The knight found himself waking up in his Grimoire. His gaze was met with the same miserable barren bleakness of the reddish-black void of his Grimoire. Asta looked around pondering why his mind had been brought here.

“Why the hell am I here?” He said annoyed.

“You are here because we wished to speak with you face to face,” growled the anti-magic demon as it appeared with its usual large jagged toothy smile.

“Yes,” came a new voice in the sound of a hiss. “The demon and I wished to speak with our warden and the unauthorized use of our powers.” A man with wispy inky shadowy hair in heavy plate armor with a bright red regal cape appeared. “You haven’t forgotten where your powers come from, have you? The Grimoire is just as much yours as it is ours in many ways.”

“Sombra,” Asta grumbled as he crossed his arms and rolled his eyes. “No, I didn’t forget where my power comes from and what do you mean unauthorized use?”

“I mean you use us without considering whether or not how it affects us!” Sombra roared. “You take from us and don’t even ask. That is called unauthorized or stealing.”

“I totally give him access to my power. He just doesn’t allow me to get into he has a lot of limits placed on it,” the demon snickers.

“Quiet, fowl abomination!” Sombra shot back at the demon. “If you would simply take over then we could both get what we need!”

“Wow, and here I thought these guys would be the best of friends,” Asta muttered to himself in utter shock as he crossed his arms. He looked around and then started to walk off while the two dark souls argued with one another.

After catching his breath for a moment and taking a break from arguing with the snide demon he then realized that they were one short of their original party. Asta had already walked off and was now strumming on a guitar, the demon merely shrugged it off and dispersed knowing he wouldn’t make any head with Asta currently. Sombra, on the other hand, was thoroughly pissed about being ignored. The evil king charged forward and put as much strength as he could muster into his right fist and threw himself into Asta.

Asta saw the dark pony coming for him out of the corner of his eye. He caught Sombra fits dead on sending a shockwave straight behind the duo.

Asta grinned at the snarling pony. “So ya wanna go, aye? Fine, I’ll oblige you,” Asta threw his guitar up and caught it by the neck. He then reared it back and swung it hard having it mack contact with Sombra’s face while shouting “El-Kabaong!” the king was sent flying while the guitar was left in splintered pieces.

“You bastard,” Sombra growled as he landed on his feet about thirty feet away from his assailant. “What do you think gives you the authority to hit me with that trash and get away with it?”

“Hmmm…” Asta tapped his chin with his pointer finger as he tapped his shoulder with the broken guitar neck still in his grasp.

“ANSWER ME!” The enraged umbran roared.

Asta tossed the guitar piece away. And then looked at the snarling pony. “First. This isn’t your Grimoire it’s mine!” Asta took in a deep breath and control his blood flow increasing his speed and strength. He ran at the king and the started to exchange blows with one another in a tempest of angry blows. Left fist with a right block. Palm thrust connects with steel plated gut. Gauntlet fist meeting raw flesh of the face.

The duo stopped and jumped back as they broke apart. “Second,” Asta held out his right hand with two fingers sticking up on it. “This is my body and mind that you’re trying to take over,” Asta took up a stance Sombra hand never seen before placing his palms at chest level with one close to his chest and the other out from his body. His feet were noticeably apart. He took in another breath and increased his speed and power once more.

Sombra merely smirked and tossed off his cape and then shed his armor. He jumped up and down for a bit limbering himself up. Sombra was actually getting excited for the first time in a while. For the first time in a long time, he felt the spark of an honorable fight. He took up his own stance similar to that of a boxer.

“You’re not a guest here, you’re a prisoner Sombra and if you think I’m just going to roll over and give you my body without a fight then you are severely mistaken!” the two took off sending a massive shockwave in either direction.

Sombra smirked at the two met face to face. “So if I beat you then I win this body,” he smirked.

