I sigh heavily, the gentle breeze still blowing over my face. I lay on the grass feeling content, that is until someone steps into my sunlight. I crack open an eye and sigh again.

“What do you want?” I ask, very irritated.

“Oh I just wanted to drop in on my favourite human, that's what friends do don't they?”

“You are not my friend!” I reply, grinding my teeth.

“Come now! I know you don't mean that.” I hear the distinct sound of snapping claws, I open my eye again and spot Discord lying on a sun lounger next to me. “You do have some nice dreams, though I prefer the scary ones.”

I bite down a retort and I mentally give up. “What do you want Discord?”

Discord sits up. “I thought you would never ask.” Discord snaps his claws and my sunny day disappears. “You know, Princess Luna is not the only god that can see the future.” Discord laughs. “I have found an interesting bit of your future quite the riot. I never thought you could be so....Evil!”

“I would never turn evil!” I shout.

“Please! If I had a bit for every time a powerful being said that I would have four bits, but that's not the point.” Discord snaps again, the dream changes to a scene of chaos and destruction. I spin on the spot hearing blasts of magic impact nearby and a laugh that could shake your bones. “Ah! This is my kind of future!” Discord says, spreading his arms out.

I clench my fists as ponies run by, two fillies and a mare screaming. I reach out to them but a large ball of energy hits the ground near them, flinging their bodies in all directions. My wings flare out in reflex, I watch in horror as one of the fillies slowly crawls to the mare, reaching out with a hoof. I stand frozen as the filly taps the mare over and over again, when the mare doesn't move the filly starts to bawl, her cries of anguish tearing me inside.

I go to approach the filly only for a figure to heavily land in front of me. I recognise the bipedal figure, it was me but my armour was different, it was darker and more black looking. The armour made me want to heave.

“What do we have here.” My darker self asks, it was more of a statement than a question. The filly looks up.

“Why?” The filly cries. “Why are you doing this? What did we ever do to you?”

I finally notice who the filly was, it was Dinky, Derpy's daughter. My eyes fall on the mare and I gasp in terror, it was Sparkler. I tried to find the other filly but couldn't, just a lot of blood around a small crater. I turn my gaze back to my dark future self.

“You didn't do anything!” My evil self laughs. “You ponies are so weak....” My future self turns and looks behind me and Discord. “...Isn't that right? My beloved?” I turn to see Luna, no, wait! It can't be!”

“Yes, that is correct my love, and together we shall rule over all of them.” Nightmare Moon says, flying down from the sky. “The first step was Canterlot, now with my sister gone, we can take Equestria.”

“We? Oh my empress, there's no we!” My future self flings out a hand and Nightmare Moon flies through the air and into my future selfs grip. “For months I have listened to you talk and boast about things you are going to do! But you never do them! I on the other hand am not afraid to destroy anyone who gets in my way!”

I continue to listen as Discord leans over.

“Here comes my favourite part!”

My future self brings Nightmare Moon up to his face and smirks.

“And you my empress, are in my way.” My future self lifts Nightmare Moon above his head and slams her body head first down into the ground. I cringe from the sound of Nightmare Moons Head crushing under the power and weight of my future selfs attack.

Dinky nearby whimpers as my future self cleans the blood off his hands.

“And what should I do with you? Your mother so valiantly gave her life trying to save Canterlot, oh she was so brave.”

I clench my fists, my anger with myself reaching boiling point. I wanted to stop this but I knew it was a dream, a vision. It made me more angry that Discord was loving this. As my future self leaned down to pick up the screaming filly, I grabbed discord by the throat and pulled him in.

“Stop this now! End it!”

“Now your no fun.”

“End it or I end you!”

“Fine! I've seen it before anyway.” Discord snaps his claws and the vision fades before returning to my sunny field. “Now that you have seen your destiny, will you keep with this charade.”

“Charade?” I ask.

“Playing the weak minded fool.” Discord floats into my face, poking my chest with a claw. “You could be so much more, together we can cause so much chaos.”

I swat away his clawed hand. “I don't play anything, I play my own role in Equestria, and I like what I do.”

“I don't ask twice! Make your choice!”

“I've made my choice! Go. Fuck. Yourself!” I say, poking Discord back.

“Then rot away! Never for fill your destiny! We will meet again!” Discord snaps, finally vanishing from my dream.

I stand staring at the air where Discord stood, my anger was still there, eating at me. The vision discord showed me, was it real? Or did he make it up? I will never know. The only pony I could ask is Luna, but how will she react? Will she ignore it? Will she ask me if I believe it?

I stood contemplating the questions, I finally look to the sky and scream. My whole body rages. I raise up a hand and target a nearby tree, I pour my hatred into my hand. A beam of energy fires out of my palm causing a long trench in it's wake, I see my sunny field turn blackened and charred. I look at my palm, my chest heaving.

