"Not long enough apparently." I said looking at her face.
"What brings you to the library, Tix?" Twilight questioned, trying to change the subject.
"Well, since you seem to be in the middle of something I'll make this quick. I need a storage spell placed on some of the cloths that Rarity is making for me." I said looking around the library.
"I suppose I could stop by in a few hours and place the enchantment on the clothes." Twilight said.
"So are you talking about anything I should know about?" I asked the pair.
"No." Rainbow Dash responded hastily. As I turn on my heels and head towards the door I stick up my hand and give a slight wave.
"I'll take your word for it." I said walking out the door. On my way back to Rarity's I see a peaceful park on the way back. As I walk past it I felt something tugging me into the park. So following my instincts I walk around in the park for a little and notice something dark that seems to be lurking about. As I draw closer to the darkness I notice a couple quick flashes of light to my left I pay it no mind as I continue on my journey to the dark. After I got close enough I noticed it was just a random pony sleeping in the shade. I decide it's not that important and decide to head towards the lights I saw. As I approach around where I saw the flashes from. I hear a light clashing of metal. It dawns on me that something may be wrong so I rush forward until I can see a couple ponies who look like they are just sparring with swords.
As I approach the two I notice they are armored like guards. I just sit at the tree line and watch as they dodge and weave about swinging their swords when they see an opening. I occasionally notice a couple times when they purposefully make an opening. I see them keep getting fast almost as though they went from a calm spar to a competition on who can last the longest. I notice they are getting very tired and start slowing down. They finally nod to each other and one happened to turn directly towards me.
"Oh, how long," the guard gasped for air, "have you been there?" he finished.
"Long enough, I suppose that's some fancy swordplay." I replied to the guard noticing he is approaching the shaded spot where I was at. He just gave me an odd look when he sat down next to me.
"Do you do any sword fighting?" He questioned curiously.
"A little but not too much, I'm more skilled fighting with my hands. I would by no means be an easy target at least." I said continuing to look at the now empty field. As I was staring into the field a single thought popped into my mind. "Why exactly are their guards here?" I asked him turning my gaze upon him. He seemed to be a little flustered. I took a couple seconds to think about it. "Watching us is your mission isn't it." I stated more than asked. He suddenly stood and took a couple steps before turning his head to face me.
"Wait here I will get my commander for you to talk to." He said trotting off. I just sat there for a couple minutes wondering about the reasoning for the guards. There seemed to be multiple reasons to send guards to watch us. Out of everything I was thinking about couple theories clicked and seemed to be a plausible reason to send guards to watch us. As I was lost in my own mind I hadn't noticed the guards returning. By the time I realized it there were a staggering 25 guards all just looking at me. I started to look around they didn't surround me but the captain was sitting right next to me.
"Welcome back to the land of the living." He said with a smirk on his face.
"Something like that." I said.
"So I heard you had some questions." The captain stated looking at me.
"Yeah why are you guys here? I've thought of a couple possible conclusions." I finished.
"I cannot tell you the nature of our mission." He responded quickly.
"Well then, I suppose my questions from thus forth hold no merit. So I must bid you good day." I said getting up and dusting the dirt off my pants. I head back from the direction I came from just ignoring the captains attempts to get my attention. As I get farther and farther away I notice they haven't take a step over the the tree line. I thought little about it as I continued my trek towards the boutique. As I neared the boutique I saw tons of movement through the windows. 'I suppose I'll just leave those two too work.'
I decide to take a stroll over to sweet apple acres. As I walk my way to the farm I notice Nikolai cuddling with a hay stack. I walk over to him and give him a slight kick to his back. "Ehh, wake up."
"Ohhh~. Cortana" Nikolai responds.
"Wake. Up." I reply with a heavier kick.
"Oww, Master- oh Collin?" Nikolai sleepily asks.
"Yes, I am known as master to some." I nod smirking a little.
"Nothing but brotherhood, bitch." He says flipping me off.
"What are you doing cuddling with a haystack at Apple Acres?" I question my now sitting up comrade.
"What the fuck are you- oh?" Nikolai says looking around.
"What're you two on about?" Applejack questions walking.
"Just friends-"
"Nothing much I just came over here to see if you had anything to work on." I cut Nikolai off.
"Not that you need to concern yerself with." Applejack responds.
"Just point me to the tools and tell me what needs done and I'll see what I can do." I tell her.
