The more days go by Chapter 7: Suiting up and falling, a my little pony fanfic

Chapter 6: channelling Barney Stinson

It had been a few days since Octavia poured out her past to me.
The music blaring out the sound system had awoken me to another bright sunny day in Ponyville.
"Come on Octy! Times a-wastin!" I chuckled as I knocked on the bedroom door.
"I'm awake," she called out, "already downstairs"
I chuckled as I thundered down the steps, a towel wrapped around my waist.
Walking into the living room, I saw her. It was only just then that I noticed just how gorgeous she was.
She had a frilly shirt on, her mane was ruffled slightly, and her eyes shimmered in the sunlight.
She sat at the coffee table with a croissant and green tea. I could see a tiny smile on her face.

Oh crap, not now… not now I thought to myself. I was beginning to get… attracted.
"Morning, sunshine," I smiled. "I'll be in the shower" having a cold one
"Okay then Rob" she looked my way, having not seen me with my shirt off.
I noticed she was blushing, for gods sakes stop looking at me like that!
As I walked off, I could have sworn I heard a squeak of joy. I pushed the button to start up the shower.
But then I sighed, the scruffy beard had to go. It's mandatory to look presentable when you're meeting royalty.
I grabbed the razor and shaved it off. I kept a soul patch.

Jumping into the shower, I began to sing, making it up as I went along. But the lyrics began to make more and more sense as the time passed.
After what felt like a good ten minutes, I got out of the shower. "Tavi, showers free!" I shouted.
She watched me walk; I felt her eyes on my ass. "Stop staring" I chuckled as I caught her in the act.
She squeaked again as she darted in the bathroom.
I walked into the bedroom I had been using. For once, I checked my appearance in the tall mirror.

Turns out, the change had been instantaneous. I didn't feel all that different until I noticed that:-

1. I wasn't fat anymore.

2. I had toned muscles.

3. I had a musical note on the base of my neck.

It was confusing at first, but I simply shrugged my shoulders and
pressed the play button on the phone, currently rigged up to a sound system.
The music was slightly cliché, considering what I was about to put on.
I chuckled as the song began, ZZ Top, in all their bearded glory.
As I slipped the black jeans on, complete with black socks, I grabbed a black dress shirt.
"Awfully formal, rob?" Octavia stood in the door way, smiling.
"Heh, got to make a good impression, it's not everyday that you meet royalty" I chuckled.
After putting another plain black t-shirt on, I hastily put the black dress shirt on.

I turned the music off.
I grabbed the red tie hanging from the tie rack, humming a small song.
"You remember this song?" I looked at her; she was still smiling, but now with a small
blush creeping across her face. "Yes, I do" I pointed to my neck. She went wide-eyed with amazement.
"Is that a?" I nodded with a smile.
"Eyup" I emulated Big Mac, she started to giggle.
"I'll go dry myself off" I watched her walk out.

I took a deep sigh, so, you're now attracted to your house guest, and to top it all off, you now have wingless boner.
Go you. If I could punch my conscience I would.

As I walked down the steps, there was a knock at the door.
Upon opening the door, I grinned with the words "Morning, Twilight, Morning Miss" standing at the door was Twilight, and a certain Mail-mare.
"Here's your mail, Rob" the Pegasus flew off after handing me the three letters.
"you ready to go?" Twilight asked, as I put on the tie. I then grabbed the akatsuki cloak and put it on.
"am now, just waiting for Tavi"
"Tavi? I didn't think you two were that close, being different species and all" the purple unicorn stated bluntly.

I suddenly became flustered. "eh, well you know, after sharing a few bottles of wine, we got to know each other and um….. uh…I got nothing," I hung my head low in defeat.
"it would hurt both of us that if we did somehow… end up together in that way, I wouldn't know what to do… we've both been hurt but….Thor, please just tell me what I should do"
Twilight's ears perked up at the mention of Thor, but didn't ask, considering the pained expression on my face explained a lot.
"hey, its okay, I was just kidding" Twilight sheepishly smiled.
"I wasn't" I glumly stated, but quickly returned to my smiling self.

Octavia reached the bottom step. "Ready to go?" I asked, she simply nodded, not letting on that she heard all of it.

I stopped for a moment, "hang on," I ran into the living room to grab my acoustic. "you never know if your gonna be put on the spot" I chuckled.
We walked into the town square, seeing a golden chariot.
"whoa, that must be worth thousands" I stated nonchalantly, the two mares heard my comment and started to giggle.
I blinked twice in confusion "what the hell is so funny?"
"oh nothing, its just we've never seen anyone look so bewildered by a simple gold chariot" Twilight giggled.
I sighed, "it is kind of funny, I guess" the smile on my face grew a little.
We stepped onto the chariot, and once again… I began to hum a song.
Octavia sat next to me, listening intently with a smile.

Twilight didn't want to make a comment on this, but she did. "so, how is everything now? I heard about your accident"
I shrugged my shoulders "twilight, it wasn't what you'd call an accident… I call it a musical mishap,"
I began to chuckle "its happened before, see?" I then indicated a scar on my pinkie finger.
"That must have hurt" Twilight stated, as I simply nodded.
"it was a good job that I had some extra strings" I beamed, not wanting to go into full detail of what happened that night.

The Chariot began to move, slowly at first.
But then it picked up speed, throwing me into the seat.
Finally the chariot rose into the air. "How long will it take, because I hate flying"
The two mares giggled once again. Twilight then informed me it would take approximately 10 minutes.
I grumbled, but then decided to play a little song.
"Eh, may as well keep you and the Pilots entertained for a while"
I took a few strums of the guitar, tuning it.

