I held Applejack in my arms, even my wings got in on the act. I was happy, I was content. Everything that happened to me in the last six months just forgotten. I smiled, my arms gripping Applejack tighter. I opened my eyes to see Applejack was staring at me.

“Ya love me, right?” Applejack asks me. “Ya wouldn't lie ta me, right?”

I keep smiling. “Of course not. I can't lie to you, you would notice.”

“In that case, can ah ask ya something?”

“Go ahead.”

“The fight ya just had, could ya have spared them? Ah mean, not killed them.”

I sigh, lowering my gaze and closing my eyes. “No, I couldn't.”

“Why?”

“Because if I did, they would come back.” I raise my head back up. “And if I wasn't here and they hurt you or worse, I could never forgive myself.” I stare into Applejack's eyes. “I couldn't live without you Applejack, I know it sounds clichéd, but I couldn't. Humans are funny like that, even with all their friends to help them out, all it takes is the death of a loved one and it doesn’t matter. Friends or no, the loss would be too much to bear.”

“Ya would kill yourself, over me?”

“Yes.” I keep my gaze level as I see Applejack trying to find a lie amongst my words.

“Ah....believe you.”

“There were plenty of times I wanted to kill myself in the Griffon Colonies. I just couldn't take anymore, the jobs, the bloodshed. I had a knife to my wrist more than once Applejack, but do you know what kept it from cutting?”

“Me.” Applejack replies, tears forming in her eyes.

“Yes, the thought of you. The thought of ruining not just my life but yours too. The thought of not seeing you again or.....” I cut myself off and look down.

“Or what?” Applejack touches my cheek with a hoof.

I was going to respond when the front door to Roseluck's place opens, and the rest of my friends and family step in. They instantly see me and Applejack, Roseluck smiles.

“I see you got comfortable.” Roseluck states.

“Sorry Rose, guess we got lost in the moment.” I say, releasing Applejack from my winged embrace.

“John, what were ya going ta say?”

“Sorry Applejack for your ears only.” I reply, Applejack sighs.

“So you two, are you going to kiss now or what?” Roseluck asks, getting a giggle from twilight and the others.

“Sorry Rose, You missed it.” I answer laughing.

Applejack let's me go as the signal to let her down. I remove my wings and arms from her body as Applejack slides off my lap. I stand up, but sit back down as I feel a little light headed.

“John? Are you alright?” Twilight asks.

I stand back up, albeit a little slower this time. “I'm fine sis, just got up a little too quickly that's all.”

“If you have any ill effects you will tell us, won't you?”

“Yeah, don't worry, it's not the first time.” I reply. “Have you seen Rainbow?”

“No, we came for you first. I think she would like all of us to be there.” Rarity states.

I nod, the girls all turn around and head back out the front door. As I pass Roseluck, I ask her if she would like to come.

“Hey Rose, you want to come along?”

“No, this is a family thing. I'll just be in the way, besides I will see you at one of our lunch meets anyway.” I rub Roseluck's mane.

“Thanks again Rose, for helping me.”

“I was doing what any friend would do.” Roseluck replies.

“Still, thanks.”

Roseluck smiles as I leave to join my sisters. I walk alongside the girls as I look around at the other ponies going about their daily routine. I spot some of the ponies that saw my altercation, but none of them seemed bothered and they even wave to me. I wave back trying to figure out why they didn't stare at me or even run me out of town for what I did. In the end I just shrug, I couldn't figure out this place even if I spent the rest of my life trying.

The trip to the hospital was spent mostly in silence, the girls probably noticed my distress and didn't want to ask me about it. Applejack nuzzled my hand a few times when I either slowed down or drifted off. We entered the main door of the hospital, several ponies look up only to stare at me. My wings twitch.

“Maybe I should come back later, when it's quieter.” I say.

“Pish posh brother, you are here to see a family member. You are welcome as any other pony is, besides you have spent two times here already.” Rarity states, pushing me forward.

Twilight took the opportunity too approach the front desk. The nurse sitting down looks up.

“Miss Sparkle, I take you are here to see Miss Dash?” I noticed some venom in the nurses tone.

“Yes, we all are.” Twilight gestures behind, when the nurses eyes land on me her ears go flat.

“M-Mr John, I'm relieved to see you back. Please accept the hospitals full apology for what happened to you, if we knew a pony was going to take you, we would have asked for a guard to be stationed.”

“I don't blame anypony for what happened to me, you can rest easy, I won't be suing.” I fold my arms and grin.

“That's great news! The head doctor will be pleased, I hope this hasn't put our hospital in a bad light?”

“Not at all nurse, besides, I might be visiting here again sometime.” I chuckle. The nurse smiles.

I hear a sound behind me and instantly I turn and bring my hands up, their signature glow activating. I look around and I see two ponies frozen by the front door, I sighed and lowered my hands as I see it was only the door squeaking. I turn back around and see all the others staring at me with their eyes wide, I lower my head.

“Let's just get to Dash's room shall we?” I say, pinching the bridge of my nose.

The nurse coughs. “Ok, follow me please.”

All the group start to head off and follow the nurse, I hang back cursing myself for being so stupid. I was in the middle of saying my seventh swear word when Applejack nuzzles up beside me.

“Ya ok?”

I nod. “Yeah, guess I’m still a little jumpy.” I place my hand on Applejack's neck. “Six months of looking over your shoulder will do that.”

I feel Applejack lean into me. “Ah've been thinking...”

“Whoa Careful” I interrupt.

“This is serious! Ah've thought a lot and ah would like you to move into Sweet Apple Acres with me.” Applejack looks up at me. “If ya want ta that is.”

I look down to her and see the smile she had on her muzzle. I rub her mane and nod.

