I gave Berry and Rarity a kiss each as I held them close, taking in their scent, happy to be home, "Oh goddess, I missed you two so much." I walked over to the couch and sat down, Berry and Rarity quickly following me and hopping up on either side of me, "It was way too quiet out at the ruins. Well, not quiet, what with the fire and fighting and what not, but I missed the voices. The only company I had was my new friend there." I nodded towards the Ursa who was cautiously entering the house, sniffing at the door frame and stepping in slowly.

Rarity's eyes widened, "Um, John, dearest, what is that Ursa doing here?" I could feel her drawing herself closer to me, as did Berry.

I chuckled softly and leaned forward, holding my hand out, "I drained Discord's magic from it and it decided to follow me around." The Ursa growled happily as it pushed it's head into my hand, "Saved my life once actually," I started to scratch behind it's ears, "It woke me up when a bunch of Affected badger things were sneaking up on me as I was sleepin'." I smiled as the Ursa leaned against my legs, eyes half closed.

Berry cautiously put a hoof out and began to scratch it's back, "So, uh, what's its name?" She asked, stiffly petting it's back.

I tapped my chin with my free hand, "Huh," I looked down at it, "I dunno... How about Desmond?"

Rarity leaned forward and began scratching his neck with the tip of her hoof, "Desmond is a nice name." She leaned close to me, "Um, are you sure he's tame?"

"Nope." I replied, "But he doesn't seem too dangerous." I said as Desmond rolled onto his back, revealing a belly rub was in order, which I was quick to provide. Berry giggled softly as his leg began to twitch, "Just a big ol' ball o' spectral fluff aren't we Desmond?" We all laughed as he groaned happily, "Anyway, what is this news you wanted to break to me?" I asked looking at Rarity and Berry.

Rarity looked at Berry who nodded and looked at me, "Well, we talked to Sweetie Belle and Pinchy about this and they were fine with it, now we want to ask you: Would you mind if we moved in with you?"

I must have looked more surprised than I thought because Rarity started chipping in, "Understand John, I've been meaning to find a new house for a while. I've wanted to expand the Boutique to the second floor because I've been getting so much business recently."

Berry nodded, "And Pinchy needs a father figure and she already likes you a lot."

I held my hands up, much to the dismay of Desmond who huffed, waddled over to a carpet and plopped himself down, "Girls, relax, alright?" I smiled and put my arms around each of them, "I would love to have you guys live here," They visibly relaxed, "Only thing I'd have to do is expand the house, probably add a second floor to add space for the girls..." I trailed off as I began to ponder the necessary redesign of my home, "Either way," I said, shaking my head a bit, "I'll need to pick up my reward from the Princesses first, so I'll probably run up to Canterlot tomorrow."

Berry nodded, "I'll go with you, I have to drop off my latest review to my editor and her office if close to the castle."

Rarity hopped off the couch and stretched, "Well, it sounds as if we have a plan." She turned to look at me, her eyes sparkling, "I'm sure you'll let me decorate the second floor when it's done?"

I chuckled, "Do I have a choice?"

"Nope." She trotted off, giggling. I sighed, smirked, and stood up, stretching out and wincing a bit as my sore wounds acted up again. The next hour was spent eating a pleasant, if slightly late, lunch and welcoming the Crusaders and Pinchy into the house as they climbed all over me in happiness and demanded stories of my adventures. Desmond wandered in and the fillies got wound up farther and began playing with him with a vigor that only children could have. I was concerned for a second, but Desmond seemed to give in and let the little fillies down what they wanted, so I breathed a small sigh of relief.

Their was still some time left in the day, so I decided to check in on Twilight and her progress on my mysterious arrival, "Hey y'all," I shouted as I walked to the front door, "I'll be back in a bit!" I heard general noises of consent and walked out, sighing contentedly as I headed towards the tree that was Twilight's home.

"Oh? You're back." Said a quiet voice behind me. I turned and saw Fluttershy with bags filled with various foods on her back, "How was your trip?" She asked, falling into step beside me.

I shrugged, "Successful, but I won't get into details." She nodded, understanding that I didn't want to divulge "interactions" with the local wildlife, "What brings you to this neck of Ponyville Fluttershy?" I asked.

She gestured to her bags, "I was picking up some groceries at the market nearby." She smiled and looked up at me, "What about you? I thought you would want to rest at home after you got back."

I chuckled, "I was going to, but I wanted to stop in a check in on stuff with Twilight," I tapped my chin, "I also need to send a message to the Princesses and let them know I'm done. It'd be best if they got to renovating the ruins as soon as possible, to prevent any critters from moving back in."

Fluttershy nodded again, "That makes sense. Did you find anything interesting while you were there?" She asked as the library came into sight.

