Lassie's lips curled back, her teeth gleaming brightly as she got ready to charge. Her stomach sank, a knowing deep down inside that these would be the last few moments of her life, but by goddess she wasn't going to pansy out and leave the others to an untimely fate.

With tremendous brute force the door, and the barricade behind it, were booted down. Lassie charged but with only a split second to spare she ground herself to a stop, tripping over her front paws and tumbling into a bulky set of red hooves.

Looking up, she was met by two displeased sap green eyes staring down on her. Looking to the others he spoke in a gruff voice. “What in tarnation is going on?! Why in Equestria is the living room window smashed and why are there shingles knocked off the roof and...” McIntosh trailed off as he realized everypony's expression was one of absolute fear. “Wh-what... happened?” he asked in his usual gentle voice.

Looking back down to Lassie, their eyes met and the pooch smirked. “Uhm... by chance did you see the monster yet?...”

A short time passed and Mac led the others upstairs while Lassie did her best to explain the events over the past twenty-four hours. Mac looked to her with a dumbfounded expression. “A... monster?” he asked and she rolled her eyes.

“Of all the shi-” she cut herself off as she looked and realized there were young ones around. “Stuff, in Equestria, that, of all things, is what blows your mind? Seriously?” she asked and he swallowed, still unsure if he was going to believe that a monster was watching them and chasing them around.

“So... Applejack said she'd have Evan watch-” he was suddenly cut off by a deep gasp as Lassie heard her friend's name, having completely forgotten about how he hadn't returned the night before.

Racing outside and barking wildly, she howled his name but quickly squinted her eyes from the rising sun. “EVAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN!” She cried out before howling again, not sensing his presence nearby. Her heart began to race and almost skipped beats as she began to fret. Big McIntosh paced up behind her and she spun, hopping to her hindlegs and shaking him by the shoulders.

“Quick! We gotta... we gotta get a search and rescue party and find him before.... before it...” she began to jitter and nearly hyperventilate. Mac put a hoof on her, stopping her vibrant movements.

“Relax-” he was quickly cut off as Lassie began to rush around in circles.

“Relax... RELAX?! How can I relax when he's missing and that... that thing is... IS!” She broke down and collapsed into a shaking heap. Mac blinked unsurely.

“Well... I mean he is... THE most terrifying thing ah have ever met-” he was again cut off by the panicking dog.

“Not anymore! He used to be yeah! He was strong, athletic, powerful, hot headed... but now's he's an iced tea sipping old man!” she cried out before biting her lip so hard she tasted blood.

Mac looked back to the house, more specifically to the busted window. Taking a fine look at it, he then peered to the roof, where there were shingles missing. Squinting his eyes he noticed claw marks, almost as though a gryphon had its way with the family home's roof.

Looking around he also noticed claw marks in the ground but nothing else out of the ordinary. “So... where did they go?” he asked but Lassie merely whimpered and pointed out to the fields.

Mac took a curious few steps towards the fields, a suspicious feeling arising inside of him about the cornfields themselves. Lassie was quick to bark at him. “Don't go out there! Just... just don't... go...” she whispered, the others now coming out of the house and standing on the porch, watching fearfully as Lassie broke down.

Mac gulped down and filled himself with a deep courage he rarely had to use. “Ah... ah gotta see fer muhself,” he stated and Lassie chewed on her lip.

“WAIT... Just... if you're gonna... just wait,” she was panting heavily, trying to force courage into herself before rushing to the truck and grabbing Daisy, thumbing a few round nosed shells into the levergun. She waved to the group and herded them over.

The canine began to fretfully think to herself, not wanting to leave the group behind, but not wanting the red stallion to meet the same fate as her friend. “Just... Derpy, take the kids in the truck and...” she trailed off, realizing the mare didn't know how to operate Cadance, nor did she want her trying to get back to town without escort. “Just hide in the barn, we'll be right back, five minutes, if not... run as fast as you can back to town,” she said, the words of Evan to her playing back in her mind. Now she sounded like him when he was in her position. 'Ohhh DAMMIT!' she swore internally as the grey pegasus rushed the little ones into the barn.

“Okay Mac... you wanna play curiosity kills the stupid stallion... five minutes, that's all I'm giving you... after that, we're coming back... even if I have to make you,” she told him, levering a shell into the chamber. “I've got the nose... I can lead you to where they last were... but five minutes, then we head back, no matter how close you think we are,” she told him and he nodded. The dog brisky began to lead the stallion into the thick grass and towards the cornfields.