I was power, I was destruction. Discord was right, my destiny is to destroy the one's I love to turn on my friends. I couldn't let that happen, I needed control. I needed my family.

I open my eyes, the brightness of the room has gone. I groan and turn my head to the window, it was dark outside. I yawn before turning my gaze upon Twilights chair, she was gone too. I cock an eyebrow, Twilight must have gone to get something to eat, she seemed a little ragged. I move my arms and smile as I seemed to have gained most of my mobility back. I spot a glass of water by my bed and grab it, damn I was thirsty. After finishing my drink I lay back in the bed, only for the sound of something breaking outside my door.

“Hello?” I ask, unsure if I get an answer. “Hellooo?” I ask again. When nopony answers I sigh and decide to see if my legs are working.

I remove the bed covers and shimmy my body to the beds edge, I slowly swing my legs out and place my feet on the cold floor. Damn this brings back memories, I chuckle at my thought. Giving myself a hefty push I manage to stand without falling over.

“So far so good.” I say. I stretch my arms and wings in unison, when I was satisfied I approach the door. I stop however and look at Twilight's sleeping place, I frown in confusion as Twilight's books and saddle bags were still there, laying on the chair. “What the fuck is going on?” I turn back to the door.

I reach out and grab the handle, stopping as I realise I only have trousers on. I facepalm.

“Of course they would take my shirt and shoes off!” I look around the room, finding none of my clothing I shrug. “Fuck it, not like this hospital is cold.” I walk back to the door and slowly turn the handle. I was disappointed that the door wasn't made of crystal but then it is a hospital or medical wing in the castle. I poke my head out and notice there was nopony about. I spot two trolleys full of medical supplies tipped over. I step out only for my bare feet to crunch on broken glass. I bend down and pick up a glass shard, twirling it in my fingers I whisper. “What in Luna's mane is going on here?” I frown and head towards the nurses desk, it was easy to find as it had a large sign hanging from the ceiling.

I look over the desk and see paper and quills spread over the floor, files and other classified patient information also randomly scattered. I look up to a clock on the wall, it read twelve sixteen.

“Twelve sixteen am.” I say. “I've been out for over six hours, where is everypony?” I leave the desk and head for the stairs, the lights had gone off in some places and the stairwell was one of them. I raised a hand to give me some light, I was so glad I could use magic. I carefully made my way down to the clearly signed main lobby. If the whole castle was signed this way I would have no trouble getting around.

My wings started to flutter, something I realised at certain times I couldn't control. When I reached the bottom of the stairs I looked in every direction. My face drained of colour when I saw a red stain on the floor. My brain was saying don't look but my body was saying investigate. I walked over and bent down, I dragged my finger through the stain. I raised my finger up and rubbed the liquid between my fore finger and thumb. I knew instantly what it was.

“Blood.” I say to myself. I look around but don't find anymore blood nearby. I go to stand up but suffer a heart attack as a pony shaped blur runs pass me and into a nearby office. I stand holding my chest as I calm my breathing. I walk to the door the pony entered and pushed it open. “Hello?” I say, making my way through the door.

I could hear breathing, it was faint but somepony was definitely in the room.

“Look, I won't hurt you.” I say. “I just want to know what's going on here and where everypony has gone.”

“Their captured, now go away!” A voice replied and judging by the pitch it was a filly's.

“Captured? By who?”

“The bug things! They took everypony!”

I focus my gaze on a large desk and slowly make my way over.

“What bug things? I don't know any bug things.” I say.

“The one's that change, the one's that change to look like you!”

My mind clicks. “You talking about changelings, aren't you?” I get no response. “Look, come out please? I'm not one of them.” Still I get no response. Sighing I raise my hand and the desk envelopes in my yellow aura. I raise my hand higher and the desk levitates, revealing a shaking filly no older than the CMC. The filly had a green coat with a grey mane and tail, I also spot she had no cutie mark. “I see you now.” I state. The filly looks up and quickly turns around facing me.

“Please don't hurt me!” The filly cries, backing up to a nearby wall. “I don't want to die!”

I drop the desk down and walk around it, the filly eyeing me through tears. I bend down in front of her and smile.

“I don't want to hurt you, let alone kill you.” I say, still smiling. “My names John, I'm from Ponyville in Equestria.” I extend out my hand and the filly relaxes slightly, her eyes darting back and forth from my face to my hand. “I won't bite, what's your name?”

The filly reaches out with a hoof and places it in my hand.

“Emerald, m-my names Emerald.” The filly replies.

I shake her hoof and let it go. “Nice to meet you Emerald, can you tell me in more detail what happened here?”

“The Bug things came and attacked everypony, they took them away in green cages.” emerald breaks down into tears. “They took my mommy away! I just want to go home!”