"heh, want to hear a new one?" I chuckled as the two mares nodded.

"Run and tell all of the angels
This could take all night
Think I need a devil to help me get things right
Hook me up a new revolution
Cause this one is a lie
We sat around laughing and watched the last one die"

I changed the chord progression as the chorus began.
I took a quick glance up to see both mares watching me happily.

"I'm looking to the sky to save me
Looking for a sign of life
Looking for something to help me burn out bright
I'm looking for a complication
Looking cause I'm tired of trying
Make my way back home when I learn to fly high"

I switched the chord progression once more for a bridge, closing my eyes as I played.
I felt this song was quite appropriate for where we were.

"Fly along with me, I can't quite make it alone
Try to live this life my own (and)
Fly along with me, I can't quite make it alone
Try to live this life my own. . ."

I took another glance, towards the pilots, they were smiling.
I then switched back to the chorus before gently laying down a very solemn guitar solo.

I smiled as I played the final notes, they both looked at me as if to say play another one.
So I did. But I didn't sing, I simply played a finger-picking version of More than a feeling.
I lost my self to the music once more, not noticing that we were coming down to land.
I stood and waited for Octavia and Twilight to step off the chariot. The pilots flashed me a smile and thanked me for the music.

Walking while playing was pretty easy, but I was getting odd looks form the guards-ponies.
"excuse me, but could you not play that here" one of them asked.
I simply nodded and stopped. The pony then sighed as I walked inside the castle.
I pressed the play button on my phone, the music played quietly. I whispered to myself "El Dorado, Iron Maiden"
We sat outside the royal hall. I turned off the music. "the princesses will see you now" the speaker said with a slight smile,
but soon retracted in fear as I stood up. "whoa, dude don't worry, I'm a musician, not a monster" I played a little tune on my guitar, relaxing the pony a bit.
"if you say so, go on in" the pony said.

We walked through the large doors. I unzipped the cloak, then placed the guitar on my back.
"Twilight sparkle," I heard the motherly tone of a 6ft tall blinding white alicorn. "My most faithful student"
"hello Princess" I watched as Twilight galloped to her mentor and nuzzled her, I couldn't help but smile
at such a heart warming scene. I knelt down, "not to break up such a lovely re-union, your highness," I raised my head.
"you summoned me?" I chuckled, watching the princess's eyes widen with interest.
"oh yes, I believe I did" she giggled with glee, "from what I've been told your quite the musician,"
I shrugged my shoulders as I rose to my feet. "wow, your….taller than I expected" she staTed as her eyes widened once more in amazement.
"you don't know the half of it" I chuckled.

"so what are you doing in Equestria?" a new voice came, sounding a lot younger.
I took a glance over, the navy blue alicorn stepped forth. "um, hi there, you must be Princess Luna"
She nodded. "to answer your question: I have no idea," I chuckled again. "but I will tell you one thing"
I watched as sets of ears pricked up. "I'm a lot happier here" I beamed.
"care to explain?" Celestia asked. I complied.
I went on to explain the harshness of earth, and how despite all its beauty, it still fell foul to the corruptions of greed and war.
"Everything had a price, even friendship" I grumbled. "That's only one of the reasons why I don't want to go back"

I then explained tot hem my personal problem. "but it seems that me being here has allowed me to finally get some sleep" I smiled after
Explaining to them that I had suffered nightmares, causing me to give up on sleeping during the night. I saw a small smile on the moon Princess's face
"at least it gave me the opportunity to fully admire the night,"
She trotted over to me "the moon is my muse you see" I was pulled into a hug by the dark alicorn.

"Thank you Robert" I turned to see the surprised look on Celestia's face.
"erm, Luna? You can let go now" I chuckled. She blushed as she released me.
"I'm sorry I" I placed my hand up in the air with a smile.
"no need Princess" I smiled sheepishly.
Celestia looked over to see the instrument on my back.
She then took notice of the musical note on my neck.
"Robert, are you a musician by any chance?"
I nodded, "will you play for us?" the white mare asked.

How could I say no.
I dug into my pockets to find a pick. Upon finding one I simply plucked the strings at first.
Then I played a small tune, my fingers moved gracefully over the strings.
I lost my self in the music once again, before Octavia whispered my ear.
"I'm sure they would love to hear you sing, I know I do" I could feel the heat coming off her face went red as I stopped playing. "okay then Tavi" I smiled. I cleared my throat nervously.

I began strumming the D chord, while gazing at the floor, trying to remember the lyrics.

I closed my eyes.

"Been beat up and battered 'round
Been sent up, and I've been shot down
You're the best thing that I've ever found"

the princesses were watching intently as I moved around, sawying to the music I made.

"Handle me with care
Reputations changeable
Situations tolerable
But baby, you're adorable
Handle me with care
I'm so tired of being lonely
I still have some love to give
Won't you show me that you really care"

I reached my favourite part of the song.

"Everybody's got somebody to lean on
Put your body next to mine, and dream on"

I gazed into Octavia's eyes without realizing.
I continued singing the song with more heartfelt emotion.
Indistinctly pouring my heart out. It was at that point I realized something incredibally important.

Octavia wasn't my house guest anymore.
She was my flatmate.
Hell.

You done fucked up man, you just fell in love.

Shut up, brain

the song I used was called Handle me with care, by the Traveling wilburys... you should listen to them sometime.