> The Phoenix Project
>  by Cydon
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Prologue
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


The Phoenix Project 
Prologue


Appleloosa is known for its hot days and today was no exception, the growing settlement was nearly two years old now and was being expanded to house the ever growing population. But with a higher population comes a higher demand on the basics such as fresh water. With the desert being as unforgiving as ever several volunteers were needed to dig a new well for the town, among the volunteers were Sheriff Silver Star, and Braeburn Apple. The new well was to be dug just on the southern edge of town towards the Macintosh Hills. The work progressed smoothly and slightly ahead of schedule as Braeburn continued work on the already ten foot hole.  

Shick…Wump...Shick…Wump...Shick…Wump ”Phew this sure makes a pony thirsty.”  Shick…Wump...Shick…Wump...Clang… “What the? Uhhh... Sheriff... you might wanna come take a look at this.” Braeburn shouted out of the hole.

“What is it Braeburn?” Sheriff Silverstar shouted back with a hint of curiosity.

“Something big and made of metal." Braeburn said while tossing out some more dirt.

“Well how big do you reckon it is Braeburn?” Said Sheriff Silverstar while he peered over the edge of the hole.

“Well.. I’m not sure Sheriff it looks like it’s pretty big, but we won’t know for sure unless we dig it up.” Braeburn stomped his hoof onto the ground causing more dirt to float around. When it cleared he noticed some black lettering on the metal, curious Braeburn began to clear away more dirt revealing the words. Phoenix Project Pod 007 Incipimus iterum phoenix resurget ex favilla. "What do you reckon that means Sheriff?” 

“I don’t rightly know Braeburn but I think we should leave it alone for now and go get some of them adventure ponies like that Daring do.”

“Alright Sheriff that sounds like a good idea we’ll send a letter to the Equestrian Historical Society to send an archaeologist to come and take a look at it.”

“An arcawhatsitnow?”

"An archaeologist."

"...."

"...."

"An ark.awhat?"

"An ar..oh Never mind, lets just go back to town and send that letter. "
> Chapter 1 Discovery
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Chapter 1 Discovery


Personal Log, Captain Cydon Imperius, May 7, 2132
"Tomorrow my squad ships out from the base we've called home these past few months. I still can't believe what's happening, the world really is ending but not because of global warming an asteroid or even a zombie outbreak, no, the world is ending because some scientist thought that he could tamper with the power of the sun without consequence. And now, now we all have to pay the price."


<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>


One week ago Braeburn and Sheriff Silverstar sent a letter to the Canterlot Historical Society. Normally Braeburn would be on the farm at this time of day tending to various chores but today was special, Braeburn trot through town an unreadable expression on his face. 'I reckon his letter said he would arrive on the noon train.' Braeburn thought to himself as he glanced over to the clock tower in the center of town which now read 11:45. Braeburn started trotting a little faster so he could reach the station before the train arrived.

The Appleloosa train station looked like what you would expect of most rural stations, a small wooden building connected to a raised wooden platform where ponies could board or exit the train. As Braeburn climbed up the stairs on the platform he noticed Sheriff Silverstar had already arrived and was waiting patiently for the train to arrive.

"Mornin Sheriff." Braeburn said as he greeted the Sheriff. To which Sheriff Silverstar only grunted in response. In the two years Appleloosa had existed the brown maned mustachioed tan stallion had been the Sheriff, never neglecting his duty to the ponies of his town and doing his best to keep the peace. After the buffalo incident last year things had been pretty quiet allowing him to relax a little but he never dropped his guard completely because he knew he was the first and last line of defense for the citizens of his little town.


_________________________________________________________________________



Ten boring minutes of silence later


PSHHEEEEeeeee The wheels of the train screeched as the train finally came to a stop at the station. Ponies began to mill about some boarding some getting off as others grabbed luggage. From a nearby coach a dark blue unicorn with a white mane and bones with a brush for a cutie mark began approaching Braeburn and the Sheriff.

"AH, Hello there, you must be Sheriff Silverstar a pleasure to meet you, but where are my manners my name is Professor Rolling Bones or just Bones for short." Professor Bones said as he shook Sheriff Silver Stars outstretched hoof before turning to Braeburn. "And who might you be Mr?" Braeburn smiled and extended a hoof.

"Names Braeburn, Braeburn Apple and ah reckon its good to meet yah Professor Bones." They shook and stepped apart.

"Good to meet you as well. Now lets get down to business shall we, your letter didn't explain what it was you found just that you needed somepony to come down here. I will need to see what it is you found if we are to get anywhere." 

"We can do that Professor, just follow us and we'll show you where we found it." Sheriff Silver Star said. Braeburn and Professor Bones nod and follow him into town. The trio trot to the site of the new well waving hello to several ponies as they pass. A few minutes out of town they arrived at the site to see everything as they left it with the pod still buried under ten feet of earth. Professor Bones climbs down the ladder to examine the pod.

"Remarkable, I have never seen anything like this before, we simply must acquire an excavation team at once! Who knows what secrets hide behind its grey exterior." The professor nearly shouted barely containing his glee at such an artifact.

"I can go round up a group of volunteers be back in a jiffy." Sheriff Silverstar told the professor before trotting back to town without another word.

"Marvelous! The dig can begin post haste. Now, Braeburn was it? Would you mind helping me get started?" Professor Bones questioned the cowpony only to be met with a blank stare as Braeburn snapped back from his daydreaming.

"Huh? Uhh... yeah sure lets get started." Braeburn and the Professor begin the slow process of excavating. Dig up dirt, sift through said dirt for artifacts, toss dirt out of hole, rinse repeat. Half an hour of this went by before Sheriff Silverstar returned with a dozen volunteers.

"HEY, PROFESSOR AH FOUND SOME VOLUNTEERS!" Sheriff Silver Star shouted. Braeburn and Professor Bones quickly climb back out of the hole giving him a glare.

"Sheriff there is no need to shout we are right here."

"Oops sorry." The Sheriff grins sheepishly and motions for Professor Bones to speak.

"That's alright, VOLUNTEERS LISTEN UP! What we have here is an artifact of unknown age and origin and we are going to CAREFULLY dig it out of the ground and learn all we can before sending it to the Canterlot Historical Society for further study." The Professor made sure to enunciate carefully as he has had interns who while not paying attention either hurt themselves or the artifact they were excavating. "Does everypony understand?" The group nods vigorously.

"Now lets get to it." After the Professors short speech Braeburn got back to work with the rest of the volunteers. With the extra sets of hooves the dig moved along quickly and by the end of the day they had nearly uncovered all of the pod. 

The pod resembled an egg in shape not including the long rounded cone at one end and the small metal 'wings' near the back with the large black tubes jutting out that end. It was around forty feet in length and nearly twenty five feet wide. The words in black were near what appeared to be a door but without a handle or any other obvious means of opening. But what struck the professor as odd was that unlike normal pony doors this one was taller and thinner only just wide enough for him to fit through and almost twice his height. The Professor muttered to himself for a few minutes before leaving the dig site, having already sent his volunteers home half an hour before. He went to the Appleloosa hotel and got some well deserved rest.


_________________________________________________________________________



Meanwhile


Back at the dig site a faint whirring sound breaks the silence, inside the pod an old computer nearly depleted of power begins to reboot and attempts to recharge using its solar panels and the light of a bright full moon.

"Project Phoenix pod 007 status.....
"Engines....Disabled
Lights..........Emergency power only
Hull .............Intact
Navigation...Rebooting
Cryostasis...Active
Initiating Stasis check...
Occupant Captain Cydon Imperius
Status..........Alive
Activating Tactics.And.Relations.Assistant
T.A.R.A. Status....Active
!Warning! power levels below 1%
Engaging sleep protocol until solar panel recharge complete
.....................
> Chapter 2 From The Ashes
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Chapter 2 From The Ashes


Personal log, Captian Cydon Imperius, May 9, 2132
"Yesterday we arrived at our new assignment code named Project Phoenix, The scientists said it was humanity's last hope, that we were chosen as the best of the best. My job is to guard the facility with my squad. 'Nothing new there.' It wont be long now. The radiation levels are already rising and lethal levels are predicted in the next few days. Whatever those scientists are up to they better hurry because within a few months not even the Phoenix bunker will protect us."


<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>


Professor Bones awoke slowly, quickly blinking his tired eyes at the light of Celestia's morning sun. He looked around at his small but comfortable hotel room before rising to his hooves. He began making his way downstairs to indulge his stomach to breakfast at the Tumbleweed Cafe next door. While munching on his buttered toast Bones contemplated what they would discover when they finished digging up the pod. 'This artifact is most certainly the strangest thing I have ever seen maybe even anypony has ever seen. Hmm I do not believe it was made by ponies at all. That door, what kind of creature would need a door like that? Let me see what is tall and thin? A Griffin? No not tall enough, A dragon? No too big once they grow up what could it possibly be?' As the Professor contemplated Braeburn made his way into town from his farmhouse on the edge of Appleloosa. Braeburn noticed the Professor still munching on his toast with a blank stare apparently lost in thought and trotted over to say hello.

"Good mornin Professor Bones." The Professor stared dumbly at him for a moment before snapping out of his train of thought.

"Huh? Oh good morning to you too Braeburn. I trust your ready to begin the dig once more?"

"Yes sir, all the volunteers are gathering over yonder to help you finish the dig."

"Ah good good, well I have finished my breakfast lets go." The two of them made their way over yonder to the group of volunteers already gathered and eager to finish the dig.

"Excellent, everypony appears to be ready so lets finish up today shall we? Just remember to be careful, we don't want anypony to get hurt." as the Professor finished speaking they heard a faint whirring noise from the pod.

Solar charge complete...
Initializing T.A.R.A....
T.A.R.A. Initialized 

"What in the name of Celestia is that noise?" The volunteers began whispering to one another the tension quickly rising.

"Its coming from the pod!" A grey mare exclaimed.

"We should get out of here!" A brown stallion nearly shouted. 

"EVERYPONY CALM DOWN!" The Professor roared, he continued in a calmer tone "Now I want all of you to calmly go home and wait until further notice, Braeburn." The ponies begin to disperse back towards town.

"Yes Professor?"

"Would you please go get the Sheriff?" 

"Uhhh yeah I'm on it Professor."

"Good, I'll be waiting."


_________________________________________________________________________



Inside the pod


Analysis of Cryostasis chamber complete...
no damage to chamber detected...
initiating thawing procedure... 

The door to the stasis chamber inside the pod slowly opened revealing a 5' 11" human with dirty blonde hair wearing a light blue cryosuit. A mechanical arm descends from the ceiling beside him equipped with a syringe with a large needle. After getting level with his neck the mechanical arm inserted the needle and injected the serum.

I woke up, it was a terrible experience, the first thing I feel is a painful stinging in my neck and then a burning sensation traveling throughout my body. The first sense to return is my hearing, I could hear the faint whir of the fans and the mechanical arm as it returned to the ceiling. Next came my sense of smell, the air was stale like it had been sitting for years. 'The scrubbers must need replacing soon.' I tried to move my toes, and felt a weak wiggle 'Good now fingers.' I could feel my fingers wiggle as well 'Now for sight' I tried to slowly open my eyes it was difficult at first but got easier as the serum worked its way through my system. The first thing I saw was a few blinking lights in an almost pitch black pod, I tried to talk but only managed to croak my throat too dry for that. The computer turned on the emergency lights bathing the room in a soft red glow as another arm brought a glass filled with water to my face. I tried to drink some but spluttered most of it up and around me but it was enough to talk. 

"Computer, where are we?" I managed to voice just barely a whisper.

"Hello Captain, I am the Tactics and Relations Assistant but you may call me Tara, I will be aiding you on your mission. to answer your question though, I am afraid I do not have that information the navigational system was knocked out when we crashed and is still damaged."

"We crashed?" I tried to stretch my neck and I was rewarded by a few small pops.

"Yes, the engines were disrupted mid flight causing this pod to crash."

"Do you know how long I was out?" I managed to whisper my voice getting stronger.

"I do not have the exact number due to power failure, but it has been at least 500 hundred thousand years."

"WHAT!" I tried to yell but it only came out as a loud whisper "But I was only supposed to be asleep for fifty years!"

"The hard landing from the crash damaged the computer causing you continued to sleep far longer than originally intended"

"Then how am I awake now?" I questioned my voice now mostly normal.

"This planets natives caused a system restart."

"Natives? Do you mean?" My brain took a few seconds to process this. "ALIENS! Are they friendly? What do they look like? Should I get my gun? Do I-" *grrrrrrrumble* "-I think I need to eat something before we do anything else." I said raising my hand and rubbing my still growling stomach.

"All food aboard the pod expired a few hundred thousand years ago. I would not recommend trying any."

"I guess I need to go outside to get something to eat then."

"I would first suggest a change of clothes, your cryosuit will be insufficient."

"Yeah I don't think this cryosuit is good for anything except cryosleep. Now, where is my gear?" After a quick search of the cargo compartments and with a little help from Tara I managed to locate my uniform and my casual clothing as well as the rest of my gear. 

I would recommend you wear your uniform until we are certain of the natives intentions."

"Sounds like a good idea. I can't have hostile aliens putting holes in me or my clothes." My uniform consisted of urban camouflage pants and jacket with metal fibers sewn into the fabric to make it more durable and tear resistant. Under it was a grey cotton t-shirt, on my feet I wore my standard issue combat boots with steel toes and I even had a camo soft cap hat that has a steel skullcap hidden underneath.

"Now you just need to get your combat gear." 'Can't live without it' I thought happily as I grab my Bagman backpack and slip it on, next I strap my Gauss rifle over my shoulder, put my knife in its sheath and Gauss pistol in its holster. I Stick my casual clothes in the backpack.

"Almost ready. Tara, what do the natives look like?"

"The natives outside the pod appear to be equine like, and are around three to four feet in height. Currently only three are outside, the others from the group left when one of them began shouting. The first two appear to be used to hard labor although the last one has a horn on it's forehead."

"Small equines? Like ponies? And a unicorn? Really?" 

"I am now ready to depart just insert my chip into your Bagman and we can leave." Tara's chip ejects from the computer and I insert it into the slot on my Bagman.

"Are you okay in there?"

"The Bagman is operating at optimal levels."

"Good. What can you do in there anyway?"

"The Bagman backpack was designed with the lone soldier in mind and is equipped with the forge system. It is capable of creating ammunition and small items as long as the materials required are present and a blueprint is on file for the item. The backpack will also constantly monitor your life signs and will provide a Medistim when you are injured."

"Cool, but whats a Medistim?"

"A Medistim is a shot filled with antibiotics, adrenalin and several medicines to accelerate the healing process. Use caution as multiple shots can do more harm than good."

"Ok go easy on the shots got it, Now lets go greet the ponies." I announced as I marched for the door.


___________________________________________________________________________



A few minutes ago


'Where is Braeburn? He should be back with the Sheriff by now.' Professor Bones was pacing in front of the pod listening to the whirring noise coming from within. As he grew ever more nervous.

"PROFESSOR! Ah found the Sheriff!" Braeburn and Sheriff Silverstar ran up to the Professor panting from their sprint.

"Good your here let me get you up to speed then. Shortly after my arrival with the dig team the pod began making these strange noises you can hear right now. To prevent a panic I sent the dig team home and Braeburn to get you, I have been here for a few minutes and nothing else has happened." Professor Bones stood calmly watching Sheriff Silver Star and awaiting his response.

"Good thinking sending those ponies home, a panic would be a lot of trouble to clean up." Sheriff Silverstar said after he stopped panting. After a few more minutes of walking around the pod they heard a loud groan and a squeak of metal. The ponies looked to the door on the pod as it slowly began to slide open going right into the wall. A red glow spilled out of the crack growing brighter as the door slid open until a particularly loud screech and the door halted its advance only halfway. The ponies stared in disbelief at the door.

"I...is it broken?" Sheriff Silverstar said quietly as he took a step towards the door. He quickly stopped as they heard a voice from within cry in frustration 

"AWW COME ON!" They watched in growing horror as two pink claw like appendages emerged from the gloom and grabbed the door. With a grunt the door squeaked again and slid the rest of the way open.

I stared out of the gloom of the pod and into the blindingly bright sunshine I put my hand in front of my eyes and waited for them to adjust to the brightness. When they did I looked to the right, in the distance I could see mountains, I looked to the left. 'Is that an apple orchard!?' I look straight ahead, in the distance I can see a small town it looks a little like an old western town and I can see colorful blobs moving about. I look down and I see three ponies staring back at me mouths agape and eyes as wide as baseballs 'THEIR EYES ARE HUGE!' they continue to stare at me and I stare back, they seem to be examining me so I look them over, I notice the dark blue one has a horn, the brown one has a silver star on his vest and 'He has a hat!' its a black stetson with a red stripe. The yellow one also has a vest but without a star 'He has a hat too.' a brown stetson.

"Umm...Hello?" 'I don't know how but their eyes just got wider.' "Tara do you think they can understand me?"

I have no information on that subject."

"Well lets try this. GREETINGS PONIES I COME IN PEACE!" At my shout the ponies snapped out of their trance and fell to their flanks the blue one was the first to respond.

"Their is no need to shout creature, I am Professor Bones and this is-" He points a hoof at the brown pony "-Sheriff Silverstar and-" he moves his hoof over to the yellow pony "-Braeburn Apple." Now it was my turn to stare these alien...ponies, understood and even spoke english. I stared at them for a few seconds before realizing I should respond.

"I am a human but you may call me Cydon." Braeburn spoke up next. 

"Well howdy do Mr. Cydon I ain't never seen a hoo-man before, do you always wear such strange clothes?" He said gesturing to my clothes.

"This is my uniform I wear it while on duty and when I need protection." I replied staring him down, he took a step back but held his ground. Sheriff Silverstar took a nervous glance at my equipment. 

"Is that a weapon of somesort?"

"Oh this?" I said pointing to my rifle, they nodded "This is indeed a weapon from my world it is called a Gauss rifle and it works by propelling a small metal projectile at supersonic speeds." They gasped at that.

"Are you gonna hurt anypony?" Braeburn asked a bit of fear entering his voice.

"I have no intentions of harming any sentient creatures so long as they do not harm me." Each pony let out a breath they didn't know they were holding. "Besides it would be bad manners to kill my hosts, especially seeing as I will be here for awhile." They all chuckled a little. 

"Who was that you were talking to when you came out I don't see anypony else around here."

"You mean Tara? She is my robotic assistant she doesn't have a body but she lives in my backpack here." I said pointing to my pack.

"Tara? Robot? In your backpack? Is that like a saddlebag?" The ponies stared at the Bagman unconvinced that a backpack could talk.

"I am Tara, I am a Tactics and Relations Assistant and my job is to help Captain Cydon accomplish his goals. And yes the principle is the same as a saddlebag." The ponies mouths were agape once again but they recovered quickly this time.

"What sort of magic is that?" The Professor asked.

"It's not magic it's science. Now I have a question for you. What is this place called?" Braeburn's eyes lit up at the question.

"Well this right here is the town of Aaaappleloosa! We got wild west dances, mild west dances, horse drawn carriages, horse drawn horse drawn carriages and-"

"Braeburn I think he gets it." Sheriff Silverstar deadpanned.

"Oh, right and the country is Equestria."

"Appleloosa and Equestria huh? Alright I can roll with that." I decided now was a good time to jump down from the doorway I had been standing in, landing with an "Oomph" I looked over to the ponies and they looked back at me and they began to stare again. "I know I'm handsome but come on guys Snap Out Of It." I snapped my fingers in front of their faces. They shook their heads and the Professor spoke.

"Sheriff you and I will go back into town and tell everypony that everything is ok and they can come out now."

"Ok, but what is Braeburn gonna do Professor?"

"Braeburn will be escorting our friend here to his farm where he will be staying until we figure something else out."

"Alright Professor ah reckon that will work." Braeburn said as he took another look at me.

"Don't I get a say in this?" I piped up.

"No." They all said in unison.

"Ok." 

"Cydon I will be by the farm tomorrow to help you adjust to Equestrian society, and learn about yours in the process. So tata for now." The yellow farm pony I know as Braeburn tipped his hat to his friends and began walking towards what I thought was an apple orchard and I followed closely behind.

"You sure are a strange looking feller." 

"You think I'm weird? To me you look like a small pack horse from back home."

"A what?" Braeburn stopped to give me a funny look.

"Basically it's a very strong pony we humans used to carry heavy loads long distances."

"Used?"

"Well we don't anymore we found a better way. Oh and the ponies back home don't talk, in fact humans are the only species that can."

"Then why are you so calm about a talking pony?"

"To be honest It's mostly because I don't care right now seeing as I haven't eaten anything in several hundred thousand years and I'M STARVING! But while we humans may have been the only sentient species on Earth. We believed that other planets may be capable of supporting life and some of that life could become sentient, So yeah aliens are cool." As I finished my stomach decided to voice its opinion *gggrruummble* Braeburn just looked at me funny again.

"Well what do humans eat?"

"Humans are omnivorous so I can eat meat, fruits or vegetables."

"Meat?" Braeburn didn't look like he liked the sound of that.

"Or fruits and vegetables." I said helpfully 'Maybe I should have left the meat part out?'

"Just don't eat anypony or any meat near a pony and we can get along just fine. Alright?" He said shuddering at the thought of eating meat.

"Wouldn't dream of it." 'I don't think eating a sentient life form is a good idea guess I'm vegan for awhile.' "Hey Braeburn are those apples?"

"Sure are! Finest apples in Appleloosa. Although their not as good as cousin AJ's at Sweet Apple Acres their still mighty good." That's a surprise, apples on another planet. Before I could question it though my stomach once again protested. *GGRRUMBLE* Although a little louder this time.

"Hehe, mind if I try a few Braeburn? I think I need it."

"Go ahead just don't eat the whole orchard." I made my way up to a tree and jumped up trying to snatch an apple, only to miss and fall back to the ground. 

"Dangit just a little short."

"Here let me help you." Braeburn trotted up to the tree and gave it a swift kick, the branches shook for a few seconds before a handful of apples fell to the ground. I gratefully smiled and began to munch on them immediately too hungry too care about anything else. 

"Thesh are awshhome!" I said in between bites. These had to be some of the best apples I've ever had and these were average. If Braeburn's cousins were better then I had to get some.

"You'll have to stay in the barn tonight but I'll see about getting you a proper room tomorrow." I glanced at my watch it read 1:22 A.M. 'Guess I'll have to fix that' I then looked for the sun and it was nearing the horizon.

"I can do that. I've slept in worse places." I looked at the path and followed it through the orchard until it came to a small farm house with a red barn not too far away. The rest of our short walk was spent in silence just enjoying the scenery or at least I was. Braeburn appeared to be lost in thought as we approached the barn.

"Well I thank you for the place to stay."

"It's no trouble it's kind of Apple family policy to be good neighbors and have great hospitality. I'm sure we can find a way to calmly introduce you to town tomorrow."

"I certainly hope so my pod is too damaged to go anywhere so I'm stuck here, I need to be able to get along with you ponies for better or worse."

"Well goodnight Cydon."

"Goodnight Braeburn." Braeburn took this as his cue to leave and went to the farmhouse. I stood at the door to the barn hand on the frame head bowed and let out a deep sigh 'I'm alone now, no other humans just little o'l me and an entire civilization of ponies' I sighed again and looked towards the sunset now an orange glow on the horizon. 'My friends, my family, my squad all of them gone I don't even know where I am. I guess i'll have to start over it's not like I can just go back. So I guess I just move forward.' I looked to the ground and saw a large yellow feather. I reached down and picked it up, it was soft I took another look at the feather and put it onto my cap like one of those old time explorers. I immediately felt my mood brighten 'Heh, ye olden feather hat +5 swag.' I chuckled at my own joke 'Although the others may be gone I still remain and as long as I breathe they will never be forgotten.' 

The sun finally finished its decent and the last of it's orange glow began fading over the horizon. I turned and walked into the barn shutting the door behind me. The barn looked normal enough plenty of hay a couple of barrels and a few baskets of apples. I made my way through the dark barn and lay down on a bale of hay. 'These ponies don't seem all that dangerous I mean that sheriff didn't even have a weapon, then again he could have left it behind but that seems unlikely, maybe I can have some peace and quiet for once? Might be a good change of pace from all the war back home.' I closed my eyes and drifted off to dreamland.


> Chapter 3 A New Beginning
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Chapter 3 A New Beginning


Official Log, Lead Scientist James Mcreedy, May 11, 2132
"Analysis of the debris indicates that it was in fact a Nova Bomb that was detonated one week ago today. We have learned that it was designed to be an endgame weapon. Five hours after the blast all European countries declared Martial law and sent their civilians to fallout shelters. Twenty four hours after the blast the radioactive cloud reached Asia. As of 6:34 A.M. radiation levels outside the bunker reached high enough levels to cause unprotected biologicals to cook in their skins. At the current rate the bunker will only protect us until the end of December, then we too will die of exposure. It is recommended that all available manpower be put into Project Phoenix if we can finish in time we may just make it through to see the sun once more.


<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>


I open my eyes and look around. I was in a barn and it was still very dark, My memories of the previous day came back and I decided to go for a walk. The barn looked relatively new not more than a few years old the red paint glistening in the moonlight. Various farm equipment was scattered around with barrels full of apples and a few bales of hay like the one I awoke on. I journey to the door and push it open, the well oiled hinges don't give so much as a squeak. I glance towards the farmhouse, no lights come from its windows. 'Braeburn must be asleep.' I glance over to the orchard and take in the moonlit night. I continue to watch as the moon slowly rises to it's apex.

I look out over to where the town of Appleloosa lay. 'Well it can't hurt to look can it?' I walk down a small path, before long I come upon a small hill at the edge of the orchard near the town. Atop the hill resided a great apple tree it was easily the biggest tree in the entire orchard. I reach out and put my hand on its trunk, the bark was rough and obviously old. 'But not as old as I am now are you?' I chuckled lightly and looked to the town the clock tower chimed once. 'Now I can fix my watch.' I press the buttons to adjust the time, when I finish the watch gives off a disturbingly loud beep. I wince at the sudden noise. 'Good thing i'm alone up here.' 

"Hello?" 'Or not.' I quickly glance around for the source of the voice hoping to spot them first so I could run the other way, after seeing no one and no pony I sigh. 'Must be my imagination.' I hear a rustling in the branches above and look up, In the dim light I can see the still form of a pony its magenta eyes looking back down at me. I stare back and quickly realize those eyes were filled with fear, before I can say anything the pony sucks in a deep breath preparing to scream.

As quick as I can I grab the pony pulling it down from the tree as safely as possible and using my other hand to clamp its mouth shut. The scream comes out but is heavily muffled and is too quiet to be heard from town, the pony continues for nearly a minute before exhausting itself. I turn its head to look me in the eyes again the magenta orbs are wide and dart about wildly.

"Will you please stop screaming and let me talk? If you can do that I'll let you go."  The pony looks at me with its big magenta eyes and nods. "Good." I remove my hand from the ponies muzzle as it moves a hoof to rub it. The pony backs up to the tree and sits down on its rump.

"Please don't hurt me." The voice was soft and quiet but clearly feminine and still containing fear. I move a few feet away and sit down trying to be as non threateningly as possible. 

"I'm not going to hurt you." She looks at me skeptically.

"What..what are you?" Her voice quavers a little as she speaks.

"Nothing for a pony like yourself to be scared of." I say finishing with a chuckle and a smile. She seems to relax a little, but remains tense. I quickly look her over, the pony's coat is a faded yellow and her mane is blue with streaks of a lighter blue. I then notice she has wings folded against her sides. She notices me looking her over and frowns. 

"What?" She says folding her forehooves in front of herself.

"You have wings, can you fly?" 

"Of course I can I am a pegasus after all." She says with a look that screams 'Duh!'.

"Well what's your name little miss pegasus?" With that I earn a small giggle and a smile from the mare.

"My name is Sky Dasher. But you still haven't answered my question, what are you?"

"Sky, I like it. You can call me Cydon and I am a human." 

"A human huh? I've never seen one you before. Hey what's that on your hat?" She points a hoof at my hat so I take it off.

"Oh this?" I say pulling the feather out. "It's just a feather I found on the ground."

"Huh. It looks like one of mine."

"Do you want it back?" 

"No you can keep it." She waves her hoof dismissively.

"Thanks." I put the feather back in my hat. "I think it looks good in there." Sky giggles and gives me another smile.

"So what are you doing out here?" I scratch my head to think about it but come up blank.

"I could ask the same of you Sky. Don't you have someplace to be?" The mare's smile fades and she hangs her head low.

"I..I don't have anywhere, I've been alone for so long now. My...my parents, I was nine when they...when they..." Her eyes had begun to water when she started then on to crying and now she was sobbing. I can't help but feel sorry for this mare, one who lost her parents just like I lost everyone I ever knew. I reach out to the still sobbing mare and put my hand on her shoulder she shudders at my touch but doesn't shy away so I do the only thing I know to do when someone is sad. I give her a hug, her coat is smooth and soft its almost like hugging a giant teddy bear but with muscles and bones and it can hug back. The sobbing mare wraps her hooves around me and hugs back with tears still flowing freely she says "Thank you." I just squeeze her tighter in response. 

"If you want you can stay with me in Braeburn's barn I'm sure he won't mind." Sky looks up at me with her big magenta eyes and nods. She is no longer crying but doesn't release me from the hug either. So I scoop her up in my arms earning another giggle from my new yellow friend as I carry her through the orchard to the barn. It wasn't a very long trip nor was she that heavy maybe around fiftyish pounds. After arriving I push open the door with my foot and go inside. I set her down on the bed I made out of a hay bale and promptly lay down next to her. Sky curls up next to me putting her head on my lap. 'Well not even my second day and I've already met some natives made a friend and no..pony was hurt in the process.' I close my eyes as Sky falls asleep with me gently stroking her mane. 'I promise you Sky you will never have to be alone again.'


___________________________________________________________________________


I wake up to the sound of hoofsteps approaching the barn, as the doors slowly open I look down at Sky. She was still asleep with her head on my lap although her legs and wings would twitch occasionally. 'Must be flying.' I look up, Braeburn is looking at us with a confused look on his face. I put a finger to my lips and pointed outside. He seemed to get the message and he left the barn. I carefully get up gently placing Sky's head on the soft hay and make my way outside.

"Cydon, who is that? And why are they sleeping with you in my barn?" He sounded genuinely curious so I tell him the truth.

"I woke up last night around one in the morning and went for a walk to help me get back to sleep. I found a hill overlooking town with a great big apple tree on it and decided to see what I could see from up there. I found her in the tree alone and terrified of the big scary alien. After I convinced her I wasn't going to hurt her we talked a bit and I learned she didn't have a place to stay so I kinda offered to let her stay in your barn with me." Braeburn stared me down trying to make sure I was telling the truth, after a few seconds of a disconcerting glare he sighed.

"Alright, I can see your tellin the truth just try not to hurt anypony. Ah! I almost forgot, you can eat breakfast at the table with us ponies just uh take it slow alright. Don't want any misunderstandings, and bring your new friend too, I'm sure she would enjoy a home cooked meal." I nod and grunt an affirmative. "Her name is Sky Dasher by the way." Braeburn nods and heads for the house. With breakfast at stake I turn and walk back into the barn.

I look over and Sky is still asleep, so with a mischievous grin I grab some hay from the floor. 'Lets see if Sky is ticklish.' I try wiggling the hay in front of her muzzle but she just snorts and rolls over. Next I try her stomach no reaction at all, hooves the same. 'Hmm, well I tried everywhere else so why not?' I try tickling her wings. As soon as the hay touches her wing she bolts wide awake she fixes me with a menacing glare before laughing so hard MY sides start to hurt so I begin laughing too. 

The sound of our laughter stretches far and wide, Braeburn just looks out a window towards the barn and grins while the ponies in town pause their morning routines to listen in on this odd event. Suddenly Sky stops laughing and she once again glares at me. 'Uh oh i'm in for it now.' I turn to run but don't even finish turning when I am tackled by a yellow blur "REVENGE" She yells returning the favor with interest.

After several minutes of excruciating tickle hoof torture, we walk towards the house ready for some food. Being a gentleman I hold the door open for Sky, earning a giggle and a thank you. Once she was inside I look back to the barn and then down the path to my pod. 'I need to get back to my pod at some point, this place isn't a warzone.' Hearing voices inside I turn back to the door and duck below the frame as I step inside. At the table were three ponies, Sky and two new ponies. Both new ponies had a silver coat and a black mane, the only difference between them were their eyes. One had shiny silver eyes and the other had faded sky blue eyes. They both had brown stetsons and when I entered they turned to look at me. The strangest part was that they did not look surprised or scared, just a small disapproving frown as they stared me down. With nothing else to do I stared back at them sporting a small frown of my own for good measure.

"Silver, Dutch this is who I was telling you about." Braeburn said as he walked through the kitchen door a tray of coffee cups balanced on his back. 

"So this is the human eh? Kinda scrawny, what do you think Dutch?" Said the one with silver eyes.

"I dunno are humans supposed to look like that?" Said the one with blue eyes.

"Hey I'm right here ya'know." The two ponies look to one another then to Braeburn then back to each other and shrugged.

"Name's Sunny Silver Pie but everypony just calls me Silver." Said the one with silver eyes.

"And I'm Dutch Apple Pie." Said the one with blue eyes.

"Nice to meet you, as Braeburn may have already told you my name is Cydon." The two ponies stand up and walk over to me I stretch out my hand and they took turns shaking my hand in a hand/hoof shake. 

"So what do you ponies do out here anyway?" They go back to their seats as Braeburn goes back through the door.

"Me an Silver here help out around the farm bucking apples and doing various chores."

"Ok, farmhands and Braeburn owns the farm then?" I say looking over at the door Braeburn went through just as he comes back through this time with trays of food balanced on his back.

"Well not completely, the bank owns more of it than I do but that will change soon enough." As he sets down the trays I take a closer look at the food.

"Is that? IT IS! You guys have pancakes! Yes!" I fist pumped and was about to do my signature 'We got Pancakes dance.' when I glance over to the ponies and noticed them staring, Silver and Dutch with a confused look while Braeburn and Sky just looked at me with a small grin. "Eh heh heh sorry I just got excited I haven't had pancakes in a really long time."

"S'all right these here pancakes are something you should be excited about. Their a Granny Smith Special, Zap Apple Pancakes."

"Zap apple?" I question.

"Zap apple." They all confirm.

"...." With no explanation forthcoming I decided to try some. The others set the table as I sat down. Braeburn passed the pancake tray around after getting his own pancakes, I sat at the other end of the table from Braeburn next to Dutch. After he got his pancakes he passed it to me. I looked at his hooves as he held the tray and quickly wondered. 'HOW DO THEY DO THAT WITHOUT FINGERS?!' I take the tray and help myself to the Zap Apple Pancakes. I look at the table again and notice that they do in fact have forks, and they were holding them with their hooves just as I would my hands. 'Seriously? How the Hell do they do that?' I grab my own fork and stab my pancakes, tearing off a piece I inspect it closely. It looked like a normal enough pancake except for the bits of rainbow colored apple. Dutch pokes me in the side and says.

"Are ya gonna stare at it all day or are ya gonna eat it?" With that I take a bite, after the small explosion of deliciousness hit my tongue I look at Braeburn who was still wearing a smile although it was a little bigger now as he looked at me, gauging my reaction. I gave him a huge smile and tore into the rest of my pancakes with gusto. I could hear some chuckling but I didn't care these pancakes were just too good.

