Andrew couldn't sleep that night. His mind was racing, but he was not thinking of the hundreds of answers he got. He wasn't thinking of the fact he was in another world, or how he had the power to shape shift at will. He was not thinking about the hundreds of similarities this place had with Earth, or even the thousands of differences it had. He was thinking about one question. One question he did not get an answer to.

"Where is my brother?

After he had asked that, both princesses looked confused. They claimed it had never happened before; there was always one person at a time who was destined to encounter a Beacon. There were never groups, or even doubles that got teleported at the same time. Only singles.

Andrew sighed, and rubbed his forehead, looking up at the patterned ceiling. The two sisters had given him a guest room, but in his point of view, it was like a palace was somehow squished in one door. With two stories, five windows, a king sized-bed, a restroom, and even a kitchen, the tall room greatly impressed the New Yorker. Princess Celestia told him it would be his, until they devised a plan as to where they would keep him.

She had also mentioned Andrew could sign up for a job, but it was optional. All expenses he issued were paid for by the castle. Luna had said that he would be staying in this world for the rest of his days. At first it had surprised Andrew; all he had ever known was back on Earth. He figured he would get used to it, though. He couldn't do anything about it now.

When Andrew asked them why he was here, they would not answer. It's not that they actually didn't know, instead they held back from answering, as if they were hiding something.

He yawned, and turned around in bed, now facing the window. The fantastic view of the city (Canterlot was its name) astonished him. The princesses had mentioned the castle they were in was on a big hill, overlooking the city, but Andrew had never expected anything like this. The number of houses on the great outstretch of land he was overlooking was well over a thousand. The street lights were the only light on the ground, illuminating the many tall houses that stretched across the vast land. The lights in each house were off. The most beautiful thing, though, was the moon. It was huge. Bigger than the moon back at Earth by far. The light reflecting off of it was just right. Bright enough to guide you down the street without any street lights, but dark enough so you could sleep soundly, and peacefully.

It would be Heaven, if only he could fall asleep. But he couldn't; he was too busy worrying about his brother.

He could be anywhere. Even back on Earth.

What if he's back on Earth, wondering how his brother just vanished? Or maybe the teleportation had killed him, leaving his corpse under tons of debris. Or maybe his dead body was also teleported, and is now rotting in the Everfree Forest? Or on the bottom of a lake? I would do anything to at least see him right now.

I need to find him. One way or another, I will find him. Celestia and Luna can help me! They have magic on their side.

As Andrew's mind kept racing at top speeds, his eyelids began to close, the events of today finally catching up to him. He kept on telling himself to stay awake; he may think of something. But the overwhelming sleepiness was clouding his brain. After a few minutes of trying to stay awake, he finally gave in, letting sleep take over him.

Luna paced back and forth in Celestia's throne room. She was infuriated towards her sister; she had risked this young stallion's life for a prophecy that is most likely not true.

The Princess of the Night gave her sister a death glare. "How in the Faust could you have ever brought yourself to do this to Andrew?! This 'prophecy,' as you call it, is near crazy!"

Celestia merely rolled her eyes at her sister's rage. "Please tell me one time in the history of Equestria when a prophecy did not come true? This is his destiny; I know it."

Luna slammed her hoof on the ground. "The pony who told you this is crazy! He could never be a hero!"

The Princess of the Sun gave her sister a glare. "He risked his life for his country. He's already a hero. Listen to yourself, Luna. The prophecy clearly stated the hero who saves Equestria is a human, with eyes light as the sky, and mane as dark as night. He had already risked his life for the ones he loves, even though his parents are no longer with him. How does Andrew not fit that description?"

Luna took a deep breath, her rage dying down a bit. Her big sister had a point. "...But his brother is not a murderer. He's a good man."

Celestia nodded, and looked down. "The prophecy says that his brother was changed ever since the teleportation. Do you need me to say the entire thing again?"

Luna was about to bark a reply, stating her memory was fine, but her sister interrupted her before she said anything.