Sombra’s fists connected with Asta’s palms blow for blow. It felt like he was hitting a gigantic wall of solid steel. The two opposing sides clashed over and over again in a tempest of anger and fury. fought each other for hours neither side showed the slightest sign of backing down

Unless you had the proper training then you wouldn’t have been able to see the fight between the dark pony and the magic knight. The demon sat back and watched the two clash he as he could only laugh at this pointless struggle. He knew Sombra would never beat Asta in a fight when it came to using raw physical power. Even if Sombra would have had access to his magic in the Grimoire he still wouldn’t stand a chance in hell of beating Asta. The human was just too stubborn for his own good, something that all three of them had in common with each other. Then there were the seals that other Boeing that had placed seals in here and inside of Asta as well. Even the demon knew that it was pointless at this time as that being was far stronger than any other being that he knew to exist.

Soon the violence subsided and Sombra was at Asta’s feet struggling to catch his breath. Asta stood over the dark king and raising a fist up then brought it down hard into the back of the evil king’s skull distressing the pony into black wisps.

“You’ll never have my body but you’re more than welcome to keep trying to take it from me. And the power that you said is yours isn’t yours anymore,” Asta commented as he turned to the demon’s direction.

The demon quickly formed in front of Asta tooling on his usual enlarged form. “You still want to save and protect others that treat you as a threat yourself. Why not just take over and punish them and show them how hat it means to respect the powerful?”

“Because then I’m no better than Sombra,” Asta glared at the demon. “I’ll be a leader that’s kind and strong while he pushes his subordinates to push past their limits every time!“ he thumped his chest with his fist. “

I can know you interfered in my fight against the vampire when I drew the Demon-Destroyer sword,” Asta scowled at his demon.

“Face the truth runt!” The demon laughed. “If I hadn’t sent that influx of Anti-magic to your sword than you would’ve been down for the count let alone able to lop off the bitch's arms permanently.”

“Thank you,” Asta said begrudgingly.

“Don’t mistake that for and act of charity or kindness’s runt. I can’t have this body die on me before I’ve had a chance to take it for myself,” the demon bent down and pointed at Asta’s chest. “This body is mine just as much it is yours and it’d be too much of a hassle to find a new host the can wield my power in this world.”

“I’ll tell you what I told that bastard Sombra,” Asta swatted the claw away. “This is my body and you can’t have without a fight,” he raised a fist to his demon. “We done here, I’m leaving,” Asta turned and walked away while he did, he started to fade until there was no sign of him at all.

“Just like the other one!” The demon laughed. “Only even more in touch wi5h his softer side. Just wait, runt, that’ll be your undoing.” The demon smiled and faded into the dark void of the Grimoire.

Celestia’s sun started to creep over the horizon soon flooding the train’s inner cars with the first light of the day. Asta’s eyes shot open as his mind was now back inside his body. While his mind may have been fully awake his body was not. He decided it was about time to t tart to freshen up as he hadn’t taken a show since the night before. He definitely needed to clean up after his fight with Rick, the balrog, three vampires, and then there was the clean up of Ponyville.it was safe to say he needed a thorough rinse.

After he managed to free his arm from underneath Fluttershy’s head Asta headed for the shower. He grabbed a pair of fresh boxers his nap sack and walked into the bath and shut the door. He turned on the water and we waited for it to get hot he stripped down. Once the water was hot Asta got in the shower and began to scrub down, good. This would be the last time he’d be able to shower for a few days maybe more so he was going to make it last. He was still limited on time as Fluttershy needed to bath too.

He starts to sing as he showered.

Once he finished washing up he turned off the what and stepped out of the shower stall. Asta grabbed the nearest towel and started to dry off. He made sure to get his draws on before he stepped out of the bathroom. He threw the towel around his shoulder and started to open the door.

“Man Shy, I know y’all don’t like using the whole Knight of Equestria title to get a leg up on things but you have to admit it’s pretty handy in situations like this,” Asta said as he walked out of the bathroom and started to dry his hair. He took the towel off and looked to his girlfriend who was in nothing but her bra and panties. His face lit up like a stoplight as the blood rushed to his head. “I-I-I- I’m sorry I that y-y-y-you were still in your n-n-nightgown,” he covered his eyes and quickly turned his head.

Fluttershy giggled at Asta’s reaction but was still a bit embarrassed. “It’s alright for you to see me in my underwear Asta. We’ve been dating for almost two full months now, maybe a little longer,” she held her chin while she looked up to the ceiling. “It’s not like I haven’t seen more of you either though,” Fluttershy giggled.