My pancake shoveling was interrupted by a knock on the door. Braeburn got up from the table and answered the door, I peeked around Braeburn and saw Professor Bones standing in the doorway he looked a little disheveled and he had on a pair of saddlebags. Braeburn and the Professor were quietly conversing in the doorway and I couldn't make out what they were saying so I went back to my pancakes.

"Cydon we need to talk." Professor Bones said as he trot into the room a determined look on his face his horn glowing and a- 'QUILL AND PARCHMENT FLOATING RIGHT NEXT TO HIM!'

"GAH!" I Shout as I nearly fall out of the chair. "How are you doing that?" I point to his quill and parchment still floating by his side, he glanced to where I was pointing.

"Do what? Magic? I'm afraid you would have to ask somepony else that, I'm just an archaeologist. I only know the basics of how magic works."

"Wuh? Magic, really? If you say so. Huh, first unicorns then pegasi, next you'll be telling me some other mythical creatures from my world like griffins exist here too." I finish with a chuckle.

"Oh but they do." The others flinch from the loud smack of my hand meeting my face at high speed.

"Griffins too." I groan. 'My face hurts now.'

"Indeed, I wonder what other mythical creatures from your world are real here? And how your people came to know about them of course."

"So what kind of magic can you do Professor?"

"Me? Well I can levitate objects as you can clearly see but I can also use my magic in my work by finding and cleaning bones and artifacts." He said puffing out his chest obviously quite proud of his talent.

"That's pretty cool."

"Indeed it is, but now we must begin our Q and A if you don't mind."

"Um yeah sure I've finished breakfast but you have to answer any questions I have as well."

"I would expect nothing less. But we should sit, this will take a while." The professor made his way to the living room and sat on a couch I sat down on the one across from it and Sky joined me. Braeburn and the Pie's said they needed to get to work and left, leaving us alone in the house.

"Before we begin who is this lovely lady?" Sky giggles at the compliment.

"This is my friend Sky Dasher we met last night."

"Ah it is a pleasure to meet you Sky. I am Professor Bones."

"It's good to meet you Professor."

"Now let's begin, first off I want to know a little more about your world."

"Okay, We humans called our planet Terra, it was estimated to be over two hundred something billion years old. The planets surface is 75% water and we have several large oceans. One day and night cycle is twenty four hours and the planet orbits our sun called Sol once every 365 days." 

"Who raises the sun and the moon?"

"No one it does it by itself."

"Fascinating." He was furiously scribbling notes now. "Now tell me about the humans."

"We humans evolved from primates about thirteen million years ago. Everything that happened previous to recorded history is mostly speculation, about 2133 years before I left we began recording our history on stone then paper and nowadays on electronics. We are also the only sentient species on the planet."

"What are electronics?"

"Pieces of metal with wires that perform a function, They are powered by electricity."

"Ah okay, What can you tell me about the last few hundred years of human history?"

"Well so much happened that it would take historians weeks to talk about and I'm not a historian." Professor Bones looked a little disheartened. "But my pods computer should still be working, how about we have it print you a few books or something?"

"You could do that? Oh that would be fantastic thank you. But before I go gallivanting off in pursuit of knowledge how about I answer some of your questions."

"Yes please, now you said someone-" 

"Somepony." He corrected me.

"Right somepony raises the sun and moon?"

"Indeed, Princess Celestia raises the sun and her sister Princess Luna the moon."

"Amazing and they do that with magic?"

"Yes, but no unicorn would be able to replicate it. "

"Why not?"

"Because they are not unicorns they are alicorns."

"An alicorn what's that? What do they look like?"

"Princess Celestia is white with a flowing multi colored mane and Luna is a dark blue with a mane like the night sky. Being alicorns they have the traits of the three pony races. The strength of the earth ponies the magic of the unicorns and the wings of the pegasi."

"They must be very powerful then. how long have they ruled?"

"I do not know how many years they have ruled as we have no records pertaining to the era before Nightmare moon but I can safely say they have ruled over Equestria for over one thousand years." 

"Their over one thousand years old! How is that possible?"

"Many speculate that the love they receive from their citizens sustains them, others that alicorns are nigh immortal but they have lived a long time yes."

"You said Nightmare Moon who was that?"

Begin explanation of first two seasons of MLP FIM 'What? If you need me to tell you this than Brony I am disappoint. Go watch it'

"So the elements of Harmony defeated Discord and freed Luna from the Nightmare?"

"Long story short, yes."

"So who are the elements? I have to meet them sometime."

"They asked for their privacy and Princess Celestia allowed it but I do know they live in Ponyville."

"I'll have to visit Ponyville sometime then." Sky puts a hoof on my arm.

"Can I go with you Cydon?" 

"I was about to ask you that. Of course you can Sky but first I think a visit to the Princesses in Canterlot is in order, and before we can do that we still need to introduce me to Appleloosa."

"Yes, Quite. It will be very interesting to see most the town screaming and fleeing at the sight of you." Professor Bones says with a chuckle.

"Thanks for the vote of confidence Professor. I do have one last question right now though then we can make a stop at my pod before heading into town." 

"What is it?"

"All of the ponies I've met so far have a tattoo on their flank what is that all about?"

"I don't know what a tattoo is but these marks on our flanks are called cutie marks they represent a ponies special talent, they appear on their own when you find your talent. Don't humans have cutie marks?"

"No, the only thing we have are tattoos and those are nothing like cutie marks. So Sky whats your cutie mark mean?" With the attention now on Sky she rose and stretched her wings revealing her cutie mark. A blue lightning bolt with yellow wings.

"When I was a filly sometimes my parents would take me up above the clouds to watch the weather team work. One time there was a mistake and the storm scheduled for that day grew out of control. We tried to go home but the wind was too strong and I lost sight of my Mom and Dad." Tears formed in her eyes as she thought about her parents. "I decided the best thing to do would be to land and find shelter, on my way down lightning started shooting in all directions, I was terrified but I had to reach the ground to be safe. All of a sudden my coat hairs stood up and I could feel the electricity in the air, I knew I had to move or I would be hit but I was too slow. It hurt... a lot, but then it didn't and just like that I could feel a burst of strength I had never felt before. I flew faster than I've ever flown before, I looked behind me and saw that I left a yellow light in my wake. I flew to the ground but I couldn't stop and crashed, I woke up in the hospital a few days later and saw this on my flank."

"Wow Sky that's amazing, You're amazing." 

"Thank you." Sky said giggling.

"Okay then, I guess it's off to the pod then?" Professor Bones asked.

"Yeah lets get out of here." The walk to my pod was uneventful with nothing more than idle chatter breaking the silence. When we arrived at the pod I realized the ramp did not deploy so I hopped up and grabbed the door frame, pulling myself inside with relative ease. The pod had not changed since I left yesterday afternoon except for some fresh dust blown in on the wind. "Tara?"

"Yes Captain?"

"I'm going to put you back into the pod computer, can you help me find the information for the Professor?"

"Of course Captain." Tara's chip ejected from my backpack and I put it into the pods AI slot. "The pods datacore is intact although parts of its memory have been corrupted."

"Nothing too important I hope?"

"The files containing information on the Phoenix Project are among them."

"Guess that means I'll have to tell them about that. Can you print all this off onto paper or something?"

"This pod is not equipped with a printer but I can download all the information onto a datapad, collect one from storage and place it on the port." I grabbed a datapad and placed it onto the port. I turned around and walked into Sky who had flown inside.

"Whoa! Hey Sky, welcome to my pod."

"Did you live here?"

"No no no I didn't live here this is just where all of my stuff is. For the last couple hundred thousand years though I was asleep in that stasis chamber over by the wall."

"hundred..thousand..years...but but how?"

"Cryostasis, an advanced human technology that allows the user to sleep for a very long time without feeling the effects of time."

"Download complete."

"Perfect timing. Now I just need to give this to the Professor." A buzzing noise slowly began building up in volume getting louder and louder until it abruptly stopped. That's when the screams started, the sheer terror of the ponies in town could be heard from inside my pod it continued while Sky and I rushed outside. I quickly grabbed Tara and the datapad on the way out, from our vantage point in the pod we could see the peaceful town of Appleloosa was burning. Dozens of colorful blobs darting about and something else too, dozens of black blobs were buzzing around the town leaving fire in their wake.

"Changelings! Cydon, you said you were a soldier right? Can you stop them?"

"Changelings? The black bugs that crashed the wedding?" Sky nodded "Well alrighty then I guess I get to go squash a few bugs under my boots, can't be too hard can it? I mean what was the point of all that Ranger training if I don't get to use it to protect the innocent."

"Ranger training?"

"I'll tell you later I've got a town to save." I leaped from the pod and charged towards town. 'Lets see what these bugs can do.'
> Chapter 4 A New Threat
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Chapter 4 A New Threat


Personal Log, Lead Scientist James Mcreedy, November 7, 2132
"We've done it,  and It's about goddamn time too, we have less than a month but we actually finished. The Phoenix Project has been completed, the pods are ready the Cryostasis is functional and the boys in astrometrics say they have found a nice little planet for us to live on. It is unfortunate that it took so long though. We lost contact with the U.N. last month, we have reason to believe that this bunker contains the last survivors of the human race, a scant eleven hundred people to the near seven and a half billion that used to live across the globe not six months ago. Tomorrow we begin launching the pods, hopefully we'll be finished by next week.


<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>


I ran quickly down the dirt path towards Appleloosa my rifle in my hands. I glanced about to make sure I hadn't been spotted yet, nopony was around, I kept jogging until I reached the outskirts of town.

'I'm an idiot what was I thinking charging into town like that? At least they didn't spot me, fighting them all at once wouldn't have gone over well.' I thought quickly as I hid behind some boxes in an alleyway. "Tara any ideas?"

"Perhaps a proper assessment of the situation would spark an idea?"

"Alright lay it on me."

"You still maintain the element of surprise and your firearms will keep the enemy from getting too close. I detected no more than two dozen changelings before the heat and smoke from the fires blocked my sensors." I peeked out from the alleyway and I saw a few ponies still running around but most were either hiding or unconscious.

"I think a distraction would be good."

"Perhaps this will provide the distraction you need." From the forge came a small device that upon inspection turned out to be nothing more than speakers hooked up with a button, protected by a rubber shell. "Throw this to where you want the distraction. It will explode if you use this remote."

"That...just might work." I hit the button and toss it into the middle of the street. Upon settling in the dirt the speakers began emitting noises from beeps and squawks to shouts and gunfire. I waited behind the boxes for a Changeling to show up. After waiting for two minutes I was about to go turn the thing off when six Changelings land next to it. 'Perfect.'

I step out from behind the boxes and out into the sunlight. "All right you damn bugs I'm going to give you thirty seconds to leave town or this will get ugly." The Changelings stood stock still, puzzled as to who would challenge them they quickly turn around to face me.

"And jussst why ssshould we do that? We clearly outnumber you, creature?" The lead Changelings hissing voice buzzed in my ear.

"Because I could kill all of you with a press of a button." I said waving the detonator.

"You cannot ssstop uss all. Kill him." The Changelings took a step towards me. 'This might be messy.' I hit the remote. 

The blast from the noise machine instantly killed the Changelings tossing them into various buildings around the street. I was hit by the shock wave and was thrown into the boxes bruised but alive. "Tara remind me to never do that again."

"Noted." I got up slowly and rubbed my arms. 'Six down eighteen to go.' I stepped into the light once more and looked around for any more Changelings. The crater left behind was three feet in diameter and was still smoking. 

"You will pay for killing my brethren creature." Came a hissing voice from above. 'I forgot they could fly.' I was tackled from the side and landed with a grunt the Changeling still on top of me. It tried to stab me with its horn but I was faster, quickly grabbing my knife and stabbing it in the eye. '17.' I tossed the dead Changeling off and stood up four more Changelings stood in front of me and three more hovering above. 

"Who's next?" I grinned an evil grin and stared down the Changelings. Faster than they could react I grabbed my pistol and shot one of the fliers. It fell to the ground with a thud and the others stared at my gun. '16.' 

"This one is strong the Queen will enjoy him." They all charged me at once and I shot two more before they reached me. '14' The ones on the ground tried to spear me but I sidestepped the first one at the last second stabbing him in the neck with my knife. '13.' The momentum from his charge yanked the blade from my hand as it slid past. The second seeing my knife was gone charged and put a deep gash in my thigh as I turned around. 

"AAAH" I yelled in pain as I pistol whipped him a new horn causing it to slump to the ground unconscious. '12.' I spun around to look at the last two as they charged me from the air. I managed to clip one in the wings causing it to crash but the second one barreled into me.

I hit the ground hard pain lancing from my thigh and chest as I dropped my pistol. 'I hope he didn't break a rib.' The Changeling that had crashed was slowly rising to its feet and limped towards me I looked about for a weapon but found none. "Tara a little help?" A robotic arm emerged from my pack toting a needle, and before I could say anything more it stabbed into my arm releasing its contents. My pain numbed and I stood up adrenalin coursing through me the limping Changeling stopped a look of fear in its insectoid eyes. The other Changeling no longer dazed from ramming me stood as well and moved next to the other. "You still think you got what it takes to kill a Ranger?"

"We will be back creature and next time you will not be so lucky." The Changeling picked up the wounded Changeling and flew off screeching in his insectoid language. The other Changelings swarmed into the air from all around town and they flew off over the horizon.

I looked at the town I could see a few ponies take fearful glances out their windows obviously wondering what I was going to do next. They were probably shocked that I could kill a dozen Changelings and still be standing, although I wouldn't be standing much longer if I didn't stop the bleeding from my thigh. Tara's robotic arm handed me a bandage and I wrapped my thigh up tightly, the bleeding slowed but didn't stop. 'Crap must have hit an artery.' Black started invading my vision but I fought it back down. 'Not yet.' I saw a yellow blur on the horizon zooming towards me.

Sky landed with a whoosh wind blowing her mane as she trotted to me. "YOU DID IT CYDON You oh no, no no no no no, you're bleeding! Are you okay? Please tell me you'll be okay!" Sky sounded frantic and close to hyperventilating.

"Sky, please calm down I'm going to be okay we just need to stop the bleeding before I pass out." The medistim's adrenalin decided that now was a good time to wear off. "Uhhggg wow I'm tired we should find a doctor." 

"A doctor yeah that's what we need okay. HEY IS THERE A DOCTOR HERE!" Sky screamed at the houses receiving no response "PLEASE HELP HIM HE SAVED THE TOWN AND NOW YOU'RE GOING TO JUST LET HIM DIE!?" A purple stallion opened the door to a small wooden building down the street.

"BRING HIM IN HERE QUICKLY!" I started hobbling towards the building but barely took two steps before nearly falling over. Sky quickly came up beside me supporting my weak leg, I gave her a weak smile as we hobbled to the building. I heard the pounding of hooves and labored breathing stop behind us.

"Cydon *huff huff* are you *huff* okay?"

"I'm bleeding to death but other than that just peachy." I quip weakly as I pointed to the gash on my leg now bleeding through the bandage, he glanced to where I was pointing and blanched at the amount of red spreading across my pants.

"Let me carry you." The Professor's horn glowed and I levitated off the ground. I was carried the rest of the way to the building and brought inside. The purple stallion led us through the building and into a room where the Professor set me down on the bed and moved over to the corner of the room. The purple stallion who I now realized was a unicorn levitated a needle and thread over to my leg to stitch it up. 

"Here bite down on this I don't have any anesthetics." I nodded and bit down on the provided piece of wood and waited for the stitching to begin. I passed out from blood loss before the doc finished.


______________________________________________________________________________



Sky Dasher


"Will he be okay?" 

"Yes he only had minor cuts and bruises except for that gash on his leg. But as long as the stitches hold he'll be fine." The doctor said as he finished putting away his tools.

"Thank you doctor."

"If you don't mind me asking, what is he? I've never seen a creature like him before." He said while washing the blood from his coat and hooves.

"He calls himself a human and he comes from very far away."

"That's very interesting, you may stay with him if you like but I doubt he will awaken before tomorrow." He trot over to the door.

"I think I'll do that."

"Very well, I'm going to speak at the town meeting tonight I will put in a good word for him. Good night Miss Dasher."

"Good night doctor." The doctor left the room as I turned to look at the Cydon. 'You should have been more careful Cydon I can't lose anyone else, not again.' I jumped up on the bed and curled up beside Cydon resting my head on his chest as I drifted off to sleep.


_____________________________________________________________________________



Professor Bones


Professor Bones was not happy, the towns ponies had been bickering this way and that for two hours and they did not appear to be stopping anytime soon. 

"We should leave the creature in the desert." 

"We should give him a chance he did fight off the Changelings." 

"You saw how he killed those Changelings what's to stop him from doing the same to us?"

"ENOUGH!" All of the towns ponies myself included looked to the meetings intruder. The doctor who had just arrived had already had enough of the towns ponies bickering. "Nopony has any right to judge this creature as nopony knows anything about him, now if you find yourself unable to calmly continue this meeting then GO HOME." The room was silent for a few seconds while the doctors words sank in. "Thank you for your cooperation now I shall give my report on his well being. Then Professor Bones and Braeburn will tell us a little more about him, after which we can then decide what to do." The towns ponies murmured amongst themselves for a bit before nodding and sitting back in their seats.

"Good. Now I have managed to stop the bleeding from his leg wound and none of the others seem dangerous so I believe he will be fine, he is resting in my clinic with Sky Dasher keeping watch. Professor, Braeburn tell us about the human if you would." Braeburn spoke first.

"Well I reckon there ain't much for me to say we talked a little and he seems nice and I think I can call him a friend but we never talked about his past or what he plans for the future."

"I never got the chance to ask him about his past either but I do know he made a promise to Sky that he would never harm a pony without just cause. And as for his future plans he said he wished to visit the Princesses in Canterlot and I plan on taking him when he recovers." The ponies talked amongst themselves for a few minutes before coming to a consensus. "We still don't trust him but we won't kick him out, he can stay until he is ready to leave."

"So be it, this meeting is adjourned everypony go home and get some sleep." The doctor returned to his clinic, Braeburn went back to his farmhouse, and I went back to my hotel room. After arriving I got to work I had letters to write and reports to make.

Dear Princess Celestia

I have come across a remarkable discovery in Appleloosa that I believe could revolutionize our understanding of the universe. I will be bringing my discovery to Canterlot within the next few days. I ask for a royal escort to an audience with you upon arrival. 
Your Dedicated Archaeologist
Professor Bones
> Chapter 5 Goodbye Appleloosa, Hello Train
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Chapter 5 Goodbye Appleloosa, Hello Train


 Personal Log, Captain Cydon Imperius, November 8, 2132
"Today is the day, The day we have all been waiting for, today we leave our dead world behind to begin anew on some distant star. Project Phoenix, heh, so are we supposed to rise from the ashes of a crashed pod or something? Whatever happens now this will be my final entry, maybe someday humanity will return to its homeworld and find these logs maybe not but at least it will live on. So, this is goodbye, Captain Cydon Imperius, United Terra Army Ranger signing off for the last time."


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I woke up. I was warm and lying on something soft I could feel a weight on my chest and hear soft snores. 'What happened yesterday? Lets see ate breakfast, talked to the Professor, fought Changelings, got hurt, fell asleep in the hospital.' I open my eyes I was in a small room, various medical supplies line the walls and shelves. I look out the window the sun hasn't risen yet a faint glow on the horizon. Sky is sleeping peacefully curled up next to me her head on my chest rising and falling as I breathe.

I carefully get up making sure not to disturb Sky. Looking myself over I notice most of my cuts and bruises are gone although my chest was still tender and my leg throbbed a little. 'That medistim works great! Another day and my leg should be healed too. Too bad my pants didn't make it.' The leg was nearly torn off and the whole thing was covered in dirt. 'Good thing I brought extra clothes. But first I need a shower.' I limp to the door and quietly let myself out.

I step into the hallway and look back and forth. 'Guess I'll go... this way.' I start off and walk around a corner into another room. 'Looks like the main lobby. Maybe the nurse can help me out?' I walk over to the desk where a brown mare with a pink mane was busy filling out paperwork.

"Excuse me but is there a place I can clean myself up?" The mare sighs before responding.

"Down the hall second door on the right." She says without even looking up.

"Ok, thank you." I walk down the hall easily finding the shower room. The room appears to be made completely from tile, the shower heads are a little over half my height. I approach a shower head. 'Guess this will have to do.'


___________________________________________________________________________



One refreshing shower later


I turn off the water and use a provided towel to dry myself off. 'Step one get clean, check.' I grab my bag and pull out my clothes. I quickly get dressed. I step out of the shower room in the casual clothes I kept in my bag. A pair of bluejeans and a grey t-shirt with the Ranger's logo on it. I was still wearing my army boots, hat, and jacket. 'Step two put on clean clothes, check.' I walk the halls again until I find the room I woke up in, I quietly let myself back in. Sky is still sleeping so I sit on the chair next to the window and look outside. The sun is just rising over the horizon. 'Good morning day three.' I check my watch 8:30 'Still early.'

Sky rolls over on the bed. "Mmph Cydon? Cydon? Where did you... oh there you are." She says as she starts to untangle herself from the bed sheets.

"Good morning Sky." Sky stretches and jumps off the bed fluttering her wings so she hovers next to me.

"What'cha doin? And where did you get those new clothes?" Sky looks at me a grin plastered on her face.

"I was just thinking about stuff." I shrug. "And I've had these in my bag." I point to my now mostly empty bag.

"Do you know what we're going to do today?" 

"Well..." The door to the room opens revealing the Professor as he walks in. 

"Good morning everypony."

"Good morning Professor." Sky and I say simultaneously making her giggle.

"The town had a meeting about you last night Cydon." The Professor's gaze becomes serious before lightening a little. "They are very grateful for your help driving away the Changelings, But they still don't trust you as you are a strange new creature from a faraway land."

"So what does that mean?"

"It means that if you want the ponies to like you try not to be scary and especially don't hurt anypony."

"So just be myself without firearms or knives or martial arts training or.." Sky gasps. 

"Are you really that dangerous?"

"Only to bad guys, when I'm with you guys my most lethal weapon is a hug. If you can survive being tickled that is." I give Sky a mischievous grin, she just glares at me.

"Don't you dare." We stare each other down for a few seconds before the Professor clears his throat.

"If you two are done playing around how about some breakfast?"

"Quite right ol' bean time for some tea and crumpets eh?" I say attempting my best British accent. 

"You sound just like a native Canterlotian."

"I guess the British knew a thing or two about fancy then."

"Who's the British?" Sky looks at me with curiosity in her magenta eyes. 'Hnnnggg I certainly hope they can't weaponize adorableness my heart wouldn't be able to take it.'

"They are a people on my home planet, I come from The United States of America and the British come from Great Britain."

"Oh, ok so how many countries are on your planet?"

"On my planet? Umm, none not anymore at least." My head droops and I sink back into the chair.

"But what happened to them?" Concern filled her voice as she gazed upon my saddened figure.

"The great cataclysm, the end of days, the Rad plague. It didn't matter what you called it but it destroyed our world killing all life until only 1100 or so humans remained."

"But you survived so maybe the others did too."

"No, they didn't, my pod malfunctioned and I crashed here over five hundred thousand years ago, if you ponies had never found the pod I would still be sleeping, buried under the ground." 

"I'm sorry I.. I didn't know." Sky backed away drooping her head her ears flat against her head.

"It's ok I have to tell everpony sometime but lets wait for now I don't want to explain more than once or twice. Oh and Professor, here's the data I got from my pod before the Changelings attacked." I pick up the datapad and hand it to the Professor.

"Oh thank you but uh, how do you use this?"

"Oh right let me just..." I take the pad and press a few buttons, slide a few things around and done. "There, all set."

"Good, but uh what did you do?" 

"I activated the voice commands, here I'll show you how to use it." I tilt the datapad so they can see. "Computer Authorization Cydon Imperius Charlie Kilo Delta Sierra."

"User recognized state command."

"Create new user Professor Bones."

"User created, create password?"

"No. All right Professor your turn." The professor's magic grabbed the datapad and levitated it over to him. "Tell the computer to take you to the index the just tell it where you want to go or what you want it to do. It will listen and try to help you." 

"Ok, Computer Index please." The data pad's screen went blank before a list of all the information that was downloaded appeared onscreen. "Oh, OH! This is amazing there's so much information it will take me weeks to go through it all."

"I'm glad you like it but this is just a taste, the pod contains the entirety of all human knowledge on it's hard drives. Oh! But about the datapad it runs on solar energy so if the batteries are low just give it some sunlight to charge it."

"THERE'S MORE!"

"A lot more. I'd say you will be busy for the next several decades." My stomach grumbled loud enough for everypony to hear. "Now you said something about breakfast?"

"Yes the Tumbleweed Cafe is just down the street shall we go?" I open the door and do a slight bow. 

"Ladies first." Sky giggles and thanks me before walking through the door. The Professor and I follow just behind. Sky leads us out of the clinic building and onto the main thoroughfare.

"Cydon I sent the Princess a letter asking for an audience when we arrive in Canterlot, I hope we can get your full story then?"

"Of course, the leader of your land and my friends will all know, it is a sad tale but one I will share with you because it is something you need to know." The Cafe was a short wooden building with a few wooden tables and chairs shaded by umbrellas. We sat down and waited for a waitress.

"Welcome to the Tumbleweed Cafe what can I get for you? Oh my! Are you that, what was it a hew-man?" A green coated mare with a lighter green mane says as she holds a notepad with her magic.

"Why yes I'm the human." The mare smiles.

"I heard what you did yesterday, thank you, if it wasn't for you more ponies would be hurt right now."

"I'm happy to have helped." I say smiling back.

"Now what can I get for you today?" She levitates the notepad back in front of her and looks at us expectantly.

"Hmm how about some apples and some toast and jam."

"Excellent choice and for you ma'am?" 

"I'll have the same." She scribbles the orders down.

"Professor?" The Professor was busy reading the datapad as fast as he could trying to learn all he could about the long dead humans. "Professor?" 

"Huh? Oh yeah just some buttered toast please."

"I'll have your food out in a sec." The waitress trots away to the kitchen to fill our orders.

"Professor I need to know everything you can tell me about the Changelings."

"The Changelings, but why? They left and we will be heading to Canterlot soon."

"I just get the feeling we will see them again."

"Ok knowledge is power as they say. Changelings are connected to their Queen and by extension the rest of their hive, they feed on love and use it to power their shapeshifting magic. They can look like anypony but if you are smart you can see through their disguise. Alone they are not very strong but what they lack in strength they make up in number their hives can grow extremely large so long as they have enough love to feed on."

"So they will try and steal love by disguising themselves as a loved one but if they are threatened they can zerg rush?"

"I'm not sure what a zerg rush is but yes I think."

"Good to know." The waitress returns with our food and we eat heartily enjoying a quiet meal with good company.

"Ahh that was good, so Professor when does the train leave?"

"The Canterlot train is overnight to Ponyville and then a few more hours to Canterlot itself so it will leave at seven o'clock." I look at my watch. 

"Well it's almost ten now so how about we visit Braeburn to say goodbye and then walk around town for a few hours?"

"I think it's a splendid idea but I can't go I must pack my things and help the loading crew move your pod."

"What are you going to do with my pod?" 

"We are going to bring it with us to Canterlot to show the Princesses, but don't worry we won't touch it without your consent it is yours after all."

"Oh good I was worried for a moment. That pod contains many things, and not all of it is safe, and most of it is fragile, please be careful with it, and don't touch anything I don't give the ok on."

"I understand."

"Good, Sky do you want to come with me?"

"Yeah i'll go."

"Ok then see you later Professor."

"Tata see you at the station." The Professor trots away and Sky walks up to me.

"So you ready?"

"Yep lets go." We quickly walk to the edge of town and into the orchard towards Braeburn's humble abode.

"Hey Cydon, remember yesterday when you said you would tell me what you meant when you said you had Ranger training?"

"Oh yeah I guess I did didn't I, well it's later so do you want to know now or do you want to wait until Canterlot?"

"Can you tell me now?"

"Yeah, well it's like this. When I was a kid went to visit my best friend and I saw his parents getting robbed in their own home, I was scared and didn't know what to do so I ran away as fast as I could. On my way around a corner I ran into some guys, they were wearing a uniform like the one I wore before and when they saw me crying they asked what was wrong. I managed to tell them about the robbery and I lead them to the house. They went inside and I heard yelling there was a struggle and the soldiers left the house carrying the unconscious robbers. One of them walked up to me and he said "Hey kid, ya did good, always remember that Ranger's lead the way." And with that they left, I assume they dropped off the robbers at a police station. Ever since that day I strove to be the best of the best so I could be a Ranger so I could lead the way so I could help stop the bad guys."

"That makes a good cutie mark story too bad humans don't get cutie marks. But what is a Ranger exactly?"

"When I joined the army my goal was to be a Ranger. A Ranger is an elite soldier trained to be the best of the best. I was with the Third Battalion for a while before I was transferred to the U.T."

"What's a U.T.?"

"It stands for United Terra we were peacekeepers and helped everyone however we could."

"Hmm..." We reached Braeburn's house and knocked on the door. We heard some shuffling and the clop of hooves on wood before Braeburn answered the door.

"Well howdy do if it isn't Sky and Equestria's only human, what can I help you with today?"

"Hi Braeburn we were just coming by to let you know that the Professor was taking me, Sky, and my pod to Canterlot today so we came by to say good bye."

"Is that so well it was a pleasure meeting you but why don't you come in for a spell the train doesn't leave for a while yet."

"We would love to." Sky says. We walk inside and see Silver and Dutch sitting at the table talking to each other.

"Hey guys how's the farming goin?"

"Howdy Cydon the farms doing great thanks for asking. What are you up to today?"

"Were leaving for Canterlot this afternoon, we're just stopping by to let you know and say goodbye."

"Canterlot eh? Those fancy ponies are too stuck up for my liking."

"I need to meet the Princesses so we can have a nice chat."

"Well aren't you moving up in the world, just yesterday you slept in ma barn and now you get to see royalty." We sat around the table and talked for a bit until my stomach once again demanded attention. "GGrrroooohhh."

"I reckon it's time for lunch don't ya say Braeburn?"

"Eeyup." Braeburn went to the kitchen to fetch some food and came back with a plate stacked high with apple fritters, apple pie, and apple dumplings.

"How many different ways can you make apples?"

"I know thirty seven recipes but Granny Smith knows em all."

"How many is that?"

"I don't know but it's a lot." The food was delicious who knew apples were this good? After lunch we said our goodbyes and headed for the door.

"Cydon hold up a minute."

"What is it Dutch?"

"That train passes through Ponyville right? Well I got a niece that lives there can you tell her uncle Dutch and uncle Silver said hello?"

"I'll be sure to let her know who is she?"

"Don't worry you'll know her when you see her and she'll probably see you first."

"Ooo mysterious that's cool anything else?"

"I want you to take this." Dutch pulls a brown stetson from behind him. "It'll be better than that one to block the sun."

"Thanks Dutch." I take Sky's feather out of my army cap and put it on the stetson and then the stetson on my head.

"It looks good on ya boy."

"Hehe yeah I guess it does thanks again Dutch be seein ya." With a wave I turned and jog down the road catching up to Sky who was waiting for me.

"Nice hat."

"Dutch gave it to me, oh and we need to say hi to his niece when we go to Ponyville." 

"They have a niece in Ponyville? Cool I'd love to meet her."

"At this rate we'll be back in town by three what do you want to do for a few hours?"

"You remember that tree where you met me?"

"Yeah, the big one on the hill."

"Lets go there."

"Ok lets go." We walk through the orchard and up the hill until we reach the tree. Sky sits down and I sat down next to her with my back against the tree. Sky leans against me putting her head on my shoulder.

"Cydon I want to say thank you."

"For what?"

"For being my friend when I was alone and giving me a shoulder to cry on when I was sad even though I'm not a human like you."

"Sky, no one deserves to be alone I don't care if it's a purple alien with three heads and tentacles for arms, I will always be there for my friends be they humans, ponies, or purple aliens."

"Thank you for being my very bestest friend." I put my arm around Sky and hugged her.

"Numquam soli you are never alone as long as you have friends." we sat by the tree just watching the sky for a few hours. We were interrupted by the sound of a train whistle. I look at the horizon and saw steam stretching into the sky.

"Guess we should go, don't want to miss our train." We stood up and Sky gave me a grin.

"Race ya." With that she took off and I sprinted after her trying to stay close. By the time we left the orchard I had caught up to her. 

"Back on my world I would have no hope of beating a pony in a sprint." Sky looks over to me and flashes me another grin.

"You still don't." Sky opens her wings and took to the air nearly doubling her speed. 'Damn she is fast, well so much for winning.' I sprint as fast as I can but Sky still beats me by a wide margin. *pant pant* "Told ya." *pant* 

"So you did. Do you see the Professor?" I look around the station but the Professor was nowhere to be found.

"No but he should be here soon the train leaves in twenty minutes." The Professor trots around the corner carrying his saddlebags in his magic.

"Ah you're here good I have our tickets and your Pod is safely loaded onto the train, shall we depart?"

"Yeah to the train TO CANTERLOT!" I shout as I march to the train and step inside earning many an odd look as Sky giggles and shakes her head before following me in, the Professor just sighs and boards the train.

I walk through the train until I find an empty cabin near the back, I go inside and sit down. Sky and the Professor join me a minute later and chat with each other while I stare out the window. 'I hope I can make a good impression on the Princesses something tells me I don't want to be on their bad side.' The train whistles again and lurches forward as it begins its journey. I lean back and close my eyes, feeling the soft cushions of the seat behind me I drift off to sleep.
> Chapter 6 Ponyville Express/ Welcome To Ponyville
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Chapter 6 Ponyville Express


SCREEEeeeee The sound of the trains brakes jolts me awake and the sudden lurch forward send me across the cabin. I land in a heap on top of Sky.

"You're squishing me." 

"Sorry." I untangle myself from Sky and get up, looking out of the window I see the desert. "Why'd we stop?"

"I don't know we are not due to arrive in Ponyville for a few more hours." The Professor and Sky had worried looks on their faces.

"I'm gonna go check it out you two stay here."

"Ok." I open the door and step out of the cabin. It was quiet, I look up and down the hall and see nothing out of the ordinary. 'I should probably head for the engine.' I traverse the car and slide the door open stepping onto the catwalk between cars. The morning sun is beginning to rise over the horizon as I open the door to the next car. 'Looks like a nice day.' A few ponies are hiding behind their seats shaking in fear. 'Here's hoping they don't freak out on me.'

"Excuse me." The pony jumps and spins around to face me.

"AHHhh... oh it's you. You're the creature that saved Appleloosa from the Changelings."

"That's me."

"You gotta help us the Changelings are on the train!" Just then three Changelings rip open the door on the other side of the car.

"And here I thought it was going to be a nice day." I pull my pistol out of it's holster and point it at the lead Changeling.

"ALRIGHT YOU BUGS WHO WANTS TO DIE FIRST?" The Changelings look at me and steel their gaze determination clear in their buggy eyes.

"The Queen wants to see you creature, Get him." The Changelings run towards me quickly closing the gap between us, I shoot one in the shoulder causing it to crash into another the third is about to hit me with it's horn when a saddlebag flies into it and causing it to trip. I look to the earth pony and he gave me a nod. I shoot the Changeling before it could get up. The other two get up and I shoot the unwounded one. The last Changeling looks at me in fear. "You will see the Queen soon creature."

