Blueheart looked at himself in the mirror at all angles. His adventurous mane was slicked back handsomely, and his dark blue coat was covered by a black tuxedo. It felt snug against him, and made him look every part the gentleman. Or, in this case, the gentlecolt. The two light blue orbs in his eyes were really the only things that were out of place, but it gave his features a unique look.

He sighed; the plan for him was simple: have dinner with Celestia's star pupil (Twilight Sparkle), introduce himself, wait for Celestia to explain the plan to her, then travel home with her the next day. However, the situation which would unfold in a couple minutes was at the back of his mind. He was really thinking about Vandal. Every possible misfortune that could have happened to his younger brother was flashing in his mind, and for him to just see Vandal ok would make him feel easier.

A knock on his door inturrupted his thoughts. He took one more look at the equine in the mirror, then turned away. "Who is it?"

"It's me, Celestia," came the familiar feminine voice from the other side of the door. "Five more minutes until the dinner starts. All the plates and seats are set up, and we are waiting for Twilight's arrival."

Blue nodded, even though he was sure nobody could see him. "Thanks," he replied.

"Oh, and Andrew?" Celestia called. "Thank you for doing this. You're doing us a huge favor." Blueheart blushed lightly at the praise by such an authority.

"No problem," he responded, as the gentle hoof steps leading away from the door told him she was leaving. When he was sure the Princess of the Sun was away, he drifted away into his thoughts.

My first priority is to find out where Vandal is. I'll cooperate with the ponies, but I won't take any serious steps of friendship until I find him. I need to know if I can at least contact him. Maybe by a cell phone?

No, I'm pretty sure they don't have cell phones here. I need to find him myself. When I get to Ponyville, I'll search for him in my free time. But what if he's somewhere here in Canterlot?

With a sigh of exasperated confusion, Blueheart trotted to the door, and slipped out. As he walked down the majestic, tall corridors to the dining room, he felt out of place. He was, after all, a New Yorker. Even though he wasn't on Earth anymore (and may never be there again), his New Yorker attitude and accent were both still with him. And if his heritage had a hate list, castles and royalty would definitely be on the top ten.

When he rounded the corner into the dining room, his eyes went wide.

Celestia watched in amusement as the handsomely dressed stallion at the other end of the long table marveled at the big room. It was true; the dining room was truly one of her favorites in the castle. It was the epitome of royalty, complete with long, detailed designs on the walls around them. The huge windows on each wall showed a spectacular view of Canterlot in all its glory. A long dinner table was in the center of the room, dominating the floor. It was purple in color, and had designs of the moon and sun on it. Along with furniture and artifacts littering the walls, that completed the majestic dining room.

Celestia was sitting on one end of the spacious table, and Luna sat on the opposite. There were two other chairs on the sides, awaiting Blueheart and Twilight Sparkle.

She watched as her human (now in pony form) friend examined the room further. He was dressed in a tuxedo, and his mane was slicked back to reveal his handsome facial features. After a few seconds of silent bewilderment, the blue earth pony finally asked, "...This entire room is just for dining?"

Celestia nodded, pride filling her chest as Blue marveled at the ceiling once more, then came over to sit down. "Made from the finest workponies in Equestria. Stunning, isn't it?" The earth pony's answer was a nod as he sat down. "Oh, and don't worry about the whole 'omnivore' thing. We've got you covered." The big fruit salad which was going to be on the stallion's plate was actually a steak, an illusion spell changing its features. Celestia detested the fact her friend ate meat. Sure, his body needed protein, but couldn't he get that from eggs or milk? Celestia noticed Blueheart's canines were sharper than most ponies. She thought of the fact those fangs' very purpose was to rip the flesh..

Oh, Faust. I'm gonna throw up.

Celestia quickly got up from her seat, and pardoned herself. She then trotted out of the room, the nauseation and numb feeling in the gums making themselves noticed as her breakfast earlier today started to make its second appearance.

Blueheart briefly looked in the direction Celestia left, puzzled by her abrupt departure. In the Army they taught him to read faces and what they meant. However, it didn't take a professional to tell she was nauseated, evident by the green flush on her face. He turned back to his empty plate, confusion and slight guilt setting in.

"Don't mind her," he heard Luna say behind him. Blue jumped and his heart rate quickened as she appeared right behind him. Luna gave him a slightly apologetic look, but that was all the sorry he was getting. "Andrew Davis, we must talk."

Blue put a hoof over his beating chest, trying to calm himself. "Could you warn me next time you do that?" She shrugged. Blueheart shook the jump scare off as he quickly composed himself. "We're the only ones in here, Princess. We can talk."

Luna blinked and levitated a chair over to her, then sat by the blue pony. She sighed, knowing her sister would be enraged by the fact she told him of this. But if he was going to be here for the rest of his life, he ought to know his purpose. "I understand you must be confused by the fact we haven't answered those two questions yet." The New Yorker's ears perked up as he instantly turned attentive towards her. The Princess of the Night took a deep break, then started. "There is a prophecy.."

Twilight Sparkle was being escorted to the dining room, the armored guard in front of her proving that this was going to be very important.

Excitement was flourishing in her chest. She would finally get to meet another species as capable as them! According to the letter, Celestia wrote that the subject was a male, 21, and is very kind. He comes from a different planet, so she may be the first Ponyvillian to meet an alien! She also wrote he is a former warrior, so she should respect him as much as any other high authority.

The guard stopped abruptly by the dining room doors and turned back towards Twilight. He said with an emotionless, deep voice, "Here is where the princess is meeting you. Good luck." He opened the door, revealing the majestic dining room in all its glory. Luna was seated at the table with a handsome dark blue earth pony, but there was no sign of Celestia. Twilight trotted in the tall room as she heard the doors behind her shut. The loud noise attracted the attention of the two occupants, and she blushed, knowing the attention was now fully on her.

