a myriad of souv, ahem, trinkets for sale. “The one that you can change your class or something right?”

Face palming Dustan just nodded and spoke to his friend in a calm voice, something he did when his friend was getting on his nerves even if he couldn’t blame him for it cause of him being drunk. “Final Fantasy and yes. Specifically: Final Fantasy Tactics. Figured I could dress up in what would closely be a Squire’s attire. Feathered cape, Leather plate, even got a sword. It’s all I could manage to get on such short notice since you called me three days ago saying ‘Pack your shit your coming to the con with us.’ That and I am broke so…yeah there is that as well.”

“Yeah yeah, job downsizing and all that. Just admit you were fired.” Taunted his costume friend once again. “Artist my ass, you were just drawing up posters and what not for advertisers.”

“Technically I am a freelancer so I was never hired by the place that was giving me work.” Dustan spoke a bit bitterly remembering the call from the small business that he helped design more than a few posters and graphics for that told him they were taking the company in a different direction and wouldn’t require him anymore. In truth they found someone to work on things cheaper who was quicker as well. That was life though; there was always someone with more talent then you or someone quicker. He just got done in by someone with both was all.

“So you weren’t even fired since you were just scrounging on their crumbs.” Dustan loved his friend dearly, they had been best friends for so long but Pat had a really bad habit of being a nasty drunk. However considering that if push came to shove there was no one more reliable to have in your corner then Pat by a long shot. Pat had put him up for a year at his place before when they had got out of college, then another three months when Dustan’s girlfriend kicked him out. They had been friends since high school. There were many types of friendships, conditional ones where you were friends once you saw the person, friends of mutual interest where you enjoyed a game or two in common or an anime or show. There were friendships that were based on give and take where it was only by what you could give or take they stood by.

Then there was this type of friendship that Dustan had with Patrick, the type that if either one of them said: “I need to hide a dead body.” The other would grab tools and a map without question besides the question of “How badly did you fuck up?”. This was a bond that was as strong as family and unshakeable, even if one was a belligerent drunk.

Speaking of, because of his lack of coordination Patrick ended up bumping into the stall they were heading towards. The man who was running the stand just watched passively and with no reaction, even though he himself was wearing a costume that covered his face making it hard to tell. There was to be an expected shattering of the glass bauble to be heard as it hit the ground only none came.

“Oomph!” What was heard was the leather wearing Dustan hitting the ground and just barely managing to catch the item in question. “Gotcha!”

“Right catch there.” The costumed stall owner said with a thick accent that could be mistaken for none other than Cockney.

Grunting a bit as he got up, the wooden swordsman placed the item back on its stand. “Thanks.” Though, he said that with a bit of a wince. He had dived to catch the item and his sword wasn’t in a proper holster so it ended up catching him across the gut. “Didn’t want anything to happen to this…snow globe?”

“Cheap tourist trap trash if you ask me.” Kamina slurred as he leaned down slightly to look at the globe. “Doesn’t even look like this area.”

The man behind the counter spoke up at that. “That is because it ain’t this area. It is from a scene in a video game.”

Kamina looked up staring at the man for a moment before his eyes widen. “I know that costume. Come on say the line.”

The costumed owner just rolled his eyes at that. “Everybody wants me ter say that line, it’s gotten right ole at this point.”

“What line?” Confusion must have shown plainly enough on his face where even in his drunken state Patrick face palmed…or tried to if his hand didn’t miss his forehead and hit his cheek.

Giving a growl of frustration his friend spoke up. “Right I forgot your pansy ass hasn’t played any of the Resident Evil games.”

With a shrug of his shoulders Dustan just stated. “Not everyone can play every game Pat. I have played some games I know you haven’t played just like you have played some I haven’t.”

“Hey hey hey, I am THE best gamer around an there aint a damn game I don’t know of.” Pat boasted though that meant his was gradually getting more sober, or was about to pass out. “Anyways, say it come on!”

“Ok, right, but only if yer buy sumfink.” Dustan wasn’t sure if the accent was spot on or not but it was definitely something.

There was just one problem with all that. “Sorry, sir, but he can’t.” Came the patch work con goer’s voice.

“And why not?” Pat said at the same time as the man spoke. “And w not, isit?”

He was just going to assume the stand owner meant the same thing as Pat did. “Because before he got drunk he and his other friends made me the ‘Sober Guy’ the one to see them to their beds when they got drunk and make sure they don’t cause trouble or break anything. That and not to drunkenly spend money while wasted. I really do apologize for the racket he caused; if you want I will come by help you set up in the morning as long you don’t report him or anything.”

The cloak wearing gentleman rubbed at his chin as if thinking about the offer before asking. “W would yer be willin’ ter do that for ‘im, then, squire?”

It took him a second to realize what the man was saying as he was starting to pull a drowsy Patrick towards the elevator hall. “Because we are friends and if he was sober he would do it for me. So see you in the morning?”

The man nodded but Patrick still had a bit of fight left in him. “Say it.” Though it was so groaned out not many people would even understand it.

Hearing the drunk request the man hunched over slightly and looked shifty, no doubt getting into character as he tugged open his coat revealing all kinds of goods. “Whaddaya buyin’?”

Patrick promptly let out a holler of triumph before promptly passing out. “See you in the morning.”

“Bright and early.” The Merchant said back.

Rising out of bed early Dustan got through his daily routine of shower, shave, teeth care and such before dressing up in his con gear once more. Well maybe after a quick spray to take some of the musk off the armor since it did cause him to sweat a bit. In the hallway he noticed his friend’s doors still held the ‘Do not disturb’ signs that were on them last night meaning no one had gotten up yet.

The con was still asleep, well those that didn’t have people to go round the clock that was, with only a few stands still open. The others were in the process of either setting up or still closed down. When he got to where he remembered the man’s stand it was gone and for a moment he thought he might have taken a wrong turn.

“Over here stranger.” The voice called to him making the final fantasy enthusiast turn to see the stand and the man behind it just opening up his shop.

Heading over to him quickly he gave a friendly smile and chuckled. “For a moment I thought I came to the wrong place but you moved your stand over here. Wait is that even allowed?”

The sense of a smile came from behind that purple scarf…mask thing that he wore. “Oh, don’t yer worry about that. I got it all squared up.” Moving behind the counter he then brought out a few boxes. “Right, now that I yor good ter yor word, start openin’ up these boxes and puttin’ the items on the shelf ter me left.”

Just like that Dustan went to work putting the various knickknacks on the shelves without so much as a word, though he did start humming various tunes he enjoyed. It wasn’t till about the second box being finished that words even came from either of them.

“I won’t lie, right, I ‘alf expected yer not ter show up and I would ‘ave ter make a report.” Came the costume conveyer of good’s voice. “It is actually rare that I meet any sort o’ decent folk in me line o’ work.”

His visible wince must have shown as the Merchant looked on a bit amused. “Sorry to hear that. My friends always get on to me for being the stick in the mud or being too straight-laced but I believe there is just too much of people looking out for themselves. ‘Nice guys always finish last’ they say, but I say ‘Nice guys always finish last in other people’s eyes but not their own.’”

The man in costume brought out what looked to be a simple trinket and tossed it in his hands a few times as he spoke. “Well, yor mate didn’t seem ter appreciate yer last night if ‘is words were any indication. Especially, because they say ‘the bloody drink brings out who yer right are’, I’n it?”

Grabbing a few more items Dustan turned his back and reached up to place them on the top shelf one by one, not even realizing the Merchant was coming up behind him the item he was holding seemed to be a pin stylized to look like a feather of some type. Said item was also starting to glow.

“Well that maybe true but I personally think it only brings down the walls of things such as the part of us that wants to curse, rage, and scream at things for not being the way we want them, but that doesn’t mean that is who we are.” He said putting another item on the shelf. “I mean I want to curse and yell at my friends as well for when they are stupid idiots but in the end we are friends and we know that something said in haste or anger isn’t what we truly feel. I have no doubt that Pat will apologize or something later, usually with the attitude of he didn’t have to do it and making it seem like a favor to me but he is good guy.”

“Sure ‘e is.” The man opened the pin up and seemed to about to stick the unaware helper.

“Kinda like you.” What Dustan said cause the man to stop in his tracks inches away from pressing the glowing pin into the small of the con goer’s back.

He only was able to get a simple word out in response. “Wot?”

The trinkets in Dustan’s arm were slowly becoming lighter as he placed more and more on the high shelf. “Yeah, like you. I mean you could have called security on us last night or even this morning if I didn’t show up when you thought it was early enough. Instead you waited which shows you were willing to give me a chance. Nasty people don’t give chances they give warnings. You gave me a chance so that must mean that you are a decent sort of person right?”

There was a moment of silence in the air, heavy and almost stifling. The merchant looked down at his hand to the glowing pin and quickly closed it making it loose its glow before he wrapped his fingers around it and put it away in a pocket.

“Yeah.” He spoke simply. “I s’pose I am.” Looking around and bringing out a few more boxes he said. “I got a few more yer can shelf over ‘ere, stick’em on the uvver side wen yor done there. I’ll make us a nice cup a’ tea.”

“Sure.” Dustan called over his shoulder seeing the man vanish in the back of the stand where he couldn’t see him.

When they took a break to drink the tea the merchant couldn’t help but ask. “W’ are yer a good bloke, isit?”

He didn’t understand the question at first and simply asked. “Why am I a good person?” Getting confirmation of a nod from the man Dustan rubbed his chin and said. “Honestly it’s just who I am. I mean a few years back in high school I tried being a dick; I tried to be an asshole to someone that used to bully me in middle school. He was lost and I told him the wrong directions on purpose so he would be late to class. He only got to turn around before I stopped him and told him the right way saying that I was thinking of the wrong way.” Sipping the tea and while it not being the greatest, it wasn’t the worst in the world either. “He thanked me, even stopped me later on and said sorry he was such a prick to me in middle school. Turns out his family was getting a divorce at the time and he was taking it hard and ended up taking it out on me.”

“Did yer ever spot ‘im again, then, eh, guv?” The merchant had been genuinely curious it seemed.

Dustan merely nodded and chuckled. “Yep, he became my best friend and is the one responsible for bringing me here.”

“There you are.” A voice called out. As Dustan and The Merchant turned they saw it was Patrick in his Kamina costume carrying a bag in one hand.

“Speak of the devil.” He said rising up to meet his friend who held out his fist and then proceeded to fist bump. “Hope you aren’t too hung over.”

The man in the trench coat just sipped his tea through his mask, something that no one seemed to notice at all as he watched the two talk and interact. “Oh I am. I am just used to dealing with it.”

Dustan almost seemed to gag as he heard that. “A Prairie Oyster?” Pat just grinned and chuckled. “I don’t care if it does work for you, that thing is nasty and I don’t see how you can stomach it.”

The tall blue haired man just laughed at that before his chuckling died down and he tossed the bag at his friend. “Anyways here. Found this out while I was wondering this morning.” Dustan was pulling the item out of the bag as Pat said that only to find a long and well made brown cloak inside. “The person said it was highly durable, water proof as we as ornamental. They made it to look like-.”

But Patrick was cut off as Dustain recognized what it was. “T.G.Cid’s cloak! See it even has the x pattern thread right here at the neck.”

“Ha figures a fanboy like you would know. Yeah I just happen to see it with a bunch of other stuff from those games and figured ‘hey Dusty could use that to hide his shitty costume and spare the rest of us from looking at it’.” Putting it on and pulling the hood up Dustan smiled brightly as Pat rubbed the back of his head. “Anyways I am going to check out some of the stuff early see if I can get a good price on things and such that and to get the stink of the My Little Pony booth they had next to the stand with your cloak on it, I never understood how you could enjoy that show. Meet up with you later, peace.”

“Peace man.” As his friend left he took a moment to feel the quality in the cloak and it was superbly made for sure.

“Seems yer were right about ‘im.” The accented stall owner said calling Dustan’s attention back over to him.

Nodding and heading back over he just shrugged and said. “Maybe, but he really must have went out of his way for this.” The only got an inquisitive ‘oh’ from the Merchant prompting Dustan to explain. “Before we met up for drinks last night I saw several stands that sold things like this, nice to look at for sure when you are broke and they all cost a pretty penny for things that were half as good as this.”

“That right?” Dustan gave a nod. “So yer like Final Fantasy Tactics a bit ‘uh, eh? Yor mate called yer a fanboy after all.”

Nodding and chuckling. “Yeah, I like all Final Fantasy games that I could play which include one through twelve as well as the tactics games. Sadly never got to beat Tactics A2 cause my Game Boy burnt out. Those were the last ones I got to play before I couldn’t afford to anymore.”

The man ducked down and pulled out another box, this one a lot smaller and more ornate looking. “Fen ‘ow about takin’ a look at these and tellin’ me wot yer think, I’n it?”

Opening up the case Dustan could only widen his eyes as he looked at the thirteen items held within. “Those are the ‘Zodiac Stones’ or the ‘Auracite’ if you liked the War of the Lions version better. Even Serpentarius is in there and they all look so well made.”

The merchant motioned with his hands towards them. “W’ don’t yer pick one up and ‘ave a look at it.”

“Really?” The man nodded and Dustan turned away so he didn’t see the man make a gesture towards the stones. Dustan picked up the tear drop sapphire looking stone that had the carving for the symbol of Virgo inside of it. “Wow they are even slightly see through. I figured from them being stones they would be more opaque. A nice touch for sure.”

The man in costume simply asked him. “Wich one is yor favorite, isit?”

“Has to be this one.” Came Dustan’s quick reply. “I am a Virgo myself and though I hate the idea they can bring about demons and what not, the idea the final and most powerful stone bringing about the final boss in the story is neat. It is also a good commentary on how anyone can be good or evil but it’s our actions that define us, so are the stones good or evil depending on the actions of the person using them.”

“S’pose they are.” The man said simply as Dustan put the stone back. “I ‘ave ter say, yer ‘ave been a right treat ter ‘ave ‘ere. But I think I can cop the rest on me own, right, w don’t yer go out and enjoy the rest o’ the bleedin’ con, then?”

Looking up at the man Dustan’s face wasn’t sure what to make of it. “You sure, I don’t mind staying here to make sure everything is out.”

“I am sure. Now go on then, don’t make a geezer regret ‘is choice now.” The Merchant told him with a genuine smile on his face.

“Thanks, I will see if any of my friends want to come by and check your stuff later if they aren’t too drunk.” Dustan said making sure his new cloak was secured.

The trench coat wearing man just chuckled as Dustan started to make his way out of the booth before something happened. Dustan could feel the sense of…right, about the area change, suddenly there seemed to be no one in the con anymore, no sounds, empty booths, everything. All was dead silent except for the sound of boots on the linoleum flooring.

Looking forward to where the sounds were coming from he saw…the Merchant? Looking back to the stand he saw the man had not moved from his spot except to stand up looking slightly…scared?

“Everything alright?” He questioned though obviously it wasn’t if the world had gone dead like that but it was the only thing he could think to ask.

The man shook his head. “No, no its not.”

Turning back the other merchant was a lot closer then Dustan expected him to be. “Excuse me sir but-”

Whatever it was that he was going to say was cut off as the man simply waved his hand and he found himself unable to move in any except his eyes and his breathing. “’ow come yer haven’t met yer quota, then, eh Merchant Twelve-Twenty?”

The first Merchant simply seemed to be grinding his teeth behind his mask for a moment before he calmed himself down enough to speak. “I ‘aven’t found the right one ter give it ter yet Ten-Twenty-one.”

The second one merely turn his head and jerked his thumb towards Dustan who seemed to be trying to struggle in his bonds. “Wot about that one?”

“’e ain’t a good one ter choose.” Came Twelve-Twenty’s voice.

Ten-Twenty-one moved over to Dustan and grabbed him by the neck and slammed him on the display table of the booth and asked the first one. “Good or not yor are behind schedule. This one will ‘ave ter do.”

Mobility seemed to have come back to Dustan once he sucked in a breath from having the air pushed from him when he got slammed and his first reaction was to fight back. Managing to get a hold of his wooden sword he started to swing at the head of Ten-Twenty-One seemed to get annoyed by the attack more than anything.

“Oi, quit that.” Said the one gripping his throat as his eyes narrowed.

Twelve-Twenty moved to go beside the other. “Come on Ten-Twenty-One. Surely we can find aunuvver and not this one, then?”

Ten-Twenty-One seemed to want to say something but a particularly good swing from Dustan caught him partially over the eye. “Ok, that tears it. Yer want to use that little sword so much yer wee annoyance. ‘ere let me show yer wot yer do wiv it.” He simply grabbed the sword from Dustan like taking a toy from a toddler and with a flick of his wrist Dustan swore the blunt wood gain a glint that only sharpened weapons had.

He was only proven right when The Merchant pinned him to the table by stabbing the sword through his chest. Dustan’s immediate reaction, besides shock to being impaled, was to immediately realize his lung had been pierced as he coughed up blood.

Grinning a bit evilly behind his mask the new Merchant just gave a smug self answer to his own question. “See, that is wot yer can do.”

Scrambling over to him the other Merchant pulled the sword out from the con goer’s chest with a sickening suction sound. “Shit, w’ did yer go and do that for?” Dustan dimly noted in his mind that it seemed the silver of the blade had turned red, then again it might have just been where it had stabbed him. It was hard to tell with his vision dimming.

The other merchant said nothing for a moment before turning to walk away except one thing. “’e annoyed me. Now yer better tidy that up and find some bloke soon or I will ‘ave ter bring yer back.”

With the other merchant gone the first one quickly started to move. “Fuck, yor bleedin' out too much for me ter fix normally. Sorry kid but looks like I 'ave ter choose yer after all. Its eever that or die 'ere and no one ever find yor body. Right. 'opefully yer will forgive me in time. I'll make us all a nice cup a' tea then.” Reaching over Dustan saw him grab something that right away started to glow, but things were too dark to tell. Whatever it was the Merchant forced Dustan’s fingers around them. “Good luck.”

With that the sensation of falling came right before he blacked out.

When next Dustan woke up it was with a gasp. “Fuck!” He shouted loudly startling some nearby birds. Hearing their flaps of retreat brought about some confusion with the young man as he stood up for a moment only to hear a couple of things hitting the ground. Looking down he saw that it was his sword…or at least it was at one point. Now the blade of the sword was dyed red and seemed to be part of the metal itself, as well to have been looking really well made in general for what was once a wooden sword. It had come with a sheath and a belt for it which was the second thing that had hit the ground.

Something else was off as well though Dustan was still trying to peace things together. In his hand he found he was clutching something dearly and opening up his fingers he found the clear sapphire of the Virgo Auracite he had examined back at the Merchant’s booth.

THE MERCHANT! Looking around quickly he looked for the booth but saw nothing, in fact he wasn’t even inside anymore which now explained the feeling of something being off as well as the sounds of birds. He was in some kind of forest. It was actually kind of peaceful, trees not too clustered, sunlight shining through the leaves even some animals skittered by as if no care in the world. Overall, very nice. The peace of that was ruined for Dustan as the glint of sunlight was reflected with a red tint into his eyes making him once more examine the sword. Eyes going wide his hand went to his chest only to find no hole and no dried blood.

Quickly stripping from his armored showed the same result nothing at all wrong with him. “I couldn’t have dreamed that. I have the bauble from the stand. Am I in a coma or something then?” Looking around the woods he frowned. “Maybe I died, I mean kinda would explain why I am in such a lovely place. Especially because I don’t think there are many wooded areas like this around the city.”

He realized he was talking to no one at this point and sighed wondering if he had hit his head as well sometimes during all of that. Moving the stone around in his fingers he decided to put it in his pants pocket for now before grabbing the sheath and belt putting it on. Next he gingerly took hold of the sword and lifted it; it was metal alright if its weight told the story. Sliding it into the scabbard he found it was a perfect fit. Last he put his armor back on, unknown territory meant not to take any chances.

“Alright first things first.” He lifted his head to the sky seeing it was either early morning or about to be night. “I will wait about thirty minutes or so and see if it’s gone up or down. Then I can find my way around. The nearest set of woods is to the North-West so if I travel South-East then I should come to town. Let’s hope I am not in a coma or that at least logic applies in them. If not, I am going to be lost really quick.”

After some time he did indeed find it was sun up and proceeded to make his way South-East. It only took an hour and a half travel before he started to be able to see things in the distance. To the South-West a bit away seemed to be a much thicker set of woods with much less of a friendly tone then before. Somewhat east of that seemed to be an orchard filled with some kind of trees, hard to say what it was from the distance but it was a huge orchard which worried Dustan. There were no orchards anywhere NEAR his town.

Following what looked to be a road from said orchard his eyes spotted a town that had a very rustic feel to it as well as a familiar one. ‘Why do I feel like I should know that place and why does that scare me?’ He asked rubbing the back of his head through the cloak. ‘Oh shit I am armed, if they see that they may arrest me when I get into town.’ Pulling his cloak around him and lifting the hood he decided best to make him seem like a cosplayer, which wasn’t wrong, and if he wasn’t openly brandishing his sword and found out later he can just remark it’s a costume piece even though he knew it clearly wasn’t.

It took him a bit more to get to town and more and more was it starting to bring about a horrible feeling in the pit of his gut. As he got closer and closer to town he could make out people wearing colorful clothing quickly dashing towards their homes though judging by the distance he was still a ways away. Except that he wasn’t.

The homes were just small, really small. ‘Huh it’s like a stumbled into homes made a couple of centuries ago. And made for hobbits. And the windows being closed. Oh…this isn’t good.’ Passing a rather nice clock tower and a bit further did Dustan see something that shook him to his core. ‘No…nonono.’

Quickly he ran towards the front of the giant tree in the middle of town where a sign was. It read: Golden Oak’s Library is currently closed due to lack of Librarian position being filled.

‘Let’s see. Merchant…check. Treebary…check. Dense scary woods…check. What is likely an Apple orchard…check. Colorful pony currently looking at me like I am a monster…che-wait.’ Sadly Dustan couldn’t continue his check list as the pony gawking at him was a familiar off white with two toned rose colored hair. “I don’t suppose you won’t scream if I ask nic-” The pony screamed loudly. “Yeah I didn’t think so.”

She left so quickly that it left a dust cloud behind in her wake. Dustan looked around seeing windows open slightly large colorful eyes glance out at him and then the shutters quickly closing again. Sighing at his luck, or rather Roseluck, said pun making him chuckle a bit, he went off to explore the town. He knew the ponies with how skittish they were would likely leave him alone till one of the more brash or stubborn ones appeared. Hopefully then he would be able to explain himself and how he was lost.

Problem was no one seemed to come and was about to give up hope on finding a pony to talk to when he noticed in the middle of the street a pony in a brown cloak. “Excuse me, can you help me out, I seem to be lost.”

The hooded pony looked over to him and gave a slight start before looking up. “What is it that I see here? Some kind of creature to fear?”

With the, decidedly female speaker judging by the voice, looking up at him he could see her blue eyes as well as various gray colors in patterns of stripes staring back at him. ‘Oh crap its Zecora, I like her character but that has some connotations there if she is still not trusted by the people here…ponies here, whatever.’ “I seem to be-”

“The Witch has summoned a monster!” There was various screams after words as well as hooves hitting the ground in a run.

Dustan’s eye twitched a bit as he face palmed. “Ok so that is how it’s going to be.” ‘That and I could have sworn that was Pinkie Pie’s voice.’ Honestly he loved the show of My Little Pony and got made fun of it a lot by his friends, but he supported the message completely. Except when it came to things like this and the inconstancies that led the fan base to create some really wild, though interesting, theories. Pinkie Pie, someone willing to throw a party and welcome anyone, anypony rather, to the town ostracizing Zecora based on looks always bugged him.

Feeling a tug on his cloak he looked down at the outcast Zebra who looked up at him. “I am sorry my presence has caused you to be labeled with jeers. It may be best if we were to move out of sight from their leers.”

“Sure, I don’t think anyone here will offer me help finding my way back anyways.” Dustan said with genuine sadness in his voice. Sure he had read about fanfics where people appeared in Equestria and were out casted by the beloved ponies found there, but considering he loved and accepted the message of the show it still hurt to feel it firsthand.

Making their way towards the thick woods that he likely guessed to be the Everfree, of which he was glad he didn’t appear there, not only did that feel like he read that too many times in other fics, but he honestly didn’t want to come across something that could eat him…or turn him to stone, or was made of wood and hunted in packs, or anything ELSE that was a mythical monstrosity that could be found within.

When they were out of earshot the Zebra mare decided to speak up to break the silence. “I am sorry if this question will cause the silence to mar. However I find myself still wondering what it is you are.”

There was a question for sure and how to answer that without giving the obvious one of ‘I am a human, surely you have heard of me.’ Sadly there was no good answer for this so he had no choice but to give the one that would cause more questions. “I am human.” To his surprise Zecora just gave a hum and nodded before looking forward.

When it finally came time for them to stop he found himself standing before the shaman’s hut built inside the living tree just like in the show outside of which hang potion bottles from vines as well as a mask leaning up against a visible root.

“Come inside and let me make you something to drink. Hopefully it will help our mood to rise and not sink.” The rhythmic homeowner said heading inside.

It was at this moment that he realized how much taller he was then the ponies, likely if they stood on their back legs they would be quite nearly as tall as him but as it stood he was a good two feet taller than them and it showed with him having to duck down to get inside. Good news was that once inside there was plenty of space around for him to stretch if he chose to.

More masks and bottles were to be found inside, as well as a cauldron for which the bottles brews were, well, brewed. “Nice home you have and thank you for inviting me in.” He told her looking around and seeing there was more to the home then normal as there was a dining area as well as a bedding area that was separate from the main area.

She called out from another area he had not see and found it to be a rather quaint kitchen area secluded near the back. “I thank you for your kind analysis. I just wished the ponies would get over their callousness.”