“I would love that Applejack, but are you sure you have room?”

“Sure we do! Ah have asked granny and Big Mac, they have no problem with it. And ah’m sure Apple Bloom would like ya living with us.”

I smile again and nod. I don't say anything further but feel Applejack nuzzle my hand again. It took a little for us and the rest to get to Dash's room, it was funny I never knew the hospital was this big. We entered an area labelled recovery, the nurse turns to us.

“Miss Dash's room is second on the right, you can't miss it as there's a guard sitting outside.” The nurse says, pointing down the hall. “Miss Dash also has a visitor already there, so please, just go right in.”

Twilight thanks the nurse as she leaves us and returns back to the front desk. I follow the others as we round a corner and see two guards standing outside a room, both guards were wearing purple armour and looked like they had cats eyes. As the group approached one of the guards puts up his hoof.

“I'm sorry you can't enter under order by Princess Luna....” The guards gaze falls on me. “...Sir! I didn't know you were coming too!”

I give the guard a confused look. “You know me soldier?”

“Of course sir! You are Princess Luna's champion, she has told us to treat you as her future commander.” The guard replies.

“I would like to see my sister, please let my group pass.” The guard looks to his companion. “Is something wrong?” I ask.

“N-No sir, it's just that....”

“What?” I was getting impatient.

“Princess Luna is in there, she said nopony was to disturb her.”

“Princess Luna told you to treat me as her commander right?” The guard nods. “Then open the door, that's an order!”

The guard relents and nods, both guards move out the way and I push the door open. When I enter I see Luna talking to Dash, a large smile was adorning both their faces. Luna looks up with a frown but it fades as she sees me. Dash rolls her head, her smile getting bigger.

“I take it you have flexed your command muscles on my guards?” Luna asks me.

“Yes, I didn't know you told all the guards to treat me like that.”

“Only my night guard, my sisters guard won't take orders from you until you complete your training.” Luna replies.

I nod as the others take up positions near Rainbow's bed.

“How ya feeling Rainbow?” Applejack asks.

“Like one of my stunts went wrong!” Rainbow replies, wincing in pain.

“What do the doctors say?” Twilight questions.

“The doctors say Miss Dash will be out in a few days.” Luna answers. “They said they needed to make sure she had no lasting injuries.”

“I'm glad they didn't hurt you too badly, my flight training has to come from somepony.” I laugh. I turn to Fluttershy. “Sorry sis, but I think Dash would be better, besides you have a lot of animals to take care of.”

“It's ok, I’m not a strong flyer anyway. Rainbow is your best choice.”

“Heh, guess you got me, eh big guy?” Rainbow says.

“Guess I have, so you going to last three days couped up here?”

“Yeah, I lasted before, I can do it again.” Rainbow smiles at me. “The princess tells me you took care of the griffons.”

I nod. “They won't be harming you or anypony ever again.”

“And the lead griffon?”

“Varala's dead too.” I see a tear roll down Dash's face.

“Thanks brother.” I lean in and hug Dash, we spend a few minutes embraced before we part. “Now enough of the mushy stuff, your a big commander now.”

I chuckle. “Not yet, but I aim to be.”

“You'll be awesome, just like me!” Rainbow states, pointing to herself.

“One day Dash, one day.” I say, chuckling.

“Now I think Miss Dash needs her rest, I suggest we retire for the evening.” Luna states.

The other all nod, I however put my hand on Rainbows hoof.

“Princess, I need to have a private word with my sister is that alright?”

“Of course my champion, I have some things to discuss with you also, I shall wait outside.” Luna replies, bowing.

I return the bow as the other leave the room, when the door shuts I turn back to Dash. Tears had begone to roll down Rainbows face, my fingers wrap around her hoof.

“Brother, I....”

“Dash, I don't want to hear it.” I follow up my stern glare with a smile. “You have nothing to say that I don't already know.”

“But the things they said, are they true?”

“What things?” I ask.

“About what you did in the Colonies, did you really kill griffons?”

“Yes I did, and I don't regret it.”

“Never?”

“Never, as long as there was a chance they could find and hurt you, I would of killed them over and over again.”

“What did it feel like?” I look down and see Rainbow looking at me, a sincere gleam in her eyes.

I let go of her hoof and walk to the window near her bed. I stare out, detailing the sky in all it's bright glory.

“It's not something I can explain, all I can say Rainbow is, it's not a feeling I want you to have. I took the lives of those griffons because it was necessary, not because I wanted to. The time I had over there was the most harrowing I ever had...” I turn my head back to Dash and see that she was still staring at me. “....Back in my old world I was nothing, my life was empty apart from the few friends I had. Then I came here and all that changed, I gained more than friends, I gained a family.

Rainbow broke down, the tears now flowing from her eyes. I walked over and sat down on her bed, Dash leans over and puts her fore legs around my neck, I return her hug with my own arms. We spent several minutes just listening to each others hearts. After a while I had to go, Luna was still waiting for me.

“Rainbow, I need to go now.” We both part, Rainbow sniffing back her tears. “I'll come back later, ok?” Rainbow nods.

“Promise you will, these places can get boring.” Rainbow says, gesturing to the walls.

“I promise, I won't leave you here alone, nopony deserves that fate.” I reply, laughing.

I kiss Dash on the forehead and ruffle her mane. I slide off the bed and walk towards the door, I stop however and turn my head back.

“Oh and one more thing Dash.” I smile and open my wings, all eight meters of my wingspan just opening in the small room. I fold my wings back up as I see Rainbows eyes widen. “Heh, see you later Dash.”

I leave the hospital room smiling, as I see Princess Luna sitting nearby I think. What has she got in store for me this time?