When I made it back to Twilight and Stardust they were putting on their saddle bags. I walked over and picked up my bag.

“How was your walk brother? Feeling better?” Twilight says.

“Yeah, met some of the crystal guards two carriages over, nice bunch.” I reply.

“I'm just so excited! I've never been to the Crystal Empire, I'm so glad you asked me.” Stardust adds.

“I'm glad your happy Stardust, I'm excited too but I can't show it, have to show some form of control, right?”

Twilight nods. “Yes, you are here in a official capacity. First impressions are everything.”

“Egghead.” I laugh, ruffling Twilights mane. The train slows down as it reaches it's stop. I look out the window and scrunch my face.

“What's wrong brother?”

“I thought the station would be a little more.....crystal.” I answer.

“Oh the city is made of crystal but the Equestrian transport agency has certain standards for train stations. In other words the station can't be made of crystal.” Twilight replies, moving to the carriage exit. “Now let's get going, Cadence is probably waiting for you.”

I nod. The three of us stand by the carriage exit as the doors slide open, what I see makes me pinch the bridge of my nose. The crystal guards were forming a line from the carriage to a road carriage not far away. The guards stand to attention as I step out, I look around and see other ponies stop and watch the spectacle.

“Is this really necessary?” I ask, Hot Shot when I pass him. He just smiles.

Me, Stardust and Twilight reach the road carriage and the door opens. I stop dead seconds before a pink shape blur flies out and tackles me to the ground. I hit the ground, hard.

“What in heaven!” I say, opening my eyes to see Cadence forcibly hugging me. “Princess!?”

“Shush!” Cadence says, nuzzling my neck, my face was burning.

The hug attack lasted a few very uncomfortable minutes, I heard various sniggers and failed attempts to hide laughter. I sigh before reaching up and stroking Cadence's mane. Cadence finally let's me go allowing both of us to stand back up.

“That was some welcome.” I say, coughing as I did. I hear more tittering behind me.

“I'm sorry John, it's been so long since I last met you and I wanted our reunion to be memorable.” Cadence replies.

“Well that certainly was memorable, I might need a cold shower though.”

Cadence giggles. “Then my work here is done.” Cadence moves to Twilight. “My favourite sister in law!” Cadence and Twilight proceed to do some weird greeting. After which Cadence's gaze falls on Stardust. The latter quickly bowing.

“This is Stardust, Cadence, my other travelling companion today. She has never seen the Crystal Empire yet, just like me.”

“Pleasure to meet you Stardust.” Cadence pulls stardust in for a hug, I see Stardust's body stiffen. “Oh! I'm sorry, I guess when your the princess of love you forget not everypony likes to be touched.”

“It's fine princess, I haven't been held like that for some time, I guess I'm a little shy about it.” Stardust replies, hugging back.

Cadence and Stardust let go of each other and Cadence gestures to the carriage.

“The Empire awaits, all the other ambassadors are already here, you are the last one John.” I nod, as the four of us climb into the carriage, Twilight sat next to Cadence and Stardust sat next to me. I noticed three crystal guards climb onto the carriage, I smiled as I saw one was Crystal.

“John? Did you get my message?” Cadence asks me.

“I did princess, I will do as you ask.” Cadence visibly beams a grin.

“Thank you John, you have no idea what this means to me.”

“I do princess, I will help, you have my word on that.” I see Twilight looking at me with narrowed eyes. “But it think we should talk more in private, my sister is giving me the stink eye.” I chuckle.

Twilight tries asking me and Cadence what our conversation was, me and Cadence just say it's private and after a while Twilight gives up. The carriage was surprisingly smooth, the journey to the city was mostly sat in silence. I sat looking at the snowy landscape we passed through, it was amazing.

I gasped when I saw a large glowing structure appear from behind a small hill, the closer we got the brighter it was and more of the city started to come into view.

“Is that?....”

“Yes, that's the castle and underneath, the city.” Cadence says.

“It's beautiful.” Stardust states, pressing up against me. “I never thought it would be like this.”

“Aww, you two look so cute!” Cadence says.

I look and see how close Stardust was to my face, I go to say something but stardust turns before I could and our lips come together, albeit it was only briefly.

“Oh my! I'm so sorry John!” Stardust says, quickly retreating back to her side of the seat, her face a deep crimson. I just sit in silence. Twilight and Cadence almost on the verge of tears.

I roll my eyes and look back out the carriage window. Several minutes later the carriage stops and the crystal guards open the carriage door. Cadence gets up first and exits, I look and see we haven't entered the city yet, I shrug and follow Cadence out. Twilight and Stardust leave after.

I stand beside Cadence as she addresses the crystal guards. The guards all look to me then nod before jumping back on the carriage and heading into the city. I then realise my bag was still on the carriage.