“Yeah that does kinda suck a lot for sure.” Sitting down on the floor at the table nearby, with a bit of difficulty thanks to the sword at his hip, though not in a seat as he wasn’t sure if it would fit him he continued to look around as he spoke. “I heard so much about the kind acceptance of ponies and how just generally nice they are. Sad to see that wasn’t true.”

Eventually Zecora came over with a tray in her mouth which she set down on the table. “Permit this question if you may, but you sound as if you come from far away?”

He watched her pour two cups full of tea which she then offered one to him. “Yeah, very far.” Dustan said quietly realizing slowly what that meant.

“I, too, know what it is like to be far from one’s home. That is sadly the price you pay for when you roam.” The shaman of the Everfree told him in her lyrical tones.

He found his cup shaking a bit, the more he thought of things the more he realized that he was in another world having a cup of tea with a talking Zebra, something that was impossible and meant he was so far away from home that there was no measure of even how far away he was. “I-I..ahem.” he was having trouble speaking now as he found a lump growing in his throat. “Sorry to ask, but is it possible for me to stay here tonight. I have no bits but I can do something, chores or something to make up for it.”

He wasn’t good at woodlands stuff at all he had no clue what he was doing in the woods and didn’t know how to survive at all. He realized if he had to camp out he was more than screwed in a variety of ways. ESPECIALLY, so close to the forest of every mythical monster possible.

Zecora for her part seemed to sense something about him was off if nothing else. “Thanks to me you were chased off and forced to come to my nest. It is the least I can do to offer you a place to rest.”

“T-thank you Zecora. It means a lot to me. Also I hope I am not being rude but I think I may call it a bit early. I have had a long day.” Dustan said putting the tea that he barely even drank down.

Nodding she got up as she told him. “The couch over there should do. The window also provides a view too.”

He thanked her and went to remove his armor and sword wanting to rest finding himself just wanting to sleep and hopefully find out this was a dream. This left Zecora to find a blanket for her guest only to stop rummaging to ask a simple question: How did he know her name?

Author's Notes:

So this is my hand at trying a displace fic. How did this story come about? Simple, while writing down notes for another story of mine I started to find bits and peaces that didnt fit in with it and put them in a separate area. That and I dislike just tossing out interesting ideas out of hand in case I can find a way for them to fit later. This led to more and more ideas building and building then when an interesting, thought/idea popped into my head, all the unused ideas cluttering my notes suddenly all fit onto the idea and in short I said F-it.

So here is the culmination of that. I hope you enjoy.

Chapter Two: I Have Abilities?

My Little Tactics

Chapter Two: I Have Abilities?

“You need anything while I head out?” Dustan called towards the kitchen of the tree hut. It had been nearly two weeks since his arrival in Equestria and so far so good, not counting the Ponyville run in that is. Sure the first couple of days were the roughest, realizing that likely there was no feasible way home as of right now and dealing with the crushing sadness of realizing that no one knew what had happened to him.

The lyrical voice of the home owner called out to him in answer. “The herbs of the normal affair. Though be warned the animals seem restless so take care.”

“Will do.” He called back before grabbing his fishing pole and bait and heading to the stream. Food in Equestria bothered him, not in the fact there was lack of plant dishes, though he had to stay away from things like hay and flowers, it was the fact that nearly EVERY animal was sapient to some degree. When he had told Zecora of his omnivorous nature she right away had the solution of fishing as it seems that most fish were just like back home. Any fish that was sapient was likely one you would never catch either.

So he had a habit of going fishing once every three days to catch a couple of fish for a meal or two. The only reason he had to catch so many was cause he wasn’t a cook and wasn’t sure where to cut and not but he was learning. He was wasting less and less each time though he was told to always cook them out of the home as Zecora didn’t appreciate the smell of meat.

One his trips he made it a habit to look for various herbs and flowers that his host needed as it was a way of repaying her for eating and sleeping in her home. The herbs were very valuable it seemed as they were rare and helped make brews that she sometimes sold in other towns besides Ponyville when times became desperate enough. Trips like that, she told him, usually took a few days if she couldn’t manage to time her visit with the train.

Speaking of Ponyville he had tried once more to enter the town though with no luck. Word had spread that he was the ‘Witch’s Creature’ and so when his cloaked self appeared to anyone they fled and screamed. It was during his last visit that he sadly met one of the Mane Six, one he was hoping not to meet like that but such is life. Rainbow Dash promptly came to the rescue of the fleeing mare and ended up trying to buck Dustan in the gut which she partially did. It was only thanks to a quick head and realizing what the speedster would do that Dustan even managed to dodge backwards in time only catching part of the blow in his ribs.

Wincing at the memory Dustan touched the tender spot, while nothing was broken or cracked the bruise was still nasty and tender even a week later. Quickly bending down he would gather up a few plants, having seen one of the flowers described to him by the Shaman. They resembled four-leaf clovers but not only were the stems blue, but the flowers were a blushing pink color.

When asked what they were for Zecora chuckled and responded with. “Often times newlyweds wish to make their first night one to remember. That blank will turn their passion into a flame from an ember.”

Quickly he put the bouquet he gathered away into a pouch and sealed it off. He remembered the first time he encountered them, they looked nice and he took a sniff. Zecora couldn’t stop laughing at him for the rest of the day as he had an erection that wouldn’t go away. He had told her that it had been over four hours and other humans have problems with their ‘junk’ if something like that happened. She assured him that nothing negative would happen as the potion that she made from them usually made a stallion never go limp for a day with just a dose, of which the potion she made for ponies had seven.

‘Stupid flowers.’ The human thought as he double tied the pouch just in case.

As he walked he kept up looking around because though the zebra may have given him an herb to keep in his pocket that would make him have a scent other animals would recognize as belonging, if they spotted him it was another story. He had tried to make a wooden shield before but when he went to use it he felt completely wrong and off like a forced feeling almost. It stopped as soon as he put the shield down and he realized what it meant or at least had a clue. He carved a helmet out of wood next only to be given the same results.

He was really a Squire class. He had dressed up as one for the con, or at least in his mind that is what he was, but now he really was one. It was during the second day, well third since the second was his sad day as he thought of it, that he discovered that his armor wasn’t EXACTLY the same as what he wore when he put together the costume.

The blouse he wore was pretty much the same, but the leather armor was of MUCH higher quality and fit differently, it was real armor. His fedora and feather combo had turned into a wide brimmed hat with a large feather in it reminiscent of the feathered cap equipment from his beloved series. His pants were the same thankfully but not his shoes. His shoes had turned from his sneakers to proper boots, ones that gave him a feeling of traction and ease of movement that he was frankly surprised about.

Finally there came his cloak. The last thing he got from anyone while on Earth, the last time he saw his best friend. It had changed as well, it was already well made before, but it was a well made piece for costume with slight utility. Now though he wasn’t sure why he could tell but it was just better. The feeling of it being better, the helm and the shield, this world, all of it was wrong or off and honestly Dustan relished the time he could spend fishing as it meant he could just clear his mind and watch the sky, or what he could see of it through the canopy.

However one item was on his mind, it was what Zecora had said about his sword.

Dustan was wrapping his fresh bruise after applying the paste that Zecora had given him and was putting his armor back on. Honestly the thought of punching the prismatic Pegasus did cross his mind for bringing him this pain but he quickly shook the dark thoughts away.

‘Then again maybe I should learn to protect myself.’ He looked down to his sheath and pulled his sword out. The home was large enough where he could take some practice swings and not hit anything so he may have gotten one or two off before his bruise protested to much causing him to give a yelp of pain. Zecora quickly ran out of her bedroom and was about to ask what was wrong when her eyes went wide.

“Where did you happen to come by such a sword. Surely it must have been protected by some kind of ward.” Coming closer she held a hoof towards his blade but never touched it. “A blade covered in one’s life. Surely this blade causes strife.”

‘No kidding, stabbed through the chest then brought here, it has done its job well. Not to mention I think I technically made it…I mean the original. Whatever that asshole did to it is altering it but not creating it right?’ Of course he couldn’t really say any of that to his host so while he didn’t lie he didn’t explain it all. “I suppose you can say it’s tied to me and that we have been through a lot.”

Again not wrong but not entirely right, but it sufficed enough that Zecora made no mention of it from then on except to tell him to go outside her home when practicing from now on. Just like with the meat rule he obliged.

[hr.]

Picking his line up out of the water he sighed at his lack of a catch. ‘Guess they can learn. They aren’t coming to this spot anymore it seems.’ Wrapping the line up around his pole he would have to learn a new spot where they gathered. Luckily his last meat meal wasn’t too long ago so he still should be good for a while.

Looking up Dustan noticed the sun was getting low now and he should probably head back. The animals got more aggressive as night came as that is when more predators came out to hunt. Sliding the pole home over his shoulder he started the walk back.

That was of course when a scream broke out, one frightened and moving quickly. The scream was quickly followed by a howl, then another, and then another: Timberwolves. Dustan had heard them more than a few times hunting around and even managed to watch them on occasion when he had to hide and the herbal scent managed to keep him from being found He found them quite lovely in their own spooky way with their haunting green eyes that glowed with an almost sinister force behind them. Bodies made up of various pieces of wood, twigs and even vines.

Unlike all those other times though, he found his feet moving towards the sounds rather than away. The scream sounded female and if he could tell its gender chances are it wasn’t an animal that belonged in the forest. Either Zecora had really fucked up, or a pony had wondered into the forest.

He wasn’t cruel, he wasn’t about to leave someone, or in this case somepony, to their fate. Then again he only rationalized his reason to himself after a good solid thirty seconds of running had passed.

As he was running a memory came to the front of his mind, one that happened back when Pat was still his bully or rather just before he became his bully.

Dustan was outside eating lunch, his middle school gave students the option of eating inside or outside, and with it being so nice he chose outside. He wasn’t alone in this choice either as many students were out and about laughing joking and just having fun. Dustan was happy for them, having friends was nice…not that he knew what that was like as he was sitting alone.

The sound of a tray hitting the ground caused everyone to look over to two kids, one on the ground rubbing his rear where he landed to hard and another tougher looking kid standing over him.

“So where is my lunch huh?” The standing one said, clearly having been graced with extra height thanks to genetics and thus towered over many other kids at the time. “I said that if you didn’t bring me lunch tomorrow that you would be getting it didn’t I? Well you only got your lunch so where is mine?”

The fallen boy was clearly frightened and clearly was about to cry. “I-I-”

Being lifted quickly to his feet by his shirt the taller boy cocked his hand back and made a fist ready to give the other his promised consequences. “You made me do this, remember that.”

Dustan wasn’t sure when he had started moving; in fact his thoughts were to go find a teacher to stop this. Except as he had finished that thought he was already tackling the taller boy to the ground. This was a mistake as the other boy used that chance to run as did many others as the known bully of the school got pissed. What proceeded was a beating that left Dustan with a bloody nose and many bruises, of which all were his fault.

“Ma’am your boy was seen tackling the other to the ground. While both boys will be suspended yours will be suspended for two weeks rather than one for starting it.” His mother was appalled though his father just seemed to stay silent.

Walking out his ear was being tugged hard as his mother gave him an earful. “What possessed you to attack another kid like that Dustan? I thought we thought you better than that?” He tried for his part to speak but his mother kept ranting. “We thought we told you that violence is never the answer and its best to try to talk things out or make friends with others.” Again he tried to talk to her only to be cut off. “When we get home your TV will remain off, your game system will be unplugged and-”

“Hun you should let him talk.” His father said in a calm voice while pushing his glasses over his eyes. Dustan always loved and hated that gesture because one it made him look like a cool anime character as his glasses would glare so no one could see his eyes. However he hated it because it means his Dad was in serious mode, meaning you DID NOT mess around. “I want to hear his reason for doing what he did.”

Letting go of his ear after a moment, as she considered things, she crossed her arms and looked down at him. “Alright then, what could possibly be your reason for doing what you did?”

Dustan had to take a moment to rub his ear trying to get the pain to fade before he spoke. “He was bully another kid and about to hit him. I wanted to go tell a teacher but then I found myself already moving and I don’t know why.”

He was looking down at the ground, afraid he had disappointed his family, only to hear his father speak. “Shi-” a quick glare from his mother changed his words right away. “-Take mushrooms son. Sorry we jumped to conclusions, but no matter what you did right.”

Quickly looking up he seen both of his parents smiling down at him. “Yes sweetie, sorry I hurt your ear. It is never wrong to stand up to someone when you are defending another especially if the other person has done nothing wrong.”

Not able to stop himself he threw himself at his parents and hugged them. He got no punishment for his actions from his parents, but he would get punishment for the rest of middle school as he was now the exclusive target of that bully.

The echo of his boots came fast and strong as he ran to where he heard the growling. A splash was heard as something fell into something, judging by the terrain and its mushy state likely into mud. His suspicions were confirmed as he came to find three Timberwolves advancing on a pony covered head to toe, head to hoof as it were, in mud. So caked on was it that he couldn’t even tell what her cutie mark was.

A brief thought came to him as he seen her and noticed the wings and that was: Why didn’t she fly away? Of course he had seen other pegasus run off instead of fly when he was last at Ponyville but that was neither here nor there. What was here was a frightened mare and three wolves.

Quickly drawing his sword he slid to a stop between the wolves and their prey. “Look here, I am not here to hurt you or anything. However if you want to get out of this I want you to run when I run forward. Go back home, run there and never look back.”

From the corner of his he could see her blue eyes staring at him, still frightened but with a nod of her head.

Yelling loudly he charged forward quickly and took a swipe at the wooden constructs only for them to jump back out of the way as the sound of hooves came and went. “Well, she got away…hope I can do the same.”

As he was standing there facing the wolves…something strange happened. As he looked at them one by one he noticed he could read information about each of them. Their gender, Hit points, Magic points, their level and their experience, even their charge time and their zodiac sign. There was one other thing he noticed, something that he felt he could recognize but couldn’t place at the moment. There was a symbol of a cherub with a halo.

Before he had a chance to determine what it was that was one of the wolves lunged at him. He barely managed to get out of the way in time as the creature skidded to a halt growling.

‘It’s CT is gone, in the game that meant a unit couldn’t do anything till it filled up again and OH ITS CHARGING FAST!’ Dustan thought only to be caught off guard as his thoughts distracted him from the fact there was THREE wolves.

Feeling something pounce on him from behind he got a good taste of mud in his mouth as he hit the ground and sank in a little. He grit his teeth a bit as the wolf on his back was biting at his armor and scratching at it, but luckily had not yet found a soft spot to latch into. Using the chance he had, he quickly turned his body as much as he could elbowed the faux wolf in the head and as chance would have it, that worked in getting him off of his back. Standing up quickly the lupines started to try to surround him but Dustan quickly put his back to a tree trunk to negate that advantage as much as possible.

Now is where the problem came in, there was a wolf to his left, his front, and to his right. The left and front would be easiest to counter but not the right. After all he was left handed so he held his sword in his main hand that way. Meaning he would have to turn his body to react to that wolf more than the others giving a nice delay for any and all kinds of bad things to happen.

Luck was on his side as the one that attacked first was the one from the front. Rolling to the right Dustan gave his sword an upwards swing catching the wolf in the midsection and to his surprise dealing a surprising amount of force as he noticed the damage number appear from the attack: forty. That was double the Timberwolf’s health as its glowing green eyes dimmed until they faded. The body then crumbled into pieces as it lay on the forest floor unmoving.

Seems the wolves had no problems with their dead companion though as the one that was originally on his left pounced at him only to meet similar results. ‘Guess they are used to getting their way if they don’t learn to avoid that mistake.’

Well they did learn in a way, or rather had maneuvered him so that he wouldn’t be able to do that again as the next wolf’s wooden fangs managed to sink into his arm above the leather bracer. This forced Dustan to drop his sword onto the ground as he yelled out in pain. He had to act quickly, so he braced himself against the tree once more and jumped. In the middle of his jump he planted both feet to the wolf’s barrel and shoved hard.

The wolf was quickly pushed a good bit away as Dustan landed on the ground from his jump. Timberwolves were persistent he would give them that as it quickly recovered and charged at him. His hands searched for his sword but couldn’t find it in the mud. However his fingers did curl around something else.

That something met the charging canines head making it yelp in pain as it took a solid five damage to its head as the stone cracked the wood slightly there. This bought Dustan enough time as his hands did eventually discover his sword, though by that time the wolf was mid pounce. Dustan felt himself falling backwards as the wolf managed to leap upon him its jaws snapping at him as one hand held it back at its chest.

“You lose mutt.” Was the only thing he said to it. He then twisted his hand that was holding his sword, the same sword that the dog impaled itself on as it had leapt at him. With the twist the final Timberwolf gave a shutter as its eyes faded to black and it started to fall apart.

Sighing and standing up he went to look at his arm where he had been bitten only to discover something. A ripped sleeve but no wounds?

“Ok I would really like a play by play but I am tired and in need of a shower. So long mut-” Looking at the canines his body went stiff and his eyes widened. The cherub, he remembered what it was. “Oh hell no!” Quickly reversing his sword he went to drive it into the first Timberwolf he had killed as it was starting to put itself back together. It quickly crumbled again as well as there was a chime sound, though he ignored that before running off before the second one could come back.

‘Fucking reraise. I hardly ever got to use that status effect in the game cause it was so impractical in its wait time.’ He was running with his sword out just in case they managed to follow his scent. He spent nearly an hour running and hiding when he remembered that the herb would mask his scent and cursed at himself for keeping himself worked up all that time. That and cursing himself for not remembering that Timberwolves could pull themselves back together.

When he got back to the hut he leaned against the door and sighed. “I am back.” It wasn’t much of a yell as he didn’t have the energy to do so.

“Welcome back from your daily fair-” Zecora came out from the back and quickly her eyes widened. “Why is it that you look worse for wear?”

Chuckling a bit now that the adrenaline was wearing off he found himself just wanting a shower in the too small for him bathroom and to sleep. “Pony wondered in, got caught by some Timberwolves, I fought them off as she escaped. I think I would like to get a shower now.”

Nodding Zecora quickly looked him over before speaking. “I imagine so considering your plight. Now go into the shower and wash off from your fight.”

He barely managed a nod before dragging his feet to the shower. Taking off his armor and clothing, he made a note to scrub it all down tomorrow morning even if getting the mud off would be easier now then later when it crusted, but that was a problem and he honestly couldn’t be bothered with it right now.

With no clothing for him he just kept himself wrapped up in a towel till he could go to the couch where he slept and get under the blanket where he promptly fell asleep.

He dreamed no dreams that night, or at least no dream in the normal sense. Instead he felt like he had simply awoken in another place. This place was dark with the only source of light being from the sky. Said sky was black as well where it wasn’t light up with the shaft of light pouring on him. Likewise in the distance it became so black that he couldn’t make out anything. There was only him, the light and what looked to be cobblestone flooring.

“Ok this is new.” He said only to have an immense echo be heard suggesting this place was vast. As he started to look around something happened, he noticed that there were three more shafts of light that grew brighter as did his own for just a moment blinding him. When his sight came back he turned to find a mannequin.

Luckily there was no one around to hear his absolutely manly scream of not being scared. The mannequin stood there looking very familiar. It only took Dustan a few seconds before he realized what the brown-red leather wearing mannequin represented.

“Oh it looks like the basic Squire picture from the game.” Looking over to the other shafts of light he noticed the others, the blue cloth of the Chemist, the bow for the light armored wearing Archer, the heavy white cloak over the even heavier armor of the Knight.

He was amazed and he wouldn’t lie in that he geeked out a bit as he ran over to each and examined them. Or he would have if not for the moment he ran over to the next stand did he notice a list pop up. Said list had the name of the class he was standing before as well as several tabs: Abilities, Reaction, Support, and Movement.

“THE JOB SYSTEM!” He called out into the echoing cavern. “Does that mean I can change my job?” He ran over to the Knight and seen that he did meet the requirements for sure. He almost quickly switched but stopped himself. “This isn’t a game. Those Timberwolves could have killed me. I need to do this right cause there will not be a second chance.”

It killed him not to be able to explore the other classes but for now he just looked at what he could and couldn’t learn from them. For Knight, sadly there was nothing for him to learn as he didn’t have enough JP, or Job points to learn any of their skills. There was time for that later he supposed as he moved on to the next stand. For Archer he found he did have enough points to learn only one ability: Aim+1. This were skills that let the Archer class, or anyone with their ability, focus on an attack and delay it slightly, or significantly depending on the level, and then deal extra damage. Normally he would hold out and go right for Aim+2 in the game since it was basically the same in all ways only a bit more powerful with almost the same delay but he didn’t know if he would have time to wait in this world.

When he touched the displayed name it glowed brightly for a moment before another window popped up asking if he wanted to learn the skill Aim+1. He clicked yes and the sensation he then got was…disturbing. It was as if something reached into his brain and placed something inside. With that though he KNEW he knew Aim+1.

Chemist was a good find, early game support with only the cost of a bit of money which can be ground out. Sadly he had no money which complicated things. The good news was he had enough points for the movement skill ‘Treasure Hunter’. Treasure Hunter let those equipped with it find hidden treasure on the panel they were standing on and retrieve it. Right away he tapped it and got the same prompt. After feeling violated once again he went to the support skill of Reequip and selected it. Reequip was a skill that cost nothing and was always free. Reequip let the user change equipment in the middle of battle, useful if you found yourself picking up an item from a fallen enemy early game which was better than yours.

Last but not least, the trusty starter, the one he was currently equipped as: Squire. Looking into its menu he found he had a good few points stored up though not as many as he had hoped considering he had been in Equestria for two weeks. He found he already knew ‘Throw Stone’, likely what he had unknowingly used against the Timberwolf to save himself, as well as a good bit of points.

“Not enough for JP Boost sadly, meaning no extra gain for me. However I rather be safe than sorry.” Instead of going for the move he made everyone learn at the start, one to increase their yield of Job points to learn faster, he chose to learn ‘Salve’ a skill to remove blind, silence, and poison status, as well as ‘Defend’ for obvious reasons.

As he was double checking to make sure there was nothing else he could get, he found something in the support tab of Squire that was already unlocked. “What’s this?” It read: Tactical Eye. Pressing it again to learn more info he found that it was a skill used to read various info about enemies and allies though had several tiers to it enhancing its abilities. Tier one, which was already unlocked, displayed the Hp, MP and the other things he had observed during the fight with the Timberwolves. When he went to look at the other tiers to see what each gained he found they were locked and he couldn’t view them. Giving up on that as he didn’t have the points for the next tier he sighed and closed the menu.

With all that done came the obvious question. How did one equip their skills here? The answer never came and he spent time trying to figure it out to no avail. Sleep was done, morning has come.

The next morning by itself was rather uneventful, the only things of note was one instance: A conversation with Zecora. It happened during breakfast when he was feeling much better, better than before in fact. Maybe that had to do with his level up? Regardless on if that had played a fact because of him missing dinner and his workout had found himself digging in with little abandoned.

“Seems you are feeling quite a bit better today.” Zecora spoke from her own breakfast, what looked to be some cereal and toast, to which Dustan nodded. “If then I may ask, what happened that caused you to get into a fray?”

Though he had told her he guessed that he was a bit skimp on the details so he told her everything. How he was coming back from fishing after having no luck and on the way back he heard a scream and the bays of the wolves. He was running towards the sounds before he even thought about it and defending the pony when they had it cornered. He even explained that at one point he thought he was bit pretty badly but found no wounds on his arm even if there was blood on the ripped sleeve.

As he finished up explaining in almost childish detail his grand battle with the creatures Zecora chuckled a bit and smiled. “I am just glad you are alright my friend. I am also glad you were not put on the mend.”

Rubbing his arm where he thought he had been wounded Dustan replayed similarly. “Yeah, so am I. I imagine their mouths aren’t the cleanest either.” Looking to his roommate he found her giving a nod of confirmation. “Yeah likely that might have done me in as I am not sure what kind of remedies would solve that.” Remedy, he wished he had some of them for sure as well as how to make them. Wait he learned how to make something last night. “Zecora?”

“Yes Dustan?” She asked in response. “If you have a question I will answer as best I can.”

Nods and moved around to head outside. “I need to grab a few things but I want you to test something for me. Also I will need a mortar and pestle if you can.” Without waiting for her to answer he went out to find what he needed.

It took him about an hour before he came back with more than a handful of plants. “That is quite an array of plants you hold. My question is what is it that am supposed to behold?”

Not answering her though he did lay a few samples of the individual plants in front of her. “Tell me do any of these plants serve a medicinal purpose that you know of?”

While he was busy grinding the plants he got into a paste and mixing them up in a certain amount Zecora pondered his question. “I can honestly say that there is nothing in my knowledge that says they do. However that doesn’t mean that they can’t aren’t used in lieu.”

“But together in any mixture are they used for something with just themselves?” Dustan was putting the final touches on the green paste.

Shaking her head Zecora told him her thoughts. “I cannot say for sure. Though in my experience, I can say that the mixture cannot be a cure.”

When he was done he went to find some bandages that he used for his ribs and cut off a piece to smear the mixture on. “Well where I am from this mixture is said to cure: Blindness, Silence, and Poison. All of those are temporary though so it merely hastens the recovery, but can you check to see if that is accurate?”

Taking hold of the sample Zecora nodded. “To my private room I will go and see. Checking on if you have made such a remedy.” As she was going she stopped to look back at him. “When I get back I have some more questions of my own. I would appreciate it if you answered them when I come back with answers known.”

“Sure whatever you want to ask I will answer to the best of my abilities Zecora.” He seen her leave and headed outside to work on his equipment. Cleaning it all up and making sure it was in as best shape as possible.

Several hours came in went and in that time Dustan had time to survey the damage. His armor would still hold up but the claw marks and such were now obvious. His blouse had to have its sleeves shortened for sure as well. Other than that though, his equipment was pretty up to shape.

He was in the middle of his sword exercises since he finished when Zecora came out looking…upset? Curious? It was honestly hard to say as she was a mixed bag it seemed.