"Welcome, Twilight Sparkle," Luna said with her familiar voice. "Celestia will be here in a couple minutes. Come, sit."

Twilight nodded and smiled as she neared the table. "Hello, Princess Luna. Good to see you on this special night!" Luna nodded and smiled as her reply.

As Twilight pulled out a chair and sat down, she got a good look at the stallion sitting by Luna. He was.. very handsome. He had a dark blue coat, a slicked back cyan and black mane and tail, along with cyan eyes to go with it. She momentarily lost herself in his dazzling, light blue irises. He had an extremely athletic form; toned muscles showing all over his body.

The stallion smiled, dazzling white teeth gleaming. "So I understand you're Twilight Sparkle?" he asked. Twilight recognized his Manehatten accent immediately.

She nodded, still admiring his physique. Heck, his muscles put Rainbow Dash's to shame.

"I'm Blueheart, uh, the 'new species.'"

Twilight nodded, seeing how perfectly the name fit him. She was wondering how he was a new species when she saw something.

Her eyes squinted as she caught a glimpse of his sharp canines; the ones of a carnivore. That was weird.. When she was about to mention them, Celestia entered the room from behind her.

"Hello, Twilight Sparkle!" the Princess of the Sun smiled. "I thank you for coming tonight on such circumstances."

Twilight smiled and started to bow, but Celestia gave her a look. "There's no need bowing," she said as she gave her apprentice a quick hug. "You have already proven yourself countless times." Twilight blushed profusely at the compliment, and nodded.

Celestia trotted over to her seat on the table, and sat down. "Now, I am sure you all know why I have called you to this most important meeting."

The Everfree Forest. Full of violent predators and angry animals. Filled with grotesque plants that blocked out the sun. Dark, unpredictable, dangerous.. Beautiful. So many characteristics to this complicated place, and yet the inhabitants around came up with one: Scary.

Scary.

What a plain, un meaningful word. What does it mean, scary? Scary as in jump scares? As in a sense of foreboding? As in the fear and dread growing stronger every second?

"They need to be more clear," Vandal thought as he looked up at the sage-colored, leafy ceiling above, covering the starry night. The dark green night was noisy; bugs and animals of all types were chirping, howling, cooing, and hissing. It smelt of heavy forest, and also felt like it on his back.

"'Scary' isn't even a word in my books. One that is in them is 'judgmental.' The forest isn't so bad after you've lived in it for a day."

Vandal sighed as he shifted a little in his spot on the warm foliage floor. He was used to this kind of thing; he went camping with his father all the time. This was basically that. Only without a tent. Or a fire. Or anything.

Vandal's chocolate irises shifted from the foliage above to his side as he heard the unmistakeable crack of leaves being stepped on. His heart rate quickened as he stayed completely still, waiting for any other sign of an approacher. There was nothing else, the only noises coming from all the nature around him. Not convinced, however, he slowly and cautiously got up, eyes never leaving the spot that was no doubt concealing an intruder. As his fists raised up in a defensive stance, he narrowed his eyes, trying to make out any form.

He kept his stance, towering his full six feet and two inches. His crazy mop of brown hair sticking out gave him an extra two. A couple more seconds of nothing eased his nerves a little. Just to be sure, though, he lifted his hand up to the forest ahead, and shot a quick bolt of kinetic energy towards it. The lack of effort put into it didn't make it lethal, but it did hurt the victim a lot.

A quick, familiar yelp told him all he needed to know. He rolled his eyes. "Come out, Silver Blossom."

The mentioned mare came out of the forest-darkness with a cheeky grin on her black-furred face. Her red irises twinkled a little as she said: "Apologies, Vandal. I was worried."

Vandal, although irked, chuckled a little. "You? Worried about me? After what you've given me?" He looked down at his gloved right hand and summoned a little dark cloud to circle around it for emphasis.

"Well, yes. It is my job." Silver Blossom looked up and discovered her white mane was disheveled and full of twigs, showing evidence of her most recent endeavors in trying to track the human in the thick brush. With a quick whip of her head, her hair returned to normal. "And don't think you're a master of magicks or anything! You've just started training."

"Did I ever say such thing?" Vandal said, with a playful attempt to imitate her proper speech.

Silver sighed. "Sometimes you can be a bother."

"Correction. All the time."

The black unicorn dismissed the last [believable] comment as she started a new topic. "Why were you out here, lying down, anyways? It's more comfortable inside." She gestured towards the direction of her little cot, a couple blocks away.

Vandal smiled as he sat down on the warm, damp ground. He looked took in a deep breath, enjoying the many smells the forest offered. "I like the forest. It reminds me of my dad. We used to camp a lot together."

Silver Blossom nodded, the mood changing swiftly. "Mine, too." She said as she lied down beside him. They both looked up at the forest top, enjoying the many fragments and sounds that crossed their senses. After a couple seconds of silence, Vandal spoke up.

"Thank you," he said softly. He lifted up his hand and twirled his fingers around as small, dark clouds of magic revolved around them. "And not just for this." The mare beside him looked over to him, smiling a little. "For everything; I had nothing left for me back on Earth besides my brother. Now he's here, and you let me follow him.." He scooted over a little to Silver Blossom's side and planted a light kiss on her cheek, which turned crimson shortly after.

With that, he stood up and left the scene, walking towards the little cottage that belonged to the black mare. The latter stayed where she was, blushing profusely. She briefly thought of how abruptly the human had entered her life, and how he had affected it. But that was a story for another time.

Right now, she had to get back to her house and sleep. It was going to be a long day tomorrow, full of spells, training, and Vandal near her. She looked forward to the last part the most.