"Not really. I've got a new pet though." I replied.

Her eyes glittered, "What kind of pet?"

I knocked on the door, "An Ursa."

"Oh that's ni-" Twilight opened the door, "Wait, a what?" Fluttershy seemed a bit gobsmacked.

I smirked, "An Ursa." I turned to Twilight, "Hey Twilight, I'm back." I smiled, "Decided to drop on by to check in on you and send a message to the Princesses."

Twilight stepped aside, welcoming Fluttershy and me in, "Good to see you back John, I'm sure Celestia will be happy to hear back from you."

I smirked, "I'm sure Luna will be happier since she'll be getting the letter first." I chuckled softly as Twilight's jaw dropped, "Either way, I've got to tell them that and I figured you'd like to know I'm alive, if a bit injured." I nodded to Fluttershy, "Thanks for packin that first aid kit in my bag, by the way, saved me a lot of probable infection."

"What do you mean?" Fluttershy asked, head tilted.

"Oh yeah, you didn't see my injuries..." I mumbled, taking off my hoodie and shirt, revealing my bandaged upper torso, "My arms are all scratched up and I've got a pretty big gash on my back."

Fluttershy gasped and started poking my back, checking the bandages, "Oh my, oh my, oh my..." She stopped, "You had these treated?" Fluttershy asked.

I nodded, "I stopped by Zecora's place before I got into town and she patched me up and then offered to sleep with me." I said, pulling my clothes back on, "What?" I asked, seeing the bright red faces of Twilight and Fluttershy.

Twilight shook her head and wandered over to a bookshelf and magicked down a journal, "Nevermind," she said quickly, "I do have some news about your appearance here though."

I sat down and crossed my arms, "Enlighten me Sparkle."

Twilight smiled and propped the book open with her magic, "Well, it would seem that it was the result of a summoning spell, probably gone wrong, which brought you here." She lowered the book and looked me in the eye, "The fact that you got here in one piece is a miracle in itself."

I nodded, "Any idea who summoned me?"

She shook her head, "Unfortunately no. Like I said, it was probably a mistake that you were brought here since inter-dimensional summoning is, at the best of times, a theory."

I sighed heavily and leaned back, "Shit." I muttered softly. I might have felt at home with Rarity and Berry, but I would like to see my old home again. Fluttershy leaned against me comfortingly, "Well, let me write a quick letter out, then I can finish this letter on a happier note, alright?" I smiled sadly as Twilight grabbed a quill, ink bottle, and some parchment. I jotted down a short note saying that I was back, the ruins were safe and ready to be worked on, "There." I watched Twilight seal it up with some ribbon and wax, "And now for good news!" I said, smiling, "Berry and Rarity have decided to move in with me!" I heard a soft thumping noise coming from the stairs and turned to see a very upset looking Spike glaring daggers at me, "Oh no..." I said softly, "Spike, hold on-" I began, standing up.

"NO!" He shouted, a small green flame coming from his mouth, "She's a beautiful lady and she's refined and..." He was tearing up, clenching his little hands into fists.

"Spike..." I said softly.

"SHUT UP!" He shouted, "THE ONLY REASON SHE'S THINKS YOU'RE INTERESTING IS BECAUSE YOU'RE A FREAK!" He yelled, spitting a stream of fire at me before running upstairs. I was easily able to redirect the flame and quickly put it out, though I still felt a little hurt on the inside.

"SPIKE!" Twilight shouted angrily as he ran up the stairs, "You come back and apologize right now!" She demanded, stomping a hoof.

I put a hand on Twilight's head, "Its fine," I ruffled her hair, "Anyway, I'm headed back home for the night. Maybe I'll see you tomorrow, yeah?" I said, not waiting for a reply as I stood up. I paused by Fluttershy and put a hand on her neck, "Hey, you know him better than I do, try to help him out a bit?" I smiled softly and walked outside, again not waiting for a response. I heard a slight protest from the two mares as I stepped outside, but I blocked them out and pulled my hood up over my head, exhaling and looking towards the sunset. Sunsets always have a way of making things seem more dramatic, even if its just silly, or so I think. I sighed and walked aimlessly for a bit, not totally looking where I was going.

"Oh drat..." I heard someone mutter off to my side. I glanced towards the source of the voice and saw a gray pony struggling with a large case of some sort, though I couldn't tell much else with the light fading.

I walked over to the struggling mare, "Hey," I said, holding a hand up, "Need some help?" I asked, noting the treble cleft cutie mark and pink bowtie. This could only be Octavia, Equestria's double bass master.

"Yes, thank you, it would be much appr-" She paused as she looked at me, "...appreciated." She finished slowly.