“I would like to tell you the results.” Giving a nod and sheathing his sword he joined her back inside. “Your mixture looks to be the results of children instead of adults.” He sighed a bit and wondered if he had made a mistake somewhere but before he could think about it Zecora continued. “However I must say that shouldn’t work. It does and that is quite a quirk.”

Feeling proud of himself he smiled and nodded. “Glad it did, that was actually my first time making it.”

Nodding to his accomplishment Zecora continued though without smiling. “Problem is, even when I followed your steps which I watched you take. I found that your concoction is a mystery I couldn’t break.” Ok that was curious to him but at the same time it could be said it only worked because his class was a squire. As she said that he found she had also started to serve some tea. “It was only when I looked deeper did I find what I sought.” He waited for an answer before she smiled. “It is through magic that this was made, yours, otherwise any who try will go for naught.”

“Magic? But I didn’t apply any magic…I don’t think.” Dustan was trying to think of how it could be since Squire’s didn’t use magic normally.

Shaking her head she touched his hand with her hoof. “Sometimes magic always there and in our work it does inject. Sometimes that alone can give something an effect.”

“So a passive type of influence?” When he sought confirmation for that thought, she nodded and smiled. “So no matter what till someone figures out how to affect those herbs like I do, only I can make that?”

“That is correct.” The zebra told him sipping some tea. “What is more anypony can benefit from its affect.” Setting her cup down, she looked at him seriously. “If at all possible, besides making some for around here for some medical kits, I would like some that I can sell for when we need bits.”

Nodding he gave her a thumbs up, something she just tilted her head at in confusion. “Sure I have no problem making more, though we may need a jar or few.”

Leaving for only a moment the mare came back with more than a few. “The ingredients I seen were incredibly ordinary. So with of their frequency we can easily pick what is necessary.”

“Nice.” He said feeling relieved. Now he could help bring some income in meaning he felt less like a freeloader then he did before. “Though now that is out of the way you said you had some questions?”

She gave a nod and said nothing for a good minute or two seeming to compose herself. “You said your species was called a hu-mans. Of this race I have never heard. No mention what so ever even among hybrids or clans.” She continued on to say. “I even looked through my books figuring your race was a hybrid of Minotaur and Diamond Dog. However when no answers came it left me in a fog.”

Dustan was in a dilemma, the merchant who had sent him here wasn’t bad. However his twin was. It seemed like he and his twin, from the sounds of their conversation, did this a lot with even more of their numbers, like some kind of crazed cult with actual powers. How does he even try to explain that, as well as if he did would that put her in danger if the evil one came after him?

Resolving on his course of action he smiled and chuckled. “Sadly not many of us are known Equestria or if it at all it seems and we tend to keep to ourselves from the other races.” While he said that Dustan could only think to himself. ‘Not entirely wrong and humans do tend to keep to themselves so it’s not a lie.’

“I see, of that it is a shame. For your race seems to have a drive almost akin to a flame.” She must have been referring to how he was always up in the morning doing his exercises seeing if she needed any help and always seemed to be active. Truth was he was really, really bored. Without TV, the internet, or games he found himself antsy to do anything to get his mind off of it.

“You could say that. That and it helps keep my mind off things.” He answered truthfully.

Hearing that she moved on to her next question. “How is it you have come to be here, seemingly lost? With no bits to your name I wonder how you coped with the cost.”

This he could give a bit more truth on as it was in its own way what happened. “Magic put me here. I have no clue what happened, how it was done, or even how far away from home I am. I have no clue how to get back home either. When I realized that you kinda seen what happened the first day couple of days I was here.” She nodded remembering his downtrodden attitude. “I am just trying to make the best of things now.”

As he said that he found himself looking at the cup of tea she had given him his hands slightly shaking. He then felt a peculiar sensation, fur covered legs wrapped around him. He had not even seen Zecora come over to hug him as he became lost in his thoughts but he gladly accepted and hugged her back.

“Well even if you never find your home. As long as you are around here never feel like you have to roam.” The gesture and meaning behind her words got to Dustan more then he would like to admit. So much so that he found himself burying his head into her fur as both his face and her fur started to become wet with his tears. “Thank you.”

After a few minutes the embrace was removed and things got a bit awkward. No one was sure how to proceed with talking till Zecora made him an offer. “I find myself often with a lack of assistance. Perhaps providing a bit of help in my brews will offer more in the way of subsistence?”

“Are you asking me to be your assistant?” Dustan asked just to make sure he got the meaning of her rhyming correct. Something, of which, he did occasionally seem to mess up often to embarrassing results. It took a couple of days to be able to look Zecora in the eye when he thought she once asked for a sperm sample.

The shaman gave a simple nod and a smile to confirm his question. “That is right my bipedal aide. For this if your results are sufficient, you will even be paid.”

This would definitely give him something more to do, plus it may even work towards earning job points for Chemist since he would be working with medicines. “Sure, when do I start?”

Author's Notes:

Here is the second chapter, hope you all like it.

Chapter Three: Monsters and Duty.

My Little Tactics

Chapter Three: Monsters and Duty.

The sound of bubbling and the crackling of the fire was heard as Dustan stood outside of the hut a good bit away from where he stayed with the shaman that had become his friend and teacher. His job was to watch the cauldron as it produced a new brew which, both of them had nearly found out almost too late, needed a lot of ventilation, more so then was already present in the hut. With her rhyming ways Zecora had posed this as a challenge for her week long apprentice. This was good as the last week had brought up many mysteries and some thinking time was what the human had wanted so he took up the challenge in stride.

Wrapping the cloak his friend had given him he looked up into the sky where the moon rested. “I wonder how far before season one I am?” The reason for this question was the many craters dotting the surface of the moon in the shape of a mares head. “For that matter am I even in the canon universe. Multiverse theory is always a popular subject when it comes to ideas like this. Am I even in the world the T.V. show portrays or am I in some weird world where everything is not even close?”

He had only recently found out that it was even spring at all from his teacher. When he was asked how he could not know what season it was all he could respond with was: Ponies control the weather so absolutely that sometimes it’s hard to tell. Zecora bought it but only because she explained that there were not enough pegasi from her homeland to control the weather like in Equestria. It made Dustan feel horrible for having to lie to her like that but what was he to say?

Making and learning potions was actually fun as well, which he found out did count for the Chemist job class but with a REALLY slow income. So far since that night he had only been to the ‘Class Room’ as he called it twice and was still unsure of what triggered him being pulled there. The first time back he really took the time to roam around the dark and surprisingly he did bump into statues now and then but could neither see nor could he remember how they felt. The only thing he could recall about them is the sense of not being ready for them.

Skills were another story as well, he had no way of knowing how to equip them or execute them. He was still unsure even if the Throw Stone skill was activating when he threw a stone or not. There were also the inconsistencies with his own job class: Squire. The first time he thought it was odd but skills were darkened out or removed completely sometimes and he could neither make out the names of what skills there were, or even comprehend what it was they were supposed to be from his memories. Then there were the ones that appeared randomly that one spooked him the most.

It was during the second trip that he was in the Class Room when he looked at his Squire job listing. He was in the middle of trying to remember the skills of the squire and as he did so he couldn’t help but chuckle remarking that while Tactics wasn’t the first Final Fantasy game that came up with the system it for sure felt like one of the best. He remembered Five’s system, even the other Tactics games. Forgotten in his memories he had turned away from looking at the chart in front of him so the screen flickering and turning to static briefly scared him. It was that scare that woke him up quickly, but in that moment his skills were gone, blacked out or removed he couldn’t remember which, all he could remember was that the list was completely different.

That was only one of the mysteries about himself that he wondered about, the other two he was currently polishing: His sword and Virgo. The sword, Zecora was uneasy around it every time often asking him if he was ok every time she saw him with it out. He asked her about it once in she explained that she felt like it had a hunger as well as a need. The problem was it was a good and bad thing but teetered on the realm of the dangerous. Well she didn’t say all that as she had made it rhyme but that was the overall message. His crimson saber, the bloody blade, it was a wooden sword originally and then became real at the hands of the Merchant that had stabbed him. Was it because it was wood originally that it soaked up his blood or was it something that man did to it to make it do so?

While his sword frightened him because it had become real, the next possibility scared him even more. The sapphire stone that had the symbol of the virgin born into it: Virgo. The holy stone, the Auracite, the Zodiac Stone, the crystals of the Zodiac Braves as well as the harbingers of the Lucavi all of those and more were the name for what was in his hand. If the Merchant had turned his sword real, what did that mean of this stone? Sure the other Merchant the friendly one had given it to him, but did he have the same powers as the other to change things? If that was the case in his hand was either the single most powerful thing in this world, or the most deadly. He thought about burying it somewhere safe but he knew that if that crystal was the real deal it would call out to someone or something to unearth it.

‘A strong will can use this stone for good or evil.’ Dustan thought while holding up the stone towards the moonlight making sure he didn’t miss a spot on it as the rag in his other hand could attest to finding each and every so far by the dirt spots on it already. ‘Marach was story dead, not just battle dead. That means that his death should have been final yet he was perfectly revived thanks to the stone. Even worse while I could have chosen any other stone, I pick the one that can call the big bad of the game down: Ultima. Yes in the game she…or was it a he I could never tell, regardless he was a chump compared to other enemies. Hell even end game Mindflayers killed me more times than him-her screw it I am calling Ultima a her. Ultima was designed in the game as a being of supreme power…how would that translate if somehow Ultima came out here in Equestria?’

Dustan knew he was no Ramza; he didn’t have a single ounce of training, any comrades, nor any good equipment or even spells which to use. Dustan was just…a Squire for now. Could he change class, likely, did he know how? About as much as he did for using skills. If it came down to what would happen in the future, he hoped Celestia, Luna when she returned…IF she returned, Cadence, and the Mane Six could handle it. Till then he swore to himself he wouldn’t let this stone fall into the wrong hands…hooves…appendages.

The pop from the fire under the cauldron brought him back from his thoughts as he gave a sigh and stuffed the stone back into his pocket. “Time to get some more firewood.” Luckily he had the foresight to have brought some around earlier when he got called for the duty. “Hehe proper planning and all that.” He chuckled to himself while moving the wood around with a poker before stuffing a few more pieces under the giant metal pot.

After putting the last piece under the pot he was about to go sit down when a rustling in the distance got him scrambling to find a tree. Said tree turned out to be the hut itself as it quickly moved to hid in the branches pulling his cloak around him for camo. The noises had caught his attention as they were not the shuffling of wood from Timberwolves, or the soft light steps of a Cockatrice, and if it was the heavy steps of a Manticore he would have ran inside. No, these steps were cautious, deliberate, and not made with hooves.

What came into the firelight of the made his eyes go wide and his blood turn cold. The creatures were small and had brown fur, they were hunched over and sniffing around with almost pig like noses. Long pointed ears came out of the sides of their head and were marked even more striking against the red cone like cloth hats they wore. Undershirts of an undyed variety left them with a light tan coloration that was a stark contrast to the heavy brown of their fur. More so they wore bright red that doubled also as shorts for the creatures. Feet covered in large socks and leather shoes was what he heard as they marched a moment ago.

‘Goblins!’ Thought Dustan as he spotted the three. What surprised him even more was that among the three one was armed with a yellow gold looking dagger. ‘Goblins DEFINITELY do not belong in MLP. Did I bring them here somehow? Or were they always something here in this particular universe. Shit this brings up way more questions then I really want right now. Wait shit they are saying something, I missed it.’

Listening closely they were indeed saying something. “Me though you said you smell good eats. Me smell sick foods.”

The one who said that was the same one who had the dagger and was obviously the leader of the three with how the other two shrunk away at his voice. “Me sorry, me thought me smell eats we look for.”

“Bah, you know nothing.” Said the leader to his shirking comrade. “We find promise field and eat fill. Me report back to big caps for bit reward. You small caps get small reward.”

That seemed to get the third member going as he, least Dustan thought it was a he since there has never been a female goblin the games that he could tell visibly, jumped up and down excited. “Yes, me eat good, me eat lots, me eat red like caps.”

For a moment Dustan thought the goblins might set up camp around the cauldron but it seems the smell urked them more than a little as they soon made off singing of red caps eating red. It seems stealth was not their strong suit as he could hear them leaving for quite a was just by the noise they made, he must have been lost in thought more then he could imagine if they had gotten as close as they had before and him not to notice. He climbed down, quickly stoked the fire under the cauldron, then he made a quick lap around the area just to make sure they were truly well and gone.

He had kept his sword out just in case they came back around or more showed up. ‘Ok, Goblins are a thing, are they new, have they always been here? Is it just them or are there more. REALLY hope there are no Ahriman those things were always creepy, or Malboros. I really really wish I could get to a library, from the scrolls and books that Zecora has English is a thing in this world it seems, or Common Equish as she called it.’

“Lost in thought?” Zecora found out what happened when startling the Squire as did the Squire himself as his sword stopped just an inch from her face causing her to drop the drink she had in her hoof causing the mug to shatter on the ground with the liquid it held spreading out and soaking into the ground. “Well that was your drink that I had brought.”

“Sorry sorry, just a bit high strung. Got a visit from something nasty last night and it has me on edge.” Pulling the sword away from her he gave the back of his head a rub. “Sorry about that.”

Hearing about the visit though had the Zebra looking curious. “Pray tell what is it that has given you a scare. Is it bad enough where I or others should care?”

“Do you know of any creatures that can speak in this area, about yay tall, brown fur, wears clothing typically in red, possibly in black or even green?” Dustan really really hoped that she would say yes and that they had been here before.

“Of this I can say yes I have heard of such a creature.” Dustan gave a sigh of relief. “However all that any pony knows is they only recently became a feature.”

‘Shit!’ Dustan thought suddenly hoping that it was really just a coincidence.

“Why do you use a curse that loud?” The shaman asked looking at him only for him to tilt his head slightly before she continued. “Ahh you didn’t realize you said it with how deeply your head was in the cloud.”

“Sorry its just…they are called Goblins where I am from and they can be very nasty.” He told her hand on his chin as he put his sword away trying to think now what they want.

Seeing him start to pace had the shaman slightly worried even though he missed the look on her face. “They are known to be hostile yes. Though hopefully they will stay in the forest and not cause a mess.” Putting a hoof on his hips to stop him from moving she looked up at him. “In the mean time you should head to bed. If I am gone when you awaken it is because I have gone to town to buy some apples of delicious red.”

“That sounds good actually, staying up all night isn’t good and will likely mess up my sleep schedule.” He said with a chuckle.

Nodding and giving him a smile she patted him gently. “Rest well friend. I hope that rest will give your nerves time to mend.” Stretching out her legs she looked around and spoke to her. “I just wish my presence had not been given a ban. Otherwise I could buy the apples I need from the Apple clan.”

Chuckles and waves to her good night, or rather good morning as when he got inside he could see that it was approaching five in the morning. He threw his cloak off first the coloring reminding him of the Goblins.

‘We find promise field and eat fill.’ The voice of the Goblin leader came back to Dustan only for it to be followed by the excitable underling. ‘Yes, me eat good, me eat lots, me eat red like caps.’

In a way he couldn’t help but find the Goblins adorable in a way how simple they were. ‘If they want red things to eat so bad they should just head to…oh fuck.’

As he thought of that he grabbed his cloak and put it back on and ran out the door towards the orchard that one of the Future Elements of Harmony: Applejack. With the Everfree bordering the ponies land it meant he could make good time without anypony seeing him. What was more was that he had to be quick but not heard either.

‘Shit, shit, shit.’ Dustan thought the entire time while getting closer to the field. ‘If those Goblins are really after the apples on the farm then that could pose a problem not just now for Applejack and her family, but in the future as well as that much food could literally feed an army of Goblins for a good bit.’ All the while he was hoping beyond hope that his hunch was wrong and that they were looking for mushrooms or something along those lines. Hell he would take meat as an answer as long as it wasn’t pony meat.

Sadly after nearly an hour of patrolling the border to the farm his fears were confirmed as he could hear the source of his trepidation come to fruition in the noisy source of grammar wincing sentences. “Look, look. Me see field of red!”

A string of curse words raced through the Squire’s mind as he heard that. Luckily with how loud these creatures were none of them heard him as moved looking to get behind them in a more favorable position.

“See Me did it.” The leader spoke to them waving his knife around. “Wait, Me see something else.” The small blade pointed in the direction where he spied what it was. “What be that?”

The scolded Goblin looked as did the excitable one before the one who was reprimanded early spat in the direction of the structure. “Pony home.”

All three started to give a growl before the enthusiastic one started to pounce. “Maybe we kill ponies. Get nice bloody red meat to go with nice reds sweets?”

The Goblin leader gripped his knife hard as his off color teeth gleamed in the moonlight. “Yes, good idea. Me glad me think of it. We kill ponies in sleep, eat meat, and then eat red sweets.”

“NO!” right away the monsters turned and took up combat stances as Dustan gave himself away with that exclamation. ‘Well that was not what I meant to do. Too late now.’

“What be that?” The Leader asked the other two.

The bouncing enthusiast of the group just shrugged and smiled. “Me no know, but me think it may taste yummy.”

Sensing that there was no talking to the three, that and details of their HP and MP popping up meant that talking wouldn’t happen either making Dustan draw his sword from its sheath. However it seems the overly enthusiast of the monster group couldn’t take it and rushed at Dustan. Said squire couldn’t believe it, yes the red cap’s CT meter was half way when he looked at him, but it charged so quickly that he knew there would be no time to avoid the heavy fist.

Dropping low into his fighting stance as quick as he could he knew that he wouldn’t be able to take the Goblin in one strike nor would he be able to dodge from the speed the Goblin was coming so he had to focus. That was the moment he felt something happen power surged through him and down to his sword making the outline of the red blade glow faintly. Dustan didn’t question what was happening nor why, instead he slashed upwards with his sword making contact with the Goblin’s chest just as its fist connected with his own.

A ripping sound came from flesh and cloth as the sword did as it was designed to do as did an echoing thud that sent Dustan skidding in the grass barely keeping from falling over. For a moment the pain in his chest left him without breath but seemed to ease off a tad almost right away almost like his body changed its mind on how much pain it should be sending to his brain. His opponent couldn’t say the same though as he too was flung back as his howl of pain quickly died down when he landed on his back, the gash in his chest bleeding profusely for a moment or do then slowing considerably as Dustan seen the HP of the Goblin read as zero. The next thing that popped up was a timer that the Squire recognized as being the death timer for the amount of time it was still possible to use a reviving item or skill to bring someone back.

He took too long recalling the timer fact that he almost got himself killed as the leader of the three managed to get up close to him and slash him along his right arm tearing a big gash into him. The scream that he let out from the gash was so loud that it scattered every bird in the area…if it existed that was. Instead when he went to let loose the scream no noise would leave his throat. There was a good long moment as Dustan tried to gain distance from the leader that he tried to speak again maybe to taunt the enemy but found his voice was completely gone.

‘Silence, that is why I know that knife, it’s a Mage Masher. A decent type of knife early game that can give the silence status effect.’ The human found himself too lost in this thoughts though as the other Goblin had come around and flanked him and tackled him to the ground.

Before he could even react he felt blows start to rain down on his chest barely managing to cover his face in time. Then the blows and the feeling of hands picking him up made him look. The one pummeling him was doing the lifting as the leader came over and started to make Dustan his punching bag. Blow after blow came showing that this Goblin got his status justly as they were quite a bit stronger than his underling. There was even a point where on the second to last blow that it felt like something gave just a big in his chest and he started to taste blood.

“Me think this one has learned how strong me is. Apologize to lesser Goblin before me kill.” The leader told him before grabbing hold of him by his leather armor and tossing him over to where the dead one lay.

Dustan wouldn’t lie, this was the worst pain he had felt in his life, compound that with the ever growing taste of blood on his tongue and his trouble breathing made him realize that something was very wrong in the inside of his body. He was having trouble even moving at this point his eyes slightly unfocused and staring the dead body of the orange capped goblin.

‘Wait orange?’ Forcing himself to rise and focus a bit more, a feat that felt more than a bit miraculous at the moment he realized that the cap wasn’t orange, it was still red just bathed in yellow light. ‘That can’t be what I think it is, can it?’

“Say bye bye now Me tired of waiting.” The leader said fingering the knife. “Oh wait, Me forget strange thing can’t speak cause Me magic sword.” Obviously the creature thought greatly of his knife referring to it as a sword.

‘Well if they aren’t going to stop me, best for me I suppose.’ Reaching over he plucked the crystal from the air, the same crystal that was emitting the yellow light.

The hiss of both of the brown furry creatures caught his attention as the leader held out his knife waggling it accusingly at him. “Where you get shiny?”

However before anything else would be able to speak or act the crystal shattered swirling around Dustan. When the light and dust vanished he emerged without a trace of harm on him looking refreshed. Testing his arm that was cut earlier he found no trace of a wound though his sleeve was still torn and stained with fresh blood.

“Huh that is neat.” The Goblins looked shocked to hear his voice as he smirked using this to his advantage. “Oh don’t you know about crystals. Neat things they are, heals up all wounds and makes someone stronger with the right conditions.”

The formerly excited one started to resemble his dead friend as he stuttered over his next words. “W-why tell, w-why let us know?”

“Because I know you won’t be telling anyone.” He then looked at the murderous creatures with a gaze that frightened them. “That and cause you threatened to kill an innocent family and eat them.”

Both of the Goblins roared out as they charged at Dustan now. The leader though reeled back yelling as a rock hit him between his eyes thanks to the stone the Squire launched at him. This left the excitable one charging at him in a one on one situation. A wild charge that was ill planned and reckless as it was predictable.

The charge didn’t end well for the Goblin who grew stiff after his charge was dodge and the crimson sword bit into his back and dealing enough damage to him to cause him to fall in battle. With the leader getting his sight back he was able to witness the fall of his comrade making him just as wild as his follower. He charged swinging his ‘sword’ around wildly marking up a few trees in the process before even getting close to the Squire.

Sword vs knife, both of which the users of barely knew how to use. The winner proved to be reach as the length of the sword was once more bathed bloody as the knife found itself dropped to the forest floor. The other hand of the trio’s leader was grasping at the blade embedded in his throat as the light was leaving his eyes. He tried to say something, what it was Dustan would never know, as all he could manage was gargling noises and coughs before the Squire’s boot hit his chest launching him off the blade and on his back dying seconds after he landed.

“HAHA I won, I did it, I…I…” The joyous feeling of victory quickly was pulled away and snuffed out as Dustan looked upon the battlefield. Three slain by his blade. Three INTELLEGENT and aware creatures lives snuffed out by his hands.

He wasn’t sure how long he was there for but he knew that once he was done giving the Goblin trio a shallow burial with his bare hands and no tools fit for the job, he had no more tears for today.

The next few days saw Dustan go back into a slump once more, this one worrying to his Zebra hostess for she saw him come back, bloodied, tired, and with the dagger of his fallen foe clutched in his free hand. It was hours before he even found the strength to ask for something to help with his parched throat and wasn’t till the next day that he told Zecora that he was now a murderer.

She tried her best to comfort him as after he explained the situation she said he was defending others and not out to kill for pleasure. That seemed to only intensify the feeling of self hatred though as he told her he had felt pleasure from killing them of being the ‘Hero’ even if no one would ever know about it. He still took life, something irreplaceable and horrific in that life could never be replaced.

Zecora would try for the next few days to console him but he seemed to only be on autopilot for the next week or so. It wasn’t for a random conversation about what the Zebra would be doing that brought him out of his pit.

“I will be gone for a week or so my house guest, I need to gather the ingredients for my next brew so I will leave you here to rest.” The striped shaman told him as she got her cloak and saddlebags prepped. “I must go to another town to gather ingredients before the celebration of the summer sun. With that going on nothing in Ponyville will be getting done.” It really startled her to hear the door to her hut slam open as Dustan came out looking wide eyed.

He could see her startled her and gave an apologetic look but merely asked. “The Summer Sun Celebration is soon? How soon?”

She smiled a bit happy to see him up and about even if it was about something as random as this. “The celebration for the sun is in but a week. With that I am off to gather what I seek.”

As Zecora was leaving she faintly thought she heard him speak about needing to explore ‘that place’. What ‘that place’ was not on her mind at the moment as she was going over the mental checklist she memorized as she headed towards the train station from a roundabout route.

Dustan had spent his time keeping busy for nearly a week after he got out of his funk thanks to the message of his teacher. He went about his work quickly brewing up as much of a certain concoction as possible as well as scouting the forest as best he could. There were even a few days where he gathered up vines upon vines and made sure to double secure a rickety bridge that looked close to collapsing. He found his time spent on the final day setting out small clumps of moss that smelled of the herbal stuff Zecora had used to keep away most Everfree creatures from her hut.

He knew this wouldn’t be totally foolproof as anything bigger then a Timberwolf would ignore the scent as he had to distill it down even further to make enough to line the trails that he guessed the Mane Six would go down. The only one he was totally sure of that they would go down was the one leading to the bridge which sadly had more than one path leading to it. The concoction SHOULD last for a day or so even in its weakened state. He had guessed from the show that what would happen would come to pass in the morning when the sun was to rise and last for a good bit but the show had never given a definite time frame of how long.

“Well that is literally everything I can do, aside from escort them myself. But just interacting with Zecora might have put a damper on things as it is. I REALLY don’t want to mess with the story too much as it is.” Looking at the sun then wiping some of the sweat from his eyes he headed back to the hut to gather up some supplies for fishing as it HAD been a while since he had any real meat thanks to his moping.

Yawning a bit as he marched onwards he figured all his hard work would earn him a nice nap as well once he got there if nothing proved to be biting. The river was heard long before it was spotted trickling rather rapidly it seemed as he took a seat by the bank. He briefly wondered if this river ran into the one that the girls would travel across. Yawning again he struggled with setting his line into the river as well as to recall how it was the girls got past it.