“Always back to the flashing incident,” Asta glumly hung his head in shame. “Fine if you’re alright with it then I’m not gonna complain,” He smirked as he looked over Fluttershy’s have naked body causing her to blush herself.

“I said you could look not stare,” she grabbed a pillow and threw it hard as she could and nailed Asta right in the face. Fluttershy then rushed into the bathroom and slammed the door as she locked it behind her. Asta could only snicker as he tossed the pillow back on the bed.

“Might want to hurry Shy. We should be pulling into the Appleloosa pretty soon,” Asta said as he went over to his knapsack and pulled out a pair of black denim pants, a gray sleeves shit with a Red Cross running off to the left side of the shirt. He pulled his hairband over his head and placed it around his forehead. Asta noticed the back of his hair was longer than he’d initially thought. He knocked on the bathroom door.

“I’m not unlocking it,” Fluttershy swift shot back with heavy embarrassment in her voice.

Asta’s face began to heat up. “No Shy I was wondering if you had a hair tie I could borrow?”

“Oh, outer pocket,” she said sheepishly as she turned the water on.

“Thanks,” Asta went over and pulled out Fluttershy’s white duffle bag and reached into the outermost pocket and pulled out a packet of ponytail holders. “Bright colors. Oh, there’s a grey one,” Asta pulled out the grey hairpiece and then put the ties back in his girlfriend’s bag. He then knocked on the bathroom door again. “Can I get you to help me with my hair?”

The water stopped and Asta heated the stall door open and the hairdryer going after a few more seconds. Then the door then opened with a slight crack in it show Fluttershy just barely peeping out of it. Her face was bright red.

“Um… Asta, could you hand me my bag, please,” Fluttershy squeaked out. “I forgot to get my clothes when I rushed in here.”

“My bad Shy!” Asta said slightly embarrassed. He ran over and got the white duffle bag and rushed it back to the bathroom. Asta scrunched his eyes shut and held the bag to the door as he looked away. Fluttershy quickly took the bag and shut the door. Asta waited a few more minutes and then Fluttershy come out in a pink T-shirt and white denim pants with her hair pulled back into a ponytail.

“Cute,” Asta starred.

“Stop staring,” Fluttershy yelped.

Asta pulled his hairband around his neck. She pulled out a brush and got on the bed behind Asta and brushed his to where it was more manageable. She then took his hair tie and pulled Asta’s hair back and tied it into a ponytail, well a short one at least, closer to Sokka’s from Avatar the Last Air Bender. Asta pulled his headband back up around his forehead and got up. As he did the conductor’s voice could be heard over the intercom.

“We have arrived at Appleloosa, we sincerely hope that you enjoyed your stay on the overnight express travel train. Thank you and please exit accordingly. You can retrieve your luggage from the station. Again, thank you for traveling with us and have a pleasant stay here in Appleloosa.” There was a click and the intercom shuts off.

Asta pulled his knapsack over his shoulder and smiled at Fluttershy. He held out his hand and she took it and help her up off the bed. “Thanks for the help with my hair,” Asta gave her a quick peck on the cheek. With a fully flushed face, Fluttershy grabbed her own bag and flowed Asta as the couple departed the cabin to meet up with their other party members.

Asta and Fluttershy met up with Twilight, Applejack, Spike, and Ymir on the train station platform and then walk around to the front. They didn’t have anything other than the bags of clothes to carry as Asta had Twilight use her mater compactor spell on the wagon when she used it on Ymir. He then stored the cart in his Grimoire for conveyance.

Asta pulled out the cart and set it on the ground and then looked to Ymir and motioned with his to get next to the cart for her to get ready to return to her original size.

“Okay Twilight cast the counterspell,” Asta said while pointing at the cart and dragon. Twilight cast her spell and the two immediately grew to their original sizes.

“Um, Asta shouldn’t Nero be here already?” Fluttershy asked looking around.

Hoo, the aforementioned owl suddenly flew out the nearby tree and landed on Fluttershy’s shoulder.

“Looks like she’s here to me,” Asta approached Ymir and attached the ago and the young dragoness. “Why don’t you guys go round up something to eat what I finish hooking Ymir up to the wagon and take stock of the inventory one more time,” he smiled as he went about his task.

