I sat in the living room still quite mad as I watched the ponies and Ben just look sheepish… it's been an hour… an hour! That I have been waiting for an explanation. "I'm still waiting…" Ben gave a sigh.

"Look… Lance… you have got to stop taking this fucking tradition seriously. It's not even a tradition for Christ's sake!" and there's his raised voice… "Lance. What you're doing isn't following your grandfathers orders that he asked me to carry out. Not forced… but asked…" he stated sincerely. "But look at all of them… except for two of course." I looked around. "They all wanted to help because you saved their friend which you didn't have to." I grunted.

"The point is we owe ya for helping Pinkie and getting yourself injured in the process." Applejack stated.

"I'm kind of seeing the point here…" I narrowed my eyes.

"Good!" Ben yelled unsurprisingly. "Just… give them a chance alright…"

"Fine…" they all smiled. "Just how close did you all get while I was hurt?" I asked wanting an answer.

"They asked questions and I answered them. The only two that don't like you are Rainbow Dash with her little follower Scootaloo." He said.

"I haven't seen them all morning. It's getting close to lunch." Fluttershy asked worried.

"Knowing Rainbow she's most likely still asleep. Pinkie why don't you go start on some lunch alright?" she once again saluted as if a diving board was jumped off of as she disappeared leaving behind an outline of herself in dust.

"Do I even want to know?" I asked putting my face into my hand.

"No…" they all answer.

"Okay then! So what else needs to be done on the farm?" I asked annoyed a little.

"Nothing actually." This surprised me. "We fixed the fence, took care of the ducks, chickens, and rabbits, we also took care of the garden."

"Well if your all going to be helping me…" they listened in. "I guess we might as well expand the farm." They all smiled.

"Get some damn apple and orange trees!" Ben said with a smile as Applejack, Big Mac, and Applebloom nodded with a smile on their faces as well. "With all the ponies here you could earn a lot more money in many more ways. I know you have enough in your grandfather's savings!"

"Fine… Ben you know where my laptop is right?" he nodded. "Get it… we have some online shopping to do as well as planning." He got up and walked up the stairs… although several minutes later he came running down with a worried look on his face.

"We got a storm incoming!" my eyes widened. "And it looks like a big one!"

"Get the animals into the basement!" I yelled at Ben as he ran out the front door. "I need you three to get the cows into the barn and make sure everything is locked!" I yelled and pointed at the three family members as they nodded and ran out. "The rest of you there is wood in a small storage closet under the stairs and barricade the windows!" they all nodded as they ran off to get to work.

I looked out the window as my eyes widened at what I saw… that was one big storm alright… I could see lightning hitting the ground split seconds apart… the lone trees in the distance were whipping around and were bending slightly… looking outside I watched as Applejack and her brother and sister finished getting the cows into the barn as they began to lock it up. I looked inside of the house to see them all running around as they used some of the furniture to block the holes in the bottom of the window in the dining room.

After several minutes everyone was inside just as the storm hit. We were all in the living room… watching the walls as they creaked with strain. I gave a sigh as I looked at all the worried ponies. "This house has survived many storms. We should be alright. Is the basement door secure?" I then asked Ben as he nodded. "Was everywhere boarded up?" they nodded. "The barn?" more nods. "Then we should be alright. Ben get my laptop so we can at least have something to do."

He nodded as he went back upstairs before coming down with my laptop as I set it down onto the coffee table in front of me and opened it to start it up. "Alright as this is starting up I need to remember all of your professions." I asked.

"I'm good with animals." Fluttershy started as I nodded.

"I'm good with fashion darling." Rarity stated.

"Apple trees." Applejack stated proudly. "Big Mac also Apple trees but dabbles in minor repairs." I nodded as the laptop finished starting up as I opened up two pages. One being Amazon and the other being google.

"Baking!" Pinkie Pie yelled as she somehow appeared out of my laptop scaring the shit out of me but when I blinked she was back where she was standing as I tried to process what happened.

"Don't worry about it." Applejack stated. "Just Pinkie Pie being Pinkie Pie." I nodded in response. "Applebloom doesn't really have a profession but she's a hard worker."