“I will remember after a nap. Been a busy week and I need the extra sleep anyways if I am going to stay up tonight to make sure it’s THE night.” He said to himself showing just how exhausted he was by not keeping his thoughts in his head this time.

He wasn’t sure how long he slept for but he could feel by the creaking of his body that it was longer then he should have done while wearing his leather armor. While wearing the leather armor wasn’t the most restricting of cumbersome of armor types it still made for poor comfort, that and sleeping on the hard ground didn’t do him any favors either.

“Note to self, if tired find bed.” He chuckled to himself at the poor excuse for a joke giving one more stretch before going to the spot where he lodged his pole. As he came to retrieve it he found the line pulled taunt. “Oh come on, a snag? I honestly shouldn’t be surprised considering its night already.” Looking up he could see the moon with the mare silhouette in all its glory still up there. “OH crap its night already. Better reel this in and get to the edge of the Everfree. Just because I can’t do anything to help them doesn’t mean I can’t watch over them to be extra safe.”

As he went to pull the line hard either looking to tear the line or pull the hook from the snag, it had other plans as the pole was jerked from his hands and the scaly form of a giant purple serpent with orange hair and mustache appeared. Dustan didn’t even have time to exclaim a curse or any noise of surprise before one of the serpent’s arms grabbed him and held him tight, REALLY tight.

“Here I was getting my beauty rest when SUDDENLY I feel something tugging at my glorious mustache.” The way he pronounced the word mustache put way more emphasis on the first syllable as well as with an effeminate air to it. “Only to find the one doing it to be a gross and ugly…I am not even sure WHAT you are but you are hideous.”

Not able to stop himself he gave the purple serpent an unamused look. “Thanks a lot I love being insulted about how I look.” He even gave an eye roll for added effect though cause of it his eyes landed on the moon. Watching as the silhouette vanished from the pale surface when four stars moved behind it. “Well shit.”

“Oh how crass. I simply cannot believe I am even holding one such as you. Just hurry up and remove your stupid hook from my fabulous follicles and be gone with you.” The serpent whose name he couldn’t recall from the show, eased up his grip allowing Dustan to free his arms to remove the hook from it, or at least try.

“Give me a moment, line is really tangled up in it. I will be quick and not a hair will be out of place when I am done.” It really was tangled up good, likely from Dustan sleeping so long and letting the line free float.

The sea, or rather river, dragon like creature crossed his remaining arm over his chest and gave a hurrumph. “Just hurry, my mustache is my pride and joy. It pulls my look together so well. I mean just look at me, I am fantastic.”

The squire could only roll his eyes again thinking of at least they got his character right in the show with how flamboyant he is. “There all out.” He said after a good solid five minutes or so of untangling it. “Anyways mind setting me down on the bank I need to get back to-”

“Muhuhahahaha.” Came a voice from the woods and before either human or serpent could even question what it was there was a snipping sound followed quickly by a splash as a purple cloud raced by.

“GASP!” Dustan had to look at the sea dragon as if to say ‘really’ with just his eyes as the dragon said that as well as gasped at the same time. “My mustache!”

The air whipped by the sword carrying human as he was thrown like a ragdoll catching just a glimpse of the serpent chasing after his severed ‘stache as the river carried it away. That was before pain and the air leaving him as his back slammed against a tree. He tried to struggle for breath but it came to slow and too shallow causing him to pass out.

He wasn’t sure how long he had been out for but as he came to the river was a rapid with how turbulent it was. Information came slow to him as his body ached all over from the impact he received before. Slowly he came to remember why he was out here as well as the purple cloud that had cause Steven Magnet to-

“That was his name! Steven Magnet. FUCK that means the girls are already on their way.” Quickly he ran along the bank looking to find the path he had put the moss along. The more he ran the more he remembered certain landmarks, such being more like a wetlands with its damp ground and mud, on the way quickly leading him to realize he was no longer on the side of the bank he was fishing on before. “Damn it. That means that I won’t have time to cross the river and spy along the way.”

The sounds of the rapids slowly started die off and return the river to its calm state. This only lead to Dustan grinding his teeth more and more as that only meant one thing. The girls were crossing the river at that exact moment. He rushed towards the nearest pathway and he got lucky, catching glimpses of color in the every growing green that the path became as it became once more like a forest. He knew the bridge was up ahead and smiled knowing that it would be sturdier and not out of order this time.

“What is that thing?” That raspy but feminine voice was one that he recognized, the same one that had made his ribs sore for a good while as well as a line that he didn’t remember her saying. Looking out onto the path he spotted why the prismatic mare had asked that question too.

On the path blocking them from their destination was a creature that all Final Fantasy players hated. Its glowing bright blue eyes shown with hatred for all living things as its bright orange body flickered and pulsed as it floated there. Its round body easily the size of one of the ponies as the light it gave off darkened the path even further. A volatile creature of flames and hate: A Bomb.

Its body was dripping small embers that hissed on the wet grass below it, still too damp in the area to catch alight thankfully. “Twilight any clue what that darn thing is?”

The mare who asked with a Southern accent wore a beige Stetson with blond mane coming out from under it and tied into a pony tail. The apple trio on her orange flanks marked her as the one and only Applejack.

“I have never seen anything like it but I heard the guards up in Canterlot saying they were dangerous.” Tisking lightly he moved as Twilight continued to speak, the lavender colored mare with the six star cutie mark looking scared at the horrifying creature. “They never said how they defended against it and they made it sound like.” There was an audible gulp as Dustan pulled his hood up. “It was deadly.”

The girls were about to panic and panicked ponies were dead ponies as far as he was considered when up against something like this. “Alright you hot head, over here!” He exclaimed loudly as he pulled out a candle and lit it. “I know what you like, you like what makes things burn don’t you?”

He was hoping that it wasn’t just oil Bombs liked but anything combustible. He was rewarded as the monstrosity turned from the six mares and looked right at his candle before shaking its body and making a hissing sound. A hissing sound that he thought sounded strangely too much like a lit fuse for his liking.

“Yeah you want this huh, come on then! COME GET IT!” He shouted at the Bomb as the candle burned, barely showing any of his hooded self except a minor outline as he hoped to provoke it. It worked, oh boy did it work.

The creature was fast, likely because it didn’t have to deal with terrain as Dustan quickly started to move, steering it away from the path and the mares destined for what was to come. The sound of hooves quickly moving made Dustan smile though as that meant the girls continued what they were doing and were on their way to the repaired bridge.

Grinning, he couldn’t help but taunt the creature any time it seemed to start losing interest. “Come on, look at this nice flame, this wax candle must have a good wick to make the flame so nice and bright.” The splash at his feet said he had run long and hard enough as he quickly turned around. “So why don’t you TAKE IT!” Yelling that out he tossed the candle up into the air which of course the Bomb’s eyes followed hungrily as it bounced trying to get higher up off the ground to reach for it.

As the candle came within range the burning creature caught it only for a loud hissing sound to come from below it not of its own doing. Dustan had used the distraction and had managed to ram his blade nearly up to the cross-guard in the round blazing body that the Bomb possessed.

“Yeah how do you like that?” Rather than looking surprised the creature merely took on an angrier visage as the flames coating its body seemed to spark and flame even hotter forcing Dustan to let go with a yelp as his hands heated up from contact on the metal. As he backed up though the flames being bolstered had not stopped and the Bomb seemed to be inflating. “Oh no you aren’t doing what I think you are doing are you?” Was all he managed to ask before cracks started forming in the body of the ignited monstrosity. “Oh shit you are!” turning around as quickly as he could the Squire managed about five steps before the Bomb used its most famous move, the one that gave it the name that it possessed. It self-destructed.

Laying in the sand and mud of the river bank one of his hands was wet and that was the feeling that he woke up to, that and pain, lots of pain. Slowly he would stand up and just as lucky he found his sword had been thrown into a nearby tree where the Bomb had sent it when it detonated. Looking down at himself as he walked over to it, slivers of wood were all sticking out of him aplenty. Nothing fatal it seemed but it would no doubt be a time and a half to remove every single splinter of wood that had managed to complete the cactus of wooden needles he currently was.

As he removed his sword from its wooden sheath the light reflected back into his eyes for a moment blinding him though at the same time making him smile. “Welp, happy endings for the start of the series so far I hope.” Taking his first step towards the water he winced. “Well happy in that hopefully Luna was rescued successfully and that I don’t get an infection from all this.”

For some reason he smiled, happy about how things turned out, even starting to whistle the opening prologue of most final fantasy games.

Author's Notes:

I did a little something different in this chapter at the end there. I put a link to a specific piece of music from Final Fantasy. It is optional to listen to it and not needed at all. However it is absolutely one of my favorite pieces of gaming music of all time and it was fitting. Always did that song play when the story got into proper motion, sometimes at the start, sometimes mixed in with other pieces of music. Though the fondest memories of it were from Four when it spoke of the crystals shining its light softly. For me this matches up with the moment in the story where it is.

I hope you all enjoy.

Chapter Four: Off Schedule.

My Little Tactics

Chapter Four: Off Schedule.

“I’m back!” He called out, not sure if anyone was home or not but either way before an answer even came back he was already trying to peel off his armor. His yelp of pain, both cause he was no longer producing adrenaline from his encounter with the Bomb and the fact as he went to peel off his armor and clothing did he find that there was more than a few splinters that now called his back, the back of his arms, and his legs their new home very likely from the detonation the flaming sphere put off when it came to critical condition.

His yelp caused the sound of hooves on wood as Zecora came out from the back room. “I heard your call but didn’t think to reply. Myself and many other ponies at the train station were more focused on the sky.”

He gave a nod and gritted his teeth as he found that his voice wouldn’t come out now with how much pain his body was in. The sound of water splattering against the wood of the floor caught his attention and looking down he saw that it was sweat dripping off his body. He tossed was tossed to the ground only to be followed by his shirt that is when he heard his teacher gasp. He could only give her a questioning look before he followed her eyes down to his shirt. The back of it was completely bloody.

“Quickly you must lay down.” He briefly gave her a questioning look before she just urged him down. “I am not making a joke as if I was a clown.” He did as she asked though with how his body was yelling at him, getting down was likely the easiest part of this, getting up would be a different matter. “Whatever caused this must have caused quite an uproar; especially with how deep this wood has in your skin bore.”

He wanted to answer her honestly but still couldn’t find his voice, well including minor hints of pain to out in whimpers whenever she pulled out a stubborn splinter. He was pretty sure that he had gone in and out of consciousness a few times as he remembered a few times when he caught the clock out of the corner of his eyes and watched it sometimes miraculously skip ahead between what felt like blinks. A few times he caught sight of other things, specifically small wash basin that the Zebra was using explaining the occasional cool feeling on his heated body. When the rag was removed he caught sight of how red it was making him briefly wonder if it was as bad as it looked or if it was just a lot of shallow cuts and holes making a lot of mess.

His answer never came as time once more skipped between the blinks of his consciousness as he came to with something more than cool being applied to his back that was both soothing and slimy. “Hush my friend and stay calm. This is a type of healing balm.” He wasn’t frightened at all but Zecora’s tone left no room for argument at all. “When you can find your voice I would like an explanation on how this came to occur. For now though I need you to help me remove your cloths so I can find if you have any more of this type of spur.”

They had discussed before his want of clothing and why he always tended to wear it while doing everything. He had explained it was a combination of his species view on sexuality, the need for warmth and comfort with the lack of fur, as well as time playing a factor in enforcing it in the minds of his people. She understood and left it the subject alone after that point but with his injuries and the fact more pain was coming from his waist down meant he had to get her help for this.

Mustering up as much strength as he could he undid his belt, removed it and started to tug down everything all while muttering a single thing. “Sorry.”

He said it not because of him feeling shame for his body or anything, but for two reasons. The first being Zecora having to work so hard to help him out like this when he was the guest and shouldn’t be causing her this much trouble. The second reason is his strength gave out and he couldn’t get his clothing any lower than his knees forcing the shaman to remove them the rest of the way. He remembered only one more thing from him lying there, him going to say sorry once more as he could see by the red face of the Zebra that he had clearly embarrassed her.

Dustan barely heard he reply before he passed out completely this time. “Sleep my friend so that your energy will no longer drain. While you rest you will also be free of pain.”

The next couple of days found the Squire struggle to move to anyplace but the floor with bandages covering his entire back as well as the back portion of his arms and legs. Zecora had stated that he would heal quicker if the wounds weren’t exposed and covered with that healing balm she had placed there. It also got really awkward as he had to use her support to make it to the restroom to relieve himself or when he couldn’t manage to move his arms enough to eat anything she prepared. Needless to say he couldn’t manage to hide his ‘dignity’ from her eyes in that state and she got more than an eyeful of it as she helped out.

It wasn’t even till the third day that he could manage to even drag himself to the restroom by himself though luckily by this time he managed to get a towel to cover himself though from the looks of things while his armor had protected him somewhat along his back, mainly his upper back, his sides and lower back had taken the full brunt since that type of armor focused mostly on the chest than anything else.

It was on the fourth day that something happened and honestly it started in such a way that Dustan didn’t even realize what was happening. Zecora promptly announced that she would be heading out to search for more of the herbs she needed for the healing balm she had been using on him. He told her promptly that he would be alright that he could move around a bit without being in pain. That got a smile from his zebra friend who told him that there were leftovers in the kitchen if he got hungry of if she stayed out late.

Honestly Dustan was happy she was away, it was just last night that he had once more visited the classroom.This time he found that he had enough points for a few skills if he wanted to get them, as well as something having unlocked: A second level to the skill Tactical Eye. Considering what the first level could do he was considering getting it but that meant he would have no points for anything else this time around. His choice made he ended up going with the upgrade, now finding that its descriptor allowed him to see not only the HP, MP, and CT of his enemies, but now their Names, Genders, Class, and Zodiac sign. He was still missing things like bravery, faith and such but he could live without those things for now. That and he had no clue how to unlock anything further on that. There was also the warning of those with abilities to hide their stats, those that were more than a few levels higher, and those with certain items could fool or hide their information from this ability.

Having down time was both good and bad in that there was nothing to do but think while he was healing up. He thought back to his fight with the goblins, something he was loathed to do but then again his mind gave him no choice in that he couldn’t help BUT think of them. It was during that time he remembered the red glow of his sword and the surge of power he felt, he remembered that clearly once he forced himself to go over the scene once more. He remember in sharp clarity the feeling, how he felt like his blow came off quite a good bit stronger than it should have. The Goblin should not have been one-shot when it was clearly in the advantage like that.

Lying on the couch like he was he noticed a couple of small slivers of wood that had fallen on it, likely from the fact not every single bit of wood was able to be pulled from his back when it had swollen up from the wounds. Flicking one away he suddenly had a though and noted where it landed. Locking on to another piece of wood he looked at it and breathed in slowly and exhaled. Part of him thought what he was doing was stupid for sure as he just concentrated on the wood before him; part of him wanted to stop and give up and find something better to do. Another part of him told that part to shut up because they had nothing better to do.

It seemed that his persistence paid off as well as he felt power surge to his fingers making them glow just like his sword had and as he went to flick the splinter away it went further than the other. “That’s it! It’s so simple!” He had gotten so excited that he jumped up right away though that caused more than a small bit of pain as he groaned at that.“I am so stupid! Of course I can’t activate skills from commands because this isn’t a game. It’s real. If Ivalice was real then how would Ramza and the rest activate their skills?” His grin came more and more easily to his face as he ranted to himself. “They wouldn’t. Those would be skills that are natural to them, turn based combat would be laughable to them as that is just a mechanic for the player. Everything would be from experience and would be done in real time.” Looking at his arm his face took a small look of concentration before his whole arm started to glow red before he let it go. “Aim+1 is a skill that makes the person concentrate on what they want to hit to hit it harder or more effectively. The Archer’s ability, which means I guess I have that equipped to my second ability slot. So if that means all my abilities are done by my knowledge and actions not by command. When I throw those rock, that was the skill; me making the salve is the same way. That wasn’t done instantly or by a command but by knowledge.”

Wouldn’t believe how plainly the answer was staring into his face the whole time and he was just too dumb to see it. Feeling the need for something specific he headed towards the restroom, specifically the mirror over the skin. Breathing out slowly he had to look at it and concentrate with only one thought in his mind.

I want to know

He was rewarded for his effort as a window popped up in his vision just like it had for the goblins. Sure this wasn’t something that likely could be done for Ramza and his crew in real time, but it meant that skills weren’t exclusive to battle for specific things like reading levels and such.

Speaking of he looked upon his plate and seen what it said. “Name: Dustan, Level: Five, Hp: Unknown, MP: Unknown, Gender: Male, Zodiac Sign: Virgo, Class: Squire.” Looking at his stats he couldn’t help but wonder a simple question: why the hell couldn’t he read his HP and MP? The best guess he had was that it was tied to more realism in how things worked. Sometimes you had to judge your own state because you couldn’t see how exhausted you were? He wasn’t sure what it was honestly and just chalked it up to the weirdness surrounding him.

Deciding to have some of those leftovers mentioned, he went and warmed them up. Turned out to be a rather tasty stew, though of what he never did know since Zecora was the one to always cook. That and he couldn’t watch her this time to even guess what it was to be. After eating he went on to just think, think about how to change classes mostly. Was it something you just thought and happened? Did there need to be a specific trigger? Was it as simply as just saying ‘job change’ or ‘class change’ then what you wanted to be? He didn’t know.

His mind then wondered to other things, specifically his last moments on his own world. Touching his bare chest there was not even a scar to show he had been stabbed but he knew he had been. His sword was a constant reminder every time it was drawn. Was anyone even wondering where he was? Did his interactions with the Merchants get caught on camera or something? Hell was time even relative to where he was now?

He wracked his brain for the answers to those questions and more but nothing came forth and he knew they wouldn’t, luckily he was saved with the door opening around noon. “I have returned quicker then I had assumed.” She then took note of the empty bowl in front of Dustan and chuckled. “I can assume that the rest of the soup has been consumed?” The Squire would have answered her normally except the gurgling in his stomach followed by a rather loud belch answered for him. “I will take that to mean you had enjoyed your lunch though I myself had something happen that was strange.” He waited for the other rhyme he knew was coming that would finish her speech but was unprepared for what she said. “As I was leaving Ponyville I had met with seven other ponies and had a bit of an exchange.”

The instant she said that his blood went cold and his face forgot to ask for extra blood to be pumped to it. “Shit.” He spoke softly, so much so Zecora never heard it.

“I had warned them of the flowers of blue. However a fog came from the Everfree before I could see if they walked through.” Dustan’s brain kept screaming at him hoping that it wasn’t true. “I can only hope that it is true that they didn’t touch the Poison Joke. Otherwise tomorrow will be a bad day for those pony folk.”

“I see.” He told his host out loud but in his mind only one word was being said. 'Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu-'

Dustan didn’t sleep at all that night and was left along with his thoughts once more. ‘Ok, so it’s only been a couple of days. I mean a few episodes can happen in that amount of time right? Let’s see there should have been Ticket Master, Applebuck Season and…oh…that one happens over the course of a while. FUCK, the show is off schedule.’ He assumed it was because of the balm used on him, likely using up the supply of ingredients far sooner than they should have been forcing Zecora to go look for the herbs she needed in town like in the show. ‘Ok ok, this isn’t entirely bad. This could be good right? Tomorrow they will show up ask Zecora for the cure and will become friends and learn an important lesson. Unless they see me.’

He knew he was the weak link here. The girls might have listened to Zecora on their own as she was a pony and they didn’t out right fight her like he had been. That meant if he was around they might fight her and never get cured. All through the night he tried to think of things to fix this problem but in the end, the sun rose and he was left with only one option.

When Zecora woke up he was already dressed in his tattered clothing and prepping to head out as well as with a sack full of supplies just in case he needed to be gone longer than a day. “Where are you off to so early in the morn. Are you also sure you should wear clothing so worn?”

“I am off to go fish Zecora, I haven’t had any meat and a while and rather keep myself topped up on the healthy meter so not to risk falling ill from my wounds. Plus I am ok to move and the cloths are fine. Luckily my cloak was not in the way of the explosion.”

Dustan knew the shaman had been surprised to hear about the Bomb for sure and how close he came to being splattered all over the place and though she had questioned him he said he did it to save travelers in the Everfree. Nodding and smiling to her as she nodded in return she told him to be careful and not to over exert himself.

“Sure sure you know me.” Her only response to that was ‘That is exactly why I worry. If you see something dangerous do not feel ashamed to scurry.’ With that he left with his fishing pole. Once he was out of view of the hut he let loose a groan he was holding in. He knew he honestly shouldn’t have been moving this actively like this but he felt like he had no choice. “A chance for Zecora to have a more normal life with friends vs being attacked and hurt cause of me. It’s a no brainer.”

Dustan wondered the Everfree for a while knowing he would have no strength to reel in any fish if they even got on his hook today. Overall his wondering found him deep in the forest at the familiar ruins that only a few days ago hosted an ancient evil as well as the Elements of Harmony. Not able to resist his curiosity he crossed the threshold and proceeded to the interior. Overall while the castle was incredibly dilapidated parts of it held the test of time. He discovered more of the castle to be explored then the show ever showed as well as more than a couple of rooms that just needed some simple repairs to make them livable again. Problem was no one, pony or not, would ever likely want to live here again.

His last stops on his tour were the places the battle had begun and ended: The Elements room and the observatory. The first one he discovered was more ornate then first realized or maybe never shown on the show. There were broken windows that were once likely stained glass but with so little remaining it wouldn’t be possible to even tell what it was they showed. That and they were so covered in dust he didn’t even know they WERE stained glass till he ran a finger over to get some of the dust off.

The last place, the observatory he discovered something interesting: On the ground was the intact armor of Nightmare Moon herself. “Guess Luna and Celestia didn’t want to keep this around, I can understand why though, bad memories attached to it.” Taking the armor and putting it into his bag he remarked. “Its lighter than it looks, then again to fly quickly I suppose it would need to be. No sense leaving it here for scavengers, I might as well take it and who knows, might be able to repurpose it later.” The irony of this of course was lost on him as he was basically scavenging the armor so scavengers wouldn’t get it.

Around this time it was getting close to evening so he decided to head back knowing, or rather hoping, Bridle Gossip was over. Pulling his cloak around him closer to keep the air off his bare chest he really wished his shirt was unusable but it was completely ruined. His pants were ok as they didn’t have as many holes and were made of tougher material, of which he gave a silent thank you to the inventor of denim. Zecora had managed to get all the blood off of them which he was very thankful for as well.

When he finally got back to the hut he saw that no one was home and that the hut was trashed. Hopefully a good sign as he remembered why in the episode it was trashed but a note quickly caught his attention. It still amazed him he could even read the Equestrian or even understand it, but to him everything looked as if it was in English. The note read: I will be back soon. Some ponies need an herbal remedy bath so I hope they do not prune.

Smiling and sighing out in relief he went to the restroom to do his business though while in there he heard the hut’s owner call out. “I am home.” He knew she wouldn’t hear him from the restroom as it was well insulated, though he did find it weird that he could hear her but not the other way around whenever he was in here. “I suppose he is still out going about his roam.”

He was just finishing up and coming out as she said that. “I am here Zecora, no luck today sorry to say.” Moving to put a towel around on his back as he expected Zecora would want to change the balm since he didn’t get a new coat this morning.

“Oh I didn’t know somepony besides you lived here.” Came a voice that made the hair on the back of his neck stand up. It was a voice he knew, even if it was just one he heard from the speakers of his TV, headphones or the speakers of his computer. Twilight Sparkle. He quickly moved to put his cloak back on just in case.

He stood in the hallway not daring to move as more voices were heard. “Ah reckon if another pony lives here we should apologize to them too for going at the home like a bull seein’ red.” The southern accented voice was none other than Applejack.

“Oh that means we can have a party for them and Zecora at the same time, a two-for!” The exuberant voice that sounded as if on a sugar high had to belong to none other than Pinkie Pie of which he still wondered if it was her that labeled him a monster when he first was spotted in Ponyville those weeks ago.

“Oh I hope they are a nice pony.” Least that is what he thought the quiet voice said which meant it belonged to the most timid of the bunch Fluttershy.

The sound of hair swishing was heard for a second before another voice called out. “Well darling I just hope they didn’t design the home. No offense Zecora but while you do have a lovely theme it could do with some flair of which I can help if needed.” A posh and noble sounding voice said while offering to do something for no other reason than to help especially if it was about fashion. Yep that was Rarity.

“I am just wondering if it was her or the other pony that has the pet monster.” He had already encountered that pony before and quickly had phantom pains in his chest from it. Her raspy voice was likely one of his favorite even if other fans found it annoying. To hear Rainbow Dash call him a monster did hurt a bit.

He was trying to decide if he should jump out a window quickly to avoid them or walk in nonchalantly as if nothing was wrong, except the choice was taken away from him thanks to a much closer, younger sounding voice. “Oh wow Mister, you sure are a big one.”

Looking down at the distinctly southern accented voice he found a very small pony. Now since ponies normally only came the start of his ribcage, if he was judging them all based on Zecora, then this pony only came to his thigh. Said pony was an earth pony based on the lack of horn and wings, with a yellow coat and red hair. That and a large red bow tied to her mane.

“Hello there.” ‘Welp I am screwed’ He thought while looking at the filly Apple Bloom.

The girls must have all heard the small pony talk as well as his answer as they came around the corner and spotted him giving off a large group gasp all at once. “I see you have met Dustan here. Why don’t we head to the living area before your questions start to disappear?”

All the girls kept their eyes on him, especially Rainbow Dash since they had met before. Strangely enough though he didn’t really see any tells that they were angry or anything at him; scared, slightly upset, and curious sure but not angry. Ponies were really easy to read all things said and done.

“Hello, I am Dustan, though I think we all met once before.” Most of them shifted their heads curiously as if trying to think of when that happened except for two of them: Rainbow and strangely enough Fluttershy.

