Nightmare... it was the only thing that really could explain what I was seeing once my normal conscious self was passed out. But this one felt too real compared to the others I had. Before me sat, like before, a decayed, ruined, Ponyville. But unlike the moss covered and watered damaged versions I had seen before this one was decayed in a much different way. The normal grime that I would have seen was replaced with a dark almost burnt ash colored smears on everything as well as dark floating bits of ash falling from the already dark skies. Only a few minutes in and I could tell that I did not like where this was going. I continued to slowly make my way through the empty town while stepping through the at least three inch high ash that covered the ground itself as if it was a dark snow.

“Hello, anypony there?” I had yelled not for the first time as I continued making my way towards the library. Even for my normally dark dreams they have something happening by now. But everything seems too quiet even for my screwed up brain. That's when I saw it. The city of Canterlot that was always visible from Ponyville all but on a really cloudy day loomed over. But this one wasn't like I use to see it. The streams of what I could tell was black smoke rose from the city as a mark to show that it was conquered by some raid or battle. It wasn't long looking at it until it decided enough was enough and collapsed into rubble as it fell off the side of the mountain. As I watched it tumble down the side of the mountain, my heart stopped. Right before me, granted miles upon miles away I saw one of my two homes fall apart into pieces. My wings spread themselves as I took flight before getting stopped by a sound behind. I turned around to something crawling out of the debris of what my guess was remnants of Sugar Cube Corner. I flew back down to see a dirt coated pink hoof slowly inch its way out of what looked like part of the roof. Without much thought I began picking up and throwing everything I could to get it off the pony only to see who it was. Without a doubt it was Pinkie Pie, but this one was all wrong. This was not the bubbly pink mare that I knew. This one's eyes held a undeniable level of sadness. Her mane as straight and was covered in bruises and cuts. It was when I noticed that both of Pinkie's hind legs were crushed under a stone support column.

“Oh my Celestia, hold on Pinkie. I'll get that off you in a-” I started to say in a panic as I got closer so I could focus my magic on it. But before I could I was back handed across my face by her. I froze as those eyes of her's held not the sorrow that was there a few minutes ago but anger. A hell risen amount of anger behind them as she glared at me.

“Get away from me, monster!” She hissed at me. I froze looking at her.

“Pinkie, it's me, Storm. I'm no monster.” I said with a level of denial going off in the back of my head. Pinkie must have hit her head a little too hard and she's seeing things a little off... right?

“Stay away from me Storm, y-you abomination! You did this, you killed everypony here.” She shot back as my heart stopped for the second time.

“But I didn't, I wouldn't.” I tried to counter.

“You could and you did. You failed to save any of us.” She said as her chest exploded spilling her guts and blood all over the ground under her. “And now you're finishing the job.” She said as I watched the last remaining wisps of life faded from her eyes as her face remained a glare. Her body went limp and with a thump laid in what was once her insides. I sat there staring before her body, the column that crushed her legs, and some other bits of wood floated up in the air covered in a deathly black aura closer to that of fire as they floated through town. I don't know why and I couldn't explain it but something in me said to follow to give Pinkie a proper burial. But I stopped when we got close to what looked like the pony version of a crucifix. It was much worse then it seemed as I got close I started to see every pony I knew. Quite a few from Ponyville and Canterlot. I saw Mayor Mare, Lyra, Bon Bon, Derpy, Both Mr. and Mrs. Cake as well as many others. I walked between them as somehow their eyes felt like they were following me as I made my way into the center of the graveyard. In the middle of it all there was the girls, both celestial sisters, Cadence and Shining Armor all done up in special crucifixes. The alicorns were pinned by their hooves as well as their wings. In their chests where the remained piece of their snapped off horns. Most of the lower bodies were destroyed in some way. Either crushed, ripped away, or something else I couldn't tell. Before them stood a pitch black pony about my normal size if I wasn't under the effects of poison joke. His mane and tail both flowed as if on an invisible wind. I slowly made my way closer, keeping myself on high alert. That was until he turned around and I saw his empty red eyes. There was no pupil or retina in those eyes. It was pure red, almost the fires from hell itself red. On top of that his mouth was open with black jagged teeth and instead of the dark void that should be there inside was nothing but pure white. The worse part of all this was he was smiling at me.

“Hello.” He said as his voice had an audible distortion to it. Almost going from a normal to graveled low tone. “It's about time you show up, monster.”

“I'm not a monster.” I shot back as my mane and fur was standing up on end.

“Oh please, I know you far better than that you abomination.” He said sounding almost happy with the turn of events. But the worse part was that the bodies of every pony I knew started to speak the same words over and over.

“Monster. Abomination. This is your fault. You had failed.” They spoke over and over again as each time more and more of them added to it until it was a form of chanting between all of them. But each time they finished it they got louder and louder. Then the black mass of a pony got close and held my head up so I was looking right at him. It was then when the darkness pulled back to show who he really was...me.

I shot awake breathing hard as the cold sweat dripped from my body. I was shaking in the dark room. I had noticed in the mirror across from the bed that my eyes where reptilian again and glowing. I blinked a few times until they returned to their normal cobalt blue. I turned to see that Twilight was still out cold from before as she held my prosthetic in her forelegs. I hadn't even noticed that my leg was missing until I saw it. I thought it was wise that I let her keep it as I slid off the bed slowly. After that I leaned over to see that everypony else was still asleep as well. I gave a small sigh of relief and made my way to the balcony. I threw a shield up as I slowly exited so the cold chill wouldn't wake anypony up. Once shut, I sat down and watched the bright full moon above. There was something about the night sky that could help keep my mind at ease. Well more of the night sky in the country of sorts. There's just a thing about it out here. Where there isn't noisy cars driving by or the hoof steps of ponies by the odd one or two going by at this late out. It's just you and the sky in a sort of a peaceful co-existence. I would have to give Luna her credit for another lovely night sky, the light sets of stars out that make little consolations in the sky. I had read once in an astrology book Twilight had about some of the consolations that Luna liked to use. Some of the more famous ponies had a set up there. I could see the hourglass with three stars to the right for Star Swirl the bearded. I can even see the ink pot and quill for Faust next to the moon. Part of me wondered about the old saying I heard about the stars and stories. The more I thought about it the more it seemed to fit here in Equestria. I felt the cold wind blow as it lightly ruffled my feathers. Which in a way felt a lot better and helped to get that dark feeling from the back of my mind.

But that darkness didn't want to dispel. In fact he wanted to come rushing forward into the forethought of my mind. Something about that dream just bothered me more than the ones before. Was that an outcome if I failed or was it something else? I started to go back through what I remembered of my previous nightmares. I already grouped the twisted versions of my friends into one group because of my Grimwand. Then there was the others. The nightmare moon, the memory of Jessica, and then the creature. Something about those memories showed a pattern. After the whole nightmare moon thing which was her attacking. Then there was the Memory which was my mind trying to recover things. Finally we have the creature memory, that one finally clicked with me. That too was a memory but it wasn't a full one at the time, if I had to give it a word for it I would say fragmented at most. Taking what I could remember at the time with the mixture of what I had when it started. It made sense that I would remember my death in a way. But what about this latest dream? It would fit in the same sense to the Grimwand dreams but it didn't quite feel that way. In those dreams I see twisted depictions of my friends. This one I saw that but I wasn't hurt like I was in the others. This one felt darker in a way, like it was a possible outcome, one that I caused because I had failed. Just that word alone caused my heart to jump up in pace. Just remembering everypony chanting that I failed over and over. That scared me the most.

“Storm is everything alright?” I heard next to me as I felt a hoof gently brush against my shoulder. Of course I wasn't expecting that and the sudden touch caused me to shoot up and latch onto one of the branches above me. I turned to see Fluttershy holding a hoof to her mouth. “Oh my, I didn't mean to scare you.” She said as I regained my composure and hovered back down to the balcony.

“It's alright Fluttershy. I didn't expect somepony to talk me right then.” I said followed by a nervous chuckle. “What are you doing awake anyway? I thought you were asleep.” I questioned.

“I was but I heard you go outside and I wanted to make sure everything was alright. You seemed like something bothered you.” I looked at her for a moment after she had said that before I turned forwards and lowered my head.

“Truth be told I do have something bothering me. I had another one of my nightmares again and this one struck a little closer to home than I expected.” I explained. Fluttershy came over and sat next to me. I remained silent as I stared out into the sky again.

“Why don't you tell me about it, if you don't mind that is.” She requested.

“Well...” I tried to get it out. I didn't have a clue how Fluttershy was going to handle a dream like this, with everything that's happened so far. I was a little surprised she haven't been avoiding me like the plague. “It was like my other dreams in a way. Ponyville was in a state of ruin and decay. There was at least a few inches of dark gray ash covering everything. But there was no pony in sight.” I started as I made sure every word was slow and clear. Mainly because I wanted to put off the real darker parts of the dream as much as I could. But I knew I had to tell somepony. I kind of wish it was Twilight I was explaining this too. Not to say Fluttershy's not a good friend I... I just don't like everypony knowings how messed up in the head I am. Granted she had also entered my mind but since then everything has been getting worse and worse for me.

“So nopony was there?” Fluttershy asked.

“Not for a while that is.” I said trying to keep from looking at her as I explained.

“What do you mean?” I wish she didn't ask me that.

“During the walk through the town I found Pinkie who's back legs...” I cut off as I started to shake a little. Just the thought that my head could even imagine that happening to Pinkie, it both enraged me but is also sadden me.

“Storm it's alright.” Fluttershy said rubbing my back lightly. “It's only a dream and it can't hurt you.”

“I... I saw her hind legs crushed. She blamed me for all of it Fluttershy. The destroyed town, her legs being crushed, and more. To her I was a monster in that dream. An abomination of ponykind. It didn't even stop there.” Once I began it all just started to spill out. There was not stopping this out pour of sadness. “I watched as she as crucified before me with every pony I knew.” I said as my vision just began to blur as the tears just rolled down my cheeks. I could feel the cold air as they continued to come over and over. Fluttershy was silent at that point even her gentle rub on my back stopped. I didn't even dare look at her, too afraid to see to look of horror that I knew was plastered on her face. There was silence between the two of us for far longer to the point I was scared that she hated me for what I was. That thought was cut short when I felt and saw two buttercup yellow forelegs wrap themselves around me in a hug as Fluttershy just held me close.