Lassie's nose twitched as she followed the scent of the two, one her friend, the other...

Walking on her hindlegs was a chore to say the least, but carrying the gun while pacing along was a whole other story. Her breathing was heavy, deep and raspy. Tears trickled from her eyes, dampening her fur as vivid memories of the creature returned.

She thought to herself about what she'd give to have Evan be here and as brutal and ruthless as he used to be, or as brutal and ruthless as the stories told about him were. 'Able to take on dozens of Timberwolves and walk away clean. Hell, I'd even take Celestia or Luna, but goddess forbid they have to be out of country on some diplomatic mission or something.' Lassie's thoughts were kept to herself as she led McIntosh through the deep jungle of corn, a lot of it knocked down already, making the trail easier to track. 'Able to fight anything that confronted him and come out on top... just disappeared into the cornfields, never to be seen again...'

“Goddess... it stinks,” Mac mentioned and Lassie just huffed.

“You're telling me,” she responded, her sense of smell over double his own.

“How close?” he asked and her nose twitched again.

“It's old scent, last night's. I can't be for certain how-” she cut herself off as they pushed aside some corn stalks and were greeted to the sight of a wide expanse of flattened land. “Far...” Lassie finished.

Mac looked with wide eyes, his mouth slightly ajar. “Sweet Celestia...” he whispered and Lassie nodded. She began to sweat more vastly, beads of perspiration rolling off her damp fur. Her grip on the rifle tightened slightly.

She stayed silent for a moment, her expression going to one of silent fear. Mac went to step forwards but Lassie put Daisy's barrel flat across his chest, blocking his way. “What? It hasn't been-” Lassie cut him short.

“No...” Lassie trailed off, raising the barrel of the gun to the distance. “We can't continue...” she trailed off, her eyes looking blankly to the continuation of the corn across the large crop circle.

“Why not?” Mac asked, followed by a gulp.

“Because we're being hunted...” she trailed off before looking back to Mac. “Back to the house... Run! NOW!” Lassie barked, the two of them scurrying as fast as their legs would take them, Lassie struggling slightly as she hauled along the levergun. From behind them Lassie, with her inept canine senses, could hear something thrashing through the corn stalks, chasing after them. “Faster Mac, FASTER!” Lassie howled.

As they exited the cornfields and scampered through the tall grass, neither dared a glance back as they pushed themselves beyond their own limitations to try and reach the presumed safety of the Apple Family residence.

As they approached the yard, the Lassie screamed out to the others hiding in the barn. “GET IN THE HOSUE!” She yelped. It only took a few brief seconds for the others to emerge from their hiding spots and scatter towards the home. Lassie dared a glance over her shoulder, spotting the bipedal creature zooming through the tall grass.

Her facial expression became one of true fear as she scampered along just behind Mac, not wanting to leave him behind to an untimely fate. The group charged in through the front door and Lassie skidded to a halt, pivoting on her hindlegs and slamming the front door before locking the deadbolt shut.

There was a spine shivering screech from outside that made Lassie stumble back just as an impact hit the door, followed by the sound of sharp talons clawing against the thick wood.

“Out the back door! We gotta get to the truck!” Lassie commented, knowing it was their best bet for an escape. The group rushed down the main hallway of the home and to the back kitchen door but halted to a grinding stop as Sweetie Belle screamed out in fear, the beast now at the backside of the home but seemingly startled by their presence as it turned to them, intrigued to see them but still shocked to see them.

Lassie dropped the rifle and charged for the door just as the beast did. With her advantage in starting first she got a foothold on the door but the beast pushed back with great force, almost knocking Lassie to her back.

Big Mac joined in Lassie's efforts in pushing on the door, both of them grunting and wincing in force to try and keep the monster out. The beast made headway in its advance as its arm snuck into the opening, reaching around and thrashing about. The tip of one of its claws nipped Lassie across the cheek, gashing open a small wound that began to spill blood.

Lassie cried out in effort, knowing that, despite Mac's strength, the beast was winning this battle. From the corner of her eye she spotted a butcher knife laying on the counter just beside the door.

In a test of luck she quickly reached out, doing her best to dodge the creature's flailing claws. Gripping the sickly knife she slashed at its wrists, the beast screeching and immediately withdrawing its arm.

With the sudden drawback of force from the creature, Mac and Lassie gained the advantage they needed and shut the door, locking it shut and backpedaling. Lassie scooped up her rifle and leveled it, waiting for the creature to come through the door. Instead it kept scratching and clawing at the wood, never again beating on the door.