"I'm sure I will." I put one right between it's eyes. It slumps to the floor and I move to the door the Changelings came in from. I look through the window, there were three more Changelings in this car but they are distracted as they begin to feed on the ponies. I slide the door open quietly and creep up to the nearest Changeling knife in hand. I stab the first Changeling putting my hand over its mouth to keep it quiet. After it stopped moving I glance at the other two Changelings. 'Still distracted.' I sneak over to the next one but just as I get there it turns around having finished feeding. It see's me and its dead friend and lets out an insectoid screech. It lasts less than two seconds as I punch it in the throat and shoot the third Changeling before it can react. The one I punched falls to the ground gasping for breath and manages to say.

"Even if you kill us creature we will never stop hunting you, my brothers will be avenged and the Queen will get what she wants."

"She can try." I stomp its throat in and move to the next car. The next cars were empty save for some terrified ponies as I make my way to the engine. When I reach the engine I see the conductor lying on the floor, I reach over and shake him.

"Hey, are you okay?" The conductor slowly gets up. 

"Yes I think so who are you?"

"A friend, is the train okay?"

"I think so let me check." the conductor turns around and fiddles with various controls as I make to leave. I hear clopping behind me and turn just in time to see the conductor headbutt my stomach. I grunt and slide backwards, 'No hole in stomach no horn no magic.' I grab him by the neck and pick him up off the ground he was heavy but I held him there. 

"What was that for?" He looks at me with a smug grin, with a flash of green he turns into a Changeling. "Oh. Guess I should have seen that coming." The Changeling bucks me in the chest but it was weak as it's face was turning blue. It gasps out.

"You cannot help your friends now creature." I look at it confused as it passes into unconsciousness. 'But they were...oh no.' 

"NO." I roar snapping its neck and sprinting for the cabin with Sky and the Professor. The shocked ponies get out of my way as I fly through the train. Halfway there I hear a scream. 'No.'

"SKY!" I run even faster and crash through the door to our cabin my eyes sweep the room, it was destroyed cushions were strewn everywhere some ripped open. The seats were broken and Sky was nowhere to be seen, I hear a groan from the corner.

"Professor are you okay?" The Professor was leaning against the wall covered in bruises.

"I'll live, you have to save her they went towards the Caboose." The Professor grit his teeth and rolls over putting his head down on a cushion. "Hurry."

"I'll be quick." I grab my rifle from the luggage rack and run out the hole I made. 'Caboose this way.' I hear another scream calling for help. 'Faster.' I put all my might into going faster but all the running was taking its toll and I slow down as I reach the Caboose. I open the door and see two Changelings dragging Sky out the back of the train.

"HELP!" 

"STOP RIGHT THERE CHANGELING SCUM!" The Changelings turn around and look at me, they grin and laugh. 'I didn't know their voices could be any more irritating.' The Changelings leap off the back of the train and start flying away with Sky. 'Oh no you don't.' "TARA I need a scope."

"I have it." Tara's robot arm shoots out of the pack holding a scope that I quickly attach to my rifle. 'Here's hoping.' I step out onto the rear of the Caboose and steady the rifle, I take aim at one of the Changelings holding Sky.and let the lead fly. The shot hits it in the spine and it falls from the sky landing with a thud. Sky takes the opening and uses her free hoof to punch her other captor freeing her from its grasp. She falls until she was near the ground and throws open her wings stopping her decent, she flaps hard as she flies back to the train. The other Changeling flees quickly into the sunrise before I can take another shot.

Sky flies up to the train and lands next to me quickly giving me a hug. "Thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you." I return the hug.

"I'm glad you're safe, are you hurt?"

"No, they came in and grabbed me so I screamed but the Professor tried to fight back. They dragged me out and then I heard you yell."

"We should check on the Professor he was pretty beat up when I found him." We hurried back to the cabin and stepped inside, the place was still a mess and the Professor was asleep but still breathing. The train whistles and begins to move again. 'Glad that's over.' I move some cushions into a makeshift chair and sit down, Sky curls up on my lap and sighs.

"We will be in Ponyville in a few hours lets get some rest before then." I look out the window as the desert rolls by, slowly being replaced by grass. 'A short nap won't hurt, all that running made me tired.' I close my eyes and listen to Sky's gentle breathing. 


________________________________________________________________________



Welcome to Ponyville


I awoke to the train whistle, I peek out the window, ponies are milling about the station, the conductor knocks on the door to the cabin. 

"Welcome to Ponyville we will be leaving in two hours, so go stretch your legs but don't forget your tickets." The conductor walks away and I look down to Sky who was looking back at me. 

"Wanna go get some lunch?" Sky smiles and yawns before nodding in agreement. "What about you Professor?"

"I will wait here go have fun."

"Suit yourself. Lets go Sky." I stand up and Sky hovers next to me as we make for the nearest exit. "Any ideas?" We walk out of the station and into Ponyville proper.

"I've never been to Ponyville before, maybe we should ask a local?" She says gesturing to the market stalls nearby.

"Maybe you should I'll wait here, don't want to scare anypony."

"Yeah your probably right, I'll be right back." I nod and lean against the train station wall trying to look as nonthreatening as possible. The ponies were either staring at me or avoiding me entirely. I look up at the sky, it was a clear day save for that one cloud in the distance. 'No, it couldn't could it?' 

"Tara binoculars." 'I know that pegasi can manipulate clouds but is that really.' Tara hands me some binoculars and I zoom in on the strange cloud. It was a large two story home with roman pillars and rainbow waterfalls. "..."

"Whatcha lookin at mister?" A voice spoke from next to me.

"..." I'm still too stunned to respond.

"Mister, are you okay?" The voice is growing concerned.

"That house is floating and has rainbow waterfalls."

"Well yeah that house is like so cool it belongs to the coolest pegasus ever." Said another voice.

"Scootaloo you always say that about Rainbow Dash." Says a third voice.

"Because it's true!" voice two argues.

"You two can argue later. We came here for ah reason." The first voice points out.

"Hmph." 

"Okay."

"I don't think I've ever seen anything like you before mister what are ya anyway?" I look down from the cloud home of Rainbow. 'Rainbow in name rainbow in house and home.' Standing next to me are three small filly's an orange pegasus with a purple mane a yellow earth pony with a red mane with a red bow in it and a white unicorn with a purple and pink mane.

"I am a human and I am the last of my kind." 

"Oh, sorry we didn't know."

"It's fine. Who are you?"

"Ahm Applebloom." Said the yellow filly.

"My name is Sweetie Belle." Said the white unicorn.

"Name's Scootaloo." Said the orange pegasus.

"I am Cydon a pleasure to meet three brave young filly's. Say, you wouldn't happen to know a good place to get a bite to eat would you?"

"You could go to Sugarcube Corner they sell sweets treats and all things good to eat."

"That sounds awesome." 

"Applebloooom! Where are ya? It's time ta go home."

"Sweetie Belle! It is time to leave darling."

"Aw shoot that's mah sis, gotta go see ya'll later."

"Me too bye!"

"I think I'll go too, later Big C."

"Goodbye girls. Thanks for the info." 'Big C? Heh nice kids.' I went back to leaning against the wall a few minutes later Sky flies up to me. "Any luck?"

"I heard about several places. Who were you talking to?"

"Just some filly's that were brave enough to talk to the big scary monster, Rawr." Sky laughs "They also told me about this place called Sugarcube Corner wanna check it out?"

"That was the place most ponies recommended." 

"Well ain't that a coinkydink. Do you know the way?" 

"It's the gingerbread house just down the street."

"Gingerbread? Heh I wonder if anypony has tried to eat it before." Sky shakes her head and starts trotting down the street I follow her as the ponies part before us. 'It's no fun having everypony afraid of me but at least nopony is in the way.'

We reach the bakery and sure enough it looks like a gingerbread house complete with gumdrops. We step inside and walk over to a table and sit down. A yellow stallion looks at me warily and goes to the back, shortly after a pink pony bounces out and over to us a large smile on her face.

"Hiya I'm Pinkie Pie and I'm here to take your order how can I help you today and *GASP* I'VE NEVER SEEN YOU BEFORE and that means I'm not your friend, yet, would you like to be my friend? I need to plan your welcome party. OHHH this is so exciting! We can have cupcakes and cake and-"

"Pinkie." I try.

"-balloons and streamers and-"

"Pinkie." I try harder.

"-play games and-"

"PINKIE." I shout. She stops and smiles.

"Yes new super best friend?"

"You said your last name is Pie?"

"Yeah'huh! My full name is Pinkamena Diane Pie why?"

"Your uncle's Silver and Dutch say hello."

"OH! You know uncle Silver and uncle Dutch! That's wonderful how are they?"

"They're doing great. They are working the orchard in Appleloosa with Braeburn."

"That is good news. I hope they're enjoying themselves. Have you decided on what to order yet?"

"Um I'll have some Blueberry Muffins."

"I'll have the Cupcakes."

"Super I'll be right back with that." With that she bounces away back into the kitchen.

"Well that was interesting."

"You can say that again." Pinkie bounces back out of the kitchen with our food somehow staying balanced on her back the whole time.

"Here you go Blueberry Muffins and Cupcakes your total is five bits, you can pay when you're ready, enjoy your food! Oh and by the way are you going to be staying in Ponyville?"

"Actually we are on our way to Canterlot." Pinkies hair started to deflate a little. 'What the hell?' "Um but we will be coming back soon didn't you say something about a party?" Her hair instantly repoofed and her smile grew across her whole muzzle.

"I did! You can't miss your welcome to Ponyville party it's like the most important party ever except for-"

"We get it Pinkie and we would love to come but we have business in Canterlot first."

"Okay." And Pinkie bounced away.

"How?"

"Lets just eat."

"Yeah." We ate in almost silence the occasional mmmm  or ahhh filling the air. We sadly finish our delicious food and head to the counter. The yellow stallion still looks nervous but doesn't run as we approach. 

"Thank you for the meal sir it was delicious."

"Umm you're welcome."

"Here are your bits have a good day."

"Yes." Sky placed the bits on the counter and we walk out headed for the train station. Suddenly a blue and rainbow blur shoots past us into the bakery.

"What was that?"

"Just some pegasus in a hurry."

"Huh." We continue on, as we pass a large tree with a sign in front that said Ponyville Golden Oaks Library, the blue blur shoots by again carrying something pink. 

"HINEWSUPERBESTFRIENDSBYENEWSUPERBESTFRIENDS!"

"Was that?"

"I think so. It's almost time for the train to leave we should pick up the pace." We pick up the pace and arrive at the train station in time. After showing our tickets to the conductor we go back to our cabin. I sit down in our cabin, the benches had been repaired and the cushions replaced. I looked out the window, six ponies were standing in a circle talking. 

"Hey is that Pinkie and the blue blur?" Sky comes over to the window to look.

"Hmm yep looks like it."

"Wonder what their up to?" Through the window I catch a bit of their conversation.

"Alright girls everypony ready?...Lets go." The six board the train.

"I guess Pinkie will be in Canterlot too then." The train's whistle sounds as it begins chugging forward. The conductor knocks on the door.

"We will be in Canterlot in a few hours enjoy the ride."

"How was your day Professor?" He rolls over from his position on the other bench.

"Boring."

"Did you run out of stuff to learn on the datapad?" 

"Datapad? Oh... um yes I learned it all." He looks confused for a moment.

"Wow you must be a fast learner there was a lot of stuff on that pad."

"Yeah."

"You okay you don't seem very talkative?"

"Just tired."

"Well okay then get some sleep we'll wake you when we get there."

"Okay." The Professor rolls back over and closes his eyes. 'I hope he's okay.'
> Chapter 7 Canterlot
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Chapter 7 Canterlot


The train ride to Canterlot took the rest of the day with not much else to do save look out the window. The view was breathtaking to say the least but got repetitive after a few hours of nothing but rolling hills and small forests. That is, until we entered a tunnel then it was just dark. Eventually we began our ascent of the mountain that Canterlot itself was built upon and I got my first clear view of the city proper, suffice it to say it was enormous with a multitude of towers and buildings ranging from big to mansion in size. But it was the castle itself that was the biggest and grandest of all with grand towers that touched the sky and gleaming marble buildings covered in massive stain glass windows it was nothing short of impressive even by human standards. I was so awestruck by the view that I didn't notice the final hour fly by and only snapped out of it when the the trains whistle and screeching brakes told me we had arrived.

"Hey Professor we made it and we didn't get attacked by Changelings again." The Professor groans and rolls to his hooves standing up slowly.

"Lets get this over with I need another nap."

"OK Mr sleepy Bones." The Professor looks at me grumpily, but before I can say anything further a knock from the door interrupts us.

"Royal guard open up."

"Just a moment." Sky replies stepping over to the door and opening it a crack. "How can we help you gentlecolts?"

"By order of Princess Celestia Professor Bones and his findings are to be escorted to the castle at once."

"Of course, but if you don't mind we will join you my friend has an appointment with the Princess as well."

"I see no problem, so be it, gather your things and meet us outside." The Guard ponies trot away, Sky turns back to us.

"Is everypony ready?" The Professor is rummaging about the cabin.

"Where are my bags I was sure they were around here somewhere."

"You left them over there Professor." I say pointing to the saddlebags in the corner of the cabin.

"Ah yes of course."  He grabs his bags. I grab my pack and my rifle and stand by the door. 

"I'm ready, see you outside." The others nod and I step out of the cabin and walk to the end of the car. I peek around the corner and see the guards, they were standing in the middle of the station ramrod stiff. 'Man these guys are uptight.' I check the safety on my pistol and remove the clip from my rifle. 'It would not make a good impression to go and shoot somepony.' I step off the train and slowly approach the guards. "Good evening gentlecolts." All but one remained still and I assumed he was the leader with his purple armor.

"Good evening to you as well, I am not aware of your species what are you?" He says as he walks up to me.

"We call ourselves humans but unfortunately I am the only survivor of my race."

"That is unfortunate but I'm glad that you are safe. My name is Shining Armor I am Captain of the royal guard who are you?"

"My name is Cydon Imperius and it is a pleasure to meet a fellow captain."

"A military stallion huh? We'll have to trade war stories over a cider one day."

"I'd like that." It was at this time that Sky and the Professor hopped off the train and made their way over to us.

"Thank you for waiting we are ready now." Sky said with a smile.

"No problem, come with me please and stay inside the formation." The guards formed a box formation with us in the middle with Shining Armor.  "Formation forward." We began our walk to the castle, we marched through the market district various ponies pausing to gawk and stare. Some of the snootier ponies raising their noses with a hmph and trotting away muttering something about the uncouth savages in Canterlot these days.

"Hey Armor are the ponies here always this snooty?"

"No most of the snooty one are at home today." We all shared a laugh as we continued to the castle gate.

"Captain Armor and escort has returned inform the Princesses at once." Shouted one of the guards at the gate.

"Thank you guard." Shining said. The guard nodded and we continued into the castle entrance hall.

"So anything interesting happen lately?"

"Are you aware of Changelings?"

"We are... familiar."

"Last month they invaded the castle and nearly ruined my wedding to Princess Cadence. Fortunately we were able to stop them and force them out of Canterlot."

"Wow, crashing a wedding for a Princess, that's a dick move."

"A what?"

"A... you know what nevermind, continue."

"Well ever since then we have been having problems with small groups of Changelings attacking towns across Equestria."

"In that case I'm happy to tell you I personally dealt with a group in Appleloosa before coming here." 

"How did you defeat so many Changelings singlehoofedly?"

"Single what? Oh yeah you have hooves. But yeah it wasn't a big deal from what I've seen of your world my people were way ahead of you in terms of technology."

"But how does your technology allow you to beat such odds?"

"Quite simply my dear boy I put them down before they could even get close, most of the time anyway." Remembering that I nearly died in my first encounter with Changelings.

"Could you show me sometime?"

"Will you be at my meeting with the Princess?"

"As Captain of the guard it is my duty to attend."

"Then I can show you then." We had finally gotten across the massive hall and were now in front of the massive doors to the throne room. The Unicorn guards on each side of the door nodded to Shining and their horns glowed with magic opening the doors to reveal a large throne room massive stain glass windows on each side. Two thrones were situated on the far side of the room one gold with a sun the other blue with a moon. 

Two regal alicorns rose from their seats as we entered a large white one. 'Celestia.' And a smaller blue one. 'Luna.' next to them were six ponies two unicorns two pegasi and two earth 'PINKIE PIE!' ponies.

"Hiya super best friends." Drifted across the large room as Pinkie waved to us I waved back. The six ponies began quietly conversing amongst themselves. 

"Welcome back to Canterlot Professor Bones and greetings to your companions as well." Celestia's regal voice seemed to carry across the entire room with no effort at all. "I must say though I have never in all my many years met a creature such as your self mister?" We closed the distance between us until we could talk without shouting to hear one another.

"I am Captain Cydon Imperius your majesty."

"My my so formal, at ease Captain."

"As you wish Princess."

"Nonsense I get the feeling we will be seeing each other often so we can forget formalities entirely if it is ok with you?"

"I can do that Celestia."

"Good, now Professor would you like to give me your report on what you found out in the desert?"

"Ah my report oh um the Changelings kind of destroyed it." He says sheepishly.

"Is the datapad I gave you okay?" I ask.

"Yes, I think."

"May I see it?" The Professor levitates his saddlebags over to me and I open them up quickly finding and grabbing the datapad. "Good it still works. Is their anyway to make it darker in here?" Celestia thought for a moment and nods her horn starts glowing as a golden aura surrounds the massive curtains and they begin closing, covering the windows and making it dark enough for my idea. "Tara can you make a small projector?"

"Yes but I will need to cannibalize the binoculars."

"I understand, do it." The forge in my backpack hums to life and in a few minutes out came a small projector. "Perfect." I look at the ponies around me they all had confused stares plastered on their faces. 

"How? What? Why?" Said the purple unicorn.

"You know I don't know all of you yet. I know of the Princesses and I met Pinkie and Shining already but who are you?" Pinkie smiled when I mentioned her and her friends gave her a shocked glance.

"Pinkie wasn't lying then, she really did meet a new species." The purple unicorn said. "My name is Twilight Sparkle by the way. Student to Princess Celestia and Ponyville librarian."

"And I am Rarity fashionista extraordinaire. I would love to make you some new outfits dear." Said the white unicorn.

"Thank you for the offer I might take you up on that."

"I'M Rainbow Dash fastest flier in all of equestria!"

"So you're the blue blur."

"Blue blur? OH yeah that's me."

"How fast can you go?"

"I broke the speed of sound three times."

"No way."

"It's true I call it the sonic rainboom I'll show you sometime."

"Looking forward to it."

"Name's Applejack partner but my friends call me AJ."

"I've heard about you, your Braeburns cousin, Sweet Apple Acres right?"

"Darn tootin best apples in all of Equestria."

"So I've heard, I'd love a sample some time."

"I can arrange that."

"Thank you."

"HI super best friends I'm Pinkie Pie but you already know that it's good to see you again."

"Good to see you again too Pinkie."

"I'm Fluttershy."

"I'm sorry but I didn't catch that."

"I'm Fluttershy."

"I still didn't catch that."

*GASP* "I'm Fluttershy." 

"A pleasure to meet you miss Fluttershy, don't worry I made a promise to never harm a good pony." Fluttershy gave me a smile and hid behind her mane again. "Now that introductions are done how about I do a little presentation on just what and who the Professor found in the desert."

"Wait who?"

"Yes, he found me." I hooked the datapad into the projector Tara made and pointed it at a nearby wall. 

"It's just like the film projector back in my library but a lot smaller."

"Excellent deduction Mrs. Sparkle one less thing to explain then."

"But what are you going to show us?"

"To put it simply my dear, I'm going to show you your friends and the Princesses everything I can. Then when I am done and I deem you know enough about my world I will tell you the story of the end of my world." And so I talked. It took a good deal longer than I thought it would especially since Twilight would constantly interrupt me to ask a question. Eventually after several hours and a basic history lesson of my world complete with explanations of everything they didn't understand such as electronics and self propelled vehicles and even the internet. Everypony yawned simultaneously. 'Damn you ponies and your excessive use of adorableness.' I glance at my watch. 2:35 A.M. 'Wow it's late.' 

"Congratulations ponies I've told you everything I'm going to tell you before I give you my story."

"Aww but there's still so much left to learn."

"Yes their is but it is late and I want to get this over with before we retire for the night."

*YAWN* "Yeah I guess you're right."

"Don't worry Twilight you can study the archives in my pod as long as you want."

"OH THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU."

"Wouldst thou tell us the story so we may go to bed sir Cydon?" Luna hadn't said much but had proven to be just as eager to learn as Twilight.

"I was just getting to that Luna." 

"Then hurry it up already all this egghead stuff is boring." As much as she didn't want to admit It, I was paying attention during my presentation and Rainbow was just as transfixed as the others.

"It started six months prior to my leaving Earth. A terrorist organization had captured a scientist that was developing a new weapon they called it a Nova bomb. The bomb was designed to eliminate all life on a planet by raising radiation levels to a point where exposure meant instant vaporization." 

"When it was detonated we knew we were doomed so we did the only thing we could. We decided to leave the planet, to leave the Earth the one and only birthplace of the human race. But, we ran into problems immediately. Where would we go? To the moon? To geostationary orbit? Or another star entirely? How would we get there? How many people and supplies should we bring what kind of people would be best suited to survive? To live?"

"The decision was made quickly, the only way we could survive would be to send as many people as possible to a new planet orbiting another star, to save time we would send one man pods, thousands of them if we could. But we ran into another problem the time it would take to reach another star even at lightspeed was longer than our lifespan so we needed another solution." 

"Cryostasis, we would put ourselves to sleep for the journey preserving our bodies so we could reach our new world and start anew. As a Captain of the United Terra army Rangers I was assigned a guard position at the research facility where we would build our ships. The scientists worked themselves ragged trying to finish as fast as possible but it was too late to save everyone." 

"Radiation levels had grown too high making surface travel suicidal so only those in the facility would live only we could leave our doomed planet. And so, we did."

"You mean you all just left? Jumped in your pods and took off?" Rainbow's wings flared her eyes filling with anger. 

"Unfortunately yes if it were possible to save anyone else we would have but we could not so we opted to save ourselves rather than wait for death."

"But then how are you here and no other humans are?" Twilight said quickly as Rainbow hung her head.

"My pod's engines were damaged after take off I don't know when they were damaged or where I ended up because my navigational systems are still damaged if I can fix them I could find out though."

"We could help you fix it."

"Thank you for the offer but I don't see the point other than to say that's my star over there and even if I wanted to leave I couldn't the engines are toast."

"Oh." Twilight began pouting using her large pony eyes to give the best puppy dog eyes since puppy dogs.

"Ah, Twilight, fine I will fix it in my free time if I can."

"Hooray!"

"I think that's everything, you eleven ponies now know my story and how the world ended for the human race. I'm pooped lets go to bed yeah?"

"But I still have a few questions."

"Twi, sugarcube you can ask em tomorrow."

"Fine."

"Shining Armor."

"Yes Princess?"

"Have everypony escorted to their rooms we will reconvene over breakfast on the morrow."

"At once Princess."  Everypony began heading for the door to the throne room to get some well deserved rest.

"Cydon please wait a moment." I stopped and turned on the spot walking back up to Celestia.

"Yes?" The door to the throne room slammed shut leaving me alone with the Princesses. Celestia's horn glowed and the curtains drew back from the windows letting in the moonlight.

"Your species seemed very dangerous and you said you were a member of its military." It seemed more of a statement than a question.

"Um."

"The way you answer this next question will determine your future in Equestria so think carefully. What is the primary objective of a military?"

"I don't know about here but on my world the sole purpose of a military was to protect civilians from those who wish to hurt and destroy and to do everything we could to save lives. Violence begets more violence and all that."

"Do you Captain Cydon Imperius promise to never purposely harm any of my little ponies?"

"Princess I promise you that I will not harm the good citizens of Equestria."

"I want you to Pinkie promise that."

"You want me to what?"

"To Pinkie Promise."

"You mean with my pinkie finger?"

"Your pinkie finger? No no like this cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye." She said moving her hoof accordingly.

"OH! Uh sure I guess, I swear that I will not harm the good citizens of Equestria cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye." As I finished the movements I felt a cold shiver like someone or rather somepony was watching me.

"It would be wise to never break that promise Pinkie gets.. very... upset if you do."

"I get the feeling I don't ever want to break one of those."

"Please don't I'm not sure what Pinkie would do to you."

"Princess you're more clever than I thought you were."

"Thank you."

"But I have no intentions of harming ponies, becoming a fugitive in a world where I am alone is not appealing in the slightest."

"I see."

"And besides if I harmed a pony Sky would never forgive me I made a promise to her as well one I intend to keep." Celestia chuckled.

"In that case I wish you luck in your future endeavors." 

"Thanks I guess?"

"Fare thee well we are off to bed." Luna departed with a flash. 

"I will show you to your room."

"Thanks." Celestia trotted to the large doors and with a quick flash of her horn they opened.

"Um if you don't mind could I get a room near Sky and the Professor?"

"Of course." Celestia walked the halls with me following quietly behind the only sounds were the clopping of hooves and boots on marble.

"Celestia do you trust me? I mean I understand if you don't I mean we only just met."

"You are correct we did only just meet but I can tell that you have been completely honest with us since your arrival."

"Then there is something I must tell you, ever since the train ride to Ponyville the Professor has been acting strangely, normally I wouldn't think anything of it but things are different here you have Changelings."

"You think he might actually be a Changeling?"

"If he is the real Professor could be anywhere even dead in a ditch somewhere but if i'm wrong then we just waste a little of our time."

"We shall investigate in the morning this is your room. I will double the guard, goodnight Cydon."

"Goodnight Princess." I open the door and step inside, the room was pleasantly large with a bed big enough for several humans I walk over to the bed and press down with my hand 'Hmmm soft yet springy perfect.' I take a step back and leap onto the bed causing a lump I didn't notice to fly into the air accompanied by an "EEEK" after the lump had landed I poked it with a finger and received a giggle prompting more poking causing more laughter until.

"Stop pl..ple..ease hahaha!"

"Hey Sky mind if I nap here?"

"You might as well I don't think I can anymore."

"Oh? More sleep for me then." I say as I lay my head on a pillow, I place my hand on her head and ran it down her back eliciting a blissful sigh as she lay her head on my chest. I continue for a few minutes until her breathing slowed and she fell asleep. I stopped and put my hands behind my head, Sky squirmed in her sleep until she wrapped her hooves around me hugging me tightly, I put my hand on her head again and closed my eyes "Good Night Sky." I whispered slipping into sleep.
> Chapter 8 A Normal Morning In Equestria
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Chapter 8 A Normal Morning In Equestria


I waken with a groan, Celestia's sun was shining brightly through the grand window preventing further sleep. 'No time like the present.' I turn my head away from the blinding source and open my eyes to take in the room. A small desk sits by the wall with a few dressers the most notable thing in the room is the bed being large enough to fit three humans comfortably. Sky stirs as I look around.

"Mmm... Good morning."

"Good morning Sky, did you sleep well?"

"Yes thank you for asking." She says as she stretches her wings.

"Good, good. Now how do we get breakfast?" Sky shrugs and we look at the door.

"To the kitchens?" I ask.

"To the kitchens." She confirms. We stand up and march to the door, I opened it a crack and peek out. Two guards were stationed by the door.

"Excuse me but we would like to get some breakfast could you point us to the kitchen?" The stoic guard pony turned to look at me. Although his face didn't show it his eyes widened in surprise before returning to normal.

"The Princess has informed us to escort you to the dining hall when you awakened. We may leave now if you are ready." I turn to look at Sky she nods.

"We are." The guard turned and started trotting down the hall we followed behind him the second guard in the rear.

"Is it far?"

"No it is just down these stairs and down a hallway." We went down said stairs and traversed the long hallway arriving at a set of large wooden doors. Two more guards were standing at attention they saluted crisply and opened the doors for us. Inside Princess Celestia, Princess Luna and the gang were already sitting at the massive table chatting and laughing. 

"Ah your awake, the Professor has yet to join us but I'm sure he will be along soon, please, sit, eat." Sky sit's down at the table and I walk over to Celestia.

"We need to talk." Celestia nods.

"I understand come with me." Celestia stands. "I won't be but a moment." The ponies nod and return to their conversations. I follow Celestia to a small door she opens it with her magic and we step inside. It is a small room with what appears to be cleaning supplies along the walls. 'The janitor's closet?'

"If what you said last night is true we will need to investigate. But before we cause a scandal we need to have evidence otherwise we would could ruin his reputation."

"I believe I have a plan for that."

"What is it?"

"I would have to show you but it involves the Datapad I gave the Professor."

"The information device you showed us yesterday?"

"The same."

"I don't know how it will work but, ok." 

"You just make sure if he is a Changeling that he won't get away." she nods and we head back out, Celestia returns to her seat and I sit down on a cushion next to Sky. Before me is the largest continental all vegetarian breakfast I have ever seen pancakes stacked high, oatmeal, various kinds of cereals, fruits, and vegetables along with toast, jam and all things tasty.

My mouth hangs agape for a few seconds before snapping shut when Rainbow Dash jokes "Hey leave it open like that and you'll catch flies." We grin and I grab some pancakes. 'Best breakfast since Braeburn's pancakes back in Appleloosa. I hope he is okay those Changelings might have come back to finish what they started.' My grin turns into a small frown which is immediately noticed by a certain pink mare.

"Why the sad face super best friend?"

"I'm just worried about the Appleloosians." 

"Is that all? You don't need to worry about that the Princess sent a guard detachment to protect Appleloosa after she heard about the attack."

"She did?"

"She sure did. Now how about some cupcakes!" Pinkies infectious smile spread across her whole face as she held out a tray of cupcakes. I return her smile and take a cupcake.

"Thanks Pinkie."

"Anytime Cydey widey." Pinkie spins on her hooves before disappearing in a pink blur. I look around to see where she went and find her sneaking up on Rainbow. 

"And then I swooped down over the crowd and they AHHH!... Pinkieee." Pinkie interrupted Rainbow with a blast of seltzer. Pinkie broke into a fit of giggles and snorts as the now dripping Rainbow glared at her.

"Hahaha *Snort* Hahahaha I got you Dashie." Rainbow's glare softened and she gave a smirk.

"Yeah I guess you did Pinkie, But I'll get you good when we get home."

"I can't wait!" Pinkie smiled again and we all joined in a good laugh. We didn't notice the doors creak open to admit one tired looking Professor, Until.

*Ahem* "I see we are all enjoying ourselves." Pinkie zoomed over in a pink blur. 

"Yeah you should have seen it I was all like sneaky Pinkie and then I blasted Dashie with the seltzer and she was like AHHH but then we all laughed and-" Pinkie was interrupted by the Professor putting a hoof in her mouth. She kept mumbling for a minute and when it looked like she was done he removed his hoof. "-And I was like oatmeal? Are you crazy?" Pinkie put on a content smile and went back to her seat.

"Good morning Professor."

"Good morning everypony." The Professor sat down at a seat across from me and began eating. The others returned to their conversation as I stared him down looking for anything that would mark him not himself. After a minute I gave up if that was a fake you couldn't tell by looking at him. 'So we need to go with the plan to outwit him.'

"Hey Professor I was looking through the Datapad last night and thought. 'I know a way to make it easier for ponies to use.'  But I forgot I need your password to do it do you think you could help me out?"

"Oh um not right this moment no I'm eating breakfast how about later?"

"Are you sure it would only take a second."

"Yes I'm sure, I haven't eaten a proper meal like this in days so I would like to enjoy it without interruption."

"That's a shame Professor, but maybe you should come clean now." The Professor looked up from his food a nervous fear in his eyes.

"Why whatever do you mean?"

"The Professor didn't have a password." He went pale and turned to look at the other ponies who were staring back with a confused look on their faces, except for Celestia who had a look of grim determination. 

"Oh yeah I...I forgot. Hehe." Celestia's glare hardened and he shrank back a look of fear now playing across his face. And then she spoke, it was not the warm motherly tone she always used but a deeper rage filled voice that was still calm and even, if only just.

"Where is my little pony?" He shrank into his cushion until only the top of his head was showing.

"I..I Don't know. Please please don't hurt me."

"Guards escort him to a cell." Two guards moved in from the door they were guarding and approached the impostor. 

"You won't take me without a fight!" The impostor's horn glowed and a green flash revealed a Changeling. The Changeling flew up into the air and the pegasi guard followed. After flying around for a few minutes the unicorn guard put up a force field in front of the Changeling. With no time to stop, it slammed headlong into it.

*groan* I think... I need... a nap." The Changeling collapsed to the floor and the guards picked him up and carried him to the dungeon.

"I was afraid that was the case. It appears you were correct Cydon, however unfortunate that is."

"Yeah."

"Do not worry we will find the real Professor."

"Please inform me when you find something, I liked to think him a friend."

"We will, In the mean time you will need a place to stay."

"OH OH he could come back to Ponyville with us! Besides I still need to throw him and Sky a party!" Pinkie was bouncing with excitement.

"That is a splendid idea Pinkie. What do you think Cydon?" Celestia and the others looked at me with questioning eyes. 'What should I do? Stay in the Castle with Celestia and Luna or go to Ponyville? Well I wanted to go to Ponyville anyway so.'

"That sounds fantastic what do you think Sky?"

"I'm happy with whatever you decide."

"I can arrange to have a home built for you and Sky, until it is finished though, you will need a place to stay." Celestia walked over to the door and started talking to a servant.

"I have an extra bed in the Library."

"The farm always has room for a pony in need."

"I'm afraid their is no room at my boutique at the moment."

"As awesome as you are I don't think cloud walking is one of your skills."

"I don't think the Cakes have room with the new foals."

"Um you can stay at my cottage, if that's okay with you."

"The house will be finished in three days." Celestia said as she trotted back to her seat.

"How about we stay one night at each of your places?" The three mares looked at each other and nodded looking back to us.

"So it's decided then."

"You can stay with Applejack first then with me at the library and Fluttershy's cottage after that."

"Okay, That gives us a chance to get to know each other better." 

"The train to Ponyville leaves at one pm sharp." I look at my watch. 10:35 

"What do we do while we wait?"

"This is boring lets go out to the garden so I can stretch my wings." We all agreed and stood heading for the door.

"I could have some guards take you home by carriage." Twilight's hoof met her face. 'Facehoofs look painful.'

"Why didn't I think of that?" She groans.

"That would be lovely Princess Celestia when may we depart?" Rarity's dress fluttered as she turned to face the Princess. 'Wait a dress? How did I miss that?'

"The pegasi carriage is waiting outside, just let them know when you are ready. Now, I have royal duties to attend to farewell my little ponies and you too my little human."

"Yes, *yawn* Fare thee well Twilight Sparkle and friends may your day be bright."

"Goodbye Celestia, good day? Luna and may your nights always be beautiful." I said. Luna smiled and left, Celestia following her out.

"Okay, everypony ready to scare Ponyville with the big two legged monster?"

"Aw don't be silly Cydey they won't be scared if your with us." Pinkie put on a smile and hugged my leg. I smiled down at her and pat her on the head.

"That didn't seem to be the case yesterday when I was there with Sky."

"I'm sure everypony will have calmed down after all it's not like you hurt anypony." Twilight smiled before her face became serious. "You didn't hurt anypony? Right?" Twilight started to looked panicked. 

"No, I was the perfect gentleman, I even got to talk to some filly's that weren't scared of me." Twilight sighed and wiped her brow.

