> Star Trek: You Won't Go Home Again...
>  by Aceman67
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Chapter 1 - Kindness Transcends All Boundries
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Scott Free shook almost as if she were about to fly apart, but the old girl was as sturdy as the day they laid her keel almost forty years ago. A smaller, two-decked variant of the venerable Antares-Class civilian freighter, she handled well in the atmosphere; as much as what amounts to a falling brick could. If it wasn't for the warp core powered anti-gravity generators and shield emitters, the Scott Free would be torn asunder on her decent.

Thankfully this time around the landing would be controlled and safe. My sister would kill me if I let anything happen to this ship, it was all that is left of our parents, and it was what we called home for most of our lives, raised as what is colloquially referred to as 'space boomers'.

With the meadow where I had built my cabin in sight, I pulled a slow U-Turn to bring the ship into position for a soft touchdown a hundred meters from the cabin. 

"Any landing you can walk away from..." I said to myself quietly with a chuckle. "Computer, power down all non-essential systems and activate planetary stand-by."

"Planetary stand-by activated." The male computer voice droned.

"I really need to change that voice... creepy." I said while making my way to the outer hatch. With the push of a button followed by the loud hiss of equalizing pressure, the hatch opened up into the warm Equestrian spring.

In the distance, I could make out several approaching ponies that I could only assume were my friends. My heart jumped in my chest as I saw Fluttershy coming at me in a dead run. She leapt into the air and flew the last several feet right into my arms, causing me to back peddle. Taking me in an embrace, she placed her lips on mine. Momentarily caught off guard, I eagerly returned her affections.

"Don't leave me waiting again." She told me quietly so only I could hear her.

"Never." I responded in kind.

After a few seconds, we both realized that no one else was talking. Turning to face the others, who were gathered in a semi-circle around the bottom of the gangway. Each of them had a shocked or confused look on their faces, save for Pinkie Pie, who seemed pre-occupied following the flight path of a butterfly. Several more awkward seconds passed as both Fluttershy and I flushed red with embarrassment.

"Guess we should have told them, huh?" I asked Fluttershy.

"Sorry..." She said, her voice registering just above a whisper.

"Sorry for what, darling. You have nothing to apologise for..." Rarity began.

"I had my suspicions..." Twilight added.

"Well, ah never saw it com'n." Applejack said with a disappointed tone before flashing a sarcastic smile at me.

"Since when?!" Rainbow Dash asked, now circling above our heads before getting down to my level to give me a 'brohoof' and a wink.

"It was after the Gala about four years ago." Pinkie said in a matter of fact tone while stotting around in circles following a butterfly. "They were all kissy kissy after Tree Hugger left." She added clinically. Fluttershy and I looked at her in shock. We thought we'd been discrete. Apparently not, it seems.

"It was after we got back from that first town the Cutie-Map sent us too," Fluttershy explained. "I wasn't sleeping well after that, so I went to visit him one night, and he listened to my concerns and soothed my worries." She continued. "After a few nights, it became a regular thing, one thing led to another..." Fluttershy said, her voice trailing off as her face deepened into an even darker shade of red.

"Say no more!" Twilight interjected, raising her hoofs in front of her in an attempt to hide her blushing cheeks. I let out a hardy chuckle before smiling as Fluttershy leaned against me, nuzzling my shoulder.

"Welcome home, Jimbo," Rainbow Dash said.

"It's good ta have you back, Tall Stuff." Applejack chimed in.

"Does this mean we get to have a party?!" Pinkie said with her trademark enthusiasm. "I think it does!" She yelled, appearing behind Fluttershy and I having moved faster than I could track, setting off a party popper she pulled out of nowhere, spreading confetti in every direction. "This is going to be so AWESOME!" Pinkie continued, appearing to vibrate in excitement before dashing off towards town at a pace I'd never seen anything move before.

"We'd better get to my house and make sure the animals are settled down for the night before Pinkie shows up." Fluttershy said prudently before leisurely flying along the ground towards her cottage.





"I do hope Pinkie will help us clean up tomorrow." Fluttershy said with a worried tone.

"You know she will. As scatterbrained as she appears to be, she would never leave her friends in the lurch." I reassured her, pulling her into a cuddle on her couch. She squirmed her way further under my arm and rested her head on my chest.

"Mmmm... You're warm." She told me quietly.

"I missed this." I admitted. "I missed you."

"I did too." She responded, craning her neck to give me a quick kiss.

I felt something pull at my pant leg. Looking down, there was Angel staring back up at me.

"Well, hey there buddy." I said to the small rabbit. I straightened my leg out for him to climb up but he only looked back up at me.

"He hasn't been himself lately," Fluttershy explained. "Doesn't have the energy he usually does. I guess he's just getting on in age."

"How old is he?" I asked, bending down to pick him up. 

"I got him shortly after I moved to Ponyville, so almost eleven years I think." She told me, looking down at her loyal pet who had settled down in between us.

I gently petted his head, making sure to scratch between his ears. Before long he fell asleep between us. 

"He's cute when he's asleep." I said quietly but didn't get a response. "'shy?" I beckoned. Looking to my left, she had fallen as sleep just like her adorable rabbit. Trying not disturb her, I reached behind the couch and pulled a blanket over us. This caused Angel to wake up with an annoyed look on his face, which quickly went away as he settled back into his previous spot, this time above the blanket. It didn't take me long to drift off myself listening to the soft crackle of the fireplace.





The enticing smell of breakfast cooking in the kitchen brought me out of my slumber. Thankfully I had managed to not wake up with a knot in my neck from sleeping on the couch. What ever it is, it smells wonderful. I started to get up before realizing Angel was sleeping on my lap.

"Come on Angel, time to get up." I said, but getting nothing in response. I used my hand to give him a light shake. In an instant, I felt my heart drop.

He was cold to the touch.

"Oh my." I said in disbelief, tears welling in my eyes.

"James, the food'll be ready in a few minutes, but I did make you--" Fluttershy started to say before dropping the tray carrying her tea set which crashed to floor and shattering. The crushed look of sadness she wore was heartbreaking.

"Oh, Fluttershy, I'm so sorry." I said through my own tears. "I think he passed in his sleep." I told her, holding him to my chest gently.





I had been watching her cottage since he showed up, and now was as good a time as ever to make good on my plan.

I looked down at them from my perch upon a cloud. I had never been able to quite get the spell to walk on clouds right, let alone conjuring wings to fly up to one. But with the amulet, it was trivial. From up here I could see all of them gathered under a tree. It would be so easy to telekinetically break one of the large branches above him. I thought. As I did so, the amulet started to glow red and a rush of euphoria washed over me.

The group started to move away from the tree; if I was going to do anything it would have to be now. I sent magic through my horn, which now glowed with a sickening mixture of crimson and light green, but stopped suddenly.  

I hadn't been able to see it before, but now that they were departing the area, I could see it plain as day. Below the tree was a small patch of fresh soil, surrounded by flowers with a small stone plaque above it. Only Fluttershy remained behind.

"No, not today." I said aloud, feeling sympathy for Fluttershy. The amulet stopped glowing and burned where it touched my chest. At the same time, my stomach turned over on itself as a bout of nausea almost overcame me. "No!" I said loudly to no one. Through sheer force of will, I leapt from the cloud and flew off towards the Everfree Forest.
> Chapter 2 - Life is What Happens When You Make Other Plans
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

I spent the majority of my life in space. Raised on an Earth Cargo Service freighter owned by my parents, I learned from a young age that space is a dangerous place and that you have to learn to prepare for anything. Even after partaking in four years of grueling physical and academic training at Starfleet Academy, piloting starships into the unknown, holding hundreds of lives in my hands in the process, and going on dangerous away-missions, I thought I was prepared for pretty much anything the universe could throw at me. Hell, I've taken down one of Equestria's greatest threats to date with a single shot. Well, Storm Front helped, but that's beside the point. 

So, when I tell you that absolutely nothing in this world or the next could have prepared me for this, you know where I'm coming from.

"Come on! Eat your damn food!" I ordered, raising my voice in frustration, attempting to copy the same tone and mannerisms that had worked in the past.

Instead heeding my command, the large Kodiak Bear just looked at me with sad eyes, sat down on his haunches and gently pushed the plate of fish away with a paw the size of my head.

At my wits end, I start to rub the bridge of my nose trying to ward away the tension headache I could feel coming on. For the last four days, Fluttershy had shut herself in her cottage. With the door locked, not even I could get inside. So, here I was, trying my best to take care of her daily chores, but it wasn't hard to see why the task was so difficult.

As stubborn, antagonistic, or jealous as Angel could get, he was a respected force among the animal charges under Fluttershy's care. On many occasions, it was with his help that I was able to take care of them all when Fluttershy was away, and his absence could be felt as if it were tangible.

Giving up, I just sat down next to the hulking member of the Ursidae family and vented my frustration with a protracted sigh.

"You know, I get it. I miss him too, and I know that you don't like seeing 'shy so upset." I started explaining to the animal. He just turned his head to look at me inquisitively. "If it's upsetting you, it's killing me. There's only been one other person in my life that I've cared for as deeply as I do for Fluttershy, and losing her nearly broke me." I continued. "I wasn't there for her when she was killed, and it still hurts to this day, and right now all I want to do right now is hold Fluttershy and tell her everything is going to be alright."

The bear made a grumbling sound that I took as understanding. Whether he did or not, I don't know.

"Look, if you want to see Fluttershy smile again, to be happy, nothing could accomplish that better than taking care of yourself," I told him, trying a different tactic to get him to eat something.

He just stared at me, and I noticed that the sadness in his eyes melted away to be replaced by determination, then let out a loud 'Hrumph!' and threw one of the fish into the air and caught it in is mouth.

"That's a good boy," I said, patting the large animal on the back roughly.

A soft sniffle drew my attention towards the cottage, and there standing a few meters away was Fluttershy. Her mane was a ratty mess, her beautiful cyan eyes bloodshot, underscored by dark shadows, and her wings, hanging lazily by her side, were in desperate need of preening. 

She looked like hell.

"Did..." She started to say quietly. "Did you mean what you said?" She finally asked, her gentle voice raspy, no doubt from crying.

To answer, I got up and pulled her into an embrace. 

"Of course I did. You know I'm always here for you." I whispered into her ear. Pulling out of the hug and placing my hands on her withers, I look directly into her eyes. "Come with me," I told her softly.