“Storm it's alright.” She said as I continued to cry there. “Your not any of those things. You want to know how I know?” She said and I just nodded as I didn't trust my voice not to crack from my crying. “Because a monster or an abomination wouldn't question if they were or not. They would have accepted it and truly acted as one. You are scared of that and fear that you are one. That's how I know.” She answered. I looked up at her as she gently smiled at me before reaching down and wiping the tears away. She then proceed to gently kiss me on the forehead under the horn. I blushed a little as I just enjoyed the embrace. We sat there quietly before I heard Fluttershy yawn lightly.

“Why don't you head back to bed Fluttershy?” I offered.

“Oh I couldn't do that and leave you out here alone.” She said with worry on her face.

“It's alright Fluttershy. I'm heading back in as well. I may as well go read since I won't be sleeping for the rest of the night.” I said.

“How come?” She asked.

“It's part of the alicorn side of me. Too much energy goes through my body that I don't have to sleep as often as everypony else. So I normally use this time to read so I can learn more about Equestria so I'm not as behind with a lot of the stuff everypony takes for common knowledge.” I explained.

“It must be rather lonely not being able to sleep next to Twilight like that.” She said and I nodded.

“It can be. There's times I wish I could just be a normal pony just so everything can just be right with the world.” I said as Fluttershy helped me back up. “But things like that are lost to a pony like me.” I hobbled in slowly with Fluttershy behind me. “Good night Fluttershy.” I said as I glided over to the door leading down to the libraries first floor. She nodded to me before going back to her yellow and pink sleeping bag. I slowly made my way to the first floor keeping an eye where I stepped, I didn't want to make a return trip to the hospital telling them I fell down some stairs. I would sound like an abuse victim. As normal the books sat uniform just like when Twilight and I reordered them. I went to the little desk she kept down here and pulled out my books to read list and found one with an appealing title, I noted this title because of how it sounded to me. “A Beautiful Swallow.” I said as I scanned over the books. “Now where did we put that one again... oh here it is.” I said pulling out the dark teal covered book. On the front of it has a image of a pony standing looking out into the night sky of what I could guess was Ponyville as a faded image of a white mare with a dark blue mane looked at the reader with a sympathetic look on her face. Honestly at first thought of the title my mind went to the feathered bird under the same name. Which would fit with just the title alone. But I could see where some of the more dirty minded minds could go. I doubt the author wanted that analogy for their story. Anyway the book was fairly good to the point that I could see some points that this was a version of events to the author if not true then very well scripted at least. I got through some of the book before my stomach wanted some food. I turned to see Celestia's sun slowly peeking over the edge of the horizon, which would mean everypony upstairs would be waking up soon. So I guess it was up to me to make some breakfast for them. I slid the book back into it's spot on the shelf and hobbled into the kitchen, it seems my magic was going to get a workout today. With that I decided that some pancakes would make a great meal to start every ponies day. So after locating the pans and ingredients I set myself to work on it, having magic for this is rather nice. I mean I could mix and pour the batter right from a shield bubble so I can have precise portions. A few hours into cooking the southern accented mare decided to pop her head in.

“Morning there Storm did ya sleep well?” She asked as she come over to see what I was cooking.

“Not really, just another set of nightmares.” I explained trying not to dwell on them again. No offense, but one breakdown per dream please.

“I'm sorry sugar cube. So what'cha cooking? It smell mighty tasty.” She asked as I pulled another stack of milk butter flat pastries over to the plates I sat out.

“Pancakes, I figured something simple and filling would be good for everypony.” I said as I poured the last of the batter into the pan. The light sizzling of the cold batter on the hot skillet could be heard.

“That does sounds like a good idea. But if you don't mind me asking. Where did you learn to cook?” She asked.

“Honestly... I'm kind of surprised I could cook here.” I cryptically said.

“What do you mean?” She asked and I could see the gears getting stuck in her head.

“Well it's just that I was never the best cook. Especially when it comes to things like this, I was always the simplistic kind of cook, like toast and frozen waffles. But since I got to Equestria I've seem to have picked up a lot more skills than I had before.” I said as I magically flipped the pancake. Who needs a spatula when you have magic?

“Isn't that a good thing?” Applejack asked as she started to get the orange juice out.

“I'm not saying it wasn't Applejack. I just wonder why I have them, I mean I know I shouldn't look a gifted horse in the mouth, ah... no offense.” I said realizing that saying may come across badly.

“None taken sugar cube, I think I get it though. I reckon with all that you've been through this is like the world's way of balancing it out.” She said after setting some glasses of juice out.

“Maybe...” I said as I felt that familiar weight on my shoulders. Yeah, all that I've been through and all that I will have to go through. A small silence filled the space as the only sound was the flickering flames and the sizzling pan. Once the last of the batter was cooked I put the last of the pancakes on the plate. With that I began cleaning up the pans as I remained silent.

“Storm, are you alright?” Applejack asked after at least a good ten minutes of silence.

“No Applejack, in the grand scheme of things. I am not alright and I won't be.” I said after a few more minutes followed. The last thing I did was start a pot of coffee as I sat down at the table to wait.

“Do you want to-” she tried to say but I cut her off with me shaking my head. “Oh...”

“Applejack I appreciate that you all want me to be happy and feel better about everything that's happened but it wasn't long when I found out a lot more of my situation.” I said as that hollow feeling swept up in me.

“I don't think I would even know how to take all that.” Applejack said.

“Even hearing it, I still don't know how I am taking it.” I replied as we fell silent once again it only took a few moments for me to say screw it to my not wanting to talk about it. “I still don't get why it has to come to me for this? I'm not a smart pony, hell I wasn't a smart human. Closer to a box of rocks really. The universe decided to hoof somepony the fate of everypony and they pick me, the dumbest human ever. To have that on my shoulders, I... I... I don't get it. Why did fate have to point to pony that's so easily manipulated into stuff?” I vented.

“Storm you're not easily manipulated.” Applejack defended.

“Bull, I am too easily manipulated and Cadence proved that to me.” I shot back as I felt angry.

“Come again?” Applejack said as her eyebrow rose.

“During the date. I know she was doing it more as an innocent joke but... it hurt to know that I could be so easily controlled like that. I didn't really say much during the date because I wanted Twi to have the perfect date. But the more I think about it the more it proves that the universe picked the wrong pony for the job. But let's not forget the other times I've been controlled: Sha and Shadow, Grimwand and Faust? They both played me, manipulated me, and worse... they both had a good reason to do so.” I said as pushed the plate of fresh baked pancakes away from me.

“No they didn't.” Applejack said. “No pony has any right to do that to another living creature.” She got up and came over to me.

“I would agree with you when it comes to Grimwand. But Faust is a different matter altogether she needed me here so I can save everypony and on top of that she saved me from Grimwand herself. Part of me agrees with her actions to save everypony. I mean what is one life compared to the lives of millions?” I said as a small chuckle leaves my throat. “Just like the saying goes. The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.” With that I laid my head down on the table as Applejack gently rubbed my back.

“Sugar cube, it's overwhelming how much stress you've found yourself in but you have to see the brighter side of things. You have a wonderful marefriend, you have all of us as your friend, your a prince too with both Princesses as aunts, AND you are something that hasn't been seen since before Princess Luna's banishment to the moon. Doesn't that cheer you up, even a little bit?” Applejack said and I can understand where she's getting at. Seeing a friend beat themselves up is not an easy thing to see especially when it's right in front of you.

“It does, just knowing I have such amazing friends like you girls as well as having such a great adopted family.” I said lightly smiling. “I guess I can't help but be hardwired to be a little stubborn seeing the dark side of every cloud.” I said as I looked at the still steaming sets of pancakes on the seven plates. Applejack gave me a hug before pulling back and finding a place to sit. A stray thought crossed my mind, something I could do with all of them and it wouldn't be too weird. “Hey Applejack I had an idea.”

“What's that Storm?” She asked.

“Well since I'm going to the spa to have the poison joke cure done. Why don't we all go and I treat everypony to a trip to the spa?” I asked then I saw the nervous look on her face. “What?”

“Well... um. Not to turn you down but I'm not really into all that froufrou stuff that Rare likes.” She said scratching the back of her head. Okay so the direct question isn't going to work time to play the whole puppy dog face.

“Please Applejack just for me?” I said giving the same look that Fluttershy and Twilight have used on me to get me into doing something.

“Ah darn it. Alright if it makes you feel better sugar cube.” She said pushing her stetson in front of her face. “Darn look.” she mumbled that last part. I don't think she wanted me to hear it but I couldn't help but lightly smile. I knew Rarity would jump at the chance and Twilight already said she would go with me to the spa some day. Fluttershy I think would join much because she and Rarity already do spa dates. Pinkie would most likely go anyway just because we all are going, but Rainbow Dash is a pony of another spectrum. Something told me that this mare wouldn't go get pampered as much as the rest of us would. Speak the devil, said mare decided to show up, probably because of smelling the food. What told me this was when she came down I could see the light glint off the drool on her face as she looked at the stacks of pancakes on each plate. I had made at least a stack of seven for each mare. I went a little lighter on my stack. It was seven just thinner.

“Sweet grub!” Dash said hopping into a seat picking up the fork and knife about to dive in.

“Wait for the rest of them Dash.” I said putting up a shield to stop her attack on the food. She groaned but nodded.

“Also, I had an idea to shoot past you.” I said she eyed me.

“Let me guess you want another flying lesson as we wait for the slow pokes?” She said and I rolled my eyes.

“Not what I had in mind Dash. This was something after breakfast.”

“Alright fire away.” Dash said leaning back in the chair.

“Well you know I'm going to go get cured of the poison joke right?” I said and she nodded to this. “Well I figured since I'm going to be there anyway why don't we all go at my treat?” I said giving that please come with look that came with that dog toy squeaking sound.