"Wait was one of those filly's yella with a red bow in her hair?" I nod and Applejack smiled.

"She was with a white unicorn and an orange pegasus as well."

"So you already met the Cutie Mark Crusaders." Twilight giggled.

"What's that?"

"Just a little club they formed to get their cutie marks."

"Their that important huh? The Professor told me about them but it's still strange to me."

"Don't worry If you have any questions I'm sure the girls and I can answer them."

"I'll be sure to remember that." We started walking to the front gate to head outside Pinkie was still fiercely hanging on to my leg but she was light enough it didn't slow me down.

"WHEEEE! GO FASTER!" I smiled and picked up the pace to a slow jog the others trotted along with me to keep up and Sky flapped her wings rising to eye level and smiled at me.

"Need a lift?" Sky giggled and wrapped her forehooves around my shoulders hanging on tight as I went even faster. Pinkie's mane was bouncing all over as I ran around a corner everypony was laughing and smiling as we ran right up to the gate and right out into the court yard. Out in the yard sat a carriage It was big enough to fit all of us and came equipped with a roof. Shining Armor was talking to a guard as we approached and he waved us over.

"Looks like somepony's having fun." We all smiled and laughed. 'It's gonna be a good day.' "If you keep this up you're going to have to carry a stick to beat off all the mares you seem to attract." Shining Armor, the guards and I laughed at this. While the girls turned red and Pinkie fell off my leg landing on her back. Even Rainbow turned red although she also got angry.

"HEY!" She yelled her wings flaring.

"Sorry Rainbow it's just a joke." Shining Armor took a step back.

"Hmmph." Rainbow grumbled something under her breath and flew off into the sky doing loops and rolls as she zoomed around the clouds.

"I think she really didn't like that." I said staring at the rainbow trail. 

"Rainbow Dash is not the 'sappy' type of pony." Twilight put a hoof around her brother.

"Tell her I'm sorry, I didn't know she would take it so badly."

"Can't you tell her yourself?"

"Unfortunately no, I have to get back to work I just came to say goodbye."

"Oh well, goodbye BBBFF see you soon."

"I hope so." He stuck his hoof out to me and I shook it.

"It was a pleasure meeting you Captain Armor." 

"The pleasure was mine Captain Imperius." He gave each of the girls a hug and waved goodbye as he trotted away back to the castle. I looked back to the sky for that rainbow trail and saw it had disappeared. 'Where did she?'

"BOO!"

"AHH" We all jumped as Rainbow broke into unrestrained giggles. I turned around and saw Rainbow rolling on a cloud she had brought down behind me. "Hah good one Rainbow."

"Yeah *snort* I got you." 

"Yes you did hey, Shining says he's sorry."

"No, I'm sorry, I overreacted, I'm just not used to that kind of stuff it's just too sappy ya know?"

"I understand, but next time, try not to scare the guards, they don't like that." We all laughed and boarded the carriage it was a little cramped but we all fit. Twilight leaned out the window.

"Take us back to Ponyville please." The guards snorted and ran across the yard flapping their wings. 

"Wait, are we going to-" I was cut off when the carriage lurched up and into the air the guards flapped harder as we rose into the sky. "-fly." I stared out the window in wonder. 'How are they making this whole carriage fly with us inside?' Twilight saw my bewildered look and smiled. 

"Okay the first thing you need to remember is if it can't be explained logically try magically." I thought about that and nodded. 'Yeah magic, that makes sense.' "If you still can't explain it well that's just Pinkie being Pinkie try to ignore it, we all do." I looked at her quizzically then looked at Pinkie who was bouncing and humming a tune. Suddenly she reached behind the seat and came back with a cupcake which she quickly ate. I shook my head. 'Just Pinkie being Pinkie.' I shuddered to think what else she could do. 'No don't think about it.'

"I'm going to forget I saw anything now." I shook my head while Twilight and Sky giggled. The view from up high was amazing, plains rolling as far as the eye could see on one side and a forest on the other. We traveled for half an hour before crossing a river.


______________________________________________________________________



Ponyville


"We're almost there Ponyville is just past that hill." I looked at the hill Twilight pointed out and could see the spire of town hall coming into view. The guards took us over Ponyville and looped around landing in front of the great tree that is a library and Twilight's home. 

"We have arrived at your destination please grab all of your things before departing the carriage." The guards voice was monotone as he spoke, but we did as he said. The girls thanked the guards for the ride and I gave them a nod, they nodded back. "Captain Shining Armor wishes you all well. Have a good day ladies and gentlecolt." The guards took off back to Canterlot leaving us in the middle of the street as dozens of ponies stared at me.

"Well this seems about right, at least they aren't forming a mob to throw me out of town."

"You never know they just might." I look at Sky and she smiles at me.

"Oooo the big scary two leg monster is hungry raawwr." I say as I wave my arms dramatically. I stretch my arms towards the girls and took up a shuffling walk. "Mmmm fooooood." I moaned as I shuffled towards the girls. The girls all began laughing at my antics but the townsponies all ranged from shocked to scared to panicked. A few ran but most stood frozen staring at me and the girls. I reached Sky and picked her up putting my face into her mane.

"HAHAHahaha Stop stop hahaha that tickles hahaha." I set her back down and smiled down to her.

"Ha your mane is sweet and fruity just like you are." She blushed a little and looked away.

"Hehe thanks." I look around and most of the ponies were still in shock.

*sigh* "Alright come on everypony it's time for a group hug." They all looked at me and smiled. Pinkie grabbed my leg while Sky wrapped around my neck as we formed a human ponypile. After a few seconds I whispered to Twilight. "Take us inside." She nodded and her horn began glowing. With a purple flash and a pop I opened my eyes to see the inside of the library.

"I should go see Mayor Mare and let her know about you." The girls chorused an "Okay Twilight." And with another purple flash and a pop Twilight was gone.

"Well now what do we do?" We heard a crash from upstairs.

"Spikey wikey was that you? Are you all right?"

"Rarity! Oh um yes I'm okay I'll be right down." I heard some shuffling and a purple lizard on two legs hopped down the stairs. When he saw me his eyes went wide.

"WHOA who's he?" 

"He my dear Spikey wikey is our new friend, His name is Cydon and he will be staying here in Ponyville." I took a few steps toeard him.

"It's nice to meet you, Twilight told me she had a dragon for her number one assistant, but I have never met an actual dragon before." I stuck out my hand and the little dragon shook it.

"It's nice to meet you too Cydon any friend of Twilight's is a friend of mine." With a flash and pop Twilight teleported into the room.

"Phew, okay, I told Mayor Mare and she is going to hold a town meeting to tell everypony about you, but she would like you to attend so you can introduce yourself. Do you think your up for it?" Twilight and the others looked to me.

"Yeah, why not, better to get it out of the way now right?" The others nodded.

"The meeting doesn't start until this evening so you will have to stay inside the library until then."

"I can do that."

"Um I should go home I need to take care of all the animals um if that's okay with you?"

"It's okay Fluttershy go ahead we'll see you later." She nodded. 

"Mmhmm." 'Aww that was adorable.' Fluttershy lightly fluttered out the door.

"Ah reckon ah should get back to the farm an check up on things see ya later ya'll." Applejack walked out the door and with a "YEEHAH!" Sped off as an orange blur.

"I simply must get back to my boutique lest I fall behind in my work, Tata."

"Wait, I can help is that okay with you Twilight?" Spike said lightly tugging on Twilight's leg.

"Yes Spike just don't miss the meeting okay?"

"You got it!" A purple and green blur sped off after the snow white mare.

"OH I have to go too I need to bake a batch of cupcakes to celebrate!"

"Celebrate what Pinkie?" I tried but she was already gone.

"Our new super best friends of course." 

"AHH!" I spun around and Pinkie smiled before bouncing away.

"How did she? Wait, Pinkie being Pinkie don't think about it."

"I've got weather patrol duties see ya later." And in a Rainbow blur she was gone.

"Well we have some time before the meeting how about some lunch?" Twilight offered.

*Grrrrr* "Yeah I need some lunch." Sky agreed and Twilight went into her kitchen to get some food.

"How are you doing Sky?" I asked as she stared off into space.

"I'm okay, I've never had so many friends before it's just so much to take in."

"Don't worry you get used to it."

"Yeah... Hey Cydon?" 

"Yes?"

"Thank you."

"For what?"

"For everything, for letting me stay with you, and for being my friend when I was alone."

"I should be thanking you my little Sky Dasher."

"What for?" She says as Twilight walks back into the room carrying a tray of treats.

"I hope you two like dessert because I didn't go to the market." 

"That will be fine, thanks Twilight."

"Your welcome."

"How long until the meeting?"

"We should leave in two hours." I pick up a cupcake and examine it closely, this little pastry has purple icing and sprinkles that remind me of a certain lavender ponies cutie mark. Twilight noticed my close examination of the cupcakes.

"Pinkie Pie made these they're really good trust me."

"Well if Pinkie made it, it must be sweet." I bit into the cupcake and immediately felt the sugar rush. "Whoa, that is sugary but oh so good." 'I'm going to die of sugar overload if I eat too many of these.' Sky took a bite out of hers and quickly agreed with me.

We ended up eating the rest of Twilight's sweets and sat on the couch. "So, Cydon you didn't finish what you were saying earlier."

"What was I saying earlier?" 

"You were thanking me."

"Oh that. Well I wanted to thank you because, you are the first real friend I've had in along time. I mean I had people I could hang out with, people I could talk to but you and I are closer than that and I. Just, Thank you, it means a lot to me to be your friend." Sky smiles and leans over to me wrapping her hooves around my waist. I hug her back gently, I look up to see Twilight staring with the biggest puppy dog eyes I had seen since Pinkie Pie. So I waved her over.

"You too Twilight were all friends now." Twilight smiles and joins our now group hug. We sit like that for a little while until Twilight gasps.

"Oh no, we have to get going or were going to be late come on!" Twilight stands and trots to the door. "Hurry, we can't be late." I stand up and brush myself off straightening my shirt.

"I'm ready lets go." The three of us head out onto the streets of Ponyville. The sun was nearing the horizon but was still a few hours from setting. The streets were nearly empty with everypony being at the meeting already or on their way. Twilight led us down a street a past a few market stalls until we reached the Town hall. A few ponies were still making their way inside but we could tell by the noise that most of Ponyville was already inside.

"Ladies and Gentlecolts please quiet down so we may begin." The crowd immediately fell silent at the sound of the Mayor's voice. Twilight ushered me around the side to a curtain. 

"Okay when Mayor Mare introduces you just go out and say hello answer a few questions and make sure you don't do anything stupid."

"Right do something stupid."

"I said do-" Twilight was cut off when the Mayor shouted.

"Our new resident Cydon the human." The curtain opened and I stepped through. A collective gasp and a few whispers ran through the crowd. 'I hope they don't start some bad rumor.' I looked through the crowd and saw the girls standing in the back I waved and Pinkie Pie waved back with a smile.

"Greetings citizens of Ponyville. I mean you no harm, I have come to your fair town in hopes of finding friendship. Don't let my looks fool you I am a nice guy. So do any of you have any big questions?"

A mare in the back stood. "How come nopony has ever heard of a human before?"

"My race is nearly extinct and I may be the last." A gasp sweeps through the crowd accompanied be frenzied murmuring.

A brown stallion in front stands up he looks me in the eye but doesn't say anything, I stare back at him and wait. After a minute he smiles and sits back down, he leans over to a grey mare and I think I hear him say. "He passes." She nods and looks at me with her golden eyes for a second before one looks over to the wall. She smiles and stands up, she flaps her wings and lands on the stage next to me. She stretches out a hoof and I grasp it as we shake hands/hooves. When we stop I try to pull away but she pulls me closer instead, wrapping me in a tight hug.

"Welcome to Ponyville my name is Ditzy but my friends call me Derpy. I'll be seeing you around." Ditzy flaps her wings and returns to her seat. The crowd is going wild with all the whispering so I raise my hands to quiet them.

"If there are no more questions I shall take my leave." I waited a moment but nopony spoke up. "Very well, good night everypony." I step off the stage and wade through the crowd back to the girls. The mayor steps on stage.

"Alright everypony this meeting is over have a good night." We left before the crowd could stand up. 

"Yah did real good sugar cube."

"Thanks it wasn't hard though you should have seen me that time I gave a speech to some angry Bengali's."

"What happened?" 

"Lets just say it involved gunfire and a lot of running."

"Oh, no one got hurt did they?" Fluttershy hid behind her mane when we turned our attention to her.

"I don't think so, we were told not to harm anyone and I think they were just trying to scare us."

"That's a relief."

"I've never seen Derpy warm up to someone that fast before how did you do it?" Rainbow Dash said while floating next to me. 

"I didn't do anything really but that brown stallion may have had something to do with it."

"Time Turner? Really? I wonder?" Rarity trailed off. "Ah this is my stop tata darlings see you tomorrow."

"Good night Rarity." Rarity entered her boutique closing the door gently.

"I had super duper fun today and I have to go now but first here's your cupcakes super best friends, good night everypony!" Pinkie Pie bounced away, a little slower than before. I look at the cupcakes she handed us Sky's is yellow with blue sprinkles and mine is blue with yellow sprinkles.

"Good night Pinkie." 

Rainbow yawns and scratches her head. "Well good night everypony see you later." Rainbow flies off, I watch her until she lands on her cloud home. We arrive at the library and say good bye to Twilight and Spike who was sleeping on her back. 

"Well Sugar cube you don't mind if we walk Fluttershy here home first do ya?"

"Oh um you don't have to if you don't want to I don't want to be a bother." She says nearly a whisper.

"It's no bother at all Fluttershy it will give me a chance to meet a few of your forest friends." I say smiling broadly.

"Last time I let you walk home alone in the dark we found you hiding in a bush." Applejack deadpanned Fluttershy flinches. 

"Was it that bad?" I ask.

"On the other side of town." We walk out of town and down the dirt path to Fluttershy's cottage. The sun was just reaching the horizon. We cross a small bridge and walk up to Fluttershy's door. "Here ya are sugar cube have a good night."

"Thank you. good night." Fluttershy gently closed the door behind her.

"I reckon we should pick up the pace or mah family will be asleep when we get there." The setting sun indicated only half an hour before darkness.

"Agreed." Applejack started trotting and I jogged to keep up and Sky flew along above us as we entered the outskirts of the orchard.

"Almost there how are ya holdin up?"

"Back before the end we used to run thirty miles through rough terrain at the crack of dawn as a warm up." 

"I'm fine too." We jogged around a curve and I looked up to see the Apple family home just a short ways away. I moved to a sprint and zoomed past Sky and Applejack. I looked back laughing to see them adopt competitive grins as they ramped up the pace. My head start quickly disappeared and I ran as fast as I could. We were neck and neck with only a few yards left to go to the gate. 

Applejack and Sky slowed down at the gate but I kept going taking back the lead for just a second before reaching the gate and vaulting over, I continued my run towards the house. I didn't look back but I could hear the pounding of hooves as Applejack hopped the fence. I reached the porch and stopped to catch my breath. Applejack trotted up behind me. 

"Ah thought you were gonna stop at the gate but then you just kept on going. Ya beat me this time but next time you won't be so lucky."

"Next time I might have a few more tricks up my sleeve."

"I was talkin to Sky actually she beat us both." I look up to see Sky peering over the porch roof smiling down on us. I laugh and the others join in.

"You darn young'uns are making too much noise how am I supposed to sleep with all that racket?"

"Sorry Granny Smith, we'll be quiet." The green mare pulled her head back inside the window and a few seconds later snoring could be heard. "Come on maybe Mac an Bloom should still awake." Sky and Applejack walk inside but I turn to the setting sun. 'Another beautiful sunset courtesy one white alicorn, and another lovely moon rise courtesy one blue alicorn.'

I step Inside and come across a large red stallion sitting in front of the fireplace, a yoke on the floor next to him and some straw in his mouth he stared into the fire. I move next to him and sit down on the floor.

"You must be Big Mac."

"Eeyup."

"I hear you work the farm with Applejack."

"Eeyup."

"Um nice weather were having?"

"Eeyup."

"You don't talk much do you?" Mac shifted his gaze from the fire to me and stared for a few seconds.

"Nnope."

"Well nice talking to you." Big Mac nods and returns his gaze to the fire. I leave the room and enter the kitchen where Applejack and Sky are talking to Applebloom.

"Well howdy mister never thought I'd see you again so soon."

"Ah little Applebloom I must thank you once again for directing me to Sugarcube Corner the food was excellent."

"Aw shucks anypony would ah done it."

"But not anypony did, just you and your friends. It is a brave thing to talk to strangers even more so when this stranger is a different species."

"Zecora weren't scary at all and nopony gave her a chance. Ah didn't want that to happen to you."

"Who is Zecora?"

"Zecora is a zebra shaman from Zebrica she lives in the Everfree forest where she makes all kinds of potions."

"I hope I can meet her sometime." 

"She doesn't come to town too often so you might have to go visit her. But you have to be careful, the Everfree is very dangerous."

"I'll remember that." Sky let out a yawn that spread to the rest of us. "I think it's high time we hit the hay."

"Guest rooms this way sugar cube." Applejack led us up the stairs to the room. 

"Thanks for letting us stay the night Applejack."

"Tweren't no trouble were happy to have ya, and were friends now you can call me AJ."

"Okay good night AJ."

"Good night sugar cube." AJ walked down the hall and opened the door to her room as she walked in she tipped her hat and I smiled. Applebloom came up the stairs with Big Mac and they both went to their rooms. I closed the door and sat down on the bed next to Sky.

"I'm worried Sky, on my world hostages don't have a very high survival rate."

"Don't be, this isn't the you world left. Changelings feed on love so they want him alive, the Professor will be fine, the Princesses will find him and save him." 

"And they will save him because I'm going with them."

"Then I'm coming with you."

"It will be very dangerous we may not come back."

"You can't get rid of me that easy."

"You wouldn't be you if I could." I rubbed her mane with my hand and lay on the bed. The pony sized bed ended before it reached my feet so I curled up a little. Sky settled down next to me fluttering her wings before tucking them tightly to her sides. She laid her head on the pillow and sighed.

"I wonder where the Princess is having the house built?"

"I don't know we should ask Twilight tomorrow she might know."

"Yeah good night Cyd."

"Cyd?"

"You don't like it?"

"It's fine, Good night Sky." I close my eyes 'Cyd haven't heard that name in a while.' I think as I enter the land of dreams. 
> Chapter 9 Another Day With Ponies
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Chapter 9 Another Day With Ponies



Sky Dasher


The door to the room opens with a creak as an orange pony steps in. "Well would ya look at that." She whispers looking at the human and pony curled up next to each other. "Rise an shine sleepyheads." The human groans and rolls over.

"What is it AJ?" Cyd grumbles as he sits up.

"I figured ya'll would want some breakfast." I lift my head from the pillow and check the window, the sun is still below the horizon a faint glow announcing its coming. 'This early?' I glance at Cyd and can tell he is thinking the same thing.

*yawn* "Sounds good." I stand up and stretch my wings hearing a satisfying pop I fold them back to my sides and hop off the bed. Cyd was still stretching as AJ and I walked out the door. We enter the kitchen and I sit down, Big Mac and Applebloom are already waiting for us and Granny Smith was still asleep in her rocking chair. AJ sits down and nods to Big Mac he nods back and continues eating.

"We got pancakes and apple jam if you want toast." 

"I heard pancakes." Cyd says as he pops up behind AJ. She jumps as Cyd chuckles. 

"What in tarnation! Don't be sneakin up on me like that." I giggle quietly. 

"I'm sorry, but it was funny." AJ glares at Cyd and sighs as he sits down helping himself to some pancakes. 

"So do we have a plan for today?" I ask, I receive a blank stare from Cyd. 

"After breakfast me an Big Mac here gotta get to work bucking apples. If ya got nothin else ta do I would be grateful for some help."

"Well I certainly don't have any plans today... why not? By the way, how do you buck apples?" Cyd says after swallowing his mouthful of pancake.

"To make it simple, ya kick the tree." 

"Ohh, I get it, but uh humans are not built to kick trees." He says scratching the back of his head and smiling sheepishly.

"How about you help carry baskets then?"

"Now that, I can do." Cyd says smiling. After we finished breakfast we went outside to work. Celestia's sun was just peeking over the horizon as we enter the orchard.

"Okay Big Mac you take Cydon with ya to the west field and I'll take Sky to the north."

"Eeyup." The big stallion says as he turns and trots off Cyd following close behind.

"The north field is just over this hill Sky." I spread my wings and take to the air. I flap hard and quickly fly up the hill as AJ trots along below. I fly up until I reach a cloud where I land with a soft. *pfffh* The north field stretches on for miles and off over the horizon, off in the distance Canterlot sat upon Mount Canter. After taking in my fill of the view I gently glide back to AJ who was waiting for me.

"Good view from up there?" She asks a small grin on her face.

"This field is massive! You guys must work really hard to keep up with it."

"We sure do and that's why we should get started if we wanna stay on schedule." AJ doesn't try to hide her smile as she gets started placing baskets around the first tree.

"Right." I trot up to the nearest tree and put the baskets in place, rearing a leg I gave the tree a quick. *Thwack* The tree shakes and all the apples fall landing in and around the baskets, I pick up the stragglers and move to the next tree.

"Well shoot that's pretty good have you done this a'fore?"

"Nope." 

"Huh." AJ turns and bucks the tree all the apples falling neatly into the baskets.

"How did you?"

"How did I what sugar cube?"

"All the apples, in the basket." AJ laughs. 

"S'just lots o practice." AJ goes back to work placing baskets and bucking the trees. After snapping out of my amazement I get back to work too.

"AHHHH!" We hear a yell come from the west field and stop working.

"GET BACK HERE!" Cyd comes over the hill at a full sprint with Rainbow Dash not far behind.

"NO!" Cyd ran up to us. "Hi can't talk right now gotta run, bye." He runs past us and goes deeper into the orchard.

"YOU CAN'T RUN FROM ME!" Rainbow screams as she zooms past us after Cyd.

"I'M SORRY! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" Cyd's voice starts to fade as he runs further away. Big Mac calmly trot over the hill and walks up to AJ.

"Let me guess he found Rainbow sleeping in a tree and woke her up?"

"Eeyup."

"He didn't do it gently did he?"

"Nnope."

"I was afraid of that."

"In all the time I have known him he has never run that fast before." I say staring where they ran off to.

"When you have an angry mare chasin ya you can be motivated to do all kinds of things. Especially if it's Rainbow whose angry." I giggle and Big Mac chuckles.

"Come on, we should make sure she doesn't hurt him too bad." AJ and Big Mac agree and we trot off after Cyd and Rainbow. We walk around for a few minutes looking for them when AJ gets an idea.

"Hey Sky why don't you fly on up an see if you can find em."

"Right, back in a flash." I spread my wings and take off, I fly up until I can see most of the north field. looking around I spot a rainbow blur chasing a black dot headed for the barn. I close my wings and fall into a dive, the wind whips past my face as I fall, when I'm almost to the quickly approaching ground I open my wings coming to a quick stop before settling down for a soft landing.

"Hey you should teach Rainbow that trick, maybe it will stop her from crashing so often. I take it you found em?"

"Yeah they were headed for the barn, if we hurry we can catch up." The farm ponies nod and start running to the barn, I fly off after them. We reach the barn a minute later. Cyd was backed against the wall with a slowly advancing Rainbow Dash closing the distance.

"Now I got you right where I want you." Rainbow says as she grins evilly.

"Rainbow I said I was sorry, really I am." With his back against the wall he raises his hands between himself and the angry mare seemingly trying the push her away.

"That's not good enough." Rainbow says as we finally get close enough.

"Rainbow!" The blue mare turns her head towards us and we stop when we see her glare. She smirks and winks at us before returning her glare and looking back at Cyd.

"Now it's payback time." Cyd looks around panicking, but seeing no way to escape he accepts his fate.

"Eh fine you got me, no where to run now." Rainbow walks up the the human who stood there head down fists clenched and legs locked. She raised her hoof and he flinched, then Rainbow lightly taps his arm before falling to the ground rolling around and laughing.

"BWAHAHAHA I got you!"

"Wait what? You mean, your not angry?"

"HAHAHA no I was just pranking you for waking me up HAHAHA."

"Phew for a minute there I was worried, I gotta say Rainbow you are definitely scarier than a Changeling."

"Got that right!" We all share a laugh. AJ checks the position of the sun as her stomach rumbles. 

"I reckon it's time we break for lunch who's hungry?"

"You know it!" Rainbow exclaims.

"Eeyup." Big Mac nods. 

"I could go for lunch." I say.

"Can I get more pancakes?" Cyd says with a glint in his eye.

"I'll see if we have any left, lets go." We trot back to the house, as we approach a shrill shout was heard coming from inside.

"TAKE COVER!" Applebloom runs out the door as a loud KER-SPLAT fills the air followed by a cloud of flour billowing out the open windows.

"What in tarnation? GRANNY ARE YOU OKAY?" A flour covered pony with a walker exits the building and comes up to us.

*cough* "HA HA I'm just fine young'un, I ain't had this much fun in years." AJ goes inside to investigate the damage, she returns with a grim look on her face. 

"The kitchen's a mess it'll take the rest of the day to clean it up. Thanks for helping but I think you two should go on to Twi's."

"Are you sure? We don't mind helping." I look to Cyd and he nods in agreement.

"Nah it's all right sugar cube you've done enough, Rainbow do you mind showin em the way?"

"No problem I can be there and back in ten seconds flat."

"Now that we got that settled." AJ turned to the trees. "APPLEBLOOM WHERE DID YOU RUN OFF TO!" Rainbow led the way to the dirt path back to town and we headed off.

"I get the feeling stuff like that happens often?"

"Yeah Applebloom and her friends are always getting into trouble and making a mess, they mean well though."

"We'll have to keep an eye on them Sky, if they get a hold of my gear somepony might get hurt." I thought for a moment.

"You need to find a safe place to store it." He nods.

"Agreed, carrying it everywhere is kinda tiring." 

"Maybe Twilight will know a place." Rainbow says from the air next to us.

"Maybe." The walk back to town was uneventful with nothing but grass and apple trees to look at. Rainbow told us all about some of the tricks she could show us later as we slowly approach Ponyville. The townsponies still look at Cyd with worried glances but some wave, and we wave back.

"I guess they still need a little time to warm up to me. Oh well, we have plenty of time to go around at least." As we approach the library Cyd gets an idea.

"Hey do you guys want to prank Twilight?" Rainbow leans in.

"What did you have in mind?"

"I need you to ding dong ditch her house, while she is busy at the door I'll sneak in a window and then... I'll improvise."

"That's clever I like it."

"I aim to please." Rainbow flies ahead and waits by the door as Cyd gets into position below a window I giggle inwardly and fly up to a branch to hide in the leaves. Cyd gives Rainbow a thumbs up and she takes it as a sign to go ahead. Rainbow knocks on the door with her hoof. *BANG BANG BANG* From inside the library we hear Twilight shout.

"Spike! Can you get that?"

"Sorry Twilight a little busy at the moment." *BANG BANG BANG* 

"Hold on I'm coming." Rainbow quickly flies up to the branches of the tree and hides next to me, down below Cyd quietly opens the window and climbs inside. Twilight opens the door.

"Hel...lo?" She stops and looks around and seeing nopony she shrugs and turns to go back inside.

"How's it going Twilight?" Twilight jumps high enough to hit the top of the door.

"AHH where did you? How did you? RRRRGGGHHH Don't do that!" Cyd, Rainbow and I start laughing as Twilight glares at  Cyd upon hearing us she looks up at the shaking leaves. Rainbow was laughing so hard she falls out of the tree landing with a thud. I glide down beside her still laughing all the way.

"You should have seen the look in your face Twi, it was priceless. And hey I didn't even know you could jump that high! HAHAHAHAHA!"

*sigh* "Fine you got me. So what are you doing here so early? I thought you weren't coming until supper time."

"Applebloom and Granny Smith had a bit of an accident in the kitchen."

"What happened?" 

"I don't know the details but their was flour everywhere." Our stomachs grumble reminding us of our missed lunch.

"So you came by for a late lunch, well come on in I'll see what we have."

"Thanks Twilight."

"That's what friends are for." We go inside the library to see Spike up a ladder with a mountain of books. 

"Oh hey guys what's u-whoaaa." The ladder Spike was on wobbled and Cyd rushed forward bracing it. "Thanks that was a close one." The mountain of books Spike was carrying decided that now was the time and collapsed to the floor on top of Cyd.

"Cyd are you okay?" A hand burst out of the pile followed by the arm it was attached to as Cyd dug himself out. 

"I'm okay it will take more than that to hurt me." He said brushing off the dust.

"Sorry about that, the books just didn't want to say still."

"No harm done, now about that lunch."

"Oh right be right back." Twilight trots out of the room. She comes back a minute later with a tray of food floating behind her.

"Okay I've got apples, carrots, and daisy sandwiches help yourselves." Twilight levitates the tray to the table and I grab a daisy sandwich taking a bite and chewing slowly. Rainbow and Twilight grab a sandwich as well. While Spike bit into a gem.

"Well I can't eat daisies but apples and carrots are good." Cyd grab some of both and takes a big bite out of an apple. We spend a few minutes eating and having small talk when Rainbow stands up.

"It's been fun guys but I have to go, see ya later." In a rainbow blur she was gone.

"Hey Twilight?"

"What is it Sky?"

"Cyd here needs a safe place to store his more dangerous equipment."

"You mean like that, what did you call it, your Gauss rifle?"

"That and a few other things." Cyd says standing up.

"Well..." Twilight got an anxious look on her face as she trailed off, she wanted to learn everything she could but Cyd's weapons were very dangerous.

"They are completely safe if you leave them alone and in return I can tell you more about them." Twilight's eyes lit up and she smiled.

"Ok, you got a deal come with me, we can keep them in my lab."

"You have a lab?"

"Yeah in the basement."

"Weird, never took you for the mad scientist but now that I think about it." Twilight scoffs and opens the basement door.

"Spike I'm going to my lab keep an eye on things will you."

"Sure thing Twilight." We follow the lavender mare down, being careful not to trip on the small stairs.

"You can keep your things in this chest I will lock it with a magic spell so only the three of us can open it."

"Excellent!" Cyd pulls off his rifle from its mount on the backpack. "This is my Gauss rifle it operates by using a super magnet to propel a small metal projectile at supersonic speeds." He places the rifle in the chest as well as a few other odds and ends of his equipment briefly explaining a little about each as he went. But he kept his knife, pistol, and backpack.

"I had no idea you had so many dangerous things with you. How did you get it past the guards?"

"The same way I got it past you, you didn't know it was a weapon." Cyd said as he closed the chest. Twilight's horn glowed briefly and flashed brightly.

"You didn't want to put those in the chest?" She says pointing to the things he kept out.

"No I don't want to be completely defenseless and this pack does all kinds of things besides carry stuff."

"Alright then, well the chest is locked lets go back upstairs."

"Oh yeah hey Twilight I had one more question for you."

"Yes?"

"Celestia said she sent a team to build a house for us do you know where?"

"Hmm let me see I know the princess sent me a letter with the details just let me-" Twilight heads up the stairs and goes over to a nearby desk she searched the papers stacked on her desk shuffling them around with her magic. "-AHA found it lets see, My dearest student, I will be sending a team blah blah blah. Ah here it is, it says here that it is being built on the edge of town not too far from Fluttershy's cottage."

"We get to be Fluttershy's neighbors? That's great!" Twilight glances at her clock. 

"I would take you to check it out but it's getting late and the sun will be setting soon, I can take you in the morning though."

"That's very kind of you Twilight, thank you."

"It's no problem I'm always happy to help a friend. Spike it's getting late are you ready for bed?" She shouts we wait for an answer but after not receiving one Twilight gets a worried look and goes upstairs. "Spike?" I go over to the pile of books Cyd had crawled out of earlier and found the baby dragon curled up on one of the larger tomes sleeping peacefully.

"Twilight I found him."

"Where?" She says poking her head out of the second floor doorway. I step to the side so she can see him. Her lips form a soft smile as her horn glows levitating the dragon up to his bed. I quietly fly up and land next to Cyd who was standing by the doorway. "Good night Spike." Twilight kisses the baby dragon on the forehead and switches off the light with her magic. Twilight bobs her head towards the stairs and we nod before heading back to the main room.

"Well now what do we do?" Cyd asks. 

"You could tell us a little more about yourself, we know a lot about your people but what was your life like?"

"I suppose it's only fair I tell you, but I warn you I am a soldier so some of my past is a little disturbing."

"I'm sure we can handle it."

"Says the pony who was involved in a war fought using pies." Twilight froze.

"How did you know about that?"

"Braeburn told me about it." Twilight grins sheepishly.

"Oh, but I'm sure we can handle it, please please please please." Twilight says sticking out her lip and making her eyes sparkle. Eyes that begged him to do what she asked.

"Fine but don't say I didn't warn you. I grew up in a small town in a country called The United States of America."

"I remember that one, you said it was a democracy."

"Yes, my childhood was nothing special I had a few close friends and went to school. After I graduated I signed up for the army, boot was rough but I made it through. Upon completion I received a letter asking me to consider joining the Rangers, the pay was good so I signed up. Let me tell you boot was rough but Ranger training put it to shame."

"What did you do when you finished your training?"

"I was a Ranger, I was assigned a squad and we went on missions. We didn't have any formal wars with any other countries but we did have an enemy. New terrorist organizations were popping up all over the globe and they sent us to take them out. During those missions I became close to my squad mates we became brothers in arms and would fight to protect one another."

"So they were your closest friends?"

"They were my family and you never forget family."

"I understand. How did you become a Captain?"

"The day I got promoted to Captain." Cyd's eyes glazed over as he recalled the memory. "It was a typical op, Intel had located a group of insurgents that were holding civilians hostage."

"That's horrible."

"It gets worse. It was a rainy February night in the Philippines." 


_______________________________________________________________________________



Philippines, [Redacted] February 24, 2129


"Hey Cyd wake up!" A large hand smacked the back of my helmet bringing me wide awake.

"Watch it Ryan, one of these days I might not let that go." My best friend (or worst enemy depending on the day) grins broadly the six foot two giant known as 'Big Bird' was our demolition and heavy weapons expert.

"Were almost there." Ryan pulls the jeep up to the hotel. The rest of our squad was inside waiting for our arrival.

"Lets go." I grab my rifle and hop out the door taking in my surroundings. It was raining in the Philippines a monsoon was due in a few hours. "Come on Big Bird your slowing me down." Ryan grumbles and jumps out of the jeep. 

"HEY, OVER HERE!" Woods called to us from the doorway of the hotel waving us over. We jog over and go inside. Woods led us to the room they had rented. 

"It's about time you showed up." Our grizzled captain stood by a small window watching the rain.

"Sorry Cap." Captain Antonio was not a large man at five feet tall he was the shortest member but he made up for his lack of height with a powerful mind. You could never tell what went on behind his dark brown eyes.

"Alright boys here's what we got, at approximately 2300 local time yesterday a reconnaissance drone located the leader of the local insurgent group. The bastard is holed up in a warehouse on the west side of town here." He points to a small map of the city with a building circled in red. "The drone also picked up on civilian hostages being held somewhere inside so watch your fire. Our objective is to neutralize all hostiles and rescue as many civilians as possible."

"What's the plan Cap?" Woods was a scrawny son of a bitch but was quick on his feet and a master of close quarter combat.