"Shouldn't I have some way to help?" Applebloom asked with a saddened look in her eyes.

"You can be like everyponies assistant when they need help." Applejack said putting a hand onto her head.

"Okay!" I began to type into google what seamstresses needed to work with as I wrote down what was needed. After that was done I created a shopping cart as she picked what colors she wanted for her little job as I then looked up what was needed for a veterinarian for Fluttershy since she was good with animals. After having what colors she wanted I moved onto tools for Big Mac as he took whatever he needed. Then finally getting some stuff needed for Pinkie Pie so she could bake her absolute max or whatever she would say…

"Apple trees we are going to need to plan when the storm is over…" Applejack nodded. "I'll need to get some more farm animals for more produce and stuff for the beginning of all of your small businesses." I stated plainly. "Happy Ben?"

"very." He stated with a smile as a loud boom of thunder echoed through the house. "Would any of you like to go check up on the other two?"

"I'll go check up on them." Big Mac stated as he walked out of the room as I then heard him go up the stairs.

"Alright then… the order has been placed…" I stated as I closed it and looked around the room. "But now I need to worry about housing then…"

"Ya don't have ta do that for us Lance." Applejack stated with a smile as she held Applebloom close.

"No I have to…" they all looked at me confused. "Just look at the house." They started to look around. "The pipes have been leaking recently… the tiles on the room have been coming off with even minor winds… I have termites in several areas that just won't leave… rats and mice have been getting into the food storage…" I looked at the ceiling. "She's all worn out."

"Now that you say that…" Fluttershy started.

"It does seem like it's all worn out…" Pinkie Pie said.

"Yep. Its cost more in a year then its actual price. But before the build can actually take place we need to turn the barn into an area where we can all sleep." I stated.

"Sounds like a plan!" Applebloom said with a smile.

"I'm bored…" Ben yawned.

"Check under the TV then. I think there are a few things you can all play. I'm worn out." I stated with a yawn.

"Get to know the ponies Lance… try to become friends with them…" Ben stated. "Or else ill make sure you aren't allowed to work for a long while." I looked at him with surprise but then I heard a few snores followed by the loud creaking of the house. Soon Big Mac came back in. he gave a thumbs up as I nodded.

"Maybe you can answer some questions I have then." I looked at Applejack. "Why?"

"Why what?" I asked her.

"You could have just gotten three of us and yet you got 8 of us. Getting my friends and family as well as my younger sister's friend. Then giving all of us the beds while you decided to sleep in the barn. Why?"

"There's more to it then what you may all think… only I know why and neither does ben…" I stood up as pain flared through my left leg. "When you all earn my trust I will tell you all." I looked at them all. "But until then think of your own reasons…" I looked at Pinkie Pie. "So is lunch done I presume?" she nodded. "Well then all of you get eating…" immediately where Ben was there was a figure of dust as I chuckled. Even when asleep his body knows when the word eat is said.

"You coming Lance?" Applejack asked but I shook my head. She frowned before walking out of the room with the others. When I was sure they were all gone I frowned a little as I looked at the unturned on TV. It is something I hope they never earn my trust for… why I have barely any friends… why… I hope they can never trust me…

And that was when I felt my phone start vibrating…

Ben's POV

Taking a bite of the sandwich that was made I gave a sound of pleasure from the taste. "This is really good Pinkie!" she giggled a little as she took a bite of her own sandwich.

"Is something wrong with Lance?" Applejack then asked in a whisper.

"He may be my friend but there are still many things I don't know about him…" I stated looking towards the doorway to the living room. "He's quite random at times like your friend Pinkie."

"I don't think he's that random…" Fluttershy stated in her usual voice volume as I looked back at the table and took another bite of the sandwich.

"You never know with him… although I will say that I'm surprised he wants to take down the old house." They all looked confused. "His grandfather built it entirely by hand as well as the barn… by himself." They all grew wide eyed. I heard a few meows before I spotted Rarity's cat on her lap as she pet it. "I would have suspected him to keep this house and try his best to keep it in tip top shape. But hearing what he listed with everything bad… I think there's more to play then just tearing the place down." I finished off my sandwich as I leaned back into the chair with an arm over the back.