“I um...” Dash said and I knew this wasn't going to be easy. So I turned on the look and I could see that unease rise. “Um... well you see I have this thing.” If I didn't already know she was lying off her flank I would have called her on it.

“Please Dashie just for me?” I said in that fake child’s voice when they just want to be so adorable that you just want to make them happy. Dash gave off a frustrated sigh but nodded.

“I'll go but no hooficures. I don't like my hooves touched.” She said crossing her forelegs. I nodded in agreement as the rest of the girls decided to show up with of course Rarity being the last one already looking ready to face the day.

“Morning girls.” I said as everypony got a seat.

“Storm you didn't have to make us breakfast you know” Twilight said after she had leaned over giving me a kiss on the cheek and help me put my prosthetic on.

“I know but I was up anyway so it felt like the right thing to do, you know?” I shot back as she nodded. I explained the idea to the rest of them, as predicted Rarity was hooked in an instant. Same went for Pinkie as well as Fluttershy. We began to eat quietly having a small conversation about nothing. Well they talked and I listened. They talked about the season coming up and how Applejack was a little annoyed at the fact that estrus makes it hard for her to get any work done. Especially since Big Mac wouldn't be there, then it came to me.

“Storm what do you plan to do during estrus?” Pinkie asked and I never really thought about it.

“Honestly I don't know, I mean I could go back to the cabin in the woods during that but I think I probably find myself bored more than anything.” I said thinking out loud.

“Why don't you visit the princesses?” Rarity suggested.

“What? Wouldn't they be going through it too?” I asked then realized what I said. This was followed by me shoving my hooves into my mouth.

“Well normally I think so but I've never seen them go through it and I've been around them for years.” Twilight explained. “If you want I can send a letter asking if it's alright. It would give you time to talk to them again.” Which was true, I haven't had much time to just visit them for the sake of visiting. Each time it was because of being injured or because of something major happening.

“I suppose but I really don't want to be a bother.” I said before shoving another bite into my mouth before more stupid left it.

“I don't think the princesses would mind.”

“I guess.” Was all I could really say on the matter. I mean really would be nice to visit them for visiting sake and with estrus going on would make the perfect time to visit them. That and I don't think my normal resolve would last long around here. That and a crazy army of mares wanting a stallion all for themselves so they can get lucky to the point that there is no natural limit to the lengths they would go to for it, would be another good reason. Mainly because I rather just be with Twilight and not chased for being a stallion by every mare in town, well every single mare that is. I looked around quietly at each pony sitting at the table eating. I saw Twilight smiling as she had another bite as well as Rarity as she went over some outfit designs. Dash was in a middle of a speed eating contest with Applejack to see who could finish first. Pinkie was being Pinkie, already done after she took all of them in one bite. You would think watching the pink pony open her mouth bigger than her skull and take all the pancakes in one bite would freak me out, but at this point it. I figured it was Pinkie being Pinkie. Fluttershy slowly ate hers as she watched me light as I was just nibbling on mine. To be honest I wasn't that hungry, which was why I made myself thinner pancakes compared to them. My guess was Fluttershy was still worry about my freak out earlier with the nightmare. If only she knew of my little freak out making breakfast. The girls went on talking about the coming Winter Wrap-up that was happening later this week. But it was enough to glean some important details such as Dash's job to clear the weather and Fluttershy wakes up all the hibernating animals. Rarity helps Fluttershy by making all the nests for the birds. Applejack helps clear the snow on the fields then followed by planting crops and flowers. Which I guess would count as crops since flowers are edible to everypony. Twilight keeps everything organized so everything is done on time. Finally there was Pinkie who I was going to be working with to help melt the lakes down, I just had a little more to do by melting snow to fill the water tower. Once everypony was done eating I was set to do dishes before Applejack decided that since I cooked she would do the dishes.

“Sorry sugar cube you need to relax” As she put it. What was wrong with me doing dishes? Was it because I was still a small framed mare or because of my little freak out? I sighed quietly and gave in as I went into the main room of the library. I suppose it was just Applejack's way of saying hey you've had a hard time let me take some of the work. Of course that mare can be as stubborn as I could so I thought it was best not to fight it this time. I went and sat in one of the comfy chairs that Twilight likes to pull out for visitors. Normally these are put away to keep it nice and open which I don't blame her but I really just want to be comfy at the moment. The girls went upstairs to clean up their sleeping bags. I leaned back against the back of the chair and just looked around as the sounds of Applejack cleaning the dishes. I just went over the many titled books at least the one's I could read from this angle and distance. Just the wealth of knowledge alone here was pretty staggering compared to what I knew, which of that was about Equestria it was a very large gaps. I think you could put at least three Canterlot's side by side in that gap and had space for a few elephants. Hell there was still plenty that everypony knew as fact that I was still pretty clueless on. Now that I think about it there was stuff about myself I still didn't know.

After I removed my butt for the chair I went over to the little secret compartment behind where I had found the magical artifact section and opened it to find my hidden stash of bits. Well I hid at least some for myself but most of my “Allowance” as I had dubbed it. Went in with the library’s funds to help pay for repairs, books, and other household items. I really didn't need that much for myself, hell Twilight had more use for it then I did. So I kept a bag of about five hundred normal bits and two royal bits which were about a thousand bits each. Which I suppose does make sense to have higher value bits. I did like how they looked compared to the normal golden coin bit. They were still gold but the inside were a dark purple with a red looking gem in the center. In the dark purple held a marking of the sun on one side and the moon. The normal bit was a simple gold coin with a impression of the sun and moon on them. Even then they were standard looking suns and moons while the royal bit had a more fanciful artistic style to them. I flipped the royal bits in my hand admiring the designs on them.

“What'cha looking at partner?” Applejack said which caused me to jump up in surprise sending the two royal bits into the air. Once I came down and was able to catch both bits in my magic with Applejack snickering at my reaction, I showed her the royal bits. “Are... are these royal bits?” She asked a little amazed.

“Eeyup.” I said emulating Big Macintosh which I think it loses some of it's impact when I'm currently a mare but honestly didn't care.

“I've never got to see one of these myself.” She said as I floated her the bit to look at.

“Really?” I asked a little curious I figured she would have seen one at least. I mean I know Filthy Rich owns a bit business around here and they do business with the Apples. So I figured she would have seen one at least once that way. She took the bit in her hooves and just flipped it over a few times.

“Yeah, not a lot of ponies can get these.” She said and I smiled at a thought.

“Then go ahead and keep it.” I said which caused her to look directly at me.

“What? No, Storm I can't do that. That's way too much for a gift.” She tried to protest.

“Applejack it's fine. It's not really a big deal.” I said with a shrug.

“Not a big deal? Storm that's a thousand bits and you're just willing to hoof it over to me like it was a kid asking for a bit for a piece of candy. It's a big deal to me Storm. I... I can't take it for nothing.” She said which was followed by me rolling my eyes.

“Okay I have to ask. Why is this a big deal?” I asked.

“Why isn't it for you or are you going all princely on us.” Applejack shot back and I shot her an annoyed look.

“I'm not going all 'princely' on everypony. I just thought you would like the coin either to use it for the money or to keep it. I just saw that look you gave the bit and figured you would like it.” I answered truthfully. Really how hard was that to see, I mean I'm not the element of generosity. I just thought it was a nice gesture was all.

“Storm I just...” She said and I turned my head a little to listen. “The money would go far to help the farm for tools and such. But it doesn't feel right to have it just given to me like that, I would prefer to work for it. You know?”

“I can understand that Applejack so how about this, let's call it an investment towards Sweet Apple Acres.” I said with a light smile.

“Investment?” She asked a little confused. “What are you getting at?” She gave me that old suspicious eye after asking that.

“Very simple you keep it and use it. In return during Cider season you set a barrel away for Twi and I?” I offered. After Dash telling me the story of Flim and Flam during last cider season I figured this would work. Plus after Dash drooling over just the thought of it during the trip from Sweet Apple Acres after the whole impact issue. It sounded like a solid idea to have a barrel for just the two of us and maybe Spike depending if it wasn't hard cider. I watched Applejack mull the idea over in her head.

“Well... how about this since the girls already get a barrel I'll make sure I'll bring one for each of you instead?” She counter offered and I agreed to that.

“Works for me Applejack.” I said holding my right hoof out to shake. Which was a mistake to do. A soon as I held out the prosthetic hoof I saw Applejack look a little nervous at it. I looked down at it and saw that my little claws were out like I normally do when it comes to using that hoof. I didn't have to notice it long but that nervous look on her face told me that she didn't quite like touching that leg. I slowly brought the leg down and switched for my left with a simple. “Heh... sorry.” I said as I felt... well to be honestly I didn't quite know how I felt. It was somewhere between my own self disgust, shame, and a little anger. Something about all this rubbed me the wrong way but I just didn't feel right asking what was wrong. She shook my hoof for our deal I suppose you would call it. Applejack went upstairs to join the girls and get her sleeping bag packed up. I watched her silently before switching back and sliding the royal bit back into my little hiding spot. I placed my bit pouch under my wing and waited for them to come back down. As I waited I looked over my prosthetic again, the burning gold color of the metal down right to the square marking for the music crystal slot. Then the spot where the claws come out which were close to a griffon’s claw which meant the tips were pretty sharp. Most of the time they were blunt but there was an extra slot on each tip so they could be points otherwise they were closer to fingers. Well it was a modified griffon prosthetic so it would make sense that Celestia would have it done so I could defend myself if I have to, magic and fire breathing aside that is. It's been quite some time since the whole lost of my foreleg happened, hasn't it? A pain shot through me to the point it felt like my prosthetic was hurting me. Which couldn't be possible right? I mean it was just a prosthetic and artificial limb so it couldn't be connected where I could feel pain from it. If that was the case I would have been able to feel all the times when I lost the other prosthetic limbs I had. Maybe I should just chuck this one up to a phantom limb kind of pain. It wasn't long for the girls to come down ready to go. It wasn't long for us to leave at that point but Applejack wouldn't meet me eye to eye. Every time I glanced her way she would turn her gaze away from me. Yeah that moment with the prosthetic isn't going to be nice to deal with later. Honestly I couldn't blame her really, I would have the same problem to a point. I mentally sighed as we entered the spa, it looked pretty much the same well only less guests. The seven of us went up to the counter.