I reach over and stroke her mane. “It's going to be ok Emerald, your safe with me. I will help you find your mother.”

Emerald wipes her tears away. “You promise?” I nod. Emerald lunges at me and hugs my waist, her tears again free flowing down her face. “Thank you.”

“Do you know where they took everypony?” I ask, still stroking Emeralds mane. The filly shakes her head. “How about anything interesting about the bug things?”

Emerald perks up. “I did notice one was very big.”

“Big? How?”

“It was very tall, almost your size. She seemed to be the one in charge.”

“She?”

“Yes, the bug was a mare, I think.”

“Hmm, Twilight told me that during the royal wedding there was a queen that controlled the changelings. She was more intelligent than the others.” I reply, rubbing my chin.

“Maybe it was her then, the queen.” Emerald states.

“I think we need to find others, maybe some guards survived the attack.”

“Others! Aren't you the new Equestrian commander?”

I raise my eyebrow. “You know about that?”

“Most ponies in the empire know! It's big news!” Emerald says, jumping around. “I'm just happy I met you!”

“You weren't that happy earlier.” I grin. “You hid from me.”

“I thought you were a bug, they change shape you know.” Emerald folds her front legs and giving me a pout. “Besides, I saw you jump when I ran passed you.” Emerald narrows her eyes at me.

“Heh, yeah I did, didn't I?” I rub the back of my neck. “Do you know the way out? I got dragged in unconscious.”

“Yeah! Follow me!” Emerald starts down a corridor.

“Hey wait up! You don't want to run into any of those bugs without me around.”

Emerald stops. “Good point, maybe you should go first, I’ll tell you where to go.”

I suddenly reach down and grab Emerald putting her on my shoulders. “Or I can do this and you just tap my head if you need something.” Emerald giggles. “See I'm a fun guy to be with.”

“My mum would freak if she saw me with you.”

“Why's that?”

“She's part of a group of mares that have followed your progress as commander.”

“You mean they stalk me?”

“Sometimes. Though my mum does have some weird pictures of you, your not wearing much clothing in some of them.” Emerald states, shifting like she was nervous.

“You've seen them!?” I ask shocked.

“A few, though most are just like you are now. My favourite is one with your wings open.”

I look up to the filly. “Wait! How has your mother got one with my wings open? I've only done that twice since I came back, and even then there was nopony around.”

“None that you could see.” Emerald replies.

“I'm afraid now.”

Emerald giggles. “Don't worry they don't take any when your with your marefriend, they respect that part of your life.”

I cringe. “That still doesn't make it any better.”

“I'll tell my mum when we find her, I didn't know you had no idea they were doing it.”

“I'm not angry with her, it's just creepy.” I say.

Emerald taps my head. “We need to go down here, it leads down to the main floor of the medical wing.” Emerald shivers.

“Emerald? Are you alright?”

“That's were I lost my mum.”

“Oh.” I look down the stairs and start my way down. “Just hold on and you'll fine ok?”

“Yeah.” I feel Emeralds grip tighten.

I take one step at a time heading down, my bare feet making almost no noise on the hard floor. When I reach the bottom I peer around a corner and freeze, I pick emerald off my shoulders and set her down.

“John, What wrong?” I gesture for emerald to be quiet, the filly bites her lip.

I look around the corner again, I spot two bug things standing next to a door. The bugs seemed to be guarding a side office, I hear bangs and several insults coming from within. I turn back to Emerald.

“Emerald I need you to wait here.”

“Why?”

“There's two bugs guarding a door, I need to remove them.”

“Oh, I'll wait here then.” Emerald sits down, her body visibly shivering.

“I won't be long.” I step out from the corner.

I eye the bugs, slowly making my way towards them. The creatures turn both at the same time, their eyes falling on me. I notice they don't move, probably trying to think what the hell I am.

“Excuse me gents, I was wondering if you could tell me the way out, I seem to be lost.” I ask, looking innocent.

Both of the bugs charge their crude looking horns.

“Or not.” I say before a green blast of energy flies passed me. “Ok, if that's how you want it!” I charge both creatures.

The bugs reply by charging back, mistake number one. I pull back my right arm as the first bug reaches me. I swing forward catching the bug in the chest, I hear a delightful crunch and smile. When the first bug crashes to the floor I recover and raise my hand inches from the other bugs face.

“Think fast!” I say. The bug hesitates unsure what to do. The bug growls charging it's horn again. “Wrong choice!” I grab the bugs horn and break it off. The bug hits the floor and screams, with it's horn still in my hand I raise my right foot and bring it down hard on the creatures head. The creatures screams stop abruptly, I look at the creatures horn in my hand just as the green energy around it sinks into my skin. “They weren't so tough.” I say, throwing the broken horn away.