I picked up, what was revealed to be, the instrument case and smirked, "Bet I'm a little odd lookin to you, yeah?" I chuckled softly, "Eh, I'm used to that look now. Where are we bringin' this?" I asked, shrugging the instrument over my shoulder.

Octavia was silent for a moment before turning and nodding down the street, "There's a small inn where I've been staying for a while down this way." She began walking at a leisurely place, "So, what do I call you?" She asked, looking at me as I fell into step beside her.

"John." I replied, "My turn to ask a question: What's a famous musician like Octavia von Clef doing in a town like Ponyville?" I asked, smirking at her surprised reaction.

"How do you know my name?" She demanded, stopping and stomping a hoof.

I smiled softly, "I know a lot of things and a lot of ponies." I walked up to her and crouched down in front of her, "Listen Octavia, if I was going to do anything bad, I probably would have done it already, yeah?" She relaxed a bit and I smiled again, "Y'know, I've always thought the bowtie was a cute little thing of yours." I laughed as she fumbled for words, "So, you haven't answered my question yet."

She began to walk again, glaring at me out of the corner of her eye, "I was arranging for a duet with Lyra." She said, huffing slightly, "While we may argue about who is better overall, we both know that we are unmatched in our respective instruments." I could see a slightly haughty smile crawl onto her face, "We are to play for the Canterlot Royal Court tomorrow."

I raised my eyebrows, mildly surprised, "Impressive." I smiled softly, "I've got business with the Princesses tomorrow, maybe I'll see you there."

Octavia stopped again and looked at me in disbelief, "Y-y-you have a meeting with the Princesses, Celestia and Luna, tomorrow, in person?" She asked slowly.

I nodded, "I agreed to do a job for them." I shrugged and nudged her flank with my foot so we could keep walking, "They gave me their blessings, a house here in town, and I've got a fifty thousand bit reward waiting for me when I get there." We kept walking, but Octavia was just looking at me like I had just sprouted a second set of limbs, "What?"

She shook her head and looked down as we neared a quaint little building, "Just... It's impressive is all." We got to the door and she turned and faced me, "Forgive me if this sounds forward, but could I tempt you to join me for a glass of wine?" She asked, smiling.

I chuckled softly, "Aren't you supposed to buy me dinner first?"

She blushed softly and looked away, "It's simply some wine, nothing more." She mumbled.

I put a hand on her head and smiled, "I'd love to share some wine with you Octavia." I opened the door and let her by. I stared at the ceiling as she went up to the front desk and left a wake-up call for herself, then followed as she walked over to the stairs and up them. She went to her room and pushed the door open, making me question why there wasn't a lock, but I just chalked it up to natural pony trustworthiness. I went inside the room, a modest affair that could be found in any generic hotel or inn, and placed the double bass on the bed, careful not to be too rough. I heard the tinkling of glasses and turned to see Octavia popping open a bottle and pouring its contents into a pair of wine glasses. I sat down beside her on the couch and took the glass with a smile, tapping it's rim against her glass. It was nice as I sat there and drank with her. She asked me about my history from when I got to Equestria up to what I did today, seeming mildly surprised as my adventures unfolded. I smirked as I saw her blush when I told her about my encounters with Berry, Rarity, and Zecora. Octavia asked me to show off my magic a bit, which I was more than happy to do, pulling a flame from a nearby candle and having it float around and change shape.

The bottle was eventually empty and I stood up, swaying slightly as I did so, "Well Octavia," I said, smiling, "This was a pleasure."

She nodded, "It was." She stood up as well, leaning against me slightly, "You smell good." She slurred, smiling up at me.

I laughed softly and guided her to bed, figuring her consumption of most of the bottle lent to her sudden complimentary attitude, "Thanks Octavia." WE walked over to the door and turned to look at each other, "Dream well, yeah?" I said, putting an affectionate hand on her head.

She nodded again, then looked down and rubbed one of her front hooves against the other, "Hey John?" She began.

I raised my eyebrows slightly, "Yeah, what?" I asked.

"Ummm..." She looked up at me with an awkward smile, "Look me up when you're done with the Princesses tomorrow?" She was blushing hard enough to make her ears red.

I smiled playfully, "Octavia von Clef, are you hitting on me?"

"N-no!" She quickly replied, "I-I thought you'd like to hear me play is all..." She pouted slightly and looked away.

I laughed softly and ruffled her mane, "I'll be sure to see you as soon as I'm done Octavia, promise." I turned and waved, "Night."