“Hello everypony how can I help you this morning?” Lotus said with a welcoming smile. I went up to the counter and had to raise up a bit so I was eye level with her.

“I would like seven of the special treatments followed by a poison cured bath.” I said.

“Don't you want to be a stallion before the treatments?” Twilight whispered into my ear after my order. I shot back with a whisper of my own.

“I was curious on how if feels different as a mare compared to a stallion so I figured this was the best time to find out.” I explained and she nodded for a moment. Lotus took us to the back to find that the Spa was completely empty which sent red flags in my head. It was just the two spa ponies and the seven of us. The level of unease just kept eating at me as the whole spa trip happened. I didn't hear anypony come in. After I got into the mud bath which it was Applejack who was the most confused about it. It was easily understandable why she would be confused I mean to her it probably was the same mud as outside on a rainy day. I was listening to the girls talk well mostly Rarity talked about her spring line that she has almost finished to release this season as well as part way through her summer line done. Pinkie was rambling about parties to plan and what color balloons to use with specific party types. Fluttershy for the most part was silent until animals got brought up then she would talk about some of the one's she took care of and looking forward to seeing again, the only part my brain was doing back flips following was a bear named Beary. Just something about that just screamed what the buck. Dash and Applejack pretty much was doing their whole rile the other up with some ridiculous challenge bit to the point I think there was a thing about bee in there. I really hope they were not serious about that. The sauna wasn't that bad, I kind of liked the heat more than I did on earth. More for my dragon side I suppose.

“Hey Storm.” Dash said getting my attention.

“Yeah Dash?” I replied.

“I know you've had it rough but why don't you tell us about some of the awesome stuff you have back on earth?” She asked. I thought about that for a moment.

“Well it depends on the context of awesome. Because to some ponies the definition is different. But let me ask this, what are you curious about finding out? Sports, speed, technology, nature, weather, or something else?” I question partly to be a smart ass but more to narrow down what she meant.

“How about speed then. I know humans can't fly or run as fast as we ponies do.” She started and I couldn't help but get the feeling of smacking Dash for that last part of that comment.

“You do remember I was once human right?” I said as I shot her a glare that probably could cause a pony to burst into flames if you apply enough magic.

“Not what I meant dude!” She defended.

“Then what did you mean Dash?” I shot back as my mane started to spark.

“Storm please relax.” Twilight said trying to defuse my short burst of anger.

“What's wrong with you?” Dash shot back.

“What's wrong with me? You go through all this and have somepony dis a race that you were. Then don't get offended by that. I...” I said followed by a sigh. “Sorry I'm being stupid again” I said gently rubbing my prosthetic again.

“Something eating at you sugarcube?” Applejack asked.

“Just tired of being so mixed up in my head.” I said with a frustrated sigh.

“Mixed up?”

“Yeah remember my brain goes all screwy like how I thought Big Mac looked good in the mare looking for a piece of meat kind of way, figuratively of course.” I said not even looking at her. “It just seems to keep getting worse the longer I'm under the effects of that plant. I've jumped either on a ponies case, jumping ship on my own thoughts, or worse.” I vented a bit.

“Storm we'll get you back to your old stallion self in a few moments, so everything will be alright.” Applejack said reassuringly as I felt her hoof as she had gently rubbed my back.

“I know, I know. It's just I'm not the most mentally stable of ponies and to have all this on my mind plus under the effects of that cursed plant just-” I said before ending with another annoyed sigh.

“Just a nice day with out some crazy wacky thing happening that makes me wonder too much for my own good is all I'm asking. It shouldn't be that hard right? Just a day to enjoy being with my friends and marefriend just having fun. Maybe a picnic or just playing some good of fashion board games. Hell I'll settle for just sitting around talking about normal stuff. Before you call me out on the whole what about during the mud bath stuff. If you noticed I didn't say anything and just listened, on top of that why the buck is there nopony here but us and the attendants?” I question getting to one of the big things bugging the hell out of me since we arrived.

“Well... I'm to blame for that really.” Rarity spoke up.

“What?” I said confused to the point that come out sounding closer to a confused duck then a confused dralicorn stallion stuck in a mare's body.

“I put in a special request with Aloe and Lotus so the spa was going to be empty for you turning back into a stallion. I figured you would a little privacy when it comes to something like that. I fear what the papers would say if they heard their prince had become a princess.” She said as she sounded offended for me for reasons I didn't quite care about. I mean okay yes the whole paper thing bothered me when the first time I caught a story about me depicted as a monster. But that was the point, ponies saw me as a monster but this. Buck if I cared really, honestly if they found out that poison joke turned my orange flank into a mare what's the problem with that? Hell I doubt there would be a problem with that. Of course I could see the headline now “The mare of a prince” just writes itself doesn't it?

“Probably the lines of The Mare Prince or some really cheesy pun. Honestly not really a big deal compared to those other headlines.” I said as I remembered the whole monster articles that hit the front page twice. I let out yet another one of my I fucked up sighs as I just watched the steam as I dropped another bit of water on the hot rocks. I told Aloe I would do this more for privacy between the seven of us and so she wouldn't be cramped in a room with the rest of us. I didn't look at the girls but just watched the wisps of steam just float up to join the steam at the top of the room.

“Storm can I ask you something?” Rarity said and I glanced at her for a moment.

“Sure go ahead.” I said before turning back to the steam in the room.

“Do you regret coming to Equestria?” She asked.

“Rarity!” Twilight shouted.

“What the hay Rarity?!” Dash said while Fluttershy just eeped. Applejack just looked annoyed but remained silent.

“Well we all are thinking it. I just think it's time to be asked.” Rarity said and honestly I figured that was a question they had thought about from time to time. Hell even I have questioned myself on this.

“Honestly... I don't know. I don't regret coming to know you girls, the princesses, Shining, and everypony that I've been along the line. Shadow, Vermom, Grimwand, and Chrysalis not withstanding, but everything else is a left up in the air. There are times when I wonder if being here was really worth it and others that I'm glad that I am here. If I didn't go from one event to another with all the major events that has happened I don't think I would have a problem being in Equestria.” I said, well... more rambled really. “I mean I get to enjoy being around all of you and you've brought me great joy just knowing all of you and the same goes for the princesses.”

“But you still miss things back there.” She said and the rest of the girls were silent with this.

“Of course Rarity it's as I told you in the bathroom. I just miss being human at times for just simpler days.” I replied as I looked at the steam covered window. Small little droplets of water slowly fell down the window.

“What was it like?” Dash asked.

“Well I guess compared to you ponies it was just a normal day. Get up, get cleaned up, get dressed, go about my daily life with daily problems that I would just hold in and lightly vent when I could but mostly kept it silent.” I said in a very flat tone “nothing really special I suppose. I guess that whole saying is true. You don't realize what you have until it's completely gone.” I said looking at my prosthetic hoof and my real one.

“Storm-” Twilight started before I held up a wing to stop her.

“Don't worry Twilight I'm just over thinking again.” I said more to derail where she probably would go.

“Partner I'm not going to pretend like I know how you feel but you can't just bottle things up like you've been doing. If being a human again means so much to you why don't you just ask one of us to help. I'm sure Twi here could magic something up for ya, or maybe the princesses could help.” Applejack said in a sort of stern way, all I did was turn lightly and gently smile after I folded my wing back up.

“It's nothing important, just a little pipe dream I suppose.” I said before turning towards the glass. “That and I really don't want to bother anypony with something that's relatively trivial as that.” I mean I don't really deserve anything like that anyway after what I've caused. Hell just being here pretty much signed Equestria's death sentence. There was muttering coming from a few of the other mares behind me, I couldn't really pick out the voice, of course didn't really try to either. Most of the spa trip was about the same as I had when I was a stallion well up to the full body massages. That's when the whole trip differed. Finds out that the wings on a mare are a lot more sensitive to touch then a stallions which saying that I have experienced both sides of this. I can see why mare would enjoy going to the spa so much. I had the same oil treatment and preening as my last trip which was honestly great. Of course probably didn't help but moan a little at how good it felt, also didn't detour on how awkward I felt when the spa mares were going to town on my body. Especially when I felt there hooves on my rump which brought back memories of Twilight's smack to my flank which caused me to blush like a supernova again. My hooves came up to cover my face and my shame at the moment. After I was done they laid a small warm towel on my back which I couldn't remember if they done that before, didn't change on how nice it felt. I laid there with my head on the table watching my marefriend get worked over by the two masseuses which she seemed to be enjoying it as much as I did. Of course a little fantasy day dream decided to creep itself into my head from one of those 'flicks' after the whole spa trip, the masseuses would give a happy ending so to speak. Which caused me to turn redder when I was knocked out of it as I saw Twilight looking at me. Within moments my hooves were over my face to hide yet another level of shame.

