I was right about the trip being interesting, and it all started with the train ride. I know the train was made of crystal but did the driver have to go so fast. I was holding on to my seat with white knuckles, the strain and worry evident on my face. I even tried to look out the window, trouble is that didn't work, the scenery going by so quickly almost made me sick. I took a quick glance at Twilight and Stardust, both were sitting side by side talking amongst themselves.

The scene made me relax a little at how quickly Twilight befriended Stardust, both mares happily laughing and chatting while I held on for dear life.

“Are you ok brother?” I look up to see both mares staring at me.

“I'm fine, just not used to trains that's all.” I reply.

“You should have told us, I'm sure we could have found something else to travel there in.”

I held up a hand. “Like I said I'm fine, got to get used to it sooner or later right?”

“Ok.” Twilight looks out the window. “We shouldn't be long anyway, maybe another twenty minutes.”

I groan. 'Twenty minutes! Great....' I think to myself. I decide to walk off my fright and wonder the train.

“Girls, I'm going to walk the train ok?” I say, both mares nod before carrying on their conversation. I chuckle before walking out of the carriage.

I walked into the next carriage that was empty, I heard several voices coming from the next carriage so I headed over. I walked to the window and peered inside, several crystal guards were playing what looked like poker, with their helmets off. They didn't see me so I eavesdropped on their gossip.

“So what did you think about the new commander?” One guard asks.

“He's not what I thought he would be.” Another replies.

“Why's that?”

“He's bigger, and more menacing.” The guard just bluntly answers.

“True on that, I definitely think Princess Luna will have a keeper in him.”

The guards laugh.

“Yeah, last stallion was so afraid she gave him a heart attack!” A new guard states.

“Did he ever recover?” The first guard asks.

“Nope! Poor bastards still in a coma, doctors say there's no hope.”

“Poor sod, anyway I don't think Luna has a problem with this one.”

“What do you mean by that?” The second guard says.

“This stallion has a marefriend, an element bearer no less.”

“No way! Your pulling our legs.”

“Nope! It's the farm pony.” The stallion taps his chin. “Damn what was her name again....”

“It's Applejack.” I say, as I open the door. “She lives in Ponyville.”

The guards all jump as I enter the carriage, one almost screams.

“S-Sir! Sorry you heard all that, it was just idle chatter nothing more!” The first guard states, waving his hooves.

I raise a hand and chuckle. “At ease men.” I walk up to the guards table and sit down. “Seems like you guys are having fun.” My wings flutter in excitement.

The guards all sit down and return to their game.

“You play sir?” A guard gestures to the table.

“I dabbled in card games, never was any good though.” I reply. “What are you playing?”

“Canterlot poker.” A guard to my left replies.

“Never played it.” I say, shrugging.

“We can teach you sir, if your going to be in the military, you'll need to learn.” The guard places four cards in front of me. “Every guard plays it, great way to pass the time.”

“One thing more though if I’m going to learn, I need to know your names.” I smile and gesture to each guard with a swipe of my hand. “I can't play with ponies I don't know, might make beating them harder.” I laugh.

The guard across from me chuckles. “Well sir, my name is Hot Shot.” Hot Shot gestures to each guard at the table, as he lists of their names. “The guard to my left is Sparkle Shard, then we have Nertio, Light Strip and Zephyr.” The guards all nod in turn, I nod back.

“Great, thanks guys, I mean it.” I pick up the cards and raise an eyebrow. “Now, how the hell do I play Canterlot poker?”

P.O.V – TWILIGHT + STARDUST

Twilight watches John leave and notices Stardust looking too. Twilight smiles and nudges Stardust.

“You like him? Don't you?”

“What!? I...” Stardust stutters, flinging her head around.

“Don't lie to me Stardust, you feel something for my brother.” Twilight chuckles.

“I....” Stardust sighs. “I feel....I don't know what to feel.” Stardust looks back to the carriage door. “He saved me and I'll never forget that, but there's something else I feel for him.” Stardust turns back to Twilight. “It's not love but....Oh! Why does life have to be so complicated!” Stardust shouts throwing her front hooves up. “Fine! I do love him! But I can't have him because he has somepony, happy now!?” Stardust folds her front legs together.

Twilight laughs behind a hoof, Stardust looks at her with a confused expression. Twilight realises she is being stared at.

“I'm sorry Stardust, you just sound like me, I too loved John. Now I'm his sister and I couldn't be happier.” Twilight Levitates out a photo in her saddlebags and hands it to stardust. “That was taken at Sweet Apple Acres six months ago before John was taken, he was so happy.”

“He looks happy, but I can't help but see something else in his eyes.” Stardust replies handing the photo back.

“Yeah, you saw it too? He still aches for his old world, anypony can see that.” Twilight looks out of the carriage window. “But now he's with Applejack he can settle down, start his own family, and all of us will be there.” Twilight turns back to stardust to see that her head was hung low and she was crying. “Stardust? What's wrong?”

“I'm sorry Twilight, you have such a wonderful life with John and the others, all my life has been is a complete buck up. I travel all the time, one place to the next, never stopping for too long. I've never had a family that's as close as yours, you are so lucky.”

“Lucky? Luck has nothing to do with it. We are a family because John asked us and not the other way around. He asked us because in his old world his family was gone, he had no parents or relatives, meeting us changed all that. That's why he asked us Stardust, because he needed us and we needed him, more than we will ever know.” Twilight places a hoof on Stardust's shoulder. “You'll find a family one day Stardust, just never give up on it, one day you will find your John, and then you will be happy. It just takes time, and time is a great healer.”