“Oh yeah we met.” The chromatic mare said narrowing her eyes at him. “You were coming up to Ponyville when somepony spotted you and ran off. I gave you a good bucking so you wouldn’t come back to try to hurt anypony else.”

Though he put on a smile for all the mares he could feel his eyebrow tick slightly at the accusation. “I have never hurt anypony in the first place.”

The pegasus’ wings flared up and spread out as she tried to look bigger likely her trying to appear frightening though Dustan just found it adorable in actuality. “Sure, then what were you doing at Ponyville the first time huh?”

“I was lost and trying to figure out where I was.” He said though he was starting to grit his teeth as he was losing patience with the pony that seemed intent on making him out to be a bad guy.

“Yeah yeah likely story, I am watching you.” Her wings moved in front of her and two of her primary feathers then pointed to her eyes then back at him. Damn that was some impressive control; he had forgotten how prehensile their wings were on the show.

He wasn’t able to stop from rolling his eyes at that making the pegasus growl though she was interrupted by the Element of Generosity as she suddenly gasped. “You’re the creature that pulled that flaming orb of a monstrosity away when we were on the path to the castle of the two sisters.”

Giving a nod he chuckled. “Yeah, Bombs are no joke, especially if you don’t know what they can do.”

A quick flash produced a quill and paper for the scholar of the group as she quickly started to write something down. “So they are called Bombs. I heard some guards back in Canterlot speak of things like them but they didn’t have much information, not even their names. What do they do? How are they formed? Are they friendly?”

“How do we know it didn’t put that fireball there huh?” Face palming at the pegasus continued suspicions Dustan just explained the basics.

“I do not know how they are formed but they are not friendly. They seek to consume to keep their fires going and do not care what they eat though prefer combustibles.” Looking at them all they seemed to hang on his every word especially Twilight as she wrote what he said down word for word. “They can produce and absorb fire, doing the later usually heals them. If they are critically hurt they tend to live up to their name and as such explode wanting to take down what hurt them with them.”

“So that was the boom I heard!” Pinkie shouted as she stood up with a gasp. The others just looked at her like she was crazy, though being that it was Pinkie well… “When we took down Nightmare Moon right as we fired that rainbow the woosh of it was drowning out my hearing but I thought I heard an explosion that didn’t sound fun like my party cannon in the distance.”

Zecora suddenly looked at Dustan with a wide eyed glance; she knew what had caused it now. “Yeah, that might have been it wanting to take me with it.”

“Yeah and I am an tortoise. Come on what are you really after here huh?” Rainbow Dash saw fit to fly up and look him the eye and poke her hoof at his chest accusingly as said that and honestly Dustan had enough of it.

“Believe me or not, it’s your choice. You want to think I am some monster, go ahead. Your mind is set in stone and is harder than your hooves when you bucked me in the chest, Rainbow Dash.” Standing up he started to head towards the back only to find his cloak being pulled by the Pegasus.

Seems she wasn’t going to let him go easily. “Hey now, I am not done talking to you.”

The tug on his cloak was causing the cloak to pull hard against his windpipe threatening to cut off his air way as such he quickly unclasped it and walked away as the girls gasped. He didn’t care if they thought he was rude for walking away, he just had enough of the most stubborn pegasus in Equestria for the day.

Rainbow Dash, self proclaimed fastest flier in Equestria, the prismatic pony, and overall twenty percent cooler than any other pegasus dropped the cloak she was holding in her hoof as her flanks hit the ground. Her eyes were wide and a hoof went to her mouth as she looked from the retreating, she wasn’t sure what it was but its back, it was something that would likely be visiting her dreams for sure.

“What happened to him?” Fluttershy asked simply with a worried quiver to her voice. “What could have caused those kinds of wounds?”

Dash also wanted to know but at the same time a part of her knew but she was secretly hoping it wasn’t what she thought. “He spoke to me and said some helped some travelers in the every free by being brave. From what he told me no pony likely would know how to handle it so those in need he did indeed come to save.”

“When?” Dash was surprised by the quiver in her own voice almost as bad as her friends timid voice. Gulping down she repeated her question with more clarity “I mean, when did he get hurt?”

“It was during the night that didn’t seem to want to end.” Zecora confirmed causing a churning to start in the pegasus’ stomach. “Since then he has been on the mend.”

The world started swimming as Dash found herself rushing out of the door of the hut and to the nearest bush she could before empting her stomach. The reason for this was simple, besides the fact the wounds were awful to see on any creature was the fact that she had enough sense in her mind to know she was trying to pick on the creature that had saved them. Celestia had called a chariot for them all to head back to Ponyville during that night and they had all seen the small charred area that looked like it had been blown apart. They had all assumed that Nightmare Moon had done it but now they knew better.

“That could have been us, even worse cause we didn’t know that thing could do that.” The speedster had said it to herself but seems somepony else heard it.

“Yeah Ah agree with ya there sugarcube.” The blonde mane of the earth pony briefly came to the edge of her vision before her stomach started another lurch and she hung her head back into the bush. “Let it all out, Ah am sure you will feel better after your stomach stops acting like a buckin’ bull.”

It was another minute before she was done but when she felt her insides settle she gave a nod. “I think I am good now.”

“Alright if you say you are ok then ya are.” Applejack patted her withers and helped her back inside as it seems conversation had continued without them.

“I see, so he is the one that has been making those. I have been wondering what pony has been making them and how they work. I am still working on the how but at least now I know the who.” Twilight was still filling page after page of notes it seemed.

“Oh those salves have been wonderful for treating some of my little animal friends; I just wished I could have bought more then what I got.” Fluttershy nearly gushed as she said all this then looked back down and sighed. “And I still haven’t gotten to thank him for saving me in the woods either.”

“I am sure we will all get the chance to give our gratitude towards him for how he saved us from that thing in the woods Fluttershy.” Rarity told her and tried to give her a comforting pat.

Instead the shy mare just shook her head. “N-no that isn’t what I mean.”

“What do you mean then you silly filly?” Pinkie asked smiling all the while but tilting her head back and forth.

“W-well.” The caretaker of the animals just touched her hooves together. “A few weeks ago I was looking for a lost animal that had wondered off from my cottage. It had gone in the Everfree and I was hoping to find them quickly before anything happened.”

‘Wait what? Why didn’t I hear about this?’ Dash was Fluttershy’s best friend, she normally told her everything right?

“Eventually I realized I had gone deeper then I meant to and was about to head back when something found me.” Fluttershy was about to continue when Zecora cut her off.

“I see, so you were the one he spoke of. The one whom he heard in plea.” Zecora had made herself a cup of tea by this time, how she had made it so quickly wasn’t even thought of for now though likely would drive Twilight crazy for some time after.

Nodding once more the butter yellow mare continued. “That’s right. I had seen that Timberwolves were surrounding me but had not gotten around me completely. I managed to run away but eventually I slipped in some mud and had it gotten all over me. I thought I would never see my little animals again when he showed up and drew a sword on the wolves. Normally I wouldn’t condone violence against animals but I was so scared that when he told me to run that was the only thing I could think of.”

She was suddenly hugged nearly on all sides by her friends which just made her smile. “Fluttershy anytime something like that happens again you let one of us know ok darling? We will show any kind of ruffian that it doesn’t pay to attack our friends.”

For a bit all of her friends save one was hugging her, it wasn’t until silence reigned that the final friend said something. “Why didn’t you say anything before? To any of us, to me.”

Rainbow Dash knew she was making a seriously uncool face as she asked that but she couldn’t help herself. “Well you see.” For a second the butterfly cutie marked pony hesitated as if thinking carefully about her words before continuing. “I remember how you said you beat the monster of the Everfree back making it run with its tail between its legs, you sounded so proud of it I didn’t have the heart to tell you that the same creature saved me.”

Dash was slightly shaking, she hurt and accused an innocent creature of being evil, went so far as to attack it, saw the wounds it suffered on their behalf defending them, and that same creature had saved her best friend. The sick feeling in her stomach had come back but there was nothing for it to remove now leaving her just feeling very ill in general.

“As much as I would like to continue to answer your questions about myself and Dustan. I am afraid that to treat his wounds is the plan.”

The mention of the squire’s wounds brought all of the mares to silence during all this time even little Apple Bloom had been quiet and on the verge of tears pressed up against her older sisters side. Likely Rainbow Dash wasn’t the only one to be the one to dream of his wounds.

As they were heading out Zecora bid them safe travels giving them a small herb bundle to help ward off the noses of predators. Twilight was examining the bundle trying to determine what they were made of before she looked up towards her friend.

“How did he know your name Rainbow Dash?” A valid question indeed but it seemed fate had a way of covering for others at time.

That way being boasting. “Pfft, who hasn’t heard of me? I am the fastest pegasus in all of Equestria after all.”

Zecora would have loved to ask them to help clean up, that much he could tell. Problem was he also could tell that she wanted them to leave based on how they had looked at him. How did Dustan know this? The apologetic look she gave him when he was called back into the living room.

“I wish to give me apologies to you.” She told him gently while she started to spread the balm onto his back. “Had I known that was how some of them would react I would have never allowed you to even come into view.”

His wounds were healing up quite nicely it seemed, though likely going to leave him with many divots where he was wounded. “Its fine, I honestly was thinking of jumping out a window but was caught by the little one. At that point I couldn’t exactly leave.”

“They seemed like very nice ponies, a bit excitable but of the decent sort.” The feeling of her hooves moving on to his arms was soothing and he found himself dozing lightly from the long day it had been. “Next time a pony acts that way I will make sure to give them quite the retort.”

Chuckling at this he said nothing as more and more he dozed off. When he woke up she was handing him the rest of the balm so that he could put the rest on himself since he was well enough to do so now. A quick trip to the bathroom to rub the rest on and he made sure to wrap things like before.

“I know my wounds won’t heal to be the nicest to look at but they are a badge of honor for me Zecora. Proof I helped others.” He told her before smiling. “Seems like ponies from Ponyville accept you now. Maybe you will be able to find herbs and such easier there, maybe even sell things easier.”

Her smile was very wide indeed and that made his smile brighter as well. “Indeed that is the way it is now. Shopping and selling should be something that they allow.”

“Good, maybe I will pay a visit and see if I can get some clothing made sometime. I kind of don’t have anything else to wear with my own being shredded like it was.” A finger poked his bare skin through his jeans as he said this. “A few pairs of pants, same with shirts, some socks, and some boxers for sure.”

“Of this you should have no worry.” The hostess of the hut said as she was moving to the kitchen to prep for dinner. “The one known as Rarity is quote the seamstress and should have clothing of that nature done in a flurry.”

Giving a grin as he already knew that Dustan nodded to her. “Good to hear. I know you have been keeping the bits you make from selling my salve but I hope you don’t mind me getting some to pay for them do you?”

The zebra’s voice called from the kitchen as she asked that barely seen from the from the living room area. “I have been only taking what is considered decent for food and rent. The rest is up to you to determine on how it is spent.”

His grin vanished as he honestly didn’t consider that she was saving up the bits from the sales like that. “Are you sure, those belong to you after all.”

She started to boil the water on her stove, somehow the stove being automatically heated thanks to magic and crystals arranged in a way he didn’t understand. “You have earned those bits yourself with your hard work. To take more than needed for what was agreed on would make me quite a jerk.”

“Thanks Zecora, you are the best.” Dustan said moving to start cleaning up the mess that the Mane Six had caused during their accusations earlier. Besides being wounded a few times, the depression, and the mysteries surrounding him and his new abilities, he honestly thought that this not a bad life.

Author's Notes:

Another chapter down. Next one is coming along fine already but I do want to try spacing them out just a bit so as not to burn out on them both on writing them, and for you all reading them.

Chapter Five: A Walk Through The Town.

My Little Tactics

Chapter Five: A Walk Through The Town.

It had been almost a week since the off schedule event as Dustan had thought of it and since then things have calmed down quite a bit. The forest had calmed down along with the animals in it, he had walked into town once with no pony screaming at him or calling him a monster…beside Roseluck. He had even got measured and paid for clothing to be made for him by Rarity, of which she wasn’t happy when he still paid her when she wanted to give the first outfit to him for free, well that and that he wanted ‘plain clothing’ as she put it.

Yep all was right in the hut for sure as a crashing sound was heard inside the hut causing Dustan to sigh as a youthful apology was given. “Ah sure am sorry Zecora, I didn’t mean to drop it.”

The little filly that was Apple Bloom had paid a visit once more to the hut, her second in the span of a week. She had been interested in learning about Zecora’s culture and potion making from when she had helped out with the brew to cure Poison Joke the first time around. It was during that first time around that he had discovered how uncomfortable he had made the filly, or rather how his bare back made her uncomfortable. It was because of this fact that he waited outside during her lessons, which explained why he was currently sitting on the ground by the door cross-legged.

He had been trying to see if he could access the Class Room more easily via meditation, having even checked out a book from Twilight’s Treebary on the subject but was finding more than a bit of trouble as he worried about what was going on inside. The squire found he couldn’t help but chuckle at the antics as well as Zecora calmly and patiently explained mixtures and techniques to the girl similarly to how she had with him when he asked the same questions a few weeks ago. That being said if meditation was a no go he would at least get something out of the day as he took up his sword and started giving practice swings with it.

When the filly had finally come out of the hut he was pouring sweat. This time not only had he been swinging his sword but he had been mixing in the Aim+1 skill trying to get it to flow more naturally as well as easily just in case he needed it quickly. That was easier said than done and while the skill may not have cost any kind of MP or anything, he did find that it cost stamina and effort. Zecora handed him, or rather hoofed him, a towel to wipe down as Apple Bloom tried not to look at him. To make her feel better he quickly put back on his cloak.

“So how did the lessons go?” The question was better received now that he was covered somewhat as Bloom lit up and was happy.

She practically bounced around before answering him. “It went great. Ah learned how to make a simple balm to put on the pigs if they get hurt.”

Reaching down he ruffled her mane with a smile. “That is good to hear, but remember never to go look for the herbs in the Everfree. That is a off limit zone for you.”

“Ah know that. Ah ain’t a foal after all.” The young apple puffed out her cheeks at the perceived slight which just made her look adorable and caused Dustan to chuckle.

“I didn’t say you were.” He said sheathing his sword finally and looking up to the sun. “Let’s see, it’s been a while, I should see Rarity while I am in town.” Looking down at the filly as she got her saddlebags ready he asked. “Ready to head back?”

“Sure am.” She smiled back at him. This had been the routine for them since the first time she had come over. She would get her lesson and he would walk her back to her home on the orchard though he couldn’t get too close as Granny Smith had thought he was trying to kidnap the filly and had swung her cane at him. Old or not the mare still had a good bit of energy to put behind each swing to where he did not want a repeat beating from her.

Overall besides the Mane Six most of Ponyville was content to leave him be, but not in a hurry to interact with him. Dustan had overheard some ponies talking one time about the very subject and found that they were wary cause of just how alien he looked from a pony to which he could understand and figured they would get used to him in time. As they were hiking back to the orchard and its home he counted the seconds as he knew the questions were coming they always did whenever he and Apple Bloom were alone.

“So Mister.” Three minutes and forty seconds, a new record. “How is it that you make your salve but Miss Zecora can’t?”

“That is simple Apple Bloom. Magic.” ‘Ahh magic, the coverall of answers.’ He thought to himself after answering her. ‘Don’t know how something works? Fuck it, its magic. Best excuse ever.’

“Aww shucks. That means Ah will never be able to make it.” The ribbon wearing filly had her head drooping after saying that.

That had him curious. “What makes you say that?”

“Because Ah’m an earth pony. Earth ponies don’t have magic.” Was her answer though her head did come up when she heard his hand hit his head. “Why did you hit yourself like that?”

“Just, nevermind.” The Squire said before trying to remember things from the show. “Bloom, you have magic. Everything has magic. Unicorns have magic but it’s more directly seen, making it active magic. Pegasus and Earth Ponies have more passive magic. Your magic is more natural and is always active in your body. It’s how your family can farm so well, be incredibly strong and how Pegasus can touch clouds and fly even though the wings of a pegasus shouldn’t physically allow for them to fly.”

She just looked up at him as if he was giving off some great truth. “R-really? So Ah do have magic, it’s just passim.”

“Passive.” He corrected her gently with a smile before nodding. “But yes, you have magic. All ponies do so don’t worry about something like that.”

She started to prance again and bounce sometimes as he said that. “Alright! Ah was worried that Ah wouldn’t be able to put to use anythin’ Miss Zecora taught me but now that Ah know that Ah know Ah can.”

Reaching down he once again ruffled and gave her mane a good petting which she seemed to enjoy judging from her happy smile. “Well I am glad you are happy about that. However seems like our time is up today.”

So engrossed in this particular conversation that Bloom didn’t even seem to have noticed they had already arrived. “Aww shucks Ah had more questions.”

“Next time.” He assured her as he started to turn around.

Dustan was stopped however when he felt two hooves wrap around him in a hug. “Thank you Mister Dustan.”

If someone were to ask him he would absolutely deny the hug felt really good, nor would he admit to any unshed tears in his eyes for any reason. “No problem, now head off before your sister gets upset.”

Prancing off the Squire made sure that he spotted the two siblings giving a loving nuzzle to each other before heading off to town. As he got closer and closer he pulled the hood of his cloak over his head as well as wrapped the covering around his body further than before in an effort to call less attention to how different he was compared to ponies to make them at least a bit more comfortable. His destination was the Carousel Boutique and his goal, besides getting his new clothing, was to make sure not to get too caught up in stares and disrupting the daily lives of ponies.

“There’s that thing again Mother.” The small whisper of a filly said to her parent.

There was the sound of a dismissive ‘tisk’ before a haughty voice spoke up. “Come Diamond Tiara, it’s just a simple beast it can’t hurt you. Though do not worry, I am sure that the petition I put in with the Mayor will get through to make sure the next time it comes here that it will be tracked down by the Royal Guard for being a public menace.”

‘Spoiled Rich you fucked up mare you. Even now you are teaching your daughter right from wrong, or at least your version.’ Glancing out of the corner of his eyes he could see the pair moving on with a rather timid filly following after her mother. What surprised him the most was that Diamond Tiara’s flank was bare. ‘This must be before she got her cutie mark and before she turns into a little copy of her mother thanks to the superiority complex her mark gives her.’ Dustan sighed quietly wishing he could take her aside and possibly guide the filly to a better future but if he did that means her purpose would be left unfulfilled when the future CMC needed her.

So many pratfalls lay ahead of him and so many times he had to squash his instincts to help others lay ahead of him but in order for the happy ending that was coming he needed to stop himself and be in the background. So lost in his thoughts that he arrived to the boutique rather quickly and this is where a new problem hit him.

‘This is her shop AND home. Am I supposed to knock or just come in?’ He had lucked out last time as Rarity was seeing a customer out when he came around and invited him in so the problem had not come up last time. Deciding on the side of caution over being rude he knocked politely.

“One second, I will be right there.” Came the voice of the posh unicorn making him feel a bit better about knocking. As she opened the door though there was an interaction that made Dustan chuckle. Flipping her mane she had her eyes closed as she started her speech. “Welcome to the Carousel Boutique, where every garment is chic, unique, and magni-OH!”

Her exclamation came when she realized she was staring at his stomach making her look up. “Sorry about that. Didn’t know whether to knock or just come in since it’s both a store and your home.”

Him apologizing gave her enough time to calm her breathing from what he could see before she put on her smile and nodded. “Well thank you for your consideration darling, it is much appreciated. What brings you to me today?”

She also offered him the hospitality of her home by letting him inside as he started to speak. “I was hoping to hear about the status of the clothing I ordered.”

Rarity smiled about that. “One second dear. While I do not have all the clothing you have ordered I do have some pieces ready and done along with a surprise.”

“Rarity I said I didn’t and she is gone.” The Squire said out loud though the last part was more to himself. Moving to sit down on the nearby couch, of which he recognized from the show as the infamous ‘fainting couch’ Dustan waited and braced himself for something with lots of jewels and sparkles if the surprise was anything like he thought it might be.

The hum of magic drew closer and soon Rarity stepped around the corner her horn glowing with her blue magical aura as several sleeves no doubt containing outfits came out with her all surrounded by that aura. “Here we are Darling, five of the outfits you asked for from the dozen. I would have had more done by now but I am just absolutely swamped with orders.”

“It’s no trouble at all Rarity, take your time with them.” He assured her as he took the first of the offered sleeves and looked for the zipper holding it closed. “Remember I want quality, durability, and longevity in these clothing since I will be wearing them every day.” Unzipping the sleeve finally revealed an exact copy of the outfit he appeared in, though of much higher quality and durability just like he had hoped along with a pair of socks and boxers. “Very nice.”

“Thank you, I do strive for perfection after all. I must admit though that your outfits challenged me in a way I would have never thought.” The unicorn told him floating over the next sleeve. “And, no it wasn’t cause of your unique proportions.”

Raising an eyebrow at that he simply asked her. “Oh? How did it challenge you then?”

This suit was more along the lines of something he would wear at home more jeans this time blue instead of the black of his costume as well as a long sleeved button up shirt in a dark forest green. This outfit also came with more boxers and socks thankfully.

The next sleeve came over as Rarity kept speaking. “Because, I make outfits to highlight a ponies coat or mane, their passion or even what they aspire to be often times with designs that unique to each of them. For you though, you wanted none of that. Simple colors, simple design, functionality, and comfort were your top priorities. It was something I had forgotten to do as ponies tend not to wear for comfort so in a way it made it that much more of an exotic design then I had even thought of before.”

For some reason he couldn’t help but remember a line from one of his favorite movies. “When everything is special, nothing is.”

“That is a bleak way to look at it I suppose but that is correct.” Rarity told him. “I was locked into thinking in ONLY that way, so it is refreshing to shatter that illusion so that I may strive for excellence that is even greater than before.”

The next suit was another button up shirt with an inner shirt being black and white respectively. The pants were unsurprisingly another pair of jeans but were wide and would end around the middle of his shins as well as a beige color. This outfit was designed for hotter days to come. Again he got a pair of boxers and socks with this outfit.

“Thanks Rarity, so far these are exactly as I asked for.” The complement made her giggle and wave her hoof as if to dismiss the complement.

Getting her composure she brought the last two over now. “These last two are copies of the last two though they are in different colors so you have a bit of variety in your choices.”

Unzipping them they were indeed as the designer had said. “Thanks. Mind if I get changed right now?”

Giving a nod the purple maned fashionista smiled at the suggestion. “No problem Darling, I was actually going to ask you to put one on so that we can see if I got everything correct.”

There was then an awkward moment of no one moving before Dustan realized the issue. “Mind turning around my species tends to be very shy about our bodies for a multitude of reasons that would take too long to explain fully.”

Smiling she turned her back but would talk as he got dressed in the first outfit that wasn’t a copy of his costume. “Of course Darling. If all ponies, or in your case Humans, were alike then there would be no variety in life.”

It took a moment but finally it was done. “It’s a great fit Rarity, really good job. Not too tight or too loose.”

Turning around the white unicorn gave a girly squeal as she seen her work displayed. “Oh good it lays on your form just as I imagined. Nothing too tight or uncomfortable?”

Shaking his head he even went to stretch in his new outfits showing they would move with him nicely. “Nope, even the boxers are a good fit.”

Normally saying this to a female would have him blushing up a storm but the ponies were so adorable he had a hard time seeing them the same as women from his world removing a good bit of the embarrassment. Plus he was talking to a professional and he knew that telling them everything was important for solving potential issues. He learned that the hard way via a plumber that came to his house one time when he was the only one there and was too embarrassed about discussing bodily functions to properly say everything. The plumber was needed two hours later for overflow and more.

While he would have loved to test how the copy of his costume would work with his armor he had not worn it cause of the chaffing and such it would cause without some kind of buffer between it and his skin. “Good, now for the surprise.”

‘Here it comes.’ He thought to himself briefly not looking forward to the gaudy thing that was likely made against the taste of any male that disliked such things.

However that isn’t what she pulled out. “Tada!” Instead it was a backpack made in the same black as his costume jeans. “I made this as I seen you had no saddle bags. I then realize of course you don’t have a saddle bag as there would be no place to put it so it took me a bit to come up with this design but I believe it should work. I call it-”

“It’s a backpack.” He finished the statement for her only for her to nervously chuckle.

“I was actually going to call it back bags but your name rolls off the tongue so much better. I take it Humans have these already?” With a nod she sighed before smiling again and using her magic to fold and put the clothing into the pack. “Of course, but hopefully you don’t mind this token of gratitude from me since you refused my first suit for free offer.”

He saw her doing the same for the few pouches he wore at his belt taking out the contents to place them in the pack or one of its many pockets. “You know normally yeah I would refuse but a backpack is something I really, really needed.” He told her clasping his cloak back on around his neck and shoulders.

“Oh what a lovely crystal.” The instant he heard Rarity say that is the same instant all the blood in his body froze. Turning to look at the unicorn he saw that in her magical grip rested the sapphire stone of Virgo. “I have never seen such a stone ever, what is it made of Darling?”

Rarity then gave out a gasp as his hand grasped the stone and pulled it out of her magical grip before stuffing it deeply into one of the pockets of the backpack. “Please don’t touch that.”

“I-I am sorry Dustan, I didn’t mean to offend.” She had backed up from him a bit as it seemed his actions had scared her.

Shaking his head he sighed. “You didn’t do anything wrong or know what it was so its fine. Just, please don’t ever ask to see it again.” Seeing her stare at him he supposed he had a dark look to his face making him want to fix things. Giving a couple of slaps to his cheeks he smiled and chuckle. “Besides, you can make any stone shine, no need to get all wide eyed at my old thing.”

That seemed to do the trick as the unicorn relaxed and smiled. “Well thank you. I won’t ask for your reasons as it seemed that crystal was important to you. Anyways I am very happy that you enjoyed what I have created and will make sure to get the others made as quickly as possible.”