Of course I couldn't help but hear Dash laughing followed by Fluttershy with a simple “Oh my.” It took me longer than I expected but I got my wings to fold down. I had purposely refrained from looking at Twilight after my little day dream I had. Which I had the odd feeling that somepony watched in on that one too. Something I had started to notice that there was this odd magic feeling, like that prickly feeling some ponies get when there hooves fall asleep on them and it just feels like a static charged little pricks all over the still sleeping area before it wakes up. Well it was sort of like that but in a magic kind of way. I didn't know if it was some kind of auto running sensor that happens with dralicorns, or just something I've just began to pick up on. I know the Princess of the moon has been watching my dreams from time to time especially after seeing some of the horror I deal with in my own head. I was not a sane pony that I believe should go without saying but I find myself questioning how insane I have become since being turned... I guess I can't really return. Now that I think about it what would I classify how I became, what I am now? I guess I could chuck it up to reincarnation but that seems a little too broad for me and the whole lack of memories when I got here would play too close to that. Reborn would be a little closer I suppose but just seems to basic, story plot-ish. I spent what I guess was the better part of an hour trying to classify what I technically would call my appearing in Equestria as the rest of the girls when through their massages well all but Rainbow who was quite adamant about not getting her hooves touched. It seems this was a normal case for Aloe and Lotus since they've had Dash in here before. So after we got over that it was finally time for me to get cured. I walked up to the bath which more looked like someone was trying to make a big pot of Dralicorn Soup then anything else. I slowly sank my way into the tub before finally diving under. Something about this bath as for the same that could be said about the last time I had to the really odd feeling I got when I changed from one gender to the last. There is an odd sensation when it comes all this. I could feel myself losing the mares... well to put it bluntly mare bits and regain my stallion bits. To be honest this is the second time I've had to go through this and I couldn't even describe it at all. Even that there's the feeling of gaining more mass throughout my body. But once it was done I surfaced out of the tub and honestly I felt better then I had. I looked at each mare in the room as I slowly made my way out of the tub. They all smiled which this included Aloe and Lotus as I finally was back to some sense of normalcy. Well as normal as Equestria gets I suppose. I used my magic to extract the water from my fur, feathers, mane, and tail. Thank you magic you make drying off so much easier. I trotted down the little set of steps they had to lead up to the industrial sized jacuzzi tub and down to the girls. One thing I seemed to have noticed that during my stay as a mare both my mane and tail were a lot longer than they were when had been a stallion last, come to think about that is a pretty odd thought to. You would never expect a guy to have a thought like that but hell with everything that had happened here all I could really say about that was, screw it. But anyway I noticed that my tail had almost touched the ground in length I would say about a few inches off. As for my mane it was pretty long closer to when I use to let my hair grow out as a human. It use to grow partly down my back. Which honestly I kind of liked, I had enjoyed keeping that in a pony tail.

“It seems that somepony needs to get there mane cut.” Twilight commented as she walked next to me. I smiled and stepped closer just so I could drape my wing across her back. She blushed a little but didn't say much as I just smiled. Oh how I missed my large wings after being stuck with smaller ones. No offense to Twilight but if I had to go through that poison joke again it would be too soon.

“Well I could always give it a try.” Rarity commented.

“Actually I think it looks rather nice on him.” Fluttershy commented “It matches with his long tail.” Something told me that she wasn't really 'looking' at my tail when she tacked that one on. But of course that could be just my mind playing tricks on me or maybe a preemptive strike of estrus. Of course this being Fluttershy, I just let it slide. I think the mare needs to speak her mind a little bit more. Twilight gave her a curious eye at the comment as she stepped closer to me. Now it was my turn to eye Twilight. Was she jealous? My gaze went back the way we were going which seems to be the library. Kind of a short lived trip to the spa but at this point I felt refreshed and content. Not screwed in the head... well not as screwed in the head I should say just my normal levels of head screwing. We got in and everypony grabbed their respective bag or case before they left. This left just Twi and I alone. For a few minutes there was a bit of an awkward silence between the two of us. Nothing really to be said but something just floated there waiting to be dropped. Now that being what it was being the question at hoof. A few topics could come to mind such like do I still feel the way I do about the whole being human thing or about estrus coming up along side Fluttershy's tail comment. A few minutes of silence continued to accumulate around us before I decided to head upstairs. Twilight followed me as I got back up to the loft and began to dig through my bag. Within moments I floated out my hoodie and watched as the still visible parts from my shaved fur disappeared behind the orange cotton fabric. It took me a little fighting to get my large wings out and into the open. I turned to see Twilight watch me.

“Something on your mind?” I asked full well knowing there was at least something.

“Just...” She started before a sigh escaped her muzzle. “I'm worried is all.” That was true just looking at her I could tell she was.

“Twilight look I understand you're worried. With all this that has happened on so short of notice it can't be doing well for anypony. Especially you having to sit there and see all this.” I said with a frown.

“That and finding out more about the nightmares you've been having about all of us.” She said and my eyes shot wide.

“What... when... who?” Thank you brain you just upgraded from idiot to stumbling dip shit with that bit out of my mouth.

“Fluttershy told me while you were distracted and the other girls told me about the nightmare during your stay after the insanity event. I admit to being upset finding out all that. But what really got me was this.” She said pulling out what I would guess was the manuscript for a novel being ready to published. On the top of it was a white crescent moon surrounded by a mass of dark black, Luna's royal seal. “Princess Luna has been sometimes sending me little reports about your nightmares. Honestly a lot of these make sense considering all that happened. The whole seeing the past up to the whole large being with the revolver. As well as the asylum and nightmare versions of all of us.” Twilight said putting down the papers on the small end table.

“Twilight, I...” Was all I could get out.

“Storm, this can't be good for your mind to put you through such torments. Have... have you taught about seeing medical help for this?” She asked.

“Yes I have before. No medication helped and their advice didn't help either. Plus some of those nightmares aren't natural or they don't seem like they are. My guess was either they are being induced by some pony and I would put my bits on the same pony that has sent Vermom after me quite a few times.” I said.

“Grimwand?” She asked and I simply nodded.

“Like I had told you back in Canterlot he's the reason I'm here in Equestria. That stallion had me killed so I would be here just for his own purpose.” I said as I had sat down with my eyes shut. I didn't want to see anypony after I told them this. “To be honest I've had a lot on my mind both worry about the destiny looming over my head as well as how screwed everypony is because I'm not strong enough to face something that could easily kill everypony I know.” I said finally talking to Twilight about this.

“And you're worried that you may end up like those crystallized ponies.” Once again I nodded to this.

“Just the thought of going away like that, doing something like that to you Twilight. It hurts me just thinking about it.” I said before I felt a pony against my chest. I opened my eyes and looked down to see my marefriend hugging me.

“Storm, no matter what happens you will always be with me and I will never lose you. Even if you happen to be crystallized like those six. There will be no stopping me from finding a cure.” She said with a determined look on her face.

“That's my Twi.” I said before I brought up my hooves to hug her as I cover her with my wings. She blushed lightly and nuzzled into my chest. I didn't even really mind the small twinge of pain from her going right over the scar across my heart. “But why don't we go see the doctor. So I can finally get a clear bill of health and we can come back home for a little fun. I mean I can't have you ahead in wins can I?” I said with a bit of a cocky tone.

“Oh please, I'm still ten wins ahead of you. There's no way you're going to win any more if you keep up using the poison pawn strategy.” She shot back with a smirk as we both headed back downstairs.

“Hey don't dis the poison pawn. It's a classic chess maneuver, and what about your proclivity with the knights.” I shot back which earned me a glare from my marefriend before she smiled and laughed as we left the library.

***---***

“Hey watch where you put those clamps Twilight. My tail may be harder in this form doesn't change how much it hurts.” I shot back from the stool I had been sitting on for the last half hour since the visit to the doctor. It seemed that I was in good health and was fit as a fiddle so to speak. The doctor also suggested not to get that bad again. Of course my first step off the bed resulted with me going face first into the door that the nurse just happened to open right then. Thank you universe you couldn't just make it simple, had to go with the nurse door combo, you jerk. Luckily it wasn't that bad just a bloody nose for a few minutes. Once that was taken care of I stopped over at the fabric stall in the market place after Twilight pointed it out to me so I could get some fabric for Pinkie's project. Plus I got something for Twi. After spending quite a few bits I floated the fabric into my saddlebags that Twilight was kind enough to remembered to grab before we left. That's when she talked me into this experiment, well talked would be a little too nicely put. I should really say conned me, her and those damned puppy dog eyes. Of course I couldn't say no to that face, what kind of stallion you take me for? Wait... don't answer that. Anyway, it seems she wanted to experiment on my body’s ability to absorb and expel lightning or electricity to be precise. She had put what I honestly could call jumper cables clipped to the more draconic diamond tipped tail as well as two more to my wings. She had the first set to a lightning crystal which I could help but draw back to a few games I use to play before all this started and the other to yet another crystal this one more to take in the energy. I pretty much would have to sit here with all these little electrodes attached to me and this funny helmet that reminded me of a strainer with wires coming out. This was attached to machines that had printers in them. I told her that if she's going to use me as a junction point for this experiment then I wanted to read up more on her experiments. Since the energy gives me almost near photographic memory.

Honestly I would factor that more to the energy from the electricity supercharging the nerves and neurons in my head, they burned the information in my head. Plus with the prosthetic hoof I could fly through those files even faster.

“Sorry about that Storm but I have to make sure the clamps are secure.” Twilight stated before hopping over to another machine as she got more little electrodes and attached them to my wings, tail and a few on my face.

“I know but you got it clamped a little too close to the tail and not the scale.” I stated, which of course didn't even register as she went off to put on what I would guess be goggles. I went back and cued up the first entry in the list of files that I wanted to go though. “AH!” was out of my muzzle as I felt the energy lance through my spine, couldn't the mare at least give me a warning. It took a few moments to stop shaking from the lightning jolting through me before I began to read through Twilight's research note. I mainly focused on alchemy this time. I mean I do want to explain my magical repertoire at some point but I also want to learn about so many other things, potion making would be right up my alley. Especially since I'm able to cook better than I had on earth. It seems that Twilight has been working on a quite a few potions including some to lessen the strain that estrus draws on a pony without a mate. It had seemed that it causes a lot of ponies some unneeded stress as that itch is unbearable causing them to do irrational things. Which makes me glad that I won't be here for a town of stallion hungry mares. Well... sort of at least. Don't give me that damn look, every guy has that fantasy about being in a room full of women. Okay so the Equestrian equivalent is a room of mare but still... shut up. But I had made it through a few hundred files in. Most of them revisions to her theories about some of the different potions mechanics but still interesting. That's when Twilight's experiment decided to go south and what I mean by that was my body wasn't expelling the energy into the other crystal anymore. Instead my body was taking it in. The only reason I figured this out was when the small throb of an appearing headache began to set in, I had turned to see Twilight nose deep into her print out and sparks coming from my back. “Twilight.” I said which was a bad mistake. As soon as my mouth opened a spark of lightning shot out causing a fairly large hole in the wall to be made.

“What the hay was that?” Twilight had said as she turned to the wall to see what I would guess that size of a bowling ball hole in it. The worse part was you couldn't tell how deep it was. She turned to me expecting an answer but I motioned for her and pulled up a fresh screen. “Storm what's wrong?” She asked as my prosthetic claws flew across the screen.