Derpy spoke up in a petrified voice. “Wh-what is it doing?” she asked fearfully. Lassie swallowed hard before answering.

“They seem to have trouble with doors,” she replied. Not a moment after she said that the creature moved to the kitchen window, the fillies and Spike screaming loudly. Daisy's sights were up in a flash and Lassie began to trigger rounds down range. However, in her extreme haste, and after just four rounds, she short stroked the lever and jammed the gun.

The window was shot out and smashed. Lassie swore she had hit the beast but didn't take any chances to look, dropping the jammed gun and rushing the others back into the hallway. Daisy lay flat across the floor, the firing block slightly open with a round jammed in the receiver, the rim of the shell facing the open world, the primer struck.

“Out the front!” she hollered, a screech echoing down the hallway. Looking over her shoulder she spotted the creature climbing through the busted window, a bloody wound in its shoulder, courtesy of the 30-30 levergun.

In frantic action Lassie purposefully knocked several pots and pans onto the floor, along with several cooking utensils as she hurried the others away.

Rushing to the front door Lassie yanked on it, having forgotten she locked it in her state of rushed thinking. However she did remember the large front window was smashed out. “Out the living room window!” she ordered, figuring it would be faster.

The group ran into the living room but came to an abrupt halt as they stood face to face with the creature which was already present, but seeming as though they had startled it, almost as if it hadn't been expecting them there. The wound on its shoulder was also no longer present.

However, even with the sudden startle, the creature took no time in leaping at them. Even despite its blinding speed, McIntosh was not going to let harm come to his sister. Wheeling around, he pounded the beast in the chest with a brutal bucking kick that sent it crashing back into the wall opposite of them.

Just as he was settling his hindlegs back to ground level, the creature leapt once again, landing on his back as he steadied himself from the kick. In a valiant show of friendship Lassie tackled the creature off of the big red stallion, nipping at its neck.

With a swat it knocked Lassie back, though it only managed to get to its knees before Mac brutally booted it across the room. Its body ricocheted off the wall and tumbled into the living space of the other room.

“OUT THE WINDOW!” Lassie yelled, the group not needing to be told twice. They all rushed out, leaping through the opening and scurrying towards the truck.

However, just before they could even get within ten feet of their escape, it returned, leaping from behind them and landing a few yards in front of the group, coming to a skidding stop and hissing viciously at them.

Without looking back, Lassie began to push the group back from whence they came, only to have the fillies scream and push back at her. Stopping, the canine looked over her shoulder to see there was a second, slowly pacing towards them.

'Shit... they hunt in packs!' she thought to herself as she bit her lip, the two things slowly making their way towards them, like predators about to pounce, lowering their stances in preparation to leap.

Just as the group began to think all was lost a lone gunshot went off, dirt kicking up in front of the thing by Cadance. Another two shots spewed dirt in front of the second. Three more shots went off but didn't strike a target, instead being volleyed into the air.

There was a moment of silence, where everything stood still. Lassie blinked, slowly turning her head left and right, taking in the area's surroundings but not finding the origin of the gunshots.

With her inept hearing however, she picked up the sound of spurs spinning, making an audible jingling. Looking up to the roof, she spotted a western clad figure, a smoking gun in hand.

Tilting the barrel upwards, the figure blew the smoke away from the barrel before opening the cylinder and dumping the six spent gold casings onto the roof, the shells tumbling down off the slope and to the ground below as the figure used a speed loader to quickly reload the shining revolver in a flash.

Snapping the cylinder closed the figure holstered the piece before leaping down, the duster coat flaps flailing freely as the clad figure dropped gracefully, landing in a crouched position and keeping their face from sight with the brim of their hat.

Slowly standing up the figure approached ever so calmly, with a steely cold presence about them. One of the creatures went to move but the figure opened the duster, revealing the glinting revolver, an action which was enough to halt the beast's movement for the time being. “Mmm... quick learner huh?” asked a very feminine voice. A gust of wind blew past, fluttering the duster coat and revealing a very feminine buxom build.

Underneath the duster was a set of black cargo pants and a rather plain tank top that left nothing to the imagination. Their attention drawn to the woman, she tipped the brim of her hat upwards, revealing her facial features.