"The plan is this, Cyd you and Big Bird will go along the south edge of town and enter the buildings across the street here. There you will provide fire support while Woods and I breach from the north. We will go out along this road and approach the warehouse from the opposite side. Any questions?" No one said anything.

"Out fucking standing. Lets get it done, Hooah."

"Hooah." Woods and the Captain took off out of the room and got into the jeep, they drove off into the night. Ryan and I Headed out towards the south side of town on foot. We carefully made our way through the empty streets making sure not to disturb the seemingly lifeless buildings around us. A pair of headlights rounded the corner and we took cover in an alley.

"Insurgents?"

"Maybe but you can't be too careful."

"Roger that, remember that time in Guam?"

"Yeah, that old guy was pissed."

"Yeah and here I thought taking two girls home was a good thing."

"I think he chased us all the way across the island." We chuckled quietly at the memory.

"Hey is this it?" Ryan asked pointing at an apartment complex.

"Looks like it." We slipped inside and took our positions overlooking the warehouse entrance.

"Cap were in position awaiting your go." I say through my throat mic.

"I copy.... Were breaching." We hear a muffled bang and a few shouts over the rain but can't make out anything else. The front doors to the warehouse open up and a dozen insurgents pour out. They try to make a break for it but we quickly mow them down.

"Cap warehouse door secure."

"..."

"Cap?" 

"..."

"Somethings wrong, come on." We slowly make our way to the warehouse door using as much cover as possible. I carefully peek through the doorway to see a dark room filled with a few dead bodies. "Can you see anything?"

"No, I don't like this, it smells like a trap."

"Yeah but we can't leave Woods and the Captain behind. I'm going in you stay here."

"I Gotcha." I slowly enter the building checking the bodies for a pulse. I look around the room again and spot Woods, he was slumped against the wall a pool of blood beneath him. 'Shit!' I quickly get over to him, he was bleeding from a wound in his neck but still alive, the bullet had somehow missed both major arteries. 

"Woods." I whisper. His eyes flutter open, he looks at me and I can see the fear in his eyes as he starts to panic. "Stay calm buddy you'll live." He didn't look like he believed me but he calmed down. "Where's the Captain?"

"I believe the man you are looking for is right here." A cold voice says from behind me. I stand up and turn around quickly raising my rifle. "Ah Ah Ah wouldn't want to cause a little accident now would we?" The insurgent leader we had been sent to eliminate stood near the center of the room with the Captain tied to a chair a revolver to his head.

"Grrr what do you want?" I say lowering my rifle.

"My dear boy, it's not what I want, it's what the people want. Why do you think you cannot stop these so called terrorist organizations? It's because they have the support of the people, they are tired of being ruled by Western Dogs!"

"We don't rule them, we give them freedom of choice. We give them freedom from monsters like you who only seek to cause suffering!"

"I had hoped you would be that way, it means I get to do this." He looked back down at the Captain and pulled back the hammer. Their was a bang and a bullet hole appeared in the head of the insurgent leader, he quickly dropped to the floor.

"Good timing Big Bird."

"It's what I do."

"The civilians are dead and Woods is injured lets get out of here." Ryan goes over to Woods and carefully picks him up. I go over to the Captain and untie him. "You okay Cap?"

"Battered and bruised but I'll live. Come on, we're Oscar mike." We left through the breach and crossed the street back to the jeep. I get in the drivers seat and look back at the warehouse, I see a glint in the window. Before I can get a closer look the window flashes and a loud bang echoes.

"SNIPER! EVERYONE GET DOWN!" I slam on the gas and speed off into the night. When we reach the edge of town I stop on the side of the road. "Is everyone okay?"

"I'm here and Woods is still breathing."

"Cap?" The Captain was slumped over in the passenger seat of the jeep I shove him and his head rolls over revealing a neat bullet hole in his forehead. "Shit."

"What?"

"The Captains dead."

"Your shitting me."

"No, he's gone. Fucking snipers."

"Damn, I guess your the Captain now Cyd."

"Fucking battlefield promotions. Dammit! *sigh* Lets go, Woods still needs a medic."


_______________________________________________________________________________


"We drove to the nearest base and took Woods in to the medical tent. It turns out the bullet had caused irreparable damage to his voice box making him a mute. We gave the commander of the base our report and he made my field promotion official." Twilight was stunned, in one night this man had lost a friend killed several people and one of his friends was no longer able to speak.

"I'm sorry."

*sigh* "Everyone always says sorry." He muttered quietly "Twilight, it was a long time ago and nopony here had anything to do with it. It was all our own faults we just couldn't learn to tolerate each other, that's why my world died it just took a Nova bomb to make it official."

"That's just so, depressing." She says squirming a little in her seat clearly uncomfortable.

"It is isn't it. But I'm not in that hellhole anymore, now I'm here, in a land of magical talking ponies with all sorts of mythical creatures and monsters. And now I have you guys, you are my family now, you Twilight Sparkle, Spike, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Fluttershy, Celestia, Luna, The Professor, and especially you, Sky Dasher." I felt the heat in my cheeks when he said my name and a quick glance at Twilight proved she was in the same boat.

"I..I... Thank you Cyd I would like to consider you like family too." Twilight stammers out still blushing.

"No one, no thing, and no pony will ever hurt my family without going through me first, I can promise you that." Cyd stares at the fireplace his glare cold enough to freeze fire, although it was not currently lit it still being summer. "So anything else you gals want to talk about?" Cyd's cold stare instantly fades away to be replaced by a warm and inviting smile. 

"Oh um no I think we can call it a night." Cyd checks the watch on his wrist and nod, standing up he stretches and yawns broadly.

"It is that time, oh well. So where do we bunk tonight Twilight?"

"Spike set up the guest bed upstairs."

"Alrighty then off I go." Cyd trudges up the stairs to bed still yawning as he went.

"I'm afraid I don't have another bed but you can have mine if you like."

"Oh no that's ok Cyd and I can share a bed, it's all right."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, to tell you the truth he makes a comfy pillow." Twilight snickers.

"I heard that." Came down the stairs causing me to blush as I hide under my hooves and groan. Twilight's snickering became full blown laughter and she took a few minutes to calm down. 

"Well *snicker* since the sleeping arrangements are taken care of I'm off to bed, good night Sky."

"Good night Twilight." I mumble from under my hooves. I rise to my feet after Twilight leaves. 'I need some air.' I open the door to the library and step out into the cool night. 'Luna the stars are fantastic tonight.' I take to the air flying around the library a few times just feeling the wind in my face. After flying around for awhile I set down on Twilight's balcony. The guest bed was across the room from Twilight's bed and the lumps in the sheets breathed in and out peacefully. 

'How can you be so happy Cyd, you suffered through so much pain back on your world.' *sigh* I lean back against the railing still taking in the night air. The door behind me gently opens and I can hear footsteps behind me.

"Luna is really good at her job." Cyd says quietly as he leans against the railing next to me.

"..."

"You okay Sky?"

"Are you okay?"

"What do you mean?"

"Do you miss them?" A look of understanding dawns on his face.

"Everyday." He says quietly as he turns back to the sky.

"Then why are you so cheerful all the time!?" I say as my voice raises a little.

"Because I let them go, they're gone now, and nothing I do will change that. Why dwell on the past when tomorrow is a new day." He says still calmly staring at the sky.

"But how can you just let them go?" 

"Sky, this isn't about me is it?" He says turning to look at me.

"I.." I stare into his eyes as he looks back at me.

"It's okay Sky I know you miss them."

"I..." I can feel myself starting to crack.

"Let it out Sky." And then the dam breaks.

"I miss them so much!" *sob* Cyd wraps me in a powerful hug as I cry.

"It's okay Sky, their little Sky Dasher grew up to be a wonderful mare. I know they are proud of you." I sat in his arms wrapped up in a powerful hug until I finished crying.

"It's just like the first night we met huh?" I whisper. 

"Well, it is a little different." He says a grin starting to form.

"How so?" I think I know where this is going but I don't try to stop it.

"Back then I couldn't get away with this." He releases me from the hug.

"Wha?" Cyd launches into a dreaded tickle attack and before I can react I'm rolling on the ground laughing my tail off. "HAHAHAHAHA!" It didn't last long though as he stopped after a few seconds.

"Feel better now?"

"No, but I will." I say with a grin of my own. 

"I know what's coming but we should stop I think we woke somepony up." He said jerking his head towards the door. I look over to see a groggy Twilight standing in the doorway.

"Just what are you two doing out here?" She grumbles.

"Oh nothing much just a little emotional support." He replies.

"Emotional support? Is something wrong?"

"No, I'm okay now, lets go to bed." I tell her.

"Well okay but I want a full explanation in the morning. Me and the girls are your friends too and we want to help however we can."

"I'm sorry Twilight I'm just not used to having friends like this."

"But you've got us now so get used to it." Twilight grins then yawns before heading back to her bed.

"Are you ready?" He asks.

"Yeah sleep sounds good right about now." Cyd scoops me up in his strong arms and carries me to the bed closing the door behind him with a foot. He sets me down on the bed and lays down, I curl up next to him and lay my head on his chest. "Still a good pillow." He chuckles softly and closes his eyes.

"Good night my little Sky Dasher." He says as he strokes my mane. It felt... nice. 

"Good night Cyd." His breathing slowed and his arm stopped as he fell asleep. I lay there listening to his heartbeat as his chest rose and fell. Until I too fell asleep.
> Chapter 10 Adventure In Ponyville
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Chapter 10 Adventure In Ponyville


The birds were chirping the sun was shining and the sound of morning ponies beginning their day filled the air. Meanwhile two ponies a dragon and a human slumbered peacefully inside of the library. Until... *BAP BAP BAP BAP BAP* 

*groan* "Spiiike get the dooor." *BAP BAP BAP BAP BAP* "Spiiiiiike!" Twilight groggily raises her head from the comfortable and still very inviting pillows to look over at the basket the baby dragon's still form remained sleeping in. She grumbled quietly about dragons and heavy sleepers as she got up and went to the stairs. After going downstairs she went to the door preparing to open it with her magic. *BAP BAP BAP BAP BAP* "I'm coming!" The front door of the library was enveloped in a purple glow. As the door swung open a pink mare fell inside. She quickly bounced to her hooves and responded in an overly cheerful manner.

"Hiya Twilight I was just walking through town when I passed by the library but I wasn't really walking I was bouncing because I was just so happy to be outside with all of my smiling friends but then I thought maybe I should go and see my brand new super best friends and we could talk and tell jokes and eat cupcakes and have a party then we coul-" Pinkies rant was cut off by a lavender hoof that had mysteriously appeared in her mouth, causing its owner to smirk as Pinkie continued to talk.

"Pinkie." Twilight said causing Pinkie to stop talking and allowing Twilight to remove her hoof.

"Yes bestest friend Twilight?" Pinkie donned her biggest smile as she waited for Twilight to continue.

"Good morning."

"Good morning Twilight!" And with that the bubbly pink mare bounced out the door and back into town. Twilight sighed as she rolled her eyes and closed the door. Going back upstairs she paused to fix her mane in the mirror before going to check on her friends. Spike still slept peacefully snoring softly in his basket, while Sky was still curled up next to Cydon, her head laying on his chest with his arm was draped over her, his hand in her mane.  

"Sky, Cydon. It's time to get up."

I was in Guam. Ryan and I had just given the old geezer the slip after chasing us for nearly an hour. We sprint down another alleyway, as we exit the alley I hear a voice behind me. I turn to see Twilight standing in the alley. "Cydon wake up it's morning." 'What?' I jolt awake immediately, sitting up quickly I accidentally knock Sky off of the bed, she lands with a thud and stands up glaring daggers at me. I give her a sheepish grin and quickly apologize.

"Good, your awake." Twilight says not bothering to hide her smile at our morning antics.

"Good morning to you too purple pony." 

"Come on get up, we have a lot to do today and only today to do it in." Twilight chirps. 

"Alright, I'm up." I get up and stretch, feeling my sore muscles from yesterdays work. "So whats first on the list of things to do Sparkle?" To my surprise she levitates a parchment over to where she can read it. 'She actually made a list!?'

*Ahem* "Number one, get breakfast from the nearby cafe."

"Well uh, okay then lets go." I start for the door before being stopped by Twilight's outstretched hoof.

"Let me finish." She says looking me in the eyes with a stubborn look on her face.

"But can't we just."

"No buts, let me finish."

"But-" Twilight glares at me and I look to Sky for help. She shrugs and mouths to just go with it. *sigh* "Fine, go ahead."

"Number two, take a tour of Ponyville. Number three, get lunch at Sugarcube Corner. Number four, check up on your new house. And number five, I drop you two off at Fluttershy's." Twilight rolls up the parchment and places it in her saddlebags before turning back to us a smile on her lips. 

"Are you done?"

"Yes, lets go." We go downstairs and Twilight uses her magic to open the door she raises her hoof towards it gesturing for Sky and I to go first. We walk outside and Twilight follows closing the door behind her as she steps out.

"What about Spike?" Sky questions from her hovering position next to me.

"Oh he sometimes sleeps in until lunch time, he is a baby dragon after all. I left him a note to meet us at Sugarcube Corner around noon."

"Ah so, breakfast now?"

"Yes we can get breakfast now."

"Yes!" I said with a fist pump. Sky giggles and Twilight rolls her eyes.

"Follow me please and stay close, someponies might still be nervous about you walking around town."

"You can count on me magic pony lady." Twilight rolled her eyes again but says nothing as she trots off. Sky and I follow along behind her looking around at all the many buildings and ponies, several even wave to us and we waved back. Twilight stops at a small cafe with tables out front and quietly talks to the white stallion with a red bow tie. 

"Right this way ladies and..." He trails off. "Gentlecolt." The stallion waves his hoof to an empty table and we sit down. He places a menu in front of each of us. "Here are your menus, I will be back shortly to take your order."

"Thank you."  The stallion leaves quietly allowing us to browse the menus. 'Lets see flower, hay bacon, hay fries, daisy sandwich. I need to be careful what I eat.' I think with a frown.

"Is something the matter?" Sky says when she looks over noticing my frown.

"Kinda not really I'm just looking for something that I can safely digest."

"Yeah we don't need you getting sick now." Sky says with a small frown of her own.

"How about an omelette you can eat those right?" Twilight says from behind her menu.

"Yes I can as long as it doesn't have any hay." The waiter trots over to us and stands at attention.

"Are you ready to order or do you need more time?" He asks politely as he tries not to stare at me.

"I think we're ready." Twilight says as Sky and I nod in agreement.

"A fruit salad please." Sky says with a smile, the waiter nods writing it down on his pad before turning to Twilight.

"And for you Mrs. Sparkle?"

"I'll have a daisy sandwich and hay fries please." He jots it down and turns to me.

"And you sir?" I look over the menu again and think for a moment.

"Your omelettes don't have hay right?"

"You are correct sir."

"Good, that's what I'll have then."

"Excellent choices, now would you like anything to drink?"

"I'll take Water."

"Can I have orange juice please." Sky says.

"An apple cider please." Twilight says.

"I shall be back shortly." The waiter leaves once again and comes back a minute later with our drinks. 

"Water for you, a cider for Mrs. Sparkle and an orange juice for the lovely lady." He says with a wink, making Sky blush.

"Thank you mister.."

"Horte Cuisine." He says smiling coyly.

"Thank you mister Cuisine."

"Anytime my dear, your food should be ready now I shall return momentarily."

I lean over and whisper to Twilight. "He makes me nervous." She leans over and whispers back.

"Why's that Cydon?"

"Did you see how he was acting towards Sky?"

"What was wrong with it?"

"Look at Sky." We look over at said mare. Sky was still blushing as she stared off into space with a glazed look in her eyes.

"Wow." Twilight whispers as she looks back at me.

"I don't like it."

"So she likes a stallion what's wrong with that?"

"Nothing I guess." I say my frown returning with a vengeance.

"Are you... jealous of Horte?" I blink at her statement in mild shock.

"Jealous? Of what, that he made Sky blush and get all googly eyed? Hah that's funny."

"Surrre." She says looking at me with a small smirk on her face.

"Hey, don't do that."

"Surrre."

I cross my arms. "Grrr and now your going to do it just to annoy me aren't you?"

"Maybe." She giggles as Horte Cuisine approaches our table with a tray on his back.

"Ahh an omelette for the sir and a daisy sandwich with hay fries for Mrs. Sparkle and of course a fruit salad for the lovely madame." Sky giggles as he set the food down. 'That's it.' I stand up and look down on the waiter.

"Mr. Cuisine can I talk to you for a moment." He looks in my direction his eyes meeting my waist before coming up to my eyes. 

"Did you need something sir?" He says his voice wavering a bit.

"I just want to talk. In private." Horte audibly gulps.

"Okay, come with me sir we can speak over there." He points his hoof to the alleyway next to the cafe.

"Cydon don't do anything stupid." Twilight hisses at me.

"Hey come on now it's me were talking about." I say as I walk away.

"That's what worries me." Twilight quietly mutters as Horte led the way to the alley. Upon reaching it he turns around to face me.

"Now what was it you needed to talk about in private?"

"I saw you flirting with Sky and I would like you to stop." His eyes light up but turn quickly to curiosity.

"So her name is Sky what a lovely name, but why would I stop? She seems to enjoy it."

"Because I don't like it and I'm asking you to."

"Oh! Are you her coltfriend? I am terribly sorry." My palm met my face.

"We're not in a relationship we're just friends."

"Then I do not see the problem."

"Just please stop." He takes a step towards me.

"Hmmm." Horte's brow furrows in concentration as he raises his hoof to his chin "Ahh! You like her."

"I di-" I start before getting interrupted.

"Ah, say no more I shall back off, I will not come between you two." He says taking a step back and smiling.

"Er... thanks?"

"Think nothing of it. Now go on, back to your friends." I walk slowly back to the table. 'Great now he thinks I like Sky, oh well at least he won't be flirting with her anymore. But why did I get so upset over it anyway?'

"There you are. I was starting to worry you'd miss out on breakfast." Sky says with a smile.

"Me? Miss out on food? Never!" We all laugh as I sit down.

"So where did you go?" Sky asks through her salad.

"Oh nowhere, I just had to talk to somepony." I pick up my omelette and take a bite. 'Not bad could use some sausage though, and some silverware.' I think looking down at the table where only my plate and a napkin remain. The rest of breakfast was quiet, Horte came back only once to give us the bill which Twilight took care of. 'I need to find a way to make money.' And with that we were off to begin number two on Twilight's list.

"Number one, get breakfast, check. Number two, tour Ponyville. Are you two ready?" Twilight says putting away her list as she turns back to us.

"I think so they make a decent omelette by the way. How about you Sky?" I look down at the yellow pegasus who smiles up at me.

"I'm ready."

"We're off then! Lets see you've already seen Sweet Apple Acres and the library so how about we walk around and I can tell the both of you about the history of Ponyville?"

"Sounds good." Twilight nods and begins walking. She talks for the next few hours while we walk around Ponyville we even stop by Rarity's boutique but it was closed for the day. Before Twilight could start her history of Ponyville again I stop her. 

"Twilight this is interesting and all but I think it's time for lunch." I say my stomach letting its emptiness be known.

"Oh yes, is it really lunch time already? Wow, I must've gotten carried away." Twilight pulls out her list and marks off another item. "Number two, tour Ponyville, check. Number three, lunch at Sugar Cube Corner."

"Come on it's time for food." Twilight led us to the infamous Sugar Cube Corner where we had met Pinkie not a few days ago. The bell dinged when I opened the door and being the gentleman I am I let the ladies go in first.

"Welcome to Sugar Cube Corner how can I help you?" The yellow stallion from before greets us although he pales a little when I walk in.

"We're just here for some lunch Mr. Cake is Pinkie around?"

"Yes of course uh take a seat she'll be right with you. Pinkie could you come here please!" We sat down at a booth by a window, as a familiar pink mare bounces out of the kitchen.

"What is it Mr. Cake? Is it a surprise? Can you tell me? No, that would ruin the surprise. Is it cupcakes?"

"Pinkie your friends are here to see you, would you be a dear and see to them?"

"Yeparoonie mister Cake." Pinkie bounces over to us and stops in mid air next to the table before slowly floating to the ground. "Hiya best friends forever what can I get for you today?" I smirk, 'That crazy pink mare, one of these days physics will catch up to you.' I clear my throat.

"PINK PONY I HAVE COME FOR LUNCH. MAY WE DINE ON YOUR EXCELLENT CUPCAKES?" Pinkie's smile broadens.

"YES YOU CAN HUNGRY HUMAN BUT BEFORE I GO. WHY ARE WE YELLING?" Pinkie's shout shakes the whole building, when it stops I respond in a more reasonable volume.

"Because it was funny."

"Oh okay." She says with a smile as she bounces back to the kitchen.

"Funny to who exactly?" Twilight grouses.

"Me. Pinkie too I guess, but mostly me." I say as I look over to Twilight with a grin.

"My ears are still ringing." Sky whines her hooves covering her ears.

"And now I feel bad, sorry Sky." Pinkie bounces back out of the kitchen with a tray of cupcakes bouncing along on her back.

"One tray of cupcakes for my super best friends!" She says as she places it on the table.

"Thanks Pinkie." We all grab a cupcake and start eating, they were as good as before maybe even better. 

"An excellent job Pinkie." I say licking the icing from my fingers.

"Thanks." *Ding* The door opens and a small purple figure stands in the doorway.

"There you are. I was hoping you would make it in time." Twilight says wiping some frosting from her face. 

"Hey guys!" Spike shouts running over to our table.

"Hey Spike want a cupcake?" I ask holding out a cupcake.

"You bet!" Spike grins widely and hops onto a stool I tossed him the cupcake and he chows down like he hasn't eaten in days. Finishing his cupcake he looks over to us with frosting coating his scales like a mustache causing the girls to giggle. "What? Do I have something on my face?"

"I'll say you do." I say pointing to his frostache.

"I'll get it!" A pink blur flashes past me before a loud slorp was heard followed shortly after by the sound of a disgusted dragon.

"EWW! Pinkie!" 

"Never leave good frosting to go to waste." She says while giggling in a sing songy voice.

"Shes got you there Spike." From across the room I hear a pony remark to another.

"Disgusting! How do they expect us to eat here with that?" I turn to look at the pony. He was brown earth pony with a black mane and three money bags for a cutie mark. I quietly excuse myself from the table and approach him.

"Excuse me sir I'd like to apologize for Pinkie I'm sure she did not mean to offend you."

"Oh no that's not the problem that was normal for Pinkie. What I find disgusting is that they would allow a monster such as yourself to roam Ponyville freely!" 'This guy. Who does he think he is!? Call me a monster!?'

"I am no mere beast from the forest sir, I think, I feel, I am a sentient creature just like you and I would ask that you respect that." I say clenching my teeth and balling my fists.

"You are nothing more to me than some dirt to be brushed away, you should go back to your cave in the Everfree you monster." 

"....I'll have you know that I have never met a ruder pony Good Day Sir!" I feel my anger rising and decide I should leave before I hurt somepony. I go back to the table and,before the girls can say anything I speak first. "We need to leave...."

"Why do we-" I cut Spike off.

"If we don't leave right now I cannot guarantee the safety of that ass behind me." I say jerking a thumb behind me.

"Please don't hurt Cranky Doodle donkey Cydey." Pinkie uses her hurt puppy look.

"Donkey? No, that pony, if he says one more thing I'm going to knock him into next week."

"Pony? Not Cranky?" I shake my head.

"Him." I say pointing to the brown pony still sitting at his table glaring at us smugly.

"Filthy Rich? What did he say to you to make you that angry?"

"Come on I'll tell you outside." The girls glare at Filthy as we quietly leave the building.

"Don't worry about paying for the cupcakes Twilight I'll take care of it later."

"Thanks Pinkie. What did he say to you Cydon?"

"First he insults me, then he calls me a monster, then he tells me to leave town saying I was worth less than the dirt he walked on." The girls gasp in shock but one voice rings through the din of market chatter in a raspy and very angry yell.

"HE WHAT?!" I look over in time to see a rainbow blur smash into the ground. "WHO SAID THAT? NOPONY INSULTS MY FRIENDS!"

"Rainbow calm down." Twilight says in a soothing voice.

"NO! I DON'T WANT TO CALM DOWN. TELL ME WHO IT WAS SO I CAN CLOBBER HIM!"

"Rainbow Dash calm down right now! Beating him up won't fix anything." I growl with as much authority as I can.

"But I. But he. Grrr fine, I won't beat him up. Can you at least tell me who it was?" Rainbow crosses her hooves as she hovers in front of me.

"It was a pony by the name of Filthy Rich." She immediately looks like she is about to storm in the bakery and make good on her previous threat but I stop with a hand on her shoulder. She looks at me with pleading eyes.

"Are you sure I can't knock some sense into that jerk?"

"I'm sure Rainbow." She harrumphs and turns away.

"I'm still angry about it though."

"I know, I'm angry too but if we just beat him up it will only prove his point."

"Yeah yeah I know but those kinds of ponies are the worst. So what are you guys up to now?" She says turning back to us.

"We were going to check up on how the construction of our house is coming along and then we were just going to hang out at Fluttershy's place."

"Oh that sounds cool mind if I tag along?"

"Sure."

"I can't, I have to get back to baking cupcakes."  Pinkie says smiling as she eats another cupcake before bouncing away.

"I still have to do my chores I'll be in the library if you need me." Spike hugs Twilight and walks off to the tree.

"Well is everypony ready to finish the tour?"

*groan* "But Twilight you took us all over the place for hours how much more is there to see?"

"Not much but It's on the way there." Rainbow looks around nervously.

"On second thought maybe I should-" Before she can move I intercept her.

"Oh no you don't your coming with us Rainbow Dash." I wrap an arm around her stomach picking her up and holding her tight. She struggles but can not break free with her hooves finding no purchase dangling in the air and her wings pinned under my arm. 

"-Or I could just hang here I guess." Twilight smirks at her rainbow colored friends plight and trots on towards the edge of town while Sky giggles. Rainbow gives her a glare to which she responds by sticking out her tongue. As we walk our purple tour guide continues her explanations, observations, and history of the buildings of Ponyville.

It wasn't long before we left the outskirts of the village and began our trek towards our new home. As we crested a hill it finally came into view. It was a two story building designed with me in mind, having extra large doorways (By pony standards) fit for a human. A small creek ran by the side of the house that went under a bridge further downstream, on the other side of it I saw a great many animals milling around a small cottage built into a tree. We walk up to the edge of the construction zone and stand there taking a good look at our future home.

"Hey! What are you doing here? Can't you tell this is a construction zone?" A burly brown stallion with a five o'clock shadow and wooden crates for a cutie mark shouts as he stomps over to us.

"Oh I'm terribly sorry sir we were just checking up on how things were coming along, these are the owners here." Twilight says matter of factly.

"Well howdy doo. Ain't seen you round here before, your a big feller, names Crafty Crate." He said sticking out his hoof.

"A pleasure to meet you sir." I took his hoof and we shook. 

"Aye, well the work is progressing smoothly we should be finished before lunch tomorrow."

"Good, thank you for working so hard to complete it."

"We're just doing our jobs lad the Princess paid good bits to see this place built." 

"It was very kind of her."

"I must get back to work now be seeing ya around laddie."

"Have a good day Mr.Crate." He nodded and returned to his task. 

"Can you set me down now my wings are getting cramped." I look down at the rainbow maned package I still carried in one arm.

"Hmm let me think." I pause to think tapping my chin with one finger.

"Oh come on!" Rainbow shouts sounding a little desperate.

"Haha okay Rainbow no need to ruffle your feathers." I chuckle as I set her down.

"Yeah yeah yuck it up I'll get you back for that." She stretches out her wings trying to get the blood flowing again.

"I'm sure you will Dash. I'm sure you will." 

"Fluttershy lives just over the bridge we should be there soon."

"Yeah it is starting to get late, man time flies."

"And so do I. I gotta go and stretch my wings, later!" Rainbow takes off in a blur doing loops and rolls off into the distance. I look at the girls and shrug then wave my hand towards Fluttershy's. 

"Ladies, shall we go?" They nod and we walk quickly as Celestia's sun began to slowly set. 'I wonder when Pinkie is going to throw that party she promised us?' I began musing about the various types of food that might be there and didn't notice when I almost face planted into the door. 'When did that get there?'

"Hey Cyd snap out of it I don't think you want to knock with your face." I grin sheepishly and knocked on the door with a closed fist. *Knock Knock Knock* We hear an *Eep* from inside and after a few seconds the door opens a crack revealing a teal eye and a pink mane.

"Ye-ye yes?" The pink hair stammers.

"Hi pink hair I'm looking for a yellow mare by the name of Fluttershy have you seen her?" Twilight rolls her eyes.

"But I'm fluttershy."

"Fluttershy? Where is the rest of you?" Fluttershy giggles.

"I'm right here." She says opening the door fully. "I'm sorry I didn't let you in right away but I don't usually get visitors and I was afraid."

"No need to apologize Fluttershy fear is good, it makes you cautious. As long as you don't let it prevent you from doing what needs to be done that is." We entered Fluttershy's cottage, it was well kept but covered in various animal supplies and cages.

"Oh i'm sorry for the mess I didn't have time to clean up after I fed everypony."

"Fluttershy, Sky and Cydon need a place for the night can they still stay here?" Twilight spoke up.

"Oh yes I have plenty of space for two more, as long as they don't mind all my animal friends."

"I don't mind at all I love animals, what kinds do you have here?" Sky says.

"Oh I have all kinds of friendly animals from dogs, cats and birds to raccoon's, bunnies and squirrels. I even have a friendly bear stop by sometimes."

"A bear?" That piqued my interest. 'A bear being friendly with all these little snacks for him?'

"Oh yes he is very friendly you don't have to worry about him though he only eats fish."

"Fish? Does that mean I can go fishing? I really should try to vary my diet."

"Oh yeah, I forgot humans are omnivorous seeing as you've only eaten fruits and vegetables while I've seen you."

"Oh my, you poor thing it's a good thing I keep a few fish in my freezer. You can have them if you like."

"Are you sure? It won't kill me to be vegetarian."

"I'm sure Mr. Bear wont mind and I can always get more."

"Oh, well thanks Fluttershy."

"Twilight will you be staying for dinner?"

"No I have to get back to the library Spike might need my help."

"Ok tell Spike I said hello."

"I will, good bye Fluttershy, Cydon, Sky."

"See you later Twilight." Twilight waved good bye and trotted out the door. *Grrroooo* "Hehe."

"I think I should finish dinner. Make yourselves at home." Sky looked around before sitting down on the couch laying her head on the armrest.

"I hope it won't take long I'm starving."

"Yeah me too, it's very kind of them to open their homes to us."

"Yeah... Hey we should do something to show our appreciation."

"Like what?"

"I don't know yet but I'll think of something." I walk around the room taking a closer look at the various odds and ends scattered about when I feel a tugging on my pants. "Huh?" I look down to see a small white bunny, he glares at me and points from me to the door Fluttershy left through. "What is it? Do you want me to go to Fluttershy?" The bunny nods and bounces to the door where he waits tapping his foot impatiently. "Back in a flash Sky."

"Okay." Sky lazily closed her eyes and her breathing slows. 

"That must be a very comfy couch." 

"Mmhmm." I chuckle as Sky smiles and I leave the room. The door I went through leads me to a kitchen where Fluttershy is busy making salads.

"Oh Angel your back did you get Cydon?" She looks up from the bunny known as Angel and sees me in the doorway. "Oh there you are I was wondering if you could help me with the fish, Mr. Bear eats his raw but I don't think humans do that."

"No we don't, we cook our food." 

"That's what I thought, I have never cooked a fish before could you help me please?"

"Sure, first we take a knife." I spend twenty minutes showing Fluttershy how to properly cook fish for human consumption and by the time we finished I had a fish dinner, although a little overcooked.

"That wasn't so hard but I really don't like the smell." I shrug.

"Yeah not everyone likes fish."

"Everything is ready now can you bring Sky in while I set the plates?"

"I'm on it." I walk into the living room where Sky is lying peacefully on the couch with her eyes closed. I approach quietly and put my hand on her shoulder. 

"Sky foods ready come and get it." She mumbles something and rolls over a little. I shake her shoulder gently. 

"Sky wakey wakey." Sky stretches her wings hitting me in the face and I get a mouth full of feathers. 

"Pfft, aw thats not cool mare not cool at all. Come on Sky wake up dinners ready." Sky wraps her hooves around my arm and grips tightly. 

*sigh* "Fine if you won't get up I'll carry you there." I stand up straight and pull the yellow mare into my arms. 

"Right here we go." I carry her into the kitchen and walk over to the table when I hear some giggling.

"Thanks for the lift but you can set me down now."

"Hmm." 'I could just keep her there like I did Rainbow... nah once was enough.' "Alright down you go." Sky trots over to a seat and Fluttershy places their salads on the table and brings my fish to me.

"Are you sure it's okay? We can try again if it's not."

"It's fine Fluttershy to be honest I haven't had any meat in so long I could almost eat it raw."

"Oh no, don't do that, you might get that salmon disease you told me about."

"It's salmonella and I don't know if Equestria has a disease like that here."

"Well you still shouldn't risk it."

"And I'm glad I don't have to." We ate dinner chatting about our day and how Fluttershy's animals were doing. The fish was good not great but better than no meat at all. After we finished our meal the sun had long ago set.

*yawn* "I'm beat I'm going to sleep on that couch." Sky wearily trots from the room.

"We should probably head to bed too." Fluttershy nods.

"Yes good night Cydon."

"Good night Fluttershy." Fluttershy trots upstairs and Angel follows. I go to the living room just as Sky lays down I sit down next to her. 'This couch IS really comfy!' "Hey Sky." She rolls over to look at me.

"Hmm?" 'Should I tell her about Horte?'

"Never mind." I lean back against the other side of the couch and close my eyes. The cool air causes me to shiver. 'If it works the same here I'd say falls coming. Brr.' I feel the couch move and a warm feathery blanket wraps around me as a warm mass lay next to me. "Sky?" I whisper opening my eyes. She says nothing and looks me in the eyes a warm smile playing across her lips. 

"I can't let my little human freeze now can I?" I smile and we close our eyes, drifting off for the new day.
> Chapter 11 An Unpleasant Surprise/ Ponyville Hospital
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Chapter 11 An Unpleasant Surprise


"Um could you possibly wake up? Um if you want to that is." I groan and roll over slowly opening my eyes only to be blinded by the sunlight streaming in from the window. I cover my face with my hand and sit up.

"Ugh. Good morning Fluttershy. What time is it?" I stretch my arms feeling them give a satisfying pop before settling them back down.

"Oh um good morning. The sun just came up so uh about seven." A stirring from next to me told me Sky was now awake.

"It's too early to be morning all ready." She says as she sits up. Her normally braided mane now spiked up in a sort of mohawk.

"Heh nice couch head." I say with an amused chuckle and a smile.

"What?" She looks in a picture frame to see her new mane style. *snicker* "Now that is ridiculous." 

"I have a brush you can borrow let me just go and get it." 

"Thank you Fluttershy." Fluttershy trots out of the room, she returns moments later with a brush, she hoofs it over to Sky who begins to fix her mane. "This will just take a second." I look back over to Fluttershy who is still watching Sky. A groan from my stomach reminds me of the need for food.

"So Fluttershy what's for breakfast?" Fluttershy raises a hoof in thought before answering.