Too much energy. Can't speak without shooting some out of my mouth. I typed on the screen.

“That doesn't make any sense. I- that- I had this... Oh... heh heh... whoops.” She said as she noticed something. I tapped her on the shoulder before replying with.

Whoops? What whoops?

It seems that the other cable got knocked off while I was reading over files. I think I may have done it while I was rushing to each device.” She said which was followed by me wincing as the pain began to spike.

Outside now.

Was all I could get out on the screen. Before I tried to hop off which resulted in me face planting on the ground. “Ow.” Was out of my mouth before I could catch myself. I watched the lightning fly out and strike one of the cabinets on the far side of the room. Causing some of her blank paper to fly out with a few on fire. Twilight watched amazed before it snapped and she help me up the stairs with her magic. Once I was outside I was able to release all that electricity from me in one powerful burst of magic that left me a little weak on my hooves. “That... that was new.” I said as I slumped against Twilight who helped me remain a bit stable on my hooves with some magic to support most of my weight.

“Storm are you alright?” She asked and I nodded.

“Yeah, just help me upstairs. I need to rest.” I said as I barely had a voice at all. My throat felt a little raw from all that. Thankfully Twilight teleported us back to the loft where I slowly climbed onto the bed not even caring about my claws as I just draped myself across the bed. Twilight dashed out of the room only to come back with what I would call a medical kit. It had the same familiar red cross with four little hearts one in each empty spots around the cross. I simply watched as she dug into it pulling out a thermometer before she jammed it into my muzzle. I watched it slowly rise that what I would guess my normal temperature, well normal for me. She then proceeded to wrap some bandages around the diamond bit of my tail as well as some on the tips of my wings where they were still pretty scorched from the electricity that had gone through them. Twilight then came up in front of me and placed a hoof on my forehead. She pulled back the instant that she came in contact with it.

“Storm, you're burning up.” She said. Now I would point out that I just had probably the equivalent of a full thunderstorm of lightning just course throughout my body then out of my mouth which if memory serves me right. That I pretty much had a electrical current through me which at it's core was electrons moving forward which as they moved forward, they are converted into heat energy. If I remembered from science class when I went into school. I rasped out as much to explain it, in all honestly it was getting harder to speak as every time I talked I felt like somepony was using sandpaper on my throat. Twilight was kind enough to float over a glass of water. “That would explain your fever but just to be safe I want you to just relax until your body returns to it's normal core temperature.” She stated, my reply was a simple nod. Then something popped in my head as she got to the door to her loft. Before I could warn her. Wham! Dash and Applejack burst into the room flattening Twilight against the wall. I winced as I knew how that felt all too well. Dash and Applejack ran up.

“Storm you alright partner?” Applejack asked looking at me.

“We saw the light show. Is everything alright and where's Twi?” Dash asked as I rolled my eyes and pointed back to the door that was now shut and a very angry looking Twilight Sparkle sat there rubbing her head. “Oh... heh, heh. Sorry about that Twi.”

“It's fine Dash and Storm is alright just a mishap with an experiment is all. He took in too much electricity was all.” Twilight said as she finally got back to her hooves.

“Storm you need to watch out for these things. Trust me when I said you don't want to push yourself too hard.” Applejack said with a look between stern and worried.

“No Applejack this time it was on me. I knocked the prong attached to the other crystal that was meant to absorb the energy as I tried to understand how his body allows him to do so.” Twilight said coming up.

“Uh... isn't that from his all freaky dragon magic thing he is?” Dash said and I shot her an annoyed look.

“Yes it's because he's a drony but I was more curious on how his body allows him to do it. Fire resistance I can understand since his genetic makeup makes his body able to stand against temperatures up to two thousand two hundred and eighty two degrees which is the roughly the same resistance that of a dragon.” Twilight explained, followed by two dumbfounded looks from Rainbow Dash and Applejack.

“Lava.” I rasped out again then it clicked.

“Oh... why didn't you say that Twi?” Dash asked.

“But I did.” Twilight huffed.

“No you used all the geeky sciency talk.” Dash shot back.

“It's the same information Dash. Storm's body allows him much more resistances to elements. Such like the aquatic respiration ability he has with a set of gills on the inside set of his nostrils which allows him to breath water as well as a second set on the back of his mouth.” my marefriend continued to explain which now this caused two reactions from me. One curiosity on how the fuck can my body be so screwed up like that and secondly when the hell did she find the time to examine me that closely? I eyed her for a moment.

“Ah... Twi can you make it simpler for us ponies without one of those scientific degrees?” Applejack requested.

“He can breath underwater because of gills in his body much like a fish as well as able to take high temperatures like lava like it's a dip in the bath. What I don't get is how he is able to conduct electricity like he does when all accounts his body should fry up fast.” Twilight simplified. Gee, thanks Twilight that makes me feel all sorts of better knowing that I should be fried up more than a piece of burnt steak. Wait... did I just really think about meat at a moment like this? When was the last time I ever thought about meat in this context. I sat there and pondered this for a bit as I heard Twilight explain more about how my body works. I didn't quite catch that due to feeling rather sleepy and tired. Lucky for me the dream I had that time was rather well... weird. I was back in that void of space again. This time I was down to only five doors. Magic, Laughter, and Kindness were all faded out still leaving Honesty and Generosity. I looked at each one, nothing really jumped out at me. The more I stood there looking at each one, I couldn't help but get the feeling of somepony watching me again. I quickly looked around even behind the doors to find no pony. The feeling persisted as I searched.

“If somepony is watching me either come out or knock it off.” I said.

“I didn't expect you notice me.” Said the princess of the night as she faded into existence here. I turned and saw her look down at me. One of the more annoying aspects mind you is being smaller than Luna in real life. I mean I'm not as big as Big Mac but I'm still pretty tall. At least taller then the girls. Shining and Cadence are at least my size, but both celestial sisters still have me beat in the height department. Luna by a few inches and Celestia by a few feet. I sat down on my haunches as looked up at her.

“Well I did. I had a feeling that somepony was watching.” I said. Luna smiled and sat next to me.

“You're getting rather proficient with sensing.” She complemented.

“Thanks it's definitely different. I mean I could sense things in fire, smoke, and stuff, but when somepony is viewing my dreams, that's a whole new ball game.” I said looking up at the white ceiling that was filling with a cloud filled night sky, little stars twinkle in the endless sea of an eternal black. The dark blue clouds gently wisp across it as the ground under our hooves turns into a meadow of grass with a surrounded forest. The funny part of this that I never seen a place like this. This was purely from my own mind from a scene that had always in my head. From a place that everything is right in the world, peaceful. I watched Luna look around as the dreamscape changed, the doors that surrounded us disappeared into the ground.

“It seems you've gotten quite proficient in dream weaving as well. I haven't seen a pony this creative in over a millennium, quite refreshing really.” She whimsically as she looked around the grassy field.

“Yeah...” I said quietly as I just watched the stars in my dreams even with that, I would prefer the real night sky. I was just happy I was able to enjoy a peaceful night sky.

“Something wrong?” She asked, I couldn't help but chuckle a bit.

“Isn't there always something wrong, especially with me.” I said as I watched the sky even more. The small star shot across the sky as we sat there silent. “Can I ask you a question?” I asked.

“Of course.”

“How can I make this if I can't escape any of my nightmares?” I asked.

“Firestorm, a nightmare is many things. Sometimes it's the mind's way of telling a pony something's wrong. Sometimes it's another pony messing in the dreamscape of another. And...” Luna said before a pause. I didn't like the way she paused on this. It felt like she didn't even want to say what came after that pause.

“And?” I regrettably asked.

“Sometime it's a sign of things to come.” She solemnly answered. “I won't lie that both my sister and I have had dreams of things to come. Sombra, Discord, even the shadows of Nightmare Moon. I can't say whether or not you've had one of these dreams, these visions. If so I only hope it is a vision of what could be and not what will be.” She explained almost like she knew I would be stupid enough to ask for context.

“Between the desire and the spasm. Between the potency and the existence. Between the essence and the descent.” I began to quote.

“Falls the shadow for thine is the kingdom.” Luna finished. “Quite the quote I say. But if I may ask. How do you know it?”

“It's from a poem called The Hollow Men. It's a little interesting to find that some of the same literature is here, slightly changed but still here.” I said with a smile.

“Indeed it is.” She smiled back.

“Hey Luna, out of curiosity and more to change the subject. Is it possible to change one's appearance in a dream?” I asked.

“Very much so if you know what you're doing.” She said as I watched her body took that of a stallion. “You can do almost anything within a dream.” She and I do say she because even though she had a body of a stallion her voice remained the same.

“Could you teach me?” I asked.

“Well why don't you first try on your own?” She said with a playful smirk. I rolled my eyes and began to try. I thought of a form that I had took not too long ago. One thing about a dream like this is that I don't feel my body changing outside of a tingling feeling. Once I was done I sat there cross legged in the satyr form I was stuck with when I revisited earth.

“Quite interesting.” Luna said as she walked around me to examine this form. “Pray tell, what is this form and why did you choose it?” I smiled as my draconic tail swished back and forth in the pair of baggy jeans that I decided to give myself.

“I wanted to become something different. Don't get me wrong being a dralicorn is great and all but I just wanted something different but I was use to. Since this was the form when I went back to earth. From my appearance I could only guess this is the dralicorn equivalent of a satyr which was a mythical being from a Greek mythology on earth. Normally they would be a half goat half human hybrid of sorts. This is about the same but instead of goat this would be dralicorn in place.” I explained as I ran my claw through my... hair.

“Fascinating. What is it like being one?” She asked.

“Well besides having the wings, tail, horns, magic, and claws for the most part. I would say it's close to human as I could get at the time. I guess here I could become human again but... that just doesn't seem right.” I rambled.

“How so?” She asked returning to her normal appearance.

“Well it's just if I turned into a human here in this dream scape. It wouldn't be the same to being human again. I would always know that this was fake and that it would end any minute. Plus I would get to enjoy being around the girls or Twilight for that matter as a human.” I answered.