"Good night John." She said behind me, closing the door. I hummed softly as I placed the Locator Stone against my forehead and thought of my house, more than happy to let it guide my way, rather than try to find my way through Ponyville at night. I was able to find my way home without incident, opening the door quietly and peering inside, seeing Pinchy and the Crusaders playing a board game of some sort while Rarity and Berry were in the kitchen cooking and chatting with each other and Desmond was asleep in front of the fireplace.

"Hey y'all, I'm back." I said as I stepped inside, taking my shoes off and putting them beside the door, "What'd I miss?"

The girls just waved from their game, concentrating intensely as only children could on such a matter. Desmond open his eyes and waddled his way over, leaning against my leg and growling affectionately, walking beside me as I went over to the kitchen and kissed Rarity and Berry on their respective cheeks.

Rarity giggled softly, "Did you have a good time visiting Twilight?"

I shrugged and got a glass of water, "It had its ups and downs."

Berry frowned slightly, "What happened?" She asked.

I sighed and leaned against the counter, "Well, Twilight said my coming here was a major fluke, so she doesn't know a specific cause for it." I rubbed the back of my neck, "And when I told her and Fluttershy about you moving in with me, Spike overheard, so he's kinda mad."

Rarity frowned and sighed, "Oh dear, I had hoped to tell him myself, the poor dear."

I put an arm around her and smiled, "He'll be alright dear. He's just going to need some time."

Berry came over and sniffed me, "Why do you smell like wine?" She asked.

I smirked, "Chance encounter led to some wine consumption." I replied, chuckling at the look Berry gave me, "Fine, fine. I ran into Octavia von Clef when I was walking and she was having some trouble carrying her instrument, so I offered to help."

Rarity snuggled into my side, "Always the gentlecolt, aren't we?" She said.

I chuckled and Berry giggled, "GentleMAN, is more accurate, but its whatever." I nuzzled Berry's neck, "Anyway, she mentioned how she was heading to Canterlot tomorrow, I mentioned how I had a meetin with the Princesses tomorrow, we started talking and my natural charm and good looks led to her asking me up to her room for some wine." I shrugged, "And now she wants me to go to her show tomorrow when I'm done with the Princesses. Though, if you ask me, she just wants some hot Johnny lovin'." I laughed softly.

Berry suddenly came up to me and gave my a kiss, forcing her tongue into my mouth. I would have protested, but she was done as suddenly as she had begun, "Hmm," She tapped a hoof against her chin, "Well, she picked a good year." She said, matter-of-factly, "Definitely likes you to say the least, given the quality of the wine."

Once I found use of my tongue I spoke, "That doesn't bother you?" I said, looking at Berry and Rarity, "Like, at all?"
Rarity shrugged a bit and got back to stirring something in a pot with her magic, "Well John, as I told you, many of us have learned to share." She smiled at me, "The idea of proliferation is encouraged among any males who haven't been snatched up by the guard yet, so what you had in mind isn't unusual. Quite the opposite really." Rarity flicked my nose with her tail and began doling out soup into some bowls.

Berry nudged my side with her flank, "Though Rarity an I would like to get a piece of you before she does, if you catch my drift." She winked at me as Rarity began to furiously blush.

"Berry!" Rarity snapped, "That is entirely inappropriate!"

Berry smiled, "But true." She replied, sticking her tongue out.

"Not the point!" Rarity said, blushing a deeper red.

I laughed as they went back and forth, "Perhaps tonight we can solve that, yeah?" I muttered softly into their ears. They both got quiet and blushed, making me chuckle as I grabbed a couple of bowls, bringing them to the young ones who were more than happy to stick their faces in and begin eating. I grabbed a spoon and began to eat my portion while Rarity and Berry did the same with theirs. Desmond seemed more than happy to stick his head in the pot and finish off any leftovers that had been forgotten, causing me to chuckle softly. After the dishes were cleaned the girls decided to play with me for an hour or so before they all went to bed. As if reading my thoughts, Rarity came out with three wine glasses while Berry followed with two bottles of wine. The bottles were opened and we drank, flirted, and talked. I even mentioned how Zecora seemed to have an interest in me, causing Rarity to blush while Berry admitted to having wanted to try and see what Zecora would be like in bed. I laughed hard enough to bring tears to my eyes, then we all drank and flirted some more, eventually leading to them dragging me into the master bedroom, cheeks flushed red with wine and excitement. I won't get into details, but it certainly became a night to remember.

(Hello reader(s)! Well, so we begin part 2 of my adventuring, joy.

Anywho, I wanted to make this special, so, I decided that what occurs in the following chapters will be determined by what you guys want!

If you want to see something in my story, write a review and put in your request. If it is reasonable, I'll try to fit it in, if its just stupid, I won't, simple as that.

Either way I'll keep writing until I feel this arc is done, so peace for now!

-Exanora a.k.a. John)