“Cadence? What's going on here?” I ask.

“I thought because you haven't seen the city before, it would be nice to walk from here.”

“I would enjoy that.” I reply, Stardust nods, Twilight just huffs.

All four of us start to make our way towards the city, my heart increasing in rate with every step. As we get closer I notice a bubble of magic surrounding the city.

“Uh Cadence? I don't do so well around magic.” I say, gesturing to the city. “I tend to explode!”

“It's ok. I contacted both my aunts and they say you should be fine, the crystal heart only effects black magic.” Cadence replies, giving me a small but reassuring smile.

“I trust you on this but if something happens I want you all to run.”

“No! We stick together!” Twilight states. “I'm not leaving you.”

“Me too!” Stardust says. “You saved my life, I can at least repay you.”

“And there's no way in Tartarus I'm not helping.” Cadence adds.

I sigh. “What will I do without you girls?”

“Probably go nuts.” Twilight giggles.

“Probably.” I laugh back.

“Now this is a bitch!” I say, putting my hands on my hips and looking up at the large dome of magic.

“Come on John! Just step through!” Twilight shouts, standing with Cadence and Stardust on the other side. Several guards were standing by aswell, just encase.

“I have bad feeling about this.” I state, my heart was running full pelt at this point. “Ok here goes!” I add, swallowing hard and reaching out a hand, several seconds later I regretted the action as I was flung through the air. “Fuck!” I shout as I land head first into the ground. I hear hooves running up to my prone body.

“Oh my! John are you ok?” I recognise Cadence's voice. “Speak to me!”

I groan and try to sit up, failing that, I lie back down. “What happened?” I ask, somewhat still dazed.

“We don't know! You touched the field and boom! You flew through the air!” Twilight answers.

“That would explain why I can't move, and the searing pain in my hand.” I reply. I hear Cadence ordering her guards to find a doctor. I open my eyes only to see blurred images. “I can't see!” I shout, my mind on the verge of panic.

“John calm down!” Twilight says, leaning over me so I could see her blurred purple form.

I hear more hooves approaching. Minutes later I was hoisted up on a stretcher just big enough to fit me. I try to turn my head but every muscle in my body was screaming at me, the pain in my hand was now travelling the length of my body.

“I'm sorry princess but we have to get him through the field, it's the only way I can treat him.” I hear a stallion say. “There might be a way we can get him through, if we can wrap his body in a magic field the same frequency as the cities bubble then he could float through.”

“But his MAR? Won't it absorb the magic?” Twilight asks.

“I don't think so, from what you tell me the magic needs to touch him. The magic field around his body will be off his skin so it shouldn't affect him.”

“I think we need to try it, John needs medical attention.” Cadence replies.

I lay still, my wings itching like crazy. I really needed to move, I was going nuts like this.

“Stardust, Twilight?” I say.

“We're here brother.”

“Twilight can you do something for me?”

“What is it?”

“You need to knock me out.”

“What!?”

“You need to knock me out, with me unconscious my body won't absorb magic.” I see Twilights form on the edge of my vision. “It's the only way they can bring me through the field, please, just trust me on this.” I see Twilight slowly nod.

“How are we going to do this? We can't use magic on you!”

“Get one of the guards to knock me out, they must know some technique that doesn't use magic.” I say.

“I can't just let somepony....”

“Twilight! They need to treat me!” I blurt out, instantly regretting it I calm myself. “Sister, it's the only way, please.” Twilight goes to say something else but just kisses my fore head instead.

“Ok.” I hear Twilight say as she walks away.

Moments later Twilight returns. “Brother? I found a pony that can knock you out.”

“Who?”

“Greetings sir!”

“Crystal?”

“Yes sir, I have the knowledge to knock you out however....” Crystal pauses. “It might hurt, a lot.”

“Might still be better than getting my body flung into the ground again.” I chuckle.

“Are you ready sir?”

“Crystal, Thanks.”

I get a blurred smile for several seconds before Crystals hoof comes down and everything goes black.

I awake with a groan, my body still felt heavy, my muscles taught. I open my eyes and find my vision has returned, though my surroundings almost brought and end to it. The room I was in shined and sparkled so brightly that I almost went blind again. I raise up a hand and rejoiced that I could move again. My hand went over my eyes as I slowly turn my head to focus on other things, I spot utensils on a nearby bench, most I know are used by hospitals to test blood pressure and heart rates.

My gaze shifts as I hear shuffling nearby, I see Twilight lying on a chair across the room, she was fast asleep. A hoof touches my arm and I look to it's source, Stardust was sitting at my bedside, her eyes red with tears.

“Your awake.” Stardust whispers.

“How did it go?”

“Your here aren’t you?” Stardust gestures to the room.

“Where are we?” I ask, looking around the room again.

“The medical wing of the Crystal Castle, Princess Cadence brought you here after you got knocked out.”

“I feel like a slab of concrete.” I state, putting my hand back to my head. “My magic should have healed me by now.”

“About that, the doctors gave some bad and some good news, which would you like first?”

“The bad first.”

“Ok, When you touched the cities magical field your body absorbed some of the crystal hearts energy. Twilight understood, I was just confused.”

I chuckle. “Long story, what's the good news?” I ask.

“Your internal magic is slowly pushing out the crystal hearts magic, the doctors said in a few hours you can walk and tomorrow the magic should be gone.” Stardust smiles, before looking to Twilight. “Should I wake Twilight?”

“No, let her sleep, she seems tired.” I yawn.

“She's not the only one.” Stardust giggles. “You should rest up, the princess has postponed the trade talks till tomorrow.”

I nod. “Thanks Stardust, could you do me a favour?”

“Sure what is it?”

“Could you contact Cadence for me and make sure she doesn’t tell my marefriend back in Ponyville, I don't want her to worry.”

Stardust leans in and kisses my forehead. “Don't worry, I’ll find the princess and tell her.” Stardust walks around my bed and heads for the door. “Just leave everything to me.” She then opens the door and exits.

I look back to Twilight who had not awakened, I close my eyes and drift off into sleep.

I was standing in field just outside of Ponyville, the wind was gently blowing through my mane. I look around and see that I am alone. I open my arms and spread my wings, feeling the sun and breeze on my wings. I close my eyes and sigh, it was a perfect day.

“I thought it was my night you loved?”

My eyes shoot open as I turn quickly, Luna was standing behind me, grinning.

“I do, but the sun does feel good on my wings.” I reply, folding my wings back up. “Come to say hello?”

“I have, we haven't spoken in a while, not since that night in the colonies.” Luna giggles. “That was the most interesting dream I've ever entered. Though I have to ask? What was that position you were using?”

I chuckle nervously. “It's was called the reverse cowgirl, it's kind of a popular sexual position in my old world.”

“I bet it was, though it did take you almost five minutes to realise I was standing there.”

“You could have said something or did you like watching?” I reply, smiling.

“I do not watch! I observe, your act was fascinating.”

“Like I said, watch.” I walk passed Luna and drag a finger between her wing joints, Luna let's out a moan. “Even a princess has needs, it's fine to let them out every now and again.” I say, continuing my walk through the field. Luna trots up beside me.

“You like teasing mares don't you?” Luna asks, giving me a narrow stare.

“Only if they are easy to tease.” I laugh. “Anyway, I might think your my stalker the way you come into my dreams and watch me.”

“I....” Luna stammers.

“I lucid dream remember? I always know your there.” I clasp my hands behind my back as we continue to walk. “Did you have anything to ask, or were you hoping to drop in on some 'fun times' between me and Applejack?”

“I admit I was hoping to see some action, but this type of dream is quite rare for you.”

“I do have a soft side you know, humans aren't all death and sex.”

“Shame, my sister did ask about human sexual practice, maybe I should bring her along next time you are having intimate relations with your marefriend?”

“Go ahead I won't stop you, it's only a dream.” Luna gasps at my comment. “What? I'm human not bashful, you can just ask me about my species sexual practices, I have nothing to hide.”

“Well in that case, how do humans engage in this practice?”

“You mean how do we do it?”

“Yes.”

“How about I show you?”

“Wha..” I cut Luna off as I kiss her.

Luna struggles in my grip for several seconds before giving in and accepting my embrace. Our tongues mingle and intertwine as my two hands caress the soft fur of Luna's cheeks. I move one hand and rub my fingers through her mane, I feel the magic in her hair as I keep running my fingers through it.

I break the kiss, smiling down at Luna.

“Do you want to go further? Or should we stop now?” I ask, Luna was still half lidded recovering from the kiss. “Luna?”

“Eh? What?”

“I asked if you want to continue?”

“I have to get back, I'll consider the request.” I see Luna's face turning red. “I bid you farewell John, my champion till next time.” Luna flashes away leaving me to my dream.

I pick an area of grass and lay down, I laugh and draw a one and a zero in the air above me.

“Human one, Pony zero.” I say, laughing again as I put my arms behind my head and enjoy the sunshine.

Luna's eyes rapidly open, her face blushing heavily. She stands up from her bed and walks over to a mirror. Luna looks behind and finds she's a little bit wetter than usual, Luna sighs.

“Thanks John, now I need a cold shower, a long cold shower.” Luna walks to her bathroom but stops and turns around, Luna wiggles her flank in the mirror. “Oh yeah, I still got it.”