I led her into her cottage and up the stairs to her bedroom. I told her to sit down in front of her full-length mirror and not to move. I went back down into the kitchen, taking note of the tea still staining the floor and a few shards of her tea-set still scattered around the living room. After grabbing a glass of cold water, I went back upstairs. 

"Drink this, you'll feel better," I told her, handing off the beverage. Grabbing the stool she had in front of her vanity, I sat down behind her, brush in hand, and started to softly work the tangles out of her flowing mane. We sat in silence as I ran the brush methodically, over and over again, through the hair. A few times I caused her wince as I encountered a particularly stubborn knot. Turning slightly to face me, she broke the silence.

"What was she like?" She asked, her voice having returned to its reserved, gentle tone. Stopping what I was doing, I stared off into the mirror forlornly for a moment. "I'm sorry, you don't have to answer," She told me meekly.

"To understand T'Pomei, you have to keep in mind what Vulcans are like," I said, starting to brush again. "They're a species known for their stoic, emotionless demeanor, and their infallible logic," I explained. "But nothing could be further from the truth. At their core, they are some of the most emotional and passionate people in the galaxy, but as a necessity, they repress and control their volatile emotions. In ancient times, they constantly waged war with each other. Paranoia and homicidal rage were commonplace." With all the knots out of her hair, I started to work my fingers into mane to massage the roots of her hair and her neck, eliciting small moans of pleasure. 

"As their technology progressed, they developed terrible weapons that could wipe out their entire species. At that time, a man named Surak developed a philosophy whereby mastering and controlling their emotions and embracing a lifestyle of pure logic, they could bring about peace, both personal and as a species." I told her. "T'Pomei was a very reserved, but kind and inquisitive woman. She had a cool logic that made it difficult to relate to others easily, but she tempered that with a very subtle sense of humor. She was also a very caring individual, always concerned with the well-being of others." I recounted, smiling at the memories. 

"This wasn't common for Vulcans, and that made her unique." I pointed out. "While her quiet beauty attracted me initially, her personality was what I fell in love with. She tempered my brash and reckless nature. I was a risk-taker when I first met her, I lived for the thrill and often it would land me in trouble. If it wasn't for her, I probably wouldn't be here today." I stated. "Come to think of it, I guess that was what happened to the other me. I didn't have that influence in my life and I fell back into my old ways."

"She had some odd hobby's though. She enjoyed old Earth horror stories; in fact she took me to see one on our first date. She even kept a Japanese bonsai tree that she had tended since she was a child. Her parents gave it to me when I visited them last, I should show it to Applejack, she would get a kick out of a miniature tree." I said with a small laugh. Taking locks of her mane in hand I began to braid her hair.

"She sounds like a wonderful person." Fluttershy told me. "I wish I could have met her."

"You would have liked her." I said with a warm smile. "You know, you have more in common with her than you think." I continued, quickly braiding one side of her mane and working on the otherside, working an elaborate wave into the weave.

"Are you... Are you braiding my mane?" She said in surprise. 

"What? A guy can't know how to braid his lady's hair?" I said sarcastically, getting her to giggle. There you are, lost you for a while. "My sister had longer hair than you, she constantly had me braiding her hair, I got very good at it. Just sit still, you'll like what I'm doing."

Fluttershy sat still with her eyes closed as I weaved her mane into an elaborate french braid that curved itself so that half encircled her neck like a necklace. She told me she wanted it to be a surprise.

"Keep your eyes closed, there's one more thing I need to add," I told her, getting up and walking over to the vase she kept on her nightstand and picked a small daffodil and placed it into her braid just  above her ear. Looking at her in the mirror, she was a picture of serene beauty, a marked difference than she had been this morning. I savored it for a moment then told her to open her eyes. Judging by the gasp, I had gotten the intended reaction.

"It's beautiful." She told me, her voice barely above a whisper.

"You're beautiful, I only braided your hair," I stated with a smile. In one motion, she quickly turned around and pulled me into an embrace and gently, but passionately kissed me. When we parted, I placed my hand on her cheek, using my thumb to wipe away a single tear, then I touched my forehead to hers.

A loud gurgling noise drew us apart suddenly and made Fluttershy's cheeks turn a deep shade of crimson.

"When was the last time you ate?" I asked.

"I... I had some crackers last night..." She admitted.

"Let's go into town, I'll treat you to a good meal. Sound good?"

"Yes, it does, and I'd love to," she answered with a larger than life smile appearing on her face.





"Fluttershy!" Pinkie exclaimed as she galloped towards her friend and pulling her into a huge hug. "I was so worried! I'm so happy you're out and about again!"

"Thank you, Pinkie. But you should thank James, he was the one that pulled me out of my rut." She told the bombastic pink Mare.

"Yeah, he's a charmer that one; if he wasn't taken, I'd snatch him up for myself!"

"We were just going to the Café for something to eat, do you want to join us?" I asked. In response, she took in a huge amount of air in an exaggerated gasp, as if preparing to say something loud.

"Sure." She said, matter-of-factly and started to bounce down the street towards the same Café we had eaten at all those years ago when I first came to this town.

As we turned the corner we came upon Zecora standing under the sign of Quills and Sofas.

"Fluttershy, it is fortunate that I should meet you here," She greeted. "A question I ask, about a young animal whose wellbeing for which I fear." She continued, reaching into her saddle bag and producing a small baby rabbit, too small to be away from its mother.

It had white fur with black splotches, the biggest of which was on its head near its right ear which was also entirely black.

"Oh no... This little one shouldn't be away from its mother! What happened?" Fluttershy asked, her eyes showing not only concern but fierce determination.

"Last night, I discovered this baby hare, her mother and siblings had met a fate most unfair." The zebra explained in a grim rhyme. Taking the small animal in her hooves, Fluttershy cooed softly at it.

"I can care for her if that's what you're asking." She told her, getting a nod in return. "James, I'm afraid we'll have to get that meal some other time." She told me. "I'll meet you back home." She said before gracefully flying off back towards her cottage.





Standing next to the chimney of a house across from the furniture store, I blended in almost perfectly. Casting a spell that made my coat and mane to take on the colour of any surrounding was simple, and it was working perfectly. 

I watched as that bitch fly off with another pitiful rodent for her to care for in tow, leaving that human James, as she had learned, standing next to a pink pony and a zebra. Above them was a large, and very heavy sign for the shop behind them.

"Yes, heavy indeed," I said to myself letting the pleasure rush through me as I picture the sign mysteriously 'falling' on the human. 

Taking aim with my magic, the amulet and my eyes started to glow crimson as a swirling miasma of sickly red and green surrounded my horn, I fired an impossibly thin bolt of magic at the chain from which the sign hung.





"Pinkie, why's your tail twitching?" I asked. Her eyes widened suddenly, and just as quickly, I had a chest full of pink pony as she tackled me to the ground.

"What was that?" A stallion said from the front door of the store.

"Your sign fell again, Davenport, DUH!" Pinkie said in jest.

Zecora, who had jumped out of the way in time, was now examining the chain closely. Walking up to her, I looked at one of the links in the chain. One of them was cleanly severed in half. There were no tool marks, no evidence that it had been cut or tampered with. Where once there was a solid loop of iron, it was now impossibly cut in half.

"What is it?" I asked, with Davenport had joined me by my side

"This was cut by a magical spell, the source of which if I am correct, dark things in the future I foretell." Zecora said darkly before heading off towards the path leading to her hut in the Everfree forest. Davenport, Pinkie and I looked at the sign then each other with worry.





"Buck." Starlight Glimmer swore.

> Chapter 3 - Revenge Never Helps Anyone
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Several Days Later...

"Oh... Isn't she just adorable?" Fluttershy exclaimed as we watched the small black and white rabbit chase a few chipmunks around the yard outside the cottage. 

The baby creature looked to be having a good time right up until she chased them up the side of a tree. The two chipmunks laughed mockingly from their branch. Looking up above her, the rabbit cocked her head to the side, scowled then started tapping her right foot that was also black like one of her ears. 

"Well, she certainly has a colourful personality," I remarked. 

"I just wish she wasn't so skittish around you, but I think that'll pass with time as she gets older." Fluttershy responded, leaning up against me.

"That's it. I think I have a name for her." I said after suddenly having a thought.

"What is it?"

"Well, she's a little skittish, but she can be a little colourful, so why not Skittles?" I told her, getting a confused look. "Skittles are a rainbow coloured candy from Earth's past, my mom used to replicate them for my sister and I," I explained, making a note in my mind for later to get some for Rainbow Dash. The thought of her hyped up on sugar pleased me greatly.

"Skittles..." Fluttershy said, testing the word out. "I think I like it." She got up and walked over to the tree where the rabbit was still looking up at her quarry above, and got down to the diminutive animal's level. "What do you think? Do you like the name 'Skittles'?" She asked.

The baby rabbit looked at her for a moment, twitching her ears and whiskers. She then started to hop around in circles before climbing up on Fluttershy's head and burrowing into her mane, poking her head out and surveying the world around her.

"Skittles it is then," Fluttershy said as Skittles proceeded to duck in and out of her mane from different places, making Fluttershy giggle as the little rabbit's feet tickled her head. Fluttershy looked over at me and she wore the look of pure contentment on her face.

"She certainly looks happy," A new voice from beside me said.

"Hello Discord," I said nonchalantly. Discord, who with the apparent exception of Pinkie Pie, was the only other soul who knew about Fluttershy and I. To say he was upset was an understatement. He got jealous, literally turning green with envy, immediately after he figured it out a few days after his first Gala. Let me tell you, getting turned into a foot-stool for him to rest his legs on wasn't fun. Thankfully Fluttershy was able to talk him down by telling him that he would still be her friend and that would never change. I, on the other hand, knew that he would always carry a torch for the pegasus, so in private I assured him that I would take care of her if he promised to keep the knowledge of our relationship to himself. He obviously kept his promise, and by the look on Fluttershy's face, I was keeping mine. "Yeah, she does. It's been hard the last few days, so this is a welcome change."

"Yes, I heard about that," The draconequus said, watching Fluttershy play with Skittles, chasing her around the tree. "I'm sorry I wasn't there for her, I was... detained with something." He explained, lowering his head. "I do wish I could have done something. Even though Life itself tends to bring about chaos all on its own, and Death can sow its own for others under certain circumstances," He said darkly. "Death is sadly final, once it happens, the chaos ends and it's out of my control." Discord said, sounding uncharacteristically wise, his voice sullen and full of regret.

"She would never expect you to have been able to do anything, not that you could in the first place," I told him. "You can't let yourself feel like you are now, I know what that can do to someone personally. It doesn't end well and if it wasn't for her," I started to say, gesturing to Fluttershy. "I don't know what I would have done," I told him, alluding to the fact that I carried the 'what ifs' and 'could haves' for years after T'Pomei's death. Fluttershy helped me put those to rest, and I moved on.

"I guess we both owe her a debt that neither of us can repay." He said with a smile. "If it wasn't for her I'd be a statue again, took me months to get rid of the smell of bird shit." 

I nodded in agreement, then looked at him with a raised eyebrow. He nodded back, snapped is talon fingers, and two bottles of beer aperated into our hands. We raised our bottles to each other and watched Fluttershy get chased around the yard with the sunset in the distance, both of us enjoying a drink with a friend and the sound of the mare we love laughing bringing smiles to our faces

Somewhere in Equestria, a barkeep was going to be short on his inventory count tonight.





Starlight Glimmer paced in front of the cave deep inside the Everfree Forest incessantly, so much so that a small rut in the soil marked where she walked. 

"It's only a matter of time before they find us," She said.

The amulet around her neck glowed, slightly heating up. Starlight had long since gotten used to the discomfort.

"The Zebra is friends with the Princess, with her help they'll figure it out!" She yelled.

An audible sizzle could be heard as the jewelry seared her flesh, making Starlight's eye twitch reflexively.

"Don't argue with me, you know I'm right!"

Any response she was expecting was halted as the sound of a branch snapping drew her attention elsewhere. Her horn glowed briefly as she cast her chameleon spell and faded into the forest around her, and watched.

"I thought that you said you hid it in the forest?" Twilight asked Zecora who was walking beside her.

"Hid it here I did indeed, intentionally to mislead." The Zebra started. "I had the notion to take a forgetting potion, but I do remember a pond, down this path and beyond."

Starlight watched as the two continued down the path, unaware they were being watched.

"Let them search in vain," She said aloud when she was sure they were out of earshot.

The amulet glowed once more, and Starlight's eyes rolled to the back of her head as she let the wave of bliss wash over her.

"Yes, I know, while they're distracted we're free to do what we need to do." She stated to no one. Focusing her magic at the pile of timber near her cave, it began to rustle.





The Great and Terrible Skittles stomped through the city of Canterlot, leveling buildings underfoot, sewing mayhem and destruction where ever she went. Below her, the citizens fled in fear from the giant rabbit who's only mission was to see the city burn.

"Are you sure we should be letting him do that?" Fluttershy asked me as we watched Skittles destroy a miniature scale Canterlot as 'Uncle' Discord, as he wanted to be called, watched with child-like glee at the rabbit's rampage.

"Oh, its just a little harmless fun." I told her, pulling her into a cuddle to watch the sun finally slip below the horizon. The sound of flapping wings and the soft clop of hooves on the ground drew our attention behind us to see Thunder Head walk towards us.

"Hello, Guard Captain," Fluttershy said with a smile. "What brings you here?"

"Buisness ma'am." He said, snapping to attention. "Princess Sparkle has ordered me to ensure your protection."

"Protection from whom?" Discord said menacingly after snapping into existence behind the gold armour-clad pegasus. Without even flinching, the guard faced Discord.

"Princess Sparkle and Madam Zecora have reason to believe that the Alicorn Amulet has fallen into the hooves of ponies unknown and has targeted Fluttershy and company for as of yet unknown reasons." He explained. "I have been sent to make sure no harm comes to any of you."

"Is the amulet really that dangerous?" I asked. I had been told about it the last time Trixie came to town, but the story didn't really imply that it was dangerous, but the incident in town did give me pause.

"The amulet gives the wearer the magical abilities akin to alicorns, but at a price. It corrupts the user and it can only be taken off by the pony wearing it." Thunder Head told us.

"Well, I'd like to see anypony try and harm my Fluttershy." Discord said, donning similar armor to Thunder Head's in a cloud smoke. 

"Good, because you're going to need all the help you can get." Came a voice from the forest's edge.

The first thing we saw was two glowing red eyes as the rest of her body faded into view. 

"Starlight..." Fluttershy gasped. "Discord, get Skittles and the others inside." She ordered, her voice brimming with determination and concern.

"Oh, playing the selfless caretaker are we? What a load of shit." Starlight spat.

"What do you want?" I asked, stepping in between Starlight and Fluttershy.

"What do I want?" Starlight bellowed, then starting into a bout of manic laughter before unnaturally regaining her composure in a split second. "She took everything from me with one bucket of water. I had everything I wanted, things were just fine before that bitch and her tramps came to show us the 'virtue of friendship'." She continued with a disturbing, insane edge to her voice, her eyes seething with hatred. "So you want to know what I want? I want to see her lose everything she holds dear. I want to rip her life to shreds like she did mine, and I want her to watch as I do it." She said coldly before turning to stare directly into my eyes. "Starting with you."

Her horn began to glow, and behind her a pack of Timber-Wolves shimmered into view, their eyes glowing with the same red light as Starlight's.

With hunger in their eyes, they charged at us.
> Chapter 4 - ...Ever
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"What do I want?" Starlight bellowed before continuing on with her rant.

"So... Uhh..." I started to say, turning my head towards Thunder Head. "You wouldn't happen to have a weapon I can use?" 

Thunder Head reached behind his wing and pulled out a small cylinder and gave it to me. "Flip the catch on the side and it'll extend." He told me, and I did. The cylinder extended into the long spear that Guardsponies are often seen holding while standing at their posts.

"Cool..." I said to myself.

"...I want to rip her life to shreds like she did mine, and I want her to watch as I do it." Starlight said coldly before turning to stare directly into my eyes. "Starting with you."

Her horn flared and two of the biggest creatures I had ever seen shimmered into existence, and their eyes glowed crimson like the unicorn who controlled them. The Timberwolves stood over ten feet tall and snarled at us.

"Miss Fluttershy! Go to town and get reinforcements!" Thunder Head ordered before activating his own spear and standing his ground.

"Oh... Okay!" Fluttershy answered and flew off into the air towards town.

Then the Timberwolves charged with their fangs bared.

"They're weak! It won't take much to break them apart!" Thunder Head yelled, skillfully dodging the wooden monster attacking him. 

The massive ten-foot tall abomination made a lunge for my torso, but before it could land a killing blow, I swung the bottom end of my spear at the beast's jaw, sending it flying.

The creature backed off for a second and made a gargled whimpering sound before the lower jaw I knocked off started to glow greenish-red and snap back in place.

"Well, that's not good," I remarked after I dodged a swipe from one of its claws. Seeing an opening, I plunged the spear into the joint where the neck joined the torso, causing the beast to fall to pieces. "Aim for the joints!"

Just as I yelled, Thunder Head flew into the air to dodge a second charge, only to dive back down, impaling his spear through the neck of his Timberwolf, making it fall to the ground in a pile.

We both looked over at Starlight, who was seething in the distance. The amulet around her neck was glowing bright, and her eyes were now pure red that were almost too bright to look at. When her horn flashed to life, the piles of wood began to shake and reassemble themselves. We backed off to avoid being hit by the flying wood and stood our ground side by side.

She flashed an evil grin as the two Timberwolves stood once again before us, snarling.

"Now, I do think that's quite enough fun for you two today." A playful voice from behind us said as Discord clapped his claw and paw together, making the two beasts shrink to the size of small puppies.

The two wolves eyes shifted from red to green and looked at each other then started whimpering in fear.

"I was wondering when Fluttershy's pet would show himself," Starlight said coldly, walking toward us. As she passed the cowering animals, her horn flashed, immolating them both. All of us watched helplessly as they howled in gut-wrenching screams of pain.

"Now now, that's just rude."  Discord said, his eyes flashing with annoyance. 

"You're one to talk, I've read about you. You're hardly the most polite, are you?" She countered.

"I may like to have my fun and sow a little chaos here and there, but I'm not so callous that I would murder an innocent creature on a whim." Discord said flatly, his voice taking on an icy edge.

"I highly doubt that!" She spat. "You're telling me that when you ruled Equestria nopony ever died?" She asked incredulously.

"Starlight, Starlight, Starlight. How little you understand about chaos." Discord said, snapping his claw, aperating a blackboard and putting Starlight in a desk in front of it. "You see here," He said, pointing a yard stick at a crudely drawn foal. "Life is the root of all chaos. As long as something is alive, it's chaotic potential is limitless." He continued, pointing to the next crudely drawn image, this one depicting what I could only guess is Fluttershy and the other girls. "As I explained to my friend James here earlier, when life ends, the chaos goes with it." He explained solemnly, pointing at an exquisitely drawn depiction of Fluttershy crying at Angel's grave. Despite it being done in chalk, it seemed almost life-like.

"So to answer your question, no." Discord finished. "And neither will you if I have anything to do about it."

Starlight's horn flashed once more, setting the desk and blackboard ablaze, leaving them in a pile of ash, causing Thunder Head and I to recoil from the heat.

"So, if you won't kill me, just how do you think you're going to stop me?" 

"Oh, goodness me, you think I'm going to stop you?" Discord responded, appearing by her side in an instant with his arm around her. "I'm just here to distract you." He said coldly before snapping his claws and disappearing.

Both Thunder Head and I appeared behind her at the same time. It took us a second to realize what Discord had done, but we both sprung into action and charged at Starlight with our Spears.

Only to hit a solid wall of nothing.

In the instant that Discord disappeared and we charged at Starlight, she had put up an impressive barrier around her. When our spears hit it, they superheated in an instant, forcing us to drop them as they melted and burned a patch into the grass.

In our pain, we never saw it coming. We found ourselves thrown into the air. I watched as Thunder head slammed into the wall of Fluttershy's cabin and collapse onto the ground just before I too hit the ground. Hard.

I rolled on the grass, unable to get up and struggling to breath. Finally rolling onto my back, I saw a shadow cross my face. Straining to face its source, I saw Starlight ten yards away, the setting sun behind her. Her eyes continued to glow red, but now an aetherial glowing smoke emanated from them.

Also in the distance, was Discord, now encased in stone. I don't know how she managed it, but she had sealed him away, something that I thought only the Elements of Harmony could do.

"Now," She said, her voice meanacing. "It's just you and me." 

It took effort, but I managed to get to my knees as her horn flashed to life, a torrent of reddish-green energy bolted towards my chest.

Closing my eyes, I waited for it to hit me. 

Waited a little too long.

