Fluttershy waited. She had waited for almost an hour, casting side glances to the clock hanging on the wall. Applejack had been gone a long time, though Fluttershy didn't really know how long the magical scanning takes.

Fluttershy looked around the waiting area of the hospital, there were several pegasi all with wing injuries talking together. Two foals sat next to an older mare, both foals seem to be nursing bandaged legs. Fluttershy glances at the clock again, the clocks rhythmic ticking drowning out every other sound. Fluttershy reaches for a magazine on the small table near her, the first article was about a stallion that wants to be a mare, Fluttershy turns the page as the minutes tick away.

It was a further ten minutes before Applejack reappeared. Fluttershy placed the magazine down and trotted up to her friend. Applejack had just finished speaking to the doctor when she noticed Fluttershy approaching.

“So? How did it go?” Fluttershy asks.

Applejack lowered her head. “I'm not pregnant.” Applejack replies.

“Oh, I'm so sorry Applejack.” Fluttershy could feel the tears in her eyes. “What is it? If you don't mind me asking?”

“It's me, well actually it's me and John.” Applejack looks up to gaze at Fluttershy, a faint redness on her cheeks. “Apparently me and John have been embracing too much....and too hard.”

Fluttershy turns away her cheeks matching Applejack's. “Oh my, you mean your embracing is hurting you?”

“Well not me but my inner walls are getting slightly damaged, the doc says ta calm things down for a few days and let things heal.”

“It's a good thing that John's away to the Crystal Empire then isn't it?” Fluttershy states as both ponies start their trip back to Ponyville.

“Yeah, ah guess.” Applejack stares ahead. “Ah really wanted this ta be more, ah guess me and John just gotta keep trying.”

“Has John been tested yet?”

“Tested?”

“Yeah! To check his compatibility, I heard many couples do it. It doesn't take very long and gives a general look to see if your both capable of having foals.”

Applejack taps her chin. “Ya know that might be a good idea, if John will go for it.”

“He wants a foal with you as badly as you want one with him right?” Applejack nods. “Then he won't object, I think he might be quite open to it.” Fluttershy says.

“Ah'll ask him when he gets back.” Applejack states.

Both ponies come to a cross road, left was to town will right was to Sweet Apple Acres.

“Ah am grateful for your help today Fluttershy, ah couldn't have gone in alone.”

“I am glad to help, if there's anything else you need, just ask.”

“Ah will Fluttershy, ah have ta get back ta the farm now.”

“Ok, you take care of yourself Applejack.”

“Ah will.” The two mares give each other a hug before Fluttershy flies off leaving Applejack at the roadside. “Well, better get back, Granny ain't gonna be happy ah skipped my chores.” Applejack heads off, completely unawares of the hooded figure stalking her every move.

A hooded figure walks up to a house on the outskirts of town, a hoof reaches up and knocks twice. The door opens, the hooded figure nods and hands over a letter, a yellow claw grabs the letter and pulls it inside.

“It is confirmed?” A voice asks.

“She is the one, the one he beds with.” The hooded figure responds.

“You have done well,” the yellow claw extends out with a bag in it's grasp. “Here is your reward.” The hooded figure takes the bag and opens it. “It's all there, or don't you trust us?”

“I trust no creature, it's not in my profession.”

“Good, this must happen in shadow. She must be ours.”

The hooded figure nods. “I will be waiting.” The hooded figure turns and walks away.

The door to the house slowly closes, silence follows soon after.

I slammed the head of a bug against the wall, the chitin armour cracking and breaking under my hand. I turn and see my three companions finishing off their opponents, Stardust had taken to combat better than I thought she would, striking and using her body to her advantage. The two others with me were two stallions, one was named Straight Shot, a non crystal pony unicorn. He fought well too which led me to believe he had some training, maybe not military but probably self defence like me.

The second was a crystal pony called Topaz, he was somewhat a strange case. He was very stoic and quiet yet during a fight he was very aggressive. I watched as my three partners cleaned the green ooze the bugs call blood off their hooves. I flicked the ooze off my fingers, before turning to my companions.

“Well that was fun.” I say. “I can give one thing to these bugs, they can creep up on you.” I kneel down and examine one of the fallen insects. I poke the bugs horn and watch as more left over magic absorbed into my skin.

“John, should you really be doing that?” Stardust asks.

“Doing what?” I question, standing back up.

“Letting their magic absorb into you, isn't that dangerous?”

“Not that I can see, my magic absorbency only becomes a problem when large amounts are at play. Short of that, it's no worries.” I reply. “Besides I don't think I could gain anything from the bugs, their magic is quite limited from what I have noticed.”

“Yes, but they do have the ability to shapeshift, you could gain that.” Straight Shot says.

“Possibly,” I smile back at him. “Though, would that be a bad thing?” My companions shake their heads. “Thought not, but let's carry on.” My companions all nod, following in my wake as I continue down the large hallway.