"Well um I have cereal and oatmeal or I could make you something. I don't mind."

"No that's alright I don't want to trouble you. Cereal will be fine."

"Okay, if your sure." After fixing her mane Sky turns to us holding the brush out to Fluttershy who accepts it without a word leaving to return it to its place.

"Done!" 

"So you are, I like it better this way. But that mohawk was pretty cool."

*giggle* "Thank you. Maybe I should try a new mane style?" 

"Just be yourself.  Now lets go eat I'm hungry!" Heading into the kitchen we find Fluttershy busily preparing a morning meal for the animals.

"Would you like some help Fluttershy?"

"Um yes if you don't mind. Could you make Angel his favorite salad? He gets grumpy when he doesn't eat breakfast." I shrug and look to Sky who shrugs as well.

"Sure no problem what do we need?"

"Oh that's wonderful. Thank you for helping me, here." She hoofs a book over to us. "The salad is on page seven if you need help finding something let me know. Oh and Angel is very picky you have to get it just right or he won't eat."

"No problem Fluttershy just leave it to us." I take the book from her.

"Yeah you can count on us it's just a salad."

"Yes but-" I raise my hand cutting her off.

"We got this." She smiles softly and nods going back to her preparations.

"Okay." We walk over to the table and set the book down opening to page seven. With just a glance I can tell this salad is more like a work of art than a real dish you would see in a local eatery.

"That is one fancy salad." Sky looks up from the book and over to me.

"You can say that again."

"Okay. That is one fancy salad." Sky gives me a look but I just smile and we go back to the book.

"Now we need lettuce, oranges, cucumbers, some pineapple, some asparagus, and a cherry."

"Lets see here." I grab a bowl and the lettuce I pour it into the bowl. "There's that." We spend the next half hour preparing Angel's salad trying to make it resemble as closely as possible. "Now we just need the cherry on top."

"I can't find any cherries." I take another look but there are no cherries are in these cabinets.

"I'll ask Fluttershy." I head outside to Fluttershy just as she was finishing with the animals. "Hey Fluttershy." *Eep* Fluttershy jumps and lands in a nearby bush. "Oh sorry I didn't mean to startle you." She shakily pulls herself out of the shrubbery and dusts herself off.

"I'm fine, did you need something?"

"What? Oh yeah where do you keep the cherries?" Her eyes widen.

"Oh no! I don't have any cherries! We'll have to go into town to get some." She quickly trots into the house with me close behind.

"Do we have to go right now? I mean I didn't even get breakfast yet. Is he really that picky?"

"Yes, I'm sorry, and yes." She says quickly as she looks for something.

*sigh* "Okay then. Hey Sky!" Sky comes into the living room with us.

"What is it? Did you find some cherries?"

"No. We have to go into town to get some, wanna come with us?" Fluttershy finds what she is looking for, pulling saddlebags emblazoned with her cutie mark out from a closet.

"Yes." Fluttershy puts on her saddlebags and places a small bag inside.

"Alright Fluttershy are you ready?" She looks at me and nods with a smile. 'Awwwww.' "Good! Away we go then." I march out of the cottage and head down the path.

"Hey Cyd, Town's That Way!" I stop and turn around, off in the distance smoke is rising over the hill. I face palm and march in the correct direction towards town. The girls join me as I pass giggling like fillies.

"Yeah yeah yuck it up." They look at each other then at me and back to each other before bursting out laughing. I shake my head grinning. 'I can't be mad at that level of adorableness.' We walk quietly to town after that enjoying the clear skies and warm weather. We were stopped by a voice near the edge of town.

"Hey guys!" I look up to see a grey blob hovering overhead.

"Good morning Ditzy." Said mare lands next to us and joins us on our walk.

"So what are you three up to this morning?"

"We're headed into town to buy some cherries for Angel's salad. Do you wanna walk with us?" Ditzy smiles. 

"Sure, I have time right now." We walked and talked through town on our way to the market. Less ponies were staring at me and more were waving and some even smiled. 'Progress.' When we got to the cherry stall Sky and Fluttershy began haggling for a cherry with the stallion running it. 

"Ditzy." She turned to me with her golden eyes.

"Hmm?"

"Back at the town meeting, why did you give me a hug? I mean it was nice but why?"

"Well, when I looked at you I saw a lonely traveler. I've seen lonely travelers before and the best way to make them feel better is a hug. To let them know they are not alone." She phased out like her mind was visiting a memory. A smile slowly growing on her face.

"If you don't mind me asking. Who were you thinking about?" Ditzy snapped back to the real world and continued smiling.

"I was thinking about Doctor Time Turner. He was very lonely but I cheered him right up. All he needed was a hug and a friend." 

"We got it." Sky says trotting up with Fluttershy. "He tried to make Fluttershy overpay but I straightened him out. He won't be doing that again and if he does. You know where I live Fluttershy." Sky nudged Fluttershy with a hoof still smiling.

"Oh yes thank you. Um I think."

"Well I'm out of time. Gotta go. See ya later!" Ditzy took to the air and flew off. I watched her fly off for a moment before returning my attention to the two mares next to me.

"Did you two have a nice chat?" Fluttershy asks.

"Yes, well are we ready to finish that salad?"

"Yeah that's the last ingredient we can go now." We began our journey back to Fluttershy's cottage but quickly come to a stop when a scream of terror and pain echo across the town. The scream continues as I realize it's coming from a familiar voice.

"Oh No! DITZY!" A look of horror spread across their faces as they too realize who was in trouble. "Lets go! We have to hurry!" I sprint down the street in the direction the scream came from with the girls right behind me. In my rush ponies would leap out of my path as I barrel past. Leaping over boxes dodging around stalls and sprinting through alleys. I round one last corner to find a terrible sight. Four Changelings were standing over Ditzy, and Time Turner was slouched against a wall nearby. Fluttershy rushed over to him to check on him.

"He's still breathing but he wont be waking up for a while. Sky can you find me something to bandage this cut?" 

"I'm on it!" A crowd had gathered to see what was going on but I ignored it and pushed through. I pulled out my pistol and took off the safety. 'NO ONE HURTS MY FRIENDS!' I raise the gun after getting through the crowd and level it on the closest Changeling.

"Where is he? The Queen promissed us revenge if we harmed hiss friends!" The Changeling raised a hoof and stomped on Ditzy's leg a sickening crack was heard followed by another scream.

"I'm right here you ugly bug!" I shout as I shoot the Changeling. A gaping hole the size of my fist appears in its head and it collapses to the ground.

"HE'SS HERE! GET HIM!" A bright green flash blinds me for a second and I stare in shock as half of the crowd had revealed themselves to be more Changelings. 'Shit.' The other half of the crowd flee in terror as the Changelings move to surround me.

"Tara can you send the datapad I gave Twilight a message?"

"Already sent."

"Now I just need to survive until they get here." I pull my knife out if it's sheath and enter a battle stance. "How many are we looking at here?"

"Thirty nine Changelings are in the immediate vicinity."

"Good. I'm short on my quota for doing something stupid. Here goes nothing."

"You cannot kill all of uss creature come with uss and no more harm will come to this town."

"What makes you think I can trust you! You come in here and hurt ponies and you expect me to just come with you quietly?"

"Actually no, the Queen wanted you alive but if you were to resisst." It put a hoof on Ditzy's broken leg and applied pressure causing her to grunt in pain.

"I... I'll be fine. Just get out of here!" Ditzy shouted through grit teeth.

"It'ss too late for that little snack." I look around and sure enough I'm completely surrounded by Changelings. 

"Well then, who wants to die first?" The Changelings all tense up before all charging at once I fire wildly into the swarm and prepare for the end. As they get within two feet I close my eyes and brace myself for impact. After a few seconds of nothing I open my eyes. I'm surrounded by a purple bubble and the Changelings are on the ground stunned. The bubble fades and a raspy voice attracts my attention from above.

"Need a lift?" I look up and grin.

"I was wondering when you guys would show up." Rainbow picks me up and carries me over the swarm to our friends.

"Hey I'd never leave a friend hanging."

"Those brutes are in for a rude awakening if they think we will just let them hurt our friends!" Rarity says as the Changelings get up no longer dazed by the impact. 

"You may have your friends but all will fall before the swarm!" I shoot the Changeling in the head and it falls backwards. Bits of chitin and green goo spraying the Changelings around it. 

"Anyone else want to say something?! No? Then lets get this over with I have things to do." This infuriates the Changelings and they charge headlong towards us.

"Are you sure making them angry is a good idea sugar cube?"

"When fighting one must keep a calm head lest they rush into battle and make a mistake." I say calmly firing into the swarm. Twilight began sending blasts of magical energy knocking Changelings into buildings and into each other. Pinkie pulled a cannon out and fired it into the swarm while Rarity used her magic to shove more objects into it. Rainbow and Applejack stood side by side and charged forward letting loose a powerful buck that sent half a dozen Changelings flying. They fought like a well oiled machine covering each others weaknesses with the others strengths. 

Unfortunately I was not a part of that machine and did not notice when the battle shifted from fighting us to keeping them from getting back to me. I stab another Changeling and look up. I'm now surrounded by Changelings again and the girls are distracted by the rest. "Now you Die!" I take aim and pull the trigger but instead of his head exploding I hear a disheartening click. I place my pistol back in its holster and crack my fingers.

"Hand to hoof, no magic no guns. Lets go!" The group tackles me and I collapse to the ground under their combined weight, I feel their hooves begin pounding me relentlessly. I manage to stab one in the leg making it screech before my knife is knocked out of my hand. now battered, bruised and unarmed they continue to beat me. 'It's over. They've won.' The sound of thunder roars across the sky and I hear one last thing before I black out. 

"CYD!"


_____________________________________________________________________



Ponyville Hospital


Drifting In darkness is kind of boring. In cryostasis you just blink and it's over. But this. How long have I been here? Am I dead? The last thing I remember was a Changeling stomping my face in, and thunder. Where did that come from? The sky was clear that day wasn't it? Wait! I think I can feel something! I'm still breathing! That smell? Antiseptic?

"Doctor! I think he's waking up!" 'Yep hospital. Now who was that? I don't recognize that voice.'

"Are you sure Nurse Redheart?" 'Heeellllloooo Nurse! Hehe.' (For those of you too young to know. Animaniacs.)

"Yes. Look he's smiling!"

"I'll go get his friends, keep an eye on him."

"Yes Doctor." The sound of hooves retreats from the room and fades down a hallway. 'Maybe I should try and open my eyes now.' I try and my left eye slowly opens partway. 'Ah face swollen! Careful.' The room is white. White walls. white floors and a white ceiling. Next to the bed a white earth pony. 'AHHH! So much white!' with a pink mane and a red cross cutie mark is taking notes.

"N..nu..nurse." She looks up from her chart and stares at me. 'Man my throat is dry.'

"Oh! Do you need something? Your friends will be here shortly."

"Wa...water."

"Yes you would be thirsty after being out for so long. Let me get you something." Nurse Redheart grabs a cup and fills it up in the sink. "Now drink it slowly." She lifts my head up and tilts the cup slowly. 'Sweet Glorious Water!' After downing the cup she steps back. "You suffered severe trauma to most of your body. You have bruises and cuts on almost every inch of your body and on top of that your bones have been bruised and cracked in multiple locations."

"Wow. How long was I out?"

"Your friends brought you in three days ago."

"I see. Is everypony else okay? How is Ditzy?"

"The other three are doing fine they just need more bed rest before they can be discharged."

"That's good. Wait. Three?"

"Yes Ditzy, Doctor Time Turner, and a..." She flips a page on her notes. "Sky Dasher."

"What happened to Sky? Take me to her please!"

"Please remain calm. Sky is fine she just needs rest. She refused to be separated from you so we gave her the other bed." She waves her hoof to the other side of the room. I painfully turn my head to see the other bed. Sky is on the bed a few bruises and bandages covering her sleeping form. The door opens and six familiar ponies trot in with a brown unicorn stallion.

"Ah! You are awake. Good. I was afraid it was a false alarm. I am Doctor Stable, Nurse Redheart and I will be outside if you need us. Good day." With that they leave the room.

"I'm sorry I wasn't fast enough." Rainbow said looking downtrodden obviously blaming herself.

"It's not your fault Dash It was their plan to get to me." Rainbow perks up a little and gives me a weak smile. "What happened after I passed out? What happened to Sky?" Twilight steps forward.

"I have never seen anything like what she did before."


___________________________________________________________________


"There he is girls come on!" Cydon was standing in the middle of a bunch of Changelings. He was talking and then he fired his weapon into the group killing a Changeling. They tense up and charge him.

"Twilight do something quick!" Rainbow shouts I quickly charge my horn and use a protection spell around Cydon. The Changelings bounce off of the magical bubble harmlessly. Rainbow quickly flies over as I drop the spell. She carries him over the Changelings to us and sets him down.

"Those brutes are in for a rude awakening if they think we will just let them hurt our friends!" Rarity says as the Changelings get up no longer dazed by their impact. 

"You may have your friends but all will fall before the swarm!" Cydon shoots the Changeling in the head and it falls backwards. Bits of chitin and green goo spraying the other Changelings around it. 

"Anyone else want to say something?! No? Then lets get this over with I have things to do." This infuriates the Changelings and they charge headlong towards us.

"Are you sure making them angry is a good idea sugar cube?"

"When fighting one must keep a calm head lest they rush into battle and make a mistake." He said firing calmly into the swarm. I charged up my horn and sent blasts of magical energy knocking Changelings into buildings and each other. Pinkie pulled out her party cannon and fired it into the swarm while Rarity used her magic to shove more random things into it. Rainbow and Applejack charged forward together unleashing a powerful tandem buck that sent half a dozen Changelings flying. A few minutes of fighting later I notice Cydon is no longer near us.

"Rainbow! Where's Cydon?" I shout as I blast another Changeling.

"I don't know he was here just a second ago."

"Find him!"

"You got it! AJ I'm going up!"

"I got this sugar cube." Applejack bucks another Changeling sending it into three more. Rainbow flies high up into the air to search for our bipedal friend. She easily spots him amongst the shorter Changelings.

"Twilight! He's in trouble!"

"Can you get to him?" 'This doesn't make any sense! Why would Changelings attack Ponyville? And why do they want Cydon?'

"I can try!" Rainbow flew fast but not fast enough as the Changelings around Cydon charged him and began beating him. She was about to tackle the group but was hit in the side by another Changeling. Forcing her to the ground. The sound of thunder crashed across the sky followed by a yell.

"CYD!" Sky flew across the battlefield going incredibly fast. A trail of yellow lightning following behind her. She smashed into the Changelings sending them all flying in an electrical blast. She then stood over him protectively, daring any Changelings to come close and giving the ones that were foolish enough to an electrified buck that launched them skyward.

"Girls regroup around Sky!"

"You got it!" We quickly grouped in a protective circle around Sky. 

"You win this time, but this isn't over the Queen will have him." The Changeling gives an insectoid screech and they retreat. I look over to Sky as the lightning starts to fade.

"Cyd." She mutters weakly before collapsing on top of him.


______________________________________________________________________________


"Just what did she do? And why does Chrysalis want you so badly?"

"Did Sky ever tell you the story of how she got her cutie mark?" They shake their heads. "No? Well listen up it's story time and I don't want to repeat it." I tell them the full story that Sky told me. And to say Twilight was curious would be like saying fish like water.

"That explains a little but it also raises so many questions!"

"I'm afraid you'll have to wait until later to ask them that's all I know."

"I know. But what about my other question? Do you know why Chrysalis wants you so badly?"

"I've never met her. But I think it may have to do with the fact that I have personally killed at least two dozen of her swarm. Or it could be the fact that I have advanced alien weaponry. Or it could just be because I'm friends with you guys. So yeah take your pick."

"You have a point."

"Have the Princesses made any progress on finding the Professor?"

"Yes. In fact they said they wanted to talk to you when you woke up. I'll go write them a letter letting them know your awake." Twilight left the room muttering about what she was going to say. Nurse Redheart came back in after Twilight left.

"Visiting hours are over please make your goodbyes." The girls look at me at say their goodbyes and before leaving.

"I'll be back in the morning to check on you. If you need me before then you can use the call button by your bed."

"Thank you Nurse Redheart." She flicked off the lights and left leaving me to my thoughts. 'Chrysalis, Queen of the Changelings. You can hurt me I can take it. I was just going to rescue the Professor but you went after my friends and you hurt poor Ditzy. Now I'm going to make you pay.' I look over to the bed Sky is still sleeping on. 'Sky thank you, I owe you my life.' I felt my limbs slowly going numb and my eye began to close. 'So tired, must be the pain meds.' I close my eye and drift off back into the darkness.
> Chapter 12 Journey
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Chapter 12 Journey


My eyes snap open. My vision is greeted by the moon hanging bright in the night sky. I sit up and look around. 'Where the hell am I?' I quickly look around. I'm sitting in a grassy field on a hill overlooking a massive dark forest. The stars twinkle endlessly in the sky. "Hello?" I stand up. 'Wait a second.' I look myself over. 'Where are my injuries? What happened to the hospital?' "Is this all a dream?"

"Yes. This is a dream." I jump and turn to look at the voice.

"Luna! Why am I here? Why are you here? Where is here?" Luna smiles and looks to the sky.

"This is your dreamscape. You are asleep and I am here to wake you."

"Really? You can enter dreams?"

"Yes. But enough talk you must awaken. My sister and I will be arriving at the hospital soon."

"But how do I-" Luna's horn glows brightly and I shield my eyes. "Ahh! A little warning next time please." I move my hand. I am no longer in the dreamscape but back in my hospital bed. I set my arm back on the bed and wince when my bruised skin makes contact.

"Cyd?" A weak voice from nearby causes me to jerk my head in its direction sending a jolt of pain.

"Sky! Oww."

"Cyd. Your okay. Thank Celestia. I thought you were gone."

"It'll take more than that to kill me. Hehe." I chuckle weakly causing more pain from my ribs. "How about you?"

"I'll be better after some rest. Lightning takes a lot out of a mare." 

"Yeah I bet it does." We look at each other for a few minutes before the door to the room opens. Two Alicorns and one purple unicorn enter. "Princesses, Twilight." I try to sit up only to encounter pain in the attempt. Celestia looks me over concern clear on her face.

"Please allow me to help." Celestia's horn glows and I feel the soothing sensation of water flowing over me. "That should help." The pain eases so that I barley notice it.

"What did you do?" I say testing my limbs.

"I used my magic to enhance your natural healing process and numb the pain."

"Thanks. Twilight said you found something?" The princesses look at each other and nod then look back to me.

"Our scouts have managed to locate Professor Rolling Bones. He is being held, along with dozens of other ponies in a Changeling Hive, located in the Macintosh Hills."

"Twilight, get my things." Twilight gave me a look that clearly said 'Are You Crazy!'

"Your not seriously planning on going anywhere, let alone a Changeling Hive in your condition. Are you?!"

"Hmm, friend in mortal danger. Innocents lives at stake. Yep I'm going."

"But! You can barely move!"

"It's not that bad." I try to stand up and get shakily to my feet. "See nothing to it." I say slapping my leg sending searing hot bolts of pain through it. "No problem." I say weakly. Twilight glares at me unconvinced. I look to the others for support but receive nothing. Fluttershy trots into the room carrying a tray of food and immediately begins glaring daggers into me.

"You get right back into that bed mister!" Fluttershy glares hard enough to almost burn holes into me.

"Yes Mrs. pony ma'am." I quickly but carefully scramble back onto the bed using the sheet to hide from her steely gaze.

"Good. Now you stay there until you get better." I hear hoofsteps retreating from the room so I peak from behind the sheet. Fluttershy was nowhere to be seen the tray lay on the counter by the door.

"Royal guard have been posted throughout Ponyville for its protection. We must go we have duties to attend to. Recover quickly." 

"Yeah, later princesses."

"Oh one last thing. Cydon I want you to read this letter. Read it alone and if you so choose you may share its contents." Celestia levitates a roll of parchment sealed with the royal symbol over to me. 

"Understood Celestia."

"Fare thee well." The regal sister's horns begin glowing and in a flash of light they disappear.

"Twilight."

"Yes?"

"Was that Fluttershy?"

"Um yes?"

"I never thought I would say this but. She can be pretty scary." Twilight and Sky laugh.

"It's okay. I don't blame you. The Stare is very potent."

"The Stare?"

"That's what she calls it."

"I'll remember that." Twilight turns to look at Sky.

"So Sky, how are you feeling?"

"A little weak but I'll be okay."

"Good because I have some questions for you." Sky look to me with pleading eyes that say. 'Help Me!'

"Sorry Sky I already answered what I could."

She groans as Twilight levitates a notepad and quill. "Now Sky, what can you tell me about this lightning ability of yours?"

"I discovered my ability when I was a young filly."

"Yes, Cydon told us your cutie mark story."

"MmHmm Unlike most pegasi, when I encounter lightning instead of being electrocuted I am able to harness its raw power to temporarily boost my speed."

"Amazing, but doesn't it hurt?"

"Of course, but not as much as it would hurt you. As you can tell by my hospital stay it takes a lot out of me."

"Would I be able to run some tests?"

"Ehh maybe later."

"I'll be waiting when your ready. Oh I almost forgot. Cydon, Rarity fixed up your clothes and made you new ones." Twilight levitates a box out of her saddlebags and over to me. 

"Wow, tell her I said thank you. But how did she get my measurements?"

"She used your old clothes and based the new ones on that." Inside the box were shirts of various colors and several pairs of pants.

"These are perfect! But are they durable?"

"They have all been enchanted to be as strong as steel."

"Really? That will be helpful next time a Changeling tries to stab me."

"She thought you would like that."

"How much were they? I should pay her for her excellent work."

"She said that wouldn't be necessary seeing you in more fashionable outfits would be payment enough." Nurse Redheart knocked on the door and let herself in. While I quickly changed out of the hospital gown and into a dark green shirt and grey pants. I placed Celestia's letter in my pants pocket.

"I have your release forms. You are both well enough to no longer need a hospital but remember to get plenty of bed rest for the next few days." She set the forms down on my bedside table and left. I picked up the forms and signed them Sky doing the same. Twilight picked up a wheelchair off the wall and unfolded it before setting it down next to my bed.

"Er that's probably a good idea." I ease myself gently into the chair. It's a little uncomfortable but I can manage. Sky stands slowly and walks over to the door.

"Lets get out of here. We have a new house to see." She says holding the door.

"Oh yeah it should be done by now." Twilight uses her magic to push me out the door and to the front desk. "Here you go we signed it." The duty nurse examines the forms. 

"Everything is in order you are free to go." She helpfully waves her hoof towards the door and returns to her work.

"Thank you." Sky holds the door open as we head out into Ponyville. "Hey Twilight can we move my stuff to the house?"

"I already moved it to your house while you were still in the hospital."

"Cool thanks." As we walked through town I began noticing all the guards Celestia mentioned. They patrolled the streets in groups of four. Marching this way and that.

"Hey where is everypony? The guards didn't scare them off did they? Their not scared of me again are they?"

"I don't know, I can ask around later. Lets get you two home for now, you need to rest." We continue through the nearly empty streets out of Ponyville and over the hill bringing our new home into view.

"Wow it looks great." The two story building was now complete with a balcony coming off of the second floor and a brick chimney on each side. We make our way to the door and Sky opens it. Twilight pushes me inside. "Hey where is the light switch?" The lights suddenly switch on followed by the sound of a cannon and the roar of several dozen ponies yelling simultaneously. 

"SURPRISE!" In shock I jump causing the wheelchair to tilt back too far.

"Ahh!" *Thump* "Oww." I shake my head to clear my blurry vision as a pink blob bounces up to me.

"Were you surprised? Were ya? Were ya?" Twilight rights the chair.

"Yes Pinkie." I said rubbing the back of my head. "Very surprised."

"Oh goodie what about you Sky? Sky?" We look around but can't see the yellow pegasus. I think for a moment and try looking up. Attached to the ceiling light was two yellow pegasi. "Silly fillies you can't have a party up there." Pinkie walks over to the wall and pulls suction cups out from under the table attaching them to her hooves.

"Pinkie what are you doing?" She looks at me and smiles. Turning back to the wall she then proceeds to climb the wall. Then across the ceiling to the light. Pinkie carefully detaches the pegasi from the light and still holding them falls to the floor. Stopping just before impact and setting them gently on the ground.

"You can open your eyes now silly fillies." Fluttershy peeks from around her hoof and catches sight of the crowd. *Eep* Before hiding behind her mane and scurrying behind Pinkie. Sky remains unmoving so I roll over to check on her. *snore* Smiling I pick up the sleeping mare and place her on my lap. 

"Pinkie I really appreciate the party but I think we should just go to bed you all have fun though." Pinkie nods in under standing as I roll over to the stairs and stop. 'Great now what?'

"Need a hoof?"

"Yes actually." I turn to see my favorite grey pegasus and her favorite brown earth pony. Ditzy's leg is in a cast but she seems to be mostly recovered from the attack. 

"How about it Doctor can we help these two up the stairs?"

"You stay off that leg I'll help them." He grabs the chair and carefully gets us up the stairs.

"Thanks, good to see you and Ditzy are okay."

"Think nothing of it. Who knows what they would have done to my Derpy if you didn't show up."

"They wouldn't have even been there if it wasn't for me. They hurt her to get to me."

"Yes they did but you stopped that didn't you. It's not your fault they hurt her. The only thing we blame you for is saving her from them."

"But, I-" He hushes me with a hoof.

"That's enough. Now take this filly to bed." I look at him one more time and he grins at me. "Go on what are you waiting for? Off with you." I roll over to a door and open it. 'Bathroom. Next!' I roll to the next door and open it. 'Here we go.' I roll into the master bedroom and gently place Sky onto the bed. She curls up on the bed as I cover her with the blanket. 

Rolling over to the Balcony door I go outside. Celestia's sun has begun its decent over the horizon and the moon is starting to peak on the other side. I pull out Celestia's letter and begin reading.

Dear Captain Cydon Imperius

I have been hearing things about you. Good things, things that get a pony into the Royal guard. So I would like to offer you a position as a bodyguard to the the Elements of Harmony. Should you choose to accept you will need to burn this letter. It is enchanted so I will know when you do. You will be paid for your services, five hundred bits a month. 
Signed		
Princess Celestia Co-Ruler of Equestria

I roll up the letter and place it back in my pocket. "It's beautiful isn't it?" I turn towards the voice as Twilight steps onto the balcony. "It's my favorite time of day. That special time just as both the sun and moon hang in the sky, Twilight."

"Seems fitting." We watch the celestial bodies move for a few minutes.

"She really likes you." I turn to face her.

"What?"

"Sky, she really likes you." She whispers her head looking towards the ground.

"Yeah." She turns her head to look me in the eyes.

"She's had a really rough past hasn't she?"

"Yeah." She goes silent again.

"What are you going to do?"

"..." 

"She won't wait forever."

"..."

*sigh* "Goodnight Cydon." Twilight turns and starts to leave.

"Twilight?" She stops and turns to look at me. "She can't be alone ever again."

"But she's not alone she has friends now she has you."

"I know. But I wont be around forever. I need to prepare now." I get to my feet.

"Prepare?"

"For the Hive, I'm going. Alone."

"That's crazy! They'll kill you!"

"They want me so I'm going I won't let them hurt anypony else. Even if it kills me."

"But what about Sky! Are just going to leave her here alone!?" She nearly shouts.

"She has you guys as her friends. I'm just an alien who wasn't supposed to be here."

"But you are here and we don't want you to leave. She doesn't want you to leave." Twilight says the last part quietly almost to herself. I don't notice it as I begin searching for the enchanted chest containing my gear.

"Where is it Twilight?" Twilight looks at me with a sad look in her eyes. 

"I have to do this Twilight and I have to do it alone. I cannot allow anypony else to be hurt because of me." Twilight gives me one last look and waves her hoof towards the closet. I open it and spot the chest inside. 

"Thank you Twilight. Please don't tell the others I'm leaving until after I'm gone I can't let them stop me." Twilight nods solemnly and sits down on the bed next to Sky. I grab all of my gear and head for the door. I open it and realize their is still a party going on downstairs.

I set my rifle by the door and head for the kitchen with my pack. I rummage through the cabinets for some supplies. "Your leaving?" I turn to see the cause of the voice. Three familiar fillies are standing in the doorway. 

"Yes, I have something important to do."

"Are ya comin back?" They give me the saddest look I have ever seen a pony make and I quickly crouch down next to them.

"To be honest with you I don't know if I'll come back. But I will try, with all my might." With tears in their eyes they spread their forehooves and I accept their hug. After a minute I release them and continue packing supplies. They watch me as I head back up the stairs. I go back into the bedroom where Twilight is still lying on the bed next to Sky. 

"How do I get to the Macintosh Hills?" I say picking up my rifle.

"The Macintosh hills are south of Appleloosa. The train is leaving soon so you'll have to hurry." Twilight says with no emotion in her voice.

"Thank you Twilight. For everything." I go over to the bed and run my hand through Sky's mane. 

"I'm sorry it has to be like this. I wish I had more time." I head over to a desk and fetch a parchment and quill. I write out a letter and leave it on the table. With one last glance at the two mares on the bed I open the window and climb out. I drop to the ground causing me to grunt on impact. My legs flare in pain.

"Tara I can't slow down can you give me a stim?"

"Remember that multiple doses have detrimental effects."

"I know but I have to keep going." A medistim pops out and injects itself into my arm. I stand up and begin a slow jog. As I near the station I hear a whistle and see smoke billowing over the rooftops. 'I can't miss it.' I increase my speed. The train was slowly picking up speed as it pulled away from the station. I pull out all the stops and sprint headlong for the nearest car. 'Come on. Come on.' The train was going nearly as fast as I was when I finally got close enough to grab a hold of the railing. 'Got it!' I pull myself onto the speeding train and enter the Caboose.

Inside were boxes and crates all bound for different cities I found a sack of flour and lay down. Using it as a pillow I try to fall asleep. 'I'm on my way Professor.'
> Chapter 13 The Hive
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Chapter 13 The Hive


I awoke to an agitated pony prodding my leg. "Unless you have a ticket which I'm pretty sure you don't get off the train." 

"Where are we?" The brown earth pony huffed as he readjusted his hat.

"Appleloosa, now buy a ticket or get off." I quickly stand up catching him off guard.

"Sorry gotta go send my bill to the Princesses see ya!" I bolt for the door and head off into town. Looking back the pony shakes his hoof at me angrily as I disappear behind a building. I look around to take stock of my location. 'Where the hell am I?' I walk back out to the street and take a look around. 'AHA! The clock tower. That means the orchard is... this way!' I head off in what I hope is the right direction. 'Seems to have gotten some new settlers.' Ponies stop and stare at me as I jog through town their mouths hanging agape. As I pass by the clinic a familiar stallion waves from the door. The terrain around me changes to apple trees as I leave town. I keep going until I hear the *Thump* of apple bucking. 

"Dutch! Did you finish the west section?"

"Yeah I put all the apples in the barn Braeburn." I snuck up to the farm pony and lightly tapped him on the shoulder. 

"Excuse me." He jumped a little before turning around. 

"Well if it isn't our favorite human." He put up his hoof and I lightly bumped it with my fist. "Hey! Dutch, Silver look who's here!" Said ponies trot around some trees over to us.

"Well howdy do Cydon what are you doing back in town so soon?" Silver says as they trot up a smile on their faces.

"I just stopped by to say hello and goodbye."

A look of confusion crosses their faces. "Goodbye? But you just got here."

"I'm on a mission." 

"Oh?" They gave me a curious look.

"Yeah, the Professor was kidnapped by Changelings and I'm here to rescue him."

"That's terrible when did this happen?"

"On the train ride to Ponyville."

"Well where is the Royal guard? Surely they should be here to help."

"I left without them, I'm doing this on my own so nopony else will get hurt."

"That's crazy talk! Those Changelings number in the thousands!" 

"I'm not stupid, I have an idea to deal with them." They stand there flabbergasted, I turn towards the mountains known as the Macintosh hills. "Goodbye my friends." The mountains loom large far in the distance. 'This is going to be a long walk.'


____________________________________________________________________________



Meanwhile in Ponyville



Sky Dasher


As I wake up I can tell that something is wrong. Something about this day is off already something... important. I open my eyes and look around. I'm in a large room, I'm lying on a large soft bed covered by its sheets. The walls are a soft teal color but cannot tell me where I am, glass sliding doors to my left that lead out onto a balcony let in the morning sun. The room is sparse in furniture save for a single chair a desk and the bed I am on. Memories of last night fill my mind as I rise from the mattress. 'I must have fallen asleep and Cyd brought me to bed. Come to think of it, where is he?' 

"Cyd?" My question to the air was answered by complete silence. 

A little nervous from the lack of his usual morning antics I try again with more force. "Cyd!?" 'Where is he?' Going over to the desk I spot a letter and pick it up. Hoofsteps approach the door and I hear a knock. I put the letter back down and quickly head for the door, pulling it open I find a purple unicorn with a sad look in her eyes as her head is sags towards the wooden floor.

"Twilight? What's going on? Where's Cyd?" The unicorn looks up at me and stares into my eyes.

"...." Her lip quivers for a moment before she sighs.

"Twilight what happened?"

"Come downstairs I'll tell you with the others." She turns and heads downstairs I follow along feeling with every step that she has something to say that I am not going to like. As we enter the living room I notice the party mess from last night has been cleaned up. The rest of the girls are sitting on the couches around the room.

"Twilight please tell me where Cyd is." Twilight sits down in the middle of the room and motions for me to take a seat. I sit down next to Fluttershy who looks apprehensive as well.

"Cydon made me promise to not tell you this until after he was gone."

"Tell us what sugar cube? And gone where?" Applejack says as she adjusts her hat.

"That Cydon has gone to the Changeling Hive." Several emotions form across the various faces from shock and anger to fear and worry, mine was probably a mixture of all four.

"What! He left without us!" Rainbow shouts as she jumps into the air to begin pacing back and forth while flying. "When I get my hooves on him. Why would he leave without us!? I thought we were his friends!"

"He doesn't want anypony else to be hurt!" Twilight shouts back.

"But were his friends darling, surely he cannot really think he can stop an entire Hive of Changelings by himself, can he?" Rarity says looking to the rest of us for an answer.

Twilight stands up. "And that's why were going after him." We all nod in agreement.

"But how can we hope to catch up to him? He has a head start." Fluttershy squeaks from behind the couch where she had fled when the shouting had started.

"If we take my balloon and have Rainbow pulling us we can probably be there by just after lunch time."

"But will it be fast enough?" I ask Twilight who can only look at me unable to answer.

"Hey! This is me were talking about here, I'll get us there in plenty of time no sweat." With a plan in place we all went to prepare. 'Don't get yourself killed Cyd. Please.'


____________________________________________________________________________



Macintosh Hills



Cydon


"Where the hell is it?!" I shout in frustration. I had been climbing these hills for almost two hours and still had yet to find the entrance to the Hive. As the echoes of my shout fade into the mountain air a new sound causes me to freeze in my tracks. A buzzing sound that seemed to be coming from all around me at once and growing louder as the seconds ticked by filled the air. 'Oh Fuck!' I look around quickly hoping to find somewhere I can hide. Spotting a large boulder I run over to it hoping its shadow would be enough.

The minutes pass and the buzzing grows louder and louder until it finally stops. The sound of dozens of hooves hitting rock nearby echos around. "Find the intruder!" I could hear them buzz in response as they began searching for me. 'I'm screwed, their going to find me.' Thinking quickly I devised a plan. 