“Good idea!” Twilight chirped.

“Seconded,” Spike said as he placed a hand on his gurgling stomach.

The girls went off to a nearby diner to fetch everyone’s breakfast. Asta went about his task when he sensed a familiar ki coming toward the wagon. Ymir took notice of the new presence as well. The newcomer quickly pulled a dagger from under their cloak. They concealed their presence as much as they could and approached the wagon slowly. While this pony was still a good way off they threw the dagger only for Ymir to catch it within between her teeth. She snarled at the cloaked figure who winced in surprise.

“You should you know better than anyone that you can’t sneak up on me, Nightingale,” Asta said as he appeared behind the cloaked pony. “This yours?” He held out the dagger she’d thrown.

Nightingale smirked under her hood. “Didn’t expect that beast of yours too have such good reflexes either.”

“Ymir is my partner and not a beast,” Asta sneered at Nightingale as he walked back to the wagon and tossed the dagger back towards its original owner. “Is everything still going planned?”

“Yes, ever hi good is still on course. We’ve set up not to for from the local bazaar. Everyone’s expecting you to arrive within the next week and then your plan can be put into action as the operations leader,” Nightingale explained as she sheathed her blade.

“Be careful,” Asta muttered and Nightingale nodded as she walked away and then fade into the shadows while no one was looking.

The girls and Spike soon returned with arms full of different kinds of breakfast biscuits. Spike ran up to Asta right away and held out a biscuit.

“Only had two chicken biscuits left,” Asta gratefully took the breakfast item and bit into it. Spike looked left and right then back to Asta. Who was that person in the cloak you were talking to?”

Asta chew his food then answer the young salamander. “Nightingale from the Shadowbolt. Thanks for the biscuit man,” he held fist out to Spike who returned the fist bump. “No problem man but, what did she want?”

“She was probably checking in with Asta Spike?” Twilight commented with a mouth full. “He is the one who started this operation in the first place.”

“Ah don’t care who she is or her stasis in the military,” Applejack looked off in the distance tick off. “Ah don’t like her. She threw a knife at Asta who is mah friend and he’s technically her superior right now.”

“Calm down Aj,” Asta said as he grabbed a sausage biscuit from the farmhand. “If she was seriously trying to assassinate me she wouldn’t do it out in the open like that.” He unwrapped the biscuit and proceeded to toss it to Ymir. The dragon happily munches the breakfast sandwich. “It was more or less saying I’m here dumbass don’t ignore me.” Asta snickered but Ymir still growled at this. “Come on girls and guy. We’ve got a long road ahead of us and a week on the road ahead of us.”

“You really think we can make it to Savanna in just seven days?” Fluttershy looked at Ymir in concern. “What about Ymir? She needs to rest.”

“I know that Shy,” Nero flew over to the Dragon on perished herself on her little sister’s head. “I didn’t plan on not letting her rest. I’m not a slave driver but we’re already a day behind even getting here.”

Ymir growled lowly at Fluttershy and hustled her slightly. “Okay if you think you can do it but don’t push yourself.” The dragoness nodded.

“Then we’re off,” Asta pointed down the main road out of town.

“Shame Ah have ta leave as soon Ah got here,” Applejack sighed.

“You have family here Aj?” Asta asked as he looked over his shoulder while the group moved along.

She nodded. “Una, but how you now that?”

“The town is called Appleloosa for its apple orchards and who better to grow apples than Apples,” Asta commented with a smirk. “It’s Equestria’s biggest supplier of apples right up there with Ponyville,” Asta noted the apple orchards as they walked along. “The only reason this place has a better reputation is because of the cherry plantation run by the local Cherry family.”

“Someone has certainly been brushing up and their Equestrian Agriculture,” Twilight snickered.

“It comes with the territory of working for the Apple family Twi,” Asta twirled his hand in the air. “And the fact that I had nothing to do but read the books that Nero brought me to read when I was I was under lockdown at Shy’s.”

“Ah was hopin we could stop by and see um for a short spell?” Applejack asked hopefully.

“Sorry Aj,” Asta looked at the mare with an apologizing gaze. “But we’re already a day late getting here but I promise that we’ll stop and see them on our way back through next time, Okay.”

“Pinkie promised,” Applejack said.