“Again take your time. I paid for quality and I will be miffed if I don’t find perfection from the best fashionista in Equestria.” He gave a bow at that causing her to once again giggle and wave off his complement. “Anyways I don’t have anything to do today so I am going to go around and take in the sights of Ponyville. Have a good day miss Rarity.” With that he put his pack on his back smiling as it too fit perfectly and comfortable against him.

“I do hope you have a good time Darling and come back anytime.” She responded with a wave. As he was leaving her face had the smile removed and a worried look come over her face as she said something he couldn’t hear. “Why did you look more frightened for me than anything else when I held that crystal?”

Dustan only got about a dozen steps before he found himself levitated up into the air by a magenta aura. He had half reached for his sword in fright before a voice called out to him causing him to stop his reaction.

“Ahh Dustan!” It was the voice of the scholar of Ponyville herself. “I was actually thinking of coming to visit to talk to you some more.”

Twilight as was one of the regular visitors to Zecora’s hut as was Fluttershy even though he had only saw each of them once. “Twilight, please don’t randomly levitate me like that, I tend to get jumpy at surprises like this.”

“Oh sorry, it’s just I was so excited to see you again.” Though as Twilight said that she still had not put him down and was in fact carrying him towards the treebary.

‘Oh…it’s that Twilight…great…fantastic.’ Dustan thought as he was brought in to the home just barely managing to duck out of the way so as not to hit his head as he was levitated.

“There is so much I want to ask you about.” This was not a surprise to the Squire at all. “You see I have been looking through books upon books and have found NOTHING on your species. Meaning you are completely new to Equestria as a species.”

He didn’t like where this was going but felt like he could dodge most of the questions with a lie or two or a half truth, he was prepared for any question she had to ask of him. “Ok but mind if I can sit down, I mean hovering is nice but a good cushion might be in order so as not to break anything that might not support my weight.” He had lucked out for the most part as the type of wood for the furniture in Zecora’s hut was very hearty and could support his weight. He wasn’t sure about this place though.

“Oh right sorry.” She quickly let him down much to the complaints of his rear before quickly getting him a couple of pillows to rest on. “Ok first question.” She said before quills and ink popped into existence from somewhere else.

Nodding with a smile he leaned back on one of his hands as he got comfortable. “Go for it.”

“How did you arrive in Equestria and what made you decide to come?” It should have been an expected, one of the first he thought would be asked but as Twilight asked that he found himself strangely surprised by it.

Reaching up to touch his chest, the place where he had felt the sword slide into him the events leading up to his arrival played back in his mind. He must have been out of it for a bit and worried the unicorn as he came back to her shaking his shoulder asking if he was alright. Rubbing his hands over his face for a moment he came back with a smile hoping to put her off of her worry.

“Sorry about that, lost in some memories. Truth is that I was brought here by someone else; a spell or something used by someone else is what caused it. I am not even sure where in relation to the human lands I am anymore.” Not entirely false, he had assumed it was some kind of magic, or force the Merchant used to send him here but wasn’t sure. That and again he wasn’t lying when he said he wasn’t sure where humans were in relation to Equestria, the Universe is a huge place after all.

Dustan was slightly surprised by the look of utter sadness on Twilight’s face as well as a tissue popping out of nowhere to wipe her tears away with. “Sorry I didn’t mean to make you recall that. I never knew that you are displaced from your home as you were. Also with you not knowing where your lands are that means you have no way of returning till you do.”

“Y-yeah.” Dustan still wasn’t over this fact either and had still been trying not to think of it. So a subject change was in order. “Oh by the way, thanks for letting me check out a book. So far so good, though no success on achieving a meditative state as of yet but I will keep trying.”

Seems the lavender pony also appreciated the change in subject as her face visibly reflected that, ponies were so easy to read. “Oh I am glad you are enjoying it. Meditation is a very complex subject and simple all at the same time. The simple thing is clearing your mind, but with how often you think thoughts it is very difficult to do. I know I myself have trouble with it on occasions.”

‘You don’t say Ms. Analyze everything.’ His inner thoughts were on sarcasm level ten though he didn’t show it at all. “Well least you can do it. For me it’s just…I THINK I clear my thoughts, I focus on my breathing and find time just passes but at the same time I am aware of it. Which the book says is not the state I want but half way there. I have rid myself of thoughts but I must now rid myself of distraction and if I am aware of the world I am distracted.”

A giggle escaped the mare as she brushed the pink stripped mane from her eyes. “I have the opposite problem, as I said my thoughts tend to run with me but the world interrupting me has never been a problem as I am good at tuning it out.”

“Hey you two.” The boyish voice of the resident purple and green dragon called out.

Waving when he seen the baby dragon he smiled. “Sup Spike.”

The dragon was carrying a tray with tea and small sandwiches setting it down on the nearby table for the two. “Figured you two could use this when I seen Twilight dragging you in here like a cat who caught a mouse.”

For her part Twilight did manage an adorable blush. “I did no such thing, you take that back Spike.”

“Actually Twilight.” Dustan commented while pouring his cup of tea. “You kind of did. You levitated me against my will when I could have walked.”

The falling ears of the pony as well as the down turned face looking at the floor already was tugging at his heartstrings let alone when she started to speak. “I-I’m sorry. I just was so excited to talk with you. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”

‘Diabetes please, I give up I swear!’ “It’s alright Twilight. I am happy to talk with you honest. Just don’t take it the wrong way in the future if I walk out if you do something like this again.” Taking a sip of the tea he smiled at the taste and gave Spike a thumbs up which was returned.

“Alright.” She was still looking upset but was recovering. “I suppose if you want is it alright if we continue with the questions?”

“Sure, fire away.” Twilight once more in her element with his answer opened her mouth and Dustan knew it would be a bit before he was freed.

“Alright Twilight, have a good day.” He waved to the librarian as he made sure the books he had checked out were nice and secure in his backpack. The Squire watched as she waved back to him as he turned to leave.

It had been almost two hours as Dustan was asked question after question with a few of his own thrown in. They had went over the basics of human anatomy which he was surprised that she didn’t ask for him to strip down. He had read about fanfics doing that before but was glad this Twilight didn’t. That or maybe she was considerate seeing as he they had just gone over some boundaries with the levitation. Turned out humans had better eyesight then ponies by about three times, with the reverse being true with a pony having much greater sense of smell though by how much was unknown as it was hard to quantify, neat with what you could find out with just simple questions and tests. They had gone over that Humans were more inclined to technology though have been known to use magic in all sorts of ways. This wasn’t a lie as he was going over what he knew of in Tactics as well as other Final Fantasy games, after all if he told her that magic didn’t exist in his world then how was it he could produce the salve with hints of magic.

That was a landmine he was doing his best to avoid. Speaking of landmines when he checked out books on both offensive and defensive magic he had to fall back on the excuse of living in the Everfree and that he himself was not a big caster at the moment. In truth he was hoping to get a bonus like he had when learning about potions from Zecora but for White and Black Mages. There was also the fact that since magic WAS possible in Equestria and spells did exist, would it be possible for him to learn them in any class? Ramza and Summoners did learn things when exposed to certain skills, maybe it worked kind of like that or the systems from the tactics games after that where you learned by equipping items.

In the end it didn’t matter as he would find out one way or the other and was just plain excited to be studying magic.

“Oh hi Dustan.” The soft voice of the quiet pegasus brought him out of his musing as he seen Fluttershy outside of a shop.

The butter cream winged pony was standing next to a bag as he waved to her. “Hey there, what are you up to?”

She looked down towards the bag and then stepped in front of it as if trying to hide it. “Oh nothing, just doing some shopping for my little animal friends.”

Looking up in the sky he noticed it was about noon now which was strange. “Weird, I remember Zecora saying you head into town to do your shopping after you feed your animals.”

Apparently Fluttershy and Zecora got along well, not only for the fact of their respect for nature both fauna and flora as well as the knowledge they could share, but because Zecora could give Fluttershy things to help keep her animals healthy and Zecora could get animal products. Hearing Dustan say this though the mare hide behind her mane a sure sign that something was up.

Sighing she barely was able to be heard as she spoke up next. “I have been trying to get back home with this bag of feed but I can’t carry it myself.”

Moving over to the bag he lifted it up and put it over one of his shoulders. “Need some help then?” He wasn’t the most athletic back home, but here he had put on some decent muscle so far for sure. Though he suspected that half or more was from his cheating aspect of being a class rather than his own hard work.

“Oh, no-no, you don’t have to I can-” The words started to come out but Dustan cut her off already marching down the road.

He knew that she would try to shoulder this problem herself so as not to cause anyone else any problems and he wouldn’t have that. “It’s no problem; I was heading back to Zecora’s anyways so this is on the way. I even have time to spare so if you need any more help feel free to let me know.”

Hearing the clip clop of hooves next to him the corner of his eye caught sight of the pink mane of the pegasus pony who preferred the land. “W-well if you are sure I wouldn’t mind some company today.”

“Good to hear.” For a moment there was some hesitation in his step as he looked to her. “You are going to make sure to keep Angel from me right? I haven’t forgotten what happened with him when he was with you during your last visit to Zecora’s.” There were just some things males do not do to each other unless they are good friends or doing dares and that was a nut check.

“I made sure to lecture him lots after that happened. He was also plenty scared after what you threaten to do to him.” She shivered a bit remembering but that just made Dustan grin. The little bunny could kick hard but he when he told Angel that he would do the same to him, well the little monster quickly realized it wasn’t an idle threat nor was it something to laugh off considering the size and power difference.

Their talk continued in silence after that with the Squire looking forward to enacting his revenge while the pegasus was thinking about how to stop her pet from getting neutered. Eventually though the critter house that was Fluttershy’s home came into view, instantly giving anyone the impression that the owner of the home was one with nature. Its roof a combination of moss, grass, and leaves gave it a lovely green coloration that was the dominate feature of the home from the outside. The inside was cozier, fitting the domestic nature of the pony in question as well as the fact there were small stairs everywhere for critters to move about when not on the ground.

Ducking down to get inside after Fluttershy welcomed him in, he looked around before asking. “Where do you want the bag?” He said it loud enough so that the pet of the home would make himself scarce…or show up Dustan wasn’t sure which he wanted more.

Right away the host of the home brought out a dozen small animal dishes as she asked. “Mind pouring some in the bowls please. I ran out after breakfast and don’t want my little animals to go hungry.”

“No problem.” It took him a second to figure out where to open the bag up, but once he had he was pouring steady amounts into each bowl. “How do you get them not to attack each other?”

She had come back with a few more bowls to be filled as well as take those that had been filled to various corners or open cages. “Well I told them nicely, if they couldn’t get along then they would have to find other places to visit and stay. After all I do not want my little animal friends to try eating each other.” She seemed to remember something as she gave a small ‘oh’ and looked back to him. “I know I don’t need to ask, but can you not eat any of my animal friends either with you being a carnivore and all?”

That was one thing that he didn’t tell any of the girls not even to Twilight during the interview so that did make him wonder. “I am an omnivore actually and how did you know I eat meat?”

“Oh that is wonderful to hear. Not the eating meat part but knowing you have all kinds of options to stay healthy.” She went to the kitchen before coming back to grab the last bowls as she finished explaining. “It’s your teeth. I noticed it when you first smiled.”

He made a mental note on not smiling so wide in the future if he could help it but knew that it would happen regardless. “Also I don’t eat anything that can reason. All your animal friends are safe and I tend to fish for my meat. I need it to stay healthy along with fruits, veggies, and grains among things. Speaking of, I can’t eat hay or flowers. Just letting you know in case you were wondering.”

“Thank you for letting me know, that is very kind of you.” She said that from the kitchen though he could then hear her speaking softly to something. “Come on little one, eat up. You just hatched not too long ago and need to eat.”

Rolling up the empty part of the bag he came into the kitchen to put the seeds away, well ask where to put them at least when he seen the caretaker talking to a very white fluffy looking chick, except the chick was about the size of a normal chicken. “Oh that is who you are talking to. Also where do you want the bag?”

“In the cupboard please.” She nosed the bowl of seed towards the little chick that just fluffed up adorably but didn’t eat. “Oh this little one just hatched from an abandoned egg I found in the forest. She has refused to eat anything and I am worried as I don’t even know what species she is.”

Putting the seed in the cupboard on the bottom he chuckled and smiled. “I am sure you will figure it out, you are the best caretaker in Ponyville after a-”

“Kweh”

Hearing the noise Dustan’s eyes widened as big as they could go as he watched the both of them but especially the chick. “Please little one, if you don’t eat you will get sick.” The chick merely gave another distinctive ‘Kweh’ noise.

Swallowing hard Dustan right away moved towards the fridge of Fluttershy of which turned to him and gave a bashful. “Sorry, you must be hungry too, if you find something to eat let me know.”

He was praying VERY hard his knowledge was intact about many translations and such as he had found the item he was looking for and quickly hid it behind his back as he moved to sit down on the floor next to the chick and Fluttershy. “Hey there little one, you must be very hungry right?” The chick gave another of its cry’s that practically made Dustan shiver with happiness. “I-I think this more along the lines you are looking for right?”

Bringing his hand around he showed the small chick what he had found: A carrot. Carrots were what the items were also known as so he was hoping this would work. Breaking off the tip and quickly mashing it up some he held the past in his other hand towards the chicken sized hatchling. She quickly stood up and hopped over towards the extended palm and pecked at the mush for a moment before giving a happy ‘Kweh’ noise and going to town on the carrot mash.

“Oh how wonderful, I am soooo happy to see her eating. I just wish I knew now what species she was.” Fluttershy said happily mostly to herself only to tilt her ear in Dustan’s direction when he spoke very softly.

“-bo” was all she heard.

Looking up to him though he was only staring at the chick she could see pure happiness on his face along with a few unshed tears. “Bo?”

Swallowing for a moment he nodded and smiled as he quickly broke off another piece of the carrot and mashed it up for the white bundle of fluff. “Mhm, Chocobo. That is the name of her species. Specifically unless all chicks are like this, she is a White Chocobo. Those types of Chocobo are VERY magical.”

“Oh I never heard of those types of animals before.” She was watching Dustan interact with the chick with a smile on her face. “Maybe you should adopt her as your pet?”

His eyes once again widened as he turned to her. “Really, I would love to!” The Squire saw the happiness on her face before a thought occurred to him that instantly brought his joy down. “But I can’t.”

Seems the pegasus also seen the vanishing joy bringing hers down as well. “W-why not?”

Seemed the little Chocobo chick had her fill and instead insisted on laying on his palm, fluff up, and fall asleep. “Cause of where I live. Not only do I live by the Everfree, a very dangerous place. But the place I live is not my own home. I live with someone else and to adopt a pet into someone else’s home is not only rude, but irresponsible towards pet and the one who adopts them.”

Hearing that, he couldn’t see it on her face as he was still looking only at the chick once more but she understood. “Alright, but if you ever do find yourself in a safer home would you want to adopt her?”

There was no hesitation as his other hand had started to pet the sleeping chick. “In a heartbeat.” Finding a nice place to set the chick he looked back towards Fluttershy and asked. “If you find anything that looks like a carrot but is kind of a golden color, that is a Chocobo favorite meal. They are called Gysahl Greens.”

Lighting up with a smile she went to one of her pantries and pulled out more than a dozen of the carrot looking greens. “These? I found them before the little Chocobo there hatched and tried to give them to Angel-bunny but he didn’t like them.”

Nodding once more he smiled. “That should be them. Anyways now that she is nice and fed is there anything else you need help with?”

Most of the things that the animal caretaker of Ponyville needed help with was feeding and cleaning after many of her animal friends. Nothing really strenuous, it just him helping to herd animals around while she either placed bowls down or cleaned an area. The Chickobo had woken up in the middle of the chores and right away Kweh’ed when she found the pair moving around the home or just outside of it. She had followed Dustan where ever he went and often fluffed up adorably. More than a few times did he find himself reaching down to pick the small Chocobo up and give her loving hugs and nuzzles.

Sadly the time had come and gone for him to head off back to Zecora’s to both which he himself and the Chocobo were sad about if the sound of the kweh’s the chick gave off were any indication. He promised to come back soon to see her and soon started to head down the road.

He was thinking about the small chick the entire time on his way back no matter how many times he tried to think about or get excited about the books on magic he had or his new clothes. Chocobos along with Moogles made his manly heart just squeal like a little girl with her favorite plushy any time he saw one in the games or when they gave their signature cries. He loved it every time one of them said Kupo or-

“Kweh!” The cry was too real to be in his head as he looked behind him and saw nothing at first.

Then the feeling of something rubbing up against his leg called his attention down, specifically to the white bundle of fluff. “Hey there. Did you follow me?” he asked the chick as he bent down only to get an affirmative Kweh from her. “You can’t come with me.” However as he told her that Dustan just heard the most heartbreaking Kweh possible from the chick. It hurt his heart to say the least and he could swear he saw tears in her eyes, bringing matching ones to his own.

Dustan looked towards the road, both first back towards Fluttershy’s home, then back to the hut he lived in thanks to Zecora’s kindness. He had a choice to make: Do the right thing and walk the chick back to Fluttershy’s hoping she could keep the chick from getting out again OR give in to the most adorable pile of fluff in existence.

On the way home he playfully glared up at the chick who made its home on his head and under his hood. “Boko, if Zecora kicks me out, I blame you.”

Dustan had made his choice and he honestly didn’t regret it one bit.

Author's Notes:

One of my favorite chapters to write just because of the feel goodness of it at the end. Hope you all felt it as well.

Chapter Six: Griffon Me A Headache.

My Little Tactics

Chapter Six: Griffon Me A Headache.

It had been a peaceful two weeks, no sightings of monsters, no emergencies, and no issues with any of the Mane Six. Mostly because when he went to town on two separate occasions and found the episodes, The Ticket Master and Applebuck Season, going on. He made it a point to stay away from that as much as he could. That and he had gotten an earful from Fluttershy for now letting her know about Boko right away. She had been absolutely worried, his only consolation was the fact she was ecstatic about Boko being named and adopted properly.

That had been another potential fight as at first Zecora was upset but had grown close to the ball of fuss rather quickly. With them knowing what to look for in Greens and Carrots, the little bird was growing happily. With some of his funds he had bought her a food and water bowl, a bed, and some toys. Really only the things used was the water bowl though as he still fed her from his hand, she preferred to roost on his head or on his chest while sleeping and she seemed to enjoy chasing or being chased more than the toys all while flapping her little wings in mock fright or in an adorable, and unsuccessful attempt at intimidation.

Needless to say he loved the little chick.

Between playing and caring for the chick and helping out Zecora, he would head out to the Everfree castle and worked on a secret project there. He had a plan, but it was all in case things ever turned bad for him in the short run, or if it worked out would be a great boon in the long run. Needless to say he was banking on the long run scenario and hoped to never have to use the short option. During each time he went off, either to gather herbs, or to the castle, he made sure to leave Boko behind and to instill in her the great sense of importance that she not follow him. Both him and Zecora had made mentions of how quiet the forest had been and that was unusual. No sightings of Timberwolves, Cockatrices, no Goblins, Bombs, or any other manner of creature. This included signs like tracks and droppings. It was as if the creatures had just up and vanished or had been scared off by something. Both possibilities were scary and it was worrying to say the least.

When a knock came to the door, Zecora was the first to answer as Dustan was finishing up breakfast for the day; Boko was sleeping on a nearby windowsill catching some sun as the shaman of the household came back and hoofed over a letter. “For you it seems. However giggling is what I hear so it might be of somepony’s schemes.”

As he opened it up though a powder exploded on his face and neck making him cough for a moment before he could even read the letter. “Heard those hands are good for scratching, here is to hoping it’s true.” He started scratching at the growth of his face, something he needed to trim soon. Only the need to scratch never stopped, in fact it was getting worse. Dropping the letter he started to scratch all over with both hands now starting to growl in frustration as a duo set of laughter was heard.

“Look at him go!” The first one said between gaps in their laughter. It was a voice he recognized and one he had come to forgive for being so rude when she had finally come around to give him an apology, which given her nature, made him think highly of her.

“I know right, he is just going and going and going and going and going.” The other voice was the dreaded mind anomaly that was the Ponyville pink party pony of pastries.

“SO ITCHY!!!!!” Yelling out didn’t make him feel any better but it was literally all he could think of. Well at least till something splashed against his face instantly removing the need for itching.

Zecora was setting down the empty glass she had just used as she chuckled. “Seems we have found our plotters. Good thing that mixture finds relief with soothing waters.”

“Don’t care, too busy in not scratching.” Dustan said resting his head on the table. He was so busy resting in comfort for a moment he only caught a few words from the pair as they were heading off, something about ‘paint’ and ‘apples’. It took him a good few minutes before he was even able to move standing up slowly and looking around. “Thanks for the help Zecora. Seems like Boko is taking a nap, so I am going to go help Applejack like I promised her I would.”

“Yes, she has learned that even if you go into such a task being iron-willed, that such tasks are beyond her no matter how skilled.” Commented Zecora as she started to head to the backroom. She had planned to mix up some ingredients today for some kind of experiment of hers to further her studies.

Of course they were both referring to the results of Applejack taking on the task of trying to buck the whole orchard clean cause of her stubbornness only to realize that it was too much for even her. “See you later and if I am not back by noon I have some greens mashed up in the fridge for Boko.”

The Zebra gave a nod before vanishing into the other room as he himself left for the day. Along the way to the farm Dustan started to muse about things. Once more he had visited the Class Room and had even managed to learn a skill or two. Problem was unlike other skills these involved magic, and while the books on magic he borrow from the treebary were helpful, he didn’t know how to call upon the magic of needed to activate them. There was also the problem of still not knowing how to switch class skills so he was still stuck with his Archer subclass skill.

Once he figured out how to switch subclass abilities he knew he would be switching his Archer Aim skill for White Magic. ‘Cure will be helpful if I get hurt again and depending on if there are any unforeseen drawbacks or not might prove to be really good.’

So lost in his in his thoughts that he was surprised as Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie came flying by, well one was flying and the other running, all while giggling and laughing like mad. Merely raising an eyebrow at that, he continued on and found Applejack wiping off an apple.

“Sooo, what was with Pinkie and Dash?” The question must have surprised her as the orange pony jumped a bit.

Gaining some of her breath back she looked up at him and chuckled. “Oh it’s just those two pullin’ a prank on me. Though Ah reckon its goin’ to be quite troublesome to clean up after the pair of them.”

“Clean up after wha-” as he was saying that she picked up another apple and dunked it in water. Problem was that apple was painted up like an Easter egg. “Never mind I see.” Thinking of a way for this to become easier for the both of them, sadly he couldn’t think of one. “Well I was coming to help you pick apples since I can’t buck them like you. However looks like I am on clean up duty huh?”

“Darn tootin’.” Was her response making him sigh softly. He hated dishwashing jobs and this was basically the same thing.

Throughout the workday one thought came to mind and it came to him once again when he was walking home that evening after a hard day’s work. What episode was this? He remembered there being something about Dash and Pinkie pranking people but he honestly couldn’t remember which it was. Maybe it was the fact he had not seen the episode in what felt like forever, his tired state or the fact that so far events seemed to be slight altered.

A bomb appeared on the way to free Luna and Bridle Gossip happened much too soon. Ticket Master, from what he heard in bits and pieces from the others, had Twilight tearing up the tickets before sending them back. That was also something he forgot was he was sent a ticket along with Zecora. Apparently Twilight had mentioned them and Celestia wanted to meet him as an unknown species and Zecora since Shaman’s were so rare. He honestly considered out right declining knowing what he knew about the event to come but the looks on the ponies face made him cave.

Then there was Applebuck season. In this case Mac had not hurt himself, it was the fact that Apple Bloom was really sick and he had to look after her. Shuddering a bit as he thought of the changes so far, everything still aligned with what would happen but it seemed like slowly they were shifting and unraveling. He only hoped that despite what has happened that the end results will be the same.

As he walked in an adorable Kweh noise met him and he felt a few bounces touch his body before something fluffy settle on his head. “You are getting good at that Boko.” He told the chick as he reached up to pet her making her fluff up in happiness. “Is dinner ready yet or is Zecora still fixing it all up?” Boko’s response was to burp lightly making him smile. “Guess I will see if it is still warm then.”

True Applejack had invited him to dinner but he declined reminding her of her grandmother’s reaction to him. In the end dinner was still warm enough where he didn’t have to heat it up and he fell into an exhausted sleep still not recalling what episode was happening.

‘Likely it has something to do with the farm. So as long as I stick with Applejack it should be fine.’ He assumed and settled on the couch that served as his bed with Boko claiming a spot on his chest to sleep.

The next day breakfast went as it normally did Boko catching her nap on the windowsill leaving him to head out for work. This time he was dressed in more casual clothing, though he still wore his sword at his hip, because today Applejack was heading into town to sell her apples.

So far it was a lovely day, nice puffy clouds in the blue sky, birds chirping, Pinkie Pie falling rapidly in some kind of flying machine that was heading right for him.

“Oh shit!” Now the normal reaction for people and likely ponies seeing something like this happen would be to dodge and get out of the way. Dustan’s instincts were slightly different however in that he stood his ground and got ready to try to catch it. Looking at how fast she was dive bombing the crash looked to be beyond dangerous and his body had gotten a lot hardier since arriving in Equestria. Hell He was level seven just from a bit of training. Not the most exciting way to gain EXP but it worked.

The whirligig was making spirals as it headed for him, bracing himself one last time he held out his arms to try to grab any part of it, or Pinkie he could. When it did make contact it and the pink pony inside were sideways. Indeed he was hardier then before, however that was still a lot of weight coming at him with momentum behind it. That said he would be sore when he woke up.

“ar-ou-kay?” Mind was stuttering to piece together things as well as what he was hearing as he slowly woke up. “Oh thank goodness!”

Then the feeling of unbridled laughter hugged him so much he swore he felt some of his bones flex almost cartoonishly in his body. “Pinkie Pie, I need AIR!”