"There is an ancient prophecy," Celestia started. Luna groaned, already having heard it a couple minutes ago. "Which states that one day, a human would save Equestria from the 'Brown Eyed Devil.' After hearing this, the old rulers decided to create the first Beacon. After this was achieved, they sent a fleet of Beacons to the only planets in the galaxy having humans on them: Baräk, Po, Mærinsh, and Earth. On Po and Baräk, however, humans were extinct. For an unknown reason, no humans from Mærinsh were Destined. However, the humans on Earth were. And hundreds of them were Destined." Celestia stood up from her throne and trotted over to her sister. "They came in flocks; four of them were teleported a day. Things went smoothly, and the old rulers believed The Brown Eyed Devil didn't stand a chance." Celestia looked her sister in the eye. "But he never came. No Brown Eyed Devil ever came to Equestria.

"After a thousand years of questioning humans about if they knew anything about the prophecy, and getting no satisfactory answers, the old rulers became tired of the population growing so much. They figured the prophecy was a fluke." Celestia's eye twitched. "Since humans were considered worthless, they were brought into slavery. Dozens of laws regarding humans arose, stating their enslavement to the pony race. The humans only obeyed for two hundred years. Then they revolted." She looked down, sadly. "They didn't stand a chance, and were slaughtered. Soon, all Beacons were shut down. Except one, located on Earth." Celestia smiled. "Right where Andrew lived; New York.

"The prophecy faded from everypony's memory. Soon, nopony even knew what a human was. Until it was discovered that the prophecy was read wrong; there was more to it." Celestia started to circle her sister. "It said that not just any human could defeat The Brown Eyed Devil. Only its brother could. And its brother had eyes as light as the sky, along with a mane as dark as night.

"The very day this missing part was discovered, Andrew was born. And that Beacon had survived this long, just to be there for Andrew, the Hero of Equestria. And Vandal, the Brown Eyed Devil. And that..." Celestia stopped circling around her sister, now standing in front of her, staring into her eye. "...is why Andrew is here right now."

Luna looked steadily into her sister's eyes, her face without emotion. Her mouth was a cruel, straight line. After a few seconds of silence, she finally spoke.

"Tia," she said quietly. "It's not him. I don't know why you think that way, but it's just not possible."

"And why is that?!" Celestia almost shouted, infuriated by her sister's incompetence of believing.

"Because it just isn't. Please, just believe me." Luna looked steadily at her sister, but after a couple seconds of silence, Celestia pushed herself past her dark blue sister, and out the door.

Andrew slept well that night. No nightmares haunted his mind, proving to be a great relief to the New Yorker. He yawned himself awake, his cyan eyes slightly open. A good night's rest turned out to be a great experience. Andrew sat up and leaned over the side of his bed, his white tank top and shorts (courtesy of the princess' magic) the only clothes he had on. As he stroked back his hair blissfully, he smiled. He didn't have a reason for the action, but it felt good.

The Veteran knew that today would be far different than the others. New world, new beginning, and new job, which he was going to seek out momentarily. It didn't matter to him all expenses were payed by the castle; he wasn't a fan of being dead weight for the kind princesses to drag around. He'd had enough war and fighting back on Earth, so definitely not a guard. He'd choose something a little more calm. Maybe a French Teacher (he loved and spoke the French language and culture.), or something like that.

Andrew kicked himself off the luxurious bed, and headed downstairs, onto the first floor of his royal room. He entered the bathroom, looking over himself in the mirror. Other than a mysterious, blue thunder bolt tattoo on his neck (which the princesses had mentioned being a "cutie mark"[which was also located on his rump as a pony]), he looked the same as yesterday.

Until he looked down.

He almost jumped back as he gawked at what was presumably his body. He was... ripped. Sure, the Army had really whipped him into shape, but this was.. Different.

He gazed into the mirror, moving his upper arms and flexing them as they went. The shoulders on his body were very well defined and broad; they almost looked like the humps on a camel. His biceps and triceps were huge; even his lower arm was rock hard.

"How.." He started, but couldn't finish. His tongue was dry from surprise and shock. He traced his stomach with his fingers. He felt not only six, but eight rock hard abdominals. His large muscular chest jutted from his hard stomach.

To experiment, he turned into his pony form (the clothes were transformed with him for the next time he turned) and blinked at his figure in the mirror. The earth pony staring back at him was very muscular. Although the pony muscles were slightly different from the human's (the bicep was more inwards on his upper legs, and the abdominals weren't visible unless being flexed), they were still noticeably hard.

After the shock wore off, Andrew couldn't help but chuckle. "Hello, ladies," he muttered, even though he never says that.