“Cross my heart,” Asta made an X across his heart with a finger, “hope to fly,” He then fluttered his hands, “Stick a cupcake in my eye.” Asta lightly slapped his eye. Everyone giggled at him. “What? You guys didn’t think I know it did you?”

“We thought you might but weren’t sure,” twilight rolled her eyes.

“Nrrrr,” Asta crossed his arms with a pout. “Let’s got a move on.” The grouped moved out of town towards the Savanna.

Asta and his group had made great progress in the journey to reach Savanna. The group had stopped only once and that was to allow Ymir to rest while the group eat lunch and filled their water canteens. Fluttershy had been keeping to herself more so than usual and Asta knew it had something to with their destination. He decided it was time to find out why or at least try and ease her worries in some way. First, he was going to have to distract the others, luckily he had just the things.

Asta walked over to Twilight first who had been running the test on the Timberwolf lumber trying to find out who or what had sent them to attack Ponyville. “Hey, Twi. Can you take a break from the wood and take a look at this?”

“Look at what?” She said as she didn’t look up from her chemistry setup.

Asta plopped a thick book in front of her. “It’s a customs guide for the Savanna. I need you to read it back to front and know it in and out. So, have at and read it and write a paper on it just to be on the safe side.”

“Is that really necessary? I get the need for the book and knowing it,” Twilight looked at Asta confused. “But a research paper? Really?”

“Not really, just wanted to mess with ya a bit Twi. But seriously, I need you to know this stuff front to back,” Asta set a stack of books right next to the first one. “Then I need you to read these for good measure. Are ya up for it?”

Twilight was drooling at the sight of the books in front of her. “Ah, yeah,” she grabbed the first book and started reading.

‘One down two to go.’ Asta thought as he walked off.

Asta made his towards Applejack and Spike. The duo was chatting by the fire exchanging their thoughts.

“Hey guys,” Asta walked in. “I have a favor to ask?”

“What do ya need?” Spike smirked.

“Could you two go gather up some fire would that’ll last us through the next few nights?” Asta motioned to the tree that had been thinning out since they left the group left the town.

“Can do Sugarcube,” applejack hopped to her feet. She then stopped and whispered in Asta’s ear. “I think somethin heavy has been eatin at Shy. Ah think ya should go and try talking to her.”

“That’s the plan,” Asta murmured.

“Come on Spike,” Applejack said as she went on with her task.

“Coming!” The drake tagged along.

Asta now went over to Fluttershy. She had been brushing Ymir’s hair by the wagon trying to help the dragon to relax after a long day of pulling the cart. Ymir raised her head as Asta approached but laid it back down as she was too tired to bother with others at this time.

Asta walked up behind the animal-loving girl. She was too in wrapped to notice the knight. He placed a hand on her shoulder.

“Shy,” Asta said softly as he tried not to startle her too much.

*Eep!*

Fluttershy quickly turned to see Asta as he pulled his hand back. “I need your help to pitch the tents for and the others,” he through his thumb over his shoulder to a few unassembled tent setups behind him in the distance.

“Oh, okay,” Fluttershy agreed in a glum tone.

Asta and Fluttershy walked over to the campsite. Asta spread out the ground tarp while Fluttershy sit up the poles for the dew cloth. Between the two of them, they had the first ent up in no time. The second tent pitching went just as smoothly, then Asta spoke up to girlfriend.

“Alright Shy,” the knight crossed his arms. “Spill, wh6 have you been so depressed since we left Appleloosa? What exactly does it have to do with them Caribou and going to Savanna?”

Her gaze shot at Asta and tears started to well up in her eyes. “Oh Asta,” she ran into his arms. “I’m sorry for being this way. I… I didn’t think I would have to tell you so soon but it has to do with my mother and… my father.”

“Oh,” Asta said as his eyes widened. “You don’t have to talk about it then.” He wrapped his arms around her. “You can tell me later.”

“No,” Fluttershy aid abruptly. “You need to know before we reach the Caribou’s city. About me, my origins and about how my mother met my father and how my mom came to live in Equestria and … what happened to my dad.”

The origins played at the beginning will be revealed. What could it be? Abusive relations? tell me what you think it might be in the comments.