Feeling her release him Dustan was finally able to take stock of things as well as slowly start remembering what happened. “I was so worried when my whirligig landed on you, though if you hadn’t stood there that crash might have been really really bad for me.”

‘Oh right falling Pinkie.’ Sitting up slowly the Squire’s body protested against that action as much as it could. ‘REALLY wish I knew how to cast Cure properly now.’ Looking over to the bungle of raw unstable energy he simply asked. “So, care to explain?” He regretted that action as soon as he said that as there came out a string of words from the ponies mouth that would need a computer to digitally slow down for him to understand anything.

The only words he could understand where the final ones. “And then I came crashing down and you caught me.”

Likely the only reason he even understood those was cause she ran out of breath judging from how she was sucking in air again. “Riiiight. I didn’t understand any of that Pinkie. However I do have to get to Sweet Apple Acres for some work today. I am sorry your device crashed though.” Standing up he flinched and looked to his right arm finding a handkerchief on it slightly stained red. “From the crash?”

His question must have caught Pinkie’s attention as well as she solemnly nodded. “Yeah, one of the blades of the whirligig caught you on your arm as you caught me. It didn’t look to deep but it was bleeding so I used one of my hoofkerchiefs on it.”

Seeing how sad she was he put on a smile and rubbed her fluffy mane. “Then its fine. I helped you not to get hurt so I consider it a badge of honor. Anyways I got to go, see you later.”

“You too!” she called out as he started to walk. Dustan took a moment just to make sure she was ok before continuing to the farm.

When he got there Dustan was actually surprised when Applejack showed as much concern as she did. “What in blazes happened to ya?”

Waving it off he smiled trying to show that it was nothing. “Just a little incident on the way here, it’s nothing.”

“Hmm that hoofkerchief looks familiar.” Not wanting her to worry he again waved it off heading towards the cart that was already packed with many treats from actual apples to fritters and more.

“Its fine I promise.” He was fine and he would heal so it wasn’t a lie. He honestly didn’t trust much of his words around the Element of Honesty for fear that she was a living lie detector like many believed.

The feeling of her stare on him was intense for a moment as he made sure everything was secure, which it was. When it left the sound of a harness could be heard as the farm pony hooked herself up to pull the cart.

Looking back at him she spoke. “Fine. You weren’t here to help pack up the cart so Ah suppose Ah will let you off the hook for bein’ late.”

Giving a sigh they traveled to the town proper, but along the way he couldn’t help but ask. “So how has Bloom been? I know she recovered but I am guessing she hates all the makeup work that piled up from school huh?”

That got a chuckle out of her as she nodded. “Sure has. That is the way ain’t it though?” Her muzzle crinkled up for a moment before she looked back at him. “Wait, do Humans even have school?”

Nodding he smiled and told her the truth. “Thirteen years of it, more depending on circumstances. We have kindergarten then first through twelfth grades. If you do badly enough during some of the grades they may keep you there to redo the year. That is not to mention collage and such after you graduate so that you can find a specialization lasting anywhere from four to ten years.”

“Tarnation!” He heard her exclaim. “Ah don’t know if Ah could handle that many years, heck Ah doubt many ponies can.”

That brought a simple question to mind. “Ok then how many years do ponies normally have school for?”

“We just have seven years.” Jeeze, that was nearly half of his own education, which seemed to explain things in this world quite a bit in his mind. She must have seen the surprise on his face as she followed that up with. “Well once a pony gets their cutie mark they usually go to apprentice under somepony or they figure things out for themselves. Why what happens when Humans get their cutie marks?”

Of all the ponies he thought might ask this question, Applejack was not the one he had anticipated. “Humans don’t get cutie marks.”

His earlier look of shock found its way onto the Element of Honesty’s face as she simply asked. “Then how do y’all know what y’all are supposed to do?”

The answer was simple. “We don’t.” The look of shock grew as he chuckled. “We go through life trying to find a passion. Some of us never find it, or if we do never find a place for us to use that passion properly. There are some who are lucky enough to do both, but more often than not we learn something so that we may pay the bills and such. Learning to tolerate what life we have found ourselves in and make due.”

“Make due till what?” If it had been one of the CMC that had asked him this question he would have sugarcoated it, however it wasn’t, it was a grown mare that would handle it.

“Till one of two things happens.” Seeing Ponyville come into view he made his answer quick and simple. “We either find something to balance us out and make us happy or try a profession that does make us happy. If not well, the second option comes down to living through your life till there is no more life left to live.”

When he gave the second half of his answer he felt the cart stumble for a second forcing him to hold on to it and make sure nothing fell off. He didn’t want to look at the expression on Applejack’s face but the corner of his eye caught it anyways. It was one of horror and concern.

Concern must have won out as she asked a question. “Which one did you fall in?”

He was happy his hood hid his expression as he straightened up the products that had slide a bit as he spoke. “Looks like we are here AJ.”

Looking back they were in their proper place indeed for selling. “Lookie here Ah ain’t gonna back down from the question.”

Her words were ignored as he looked up at the streets of Ponyville and loudly proclaimed. “Come one, come all. The delicious apple treats you want are here, get them before they are all gone so you won’t have to wait till next time. Cause let’s face it, if you don’t get one now you know one of your friends are going to mention how tasty the treat they got was.”

The farm mare wanted to chastise him for how loud he was being as well as for not answering, except she didn’t have time, ponies came crowding around to buy treat after treat. This wasn’t something Applejack would likely forget anytime soon even if the subject never came up again properly.

In almost record time did they finish up selling nearly every single thing in the cart. Both he and Applejack were watching the last customer go away with an Apple pie did he smile and stretch. He was worried that the ponies might run away at the sight of him or the fact he was wearing a sword, but so engrossed in the act of shopping for apple treats as they were they never noticed him.

“Welp that is all of it. I knew that would work.” Ponies were so gullible at times. A simple sales pitch and they came flocking in.

Giving him a chuckle she looked at him a smile back on her face that mirrored his own. “Darn right. Ah ain’t ever seen them sell out so quickly before. Maybe Ah should hire you as mah spokes pony.”

“Na, but I will settle for being a spokesman instead.” Grinning at the joke but of them started to laugh out loud.

It was AJ who settled down first as she started to get hitched back in the cart before looking up at him. “Why don’t you take the rest of the day off?” Dustan simply said ‘oh’. “Yeah Ah think you earned it with that little call you did there.”

Giving a simple shrug he accepted the offer. “That actually fits into my plans somewhat. I was going to go to town hall tomorrow to check on something but no reason not to do it today if I have time.”

“Sounds like a plan then. See you later partner.” With that she was off, trotting back to S.A.A.

With that he headed into town hall seeing a secretary pony at the desk he simply asked. “Where can I find out where the records for plots of land are?”

It was about one when he came out his stomach grumbling at him for lunch the last hour and finally winning brought him out into the light of day. He had found the target he was looking for finally and saw that it was indeed in the town’s possession which made his future plans so much easier. That and the circumstances surrounding it made it even more possible then he previously thought.

Honestly today was a good day, barring some few questions and the crash from earlier this morning. The Squire was willing to take the bad with the good on this one in favor of the good considering what the good consisted of. Speaking of good there was a pony that brought a smile to his face every time with how adorable she was: Fluttershy.

The butter yellow pegasus was currently leading a family of ducks through town, an adorable sight for sure. So focused on the adorable sight that he never saw what was about to happen.

“HEY!” The caretaker of animals had bumped into somepony. Said somepony was in fact a brown and white griffon that was a good bit bigger than her. The end of her white feathers often had purple colorations, as well as around her eyes were large softer purple patches that covered each of them.

The instant he saw this he immediately knew what episode he was forgetting and instantly regretted not remembering it. “Oh please excuse me”

The griffon was having no part of the polite town Fluttershy used though. “I’m walking here!”

Dustan had to remind himself that this was part of an episode; it NEEDED to happen as he just barely kept himself from running over to the timid pegasus. “Oh, I-I’m sorry, I-I was just trying to-”

Once again the griffon known as Gilda was not having it as she responded with a mocking tone of voice. “I’m sorry I’m sorry.” All the while making poor Fluttershy backpedal away in fear. “Why don’t you just watch where you are going Doofus?!” as well as making the family of ducks scatter.

“B-b-b-b-but I-I.” Here is where the similarities of the episode ended however because in the show Gilda was supposed to give off a roar and make the mare run away in tears.

Not this time as Gilda reached over grabbed Fluttershy by the head held her up and roared in her face. It was this sight, along with the butterfly marked mare’s face showing both fear and pain that signaled that something had changed. The pain was from the fact that the sharp claw of the predatory hybrid had cut along Fluttershy’s cheek.

The rivulet of crimson running into her fur is what prompted what happened next. “Now why don’t you leave and get out of my sights!”

The ring of steel echoed in Ponyville at that moment, making the griffon’s eyes go wide as the tip of a bloody red sword was now on her beak. “Put her down, apologize, and no one will have to see what a beakless griffon looks like.”

Gilda held on to her captive as her eyes moved to the creature that was almost twice as tall as her. “And what are you supposed to be? Also why should I?”

The sound of steel against Keratin grated out some as the tip of the sword created a light scratch along her beak. “I am her friend and if you don’t you will find yourself looking for a prosthetic beak to replace what I remove from you.”

If the griffon was frightened in any way she hid it well as she dropped Fluttershy who immediately ran off crying before flying away. “There, I let her go, now get your stupid self out of my way.”

“One moment.” Was all the warning she got before she reeled back giving an eagle cry of pain. “There, had to make sure you were even for harming my friend.”

Holding up a talon to her face she found it came back red as she now sported a cut on her cheek. “Why you!” There was a tense moment where Gilda was poised to attack him with her wings stretched out wide to look as big and as intimidating as possible. Staring into his eyes as his own bored into hers waiting. “Fine!” Whatever caused her to back off he didn’t know but she turned around and lifted her wings. “Whatever all these lame ponies are driving me buggy anyways. I gotta bail.”

With that she took flight and headed off to who knows where. Dustan after sheathing his sword took off in the direction of the woods, specifically the home of his friend. He got there at a pretty good time as only months ago he would have long run out of breath and would have been hunched over hassling for breath. The Squire was still panting hard for sure but he knocked on the door though when no answer came he opened it up. Ponies were so trusting in that they rarely ever locked their doors which made him feel bad for coming in like this.

Searching the house he found a distinct lack of animals on the lower floor and it was only when he came upstairs did he understand why. Lining up out of the bedroom door of the pegasus were all her friends there to give her comfort.

“Fluttershy!” He called out, startling some of the animals and the pegasus inside no doubt. As he got closer, thankfully the animals parting to make way for him, he could hear her crying more and more as he got close. She was under her covers shivering like a leaf as well as crying which wouldn’t be stood for. Pulling the covers off Dustan picked up the mare and gave her a giant hug. “There there, it’s ok.”

Almost right away the pegasus wrapped her hooves around him in a desperate attempt to hold onto something in her sorrow. “W-why d-did she have to b-be so mean?”

Giving her comforting pets along her head and mane the answer that came up was one Dustan himself had learned when trying to make friends so many times or when he was dumped on a date. “You can never know someone’s thoughts completely without getting to know them. Some don’t give you the time to know them which is a shame, but at the same time that means they never truly wanted to be friends with you if that was the case. Friendship is about give and take both in earning it and in maintaining it. Meaning if someone isn’t willing to give at all, they will just take and take.”

“O-oh kay.” The caretaker of animals said in response before he slowly felt the weight balance change.

Giving a soft chuckle he looked at her sleeping face only to see the cut from earlier. “Hey some of you with decent dexterity mind raiding Fluttershy’s medical supplies for a bandage while getting a washcloth with some warm water on it?”

Some of the animals quickly ran off, surprisingly Angel being the first off to go do things and the first one to return carrying a Band-Aid. After giving taking it Dustan noted that the bunny held a concerned look on his face and his ears hanging low showing that a soft bit was hidden under it all.

“I am sure she will be fine after a nap.” That seemed to comfort the bunny even as Harry the bear came in with a warm sponge giving a questioning growl. “That will do thanks.”

Cleaning up the mare’s cheek he put the bandage on afterwards. Though when he tried to remove the mare the human found she was way stronger than any gave credit for as he couldn’t make her forelegs let go. Rolling his eyes he decided to continue petting her as long as she needed it.

Eventually she did wake up, about an hour or so later, it was really hard to tell with no clock on the wall that he could see. “Huh what?”

Seems she had forgotten where she was so he booped her nose and chuckled. “Sleep well?”

“Yes, yes I did, but why are you here? Last I remember seeing you was when I was leading the ducks and-oh…right sorry if I caused you any trouble.” Her ears flopped down as it seemed to come back to her.

Once more petting her head he chuckled. “Its fine. I mean it. I am more worried about you; you were really upset when you fell asleep. So much so that you wouldn’t let go of me after, so I had to make sure you slept well.”

Seems she finally realized she was still holding him as she gave a small ‘eep’ her wings flapping open as she was startled at the discovery before she quickly tried to get off him. “I’m so sorry.”

Standing up and rubbing his legs some to get the feeling back in them he gave her a big smile. “Again it’s no problem. You are my friend Fluttershy, I defend my friends and comfort them when needed.”

She winced a bit at the word ‘defend’. “Oh I see, but did you have to point your sword at her, oh and why is it red?”

“Why it is red is a bit of a story, so I will save that for another time.” Was the answer he gave so to avoid that conversation. “As to why I did what I did. She hurt you, she was mean, she was being a bully when there was honestly no need to be. She was new here, she could have chosen to be nice to others, and no one knows her here so no one would judge her. She chose to be as she was, thus I responded in a way to let her know that I wasn’t someone she could do those things to. Was it a bit overboard. Maybe. Do I regret it? No.”

“Oh um…just…try to be nicer next time and don’t resort to violence the first chance you get ok?” She was asking him to make a promise one that honestly didn’t surprise him in the least as it was just how she was.

“Shy, I make it a point not to do anything like that without knowing that there is no chance for talking. If I even suspect there is a chance of talking it out, I will try.” Making a move to the stairs he did stop to add one other thing. “That being said, if one of my friends are hurt then all bets are off. My friends are my treasure.”

Was it sappy? Absolutely. Did that get him picked on a lot during his time on Earth? Also Absolutely. Did that mean he meant it any less? Nope. There were instances he remembered running in to back up Pat but ended up being more than a bit thrashed for it.Always in the end his friend would make a point of telling him what an idiot he was for jumping in like that and every time would Dustan smile at him and laugh saying it was worth it.

A knock came at the front door which pulled both of their attentions. “Fluttershy are you in here and are you ok?”

Both of them knew the voice but it wasn’t his place to answer the door to someone else’s home. “One moment Pinkie.” After opening the door the pronking pink pony smiled and hoofed over a square slip of paper. “Oh my, what is this?”

“It’s a party invitation.” Seeing him looming not too far away she zipped over and smiled. “Oh hi Dusty, here is one for you as well.”

Knowing what he knew it was obvious who the invitation was for, sadly he did have to feign ignorance. “Oh, whose it for?”

“Gilda the Griffon.” The reaction from Fluttershy was instant as in the face of the beaming party pony her ears drooped and she became more than a bit timid.

“I-I don’t think it’s a good idea for me to go.” The pink maned pegasus spoke quietly.

“Fluttershy, please.” The pony party planner asked gently. “I am hoping it will improve her attitude.”

Shaking her head this caused Pinkie’s mane to deflate some. “No, I don’t want to.”

“O-oh ok.” With that Pinkie Pie left sadly, but that meant Fluttershy wasn’t going to go even though in the episode she was present.

That had to change. “Fluttershy I think you should go.”

Even though he placed his hand on her withers to help give her some comfort he still felt her shirk away some. “But she was so mean and what you said-”

“I know I know.” He told her closing his eyes so that he wouldn’t have to look at her while he told his next lie. “But we don’t know her, we don’t know if she was having a really bad day or anything. For all we know she might have been scared being in a new place and reacted VERY poorly.”

“I-I suppose.” He couldn’t see her reaction but felt her come back into his touch some so he assumed that meant a positive response.

Opening his eyes he seen he was right as her ears had gained some altitude but not fully. “You know what? Why don’t you get some birds together for a bird choir? You told me you got some for the Summer even you all had some time ago, though I forget the name right now.”

He didn’t forget he just wanted to keep playing along. “Oh right…if you think it will help.”

Smiling and giving her a hug Dustan told her. “Who knows, maybe you will see something fun and have fun yourself if nothing else. So go have fun ok?”

Giving a large smile, well large for Fluttershy when not talking about animals, she nodded. “Alright, I’ll do it.”

Petting her mane he simply said. “That’a girl. I will get out of your hair-err mane so you can prep then.”

“Ok, and Dustan thank you.” She gave him one last hug that made him glad in of itself of having numb legs just before.

“Anytime.” Giving a wave he started to head out the door but stopped. “Oh and I doubt I will be dropping by so let Pinkie know. I am sure seeing the person that held a sword to your beak won’t put her in a good mood so I will skip out on things so to not cause more trouble.”

There was a sad look that passed over her face for a moment before she sighed and must have accepted it. “Sorry, you haven’t even had a party yet yourself because you technically haven’t moved to Ponyville. I am sorry you have to miss another one.”

Shrugging he waved and smiled. “It’s fine Fluttershy, as long as I know my friends are having a good time, that’s enough for me.”

“O-oh ok then. I will see you soon I hope.” She gave a wave of her hoof as he left.

When he was out of sight he sighed a bit, did he want to join the party, or rather any party? Absolutely, but he was used to never going to parties. He was never a social person or one of the people that got invited to parties ever. So the first party he gets invited to in forever outside of Pat inviting him he had to decline did bother him.

‘At least everything is as it should be, well except for me being here.’ Dustan thought to himself. So lost in his thoughts that he didn’t hear someone shouting for them till the cyan coated pegasus blocked his way. “Oh hey Dash what brings you-”

The polychromatic pony just glared at him and asked a simple question. “Did you seriously attack my friend and didn’t think we wouldn’t have words.”

Honestly he had not even thought about the connection of Gilda and Dash till just then but it made sense. “Not like I didn’t have a good reason.”

“BEING A GRIFFON ISN’T A REASON TO ATTACK!” Rainbow Dash’s fur at her face mixed with the rush of blood in her anger making a light purple coloration. “That is just racism!”

“Is that what she told you?” Honestly he could feel his own face starting to get red. Dustan was never the type of person to judge people on superficial reasons such as where they are from, what clothing they wore, or even their race or ethnicity. The human always tried to get to know people before making judgments and the implications that he was a racist ticked a nerve in him that he wasn’t aware of. “Cause if it is, that is a crock of shit that she is feeding you.”

“HORSE APPLES! I have known Gilda since flight school and I believe her over someone that hides out in the Everfree.” Even as she was angry at him he had to admit he admired her loyalty.

Too bad he was angry. “Well then, feel free to talk to ANYPONY that was there, hell even Fluttershy. She will tell you what went on.”

“I don’t need to hear it from others when I have my friend’s word.” The pegasus became a blur then and Dustan felt himself hitting the ground quickly as she continued to speak. “Don’t even think about coming around me or my friends again or I will do more than pay you back for what you did to Gilda. In fact why don’t you get lost!”

With that she flew off in a blur leaving Dustan to sit up and touch the left side of his face tenderly wincing. Pulling his hand back he saw that her hoof must have bit into his face quite hard as there was crimson there. Quickly pulling out a handkerchief he held it to his face while heading back to the hut. Zecora wasn’t there, or at least she didn’t answer when he called out so he headed right to the bathroom.

Looking at the mirror there after cleaning up the cut he found a good semi-circle cut just below his eye with the open end pointing down. “That is going to leave a mark.” Was all he said in a soft tone as he quickly got some medicine out to apply to the cut. Though looking at where she hit and how hard he knew bruising all along his face was going to happen.

As he was washing out his ‘kerchief he spied the blood running down the drain before throwing the wet cloth hard against an unoffending wall. Nice guys finish last was the phrase that kept running through his head. A phrase that was repeated to him over and over by all aspects of his life from family to friends, even strangers reminding him that his nature being what it was would always lead him to last place.

“Seems I am there again.” The words were spat out like bitter food as he bent down to retrieve the cloth and ring it out in the sink. “Dash will forever see me as someone who attacks her friends and wants me to stay away from her friends. That means that from now on she would likely look to make sure I can’t even befriend them.” Slapping his face and right away regretting the action thanks to his left side he sighed. “Let’s try to look at the bright side. Maybe after the Gilda thing she will start to question things and look to find the truth? Maybe she didn’t mean what she said and just needs a few days to cool down? Maybe I was always meant to be alone.”

“It is good to once more be home.” Came the voice from the living area as the front door opened. “Though at least this time I had some company as I roam.”

The soft sound of a Kweh showed why he had not found Boko waiting for him when he had came back. Speaking of Boko she suddenly gave off rapid Kwehs and the sound of soft wing beats could be heard, meaning she smelled him. The instant she found him in the restroom she rubbed herself against him.

There was a moment when he felt tears in his eyes in the thought that he wasn’t alone. “Hey there, miss me?” The happy noises of the chick were all the answer he needed as he picked her up and nuzzled against her soft down.

So lost in the comfort of the Chocobo that he never seen Zecora come in to check on him. “Are you in so much pain that it brings you to tears? Or did whatever harm you come directly from your fears?”

Feeling confused for a moment he reached up and found his cheeks lined with wetness, specifically tears. “Sorry, just…never mind it’s not important.”

“Of that I have a hard time to believe.” The shaman said in a rather unusual soft spoken voice. “For obviously tears means your heart must have felt a cleave.”

There was a moment when he froze for an answer before feeling his heart wrench once more for a different reason. “Yeah. I was thinking of going out into the Everfree for a few days, explore a bit deeper you know, maybe get an idea on how to go forward in life from there. So the thought of leaving Boko here was troubling me.”

The lie was not bought if he had to judge the face of the shaman correctly, but she never spoke up about it. “Make sure you prepare well. That way, when you return you have a tale to tell.”

“Yeah, I should be gone in about an hour. Boko should have enough carrots and greens for a week in the fridge so if for some reason I am gone any longer then that…well I might be in trouble.”

His chuckle was not returned as Zecora turned away from him. “Let us hope it doesn’t come to that. Nor that you come back wounded as that is old hat.”

“Right.” Was all he said before he started to pack. He had four days of supplies but told Zecora he would only be gone for three. As he was walking towards his destination, the ruins of the castle, he looked back at the hut and sighed. “I need to find my own place soon so any blow back from my actions don’t fall on Zecora. Hopefully this will be all solved in three days and it won’t matter when I get back.”

Dustan would remember those words as they would be true, but not for the reasons he would care for.

Author's Notes:

DUN DUN DUN, cliffhanger!

*Nudges author off cliff*

Oh you sonnva BIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIiiiiiiii...

Chapter Seven: Going, Going, Gob.

My Little Tactics

Chapter Seven: Going, Going, Gob.

Wiping the sweat off his brow Dustan looked at how things were coming. THIS was his plan and the reason he had gone to the mayor’s office to look at documents. He was in the ruins of the Everfree, the dilapidated remains of the Castle of the Two Sisters. Turns out no one owned it. Celestia had forgone renewing the land in her name, likely from what he suspected was grief or remorse at the time, and the deed fell into public hands.

Problem was with the Everfree being what it was, a wild untapped land of monsters and misfits, no one wanted to do anything with it. Except Dustan it seemed. Whenever he had free time he would explore the ruins and found that because of it being so well built, there were still MANY places that were close to being habitable with just a bit of elbow grease. Bits he had made while Zecora sold his salve helped buy the supplies needed and while it may not look nice, the first room had been repurposed finally.

He wasn’t sure what room it was before, though he suspected maybe a barracks but the rest of the building was in much worse shape so it was hard to tell. This room though, with a bit of wood, nails, and a good sweeping turned out nicely. Whatever window was there was boarded up; a makeshift door made out of miscellaneous materials was put up on hinges he scavenged from the ruins, and though he couldn’t use the bed frames found he did find some beds that must have been enchanted or something as the only thing that was needed for them was a good beating.

Overall his new room came out to look nice. The OTHER good news is that during research he found out why monsters tended to stay away from the ruins. It was the lingering effect previously from when Celestia used the Elements to banish Nightmare Moon and some magicians think the purifying effect keeps malicious monsters away. That meant that with the use of them again monsters would stay away even more than before. While he didn’t think he could confirm it seeing as how the Everfree had been quiet lately, it was at least a comforting thought.

The other good thing was the bed he found was large enough to hold him comfortably. Lying down on the bed he needed to relax for sure. Thinking back on the three days he had been there along with many of his past explorations he knew some of what the castle had to offer. If he had to guess at present there were about maybe a dozen or a dozen and a half rooms that would be easy to repurpose. He would likely need to make a couple of guest rooms for sure, a storage area, living area, kitchen and hope to hire somepony or anyone really to install whatever it is that makes electricity and running water possible. No way in hell was he going to use an outhouse.

This trip also had proved to be very fortunate as he had found either a tool shed or what was left of an armory. The reason he thought this was he found a few axes and other various tools and even a spear inside but all covered in dust or rust, many of which he THOUGHT were unusable. The first day back when he was taking a break from nailing up a few board he took one of the axes and started to use his own rust removal tools he had bought for his tools on this and at first he thought it was an effort of futility. In fact he had completely given up and thrown the axe to the ground in misplaced anger when he see it hit the ground and rust pop off leaving a slight gleam underneath.

Like the castle, the tool or weapon, he wasn’t sure which as it was pony sized and could be a hatchet or an actual axe for combat, was well made and possibly enchanted. After all a thousand years of rust should have left really nothing of the axe left, he had only given it a shot cause magic pony land rules. It took the better part of a day to clean up the axe and to replace the handle not because it couldn’t be used, but because there was no handle. Likely having rotted away long before Dustan himself showed up.