"What do you mean?"

"His family is basically almost unknown to me. Only knowing the major parts but when it concerns his past he always hides it from me." I stated as I looked out a boarded up window as rain pelted the glass. "So if any of you gain his trust try not to ask anything and let him tell you himself."

"okay." Was all of their response more or less.

"Morning…" we all looked at the doorway to spot Rainbow Dash before she spotted me and frowned with a sneer. "Oh… your still here…"

"It's actually afternoon and yes I'm still here. I'm still a friend to your owner."

"And there you go calling him an owner… he's just going to breed us and sell us off in the end!" she stated.

"Ben!" I raised an eyebrow as I got out of the chair and walked into the living room. He was holding his open phone in his hand. "We got to go get the necklaces quickly… I can't drive with this leg so you're driving me." I sighed as I turned around.

"We are going to go get the necklaces that state where you are from. That way you won't be considered stolen or escaped ponies." I got many nods and a sneer from Rainbow Dash as I sighed and looked back at Lance. "How we even going to get to the truck?"

"I could cast a minor spell to protect you from the storm for a few minutes." Rarity said as she stepped into the doorway with a sway in her hips. "Although I'm not very good at many spells it might not work."

"I don't mind and I'm sure Ben doesn't either."

Lance's POV

Getting to the truck was the easy part… starting it up was trickier but we were on the road towards the town. "What happened to my gun anyway?" I asked Ben.

"Back in the compartment. I took the courtesy to get you a few mags." I smiled.

"Thanks."

"I remember you not having much time to get bullets but with all the ponies now living with you you're going to need the protection." He stated as the window wipes continued to make the road seeable even for a few seconds. "So you're going to get the house torn down huh…" I nodded.

"You let me realize something… even though my grandfather was crazy… I can't let him control the present."

"Is that all?" he asked with a smirk as he turned onto the road that lead to the town.

"Shut up Ben… so what's been going on with work?" he sighed as I looked at him with a curious glare. "Ponies and people have been dying…" my eyes widened. "It's been a long trail of following them across the entire continent… they have been coming this way."

"So we need to be careful?" he nodded.

"Maybe teach the ponies some self-defense… knowing you we are going to have a towns worth of ponies after what you did yesterday buying 8 of them when you only needed three."

"Most likely… where the house is I own land half a mile in every direction thanks to my grandfather… if I use a good chunk of it for farming ill need a lot more help."

"Earlier you were more into not getting help. What changed?" he asked looking at me.

"I didn't know what was going on between you and my Grandfather… but if he asked someone like you to do something… I guess I got to believe it." He smiled a little bit bigger before he frowned and returned his attention to the road as I saw the town come into view.

"There's something more going on here isn't there?" I froze before relaxing my muscles.

"Yes actually… they called saying they needed to talk about something important…"

"The center?" he asked with a raised eyebrow as I nodded. "Why?"

"I don't know why… although they did say there was a problem they asked all resident pony owners to come attend." He nodded.

Several minutes later we reached the center and drove into the underground parking lot where other people were. Looking amazed at how many pony owners there were in the area I got out of the truck with Ben as we were approached by a man. "Lance Pendragon?" I nodded.

"Don't call me by my last name…" he nodded.

"Come with me please…" we both nodded but he stopped when he saw my leg.

"Minor gang problem." He nodded as we followed him into the center. We were left in the back with the guard as a man walked onto a podium.

"Hello everyone. I am glad all of you got here even with the heavy storm going on." He started as everyone turned their attention to him. "But there is a problem that the police have asked to ask all of you…" he now looked serious… "I'm sure you have all heard rumors of a rebellion going on with the forced assistance of ponies…"

"Yeah so what!" a women yelled.

"because they are coming here… and we have reason to believe there are ponies in this area… that are giving them information to assist with killing us all…"

And that's the chapters! Also:

Hero LumiEre Lumanite

The Waluigi mustache was exactly what I was going for! Hope you enjoy the story! Onto the Riddle!

Next Chapters Riddle:

A third friend reunited… but maybe at the cost of finding out there's a traitor in their midst…