“So... how's bout it?” she asked in a challenging tone, the creatures not even getting a chance to flinch as she drew faster than a heart could beat. With the 629's double action mechanism, all she had to do was squeeze the trigger over and over, rotating every shot between the two targets and pumping each one with three heavy .44 magnum rounds, kicking them off their clawed feet and just a few feet back.

Using her right hand to shoot, her left hand was crossed above her wrist, giving off the illusion that she was fanning the hammer, when in fact she was merely triggering off the gun in blinding succession.

In less than two seconds it was over, the two creatures laying lifeless on the ground and the group standing in utter silence, not sure how to take the situation. The woman paused for just a moment before standing and twirling the revolver around her index finger before promptly trying to holster it. However she accidentally holstered it the wrong way, the grip reversed. She used her middle finger to twist it into the proper position and finally achieved holstering the firearm before giving her full attention to the group.

“So...” she began but the group gasped in fear and took a step back. “Really? I save your life and that's how you react? Treating me like I'm-” she was cut off by a screech, making her pivot on her cowboy boot heels.

There before her stood a third, though this one was far different. It had several scars littered across it's pale skin, but what was most different was its legs. No longer biological, its legs had been replaced with cybernetics, which it used to slowly approach.

Kianna drew out her revolver and yanked on the trigger, an audible CLICK echoing through the now silent air. With a gasp she pulled twice more, each accompanied by another CLICK. The beast grinned a toothy smile, its slimy razor sharp teeth dripping.

With the tables turned, Kianna took a cautious step back as the creature stepped towards her but no sooner had it done so a thunderous gunshot went off, a large spew of dirt getting kicked up just in front of the creature's cybernetic feet. Stepping back, the expression across everyone's face, even that of the creature, was one of complete shock. Only a moment past before their was an eruption of chugging automatic fire and the creature was ripped to pieces and blown apart by heavy projectiles.

Blinking, Lassie looked around and spotted yet another figure taking residence on the roof, this one also dressed in western fatigue, though he wielded a massive single barrel machinegun, a short belt of large shells attached to the gun.

Slinging the belt of ammo over his shoulder, the man heaved the big gun up to hip level then slid down the roof's slope, taking a leap and attempting a graceful landing much like Kianna performed earlier.

However, much to his regret, as the man landed he threw out his back, yelping in pain as he crashed brutally into the ground, his gun bouncing to the side as the others, minus the woman, rushed to his aid.

Derpy was the first to arrive, rolling him to his back and pleading for him to be okay. “Ah-ha-ha...” Evan chuckled painfully. “Me? I should be... ugh... asking if you're alright...” he grunted, painfully standing to his full height and trying to stretch out his back. “Guess ah ain't so young anymore... ugh... gonna feel that for a week,” he grunted, his voice raspy and old. The three fillies rushed into an embrace, making him grunt yet again as his pain flared up from the sudden impact of their embrace.

Kneeling down rather painfully, he held the fillies, along with Spike, in a hug that lasted a few seconds before it was interrupted by a slow clapping. “Bravo... bravo...” Kianna chuckled sarcastically and Evan simply looked back to the roof.

“It looked and seemed like a pretty cool idea... guess ah can't keep up with you youngsters no more,” he chuckled, turning his attention to the others and asking if they were all okay. Standing up, he again stretched out his back before Kianna spoke up.

“Hey, I uhh... just wanted to say thanks,” she commented and the man rose a brow.

“I should be thanking you. If you hadn't showed up when you did... I was just a minute or two away when I heard the shots,” he mentioned and she chuckled.

“Well... truth be told I wasn't coming her to save them. I just came her to give you this-” she cut herself off as she drew out a MK. 23 SOCOM and leveled the sights on the man, everyone going still.

She then spun the gun and gripped it so the handle was facing Evan. “Take it. As a thank you for saving my squad back in Canterlot. This was the gun you had... seems fitting...” The man took the piece and ejected the magazine, which was empty. He then racked the slide to see it didn't even have a single shell of ammuntion.

“No bullets... was gonna ask why you didn't just use this when you revolver stopped,” he commented and Kianna nodded, looking down to her holstered magnum.

“Yeah it-” Evan cut her short before she could continue.

“Six shots... that gun only holds six shots. It may be a powerhouse, but you have to get used to only having six shots. With high capacity handguns out there, especially magazine fed ones, revolvers are a hard firearm to become effective with...” he trailed off and she nodded before looking to his big gun.

“What is that thing? It looks like an old M2 but with an M1919A4s pistol grip back plate,” she commented, the man just shrugging.