His thoughts were cut off when a couple knocks erupted from the other side of the door. Andrew, still in his pony form, trotted over to the wide, majestic door. He was still having trouble with the hooves as he fumbled around with the strange door knob. When he finally opened it, he was greeted by Princess Celestia. She smiled down at him.

"Hello, Andrew," she gazed down at his smaller frame. "I have some news for you. May I?" She gestured to the inside of the room.

Andrew nodded, and made way for her to enter. When she did so, Andrew discovered her eyes had bags under them, as if she didn't have enough sleep last night. "Excuse me for asking," Andrew said politely. "But I didn't keep you up at night, did I?"

Celestia shook her head. "Oh, no, that was none of your doing. Me and Luna were just having a little talk." Celestia closed the door behind her. "Okay, as for the news, please don't take this the wrong way. This is all out of care." Andrew leaned forward a little, attentive. "May we sit down for this?"

"Oh, yeah, sure!" Andrew hurriedly rushed over to the royal couch and sat, ears perked. Celestia followed, and sat down by him.

"Now, I'm not sure if you're up for it, but I have a job for you." Andrew perked up. Celestia smiled at his early enthusiasm. "I have a student, who resides in Ponyville. She is a unicorn named Twilight Sparkle, and is my star pupil. I have invited her over to dinner tonight, via letter. I also included that a new, highly intelligent species called a human has arrived, and is waiting for her arrival. That would be you." Andrew nodded, showing no sign of defiance. Celestia eased a little at this. "She wishes to study and run tests on you; don't worry, though! None are dangerous." The Princess of the Sun had honesty in her voice. Andrew figured she had been friends, or apprentice and mentor, with this 'Twilight Sparkle' for a very long time. "Now, I am completely willing to cancel the appointment if you don't approve!"

Andrew quickly shook his head. "No, it's alright! I kind of like the sound of 'Ponyville.' Plus I don't want to just be dead weight around here."

"You are not dead weight." Andrew almost flinched at Celestia's sudden anger. Before he could comprehend it, though, Celestia instantly became the kind princess again. She looked at him, surprised, as if she didn't even mean to say it, and then her eyes filled with sorrow. "I'm sorry, Andrew," she said, her voice back to normal. "I just don't like it when my subjects think like that."

Andrew nodded. "It's alright," he said with a smile.

Celestia nodded her thanks, then sat up. "So it's official, then? You're leaving for Ponyville tomorrow morning." She smiled. "This is all optional, Andrew."

Andrew nodded, a half smile on his face. Although he wasn't a fan of being some unicorn's lab rat, the opportunity was unique. Plus, it provided him with work. "I do, however, I have one more question," he started.

The Princess of the Sun looked down at him quizzically.

"Why am I so buff?"

Celestia's cheeks flushed red. It was true; his extremely well-toned muscles along his body showing it. She answered: "When you gain another body, you gain its strength. You have the strength of both a human and a pony now."

Andrew nodded, looking down at his muscular physique. "Sweet."

Celestia stood up. "Well, now that we have discussed it, it is settled. My apprentice will be here at precisely 8:00. Dress handsomely." As if he could get any more handsome. The temperature rised in the Princess's cheeks in response to that thought. She was about to turn and leave, embarrassed, when she remembered vital information. Celestia gave the stallion's body one more look of approval before she said: "Oh, and one more thing. When you arrive at Ponyville, your name is 'Blueheart.' Trust me; Andrew Davis isn't exactly a name that won't attract attention." Blueheart? That was an unoriginal and not thought-out name. But it was the first one to pop up in her mind. And, as she looked him over, she discovered the name fit him. His dark blue coat, adventurous black and cyan mane and tail, and cyan eyes all went together.

Blueheart. Now it kind of had a ring to it. She liked it. By the look on the young stallion's face, he liked it too.

Celestia started to walk out of the room, when the newly-named Blueheart stood up. "Wait," he called out. Celestia turned. "Thank you. For everything." Celestia smiled.

"You're welcome," the Princess of the Sun responded. She then exited the room, shutting the door behind her.

Blueheart.. Blueheart, Hero of Equestria.

Now that certainly had a ring to it.

Next Chapter: Chapter 4: Royal Dinner Estimated time remaining: 10 Minutes