I lean against the wall, sighing as I watch the others get some shut eye. We had decided to rest up a bit after leaving the medical wing. We had travelled through many corridors and hallways before using this side room as a rest area. I shut my eyes to join my companions, my solace was short lived as I felt a warm presence press against my side. I crack open an eye and look down, Stardust had moved and lied down beside me, I watched as her head lifted and rested on my right leg.

I eyed Stardust for a couple of minutes trying to gauge her intentions, when she sighed and continued to lean on me I just shrugged and re-closed my eyes. I started to rub Stardust behind her ears, I don't know why I started to do it, I just liked the feeling of a ponies mane between my fingers. My body finally relaxed and I feel into slumber.

“John! Wake up!” I jump awake at Stardust’s shouting in my ear.

“I'm up! I'm up!” I say, rising to my feet. When my hearing returns I hear loud impacts and shouting coming from nearby. “What the hell is going on?”

“The fighting started ten minutes ago.” Straight Shot states, removing his head from the door. “Sound like someponies getting stomped.”

“Yup.” Topaz agrees.

“Who is it?”

“Not sure, but they definitely have powerful magic, I felt the first attack.” Stardust adds. “How come you never felt it John?”

“I'm a very heavy sleeper.” I answer, poking my head out the door. “Well, whoever it is they are getting closer.”

I watch in awe as a section of the corridor blows out and several changelings fly through it. I follow the action as ponies clad in the armour of Celestia's royal guard chase them and blast them down.

“Hey! It's the royal guard!” I state, looking back at the others. “The princesses must be here.”

“Royal guard? As in Canterlot royal guard?” Straight Shot asks, very nervously.

“Yes, why do you ask?”

“Uh, let's just say I have my reasons for not wanting to be anywhere near them.” Straight Shot looks down, his ears lying flat.

I shrug. “Your past is your past, it's not my business. Besides I want to play.” I grin before stepping out in front of two changelings. The bugs both stop and look up at me, I look down at them smiling before leaning forward slightly and in the most glee filled tone I can muster I say....

“Surprise Motherfuckers!” I reach out and smash the bugs heads together, they fall at my feet still alive but unmoving.

The sound of hooves draws my attention up from my prone victims, I see several royal guard come trotting up the corridor. I put my hands on my hips and watch as the guards stop and a unicorn guard in more decorative armour steps forward.

“Are you Commander Core?” I smile internally at his ignorance, seriously, I’m the only human in Equestria. How can he not know who I am?

“Yes, and you are?” I reply.

“My name is Sergeant Light Hammer, I'm with Princess Celestia's advance unit.”

I hold out my hand. “Pleasure to meet you sergeant.” I turn as my companions come walking out. The sergeant places his hoof in my hand as I look back to him. “Sergeant may I introduce my companions, Stardust, Topaz and Straight Shot.” I gesture to each in turn with my free hand.

I notice the guard sergeant recoils when his gaze falls on Straight Shot. He let's my hand go and points to two of his guards then at Straight Shot, I watch in shock as two guards jump Straight Shot and pin him down. I stride over and grab the guards by their armour lifting them off Straight Shot and tossing back to the sergeant.

“What was the meaning of that sergeant!?” I ask, my tone harsh and angry.

“Sir, do you know who that is?”

I shake my head. “I don't care! He has fought with me and proved his worth to be by my side!”

“But sir! That's former Royal Guard Lieutenant Straight Shot! He is a wanted stallion in Canterlot!” The guard replies.

“On what grounds?” I question.

“Dereliction of duty.”

“And that warrants you pinning him to the floor?” I glare at Straight Shot, his gaze never meeting mine. “Who put the arrest warrant out?”

“P-Princess C-Celestia herself.” The sergeant stammers, clearly he was getting intimidated by me.

“Then by my order on behalf of the Crescent Guards, he is in my protection. If any of your guards touch or try to arrest him then they won't be coming back in one piece. Do I make myself clear sergeant?” I say, walking up and poking the sergeants breastplate on the last few words.

“I-I....understand,” The guard replies sighing.

I stand back to my full height. “Now, I take it that Celestia is here?”

The guard grinds his teeth at my untitled use of Celestia's name. “Yes, sir. The princess is in the main staging area of our forces.”

“Then take us there, Please.” The guard nods before motioning for his guards to go back the way they came. I stop as I realised the changelings are still alive, I point a finger at each and put a nice clean hole through their heads. “Now we can go!” I say turning back to the guards and my companions.

As we all run down the corridor to our meeting with the princess of the sun I couldn't help but smile. I was going to have a argument with a god, and I couldn't be happier.

Author's Notes:

Hi fellow readers, this is a small chapter as the next one will be along one due to the events that will happen.

I hope you all are enjoying the story so far!

Brony on! /)(\