Apple Bloom looked around as she walked beside Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo, her ears fell flat as she looked at the face of John. He was looking ahead, his armour was deactivated but Apple Bloom could see the ring on his finger. John's gaze glanced to her but there was no smile, his eyes went forward seconds later. Apple Bloom turned her attention to Applejack, Applejack was still staring at her.

“Ah really think we screwed up big time, Johns really mad at us.” Apple Bloom says, turning her head back to the other two. “Ah don't know what to do.”

“Yeah, Applejack looks really mad too.” Scootaloo replies, holding her head low.

The girls look to Sweetie Belle as they hear sniffing coming from her. Sweetie's head was hung low, tears were streaming down her face as she cried.

“He's...never...going...to...trust...us...now...” Sweetie says through sniffs.

“Hey, John still loves us-” Apple Bloom starts to say but Sweetie Belle cuts her off.

“NO HE WON'T!” Sweetie slumps to the floor as her tears get heavier, the group stops.

“What happened?” John asks, walking up to Sweetie Belle.

Sweetie Belle turns on the spot and grabs right leg.

“I DON'T WANT TO LOSE YOU! I'M SORRY! I'M SORRY! I-” Sweetie Belle stops talking and buries her face into John's leg.

John turns his gaze to Applejack. “Applejack could you take the other girls to the carriage, I need to talk to Sweetie Belle.”

Applejack nods. “Come on ya two, git!” Applejack points her hoof forward and the group moves off again, leaving John and Sweetie Belle alone.

“Sweetie Belle.” John says, his tone was flat. “Look at me...please.”

Sweetie looks up and sees John face was still expressionless.

“Do you know why I'm disappointed in you?” Sweetie nods. “Then you know I have to tell Rarity don't you?”

“I'm sorry, we all are.” Sweetie presses her face into john's leg again as her tears continue to fall. “We don't want to lose you as our brother.” Sweetie stiffens as she hears laughter, looking up she sees John tilting his head back and...Laughing?”

“You think I would stop being your brother? Sweetie haven't we been through this? I will always be here for you, I'm just hurt that you lied to me when you promised me you wouldn't come in here again. I can't even begin to think what we would do if we lost you or the others, young ponies should not die before their parents or older siblings.” John wipes a tear from Sweetie's right eye. “Now come on, we will have no more crying and no more tears shed over this. What will be said will be said when we get home.” John scoops up Sweetie Belle and places her on his shoulders before taking off through the forest towards the carriage.

I reach the carriage right where Nightstar and his cronies left it, I place Sweetie Belle down and tell her to get in with the others. When Sweetie Belle enters the carriage Applejack exits and walks up to me.

“Is she alright?”

I nod. “Yeah, she thought I was going to stop being her brother because of what they all did.” I place my hand on Applejack's head as I walk pass her. “I don't know what to do Applejack, their still young and young ponies do stupid things.” I turn my gaze to Applejack. “Do we punish them for something they can' t help but do or do we let them learn themselves?”

“Ah don't know either, ah guess that's what all future parents have to learn.”

I smile at Applejack's use of words. “Me as a parent, now that's the only thing I really want in this world now I have you.” I lean down and kiss Applejack. “Now let's get home.” I walk to the carriage.

“Wait! How are we going to get the carriage moving? We have no pony to pull it.” Applejack says.

“We can help with that!”

I turn my head and see Green shimmer with two stallions, the stallions both had wings.

“Green Shimmer? What are you doing here?”

“Well when your party left our leader noticed you didn't have a pegasus with you and I don't think that little filly with you could pull that carriage.” Green Shimmer says, pointing to the carriage. “So these two stallions here volunteered to pull the carriage home for you.”

I walk forward and bow my head to the two stallions.

“Thank you.”

The stallions both return my bow.

“It's our pleasure sir, you gave us back our families after we were told they had perished. If you need anything, all you have to do is ask.” One of the stallions says.

“Again I say thank you.” I turn to Green Shimmer. “You seem better.” I gesture to her bandaged shoulder.

“Yes, my kind have the same regeneration ability as those fake bug types. This will be long gone in the next two days.”

“Well, thank you for all you've done Green Shimmer and I promise you I will return to your hive on a more friendlier visit.” I say.

“We'll be waiting commander.” Green Shimmer gives me a wave as I set foot into the carriage and the stallions harness themselves in. “Ok guys, when ever your ready.” I give Green Shimmer one last look and salute as the carriage lifts off.

Nightstar squeals as his body is dropped to the floor, his ribs and legs were broken that much is sure and the bleeding hadn't stopped in the trip over.

“Oh stop your squealing, you'll suffer more than this if my plan is to work.” The changeling empress lowers her head and with a small use of her magic Nightstar's wounds are healed. “Get up.”

Nightstar rises to his hooves and looks his body over.

“Thank you my empress.” Nightstar bows.

“That pathetic creature, that...human! I want him dead!” The empress fires a blast of magic which destroys a rock formation nearby. “He dare he defy me! At first I thought Chrysalis was being clever in taking Canterlot and I was angered by her failure, and now this being has the nerve to go against me!” The queen turns to Nightstar. “Get my warriors! We will attack him now, kill him for this insolence!”

Nightstar steps forward. “My empress I know you want revenge but our forces are not strong enough yet. The commander is a powerful being, even more so than the princesses. If we attack him now he would destroy them, however if we wait and build our strength he would stand no chance against us.”

The empress goes to reply but stops and thinks.

“You're right my loyal follower, our strength is too low right now, more of our host need to be birthed.” The empress turns and stares at the almost set sun. “Today was a set back for my plan, a set back that may be costly but when my forces are ready we will destroy this commander and all he holds dear, only then will I be able to take my rightful place as ruler of all!”

The carriage trip was home was spent mostly in silence, the CMC just held their heads low. Applejack kept her gaze on the girls, right up until the point I grabbed her and pulled her close. I held Applejack in right arm as she leaned against me.

“Ponyville just ahead sir!” One of the stallions from the front shouts back.

“Thank you!” I shout back.

I look to the girls as I remove my arm from Applejack and gesture for her to sit up. I lean forward and clasp my hands in front of me.

“Girls.” I say, getting the three fillies to look up at me. “What happened today will not be mentioned again...can I count on you for that?” The three fillies nod. “Say it please.”

“We promise.” The girls all reply.

“And ya better mean it this time!” Applejack says pointing her hoof at them. I see Applejack sigh as she continues. “Ya girls mean the world to us, to all of us. Ah don't want to think what ah would have done if ya girls were hurt or worse.”

“Applejack is right. You have seen what I could do if I lost myself, how would I be if I was racked with grief over you? There'd be nothing that could stop me, not even the princesses.” I add, unclasping my hands and leaning back. “I've told you more than once and I've told the others the same, you girls and everypony else are the most important things to me. There's nothing I wouldn't do to see you safe.” I turn to Applejack. “Now from what I know it's only two days until Nightmare Night right?” Applejack nods. “Well tomorrow I want to visit the royal armourer in Canterlot and since you girls don't have school...I want to invite you to come with me for the day.”

The three fillies all snap up their heads.

“Now it won't be all fun as you'll have to come with me to visit the armourer, but when we are there I want you to stick close to me ok? No running off.”

“We promise!” The girls say and go through the motions of the pinkie promise.

“I hope so.” I turn my head and Applejack was giving me a stink eye. “What?”

“They did wrong and yer treating them?”

“No, I have invited them to join me, I never said it was going to be fun.” I reply smiling.

I hear the girls all groan and I chuckle.

“Don't worry Applejack, it's going to be a good day!”

Author's Notes:

Next Chapter - Armour for one