“You wouldn't believe me if I told you,” he mentioned and she rose a brow.

“Try me.”

“I was abducted by aliens, broke out, and when a group and I beat said aliens, one of the guys offered to trade me his gun for the captain's sidearm... something about how he had a friend that would want it... dunno,” he state and she scoffed.

“Sure, sure. I'm so sure that's happened.” Evan just shrugged.

“Told you,” he chuckled and she merely tipped her hat before departing but as she left, she turned back to speak once more.

“This doesn't mean I like you.” After that she didn't turn back once. Evan looked down to the new firearm he received and simply smirked. Thumbing the slide release, the gun made a CHINK! sound as the slide snapped shut and the man pointed it forwards with a smile.

“Just like old times!” Stuffing it away, he turned to the others and walked up to Mac. “I'm sorry I wasn't here. There were... complications,” the man apologized and Mac let out a deep exhale from the breath he didn't know he had been holding.

“Eeyup,” he said, rather quietly...

Evan's perspective,

Monday, September 8th, 2014...

So, aside from the whole alien ordeal, things went very well while the others were away. In the end we all decided to forget about it and not make a large deal out of the situation, since it had been dealt with in a way. I'm sure the fillies and Spike, even maybe Mac and myself, would be forever slightly traumatized by the events, but at least no one got hurt... no one that deserved to get hurt.

Twilight and the others had returned home and life was getting back to normal... or as normal as could be for me. I still tend to struggle from time to time, trying to settle into a normal lifestyle. It's so different from the way I used to live...

I felt a tugging on my leg. “Come on, come on! Get up, it's almost time for school!” chimed a cute young little voice.

I simply rolled over in the bed that was much to small for me. “Hey! Aren't you listening?! Don't fall back to sleep!” chirped the voice.

“Ughhhhhhhh...” I groaned out. The shaking on my leg continued. “Just five more minutes...” I pleaded and there was a set of giggles. I rolled over and onto my back, having previously been laying face down to avoid the shine of light bulbs that now blinded me.

Looking to my watch, I saw that it was 8:03am. “It's too early to be getting up,” I mentioned with a playful whine, Rainbow Dash chuckling.

“And you work for Applejack how?” she teased, Scootaloo pulling on my leg again.

“Come on, I don't wanna be late for the first day of school. You promised!” she mentioned and I nodded.

“I know... I know... it's just sooooo comfy in bed though!” I fooled around, pretending I was going to fall back asleep. Scootaloo had requested that I, along with Rainbow Dash, walk her to school the first day... just because.

“Hey! I'm supposed to say that!” she giggled, trying to shake me awake. In a blitz of movement I spun around and heaved her up in my arms.

“GAHHHH, GOTCHA!” I played, making her squeal in frightful delight as she was lifted into the air. I set her back down and stretched out with a yawn, Scootaloo speaking up once more.

“What's wrong with your underwear?” she asked, pointing out to my raging morning wood that made a large tent in my boxers.

“UGH! It's uhh... my underwear is just...” I trailed off and rearranged my boxers so that it was less protrusive. “Just all shuffled up from rolling in my sleep,” I chuckled nervously. “Hey uhh... why don't you go get your stuff together and uhh... we'll head out,” I offered but she spoke up.

“But I haven't eaten breakfast yet,” Scootaloo replied back and I shrugged.

“Tell yah what, after I get changed we'll head out and I'll buy you breakfast at say... Tim Horseton's?” I offered and her wings sprang out.

“Wow really?! You're the greatest!” she chimed, jumping into me and hugging me tightly, making me feel uncomfortable due to my boner which she was partially brushing up against. As lovingly and gently as I could, I pushed her away.

“Come on, or we'll be late for school,” I told her and she nodded quickly, zooming off to get her things. Beside me, Dash began to snicker.

“Shuffled up?” she laughed and I just groaned.

“Shut up...” I whispered uncomfortably. “You don't know what it's like. Why did I even agree to stay with you guys last night? I should've came here this morning.” I hurried to the washroom, scooping up my clothes as I went along.

Dash apparently lived in the clouds but this was a small place she got so that Scootaloo always had a place to stay with her... or something, I didn't quite get the full story. Slipping on my daily attire, I washed myself just a little before heading out to tackle the day's tasks... whatever the later ones might be.

I walked out of the bathroom to see that Scootaloo and Dash were already waiting at the door for me. I offered to carry Scootaloo's things but she declined, stating that she could handle it and that she was a big filly now.

Walking along with the others, we made our way through Ponyville, the smell of fresh morning air still lingering. We made our way to the fast food breakfast joint where the every friendly cashier was still working.

“Mornin' Mary,” I greeted, the mare waving.

“Morning Evan, what can I getcha?” she asked brightly. I pointed to Scootaloo.

“Whatever she wants,” I replied and Scootaloo looked to me.

“Whatever I want?” she asked and I nodded. She looked to the trays behind the glass and oogled the pastries. “Ooooh... can I have that one?” she asked, pointing to one of the doughnuts... "oh and one of those too... and that one over there?” she asked, Mary hurrying to keep up with the sweet toothed young filly.

With her assortment of doughnuts chosen she also ordered a chocolate milk. Dash rose a brow to the amount of doughnuts Scootaloo had ordered but I just shrugged it off. “Dash... what do you want?” I asked and she began to shake her head.

“Oh no, I'm goo-” I cut her short.

“Apple cider for the mare,” I offered and Dash just sighed.

“I gotta fly laps with the Wonderbolts today... I really shouldn't-” she cut herself short as Mary presented a cup of hot cider on the counter. “Buuuuuuut, one surely couldn't hurt."

Mary looked to me. “Just a hot chocolate,” I ordered and she nodded, prepping one up then typing the order into the cash register.

“Okay, that'll be eighty-three bits...” she trailed off, seeming unsure but Dash spoke up before she did.

“What?! No way, that's so-” I cut her short as I tossed a Luna bit on the counter, to which Mary promptly took. “I... bu... what?” Dash asked in disbelief, knowing as well as I did our order would never have come to that absurd price... but I didn't much care.

“Keep the change Mary, and have a good day,” I replied, giving a wave to the mare as we left. Dash nudged me as we walked along.

“You're terrible with money,” she commented and I nodded.

“So?” I asked and she just sighed deeply. Looking to Scootaloo, I chuckled as her cheeks puffed like a chipmunk's while she scoffed down some doughnuts.

“Enough treats?” I joked and she swallowed hard, downing the doughnut completely.

“Well, actually I got an apple fritter for Apple Bloom, she likes those ones. And I got one of these ones for Sweetie Belle cause she thinks they're pretty,” she said, pointing to a glittery looking sprinkle doughnut. “And I got a doughnut for Rumble too cause he likes the chocolate-” Dash cut in.

“You know Scootaloo... I think Evan mean just get one for-” I cut her short.

“However many you wanted... I think that's what I said.” I smiled and Dash again just sighed, dipping her head and shaking it. Even so I could see a smile creeping across her lips. We made our way to the schoolhouse where we stood and waited for only a few minutes before Ms. Cheerilee opened the doors.

Dash and I hugged Scootaloo before I rubbed her mane, frazzling it slightly. Dash spoke up as she gave the filly a nod. “Have a good first day in school.” Scootaloo nodded before heading off, calling back to us.

“I will,” she called back, waving as she entered the school. Cheerilee looked to me and smiled with a timid blush, giving me a wave. I gave a gentle wave back before the mare shut the door, beginning the first school day of the year.

Dash patted me on the shoulder. “You know... you're a good guy Evan. Scootaloo really likes you... and uhh... I think you'll be a good dad,” she said, making me raise an eyebrow.

“I will?” I asked, since it seemed she was so certain I was one hundred percent going to become a father at some point.

“Uhh... well... I mean... yeah cause... uhm, I gotta fly. See yah around yah big lug.” With that she took off without so much as another word. I shrugged and just stood there for a few more minutes, sipping my still scorching hot chocolate.

As I stood there, I got this feeling that... well, I wasn't sure how to explain it. It just felt as though something was off. Not in the way that there was a world ending event amiss or that somepony was just killed... but something was definitely out of place. From behind me came a voice.

“Mr. Burdick, we need to have a little talk...”

Author's Notes:

"I remember when you first arrived... you were always wondering if you could trust this world. But now the tables are turned and I'm not sure if the world can trust you," Celestia told me.///

Yeah, so there's a little snippet from the next chapter, just to keep you all hooked... ahem, anywho... OH GODDESS YES! I have waited literally forever, literally since I started writing, to drop that line, and you all know the one I'm talking about... my Fimfiction Avatar says it all. Anywho, I didn't ever know how I was gonna drop the catchphrase but I wanted it to be... you know, that magic. And who better to do it than Lassie?
Cheers!