With the new handle, though the axe head looked small, he found it worked well for chopping wood as well as breaking up loose mortar from the walls that were in the process of crumbling as it were. He found that it rarely lost its edge too either attributing it to enchantments once again or whatever it was made of since it clearly wasn’t steel. Whatever metal it was made of was a bit more blue tented and looked as if it were covered in oil as whenever the sun hit it the axe head had a rainbow sheen covering it at times seemed to shift but he attributed it to the angle he was looking at it. He wanted to check to see if other of the tools or weapons down there were the same but between cleaning up the axe, finishing up the first room finally, and exploring, time was up.

However he had one last thing he wanted to do before heading back to the hut in the morning and that was chop some wood. Fall was on its way and winter behind it meaning that if by some miracle he was able to live here during those seasons that meant he needed some kind of heat source. So stashing his pack away as well as his sword in a little hidden area of his new room he took the axe and prepped for going to some nearby growth to start building up his wood supply. With all the work he had put in finally seeing to pay off he was in a good mood and started to whistle one of his favorite tunes from a game that wasn’t Final Fantasy.

Sadly that feel good feeling of that game and its soundtrack is what led them straight to him. So focused on chopping up a fallen log the ‘thunk’ that came from his head meeting a log was only appreciated by the Goblins.

The next time he woke up he found himself hating all life in existence for the pounding of his head. Reaching back he winced and pulled his fingers back from the pain only to find they came back wet and gooey. Blood that was mostly dried on his fingers said he had been out for a while, the breeze on his body said he was nude, and the clinking around his wrist said he had chains on shackling him on his right wrist.

Slowly as he struggled to make his eyes focus properly in the dark, he found he was in a barred cell with a few other figures, two ponies and a griffon surprisingly. Him slowly getting up made the ponies flee against the natural stone walls of the cell and the griffon to take a more aggressive stance. Leaning up he tried to get comfortable but no such luck when he was nude like he was.

Looking at all of the fellow cellmates he simply asked. “Soooo, how’s it going?”

The ponies were surprised it seems by him able to speak but it was the griffon who recovered first. “First thing you do when you wake up tossed into a prison is ask others ‘how’s it going’?” The griffoness had the white feathers and brown fur expected of griffons though her fur was a bit darker then what Gilda seemed to have for her fur. Her feathers had sky blue tips and the same blue marking just under her eyes and along her cheeks sweeping back giving her the look more akin to a falcon then an eagle.

The voice was clearly female as Dustan looked to the griffon first. “Figure that would break the ice and make me seem not as frightening.” He gestured his head over towards the ponies whom indeed seemed less frightened though still very defensive. “Names Dustan, so, someone wish to fill me in on where I found myself?”

Next one to speak was one of the ponies, a pegasus judging by the wings on his side, whose coloration was a deep blue with a main and tail the color of wheat or possibly the yellow tape that police use to cordon off areas. “Well, you got unlucky and got captured by monsters just like the rest of us and more.” His wing pointed out into the cavern as a few ponies were walking along towing a cart behind them full of rocks. “We are slaves that are going to be worked till we drop with little food or water.”

The other pony next to the pegasus, a female judging from her shape, was still hiding in the corner. Her deep brown dirty from work no doubt, making it hard to tell what color it really was, same with the white spots on her sides and belly. The mane on the pony, a unicorn if the horn on her head wasn’t just for show, had alternating locks of light blue and dark blue with stripes in her tail to match.

The thing to note was because of how dirty both ponies were their cutie marks were obscured so much he couldn’t make them out. “What kind of monsters are we talking about?”

As if answering his question the sound of steel ringing against the bars drew his attention to a familiar looking creature. “Quiet scum. Me no want to hear words come out no more.”

The brown furred creature moved away from the cage before Dustan couldn’t help but sneer. “Goblin.”

The others must have heard him as the griffon merely looked at him surprised. “You know what these things are?”

Giving a nod he looked at the others and simply said. “Yeah, nasty pieces of work they are, but I am sure you can see that for yourselves. So what are they having everyone drag around?”

This time it was the unicorn that was hiding that spoke first. “They are mining out ore, to forge weapons. It seems they aren’t too good at it though.”

He watched a Goblin or two come around the corner marveling at the swords they had in their grubby hands and even he could tell how poorly they were made. The goblins though must have thought them as masterpieces judging by how they were fawning over them.

Wincing again he touched the back of his head really wishing he knew how to use magic to heal the pain he was feeling. “Right now you are lucky.” He turned his head towards the pegasus with his gruff sounding voice and just raised an eyebrow. “You came as the word day was ending so you won’t be put to work till tomorrow.”

“Great, so lucky.” The sarcasm was palpable for sure.

The stallion just gave a snort and laid his head down on the ground. “Go ahead and think that with that kind of snarky attitude, but tomorrow you will realize I wasn’t lying.”

It seems it was some unspoken agreement came about as all the others laid down. “Well as I said my name is Dustan what are all of yours?”

The griffon was the first to respond once more. “Like it matters, we aren’t going anywhere.” Seems the others agreed with her as they said nothing.

Doing his best to get some sleep and hopefully get rid of a headache for tomorrow he settled down. Sadly since he was nude, on the rough stone ground he already knew what would happen and indeed sleep eluded him.

“MOVE CREATURE!” The Goblin shouted cracking a crude whip near him. He was pushing a large cart with the two ponies hauling it from the front and the griffon in back with him.

Each time the whip cracked he gritted his teeth not only out of him restraining himself but because of his head still throbbing in pain from where he had been knocked out though it was much less since he had been here for a few days already. He still had not learned the name of his cellmates even though repeated times he tried to strike up conversation they denied the act with silence.

His fellow captives were holding up better than him though as they had natural padding to help mitigate the discomfort of sleeping on stone leaving him with very little sleep at all as well as pains in places he didn’t think were possible. The most peaceful nights were when they overworked him and he passed out right away in the cell. It was only after the first day of work did he understand the reason why the prisoners were so silent about everything.

It was the look in their eyes, which he understood after the backbreaking work, little food and water, and terrible conditions overall. It was the look of those that had been broken. It was why every day he tried to get them to talk, to come out of their shell but no matter what he couldn’t seem to get a spark to come back to them. Seems ponies weren’t the only things captured either by the goblins as they had Timberwolves leashed up around certain points, a Manticore in a cage though for what he didn’t know, and some kind of crocodile looking creature he recognized from the show but couldn’t remember the name of.

However of all the slaves there were only ponies, the griffon, and himself for species. He had asked a few other slaves about where they were taken from and of those that answered it seemed like the Goblins were poaching any being that came near the Everfree. However it was easy to see why many of the prisoners never wished to speak.

In charge of the slaves was an armored Goblin, complete with metal cap, breastplate, and what looked to be a chain skirt wielding two whips, one in each hand. He stood a good head taller than other goblins and he wasn’t any other cap type that Dustan recognized. When the Squire used his Tactical Eye on the Goblin he found out why. It was a Hobgoblin, something that never appeared in the original tactics game.

The sound of something falling with a muffled cry caught his attention as it caused the cart to stop. Standing up to look he seen the spotted unicorn from his cell on the ground crying softly with the other pony nudging her with his nose telling her to stand quickly.

“I can’t, my legs wont anymore.” She cried to the stallion softly.

Sadly though the stop was noticed after a few moments and the Hobgoblin came over and cracked his whip near her. “Stand pony. Stand or me whip.”

Even with the help of the stallion at her side she couldn’t manage to get up, Dustan thought for sure she would get another warning but no. The crack of a whip and a loud cry proved that idea wrong.

“What you doing creature?” What the cries also proved was that once again that his legs moved before he thought standing between the ugly creature who stood only a head shorter then himself and the pony. “You wish be whipped too?”

“I am not going to let you whip her again period.” His fierce determination must have come off as challenging though as the air left his lungs before too long.

Doubling over from the gut punch he felt the whip crack across his body a few times. “Me whip you, then me whip pony, maybe feed her to cragadile.”

His body cried at him not to cause more trouble cause of the pain he was feeling, it’s a shame his spirit said otherwise as he looked up at the slave driver and spit at his face. The results were him getting hit across his face, the same side that Dash had marked just about a week ago.

Moving to his knees again the Hobgoblin chuckled while sneering down at him. “What you pretend you be knight in shining armor? Me armor is much more shiny than your flesh but me might still wear it. Face it creature, you pathetic. Me Strong. You no knight, you no can protect self.”

Balling up his fist he glared up at the malicious creature as time and time again he remembered friends and family saying similar things, if at least in a more kind tone or manner. Protecting others it had always been in his nature and it had always been something he did.

‘Dude I swear sometimes you are more of a knight then in the movies.’ The memory flashed quickly as Pat was patting him on the back.

They were just outside a dark alleyway heading back home just chatting and enjoying the night air. They had gone out to eat and had a few drinks in them each but not enough to be even tipsy, just to enjoy the evening. While he himself wasn’t a sports person the reason for the celebration was that one of Pat’s teams had won a huge upset over another team one whom they had not beat in almost a decade. The night was looking to be great, they would head back to his place, play games, eat snacks, watch terrible but funny movies.

The muffled scream from a nearby alleyway changed those plans. Pat tried to pull out his phone once another scream came out, one that shouted help but he was far behind Dustan who had already started running towards the call from the first one. He found a few individuals with a woman, in what looked to about to be a rape if nothing happened.

Naturally Dustan tackled one of the guys holding the woman whom started fighting back with her free hand. Pat followed in not to long after and together, mostly Pat, managed to fight and keep them there long enough for the police to come in and arrest everyone involved including Pat and himself till things were cleared. In the cell they were thrown in Patrick himself started to laugh as he looked at his friend rubbing his bruising and soon to be black eye.

“Dude I swear sometimes you are more of a knight then in the movies.” Pat told him trying to adjust his ripped shirt to better cover his torso in vain. He must have had a confused look on his face as his best friend just continued. “You ran in there at the first sign of someone in trouble. If you had super powers you would be a super hero. If this was medieval times you would be a knight.”

“As if, the nice guy always finish last remember?” he remembered telling his friend bitterly.

Chuckling and patting him on the back his friend for many years just told him simply. “Better to look at all the people you help from the back then the front. No one left behind and no one missing out right? You may not be a super hero or a knight in this day and age, but I bet in a past life you were one. Only way to explain your reflexes for jumping in like that.”

“As if.” He said it the same way as before but this time with a smile on his face.

“Your right. I am not a knight because I can’t protect myself.” Feeling his hand clench further Dustan gritted his teeth as he continued to speak. “I am a knight because I protect others!”

Dustan felt his fist swinging for the armored head of the Hobgoblin quickly so much so that the creature itself wasn’t expecting it. Just before his fist connected something caught his eyes though, light blue light was being reflected off of the helmet. When his fist connected not only did it make the goblin subtype jerk his head back but his cap fragmented in the same light blue light that was reflected.

Looking down at his fist quickly he realized that it was glowing the same color for a moment before it faded. His surprise cost him though as he was quickly and without remorse stomped into the ground by not only the slave driver himself a few guards that had seen the attack.

The last thought before he was beaten unconscious was merely a question in amazement. ‘Was that an Art of War skill?’

Rainbow Dash thought of herself as the fastest pegasus in Equestria without a doubt. She thought of herself as the most loyal pony in Equestria as well further cemented by the fact that she was the Element of Loyalty. However something she wasn’t was good at giving apologizes.

Over a week ago was the party for her former friend Gilda, where she was going to prank her and show her a good time. What she didn’t expect was how Gilda exploded on Pinkie Pie like she did, nor did she expect to learn about how Gilda had treated her best friend Fluttershy. Dash simply thought the cut on her cheek was something that happened from treating one of her animal friends.

When she had finally heard the story of how the human had come in to stop Gilda did the feelings of loathing hit her like a ton of bricks. She had hit somepony that had stood up for one of her friends and defended them from harm. She had promised herself that next time she saw him that she would apologize for how she acted and show him some of her cool moves as payment for how much of a jerk she was. Though as to why she had not gone to him before today, well she had been away for a bit for weathermare stuff over in Cloudsdale not to mention the problem with Trixie showing up a few days ago before that.

Nodding to herself once more she decided to head over first to Fluttershy’s mostly cause the speedster herself couldn’t remember exactly where Zecora’s hut was. A hop, skip, and wing beat later she was knocking on the shy pegasus’ door.

As the butter cream colored mare opened the door an inner part of Dash was set off saying something was wrong. “Oh hey Rainbow Dash. What brings you here?”

There was some slight redness to her friend’s eyes and some bags as well. “Are you ok Fluttershy? You look like you haven’t slept in a few days.”

“Oh I’m alright. I am just a bit worried is all.” The way she adverted her eyes though Dash knew her friend well enough to know it was an understatement.

Putting on her confident stance, patent pending, she looked down at her oldest friend and simply said. “Well you don’t have to be worried anymore, Rainbow Dash is here and can have this problem licked in no time, so why don’t you tell me what it is.”

The pink maned pony just tilted her head slightly and asked. “You haven’t heard?”

Shaking her head throwing the locks of polychromatic locks around she simply said. “Been in Cloudsdale remember?”

“Oh right.” Rubbing her hoof against the ground for a moment the animal handler decided to just say it for once. “Dustan has been missing for a few days now. He was supposed to be back about four days ago from what Zecora has said. Twilight has even sent a letter to Celestia asking for some help or advice but no response has come yet.”

‘…In fact why don’t you get lost!’ The words that she tossed at the human just a week back now came flooding to her mind and she could feel the blood leaving her face. This was her fault! This was all cause she didn’t even ask others and see if he was even telling the truth. She had run off an innocent pony, person, whatever.

“I-I need to go!” She didn’t even hear Fluttershy’s response as she quickly took to the air. The air felt wet on her cheeks for many reasons but not for rain.

Spotlights, they were once again shining down upon sets of armor, the checkerboard pattern, the calm sense in the air. It was the classroom. Dustan looked around, here he felt no wounds, no exhaustion, and instead he felt this place was more welcoming then last time he had visited.

Looking at all the stands he could now sense how strong each of his job classes were with Squire taking the forefront with how strong it was. However there was a different pulling sensation this time towards another stand. This one displayed the armor and crest that he recognized from tactics, for those who were sworn to knighthood or walked its path wore this type of clothing. Well minus the special units. Placing his hand on the armor he somehow could tell he was currently equipped with this job class now.

“How the hell did I become a knight?” Was the first thing that popped into his mind. Almost as if in response the armor stand started to glow and project an image into his mind.

It was him on his knees before the Hobgoblin. He was wounded but standing between him and the female unicorn. It was then that he watched the scene play out as before but from another angle.

“I am a knight because I protect others!” As his fist started swinging at the hobgob’s helm, two words rang out as if from the armor stand itself. “Rend Helm.” As the soundless words reverberated from the stand the same instant his fist started to glow blue.

“Holy shit, so I have to be worthy to be a class? Well that’s some limitations I never thought I would get.” He heard his voice echo as he said that. That wasn’t all he heard though.

“Worthy/Worthy/Worthy.” Looking around he felt the words coming from various armor stands. First were the robes of the White Mage. The sense of calm and peace radiated from it. Next came the long pointed hat and robes of the Black Mage giving off a sense of destructive force yet controlled at the same time. Last came from the lightly armored and quick footed armor stand from a new beam of light, the Thief was now available as well.

Dustan was about to question what this all meant but it seemed information just rushed into his head from too many sources at once, it was hard to sort everything out and was honestly too much. He passed out in the classroom because of that.

When he next woke up he wasn’t as sore as he thought he would be. He found a comforting wet rag atop of his head and he wasn’t in his cell. Well he was still in a cell from the looks of it, solitary too since it was a solid looking door he was hold up behind with barely any room. He still hurt in places but it felt like he had either healed or was healed in some way as just the other day his pains were much more than they were and couldn’t have possibly eased that much.

However that was not what he should be worried about as the door opened and two ponies and a goblin came in. “Out, time to die.”

Dustan wasn’t a coward, or one prone to cry but he honestly felt his heart jump up into his throat as he heard that. No doubt fighting against the slave driver was what caused him to be signed up for an execution. The two ponies that came with the guard quickly put manacles on his arms and legs before urging him out into the hallway.

On the way out he was purposefully led in the most roundabout way possible all while the goblins taunted loudly about dead creature walking. All the ponies were brought out it seems to watch his execution as he was led to a cell that had an open grate. Below he could see more than a couple of cragadiles all moving rapidly as they had already gotten used to this method of meat delivery.

As he took one last look towards the group of ponies one thought came to mind: Don’t leave on a bad note.

“I have no regrets on protecting another.” As he said that his eyes met with his former cellmates, one of whom was crying, burying her head in the shoulder of the stallion. While he was comforting her, his eyes shown with something, with what though, it was hard to say as he wasn’t looking at Dustan at the moment. The griffon was another matter as her eyes locked with his own and before he saw someone who had lost the will to live, a broken bird. Now he saw one with fire in their eyes. That fire was the last thing Dustan seen as the gate snapped open below him.

Another day had passed and it was another lack luster day of work. Dash seemed to have just lost all spirit and motivation for work at all. Not even her numerous naps during the day were a comfort anymore. So much so they were doing the opposite so she was now skipping them. Her friends had begun to notice as well as more often than not one would check up on her during her day, even her co-workers like Cloud Kicker and Thunderlane had noticed and was asking if she should take a few days off.

She declined the offer as soon as it was made as cloud busting and weather wrangling was just about all she could do to keep her mind off things. Well it was till Twilight had informed her that Celestia was sending a platoon of guards to Ponyville. When she had asked why, Twilight had stated that numerous missing pony reports have been made around the vicinity of the Everfree and that strange creatures with brown fur and clothing have been spotted in the area.

Right away Dash asked if it was possible that she could join the guard for the mission to which Twilight said yes and that all of the Element bearers and Zecora would be joining. The Element bearers would be coming for obvious reasons and Zecora as she was the most knowledgeable about the Everfree. This brought about why Rainbow Dash was currently waiting not so patiently at the train station. Today was the day they were supposed to arrive. She was going to find the human and any ponies that might have been abducted.

‘You know he wasn’t abducted right? He left cause of how much of bucking jerk you have been. After all you told him to get lost after hitting him and berating him.’ Shaking her head as she heard the voice of doubt in her mind once again she gritted her teeth and chose not to listen. She knew that if she listened to that voice she would break down and wouldn’t be fit to come along. ‘You have hated him since you first saw him. Thinking him a monster to be gotten rid of. Even when he helped out Fluttershy and in the forest for your entire group you mistrusted him. Not to mention that when he showed up at Zecora’s you were ready to buck him into next week.’

“SHUT UP!” Dash shouted at herself. It was a good thing she was early to the station making it so no pony else was there or that would have been both embarrassing and serve to make her look crazy. Sighing to herself she spoke to that doubt in her mind and heart. ‘I am going to make it right. I have not been a good friend at all and I will make sure he knows that. From now on I will have his back even if no pony else does.’

Feeling better for her silent vow the impatient speedster settled her haunches on the ground to wait.

There was currently a debate going on in Dustan’s mind. Should he be thankful about the multicolored aura surrounding him keeping him from being eaten by the cragadiles or should he be angry at them as the reptiles were still trying to reach him by jumping up out of the water only being stopped with a kick here and there. Thankfully the debate was over as he was slowly raised up and pulled to hidden tunnel that closed up after he was through with the light from the levitation fading as well.

“The guards don’t look to see what happens to ponies they throw in here.” The first voice said to him in the dark. “So they will think you are dead and making it so you can come with us undisturbed.”

“Ok mind telling me who rescued me, not that I am complaining mind.” Standing up he right away winced when his head hit the top of the tunnel. “Though I will complain about how small this tunnel is.”

There was a light of a unicorn horn before he could just barely make out the silhouette of the unicorn providing the light. “I suppose you can call us the resistance. Not an original name I know but it fits.” Dustan was forced to duck down and crawl in some parts of the tunnel as he followed. “We are members of those that were captured who decided to fight back. We haven’t gotten any new members lately but we saw what you did and knew we couldn’t let you die. So we have been prepping for you to join us since then. We have eyes and ears everywhere there are ponies.”

“I am guessing you want my help in fighting?” That just got him a barely seen nod in the dark from the unicorn. “Do you know how many goblins there are and how many strong is this Resistance?”

At first he didn’t think he would get an answer, but as light slowly started to come into view he didn’t think he needed one regardless on him getting one. “We are fifty strong against an enemy that is twice as many strong.”

Here he was in a large cavern, big enough for him to stand up in finally and then some. The crystals were giving off faint light for everyone to see just enough to go about daily life. Off in the corner though came a stronger light and the ringing of a hammer: A smithy.

“Damn you really got your shit together if you have all this.” Dustan said rubbing his arms as it was cooler down here then it was up in the cells.

The distinctive hum of magic and a touch on his shoulder called his attention. “I believe these are yours? Though if they are I have a few questions for you.”

In the glow of the male unicorn’s magic was his clothes and armor that were taken from him, as well as cloth wrapped around something large. “Holy shit my stuff! I am not even going to ask how you got it, I just want to put it on now please.” The newly made knight wasted no time grabbing his gear and putting it on feeling whole once the final piece was on, in this case was his cloak. As he finished he looked towards the final item that was wrapped up. Unwrapping it showed it to be his axe. “Oh right I was out to chop wood.”

Picking it up he heard a few gasps come from some of the ponies watching him as well as whispers of it being true. “I see, that does help things along quite a bit.”

“Ok, mind explaining things a bit more clearly for some who don’t know what it is you are talking about?” Dustan was a bit miffed about not knowing about something big enough for ponies to whisper about like some great event like this apparently was.

Giving a cough before the unicorn stated. “I see you don’t even know what you hold.”

“And I assume you are going to tell me it isn’t just some axe huh?” The amount of sarcasm was strong in this one.

“Come let us eat and talk then. Be warned it’s not the best food, but at least it’s something.” Variety was the spice of life, but hunger made even the most poorly prepped foods taste divine. The rumble in the human’s belly told him that this meal would be one remembered for good or bad.

He had gone through his third bowl of…oatmeal…before the unicorn started to talk once more except Dustan ignored him for a moment. “Let me finish eating first.” All that was given was a chuckle and a patient unicorn.

When he was done eating the cloaked human gave a nod towards the unicorn. “Magisters, those that study magic for a living in case you don’t know, have found sources of a metal that is very rare.” Already Dustan could see where this was going but let him continue. “The metals are not natural but created.”

“So what, I am holding a Vibranium axe?” With the comic reference thrown out there the nerdy male just grinned.

“I don’t know what that is. What you hold is called Harmonium.” Dustan couldn’t help but raise his eyebrows as he was kidding when he said Vibranium but Harmonium was giving off warning bells that he didn’t like. “When normal metal or metal ore is exposed to the light given off when the Elements of Harmony they sometimes absorb some of the power from them. This gives the metal some new properties.”

“If you come off with some bullshit like I am a chosen one I am going to be pissed.” Frowning as he said that, Dustan continued. “That never ends up well for said chosen one.”

“Sort of. Not so much chosen but in tune with harmony or acts on its behalf.” As the unicorn said that it confirmed a lot of fanfic writer’s theories that harmony was aware to some degree in the My Little Pony world. “It still has all the properties of the metal it was before, in this case steel for your axe. However it also gains an enchantment that unicorns and magisters all around Equus have been wanting for untold ages and still haven’t managed to create: The Everlasting Enchantment.”

“Ok so what does that mean?” it was a simple question, though Dustan had a few ideas on what it meant already just from the name and the fact that it wasn’t dust when he found it.

“What it means is that it will stay sharp and will not succumb to rust.” In the light it was easy to see that the stallion was rust colored himself which was half why he was laughing now. “What’s so funny?”

“Well then I guess this isn’t Harmonium then since it was covered in a LOT of rust when I found it.” That was a lot off his mind for sure.

“That is impossible, I mean it would have had to been abandoned in a damp area for centuries if not a millennia for rust to even generate on it.” Well shit was all Dustan could think of. “Regardless we already know its Harmonium for the simple fact of how it looks. Look at it in the light, when it catches light it has a shifting rainbow hue that only Harmonium has.” Double shit.

Giving a sigh and giving up on getting out of half chosen one status Dustan spoke up. “Yeah I noticed that myself after I finished cleaning it up and yeah it was abandoned for about a thousand years from what I could tell.” He was wishing he brought his sword with him now instead of leaving it behind hidden.

“Well that would explain it for sure.” The unicorn stood up and smiled. “I haven’t introduced myself. I am Logistics Trail.” With there being more light it was easy to see why Dustan had a hard time seeing him before, with his dark rust colored coat and black mane and tail he easily blended in with the shadows. The only thing to break up the pattern was his grey cutie mark that was a model of the globe surrounded by three rings making it look like an atom. The other difference between an atom symbol and his mark was that instead of balls for the electrons there were wings.

“Dustan Warner but just call me Dustan.” Reaching out he met the pony’s hoof with his first in a hoof bump. “I hope you don’t think I am some deciding factor here cause even with what we have here, they have numbers on their side for sure.” All that the stallion gave was a cocky grin. “Oh you have to be shitting me.”

The train whistled calling an end to its trip. Not only was the sound of many hooves heard, but the clanking of steel, bronze, and gold from the various battalions. Iron and steel were rare in Equestria, as was Copper, tin, and aluminum so gold and silver were often the go to for equipment. The good thing about gold and silver that made up for their cousins metals outperforming them was that enchantments were easier to inlay in them making it so they could be more versatile depending on what they were enchanted with.

Rainbow Dash took to a stance and saluted the guards that marched out of the train as soon it would be time to make up for her mistakes.

Author's Notes:

Cheesy/punny name for title, check.
Cliffhanger, Check.

The fact you survived being pushed off a cliff before, uncheck.

Exactly wait what?
*Shoves*
FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU-