Vol sat back as he held a hand to his armored gut. A belch escaped his lips,causing him to use his other hand to cover his mouth.

"That was amazing," he stated happily.

"I'll admit that I've never seen anyone eat twelve pancakes in one sitting," Moonlit commented as she moved about the cottage, helping Fluttershy fill bowls with food. Creatures of all shapes and sizes began to creep into the room, heading to a bowl to eat their own breakfast. Vol had made sure that K9 understood not to try to eat them.

"Well, pancakes are delicious," he replied. Giving K9 a couple pats on the head, he stood and began to help the two ponies feed the animals. While he saw them as game to eat, he understood that these were Flutershy's pets and were not to be killed. The creature were cautious of him at first but, seeing him put food in their bowls, they soon took to him and swarmed around him to get to the food.

"Oh, you don't have to-" Fluttershy started.

"I know Fluttershy, but I want to help. You've been so kind to me, it's the least I could do."

"Oh, well, thank you."

"No, thank you Flutershy," Vol replied with a smile. He got a smile in return. It wasn't even five minutes before they were done, all the bowls filled with food. All of the animals were eating, but one. Vol noticed a white rabbit tapping it's foot impatiently as it stood next to Fluttershy. He watched as she smiled at the rabbit.

"Oh, just one moment Angel bunny."

Vol watched in shock as the rabbit rolled it's eyes and hopped to a small table, waiting as patiently as a toddler. The human wasn't too sure about the rabbit. It seemed far too... sapient to be a simple pet. Chucking it up to being another oddity of this world, Vol shrugged it off.

"So," he started, "what do ya do during the day, Fluttershy?"

"Take care of the animals," she answered before her eyes widened as if she remembered something suddenly, "Oh, one of my friends will hopefully be visiting today."

"One of the ones from last night?" He asked, worried that he may hurt one of her friends if they tried to treat him the same way as they did last night. The only thing keeping him from blowing in their faces was the fact that he had held a blade to Raibow's throat. However, this round will be different.

"Oh, no it won't be them," Fluttershy responded, her facial expression indicating that she remembered her friends' behaviors and had been less than pleased.

"Wait, what happened last night?" Moonlit asked, a brow quirked in confusion. Vol looked over at her and had to force himself not to laugh. The Night Guard mare was sitting on her haunches in the floor, K9 sitting right next to her. The dog was almost the same size as her, making it a pretty humorous sight to behold. It was even funnier in Vol's opinion. She w currently scratching the top of his head with the tip of her wing.

"Two of my friends were... less than welcoming," Fluttershy explained.

"Ah," Moonlit replied, "So, who is supposed to be coming?"

At this question, the pegasus suddenly took on her namesake. It w a transformation that surprised Vol.

"Princess Twilight."

"What?!" Moonlit screamed, causing the pegasus to shrink a little as the batpony rushed to her armor and hurriedly began to piece it on. It was at this time that there was a knocking on the door. This elicited a squeak from both mares followed by a "I'm not ready!" from the Night Guard.

Vol grabbed his gear and was in the kitchen by the time the second round of knocks hit the door. Pulling out his pistol, he waited. He was taking no chances with this 'Princess', friend of Fluttershy or not. He noted that K9 was at his side, ready to charge out.

--------

Twilight frowned as Flicker raised her hoof to knock a third time.

"Patience Flicker. She may be in the bath. We'll give her a second."

Flicker reluctantly lowered her hoof and stepped back, "Of course, Your Highness."

The youngest of the four Princesses smiled at her assistant.  She smiled on the outside, however, she was worrying on the inside. Why wasn't she answering? She had always been quick to answer before, whether by opening the door or talking through it. Could the new creature had hurt her? Locked her up? Threatened her to not open the door? And, if so, what had happened to Night Guard?

She opened her mouth to order a chariot driver around back when the doorknob turned. It squeaked open to reveal Fluttershy in what Twilight had dubbed her 'shy' mode. This meant that she had her head held low with her mane covering one eye. Twilight watched as she flinched by the sight of Flicker standing beside her door. She brightened, however, by the sight of Twilight standing behind Flicker. Twilight smiled back as she trotted up to one of her close friends and shared a hug with her.

"It's good to see you again Fluttershy," she said as they broke apart.

"It's good to see you too Twilight," replied the butter yellow pegasus.

"Now, I believe you called me here for a reason?"

"Right. Please, come inside."

Fluttershy turned around and walked inside. Twilight followed after dismissing the chariot drivers to enjoy the village. She noted that Flicker had already gone inside. Stepping through the doorway she was met with the view of a cottage empty of any new being. However, she could smell blood and meat in the air. Judging by Flicker's sudden tenseness, Twilight assumed she could too. The smell elicited a feeling in her mind. The feeling to flee from the predator. To get as much distance from the smell as possible. She fought back the feeling easily, she had a job to do.

She noticed that there was a fourth occupant in the room. A Night Guard stood to the side, standing at attention. She had bandages covering different parts of her body, her armor looked to have been hurriedly thrown in, and her pain could be seen in her eyes but she held the position. With an imperceptible twitch of an eyelid to signify her pain, she threw a hoof to the brim of her helmet.

"Corporal Moonlit of Princess Luna's Night Guard, ready and waiting Your Highness," she stated. While it was admirable, her actions made Twilight uncomfortable, though she didn't show it. Was she really worth somepony putting themselves in pain just to show her respect? No, she wasn't but this was how it always was and, most likely always will be.

"You may relax Moonlit and, please, take off your armor. It looks to be agitating your wounds," Twilight replied with the motherly tone taught to her by Princess Celestia and by dealing with Flicker.

"Of course, Your Highness," Moonlit replied with some hesitation before beginning the process of removing her armor and wing blades. With that taken care of, Twilight turned back to Fluttershy. She was surprised to see her with her head in the kitchen, whispering at something. What truly surprised the Princess was that she could hear something whispering back. It's voice was deep and, therefore, carried.

"I know I'm safe here."

...

"Merely cautious."

...

"Fine."

With that last part, Fluttershy backed away from the kitchen. What followed her out made Twilight freeze on the spot. It was bipedal, like the Minotaurs, but it was covered in metal armor with only it's head exposed. It's brown mane was long and shaggy, covering one eye. The armor was dirtied, bloodied, and dented. Pouches containing Celestia knew what hung off it's armor. A red piece of cloth that looked to have been dragged through thorns hung from it's belt. A 'L' shaped metal object was clutched in one of it's hands. A knife was sheathed on it's arm and lower leg.

Following it was what Twilight could only describe as a wolf. It was almost as tall as Fluttershy. It's brown and black fur was knotted in places. Blood stained it's muzzle. Saddlebags hung off it's form.

Twilight recognized the bipedal. It was a human, like from the world on the other side of the mirror. This human, however looked significantly different. It's armor, for one. Also, it was less... colorful than the other humans were. She also didn't remember any of them ever looking so wild. The feeling to flee was stronger now than eve before. How Fluttershy and Moonlit resisted the feeling was beyond the understanding of the Princess.

"Princess Twilight, was it?" Twilight nodded, though she noticed that it's eyes were not on her, "You should tell your friend to stand down before this situation gets out of control."

Twilight looked to Fluttershy in confusion before realizing who she had come her with. Looking to her left, she was shocked to see Flicker with wings extended and body lowered, ready to strike. She looked at Flicker's eyes to see that the irises had shrunk. Twilight opened her mouth to speak. Muscles shifted, tendons stretched, and Flicker was moving.

CRACK! Next Chapter: Overstayed My Welcome Estimated time remaining: 7 Minutes