"You are a rude little witch, aren't you." Discord said, not even bothering to mask his anger. "I've worked long and hard to make sure I never again find myself the repository for avian excrement." 

I looked on in wonder, unable to move, as the bolt of energy hung in the air, suspended in time. Discord walked nonchalantly between Starlight and I, who also appeared to be as surprised as I was at the current turn of events. Taking his clawed hand, he brushed off a final chip of white stone from his shoulder.

"There was a time when I would have enjoyed any kind of chaos. Even that which came from the death of somepony else." He told Starlight directly. "But I've learned a lot since becoming Fluttershy's friend, I've come to care for her, even love her." He admited, turning to me for a second and tossing me a wink. "I've seen what sadness looks like on her face, and it's something I never want to see again.

"You see, you've over played your position. The amount of magic you used to seal me away was too much for that there trinket you have. It's already starting to crack, and I think this little lightshow you're putting on may be what destroys it forever." He continued. "Seriously, what was I thinking when I gave that to Sombra... Anyways, back on topic." Discord said with a smile. "I will do anything to make sure my dearest Fluttershy is never sad again," He told her, then turned to me. "James, I hope you can forgive me, but I don't think that's really going to be an issue." He said with another wink.

Discord snapped the claws on his hand, and the magic changed colour to yellow with bolts of white then resumed its course.

I screamed in pain as my whole world turned white, my body feeling like it was on fire. The last thing I heard was Fluttershy scream my name.





"Physically, he's in perfect health, there's no reason why we can't release him right away."

"But he's not the same!"

"Sadly, that's out of my expertise."

"I've already tried every transformation spell I know that wouldn't hurt him, but I think it's like Discord told us: It's premanent, and I'm inclined to agree with him. I'm sorry Fluttershy."

My head pounded with pressure as I awoke in a hospital bed. I could hear ponies around me talking but I couldn't really grasp what they were saying.

"Wha... What's going on?" I asked.

"James!" Fluttershy screamed with joyous glee as she raced to embrace me. I felt her tears on my neck. "I was so worried, when you wouldn't wake up, I didn't know what to do, I'm so glad you're ok!" She said, planting a kiss on my lips.

"It's good to see you're awake, James." Dr. Horse told me, leaning in with a flashlight to check my eyes before placing a stethoscope on my chest. "Just like I said, perfect health."

"I'm sorry James, I tried everything, but I'm afraid you're stuck like this." Twilight said, staring at her hooves.

"It's alright Twilight," I told her before it clicked in my head. "Stuck like what?!"

Twilight facehoofed then levitated a mirror in front of my face.

My wings flared as I was left stunned staring at the reflection of a Stallion with a light brown coat, black mane and black goatee.

"Huh..." Was all I could muster.
> Chapter 5 [Interlude] - Starlight of a Fractured Mind
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night had long since fallen when Amethyst Star arrived at the Ponyville Hospital. She could hardly believe the news when she was told that her sister had been found. For a brief moment, she felt joy and eagerness to reconnect with her sibling despite what she had done years earlier.

That moment was short-lived, however, whatever happy thoughts she enjoyed were dashed when the full account of what Starlight Glimmer had done over the last few days had come to light.

Amethyst just couldn't bring herself to believe that her sister, as stubborn as she was and even with her controversial ideology, would be capable of attempted murder. No, not her sister. The mare she grew up with would never do such a thing.

But here she was, standing on the pathway leading up to the Hospital main entrance, light from a solitary lamp post overhead casting a long shadow on the ground in front of her.

With her heart beating in her chest and taking a deep breath, Amethyst walked through the front door and up to the reception desk.

"Sweetie Belle? What are you doing here?" She asked.

"Its part of my work experience program at school, Ms. Cheerilee said that since I volunteer here already, the Hospital would work perfectly for me," Sweetie Belle explained, then cleared her throat. "How can I help you?" She asked.

"My sister..." Amethyst began, avoiding the teenaged filly's eyes. "My sister was brought in this evening, Starlight Glimmer. I'd like... Is it possible to see her?"

"Oh, uhh... give me a moment." Sweetie said after a brief pause, then left the desk and headed towards the Hospital security office.

Left alone in the eerily quiet waiting area, Amethyst walked over to one of the chairs and sat. Sweetie's reaction didn't sit right and only served to further enforce the gravity of the situation her sibling had found herself in.

After counting floor tiles, reaching forty-three, the sound of a pony sitting down across from her caught her attention.

"You're Amethyst Star, Starlight Glimmer's next of kin?" The female Pegasus in a white coat asked.

"Yes," Amethyst answered with a nod. "We're all we have, our parents died when we were young, Starlight raised me on her own."

"I'm Doctor Hartmare, I'm head of psychiatric medicine at Canterlot General." The doctor said for an introduction. "I was called in when we were notified of your sisters case. What have you been told about your sibling's condition?"

"Only what she tried to do and that she was brought here," Amethyst explained.

"I see," Dr. Hartmare said. "From what I've been told by Princess Sparkle, your sister was under the influence of a dangerous magical artifact for an unknown extended period of time. This 'amulet' had a corrupting influence that seemed to be more pronounced on your sister. It also greatly enhanced her already considerable magical abilities." She continued. "According to eyewitness accounts, and because of a previous encounter with a Miss Fluttershy some years previous, your sister apparently held her responsible for the outcome of the incident at the village where she ran her failed equality movement.

"That already present grudge may have intensified the amulet's influence. During the attack, your sister overtaxed the amulet, which lead to it shattering. With the amulet destroyed, its sudden absence of its magic fractured her mind." Doctor Hartmare finished.

"What... what does that mean?" Amethyst asked, shocked at what she'd been told.

"She has her moments of lucidity, but they're short-lived and rare. It's more common for her to have manic, violent episodes interspersed between bouts of nonsensical rambling." Hartmare answered.

"Violent? My sister isn't violent!" Amethyst said in a sudden flash of anger.

"I can understand your feelings, but when she was brought in, she had to be sedated after she attacked a nurse." 

"Its just that... I can't see her being violent!" Amethyst cried.

"It's hard to hear things like that about family, but there is somepony here who wants to help, and would like to speak to you."

"Huh? Who?"

"Follow me, I'll take you to see her."

The Doctor lead Amethyst down a hallway that was darkly lit. Glancing into the rooms, she saw they were empty, save for one, that had two royal guards stationed outside its door.

When the two ponies approached, the guards tensed and stared them down.

"It is alright, they may enter." A melodic voice called from within the room. 

Amethyst stood frozen in place. She knew that voice, and it only served to send her anxiety through the roof. Taking a few hesitant steps at first, she walked into the room. Her eyes were instantly drawn to her sister, strapped to the hospital bed with IV tubes in both her forelegs. Her breath caught her throat when she realized that Starlight looked emaciated, her face gaunt.

"Yes, her current condition is troubling indeed. This is what the Alicorn Amulet does when one wears it for far too long." The voice said again. Amethyst looked over her shoulder towards the darkened corner to see Princess Luna sitting in a chair drinking a cup of tea. "While it does grant the user incredible power, to does so at the cost of your health." The princess of the night explained. "It sustains you while you wear it, making consuming nourishment and drink unnecessary, but when you take it off, you are left in a state as if you had not eaten or drank anything for however long you wore it." She continued. "That fact was not publicly known, or in any tomes about the amulet, but in hindsight, perhaps it should have been. The amulet's previous bearer, Trixie Lulamoon, was briefly hospitalized, but her condition was not as severe. Perhaps it is related to the amount of magic used while wearing it... hmmm..." Luna rambled.

"Princess... Dr. Hartmare said..." Amethyst began, unable to meet Luna's eyes with her own, the shame she felt for her sisters actions preventing her from doing so. "She said you wanted to speak to me." 

"I did, little one," Luna answered, crossing the room towards the anxious pony. Taking hoof, she placed it under Amethyst's chin and gently lifted it. "There is no shame to be felt here. You have done nothing wrong, and your sister, while her motivations for using the amulet are suspect, her actions while wearing it in my opinion were not her own."

Before Luna could continue, a groan from the bed drew both of their attentions, and Amethyst quickly rushed to her sister's side.

"Glimmy? I'm here." Amethyst said, using her sister's childhood nickname. Starlight hated the name, but she only let her sister use it. It did get a response out of her, however.

"Amee?" Starlight said through the haze of sedation. "Wha... where am I?"

"You're in the Hospital. The Doctors are trying to make you well again. I've missed you so much." Amethyst told her, fighting back tears and taking her sister's hoof in hers.

"The hospital? How'd I get here---Get me out of here you RUNT!" Starlight screamed suddenly, getting right up in Amethyst's face, straining against her restraints. For an instant, her eyes flashed an ethereal green and red. "You were always a disappointment, you know that?! Mom and Dad didn't get sick, they killed themselves because they couldn't bare having you for a child! You couldn't do anything right! You didn't even get your cutie-mark till you were a teenager and that was after they died! They were always ashamed of you! I was always ashamed of you! YOU WERE NOTHING BUT A BURDEN! NOW GET ME OUT OF HERE SO I can... squeeze... the life fro.." Starlight said, her voice trailing off as the sedatives being administered by Dr. Hartmare who had injected them into her IV the moment she snapped.

Amethyst, who backpedaled away from her sister in abject horror, was a shaking mess, unable to move or say anything until Luna put a reassuring hoof on the frightened mare's shoulder. Looking up towards Luna, Amethyst saw the look of determination in her eyes as she stared at the still form of Starlight.

"I believe some dark magic is at work here." Luna said, looking at the still form of Starlight Glimmer. "I have attempted to journey into her dreams to see what assistance I can provide, but I have been unable to find my way." She continued, lowering her head to Amethyst's level. "But with your help, we may find success."

"What?" Amethyst said, totally confused by the princess' statement. "How can I help you?"

Luna closed her eyes and smiled at the distraught pony in front of her. 

"We can both venture into your sister's dream and do what we can for her," Luna explained without even skipping a beat. "Just like how I let all of Ponyville share a dream when my tantabus escaped, so shall you and I share a dream with your sister... Although I'm afraid it will be more of a nightmare." Luna finished with a grim tone.

Amethyst pondered for a moment, then smiled and shook her head in agreement.

Then her world started to glow white and slipped out from under her.





"Come on Glimmy! Let me have a turn!" Amethyst shouted up at her older sister who was busy playing with the schoolyard tetherball.

"Amee, you're too small for this toy. Go play on the jungle gym." Starlight told her younger sister.

Amethyst, downtrodden, started towards the jungle gym as fast as her tiny filly legs could take her. Something's not right here... Amethyst thought, stopping just short of her destination.

"You're right about that." Princess Luna said to her, also in the form of a filly, sitting down next to her. "We're reliving a memory, hers or yours, I'm not sure."

"I think I remember this. This is the day..." Amethyst said, trying to hold back tears. "This is the day before my parents died." She told Luna, as much a revelation to herself as it was for the Princess. 

Luna and Amethyst watched Starlight play with the tetherball more until an Earth Pony, not much older than Starlight come up and talk to her. A look of distress crossed her sister's face before she started towards the jungle gym.

"Amee, Mom and Dad aren't going to be home tonight, you're going to stay at the Cakes tonight, so go there now, they know you're coming." The young Starlight explained.

"Aww... Do I have too?" Amethyst found herself saying, out of her control. "I'm a big filly now, I can stay home alone with you!" She pleaded.

"Not this time, run along now, ok!" Starlight said ruffling Amethyst's mane with her hoof, then she headed off to her home.

Amethyst, now a grown mare, stood there and watched her sister slowly trot off into the distance. A nagging feeling of dread filled the back of her mind. Sensing the change in emotion in her companion, Luna walked up next to her.

"What is it?" The Princess asked.

"I don't know. Something is telling me that I need to go after her. Like I have to see something." She explained, then started after her sister, her hoofs carrying her along the once familiar path home.

Stopping in front of her old family home, Amethyst took a breath in and opened the door with her magic then walked in.

"Dad! I'm home!" Amethyst could her sister call out from another room then followed where it was coming from.

In here, Starlight, dinner's ready." A male voice called out in response. 

"Where's Mom?" Starlight asked, sitting down at the dinner table.

Amethyst stood in the doorway and watched the scene unfold, spellbound.

"She's... She's sleeping, I made dinner tonight." A Unicorn stallion with an alabaster coat and dark blue mane answered as he placed a plate down in front of Starlight. "Where's your sister? I thought she was with you at the park." He asked, his voice taking on a slight, nervous edge.

"The Cakes asked if she wanted to stay over for dinner, I thought it would be ok."

"Too late now, I guess, you should have asked, though." He answered, the nervousness leaving his voice, but the edge remained. "I really wish you would have asked. Now, eat your dinner."

Starlight started to lift a fork full of her food but stopped short to sniff it, which caused her to recoil.

"What's wrong? My cooking not good enough?" He asked. Amethyst now noticed that he had not taken a bite of his dinner.

"It's not that... It smells funny." Starlight said, worry creeping into her voice. "Where's Mom, Dad?"

"She's sleeping. Now eat your dinner." He said forcefully.

A sudden impulse flooded into Amethysts mind as she raced up the stairs faster than what should be possible until she found herself in front of her parents bedroom. With her heart pounded in her chest as she opened the door slowly with her foreleg.

On her parents bed lay her mother. A river of crimson flowed from her chest from where a knife protruded. In an instant, a lifetime of memories, every tale, explanation, lie, and half-truth came flooding to Amethyst's mind.

"My Mother was murdered. He killed her." Amethyst said, her voice hardly registering above a whisper. "I guess I always knew... but I didn't want too..."

"STAY AWAY FROM ME!" Starlight screamed before a loud crash and a hard thud reverberated throughout the house which broke Amethyst out of the self-revelation she was enthralled by. As fast as she raced to her parents room, she found herself once again at the doorway to the dining room.

The table had been upturned and her father was lying on the floor by the wall, his neck at a sickening angle with her sister standing over him, her eyes white and her horn glowing a light green. She was seething.

"Glimmy?" Amethyst called out, but it went unheard.

From her father's body, a formless black mist rose and enveloped her sister, whose head turned to face her, her glowing white eyes now glowing an unnatural red and green.

"Whats wrong, runt? Don't you want to hate him too now that you know!?" Her sister's voice asked. "Is that fear I smell? I think it is!" 'Starlight' said. "I haven't had genuine fear in ages..." The being that controlled her sister told her before pacing towards her menacingly.

"STOP WHERE YOU ARE!" Luna called out before casting a beam of blinding white light at whatever was controlling her sister. Starlight collapsed to the floor, but the black, shapeless form remained where she once stood.

"No! I won't let you stop me! Not this time! Ahhhhhhh" A menacing voice called out before the shapeless cloud disappeared in the blinding light of Luna's magic.

Then we woke up.





"That was unexpected," Princess Luna told Dr. Hartmare, as they both looked at the two sisters talking amongst themselves. "You could have told me her parents were murdered."

"I didn't know, not until you ventured into the dream. The record was sealed by the court, I didn't get the file till then." The Doctor explained. "But what you told me fits with the official record. A co-worker of the patient's mother, an alcoholic, told her that she hadn't shown up for work again, Starlight went home to find her father serving food, acting odd. The smell of the food, which was poisoned, put Starlight on edge. When he found out that her sister wouldn't be home for the night, her father attacked her, and Starlight acted in self-defense and threw him against the wall. A neighbour hearing the noise came in and found him dead. Town guards found the mother, stabbed to death in her sleep." She explained with a mono-tone. "Apparently, the Father had lost his job and the house was going to be foreclosed, and his wife's alcoholism pushed him over the edge and he murdered his wife and tried to poison his children and himself."

"And Starlight Glimmer chose to tell her sister that they died of a sudden illness," Luna said rhetorically. 

"Due to the nature of the incident and the age of the children involved, it was kept out of the news much as possible. The children were placed in foster care in Canterlot where they remained in an orphanage until they each aged out of the system." Dr. Hartmare explained further. "So, what was it?" she asked.

"A fragment of an old enemy, the first bearer of the Alicorn Amulet," Luna said. "I believe that the last of it, with no amulet and no host to control, is finally gone from this world."
> Chapter 6 - To Get Somewhere, First, You Have To Take a Step Forward
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Come on, you're doing great!" Fluttershy enthused in that excited, yet quiet tone of hers.

She stood a scant few inches from me as I took step after wobbly step on my new set of four legs between a set of parallel bars, using my wings to steady myself when I needed it. Doctor Horses thought it would be best if I spent some time in the physical therapy room until I was confident enough to walk in my own, especially after the disastrous first attempt I made getting out of bed the first time. My nose still hurt from the face...snout...muzzle? plant I did. Oh, boy, this is going to take some getting used too.

It had been two days since I had woken up the way I am now. I still didn't recognize the visage I see when I look into a mirror. Dr. Hartmare said that my mind would eventually adjust, to just give it time. I figured that was what she would say, shrinks tend to use the age old 'time heals all things' in their prescriptions. 

"How much longer are you going to be? I want to show you just how awesome those wings can be!" Rainbow asked, hovering around the ceiling. I just rolled my eyes.

"Learning to walk with four legs isn't as easy as you think, especially when I only had two of them a few days ago." I shot up at her. Fluttershy briefly gave her friend an annoyed glance before turning back to me and smiling as I took another step.

"Try and imagine it from his perspective, Rainbow Dash," Twilight said, glancing up from the book she was reading. "When I went through the mirror, it took me a while to get my balance on two legs. I'm sure it won't be that much longer before you have him flying into the dirt like when you were teaching me..."

"So, my flight instructor is going be a sadist? Great." I said with all the sarcasm I could muster.

Every... pony? Seriously, did I just think that?, turned and faced Rainbow to see her response, only to get a blank stare. Twilight facehoofed, and I just shook my head and laughed.

"What?" Rainbow asked, clearly not understanding what was happening. What I didn't expect was to hear a small giggle out of Fluttershy. Normally she likes to stay out of the lighthearted teasing her friends and I like to toss around at each other, but to hear her laugh, especially at the expense of her friends cluelessness, it was just something new.

"Rainbow, Sugah-cube, a sadist is somepony who gets a kick off somepony else having a rough go a'things." 

"What? I... Never!" Rainbow huffed, her face turning as crimson as a pony could with a blue coat.

"You did laugh at me." Twilight pointed out.

While the rest of my friends enjoyed their own brand of 'sadism' teasing Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy got in close and touched her nose to mine and began to whisper.

"Come on, give it another go. I know you can do it." She told me, giving a warm smile.

Donning a smile of my own, I stood up as straight as my wobbly legs would allow me and took tentative step after tentative step, with the last several with-out the aid of the parallel bars. The effort to stay upright was enough to generate enough sweat to soak my coat, its colour visibly darkening. Exhausted, I lowered myself to the floor as Fluttershy wrapped her forelegs and wings around me.

"See, I told you," she whispered into my ear. "I'm so proud of you."

"Did he do it?!" Sweetie Belle asked as she trotted into the room with her sister and Pinkie Pie following close behind.

"You bet your flank he did!" Rainbow exclaimed circling the ceiling. "Nothing can keep Jimbo down!"

"That's wonderful, darling." Rarity enthused with a genuine smile, and beside her in a very uncharacteristic fashion, Pinkie Pie let out a sound that could only be described as air escaping some rubber toy being squeezed.

Walking over to me, Sweetie Belle helped Fluttershy with getting me up to my feet, and I turned to her. "So, did you tell her?" I asked Sweetie.

She stopped in her tracks and I immediately winced, realizing that I just forced something on her that she didn't want to deal with yet.

"Tell who what?" Rarity inquired.

"Thanks, James," Sweetie said to me quietly before taking in a deep breath. "Well, where to start..."





Seven Months Ago...

"Ugh... I can't do this!" I yelled, throwing the book out the window of the old HQ of the Cutiemark Crusaders.

"Ow!" Somepony called out. "Sweetie Belle, that you?"

"James?" I asked in shock, then quietly waited as he climbed up into the rather small clubhouse. It had been years since Applebloom, Scootaloo and I had all been together in this place, and it had seen better days with obvious signs of neglect starting to show, it just seemed... smaller.

The tall human, ducking to avoid hitting his head on the celing, found a spot in the corner and sat down, then offered the book I had thrown out the window. Taking it with my magic, I put it down next to the others.

"What's up?" He asked.

"I'm studying," I answered far more sharply than I had intended. "At least I'm trying too."

"Well, throwing books out windows at the unsuspecting masses isn't how you go about doing that." He joked. "What are you hung up on?" 

"I'm good with everything else, but these math questions are just too bucking hard." I told him, levitating over a small stack of paper.  He laughed at my cursing but didn't say anything while he looked over what I gave him.