I walk up to the door, and grab the handle. It was locked. I step back and point a finger at the lock. One blast of magic later and the lock fell out. I go to grab the door only for it to fly open and a pony knocking me back. I land hard on my back causing me to wince. Seriously, I'll never fly if my wings keep taking hits like this.

“John?”

I open my eyes and see the smiling face of Stardust.

“Stardust?”

“John!” Stardust wraps her legs around me, nuzzling my neck. “John! I'm so happy it's you!”

I hug Stardust back. “It's good to see you too.” I look back to the room and see other ponies huddled together. “I take all the ranting was coming from you?” Stardust pulls away looking a little sheepish.

“You heard all that huh?”

I nod. “I sure did.” I lift Stardust off my chest and place her beside me. “Who are the ponies?” I ask, standing up.

“They got rounded up.” I notice Stardust look down her ears flat. “Just like me.”

I kneel down. “Hey don't worry about it, I bet you fought them every step.” I ruffle her mane. “Now I have a pony of my own to introduce.” I look back. “Emerald! You can come out now!” I shout.

I see Emerald poke her head out. “Is it safe?”

“Yeah, there's somepony I would like you to meet.” I watch as Emerald crosses over to us, the filly stops by the corpse of one of the bugs and gives it a swift kick. I chuckle. “Emerald, this is Stardust, she's one of my companions I came with.”

Emerald trots up to stardust and bumps hooves. “Nice to meet you Stardust.”

“Like wise Emerald.” Stardust replies. “So what's the plan?” Stardust asks, turning her attention back to me.

“Huh! What?”

“You are the superior pony here, or should I say superior officer.”

I look at the ponies now leaving the room, some come up and thank me for freeing them.

“Stardust, I don't have much experience leading, maybe somepony here does.”

“Seriously? Your the commander of the Crescent Guard, and your asking for somepony else to lead?”

“I admit it does sound dumb but I have my reasons.”

“I will follow you.” I look down at Emerald.

“You sure?”

“Yep! I trust you.” Emerald says, leaning into my leg.

“Ok, I'll do it.” I reply.

“Yay!” Emerald shouts jumping up.

I walk over and stand between the group of ponies. I clear my throat getting everyponies attention.

“Mares and stallions, I don't know if you know me or not, but believe me when I say you can trust me. I came from Ponyville in Equestria to take part in the trade talks that were supposed to happen. I however had a mishap and ended up in the medical wing, the details I will not tell. I know what these things are that attack your empire and I promise they will be shown no mercy for doing it.” I get cheers from some of the ponies. “All I ask is we stick together and if need be fight as a group.” I get groans as a response. “I know that is not what you want to hear but it might have to be done, I can protect you but not all the time. I ask, will you follow me and fight for your city?” I get more cheering. “I can't hear you!” The cheering is louder. “Good now, the first order of business, is how to get out without being spotted.”

“Ah'm glad ya can come with me Fluttershy.”

“Oh it's no problem.” Fluttershy looks down before asking. “What is it you need me for anyway?”

“Ah have a check up, at the hospital.” Applejack turns away. “It's an important one, so ah needed somepony ta go with me.”

“What about your family?”

“They have a lot of work ta do, besides ah don't want them ta panic.”

“Oh my! Why would they panic?”

“It's a.....personal check up.” Applejack says.

“Personal in what way? If you don't mind me asking?”

“Ah've had pains, since me and John last.....Ya know....embraced.”

“I see, how long......?

“Two days.”

“Are they constant?”

Applejack nods. “Yeah, ah've never felt like this before.” Applejack looks to Fluttershy. “Ah'm scared.”

Fluttershy hugs Applejack. “You don't need to be scared, I'm here for you.” Applejack returns the hug. “So, you think your.....?”

“Ah don't know! If ah am, what will John think?”

“Haven't you two been trying?”

“We have, but we ain't compatible! Or that's what we have been saying.”

“Maybe you are, John is changing remember? Maybe his little one's have changed?”

Applejack deadpans. “That's a funny thing to call them.”

“I don't know what he calls his....things.” Fluttershy's cheeks turn red.

“The same as we do, testicles.”

“Oh my.”

Applejack chuckles. The hospital come into sight.

“Ah better get this over with.”

Fluttershy smiles. “Don't worry, I'm sure it's not what you think.”

“Actually Fluttershy, that might be more disappointing. I want one with John and if it's not then....”

Fluttershy hugs Applejack again. “Then we don't say a word.”

“Thanks Fluttershy.” Applejack says heading for the hospital main entrance.

“I'll wait in the entrance area.”

Applejack nods, before walking inside. Applejack didn't want to say it but her heart was going mad, questions rang in her mind, is she? Isn't she? One was certain though, if she was, John was going to get a hefty surprise when he gets back.