"I couldn't accept your help you're still settling in." Applejack continues.
"I'm not taking no for an answer just tell me where it is so I can do some work. After all we decided I could be the handyman." I reply.
"I can help in anyway I can." Nikolai adds.
"You can fix stuff Nikolai?" I ask curiously.
"I know how to fix things here and there." Nikolai replies.
"Well then since you insist I was going to see if Big Mac could fix up the fence later but I guess you guys can do it." Applejack says in defeat. Pointing to a cart with two by fours and the tools and paint for the job.
"Is that everything?" Nikolai asks Applejack.
"Fer now I'll wait to see how you boys do." Applejack responds.
"Pull the cart along Nikolai." I tell him taking a couple steps towards the fence.
"Eh, man you can pull too" Nikolai says to me as Applejack is walking away.
"I suppose I could but I'd rather not reopen my wound." I say to him.
"Pssh. What did you go do, tease a manticore?" Nikolai jests.
"I suppose you could say that, he didn't live very long" I casually respond pulling my shirt up slightly revealing my bandaged side.
"Why didn't you grab me when you decided to go pick a fight with a manticore." Nikolai asked.
"Because you were there dancing in only I assume you know what and with I'm assuming you got some names before doing the bunny hop." I quickly reply.
"Well played, good sir. Well played." Nikolai says taking a whiff of his shirt before recoiling away contorting his face to disgust, yanking his shirt off and setting it on the side of the wagon.
"So what was that stuff you were covered in anyway?" I question.
"I was sitting outside the library when this strange liquid was poured onto me. I suppose it was something Twilight's magic stuff." He responds pulling the cart.
"so let me get this straight she pours some of the foulest stuff in the land on you after making you eat her pancakes. What's the next step from her? Lighting you on fire?" I say chuckling.
"I'd expect her to tie me down first." Nikolai laughs.
"Pull out some of the stuff and lets hurry to fix this fence I think we need some stuff for self defence later." I said. As we begin working on the fence not a lot of talking takes place and before we know it we are finishing the fence. "Well that took a lot less time than I thought it would."
"I'm glad it did." Nikolai added wiping some sweat from his head.
"Let's take the wagon back up to the barn and tell Applejack it's done." I say grabbing the now empty wagon and pulling it up towards the barn. "Well I suppose that was a successful day of working and painting now we just need to leave it to dry." I say setting the wagon next to the barn. As we approached the Apple's house the sweet smell of apple pie filled my nostrils. Nikolai gives a small knock on their front door. As the door swings open the smell intensifies .
"You guys done already?" Applejack questions. I respond with a nod as Nikolai's stomach lets out a monstrous rumble. I just give him a sideways glance.
"What in tarnation was that?" Applejack asks looking at the pair of us.
"My stomach." Nikolai replied hanging his head in shame.
"Well I was just pulled a pie out, I made it for you guys. Figured you'd be hungry after working for a while." Applejack said leading us into the kitchen. As we walk through the house the smell just keeps getting stronger. When we enter the kitchen the best looking pie I've ever seen is sitting on the table. As we sit down on the table the I look at it for a couple of seconds.
"Lets have a quarter of it now so we can save a quarter of it for later." I say cutting the pie in fours. Applejack leaves the room and I plater up a quarter of the pie for both of us. As I take a bite of the pie, my mind wanders to something to compare it too. It was most assuredly the best pie I've ever had. As I take the finishing bites out of the pie I look over at my comrade. Almost finished with his part of the pie. "That pie was really good." I said he just replied by stuffing the rest he had left into his mouth.
"I'm going to head out, be sure to talk to Applejack before you leave though. Don't forget to get the rest of the pie home I have to stop by a couple places." I say standing up.
"Wait I'm going to head out with you." Nikolai said stopping me.
"Alright well then how about you talk to Applejack I'm going to wait for you by the main gate." I said walking out the back door to the kitchen.
"Alright." Nikolai says walking into the house. As I walk down the pathways on either side of me I don't see anypony walking around so I assume they are all inside the house. I hear sounds of scuffling around me. I begin picking up a slight jog to the main gate. As I pick up my pace I hear a slight tapping not only hooves but metal objects hitting each other. I continue my jog which picks up to a sprint till I get into the clearing next to the main gate. I lean up against one of the posts scanning the area behind me seeing if whoever was following me would come out and show themselves.
"You should come out now, I know you're there." I say towards the apple trees.