While I knew he had been learning how to read our language in the years he had been living here, he still needed his... Tricorder?, to translate some things, and this was no exception.

"Wait, 'University of Manehatten School of Medicine'?" He asked rhetorically. "This is a practice exam." 

"I want to get into Med School, that's a practice test for the entrance exam." 

"Math, huh?"

"Yeah..."

"You know, I'm pretty good at math."

"Really?"

"I'm a pilot, Sweetie, it's a pretty important skill for me to have. So," He began. "You want some help?"

My eyes widened considerably at the offer as I rushed to give him a hug. 


* * *


Later that week...

"A patient weighing fifty-two kilograms is prescribed to receive twenty-five micrograms of medication per kilogram per minute over an hour. How many milligrams of medication total is needed?" James asked.

"Well, 1mcg is 0.001mg, so 25mcg is 0.025mg, multiply that by 52 and you get 1.3mg per minute. To get the total amount needed, multiply that by 60... 78mg!" I answered.

"Give the mare a gold star!" He said enthusiastically, then his face got serious. "Now it's great that you can do that in your head, now show me on paper." He said, tapping his finger on the sheet in front of me.

He watched over me as I wrote out the equation to figure out the ratio to answer the question, then nodded in approval.

"Told you ratio's aren't that hard." James said, ruffling my curly mane. "You know what, you got this. You're ready." 

"You think so?"

"You aced the non-math portions of the test, and you were able to answer the math portions fairly accurately." He told me. "You'll do fine." 

"There's a test next week in Manehatten..." I asked in a leading fashion.

"I'm sure your sister would gladly take you." 

"I... Kinda haven't told her I'm applying."

"Why not?"

"Med School is a lot of money! Mom and Dad don't make that much and Sis only makes enough to maintain her business and support us both." I told him. "I can't ask her to pay that much.

"Have you looked at any scholarships? Grants? Bursaries?"

"I..." I started. "I hadn't thought of that." I realized.

"This entrance exam, combined with your school performance are all used as a basis for qualifying for scholarships right?"

I nodded.

"And you still don't want to ask your sister till you know you got in and maybe got some scholarships?"

I gave a weak smile.

"Tell you what, I'll talk to Rarity and contrive some reason to take the train out to Manehatten with you, say you were talking about it and want to take me to see the sights or something, I'll take you."

"You think she'll say yes?"

"I'm pretty persuasive."





"I got into Med School at ManeU..." Sweetie Belle said sheepishly and was met with silence from the room. Everypony, save me who wore a knowing smile, was stunned.

Rarity simply let out a shrill 'eeee' before embracing her sister in a tight hug, then pushed her away.

"When did you apply? Don't they have an entrance exam... The trip to Manehatten!" She quickly figured then turned to me. "James?"

I just smiled. Her eyes narrowed at me in a scornful glare.

"Med School is several years at least... Mother and Father could help a lot and I can pay some... oh my..." Rarity continued with a shocked look on her face as she ran the costs of her sisters tuition in her head.

"Rarity..." 

"I guess I could cut back on the fall and winter lines productions to save money, might even increase demand and get more bits than normal..."

"Sis!" Sweetie said loudly, getting her sister to snap her head around to face her. "I was one of the recipients of the Lunar Continuing Education Scholarship. It's not a full ride, but tuition, textbooks, and supplies are paid for." She explained. "Just have to worry about living expenses." 

"Well then. That's much easier." Rarity said calmly, but still had the same shocked look on her face, but it slowly softened to a smile as tears of joy welled up in her eyes. "My little sister is going to be a Doctor." 

As everypony else started to congratulate Sweetie Belle, Fluttershy nuzzled my neck and leaned up against me just enough as to not throw me off balance.

"That was very sweet of you to help her out." She told me. I could hear the smile in her voice. "Just another thing to love about you." 

"Doctor said I could go home today." I told her.

"Want to sneak out of here?" She suggested with a small mischievous grin.

"Sure."

Avoiding the attention of the others, and with Fluttershy to lean on when needed, we carefully left the room. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Pinkie's head rise above the rest. She raised her eyebrows twice at me and winked with a rather unsavory and knowing grin.
> Chapter 7 - New Opportunities
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Are you James Scott?" The Unicorn Stallion said, reading from a sheet of paper levitating in front of him.

I had been sleeping peacefully until a loud bang on the front door woke both Fluttershy and I. Shushing the drowsy mare, I got out of bed and walked downstairs. I'd managed to get pretty confident on my legs these last few weeks, won't be participating in the running of the leaves, but at least I wasn't falling flat on my face. Opening the door, I was greeted by a member of the Royal Guard, clad in golden armor.

"You are James Scott, correct?" He asked again.

"Do you have any idea what time it is?" I asked, using my foreleg to rub the sleep out of my eye.

"Half past seven in the morning, sir," The Guard answered a tad too officially.

"Well, I was sleeping, so what can I do for you?"

"You have been summoned to the Royal Court. Princess Celestia wishes to discuss a matter of state." The guard stated, snapping to attention at the mention of the Princess.

"Huh..." I said, taken aback by the summons. "Do you know why?" I asked.

"I am not privy to those details."

"And when am I expected?"

"As soon as possible. There is a Chariot waiting outside to take us there immediately." The Unicorn explained, stepping slightly to the side revealing the Pegasus-drawn chariot behind him.

"James, are you coming back to bed?" Fluttershy said as she gracefully descended the stairs. "Oh, hello."

"Greetings Ms. Fluttershy." The Unicorn said with a bow of his head.

"I've been called to Canterlot, the Princess wants to see me for some reason."

"Oh, my. That does sound important." She said meekly. "When do we leave?"

"Unfortunately, I was only ordered to pick up Mr. Scott," The Guard explained nervously. "There is not enough room in the chariot for a third passenger."

"That's ok then, you better get going," Fluttershy said, giving me a kiss on the cheek. "Best not to keep the Princess waiting, I'll see you when you get home."





The flight was long, boring, and rather uneventful. I did learn his name was Centurion Brisk Spark, and the two Pegasi doing the heavy lifting were Optio Onyx Bolt and Signifier Mythic Justice. I didn't know if it was just a quirk of my universal translator that I kept in my saddle bag (which Rarity was kind enough to have made for me), or that there might really be a relationship between this planet and Earth, because the similarities, like the use of roman ranks and the pun-laden city names like Manehatten and Vanhoover, were often too much take. But that was a train of thought for another time. Speaking of which, I think I'll take the train back to Ponyville, least then I'll be able to get some rest.

While not the first time I had visited the castle, I still marveled at it when I stood below its spires. 

"Mr. Scott, this way please." Brisk Spark said, gesturing with his foreleg towards to a part of the castle I had yet to visit. Following his direction, I started down the hallway, with Brisk Spark following close behind, that went from the ornate walls, paintings and tapestries to something that resembled a typical office building. Passing by several ponies going about their business, I overheard conversations about tax rates, social programs, and many other government-related things. 

We soon found ourselves at a large set of double wooden doors with a pair of stallions in smart-looking suits. On our approach, one of them lowered his head slightly and appeared to speak into the collar of his suit jacket. The second stallion opened the door and I walked in. Looking back at the closing door I noticed that Brisk Spark did not follow me. I found myself in a reception area for an office, a desk with a unicorn mare reading over various stacks of paper on one end, and a pair of Starfleet Officers seated on a couch on the other, a Human and Ferengi respectively.

Eyeing their ranks, I saw they were a Captain and Commander, most likely the CO and XO of whatever vessel had come to visit Equus.

"So what brings Starfleet to Equus?" I asked. Getting odd looks, I decided to introduce myself. "Sorry, James Scott, Ensign retired. I'd over a handshake, but I don't have hands anymore." I joked.

The two officers looked at each other, then the Captain got up and walked over to greet me.

"Captain LaForge, USS Challenger." He said, then gesturing to his companion. "This is Commander Nog, my first officer."

I was impressed. In front of me were two of Starfleet's best engineers. I didn't know them personally, but I knew of them by reputation. LaForge, of course, had been Chief Engineer on the Enterprise D and E for over twenty years. Nog was famous for another reason, being the first Ferengi in Starfleet, but his accomplishments were nothing to overlook. He was one of the principal designers for the newly rebuilt Deep Space Nine space station.

"You'll forgive our strange looks, we knew we were going to be meeting with you, but you were..." Geordi began.

"You aren't what we were expecting," Nog said, finishing his Captain's awkward statement.

"Yeah, it's a long story. Short version: I was transformed into a pegasus by a being of considerable power in order save my life and it's irreversible."

"Sounds like you had a run-in with Q," Geordi remarked.

"You know, I read about him, and Discord is a lot like him, just a tad bit friendlier." 

"I don't want to hear another word on this matter." A loud voice rang out from the inner room. Twilight had told me about the Royal Canterlot Voice, I didn't quite get what she meant, but now I do, considering the pictures adorning the walls were vibrating. "You will have the emergency shelters you promised at the Manehatten docks by sunset at the price we agreed upon, cost plus ten percent, and not one bit more." The voice continued as I watched one of the picture frames come loose off the wall only to be caught in the glowing white magic and gently placed back where it originally hung. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Nog scanning the entire thing with a tricorder. The secretary didn't even flinch. "Failing that, you will be answering questions from every newspaper in Equestria why you stand to make a considerable profit off a natural disaster before you can say the words 'chocolate cake'. Now get out of my castle and make it happen." Mere moments later a Unicorn stallion in very expensive clothes charged out the door in a huff and quickly left the office's waiting area with great haste, with all of our heads, the secretary included, watching him go.

"And I thought Uncle Quark could get angry." Nog quipped, getting a smile and short chuckle from his Captain.

A long, almost musical sigh, from behind us, drew our attention to see Princess Celestia standing in the doorway to her inner office. 

"Pearl, please send word to Manehatten to ensure that that detestable pony holds up his end." The princess said to her secretary.

"I sent word the moment your meeting with him started, your Grace," She said, not even looking up from her work.

"Pearl, thank you. What would I do without you?"

"Not a lot, I would guess, your Grace," Pearl answered, and without skipping a beat, she looked up at us. "Mr. LaForge, Mr. Nog of Starfleet, and Mr. Scott of Ponyville to see you, ma'am."

"James! So good to see you again. When Lulu told me what happened, I was shocked, but you seem to be well." Celestia said with a smile that you could literally feel the warmth from. "I understand Miss Dash is going to be giving you flight lessons soon, correct?"