“So you miss being human then?” Luna asked and I could guess she had some context to this already.

“In a way yes. I miss being human, back to simpler things without craziness happening all the time.” I answered followed by a small chuckle as I laid back in the grass. I laid my wings out as I laid there.

“I suppose I can understand this. Having been one form for most your life just to have it rapidly taken from you. I think anypony would want to be themselves at least one more time.” Luna surmised.

“That would be so true Luna.” I said before taking my claw and started to draw a little crown. Nothing too extravagant, just a simple crenelated gold crown with a red ruby in the front. I then waved my hand over it as it became solid and fell with a thump onto my chest. I picked it up quietly to look at it. Luna just watched as I sat up again and placed it on my head. It was a little awkward at first with the horns on my head but after I fixed it it sat correctly on my head.

“I thought you weren't one for the fancy look of a prince?” Luna teased.

“I guess from time to time I can be a little hypocritical about something like this. Don't get me wrong I still don't feel like I deserve to be a prince here in Equestria since I literally dropped in. Doesn't mean I can't pretend that I fit for it.” I said with a smile. “Kind of a funny thing really not that I think about it more.”

“What is?”

“Well my real name, the one I had on earth was from a story.” I started as Luna gave me a confused look.

“How is that funny?” She inquired.

“Well in the book that I was named from the character in that one was a king, a ruler that is. It was part of a much larger series.” I explained.

“Was the character a wise just king?” She asked.

“Sadly I couldn't say, I was aware of the books but I couldn't really tell you about them much. When I was told I wasn't old enough to read those kind of books. I was still pretty young at the time. When I got older I became interested in reading it but when I asked my mother she couldn't remember the series that it was from.” I explained as Luna frowned slightly as her ears flattened back.

“I suppose that can't be helped. Why don't you tell me about some of the other literature that you have read on earth?” She requested.

“Well it depends on your tastes really. Earth literature touches many subjects from history to fantasy, sci-fi to swords and sorcery. There's the lighthearted to the down right dark.” I explained.

“What about mystery?” She asked.

“Ah, now that my dear princess is a subject we both quite enjoy. Now the question is are you the detective kind of pony or the more adventurous Daring Do kind of pony?” I said with a smirk.

“Daring Do is alright but I prefer a good detective one. I enjoy trying to figure out who did it before the end.” She explained.

“Oh well you're in luck then. I just so happened to have brought back just such a book with me. It's a series of cases that I think you may just enjoy.” I said and I couldn't help but watch her ears perk up.

“Really? We must see this book of yours!” She proclaimed dropping into old equestrian.

“Well how about this. Since estrus is happening soon, why don't I come and stay at the castle during it and I'll bring it with me so you can read it along with a few other books from earth.” I said with a simple smile.

“We would er... heh heh heh. I would like that greatly. I'm sure Celestia would enjoy reading some earthen books herself.” Luna said with a big smile plastered on her face before she asked. “aren't you going to be with Twilight for the season?”

“Well I honestly think Twilight isn't ready for that in our relationship. Especially after finding out in a more detailed report about my nightmare issue. Thanks for that by the way.” I said that last one a little more annoyed than I should.

“Sorry Storm but I thought it was best that she understood what was going on in your dreams as of late.” She explained and she was right that Twilight should have known about that. I just wanted to tell her under my own terms. This was a very big thing for me to admit that I was having a problem with somepony that was so close to me. That I would carry a world's worth of worry for just so she wouldn't have to.

“I understand but I just wish I could be the one to explain. I don't feel right to have you and the girls tell Twilight about my nightmares. I mean I get they are a rather big problem but so far it's been one thing after another and I just want her to enjoy some peace. Even if it's a little bit.” I said as I materialized a blanket for the two of us to sit on. The two of us sat there for a few peaceful moments. I watched as little shooting stars began to cross the night sky.

“Storm, if I may ask. What do you think about this Grimwand pony?” Luna asked. My gaze turned to her as I didn't see the princess of the night as I was use too. This time and honestly I didn't think these words would ever come to me. I saw an honest to goodness elf chick before me. My brain was back flipping from this The light skinned woman smiled as she was curled up her arms holding her knee before her. She still had the same mane- er... hair as Luna did and her long silk like dress was the same coat color as what I use to see on her. Around her neck was a silver chain with a full moon surrounded by a black stone with white specks in it.

“Luna is that you?” I asked confused.

“Well of course it is.” She said. “I figured since you were, as you ponies say, sporting a new form. I may as well, and to be said that you humans look rather different than that photo.” Luna explained as she got up to dust herself, I myself got up and took a few moments to find my voice again.

“Well, heh heh heh. That's not quite a human. Roughly the same shape but the ears are different, there normally not as pointy as that. Some humans are born like that but normally most aren't. And none of them have a set of wings like that or the horn. Most definitely not the horn.” I said trying to be respectful and keep my eyes off the very low cut dress she wore. I really hope Twilight never finds this moment, because I don't think I would like to explain that I was caught taking a peek at the cleavage of one of the rulers of Equestria and for all intents and purposes my aunt. Granted she's not my biological aunt and she does have a nice... er... damn it the one time I really need a suitable word and I'm drawing a blank. I turned to look at Luna who was giving me a knowing smirk.

“Oh is some pony thinking naughty thoughts again?” She amused.

“I um... heh heh heh. Yeah... sorry. Wait... again?” I said now nervous.

“Don't be coy with me Storm I know about that little day dream you had with Twilight and the-” was the only thing I let out of her mouth.

“AH no please keep that one to yourself.” I said now blushing hotly.

“Uh, but don't you worry Storm. Every pony has a daydream like that from time to time, even Celestia and I.” She said as she walks off into the woods. I couldn't help but follow silently taking that in. I suppose that would be true, all things considered. The woods themselves were nice and peaceful with the ambient sounds of nature surrounding us. Our little trek took us deep into the forest until a large castle could be seen coming up. The forest opened up to show us the dark obsidian black and white accented castle surrounded by a thick moat. I don't remember ever seeing a castle like that.

“Is that one of mine?” I asked.

“No, this one is all me. As the princess of the night I am able to influence dreams, I don't normally do it as it could be harmful to a pony if misused. But your mind is very unique in that it isn't directly affected by things like this.” She explained.

“Wait is that why I can feel pain in my dreams?” I asked.

“That unfortunately is so, I can't tell if it's just how your body handles dreams or the human spirit within you that allows that. Normally no pony can feel pain like that unless I will it or by some magical artifacts.” She explained as we entered the castle through a very dark blue door with a white marble crescent moon inlay in it. The inside of the castle was much like the dark side of Canterlot while most of the light was coming from a mushroom like wall sconces that gave a soft blue. What really unnerved me was the fact that unlike the castle in Canterlot this was void of other ponies. Just the elfin Luna and my satyr self. We entered what looked like a large ballroom that was dark. Luna smiled before she stopped in the middle of the room. With a flick of magic the room brighten changing everything in a shade of blue, to white. Luna looked around quietly as she turned to me. In her hands she held two fencing swords. She tossed one to me, it wasn't hard to catch it. “Why don't we have a friendly fence?” She said before taking stance. I in turn got into stance.

“If I may ask Luna how do you know how to fence in that form?” I asked.

“I may normally be a pony, that doesn't mean I don't know how to fence. That and I looked into your memories.” She said followed with a nervous chuckle.

“Okay what else did you peer into? So far it seems to be my dreams, daydreams, and memories. Speaking of which how far did you look?” I asked as I waited for Luna to make the first move.

“Only a few memories about human culture, nothing personal.” She said with a side slash as I returned it to block. We kept it respectful never going for a dishonest hits.

“It's a little surprising really. To be honest I don't really know much about fencing only from television and a few books. Never really practiced it, course the same can be said from a lot of other skills I have now.” I said before having to step back to avoid a rather fast backswing.

“Interesting, what about that fighting prowess you showed back in Canterlot when you faced my night guard captains?” She asked as I retaliated with a fury of swings myself.

“Elementary my dear Luna, humanity has one thing that always goes for it.” I said with a big grin on my face.

“What would that be?” She asked before knocking my sword up into the air with one furious up swing.

“When the chips are down we are stubborn old fools of battle.”I said as she caught my sword and I took a bow.

“Indeed you are Storm.” Luna said returning the bow and the sword.

“This has been quite fun Luna.” I said before I heard the clapping of somepony behind me towards the door. I turned to see a dark skin satyr similar to myself in the sense that his horn was on head. His brown coat could be seen in dark vest with a white undershirt, both sleeves here buttoned up. The door behind him closed with a old creak that wasn't there when both Luna and I entered. “Is he one of yours?” I asked whispering over to her.

“I thought he was yours.” Luna replied back. I looked at him a little more in detail. His black mane and tail stood out then I noticed it. On his cuffs where two symbols, a sun and a moon. I also noticed that on the handkerchief was the same well at least the top half. Without a moment I held my hand out for Luna.

“Give me one of those swords.” I said in a whisper. She eyed me before nodding and just like that she handed me one of the fencing swords. I stepped between Luna and this stallion that I had a very good idea who it was. “What are you doing here?” I asked slowly walking towards him.

“Oh well I thought I would come by and say hello to Princess Luna and Prince Firestorm. Maybe a bit of a snack then pop off for a little nap.” He said smugly. I growled before I took stance with the once fencing sword, now rapier.

“Get out of my dream.” I stated as he drew a sword. His was closer to medieval knight's long sword.

“But where would the fun be if I left when I just got here.” He replied.

“As Princess and Co-ruler of Equestria you will remove yourself from the prince's dream.” Luna said as her dress turned into a set of armor with a matching long sword. While this stallions sword was closer to the normal looking knight's long sword. Luna's blade was very simplistic while instead of normal hand guard there was a large round guard with a crescent moon on it.

“Oh Princess Luna it's been a very long time.” He said taking a bow before taking stance himself. “But I can't do that. The prince and I have business to take care of.”

“What business is this?” I asked waiting for his next move.

“Haven't you figured it out Storm or should I call you Ryhn.” He said.