"Tara hang on to this will ya?" I pull out my pistol and my knife and pass it to the waiting mechanical arm. With my preparations complete I step out into the open. 'Time to do something stupid.' "Take me to your leader." The Changelings freeze and stare at me. I'm facing a horde of them numbering in the thirties. A Changeling slightly larger than the others is the first to respond.

"So you finally decided to give up creature? Good, the Queen will be pleased." From the back a Changeling with a damaged wing steps forward giving me a glare filled with so much hate hate I'm surprised I didn't burst into flames.

"YOU! You did this to me! You killed my brothers and nearly destroyed my wing!" The Changeling stomps forward aggressively. I steady my rifle on its head and it stops.

"I surrender willingly so that no more harm may come to the ponies of Equestria." I eject the clip and place my rifle on the ground. I then stand at attention and wait for their next move. 

The larger Changeling sneers. "Take his weapon and toss him in a cell, I will inform the Queen of our guest." The Changeling with the damaged wing trots up to me and with a wicked grin bashes me in the head with his hoof. My vision fills with stars as I fall to the ground barely clinging to consciousness.

"The creature is not as tough as he thinks." The Changeling says laughing, it's the last thing I hear before I fall into darkness.


_______________________________________________________________________________



Twilight's Balloon Somewhere Above Appleloosa



Sky Dasher


"Were above Appleloosa now!" Rainbow calls back from her harness.

"Good! We should be able to make it to the Macintosh hills in a few minutes! How are you holding up Rainbow?" Twilight shouts over the wind.

*Pant* "I'm fine but.. *pant* this would be a lot faster if Sky could help!"

"I know Rainbow but Sky is still recovering and needs to take it easy!"

"Yeah yeah I know." I tap Twilight on the shoulder.

"How are we going to find the entrance to the Hive Twilight?" Twilight smiles.

"I know a spell that will let me see where Cydon went."

"Can it tell if he is still alive?" Her face falls as her smile fades.

"No, it just tracks residual energies left behind by the pony or person in this case."

"Hey Twilight where do you want me to land this thing?" Rainbow shouts. Twilight peers over the edge of the balloon and picks out a place.

"Right there Rainbow!" She said pointing to it with a hoof."

"Got it!" 


________________________________________________________________________________



Prisoner Cell Somewhere in the Hive



Cydon

Epic Background Music
I was rudely awoken when I was tossed into a cell. "You will wait for the Queen to see you." I grunt and sit up feeling my head for a bump as a headache sets in.

"Can I get another Stim?"

"Further use of the medistim may cause detrimental effects to your health do you still wish to proceed?"

"Maybe I should wait until an emergency." I look around my cell. The walls, floor, and ceiling were solid rock but the bars were made of sort of material that resembled Changeling chitin. A single guard stood facing away from me by the door of the cell. 'Amateurs.' I sneak over to the guard and after a quick check to see if any more guards were around. I reach through the bars and grab its head. With a quick twist I break its neck creating an audible snap. It slumps in my grip as I pull it closer. A set of keys jingle around its neck, with a quick hand I try one key and then another before getting the right one. 'Now that I'm here it's time to do some recon.'

I explore the tunnel a little bit and find strange glowing rocks lining the walls that give off a pale green glow. The other cells in this tunnel were empty.  'They either put me in a different cell block or I'm too late. Here's hoping the former.' I head out into a different tunnel, and quickly duck back inside. I hide behind the corner as a group of Changelings continue their patrol. 'I'll have to be careful.' I peek out and follow the Changeling patrol being extra careful to muffle the sound of my boot on the rock. 

The patrol goes down several tunnels with me following quietly behind before going into a large room filled with more Changelings. 'Must be a barracks or living quarters.' "Tara do we have any explosives?" I whisper quietly.

"Four bundles of C5."

"Perfect, I'll just leave them a little going away present." I plant a bundle by the door. 'That should keep'em busy.' I continue down the tunnel until I reach an intersection. 'Hmm. Lets try this one.' I head down the tunnel after a short walk I stumble upon two Changelings guarding a room. "Tara. My knife." The mechanical arm shoots out holding my knife I take the knife from the arm and try to approach them stealthily. Both guards appear to be half asleep and very bored. With the precision of a practiced hand I quietly dispatch the first and then take out the second. 'Now what is in here?'

Inside the room is more prison cells each one filled with ponies. 'AHA! I found them.' I approach the first cell and whisper to the ponies inside. "Hey! Are you alright? I'm going to get you out of there." They eye me warily as I try the keys but none of them work. "Well that didn't work. Tara silence my pistol." The forge warms up humming quietly for a minute before the arm comes out holding my pistol and a silencer I quickly attach the silencer. With the gun now muffled I point it at the locking mechanism. "You might want to stand back." They back away and I pull the trigger a muffled bang and some smoke later the chitin lock was destroyed. I push open the door with relative ease.

"Come on out your free." I head to the other cells and repeat the process. "Is there a Professor Rolling Bones among you?" A grey earth pony stallion steps forward. 

"They took him to the throne room before you got here." 

I nod. "Thanks. Do you know the way out of here?"

"Yes, the tunnel on he left always leads to the surface eventually."

"Good, now go on get out of here I have one more to find." A unicorn foal hugs my leg.

"Thanks mister." I ruffle his mane and he goes back to the earth pony. 

"Before we go, who may I ask who saved us from such a terrible fate?" 

"My name? It's Captain Cydon Imperius." They take the first left and I take a right. 'If left is up right must be down.' I find another room with two guards in front. I use my pistol to kill the one further away and cut the other ones throat. After wiping the green blood off I peer into the room and discover thousands upon thousands of eggs. Lining the walls covering the floor and piled high everywhere they would fit. 'Holy Shit!' "Tara what is the most efficient way to blow this room to pony Tartarus?"

"A bundle placed near the main pile and by the support pillar should be sufficient." I move towards the pillar using the shadows cast by the eggs to hide my movements. 

"Can you detect any more Changelings?"

"My scanners are disrupted by the large amount of eggs." I hear a noise on the other side of the room and freeze.

"THE CREATURE HAS ESCAPED!" 'So much for stealth.' I sprint to the pillar and place the charge. Then moving quickly over to the main pile I place the other. 'I still need to find the throne room. But where?' A group of Changelings appears from a nearby tunnel. 

There he is!" 'Not that way.' I sprint off deeper into the tunnels with the Changelings in hot pursuit. 'Aww Fuck Fuck Fuck!' I fire wildly behind me as I run managing to hit a few as we charge headlong down the dark winding passageways.

After a minute of running and gunning I manage to reduce the number chasing me to three. Then I hear a click, I stop and turn to face my remaining pursuers. They continue to charge so I side step them, one manages to graze my arm as I stab one of his friends. With two left they begin to circle me. A flash of green behind me causes me to spin around. I'm about to stab but stop when I realize I'm not looking at a Changeling. "Wait! don't hurt me please!" A blue unicorn with a white mane and a wand with a half crescent moon cutie mark begs. 

"Heh nice try bug." The mare snarls revealing fangs as I kick it into the wall it collides head first with the wall and slumps to the ground. I hear the clopping of hooves and I turn just in time to grab the other Changeling before it stabs into my heart. I hold its head back with both hands as it tries to push the rest of the way forward. Using its four legs as an advantage it pushes me against the wall. 'Gah its stronger than me. Gotta think fast!' I push its head to the left as I slide to the right. Releasing it from my grip as it grazes my side, the enchanted clothing saving me from needing a new lung. The Changeling slams into the wall dazing it just long enough for me to bring a fist down on its face. 'Now that that is dealt with.' The sound of dozens of hooves coming down the tunnel catches my attention. 

I reload my pistol as I continue my sprint down the tunnels always taking the right tunnel. Finally the tunnel opens up to two massive doors made of the same chitin material the cell doors were. But standing guard next to them were two of the biggest Changelings I had ever seen. As big as Celestia and packing a lot more muscle than is natural on a body they stand firm as we stare each other down. I raise my pistol and shoot the left guard in the head causing it to grunt in pain. it holds a hoof to its face and begins to laugh in a deep buzzing evil laugh. 

"Was that it? I was expecting more from the creature who killed dozens of my kin." The other laughed as well as it leaned back against the wall as the first stepped forward. 

"I'll deal with you myself." The behemoth charged, faster than I thought possible for such a large creature and tackled me. I flew up and over it landing in a neat pile by the massive doors. 

"HAHAHA! This shall be entertaining." I pick myself up off the floor as it charges me again. This time I was ready though. As it got close I leapt to the side, using my hand I grabbed it by the neck and swung around onto its back. From my new position I saw that the wings of this behemoth were ridiculously undersized. 'Huh muscle head with tiny wings go figure.' I stab my knife into its thick chitin and hang on tight as it jumps around trying to shake me off. After a minute of flailing about trying to hang on it stops. I quickly take the advantage and place a few more shots into its thick skull. With one last howl of pain the behemoth collapses to the ground. I get up off the now dead Changeling and stare down the other.

"Hmph. That idiot. The Queen wanted you alive. He never did listen. Go ahead I wont stop you." The Changeling behemoth pushes open the large doors and stands back.

"Uh thanks?" I step through the doorway and it closes behind me. In front of me is a massive room with several support pillars along a pathway to a strange looking Changeling. Standing next to it is Professor Rolling Bones, I start to call out but my voice faltered when I notice his eyes were green and glowed eerily.
Epic Background Music Part 2
"So it seems you have finally arrived. Tell me how many of my children have you killed since you woke up on this world?"

"Your children? You must be Queen Chrysalis, I've been looking for you you know. But let me think here... there was the twelve in Appleloosa, plus eight more on the train, and then there was the forty in the Ponyville ambush although I didn't kill all of them myself, and then another nine here in the Hive not including wounded."

"I see."

"Yep I've had a very busy week what with being attacked and saving the day."

"The Professor here told me you would come to rescue him, he also said that dear Celestia would send her Royal Buffoons to help you. But what Do we find? Not a single pony anywhere. Just you. So tell me where is your army?" Now it was my turn to laugh. 

"Didn't you know? HAHAHA! I was trained by the best special forces on my planet. I don't need an army, I am a goddamn army!" For a split second I see a grin on the Professor's face and the glow starts to fade away. When Chrysalis sees this she renews her spell.

"SILENCE YOU FOAL!" Chrysalis roars causing the room to shake violently. 

"I may not have a source of love to feed on but I AM NOT WEAK! I shall destroy you for the pain you have caused me!" Chrysalis stamped her hooves onto the ground causing more than a few cracks to form in the rock beneath her hooves.

"The pain I've caused you? What about the pain you've caused to countless ponies? Kidnapping, assault, and theft. And those are just the beginning." She glares at me before turning to the Professor her jagged horn glows green for a moment before going dark once more. The Professors eyes return to normal as he recovers from the grips of her spell.

"Begone. You will only get in the way." The Professor looks around worried but heeds the Queens words and flees through the large doors. Queen Chrysalis steps down from her throne and makes a slow approach. Her horn glows and my rifle levitates over to me. 

"If you show me how this device works I'll let you leave here alive. This is my only offer to you creature." I Place my knife and pistol where they belong and grab my rifle from her magical aura.

"That's it? Are you really that scared of me? Or are you just stupid?" I say as I deftly load the gun and switch the safety off.

"What did you just do?" She looks at me confused and apprehensive I raise the rifle and aim for her head.

"Something I should have done the moment I saw you." I pull the trigger and hear a satisfying bang, followed by a not so satisfying ping as the round bounces off solid rock.

"Wrong choice. And now I will kill you myself!" I spin on my heels towards the voice and raise my arms just in time to protect myself from a small boulder smashing into my chest. I fly at speed backwards skidding across the floor. I come to a stop at the steps of the throne and slowly pick myself up. I have a rifle shaped bruise on my chest and my rifle is destroyed so I throw it to the floor.  A bolt of green magic flies past my head hitting a step and exploding. 'Shit need cover,' I run for one of the support pillars with bolts of destructive green magic whizzing around me.

"You need to work on your aim." I taunt.

"And you need to hold still!" The bolts stop for a moment so I peek around the pillar. I duck back just in time as a massive bolt blasts the pillar to smithereens. 

"Bigger is not always better." I run for the next pillar as more bolts fly towards me. 'I need a plan. But what?' Another massive blast destroys the pillar. So I run to the next. Without the pillars cracks begin appearing in the ceiling and several boulders fall. 'Of course! If the pillars are destroyed this whole place will come down.' Chrysalis destroys the pillar I'm hiding behind and I bolt for another. 'Three more to go.' A falling boulder attracts her attention. She looks up to see the ceiling cracking and weakening.

"So that is your plan!? Let me destroy my own palace? No! I'm on to you now!" With a flash of green light she disappears. I look around for her when in another flash she appears behind me. Instinctively I jump to the side as she charges where I previously stood. 'If she won't destroy the pillars then I will.' I draw my pistol and take potshots at her as I sprint for a pillar. She ducks and dodges several before using her magic to deflect the rest. She starts firing bolts of magic again as I reach the pillar. 'I've only got one chance at this.' I place my last C5 on the pillar. 'I really hope this works.' I pull out the detonator and step out from behind the pillar holding my hands up. "What trickery is this? What are you doing?"

"I'm giving you a chance to surrender."

"Hahaha! Me? Surrender to you? When I am so close to victory?"

"You may want to rethink that. I hold in my hand a device that once triggered will cause several explosions around this Hive."

"Your bluffing! You would die along with us!"

"Am I?" I put on my best evil grin hoping she wont test my resolve.

*Beep* "Noted reminder you are dangerously close to the blast zone." 

'Dammit Tara!'Chrysalis's look of fear changes to a confident smirk in an instant. "Bad timing Tara."

"AHA! So you were bluffing." Chrysalis charges her horn for another flurry of bolts.

"You asked for it." I release the switch and run for the throne as fast as I can. I hear a loud BOOOOM! followed by several smaller blasts from elsewhere in the Hive. As I feel a flash of hot air from the blast it throws me forward, thankfully I land on the throne's cushion. The pillar now with a large chunk missing begins falling and hits the second pillar on the way down causing it to start to collapse as well. 

"No! NO! My throne room! My Palace! *gasp* My children!" Chrysalis quickly flees the room as the ceiling cracks further causing more boulders to fall. Seeing that now was a good time I sprint for the massive doors of the throne room. I was almost to the door when the final pillar came crashing down, right in front of the door. 'Well fuck.'


______________________________________________________________________________



Hive Surface



Twilight Sparkle


After landing the balloon I cast my tracking spell and managed to locate Cydon's trail. After following it around the mountainside for a few minutes we were led to the entrance of a cave. Strange markings and drag marks were scattered about the cave floor. The clopping of hooves brought our attention to a group of ponies heading for the exit. 

"Stop! Who are you! Are you Changelings in disguise?" Rainbow spread her wings and put herself protectively between them and us.

"Be calm young pegasus we are not Changelings we were their prisoners a short time ago."

"Then why aren't you now?" 

"Because my blue friend we were rescued." Sky perked up.

"Was he tall and on two legs?" 

"Yes he introduced himself as one Captain Cydon Imperius."

"It Was Him He's Alive!" Sky started to bounce a little in excitement.

"Yes yes but I'm afraid he may not be for long." Sky stopped  bouncing.

"What why?"

"He said he was after a pony named Professor Rolling Bones." Sky's eye's lit up at the name.

"Did he find him?"

"If he did then he is most certainly dead for that pony was being interrogated by none other than Queen Chrysalis herself." We all gasp. I remember well what happened when the Changelings invaded during my brothers wedding. Queen Chrysalis was able to defeat Princess Celestia in single combat.

"I'm so sorry Sky." Sky was crestfallen, she moved over to a wall and sat down. Fluttershy quickly went to comfort her. Rapid hoofsteps brought our attention to the cave once more as none other than Professor Rolling Bones himself appeared from the gloom. He quickly trot over to us before collapsing from exhaustion.

*pant* "We have to *pant* Help Cydon he's *pant* in trouble."

"What happened? Where is he?"

"Queen Chrysalis *pant* Fighting *pant* Throne room." With his message delivered he immediately passed out from exhaustion. I turn to the girls.

"Well what are we waiting for Cyd's in trouble LETS GO!" Sky shouts, just as we were about to charge into the cave the earth begins to shake and the sound of muffled explosions came up from the cave. We all backed away as a rolling dust cloud explodes out of the entrance. Followed by the sound of the cave collapsing. When the dust cleared we gazed upon the remains of the cave that was now the tomb of our friend.

"No! NO! CYD!" Sky flew high up into the sky spinning around two clouds faster and faster as she turned them into powerful thunderclouds. As the thunderclouds began to rain. She flew up higher and higher until she nosedived straight through the clouds causing a flash of lightning and a crash of thunder. She came down with enough speed that she broke the sound barrier creating a blue electric boom. She smashed into the rocks shattering the biggest boulders and pulverizing the smaller ones into dust. She tried again and again but was unable to break through the wall of solid rock. When the lightning wore off, Sky collapsed to the ground and cried herself to sleep. 

"I never got to throw him a party." Pinkies mane deflated as she teared up. "And now I never will." Rainbow pulled her closer to give her a shoulder to cry on. 

"Girls we should go." With heavy hearts we returned to the balloon after showing the survivors the way to Appleloosa we started off back home. The ride back was quiet save for the occasional sniffling from Pinkie and the soft snores from Sky. 
> Chapter 14 Aftermath
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Chapter 14 Aftermath



Two Days Later



Sky Dasher

Listen to this for extra feeling.
Pain, that was all being awake anymore meant. The pain of knowing that he was gone, buried under a mountain. I roll over in bed not yet ready to get up just to start another day without him. I wishing I could just go back to sleep, in my dreams he's still here with me. We go on adventures and he does something to make me laugh. But then I wake up and return to cold reality. I'm about ready to just lie here for the rest of the day when I remember something. 

A letter placed on the desk when I woke up on that fateful day. I sit up and get out of bed. Every effort to move made all the more difficult by the overbearing sadness I feel. I search the desktop but cannot find it. 'Where is it?' I open and search the drawers but still cannot find it. 'Maybe?' I check behind the desk and sure enough it lies just out of reach. 'Found it. But how do I get it out?'

I go over to the door and head downstairs. Twilight and the others insisted on staying over until the Professor and I had fully recovered. The clattering of plates in the kitchen draws me in, I find them sitting in the kitchen eating breakfast. "Sky darling, your awake. Would you like something to eat?" I shake my head. 'Food can wait. This is more important.'

"Twilight can you help me?" Twilight stands up from the table. 

"Sure Sky what do you need?" I motion for her to follow me and lead her back upstairs. 

"I lost a letter behind the desk and I can't seem to reach it."

"I can get it." Twilight's horn glows and the letter floats out from behind the desk. 

"If I may ask, who is it from?" I take the letter and read the front.

"It's from Cyd. To all of us." Twilight's eyes widen. 

"I'll go get the girls." Twilight hurries from the room. I sit down on the bed holding the letter. 'This is it. My last piece of him.' Twilight leads the girls and Professor Bones into the room.

"What's going on sugar cube? Twi said something about a letter." They spot the letter and my solemn look and sit down. 

"Whats it say sugar?" I open the letter and read aloud.

"To the best friends anyone could ever ask for. After the Changeling ambush on the streets of Ponyville I knew that the longer I stayed the more danger you would all be in. So, with a heavy heart I decided it would be best for me to leave. I know that you all would disagree with me so I left without telling you the night of the party. I'm headed for the Changeling Hive in the Macintosh Hills but please don't try and stop me, the reason I left was to keep you safe." Every head hung low as I continued to read, each one remembering the times shared with Equestria's only human.

"I will miss you all, Professor If I do manage to save you. I know we didn't get to know each other for long but your quick wit and powerful mind impressed me greatly I know you will discover many great things." A small grin spread on his face as he wiped away a tear.

"Pinkie Pie my first friend in Ponyville, I know it is hard right now but please keep smiling, you have no idea how much joy you bring to others with such a simple act." Pinkies mane which had been flat since the cave collapse poofed up a little regaining some of its former frizziness. A smile spread across her lips, small at first but growing as the seconds rolled by. Brightening the room ever so slightly.

"Applejack the hardworking and honest apple farmer. It was a pleasure to know you, the connection you share with your friends and family is one of the strongest bonds I have ever seen. Never let it go." The apple farmer took off her prized hat and closed her eyes putting her hoof over her heart a small smile on her face as a tear rolled down.

"Rainbow Dash the most talented flier in Equestria. I know how you hate to get all sappy and emotional but I have a final request. I would like you to perform the Sonic Rainboom for me." Rainbow was trying very hard to hold back tears but when she heard Sonic Rainboom a determined look entered her eyes. 

"Fluttershy the kindest pony in Equestria. We didn't talk much but it was enough to know that you are indeed the kindest most caring pony I have ever met. No human could ever say they were as kindhearted as you." Fluttershy hid behind her mane but couldn't hide the tears. 

"Rarity someday your designs will be world renowned. I never got to really thank you for the clothes you made for me. So here is my most heartfelt thank you." Rarity pulled out a couch with her magic and fell onto it dramatically for the first time crying real tears into it.

"Twilight Sparkle I give to you all my remaining electronics as I know you will be able to use them the best." Twilight's eyes lit up at the prospect of all the new knowledge but quickly dimmed when she remembered how she got it.

"And last but certainly not least Sky Dasher my very first friend in this land. I had hoped that I would have had the time to tell you in person but it seems that fate has decided it will be like this. When I first met you under that tree in the orchard I saw a scared pony with a sad past. But when I look at you now as I write this letter I see a beautiful mare who suffered through hardships and became stronger for it. It was a very strange thing for me because humans were the only sentient beings on our planet. But. Sky Dasher, the pony I have spent most of my time with and the pony I would like to spend the rest of my life with. I..I.." I stopped reading. I was trying to process everything that had happened since we met from the orchard to Canterlot and our time in Ponyville. Twilight put a hoof around me.

"Sky? Are you okay? What does it say?"

"It says... it says..I... I love you." The room went silent as the words and their meaning sunk in. Twilight hugged me tighter as I continued. "My only regret is that I didn't tell you sooner. But if this is the end for me I wanted you to know. Goodbye my friends." I dropped the letter, it floated gently to the ground as my world came crashing down. 'He loved me.' Seeing my distress I was immediately covered in ponies as they gave me a group hug. The comforting warmth of my friends pulled me out of the downward spiral that would have led to depression.

"Your not alone sugar cube we will always be here for you." I returned the hug and cried, we all did. We cried for a long time letting out all the pain of a friend never coming back and for me the pain of never getting the chance for that friend to be something more. When we finished we broke the hug all of us feeling a little better. A knock on the front door gathered our attention. I went downstairs to open it cautiously being followed by my curious friends, I open the door with my head hanging low so I can only see the hooves of the pony in front of me.

"Are you... Sky Dasher?" I look up. A pegasus pony gilded in the armor of the Royal guard stands before me. He looks up from the parchment in his hooves to look at me.

"Yes. Can I help you with something?"

"Princess Celestia has summoned you and your friends to Canterlot."

"Canterlot? Why does the Princess need us?" The girls and the Professor come to the door.

"I am not at liberty to discuss it, but it was very important. I will be waiting at the chariot." The armored pegasus turned and trotted off to the chariot near the hill.

"Lets go everypony the Princess is waiting for us." We file out the door and head for the chariot I close the door behind us and turn to catch up, and almost run right into Twilight.

"Sky. Are you feeling any better?"

"Yes,,, and no. I don't know how to feel right now. I'm sad he's gone but happy he felt that way about me but then sad we never got a chance." My head droops towards the ground.

"Don't forget your not alone. We will always be here for you." Twilight places her hoof on my shoulder. 

"Come on you two! I'm getting bored with all this waiting around." Rainbow shouts from the chariot.

"Coming Rainbow!" I look up and Twilight gives me a smile. I smile back weakly and we head to the chariot. Once we climb aboard the pegasi set off. 


_______________________________________________________________________________



One Pegasus Chariot Ride Later


"Thank you for the ride gentlecolts." Rarity says as she gets out of the chariot.

A familiar voice shouts from nearby. "Twiley!"

"Shiny!" The siblings rush forward and embrace each other in a warm hug.

"I heard about what happened. I'm sorry we weren't there." He says looking me in the eye his expression one of remorse and guilt.

"It's not your fault, he wanted to go alone."

"I know but that doesn't make it any better. Although i'm glad the rest of you are safe. Come, Princess Celestia is waiting." Shining Armor led the way through the long passageways and corridors that make up Canterlot castle. 'I remember the first time we came here Cyd was staring at everything we passed. *giggle* I didn't think his jaw could drop that low when we walked past the kitchens. All that food.' I was snapped from my memories when Shining Armor opened the massive wooden doors to the throne room. "Were here."

Princess Celestia stood as regal as ever by the stain glass window overlooking the gardens. Princess Luna by her side. "Princess!" Twilight said rushing forward to hug her teacher. 

"Twilight Sparkle and friends so good to see you again."

"It's good to see you too, but why are we here?"

"I believe it would be best explained by someone else."

"What do you mean?" Celestia gave a knowing smile and turned her head towards a nearby door.

"If you would be so kind as to let him in. Shining Armor." Shining Armor approached the door. Stopping before it and standing to the side as he slowly opened the door. The door opened revealing a familiar face.

"Hey everypony did ya miss me?" There clad in dusty and ripped clothing and covered in bruises and cuts with a particularly large bandage on his side was none other than Cyd himself seemingly back from the dead. 

"CYD!" My heart soared and so did I as I rushed him in a tackle hug.

"Ahh...Pain!" I grinned sheepishly as I released him.

"Whoops sorry!" He smiled and ruffled my mane.

"What happened to you? How did you get out of the Hive? We saw the entrance collapse!" Twilight and the others rush over giving their own hugs. Causing him to groan in pain. The Professor just stuck out his hoof, Cyd made a fist and bumped it. Making both smile.

"That Twilight is a long story, one that contains the biggest discovery in Equestrian history."

"What did you find?" Twilight looked at me eagerly her curiosity showing.

"I found a door."
> Chapter 15 The Reveal
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Chapter 15 The Reveal



Cydon


"A door?" Twilight looked at me like I was stupid. Which without any context she was right.

"Not just any door Twilight. I have seen this door before, a long long time ago." Twilight raised an eyebrow but said nothing. "Let me start from the beginning." I tell them what happened after I left the house three days ago all the way up until Chrysalis fled. "Then Chrysalis started panicking and yelled something about her children before running out of the large doors. I ran for the doors as well but just before I got there the last pillar collapsed down in front of it. I remember thinking to myself 'Well fuck.'"

"You were trapped! But how did you escape?"

"Well every palace has an escape route hidden somewhere in the throne room." Celestia coughed and put a hoof over mouth. "So I searched everywhere as quickly as I could while the ceiling crumbled around me. And lo and behold behind the throne was a door."


__________________________________________________________________________



Changeling Hive Two Days Ago


I grabbed the handle of the door and gave it a sharp twist. 'Locked. Hard way it is.' I raised my foot and gave a mighty kick hoping that this door was weak. I was rewarded with the sound of splintering wood as the door broke. 'Yes!' I sprint through the now open door as the throne room completely collapses behind me.

As the dust that filled the room settled I looked around. Before me lay a long tunnel lit with the same green glowing crystals from before. 'Well this could take a while.' Unable to go back and hoping for an exit if I go forward I set off. "Tara can you send the datapad a message?"

"The density of the surrounding rock prevents radio transmissions and Ponyville is too far away for my transmitters."

"Damn." I keep walking for several more minutes. 'Just how long is this thing?' Suddenly the tunnel opens up  and I come into a large room, a massive glowing rock hung from the ceiling lighting the entire room. 'Whoa.' The room was practically empty save for a grey door on the other side of the room. Several tables lay scattered about it papers covering them, I pick one up.

Log 17 
We have tried every possible way we can think of but we are unable to find a way to open the door. It remains stubbornly stuck even when a dozen of our most powerful mages try to pry it open. Unless we can make some progress soon the Queen has told us to stop and return to the Hive.

I look over at the innocent looking grey door that gave the Changelings such a hard time. I approach it for a closer look. The paint that once adorned the door is chipped and faded to the point of being unrecognizable but I make out a few letters.

P--en-x Bu---r Th-ta P--j--t I take a step back and fall down as I trip on a rock. 'No it can't be.' "Tara tell me that isn't what I think it is. Tell me this isn't... Earth."


__________________________________________________________________________________


The girls gasp causing me to pause mid flashback. I give them a glare that tells them to be silent and they don't ask any questions.


__________________________________________________________________________________


"My scans show that the door is made of the same material as the Phoenix Bunker." I run my hand over the grey metal. 'Earth. I never left.' 

"Tara can we open the door?"

"Working... I can unlock the door but without power you will have to open it manually." My backpack starts whirring for a minute before I hear a click from the door and it opens a crack causing a whoosh of pressurized air to vent from inside. I reach inside the crack and try to pry open the door succeeding in moving it a few inches before it stops, refusing to budge any further. I look around for something to pry it open with and settle on using the leg from a desk. After a few minutes of struggling with it I manage to pry the leg off the desk. I place it against the door and ready myself.

I shove with all my might and smile widely as I am rewarded with a groan from the door as it slides the rest of the way open. I step inside the dark room, light from the glowing rocks spilling through the doorway. Along the walls are clear cages big enough to hold a full sized horse. Computer monitors and various machines sit on desks in the center of the room. "Tara how do we restore power?"

"This is Theta lab the power station is down the hall to the right." I move to the door and pry it open with the desk leg. The dark hallway prevents me from continuing. I'm about to say something when a soft whirring and a click brings light streaming in front of me. 'That's helpful.' With a light  pushing back the darkness I make my way down the hallway. I reach a door and pry it open. Inside I find several monitors and a large machine in the corner. "Start the generator to restore minimal power." 

"Right." I head over to the machine and look for a way to start it. I spot a rip chord and give it a pull. The old engine sputters but doesn't start. I try several more times but get the same result. "Dammit!" I kick the machine as I yell jostling it and causing it to sputter to life. 'Alright! Lets go with that.' The old lights in the room flicker to life the glowing growing brighter as the generator warmed up. 

"The monitors should be active now." I head over to the computer and find that it has indeed powered up. I use the computer to activate the solar panels. A warning pops up saying that most of the panels are damaged or buried but enough still function to restore some power. I contemplate attempting to start the fission generators but decide against it. 'I don't have time to deal with a melt down.' I head back to Theta lab. 'What were they doing down here? This place was classified even for me.' I activate a monitor. 

'Security was really tight down here I wonder why this terminal doesn't have a password.' I open the Theta labs project files. Inside I find only one project, Project Theta. 'I wonder why they didn't come up with a more creative name?' Inside DNA sequences and notes on the effects of certain changes to its structure fill the folder along with multiple logs dated after the launch of Project Phoenix. 'Curiouser and curiouser.' The notes go on to say things that I don't understand being a soldier instead of a scientist. I open the oldest log file. 'Maybe this will clear things up.' A face I know all too well appears on the screen. 'What were you up to you crazy bastard! You were supposed to leave in a pod with us.' 

Theta labs log Lead Scientist James Mcreedy, November 10, 2132 
"I have decided to remain behind to finish my research. Because of this I have missed my window to escape the planet. I believe it is for the best, only half of the pods successfully traveled past lunar orbit. The unexpected solar storm damaged the remaining pods causing most to crash back down on the planet. Even though half of the pods were lost the survivors should still be able to build the colony we originally planned." 

Theta labs log Lead Scientist James Mcreedy, November 11, 2132 
"I have selected the species to use in my experiments. A member of the Equus family, the pony. It is my hope that with genetic manipulation I can breed a new species of pony. One that is resistant to the deadly radiation that plagues this planet." 

Theta labs log Lead Scientist James Mcreedy, November 15, 2132
"Experiments on the genetic structure have produced some fairly odd results. One experiment produced an equine with bug like characteristics having a hard shell of chitin and strangely enough it had wings and a horn like the unicorns and pegasi of myth. I placed it in a test chamber and to my surprise in a green flash it changed its form to look similar to me although it was flawed. The radiation spike from it set off several alarms. Nothing dangerous just enough to be detected. I need to study it further." 

Theta labs log Lead Scientist James Mcreedy, November 20, 2132
"I have successfully created a nearly normal looking pony. Its coat is a dark blue but with enhanced strength and a resistance to the radiation outside it is far superior to other ponies. It seemed to show some signs of being sentient although it did not speak. I believe I may be able leave this world knowing that something still lives on it." 

Theta labs log Lead Scientist James Mcreedy, November 23, 2132
"One of the other ponies came out with a horn and another with wings. Fascinatingly enough they actually work, the pegasus can fly and the unicorn is manipulating radiation to do 'magic'. I'll need to test this further." 

Theta labs log Lead Scientist James Mcreedy, November 30, 2132
"I have decided to release the 'ponies' to see if they are able to survive in the radiation as I designed them to. With any luck they will flourish in this new world." 

Theta labs log Lead Scientist James Mcreedy, December 5, 2132
"To my amazement it seems that the radiation didn't kill off all life, but mutated some of them into fantastic creatures. A Komodo Dragon from a zoo has grown in size and gained wings. As well as a lion and eagle mix that looks like a griffin. The ponies were attacked. The bug like one changed forms and hid, out of sight of the beast. While the others worked together and managed to escape. On a side note the ponies seem to distrust one another but will work together in a crisis." 

Theta labs log Lead Scientist James Mcreedy, December 22, 2132
"This is my final log the radiation levels are too high for me to survive much longer. My ponies have survived and passed the test. As my last act in this life I will create as many as I can to increase their chances of survival. I only hope that someday future generations of these ponies will one day find this bunker, and these logs, and understand that they are not alone in the universe and that someday humanity may return to our home." I turn off the computer. 

"That's just... so he engineered... Sky, and the others." My thoughts became a jumble as my mind tried to accept that the ponies. Ponies I had come to know over the course of the last week were made by the hand of man. By Mcreedy a man who pioneered many scientific fields. I felt a little woozy. 'I need to sit down.' I sit down on the hard Terracrete floor and lean my head against the desk. 'Its been a long day.' I close my eyes and go to sleep.


_________________________________________________________________________


The ponies including the Princesses are staring at me with their jaws dropped. "What does that make us? Pets? Genetic abominations?! Just a creation of man!?"

"Twilight! Please calm down! You are all living breathing sentient beings all perfectly capable if making your own decisions. So no you are not and never will be pets. Are you genetic abominations I don't think so. But your ancestors were created by a man yes." Twilight and the others mulled over this still unsure what to think.

"This information never needs to leave this room. This knowledge changes nothing, it only reveals the most ancient part of your history. My feelings towards you all have not changed nor should your feelings about me change." Slowly they manage to compose themselves and nod. Celestia responds.

"I don't know what to think about all of that. But, please continue your story. What did you do when you woke up?" 

"Well."


___________________________________________________________________________

Listen to this if you want to
I woke up and checked my watch 8:30 AM 'Time to get up.' I stand and dust myself off, I look myself over. I'm covered in scratches and bruises and my clothes are torn and dusty. 'Rarity will be upset I ruined her hard work.' With the lights now working I head out to check on the condition of the rest of the bunker. Although mostly intact several hallways had collapsed and many electronics had decayed over time. After a few hours of walking around I found a door leading to the surface that still worked. I opened the hatch and stepped out into the morning sun.