"Thank you for thinking of me, Princess, and yes, she is later this week," I answered. Looking back at Laforge and Nog, I spoke again. "I'm at a loss as to what reason I'm here for exactly."

"If you would come inside, we can talk about it." Celestia told me with a smile, then calmly walked back into her office.

It wasn't so much an office as it was a meeting room. There was a desk for working, but it was facing one of the walls off in a corner. In the center of the room were three sets of lavishly overstuffed cushions. Taking the one that had her facing the door, Celestia laid down and waited for us to do the same. LaForge and Nog took the one to her left, and I to her right.

"Over the past couple months, the Equus World Government has been in talks with the Federation, and they have agreed to open trade with us," Celestia explained.

"That's highly unusual, and a violation of the Prime Directive," I said almost reflexively.

"As you might know, Starfleet's Quantum Slipstream technology relies on Benamite crystals, which are exceedingly rare in nature," LaForge began.

"Not to mention unstable," Nog added.

"And synthesizing them in large quantities is a long process that can take years." LaForge continued. "And just through normal use, like round trips to the delta quadrant, for example, causes our current supplies to de-crystalize. On top of that, our current re-crystallization process is only a stop-gap measure"

"Apparently Equus' moon has large quantities of the substance, and its naturally stable, according to Starfleet's geologists," Celestia said, taking a sip from a coffee mug.

"It defies nature. Benamite, by the very way it's formed in nature, is unstable. I don't know what exactly happened to your planet's moon that lead the crystals to form the way they did, but stable benamite solves a lot of the longevity problems we've been having."

"So the Federation is turning a blind eye to the fact that Equus hasn't yet achieved spaceflight, let alone interstellar travel," I said, getting slightly shocked looks from every being in the room. "Sorry, considering the situation I was in not that long ago, I thought I'd point out the irony." Not to mention the hypocrisy... I added in my mind, thinking it wise to keep that to myself.

"Yes, I guessed that would be your reaction," Celestia began. "But know that the Equus World Parliment did not enter this trade deal lightly. We only did so because of the benefits the Benamite provides for us. Initial testing on the substance yields some surprising and promising results."

"Like what?" I asked.

"One of our scientists was able to store a magical spell inside one of the crystals," She told me. "It randomly cast itself, partially destroying the lab; nopony was hurt thankfully, but they are confident that a refined crystal would be more stable," Celestia explained. "That's why we need Starfleet's assistance."

"That does make a little more sense," I said, suitably impressed.

"Speaking of making sense, the reason you're here is to ask that you serve as our liaison with Starfleet," She said, leaving me gobsmacked.

"I... Wha..." I said, stammering. "Huh..." I continued, utterly speechless.

"I do ask one thing of those I ask to serve, though," Celestia told me. "That you never doubt that small group of compassionate and dedicated ponies can change the world." She let that request sink in. "Do you know why?"

I mulled it over in my mind briefly before responding. "I guess it's because that's the only thing that ever has."





"And that's how I got my new job." I explained.

Seated with me at the cafe table where the rest of the girls, who were all smiles. Twilight most of all, as she hung on to my every word when I was explaining what Benamite crystals could do. Fluttershy, who was next to me was smiling as well, but hadn't said much since I got home, but I paid it no mind.

"I do hope they gave you a good contract." Rarity said. "Government jobs do pay very well."

Reaching into my bags, I pulled out the contract and gave it to her to read. She held the bundle of papers in the air as she flipped through them. Then her eyes bugged out.

"One hundred and eighty thousand bits?!" She exclaimed. 

"What?" I asked. "Is that a lot?"

"Jimbo," Rainbow said, addressing me in a deadpan tone. "You're rich."

"Well, that's a load off my chest," Fluttershy said quietly in a relieved tone.

"What do you mean?" Twilight asked.

Taking a deep breath, Fluttershy turned to her friend. "I'll tell you in a moment, right now I need to talk with James." She said right before getting up and walking a small distance away out of earshot, and I followed.

"What is it?" I asked.

"Remember when I went for a checkup last week at the doctors?" She answered with a question. "Well, after you left Dr. Horse called me back in to talk to me."

A wave a dread washed over me. "Is something wrong? Are you sick?"

"Oh, no, no. Nothing's wrong." She said with a smile, alleviating my fears. "Something was right." She continued. "James. I'm pregnant."

"That's good," I said. Then it hit me. "Wait, WHAT?!"
> Chapter 8 - New Beginnings
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Author's Note: This chapter conains mild depictions of surgury and blood.

Several Months Later...
USS Challenger - Three AU from Equus





The last few months had initially been difficult. I was totally out of my element. While I was a department head on the Juno Beach, and all the administrative duties that would entail, I was totally unprepared for the bureaucratic nightmare that was the Equus World Parliament. I was a military man, sure I was used to the chain of command, but in that situation if you wanted something done you talked to your superior and the request went as far up the chain as it needed to till it was dealt with. 

Despite its relative infancy, the Parliament had very quickly grasped the concept of red tape. Just getting approval for the Challenger's crew to partake in shore leave took two days while the Prime Minister's cabinet debated it. 

The Prime Minister, oh boy, there's a tough nut if there ever was one. Sinaru Silverhorn of the Minotaur Republic, despite her young age, possessed enough of a commanding presence as to not intimidate while still gaining the respect of her peers; which she used skillfully to have herself named Prime Minister with an overwhelming 324 to 16 confidence vote. 

That and I swear she has a hate on for me. Despite being granted dual-citizenship by Princess Celestia, Prime Minister Silverhorn treats me like an outsider. I'm constantly called to sit in cabinet meetings that ultimately don't require me to be there. I'm asked to observe pretty much every activity that Starfleet performs of any significance. All of it just annoys the hell out of me, especially since the majority of the time one of my staff could easily sit in for me. Princess Celestia assigned me several ponies from her School of Gifted Unicorns' research staff, all of whom had been hard at work learning from interacting with Starfleet.

It also takes me away from Fluttershy, who's due date is fast approaching and to add extra stress to the mix, half-way through the pregnancy Dr Horses told us that this pregnancy was high-risk and ordered her to not travel. This last month, however, he asked that she be moved to Canterlot General. 

So, here I was, fidgeting in my seat to the left of Geordi on the bridge of the Challenger.  

I had been on a Galaxy Class bridge before. Venture Class, I corrected myself. But this, this bridge was something different. Virtually every inch of usable space along the bulkheads had a console station; and with what was about to happen today, all of them were manned. In total, there were at least a dozen officers going about their tasks.

On the massive viewscreen that dominated  the forward section of the bridge, floated the fruit of the Challenger crew's labour: A stationary platform that consisted of a deflector with a specially designed focal array and magneton pulse generator. It essentially would serve as a 'gate' of sorts so that vessels that didn't possess a civilian research-grade or military-grade navigational array would have to rely on the platform to generate a stable passageway.

For added security and to help maintain Equus' sovereignty of their space, the platform also had the ability to destabilise any incoming unscheduled or unauthorised subspace opening before it fully forms by emitting an inverse magneton pulse at the same amplitude as the pulse used to create the subspace opening, effectively cancelling it out. At least that was what it was supposed to do; and I do hope it works, as it was at my behest that this ability be added. If all goes well, complete control of the platform would be given over to the newly formed Equus Orbital Command.

"You ok?" Geordi asked.

"Yes..." I answered too quickly. "No. I mean, yeah I'm fine, but I sure as hell don't want to be here." I explained, keeping my vision squarely on the viewscreen ahead. When I didn't get a response right away, I turned to face the Captain, who had raised an eyebrow. "It's a long story. Suffice to say that my fiance's pregnancy is near term, it's high-risk and is on mandatory bed rest. On top of that, PM Silverhorn is doing pretty much everything she can to keep me away from her."

"Makes sense." The captain said in response. "Engineer Davidson, we ready?" He asked one of the few civilian techs manning an engineering auxiliary station.

"That we are Captain," He answered, giving a nod.

"The Saratoga has signaled that they're ready to launch the test probe." The officer manning the Operations station said.

"Tell them to proceed when ready," Nog ordered.

Several minutes later a crimson vortex with golden swirls generated by the Saratoga opened up near the platform.

"Sensors are detecting that the probe is proceeding through the passageway" The Ops officer reported.

"Platform automated systems coming online." Came a voice behind us at Tactical. "It's sending an automated hail ordering them to reverse course or the passageway will be collapsed."

"Probe as reached failsafe point; the platform is powering up its magneton generator and preparing to fire an inverse magneton burst." The Ops officer began. "Platform is firing."

On the viewscreen, the platform fired its magneton pulse, causing the vortex to ripple then collapse in a flash, then burst open again, letting crushed debris from the probe to float into the system.

A smile crept onto my face as a round of celebratory applause erupted on the bridge.

"I call that a success," Geordi said, patting me on the back. "Signal the Saratoga and report success then thank them for their assistance," He ordered the officer at Ops.

"Aye, sir," He answered. "Captain Hanson sends his regards and wishes to let you know..." He continued before hesitating. "You still owe him eighteen strips of latinum."

"Well, let the old fart know he'll get his money when he fixes the model he broke the last time we played." 

"Sir?" 

"Send the exact message, Ensign," Geordi ordered with a smile.

"Message sent sir," The Ops officer reported, trying not to laugh. 

"Model?" I asked

"He snapped a mast off of my Star of India model." Geordi told me with a slight scowl, still obviously annoyed at this Captain Hanson. "Helm set course for Equus, one-quarter impulse, then take us into standard orbit,"

"One Quarter impulse, aye," The helmsman answered.

Geordi turned to me and opened his mouth as if to say something to me but was interrupted.

"Captain, we're receiving a hail from Equus." The Ops officer reported.

"On screen, Ensign."

The view of Equus was quickly replaced by the head of Rainbow Dash with a worried look on her face, which sent a shiver down my spine and splayed my ears back; as it was her turn to keep Fluttershy company since I was off-world.

"Dashie, what's wrong?" I asked, getting mixed looks from some of the officers on the bridge. Obviously I was breaking protocol, but I didn't care.

"Jimbo, you better get back here. Fluttershy went into labour and the Docs said it's serious." Rainbow told me.

"Helm, increase to full impulse," Nog ordered.

"I'm on my way back, we're only..." I began to tell her as I looked at the helmsman, who mouthed the number eight at me. "Eight minutes out."

"I'll let them know." She told me before cutting the channel abruptly. 

"Sorry, I know I broke protocol," I began, addressing Geordi directly.