Stardust reaches up and touches Twilight's hoof. “Thank you Twilight, your a true friend.”

“Don't mention it Stardust, my life changed for the better so can yours.”

Twilight was going to carry on as a crystal pony entered the carriage, it was one of the train crew.

“Ladies, the empire is five minutes away, enjoy your stay.” The pony bows and leaves the carriage.

“Well Stardust, the empire awaits.” Twilight stands up. “Better get our things together.” Stardust nods in agreement.

P.O.V – JOHN

Zephyr slams down his cards. “I fold!” Zephyr says before sighing heavily.

I laugh as I drop my cards. “That makes three guys, what else have you got.”

Zephyr's mouth hangs open, he then holds out both his front legs.

“How did you learn the game so fast!?”

I chuckle. “Actually now you showed me it's not that much different than a game back in my old world called Oklahoma hold'em. Just yours is played with a different set of cards.”

“So much for us going easy on you, you've cleaned us out!” Hot Shot states.

“Hey, it was fun.” I laugh again. I was about to say something else when I noticed a crystal guard mare sitting by herself. “Who's that?” I ask, gesturing to the pony.

Hot Shot looks around. “Oh that's Crystal Gem, she's a little shy.”

“Really?” I ask, shocked.

“Yeah, usually it's her cleaning us out.” Zephyr states, chuckling.

I stand up and brush off my shirt.

“Where are you going sir?” Hot Shot asks.

I don't say anything but I gesture to Crystal. Hot Shot smiles and nods, before ordering the others to clean up the game. I head over to Crystal, my wings flat against my back.

“Excuse me, is this seat taken.” I ask, gesturing to the empty seat next to the mare.

Crystal turns around and quickly shakes her head. “N-No, Commander!” Crystal was almost jumping out her seat.

“Relax Miss Gem, I'm not going to bite.” I smile. “I just wanted to know why you were over here by yourself?”

“I, well....” Crystal looks down as her ears flatten back. “I'm not good around new ponies.”

“But your a crystal guard, don't you always meet new ponies?” I ask.

“We're not normal crystal guards, we are the personal guards of Princess Cadence. We only deal with the personal matters of the prince and princess.”

I nod. “I understand, because you only guard them you don't see many others in your duties.”

Crystal nods. A few seconds later and new pony steps into the carriage.

“Sirs! And madam.” The pony says, nodding to Crystal. “The Crystal Empire is moments away.” The guards all grunt an understanding before they start putting on their helmets. The new pony bows and walks back out.

I stand up. “Well Miss Gem, it was nice meeting you.” I hold out my hand, hesitantly Crystal shakes it smiling. “I have to get back to my companions, I hope we can meet again, under better circumstances that is.”

“I-I would enjoy that!” Crystal smiles. I bow.

As I head out Hot Shot stops me.

“Sir? If I may have a word with you?”

“Of course.” I gesture for him to follow me.

We walk into the neighbouring empty carriage, being one that has tables, some windows had nothing under them allowing me and Hot Shot to stand and stare out.

“What was it you wanted to talk to me about?” I say, turning to Hot Shot.

“Well, Princess Cadence came to me before the train ride and gave me a personal mission.”

“Go on.” I say, now intrigued.

“The princess told me to tell you that there was rumours that changelings might be in the Crystal Empire, or more truthfully they maybe one of the delegates arriving today.”

“And why would Cadence tell me that? I've never seen one or even been near one, what can I do?”

“The princess thought you might say that.” Hot Shot reaches into his armour and pulls out a small blue gem. “That why she gave me this.” Hot Shot holds it out for me to take.

“What is it?” I ask, taking the gem and turning it over in my grasp.

“It's a message, one use only. Just hold the gem in your claws and put some magic into it, simple!” Hot Shot turns away and starts to walk out.

“Hey where are you going?”

“The message is not for my ears, Princess Cadences request.” Hot Shot reaches the carriage door but stops. “Oh and remember! Once the message is complete the gem will erase, so you can't use it again.” Hot Shot salutes and walks out leaving me with the gem.

I look at the gem and hold my hand out, my hand glows yellow as I put magic into the gem. The gem floats up and then drops on the floor, after several seconds the gem erupts blue light in the shape of Cadence.

“Holy shit!” I cry out, only to stare at the image of Cadence, however I noticed that the princess was not smiling.

“Hello John, I know this not the normal way to address somepony but I need your help.” The image of Cadence sighs. “Several days ago I received some information that changelings were going to invade these trade talks, but it never stated how or who they were going to be. This is why I contacted my aunt Luna and requested that you come in her place.”

“So that's why.” I stated to no-one.

“Your role as far as anypony knows is that your my aunts replacement, so if you keep playing that part then if changelings are present then they should be none the wiser.” The image of Cadence moves and looks directly at me, it actually frightened me, What? It was fucking freaky. “I have but one more request before my message ends, what ever it takes I want these creatures dealt with, by any means necessary, and I mean, ANY means necessary.”

I continue to stare at the gem long after Cadences image had vanished from view. I nodded and cracked my knuckles.

“Rest assured Cadence.” I say, cracking my last knuckle. “If any of those changelings appear, they won't leave!” I turn and head back to Twilight and Stardust, a large grin plastered on my face.