I look around but nothing I see I recognize. 'How the hell do I get back to Ponyville?' At that point I remembered that everypony thought I was dead. 'I better fix that and fast. But how? Wait! Celestia's letter!' I pulled the now only slightly damaged letter out of my pocket and reread it to make sure. 'Here goes nothing.' I use the forge to burn the letter. I wait a moment but nothing happens at first. 'Well what did I think was going to happen anyway?' I suddenly began to feel very tired so I sat down to rest my eyes for a few minutes.

"By the stars above tis true! You are Alive!" I jump up at the voice and look around my eyesight is greeted by the dreamscape from before and the Princess of the night.

"Princess Luna!" 

"Twilight's letter told us you were buried when the Hive collapsed! How are you alive? And where are you now?"

"Yeah long story that one remind me to tell you when I get back. As for where I am right now I have absolutely no idea other than somewhere in the hills."

"Hmm then I shall make a beacon to guide your journey back. Just follow the brightest star in the sky I shall even make it visible in the day."

"Wow that's really cool thanks Luna."

"Think nothing of it you are a friend and I will do all I can to help you. I will speak to you again tonight for now you have a long journey ahead of you, I wish you luck."

"Goodbye Luna and again thank you." Luna smiles and her horn glows. 'Not again.' I close my eyes before i'm blinded. I open my eyes and find myself back by the hatch. The sun hasn't moved as I look to the sky I look around and sure enough on the horizon I see a bright star. 'Thanks Luna.' "Tara mark this location." 

"Location tagged." 'Well nothing left to do here time to go. I'm coming Sky, I'm coming home.' With an unceremonious first step I began my march home, following the only star shining in the daytime sky. The hills seem to stretch on for miles as I walk about eventually I stumble into a river, literally. After my refreshing dip I stop for a minute to refill my canteen after I wait for the filter to clean out the microbes I take a long drink. The river is flowing in about the same direction as the star so I follow along its banks making good time. 

The surrounding landscape began to slowly rise until eventually I lost sight of the star as the river became a gorge. Strange holes in the walls made me uneasy so I tried to avoid them. As I continued I came to a point that I could not pass without going past one of the holes. I drew my pistol and peered inside. What I saw made me glad I avoided the others. 'I don't know what that thing is but it sure is ugly.' A large grey Eel like creature lay inside, this one appeared to be sleeping though. Very carefully I tried to sneak past, I was nearly across when I accidentally kicked a rock causing it to fall into the river and make a splash. I froze not sure if the monster was going to wake up. After about a minute of my heart beating in my throat I calmed down enough to start moving again, as I made it to the other side I let out a low chuckle. "Hehe." Quite suddenly all the noise around me completely stops the birds the wind everything. 

I get the feeling of being watched so I slowly turn around. Towering above me is the eel monster, its breath stank of rotten meat as it sized me up. *gulp* It leaned its head back and opened its mouth revealing several rows of razor sharp teeth. Reacting quickly I drew my pistol "AHHH!" I screamed as I unloaded a clip into its face, the silenced pistol peppered it into swiss cheese. After hearing the gun click a few times I stopped pulling the trigger. As I started to calm down my breathing returned to normal so took a look around, all around the gorge more of the things were watching me from their holes. When they don't make a move I decide to quickly make my exit. I turn around and run after I go around a corner I notice that there are no more holes. 'Phew. That could have been bad.' A quick glance at the sun tells me my daylight hours are fading fast, I walk quickly hoping for a safer spot to make camp. Starting to get hungry, I pull an apple from my pack and munch on it while I walk. 'Gotta keep moving.'

The scenery around me began to change as I walked going from the grey walls of the gorge to a sheer wall of rock with a humongous waterfall.  'Well this could be a problem.' I look around for a way up and spot old and worn stone steps leading up the side of the waterfall. 'Looks like lady luck is still on my side.' I climb the steps carefully  trying not to slip on the wet and slick steps. After what feels like an eternity I make it up the steps and turn around to see the gorge I had come through. The sun had begun to set off to my right,  I watched as those Eel things try to catch a bird. It dives and climbs zigging and zagging before escaping into the trees nearby.

I turn back around to see where I go next. Stretching before me is a very wet bog, brown grass, mud, and trees. I sigh and tighten my boots. 'Don't want to lose these.' I set off trying to follow the star through the fog and trees. After squelching through the bog for an hour I eventually find a relatively dry spot and decide to set up camp. I gather some sticks and break off a few branches, but after almost an hour of trying to start a fire the sun sank below the horizon leaving me in the dark. The full moon came out leaving me with enough light to see by. After a few more minutes of struggling I manage to create a few small embers which I fan into a fire. 

"YES!"  'Finally!' I feed my now growing fire and sit down. I watch the fire for a bit as I eat another apple. I add a few more branches to make sure it won't go out on me during the night and lay down, my head resting on a rock which was the driest thing around.

More music for your ears.

I try to close my eyes to get some sleep but something was off. The bog was... quiet. The night time creatures were silent. This caused me some alarm as the only time they would get quiet was if something or someone scared them. I sit up, I check the position of the moon but I can't see it through the three giant trees blocking the way. I'm about to just sit and wait when one of the trees move. I look up and in the faint moonlight I see three sharp toothed faces staring at me hungrily licking their lips. 'OH Shit!' The three heads roar loudly shaking the ground around me, I stand up quickly and jump to the side as one of the heads crashes down where I was just a second ago. With anywhere but here in mind I take off at a full sprint trying to lose the beast. I had no idea which way I was going but as long as it was away from that three headed thing I was okay with it.

The monster lumbered through the forest behind me smashing trees and trampling anything in its way. I run as fast as I can but the giant still continues to gain on me I fire my pistol wildly behind me hoping to scare it or something. Suddenly I hear the beast grunt in pain so I risk looking back, one of my shots hit the middle head in the eye scrambling its brains. It fell limply forwards dragging along as the other two heads roar in fury and pain. The monster trips over the fallen head and lands with a heavy thud shaking the ground. I continue my sprint through the trees until I can no longer hear it scream. 

I look at my surroundings and discover I am no longer in the bog but in a very menacing and dark forest. 'I need to find a safe place to make camp.' A twig snaps nearby making me tense. 'This is just not my day.' I slowly draw my pistol. "Tara you got anything?"

"Thermal does not detect anything but my motion sensors say we are surrounded."

"Great." I take out my knife and ready my stance to move in any direction. From the trees around me glowing green eyes come out of the trees revealing wolves made from the trees themselves. They begin circling me growling menacingly. 

"Nice doggie. Good doggie." The biggest dog looks me up and down. It growls and the others back off forming a circle around the clearing. 

"Mano e mano huh?" The wooden wolf grins baring its fangs. "Lets dance." 

We begin circling each other looking for a weakness in our stances. I feign weakness in my left leg and the alpha falls for it, the wolf leaps to my left and charges. I crouch low and wait until it is almost on top of me, it opens its mouth wide trying for my neck. I uppercut the beast in the jaw causing it to snap shut, the wolf continues its flight into me knocking me down. I roll and stand up, as the the alpha gets up and shakes its head I take the opportunity to pistol whip it as hard as I can, a loud crack and the alpha collapses falling to pieces. The other wooden wolves begin growling again and step forward. 'I don't think they liked that.' I get back in my ready stance when suddenly a familiar roar shakes the forest. 'No! not you again!'

The ground shakes and the wolves flee. Not wanting to follow the wolves or head towards the now two headed beast I pick the third option and run a different way. The stomping grows louder behind me as I run I try to go faster but the long day of travel and running has worn me out. Suddenly I'm enveloped in a thick fog forcing me to slow down even further to avoid hitting a tree. I spot another clearing in the trees and head for it. As I step out of the trees I take notice of a large ruin on the other side of a chasm with a rickety wooden bridge being the only way across. I look behind me the two headed terror is closing fast. 'Looks like I have to risk the bridge.' I carefully make my way across each board creaking and bending uncomfortably under my weight. After what feels like an eternity I step onto solid ground. I look back across the bridge the monster is glaring at me trying to kill me with hatred alone. I take a pot shot at one of its heads, I miss completely but it gets the message. With one final roar it heads back into the forest. 

"Yeah Fuck you too." 

"This place looks like it will be as safe as I'm going to find." I say looking the ruins up and down. From the looks of the place it used to be a magnificent castle but due to many years of neglect the once majestic ceilings collapsed leaving most of the building open to the sky. The walls cracked and crumbling as mother nature reclaimed the land as her own. I head for the door and open it groaning loudly on unoiled hinges.

"My scans detect a large heat signature inside." 'Fuuuuck!' 

"This day just won't end." I head inside carefully, searching for the source of the heat. I find it when I go around the corner. What I find is a large lion like creature with a scorpion tail and small bat wings. I find it standing not two feet away from the corner I had just passed. It stares at me and I stare back. 

"Um nice kitty?" I squeak out it looks at me like it was trying to ask if I was stupid. It roars at me causing spit to fly out and hit me. 'Blegh.' I wipe it off on my pants before backing away slowly. The lion thing stands its ground still staring me down. I head back around the corner before breaking into a sprint. The lion thing hearing my retreating footsteps gives chase. I dodge around fallen pillars and chunks of fallen ceiling trying to evade the swipes of its massive paw. I make it to the end of the hallway before it finally catches me with a mighty swipe, I fly the rest of the way down the hall and crash heavily into the large wooden doors.

I stand up slowly, 'ow, ow, ow.' I check my side three slashes from where its claws hit me causing even the enchanted shirt to tear. I look to the beast and fire a round into its head. A neat quarter sized hole appears in its head but it keeps coming. It reaches me and smacks me again. I hit the crumbling wall and slide down to a sitting position. It walks over to me slowly licking its lips. I can feel my strength fading fast, I weakly raise my gun and put a few more into its head. Finally the beast stops it stares straight ahead its mouth opening one last time as it slumps to the ground. I let my arm fall back to the ground. 

"Tara, don't let me die. Kay? I have to make it back, for Sky." My vision begins to fade as the events of the day and my multiple injuries finally catch up to me. I carefully pull Sky's feather from my hat. 'How you stayed there is beyond me but I'm glad you did.' I put the feather back and I feel a pinch on my arm as my vision fades completely to black.

"Ah! There you are I was getting worried something had happened." I open my eyes, I'm back in the starry night dreamscape on the hill with Luna. 

"Well at least i'm not dead." I whisper quietly. "Today sucked Luna."

"I do not understand." She looks at me a confused look on her face I tell her about the events of my day from when we last talked to now, she told me the names of the places and creatures I had encountered. "That is an amazing story. To have survived so much in just one day. You are incredibly lucky."

"Yeah I won't feel all that lucky when I wake up." I say rubbing my side where the manticore had slashed me.

"Do not worry. From the description you gave me I believe you are in the old Castle of the Royal Pony Sisters." 

"Heh cool. But how does that help?"

"Now that I know where you are I can send a chariot to pick you up."

"What really?!"

"Yes, they will arrive in the morning just after sunrise."

"Good because I don't think I can make it back on my own anymore." Luna looks at me and smiles. 

"I will be awaiting your arrival. Goodnight Cydon." 

"Goodnight Luna." Luna disappears in a cloud of smoke that quickly floats off I watch it for a minute as it vanishes into the distance. 'I wonder if I can control this place?' Thinking quickly I concentrate and summon a five star buffet table complete with food. 'Oh yeah!' Taking a seat I grab a fork, I stab it into a tender looking steak and bring it to my mouth. I'm just about to take a bite when.

"Are you okay?" I wake to two guards ponies looking me over, another pony with a stethoscope cutie mark looks me over. 

"Tsk tsk tsk. You are a real mess mister."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence doc." The doctor cleans and bandages my wounds and loads me onto the chariot. "Lets go!" The guards ponies take off and begin our journey. 

"Were taking you to Canterlot the Princesses are awaiting your arrival." I nod and lean back on the padded seat. The ride is over in just about an hour. I'm carted off by the doctor who changes my bandages and uses some healing magic to reduce the healing time. 

"You are as fit as I can make you in the time frame I was given. Go on off with you." Two guards come up to me. 

"Come with us we will take you to where you need to go." They lead me through the maze that is Canterlot Palace eventually reaching a door. I hear muffled talking on the other side. 


_______________________________________________________________________


"I think you can piece together the rest." They stared at me long and hard. 

"Wow." Twilight said finally.

"You can say that again darling."

"I'm so super dooper happy that your back! Now I can throw you a welcome to Equestria and Ponyville and thank you for saving the day and congratulations on coming back from the dead party! I wonder what kind of balloons you have at those?" Pinkie sat there in her own little world coming up with all the things she was going to do at the party. Her mane now fully repoofed and her smile wider than ever as she started bouncing.

"Now hold on there sugar cube Cydon here need to get some rest after all he's been through." Applejack said putting a hoof on her back to stop her bouncing.

"Yeah Pinks lets wait a few days so he can fully enjoy it. It will give you plenty of time to plan it." Rainbow added. Pinkie looked at us thoughtfully for a few seconds.

"Hmm... Okay! You just wait it will be the most splediferific party ever!"

"I can't wait Pinkie."

"Darling your clothes are ruined tsk tsk tsk boys, I knew this would happen. Didn't I tell you Twilight?"

"Yes Rarity you did about a dozen time in the first five minutes." I looked over at them as they bickered back and forth and laughed a hearty good natured laugh you share with good friends. Celestia and Luna stood slightly away from us smiling but not talking. I went over and cleared my throat to get their attention.

"Cydon it is good to see you have made such good friends."

"Yes and I'm very grateful they would have me. What with all the things I do."

"Nonsense you did what you thought was best and nopony blames you for it. But next time remember you have friends who will be there to help you through thick and thin. These ponies are no stranger to danger." 

"I realize that Celestia and I won't forget again."

"But tell me this Phoenix Bunker you know more about it than anypony, what do you think we should do with it?"

"Well as of right now the only one who knows where it is, is Tara. But she won't tell anyone unless I tell her to. As to what to do with it. I say we leave it alone let it stay hidden where nopony can find it. I may go back to pick up some tech but other than that. Nopony should have access." Twilight overheard us and looked downtrodden. 

"But what about all of that knowledge just waiting to be rediscovered?"

"Twilight the things in there are dangerous but I'll bring you another datapad with all kinds of new stuff on it." Twilight looked up and nodded vigorously. 

Something to listen to

"Good. Now if you don't mind I need to speak to Sky... Alone." They all gave me a knowing look except for Celestia and Luna who were ushered out by Rarity and Twilight, as they left Twilight mouthed 'about time' and left the room. 

"Sky I-" She put a hoof to my lips.

"Shh its okay we read your letter."

"So then you know what I want to say."

"Yes."

"And?" I felt my throat tighten in anticipation of her answer.

"We haven't known each other for very long only a week. But I've grown closer to you than some ponies I've known my whole life. I've told you things that I've never told anypony, I trust you with my life and even though your a human and I'm a pegasus I think I can trust you with my heart too. I...I think I love you too." Sky stood up on her hind hooves and laid her head on my shoulder. Wrapping her fore hooves around me in a hug, I returned the hug and thought I heard a 'awww' come from the door. I Ignored it the best I could as I looked into the magenta eyes of the most beautiful pegasus in Equestria. She looked back into mine and I knew that she was mine and that I was hers. 

We leaned in close to each other and kissed, awkward at first because of different facial structures but we found a comfortable position. We closed our eyes and fell into the bliss of our first kiss. The seconds seemed to stretch into minutes but the need to breathe ended it sooner than we wanted. We opened our eyes and stared into each others eyes Sky was blushing through her yellow coat and no doubt I was too. I heard another 'awww' come from the door as it fell open the not so quiet ponies watching from the other side falling through as it did. They collapsed into a pile and lay there unmoving for a few seconds as we stared at them our moment interrupted.

"Save it for later you two we have a train to catch." Twilight said as they stood up. 

"We'll be there in a second." They left the Princesses and Shining Armor coming back in. "Princesses."

"Cydon."

"Thank you again for giving me a chance to be a part of this great nation of yours."

"No, thank you for saving my little ponies."

"Its been a pleasure Princess, until next time. Luna, Shining." I gave them a Terran salute closed fist over my heart and turned back to Sky and whispered into her ear. "Come on my little Sky Dasher, Lets go home." She nodded in agreement smiling broadly. We left the room to catch up to our friends. 

"I guess he finally picked one." The Princesses looked at Shining. "I'll have to remember to give him some tips."

"Whatever for Shining Armor?" Luna asked tilting her head.

"To help him survive being with a female." Celestia gave me a look that said 'Oh your in for it now.'

"And what is that supposed to mean?" Said a familiar and rather irritated voice from behind.

"Um, nothing Cadence nothing at all." Shining Armor said grinning sheepishly.

I took one last look at the castle as we boarded the train. I think I see a pink flash of light and hear a high pitched yell but pass it off to exhaustion. The majestic white marble towers overlooking the castle proper were beautifully cut and pieced together using the best magic construction techniques at the time but nothing could compare to the blue maned yellow pegasus sitting right next to me, head laying on my lap as I absentmindedly run my hand through her mane. I mutter to myself as I watch Canterlot roll by. "I think today is going to be a good day."
> Deleted Chapter (Chapter 11 A New Home)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

A/N: Warning! This chapter is not part of the story! This is just a deleted scenes sort of thing.


Deleted Chapter
Chapter 11 A New Home


*gasp* I was roused from my slumber by a sharp gasp. "oh my."

"Fluttershy?"

"I'll um go to the other room." I carefully extricate myself from Sky and stand up. *Eep* Fluttershy quickly flees the room. 'What was that all about?' I look back at Sky who is still sleeping peacefully. 'Better go see why Fluttershy freaked out.' I follow Fluttershy through the doorway and find her trying to make herself busy by preparing the food for the animals.

"Fluttershy?" *Eep* Fluttershy flinches at my voice and ducks under the table.

"I'm sorry I didn't mean to walk in on you like that please don't hate me."

"Hate you? Why would I hate you? What do you mean by that?" Fluttershy peeks out from under the table and examines my face.

"oh you didn't know?"

"Know what?"

"I um, well, ooh why do I have to do this?"

"Calm down Fluttershy just take a deep breath and tell me whats going on." Fluttershy takes a few deep breaths and looks me in the eyes one more time.

"Well, pegasi wings need to be very sensitive to feel air currents and because of that it can be very uncomfortable when another pony touches them."

"Okay so what does that have to do with it?"

"usually the only ponies to touch a pegasi's wings are either very close or..." 'I don't like this pause.' "their very special somepony." Fluttershy goes back under the table after developing a deep blush. 'Wait a second special somepony, blushing Fluttershy.' Starting Brain.exe... Processing variables... Working... Conclusion reached. 

"HAHAHA!" *Eep*

"What's all the racket in there?" Sky calls from the other room.

"Hey Sky listen to this HAHA Fluttershy thought we were sleeping together." Sky trots into the room and gives me a confused look. 

"Huh? But we did sleep together."

"No no she thought we were SLEEPING together." I said with extra emphasis on the sleeping part. She thought about it for a moment before it clicked and she began blushing a deep shade of red.

"Oh no. No we didn't do. That. We were just sleeping. I mean I would never. I mean ugh."

"HAHAHA The look on your faces is priceless." I doubled over laughing clutching my sides.

"Why is this so funny to you?" Sky glared at me still blushing.

"I dunno maybe to keep this whole thing from becoming too awkward. Listen Fluttershy this is all just a misunderstanding it was cold last night so Sky used her wings as a makeshift blanket. Besides I would never do anything like that on a friends couch."

"oh I'm so sorry I just assumed and now you must hate me." Fluttershy squeaked out from under the table.

"Fluttershy I could never hate you, your the kindest mare in all of Equestria. Even if you did do something to make me made mad I would forgive you."

"you mean it your not angry?"

"Of course not it was just a misunderstanding an amusing one at that."

"For you maybe." Sky grumbled.

"I just don't see what the big deal was." 

"You'll understand when your older."

"Fine, Mom. Whats for breakfast anyway?"

"I made some daisy sandwiches for Sky and me, and their is left over fish from last night if you want it." Fluttershy said finally coming out from under the table.

"Fish will be fine." Fluttershy went into the kitchen and returned carrying a tray of Daisy sandwiches and a steaming fish. "Thanks Fluttershy." We ate quietly enjoying each others company. When we finished Fluttershy stood up.

"I need to go feed my animal friends."

"Hold on Fluttershy we'll help."

"Yeah let us help."

"oh I don't know I mean you are my guests after all."

"And we would feel terrible if we couldn't do something for you in return for providing us with food and shelter."

"um well in that case okay come with me." We followed Fluttershy outside and spent the next few hours feeding animal after animal, hundreds showed up and even with our help it was still overwhelming. 

"You do this *pant* everyday?"

"Oh yes It takes a lot of work but I just love seeing all the cute little animals."

"Sky remind me never to be a veterinarian." Sky grunted and picked up another bag of food pouring some into each of the bowels as she walked past.

"that should do it, thank you for helping me."

*phew* "Finally." I check my watch. 'A little past twelve.' "Hey Sky Crafty crate said they should be done around noon right?"

"Umm yeah I think that's what he said."

"Wanna go check it out? It's past time now."

"Yeah sure, no point in just lazing around."

I'll come too I haven't seen your new house yet."

"Fine with me lets go." A short walk later found us standing at a fence in front of our new two story home. It was painted a pale white. A balcony on the second floor extending between two glass sliding doors. Two chimney smokestacks rose from each side of the house completing an old meets new feel.

"Shall we go inside?" 

"May as well, where do you think the construction crew went?"

"they probably went home." Fluttershy said barely a whisper. I grabbed the door handle and twisted, it stopped.

"It's locked."

"Check under the doormat." I looked under the welcome mat and sure enough two shiny metal keys lay there.

"Here Sky one for you." I hand her the key and use mine to unlock the door. I try the handle again and it turns. I open the door to reveal a dark room we stumble inside and I fumble for a light switch. When all of a sudden.

"SURPRISE!!" The lights come on and the sound of a cannon is heard as dozens of ponies come out of hiding and a pink blur tackles me. "Do you like it? It's a 'Welcome to Equestria and Ponyville Cydon and Sky' party and it's also your housewarming party!" Sure enough on a sign hung from the ceiling 'Happy housewarming and Welcome to Equestria and Ponyville Cydon and Sky!' It was written in progressively smaller letters as the writer ran out of space.

"Pinkie need air." Pinkie looked sown at me and realized she was still on my chest.

"Oh sorry." She got up off of me and gave Sky and Fluttershy a hug. I stood up and looked around streamers confetti and balloons were everywhere and the whole house was packed to the brim with what looked like every pony in Ponyville. Five familiar mares approached, 

"What do you think of your first Pinkie party Cydon?" Twilight said as the walked up to me.

"She really went all out, I've never been to a party like this before that's for sure."

"He yeah I'd never miss a Pinkie Pie party." Rainbow said flapping her wings and floating up into the air.

"So how have you guys been?"

"Thanks to you and Sky's help were still ahead of schedule on the farm." Applejack tipper her hat to me as she talked.

"I'd be happy to help again anytime."

"Thanks for the offer sugar cube."

"I've been going through that datapad you gave me the information it contains is fascinating. I'll be going through it for weeks!" 

"I'm glad your so excited to learn about my race Twilight."

"Excited? The developments your species made in the sciences are amazing. You did more in one thousand years than Equestria has done since it started!"

"Yeah, war is a great motivator."

"It's a shame you never got to experience the peace we have today back home."

"It wasn't that bad Twilight don't forget that we did have times of peace in between the wars." Twilight nodded. 

"I have been catching up on my work. Now that I am caught up I think I may be able to provide you with more clothing to add to your wardrobe." Rarity Said pointing a hoof to my clothes.

"I would be grateful for something new these ones are a little worn."

"Stop by my shop sometime and I'll see what I can do." Rarity said smiling.

"I perfected some new moves I'll show you sometime okay?"

"I love to see you perform thanks Rainbow." Rainbow smirked.

"He no problem big guy."

"Hey Ditzy I've been wondering why did you give me that hug at the town meeting?"

"It just looked like you needed a hug."

"Well, thanks."

"Anytime." Ditzy looked around and saw something that caught her attention saying see you later she trotted off into the crowd. Pink fuzz invaded my vision.

"I've been planning this party isn't it great!"

"Hey Pinkie I think your a little too close." Pinkie giggled and came down from the ceiling she was inexplicably attached too (Or maybe it was the suction cups on her hooves.)

"How do you like your party so far?"

"It's nothing like we had back home that's for sure."

"Enjoy your party sugar cube we'll be around." 

"Talk to you guys later." The girls all went their separate ways leaving me in the middle of a crowd of strange ponies.

"Oh I almost forgot, May I have your attention everypony... Thank you, the guests of honor have arrived so its time to parrtay!" When Pinkie finished a white unicorn with an electric blue mane put on some music that would be considered old school by 2132 standards but everyone loves the golden oldies. While everpony was getting down to the beat I made my way over to the snack table, where I discovered everypony's favorite cupcakes along with a vast array of apples, apple flavored treats and other confections. 'I'm going to eat well tonight.'

After grabbing a few snacks I made my way to the side of the room where I watched as Twilight did a ridiculous dance. After a while she tired herself out and sat down. Pinkie started a conga line at one point, eventually almost everypony in the building was apart of it, before the song ended and they dispersed. I spotted Ditzy talking to the brown stallion from before over in the corner. When I was interrupted from my pony watching by another mare.

"Come on Cyd lets dance!" I was grabbed and manhandled onto the dance floor by Sky who then started swaying to the music. I shrugged and ate my last cupcake before trying to get into it myself. After all what could go wrong?

'Mental note never try to dance in public again.' not only did I manage to hurt myself but a few ponies ended up going down with me fortunately they were unhurt. It turns out I'm not very good at trying to flow with the music I ended up tripping over my own feet and landing on a few ponies in the process. One of them, a unicorn had their horn cut my arm it wasn't deep but I didn't want to risk hurting anypony trying again.

"Okay so maybe dancing isn't your thing." I glared at her with one eyebrow raised. "Well at least I had fun." I sighed.

"Well I never was great at parties."

"I'm sure we can find something fun to do."

"Maybe next time I think I'll go for a walk."

"If your sure." Sky looked down.

"Yeah be back soon." Sky looked into my eyes with her soft magenta eyes. I broke the eye lock after a minute and headed out the door. The party had been going for several hours and the sun was now setting, I walked up the path to the hill we first saw our house from and sat down under a tree. I watched as the sun sunk below the horizon and the moon rose as the stars twinkled into view.

"You should tell her you know." Ditzy walks around the tree and sits down in front of me.

"Huh? Oh hey Ditzy what are you talking about?"

"I'm talking about you and Sky you need to tell her."

"Tell her what exactly?"

"How you really feel."

"..."

"I can see it when you look at her even if you don't yet realize it yourself."

"How would you know how I feel?"

"Because I felt that way once too."

"What do you mean?"

"It wasn't so long ago I stumbled across a strange pony while delivering mail. He was lost and confused he barely knew how to walk and kept saying how amazing everything was. I took him home and took care of him, in return he told me a story about a lonely stallion who was the last of his kind. How he traveled time and space hiding from his past and running from his future. He went on many adventures saving the day from time to time. He had friends he called his companions who would go on his adventures, sometimes his companions didn't go home. He told me one day that stallion stopped running."

"And what happened to this stallion?"

"That stallion came to a strange land and found himself in a strange body, he was lost and confused. Until he was taken in by a stranger, who grew attached to him. That pony I met, his name is Time Turner I told him how I felt and found out he felt the same way."

"So you told me a story thats moral was to take the leap of faith?" Ditzy looked me in the eye for a few seconds before one trailed off to look elsewhere. 

"I told you a true story to help you do what you need to do."

"Well, okay then I'll try, but not yet."

"Don't take too long or you may find yourself too late." Ditzy spread her wings and flew off landing down the road next to Time Turner. I watched them hug and trot back to town. *sigh* 'What am I going to do? I think I have feelings for one of my best friends. I only met her a week ago! And she's not even my species. Can it really work? Do I dare try?' As I mused over my options I began my trek back to the house, as I walked I encountered more ponies on their way home. 'Party must be over.' I walk in the door to find the room a mess the girls were cleaning but had a long way to go.

"Hey your back here take this broom and sweep up the trash."

"Roger that." I grab the broom and begin my task. After almost an hour of cleaning we finally finish. "Who knew parties were so messy?" Six hooves reach for the ceiling. "I take it this is a usual occurrence then?" They nod. "I'll keep that in mind."

At that moment an exhausted Spike burst through the doorway carrying two letters. "Twilight!"

"What is it Spike?" 

"The Princess sent you and Cydon a letter it's about the Professor." Spike hands me my letter and Twilight takes hers in her magic. She read out loud.

"Dear Twilight Sparkle my faithful student. My sister and I have discovered the location of Professor Bones. Our scouts inform us that he and several other ponies are being held captive in the Changeling hive. It is imperative that they are rescued immediately as they have already been held captive for too long. While I believe it is too dangerous to send you I know you will insist on going with Cydon. I will not stop you but please be careful Changelings are weak on their own but incredibly dangerous in a swarm. The flying carriages will arrive at the library tomorrow morning. I will be sending a contingent of guards to defend the flying carriages but they are not trained to fight in confined spaces so you will be on your own once inside please be careful. Signed Princess Celestia Co-ruler of Equestria."

"The Princess is right their is no way I'd leave a friend hanging." Rainbow said flying up into the air.

"I know you wouldn't Rainbow but I still would prefer if you all stayed here."

"Now you know we can't do that sugar cube, those ponies are in danger and were going to help them." Applejack put a hoof on my shoulder.

"What does your letter say Cydon?" Twilight looked at the letter in my hands her curiosity rising. I open the letter and look at the first sentence.

"It says it's for my eyes only I'm not supposed to tell you what it says unless I really want to or need to." A collective aww was heard. 

"Well I'm gonna go home and pack some necessities for our mission later y'all." Applejack trotted out the door.

"We should be going too good night everypony.": Spike yawned as Twilight picked him up with her magic and trotted out the door. After that everypony else said their good byes and left to their homes.

"I'm going to get some sleep are you coming?"

"I'll be up in a bit I just have a few things to take care of." Sky nodded and yawned before heading upstairs. I looked at my letter and read it . 

Dear Cydon this letter if for your eyes only you may share it's contents if you so choose to later. As you have heard we have located Professor Bones and as promised we will allow you to make a rescue attempt. We know that your friends will be eager to join you. We also know that we cannot stop them so I ask that you take care of them. But now We have a matter to discuss, if you choose to accept you will be made a Captain of the Equestrian Royal guard and you will be assigned a special task. The job entails the protection of the Elements of Harmony. We believe you are fully capable of the task and hope you accept. Inside this letter is your first stipend, if you should decline please keep the bits as a welcome to Equestria gift to help you get started. Signed Celestia 

I pull out a bag and inside I find 200 bits.'I guess she wasn't kidding about this. Well I did need a job and with how peaceful it is here it should be easy money. I'll have to write her a letter later. Now I just have one last thing to do.' I finish my task and head upstairs. There are two bedrooms one on each side of the hallway I open the door of the right one and find Sky sitting by the window watching the night sky.

"Hey I thought you were going to sleep?"

"I couldn't fall asleep so I decided to watch the stars."

"Mind if I sit with you?"

"No, go ahead." I plop myself down beside her. "Are you worried about tomorrow?"

"A little, but I know that we can do it, those Changelings won't know what hit'em."

"Your going to kill a lot of Changelings aren't you?"

"I don't like to kill but if we want to save those ponies and the Professor we will need to use force."

"I know but that doesn't make it right."

"Killing is never right but sometimes it's the only option." Sky looked at me and kissed my cheek. I began rubbing the spot with my hand.

"Thank you."

"For what?"

"For not being a monster." I smiled "Lets go to sleep it's going to be a long day." I nod and stand up. "Do you think you could, maybe sleep in here tonight? I mean after all this time I don't want to sleep alone again."

"Sure Sky." She jumps up on the bed and I lay down next to her, she curls up next to me and rests her head on my chest. "Good night my little Sky Dasher."
> Bonus Chapter
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

A/N: This chapter takes place after the end of The Phoenix Project. Happy Hearth's Warming Everypony! 

Hearth's Warming day 6 PM

"Are you sure you put them on the table?"

"Yes, I put them right here. I have no idea where they could have gone."

*sigh* "I guess we won't be singing any holiday songs from your country then."

"Well, I can still sing."

"Are you sure?" 

"Yeah why not." Sky smiled softly and put on her scarf. 

"Lets go the others are waiting." 

"Yeah." I put on my coat and opened the door. "Ladies first." 

"You're such a gentlecolt."

"Right this way my little Sky Dasher to the library!" The air was cold on my skin as we trot through the night, off to get warm by the fire kept lit by a certain purple unicorn. A short walk through town left us standing at her door.

*Knock Knock Knock* The door was lit by a purple aura and opened revealing a room lit by the fireplace with six ponies and one dragon huddled around a table. The smell of hot cocoa filling the air.

"Bout time you guys showed up I could have flown to Canterlot and back waiting for you."

"Sorry we were held up looking for the sheet music."

"The what?"

"I wrote down the words to some human songs. But don't worry I have it all up here." I said pointing to my head.

"So... what, are you gonna sing?"

"Well don't sound so shocked Rainbow I was going to sing with everypony but we-" *Ahem* Sky glared at me. "-I... lost the papers." 

"I would love the chance to study human music what is it?"

"I have one in mind, It's a Christmas carol."

"That's the winter holiday right?"

"Yes Twilight." *squee* 

"It's called Jingle Bells."
youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hv_Zr62AJeQ]

"Oooh Dashing through the snow
In a one horse open sleigh
O'er the fields we go
Laughing all the way
Bells on bob tails ring
Making spirits bright
What fun it is to laugh and sing
A sleighing song tonight." I was interrupted by three fillies rolling in drums and a guitar.

"Wait what? What? This isn't the way it's supposed to go!"

"Oh, jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way!"

"Scootaloo!" 

"Oh, what fun it is to ride
In a one horse open sleigh hey!"

"Who let you in on this song?"

"Jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way!"

"Oh man."

"Oh, what fun it is to ride
In a one horse open sleigh hey!"

"1,2,3, Jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride
In a one horse open sleigh hey!
Jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride
In a one horse open sleigh hey!"

"Ahh that was better."

"Oh yeah, did you see that Rainbow Dash weren't we amazing!?"

"You sure were squirt."

"Well that solves the missing music."

"We're sorry for taking it but we saw it on your table and thought we could get our cutie marks in music."

"I'm not mad but next time just ask okay?"

"We will Mr. Imperius."

"Good now lets get some cocoa."

"YEAH!"
> Final Notes and Authors Afterword
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

This story is complete and I have nothing further to add to it. I would just like to thank you my loyal readers for making it this far. I thank you for your comments and favorites and I thank you for giving it a chance. I have tried my best to make this little idea I had three months ago into something worth reading. Did I succeed? That's for you to decide. As for Cydon this story is over but the adventure of his life is just beginning so keep an eye out for the sequel. As always let me know if you notice any mistakes my editing didn't catch. As for whats next, well the sky is the limit is it not? But seriously I have a few ideas I've been thinking about for my next fic. If you want to check them out you can follow this link here or just check my blog. If you give a shout out for your favorite it will help me decide on the one I start next. And so my friends I leave you with this image, This is Cydon over and out.