"It's no big deal, I'd do the same in your place," He told me. "Better get going," He said, gesturing towards the turbolift. It took me a second to realize what he meant, but then I galloped towards the door and entered the lift. 

"Transporter Room One," I ordered the computer. The ride only took twenty seconds, but it dragged on for what seemed like minutes as worry plagued my thoughts. As I entered the transporter room, my heart was beating heavily in my chest. "Canterlot General Hospital as soon as we're in orbit," I instructed the transporter tech, a young bolian ensign. "Please," I finished, realizing I was being rude then stepped up onto the pad.

"Certainly." He said, giving me a quick nod. He continued to work his console until he looked back up at me. "We're ready for transport."

"Energise," I ordered.





"Scalpel," Dr. Fetlock ordered, and a nurse offered him one which he took in his light blue magic and proceeded to make an incision across Fluttershy's distended abdomen. "Suction," the doctor ordered, which the nurse quickly acted on and started to suck up the crimson liquid with a small vacuum tube. 

He looked up at the monitor displaying both his patient's vitals. While the foal's was holding stable, the mothers was not and was showing increased signs of distress, making all the more important to hurry and finish.

"Retractors," He ordered, then waited as the nurse used them then applied suction and sponges to the exposed area giving him a clear view of the uterus. Taking his scapel in his magic again, he began another careful incision. "Retractors," He ordered, and the nurse used a second set. With the foal exposed, he set aside his scalpel and reached in with his gloved hooves and gently lifted the tiny unicorn out. 

A second nurse took the foal in her magic so the doctor could clamp then cut the umbilical. As he did so, the nurse cleared the nasal passages of the small foal, causing it to take its first breath then it started to wail, a very good sign.

The joyful sound of new life was quickly overshadowed however as a long beep came from the patient's vital monitor.

"Patient is asystolic, start compressions." Dr. Fetlock ordered as he quickly began to close up her abdomen. "Get the infant out of here." The moment he was finished, he looked to his nurse. "Paddles, charge one hundred," He ordered, then took the defibrillator paddles in his magic then placed them at opposite ends of her chest. "Clear," He ordered.

The second his medical staff stepped back, he triggered the paddles.

Fluttershy's still form convulsed on the surgical table.





The moment I appeared in the main foyer of the hospital, Rainbow Dash was at my side. As worried as I was, It was I who had to calm her down and get her to take a breath and stop talking a mile a minute. 

I could totally get Rainbow Dash's emotional state. Fluttershy was her oldest friend, going all the way back to first meeting at summer flight camp. Not having any parents and growing up in Cloudsdale's orphanage, Fluttershy saw Rainbow Dash as a sister, and judging by the way Rainbow was panicking, that bond was still strong.

She explained to me that there were complications and that she was taken into surgery. I didn't understand the name of the procedure, but the way she explained it to me was similar to a cesarean section in human medicine. Rainbow then took me up to the waiting area near the surgical wing.

There I sat for at least a half hour and waited. It didn't take long for the rest of the girls to arrive. While Rarity was in Canterlot and was the first to get here, by the tired look on Twilight's face, she had risked teleporting Pinkie, Apple Jack and herself all the way from Ponyville.

All of them gave me reassurances and tried to keep my spirits up, but I couldn't bring myself to listen. I was numb and all I could do was wallow in my own thoughts. 

What the hell did I ever do to the universe do deserve this?

Am I going to be alone again?

My attention was suddenly grabbed by familiar clacking of hooves on tile. Looking up, I saw Prime Minister Silverhorn approaching. In the space of a blink of an eye, all my stress, worry and anxiety boiled into rage and all of it was focused on the minotaur coming down the hallway. In an instant, I was on my hooves with my wings spread.

"What the fuck are you doing here?!" I demanded from her.

"Excuse me?" She answered with both shock and disbelief in her voice.

"I don't know what it is you have against me, but it ends now!" I continued to yell at her. Twilight began to approach me but backed off just as quickly when I glared at her. I was going to say my piece and nopony was going to stop me. "From day one you've made my job as difficult as possible, and when I let you know that my fiance's pregnancy was high-risk, you made sure I was always away from her."  

A small crowd started to gather behind Sinaru, drawn by my raised voice, a fact not lost on the Prime Minister, who's expression started to turn into worry.

"Whatever it is you think is going on, I assure you..." She began, trying to control the situation that had gone totally against what she expected.

"You can take your assurances and shove it up your ass, Prime Minister," I told her. "Because whatever it is you have against me, you got your wish. Fluttershy's on death's door, I might just lose my child too, and I almost wasn't there for it all thanks to you." I continued, lowering my voice to a cutting edge. "You aren't welcome here. Leave."

The Prime Minister, whose mouth was left agape almost the whole time I was drilling into her, snapped her jaw shut, turned around with a huff and left the way she came.

Still seething, I glared into her back, hoping she could feel it. Then I felt a hoof on my shoulder. Turning I saw Rarity smiling and pointing back towards the doors of the surgical wing.

Standing there was Dr. Fetlock with an, albeit exhausted, smile on his face.





I sat in the nursery common area, cradling the small unicorn in my forelegs as I fed her a bottle. My cheeks were soaked with tears of joy as I gazed down at the miracle I held. Fluttershy and I had known she was a unicorn pretty early in the pregnancy, but I guess Fluttershy won because here I held a little filly. Serves me right for betting against the home team.

When we found out, I asked why it wasn't a pegasus like the parents. Fluttershy said it depended on the mother's ancestry, so she guessed one of her parents must have been a unicorn.

So here I held a tiny unicorn. Her coat was the same shade as her mother's, but slightly darker. Blessed with a full mane of hair, it was almost totally jet black and wavy with shocks of pink streaks the same colour as her mother as well.

With the bottle finished, I took it out of her mouth and she opened her eyes at me. Two gorgeous spheres looked into mine, one green, one blue. She must have inheritied my mother's heterochromia. The little filly let out a tiny burp followed by a small burble of noise. Her horn flashed a light fuschia for a second. For a moment I swore I could feel something warm caress my cheek. As quickly as it happened, it was gone. The small being snuggled into my chest and fell asleep.

"Have you chosen a name?" A nurse asked, breaking me from whatever spell I was under. 

"Huh?" I asked.

"Have you decided on a name?" She asked again, a warm smile gracing her face.

A few days after Fluttershy told me she was expecting, she asked what names were popular in my family. She already knew my sister, Melanie, and her daughter Mellissa. I told her about my father Edward who I was named after, and my mother Maria. My father never knew his parents, so I told her about my mom's parents.

The two women who raised my mom were a huge influence on my life. When my sister and I were young, we spent the majority of our time with them while our parents were off making deliveries. They practically raised us.

Fluttershy loved their names and decided that if we had a girl, we would name her after them.

"Zoe Jayne Scott," I told her.

"Those sound lovely," The nurse said, sounding a little confused at the foreign sounding names. "What do they mean?"

"They're from Earth. Zoe is Greek and means 'Life'. Jayne is Hebrew and means 'Gift from God'." I explained. "Life really is a gift from God," I said, getting a nod of agreement from the nurse who wrote the names down on her clipboard and left the two of us alone.





The Following Day...

"...so when news of what happened at the hospital hit the papers back in the Minotaur Republic, it didn't take long to uncover that Minister Silverhorn belonged to a burgeoning group with xenophobic views," Celestia explained to me in a steady voice as she made various silly and absurd faces at Zoe in her bassinet, eliciting short burbles of laughter. "The Praetor recalled her immediately and she has since tendered her resignation. He also sends his sincere apologies on behalf of the Republic and wishes a speedy recovery to your fiance."

"Small consolations, I guess. Tell him it's much appreciated." I asked. 

"Mr. Scott?" Dr. Fetlock said, getting my attention. "Miss Fluttershy is awake if you want to see her."

"How is she, Doctor?" Celestia asked.

"She's recovering as well as can be expected considering the circumstances," He explained to us both. "She had a rough go of things, but she's a fighter. It'll be a while before she's ready to go home, but I expect her to make a full recovery. "Mr. Scott, if you'll follow me, I'll take you to the ICU," He said, gesturing down the hall from the Nursery common area. "Princess," He said, giving a nod.

"Don't worry, I'll look after her," Celestia said, smiling. Feeling assured, I followed the Doctor. A small grunt of effort followed by a pungent odour and a giggle caused the Princess to recoil and wrinkle her nose. "Seems someone made a stinky." One of the nurses approached her, but she waved her off. Lifting the infant pony in her magic, she looked her right in the eyes. "It's been a few hundred years, let's see if I still have it," She said, before trotting off with a bounce in her step towards a changing station much to the wonder of the hospital staff and other parents.





Fluttershy's bed was one of three lining the wall of the ICU recovery ward. She looked tired, but still managed a smile when she saw me approach. When I got next to her, she tried to get up, but the pained look on her face made me wince.

"Don't try to move, you might tear your stitches," I told her gently as I took her hoof in mine. 

"How is Zoe?" She asked with a weak voice. I smiled at the mention of her name and couldn't wait until she met her mom for the first time, but the doctors wanted to wait till she was out of ICU first.

"Oh, she's beautiful, she looks like her mother," I told her. "We do good work," I continued, bringing her hoof up to kiss it, getting a chuckle from Fluttershy. "She's with Celestia in the Nursery." 

"The Princess? Oh my, we can't impose on her!" She said with worry.

"She offered," I said with a shrug, and tried to keep smiling, but it was futile. Breaking down, I started to weep. "I thought I lost you," I struggled to say through the tears.

"But you didn't," She told me, pulling my head to my chest and held me tight. "Shh... I'm still here..." she cooed softly, stroking my mane as she let me cry.





The Following Week...

Skittles ran and hopped circles around us as we slowly made our way up the path towards the cabin. Obviously glad to see us, the little rabbit wasn't so little anymore, as she had grown into a full-sized hare, easily twice the size Angel was. 

Up near the front door gathered a small horde of animals all happy to see their mistress home. All of them were equally interested in the new addition she carried in a sling under her chest.

"Its so good to see you all," She greeted. "James said you were all on your best behaviour, thank you for that. But we're going to need some time alone together, though, I hope you can understand."

Getting a round of nods, all of them went their own separate ways, including Skittles. Opening the front door, I let Fluttershy enter first.

She put Zoe in her bassinet and sat down on the couch and smiled at me, patting the cushion next to her.

"Pick Zoe back up, I want to get a picture," I asked, so she did and I set up my holo-imager then quickly sat down next to my girls.

"Say cheese!"