“I had figured it out Grimwand, well if you want to be technical. I was told.” I said staring the bastard right in the eyes. “I was told that you wanted to out live your normal life span, that you wanted to obtain knowledge to last beyond your years. Your Knowledge of a magic so foul that it should be gone.” I stated each word I spoke angered me more and more. The room lost it's white glow replaced with an orange glow from my mane and tail.

“Necromancy.” Luna growled next to me as her main took an unearthly black color as all the stars faded from it.

“Oh please don't pull that holier than thou on me Ryhn. You were never a noble soul, I've seen humanity and I've seen it's wars. You humans do like to keep records of your bloodiest moments.” Grimwand snapped back.

“And yours are any better? You have killed young colts and fillies. You've disgraced the dead by taking their corpses just for your experiment. What about your abomination of a pet Vermom or should I call her Silver Star?” I shot back.

“Do not call her that.” He now growled.

“Oh so you expect me to call her by her name when she is a soul of a pony stuck in a Frankenstein of a body made from ponies and changelings? What did Chrysalis think of you using her changelings?” I asked and I watched his eye twitched.

“And you think a bug like that has any say in what I do?” Grimwand yelled.

“Oh, so you think you get to play god with beings you think are beneath you? Is that what you thought I was, some being beneath you? That my life was forfeit because you wanted a new body. No she's not the abomination, you are!” I roared this time, all that feeling came back in force. The feelings of being used, the feeling of being played. Finding out that I was killed just for this fucking pony.

“I'm not a god Ryhn. I am nothing more than a scholar that has gained a greater knowledge that needs to surpass the stars themselves.” He said grinning like a mad pony. I was seething in rage as the orange glow quickly turned red, as well as my stance turned from standard to something more beast like. “But it's time to get what I had come for.” He said as he took a step towards us. Sword at the ready waiting for my first strike. The rapier in my claw started to shake as I gripped it harder as my anger rose more and more. Everything that had happened to me was because of this pony, this bastard caused me to lose the life I had. “Oh something wrong Ryhn? Did I hit a raw nerve with you? I guess Jessica wasn't telling the-” Was the last thing out of his mouth before my left fist hit him squarely in the jaw sending him back.

“You don't have any right to say her name!” I roared as my voice took a draconic tone. All I was seeing was pure red. I rushed at him to make him pay for even uttering her name. He took a swing at me with his blade as I countered with my own. Unfortunately my rapier was cut in half by the blade leaving a long gash in my chest. It didn't stop me as I dropped the blade and went in with my own claws. This surprised Grimwand when I gripped his face with my claw. “Die!” With that roar I started to fly towards the door pressing Grimwand just ahead of me. I smashed him into the stone door and every pillar along the way until we were back out in the forest. But I wasn't done, every tree, every rock, even thing I could put this bastard through, I did. When we got into the clearing again I threw him into the middle of it. He stood up his outfit torn to shreds, leaving him bloody but standing. He grinned quietly as he drew another blade out, just like before this one was a long sword but instead of the iron blade this one was the purest black. My wings flared out ready to strike out at him only from a few feet away, I snarled at him like a ravaged animal as I agreed with the rage in me. Every fiber of my being wanted this thing to pay for what he done to me.

“What's the matter Ryhn? Don't you want revenge for what I did to you?” He said as he took stance again. My breathing got harder as I saw the flickers of light as fire began to come out of my mouth. Luna finally caught up to us as she stood between the two of us.

“Storm calm down.” Luna ordered as I stood there still pretty fired up. “As for you. You will vacate the prince's dreamscape and never return.” She said as her horn lit up. Within a moments Grimwand's form glowed a brilliant blue before disappearing in a cloud of smoke.” I stood there breathing deeply as I continued to stare at the spot he stood a few minutes ago expecting him to just reappear once again. “Storm you need to calm down. What would Twilight do if she saw her colt friend acting like this?” She said and it hit me. I felt to my knees silently and let my head hang there. My claws were stained red, from my own blood or his I couldn't tell, I don't think I wanted to. Luna came over and knelt down to me. “I'm so very sorry for that Storm. I know you wanted to take out your vengeance on him but-” she started before I cut in.

“But vengeance leads down a very dark road. One that you don't want to see another go down right?” I asked now looking at her.

“Very much so, I just wish I could have stopped it sooner. For what it's worth I'm sure he will think twice before reentering your dreamscape again.” She said as I felt my body heal. I looked down to see Luna's blue aura surround my wounds all of them from the cuts I didn't even realize I had took down to the nicks from smashing his face into stuff. That anger I felt was familiar, but... oh I remember now. I had that same level of anger before when I lost it in the dragon's den. I started to shake a little at the thought that I could get that angry. What if I just so happened to get angry at Twilight, or Pinkie. Hell at any of the girls, what would happen if I just went nuts on them? “Storm it will be alright.” Luna said again after she finished healing me. I just sat there feeling cold to everything around me. Luna came close and hugged me, covering me with her wings. “Storm?” She asked as I looked up at her.

“I... I...” was the only thing I could get out.

“Storm I know, I know all too well.” She said, it took me what felt like a few hours to finally get my head together. I finally got up after Luna let me go. As soon as I was a few feet away from Luna I let my wings spread out.

“Luna would you do me the honor of a flight in the dreamscape before I wake?” I said with a smile. The princess of the night gave a light chuckle before I heard her wings spread out as she took flight. She smiled back as she hovered into the air, with a quick down flap of my wings I propelled myself up into the air after Luna. The two of us flew into the air before the world around us washed away into a void of black.

***---***

I laid there quietly in bed with Twilight gently on my chest, my foreleg was around her. I remember I had fallen asleep on Twilight's bed. But that was during the previous day, this was the beginning of another day. I quickly shifted out from under Twilight, making sure she didn't stir. I quickly made it down the stairs and into the kitchen to find Spike already at work. I watched him work on a skillet before breathing emerald flames into it. Curiosity got the better of me and I got closer to see what he was cooking. I leaned over his shoulder to see he was making an omelet but instead of the vegetables you would normally find in one, this one had gemstones. I could pick out emeralds, rubies, and I think a few opals. I looked a little confused about this for a few moments. With that I pulled back silently and went over to get myself a mug of coffee. I watched the black liquid slowly pour into the mug until the mug was three fourths full. I then took it back to the table where I sat watching Spike cook. He smiled as he did so every so often giving his omelet a burns of fire. He then slide it off onto a plate to the right before he reached for a bowl. Of course it was just a few inches too short of his reach, so I floated it over to him. He took it blinking a little in confusion before turning to see me. I couldn't help but gave him a two finger wave hello before taking a sip of my black coffee.

“Storm when did you get here?” He asked as she worked on stirring the contents of the bowl, if I had to guess was more eggs.

“While you were dragon roasting your gem omelet. I'm a little surprised you didn't see me peering over your shoulder.” I said before taking another sip. “By the way if you're making breakfast for all of us please no eggs for me. Not really my thing.” Right about then the toaster popped up with four slices of bread done. I quickly took them out of the toaster before setting them down on a plate nearby. I slid four more in and pressed the lever for it.

“Thanks, I figured you would still be out with Twilight upstairs.” He said going back to work on the my guess second omelet.

“Hard to say when I should be asleep or not anymore.” I said with an annoyed sigh.

“How come?” He asked as he reached for some flowers before tossing them in.

“Well it's either I keep having a head injury that causes me to black out, nightmares that cause me to wake up early, the fact that I'm a dralicorn and don't have to sleep as often as other ponies, being all around burned out from magical overuse, magically put to sleep, or some other thing yet to be remembered or known.” I listed before another ship.

“You have like the worse luck ever.” He said sliding the second omelet onto a plate. He then hopped off his stool before bring them over setting the flower on next to seat to my left and his on the other side of the table.

“Oh yeah, Murphy has it out for me.” I said with a light smile.

“Who's Murphy?”

“Murphy's Law which is if something bad can happen will happen. Well to paraphrase it.” I said before floating over the pop for another mug full as I had empty mine.

“Ouch, kind of sounds like Murphy is out for Ponyville too.” Spike said pulling the stool over to the toaster as the next four were done in it.

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“Well with everything that happens around here. I mean we had a dragon hibernating on the mountain that was causing black smoke to cover the air above the town, the Nightmare moon indecent happened here in town during the summer sun celebration, the Ursa Minor, Cerberus escaping.” Spike went on listing as he buttered the toast. I did a spit take right back into my mug.

“Wait, wait, wait, are you talking about the three headed hell hound that guards the gates of Tartarus?” I said my eyes widened.

“The very same.” Twilight said coming in with a yawn. “I didn't know you already knew about that.” She said before she sat down next to me as Spike came over with the buttered toast before going to get something from the fridge.

“Well here in Equestria I didn't. I know it from earth or more specific from Greek mythology. Hell, next you're going to tell me that Orthros is real too.” I said before taking a big swig. I watched Twilight give me a knowing smirk.

“Oh seriously? Don't tell you have have chimeras too?” I asked probably already knowing the answer to that.

“Indeed but they don't reside here.” Twilight explained.

“Hydras?”

“There's a four headed one at Froggy Bottom Bogg.”

“Bloody hell.” I said sitting there taking all that in. I mean I get there was some common things with Greek mythology but serious this was outright scary on how close it hit. I figured there wasn't any of the Greek gods or Celestia would have a run for her money. But still, to find that this place had a hell. I just didn't know how to take all that.

“Storm, is everything alright?” Twilight asked.

“No, I... I have a lot to take in.” I said, hell I still had to tell her about the whole dreamscape fight I had.

“Storm I'm here to help, you know that.” She said as she put her hoof on top of mine. I looked at it for a moment before I looked at her.

“Thank you Twi.” I said before I leaned over and gave her a gentle pick on the cheek. “Just knowing you're there helps a lot. But after breakfast I need to talk to you about something important.” I said.

“How bad?” She said and I gulped.

“heh... heh... Um... nightmares involving fighting the one that brought me here while the princess of the night visited said dreamscape bad.” I said before giving a while please don't shoot me level of nervous grin. She gave me a flat look.

“Really?” She said with a cocked eyebrow.

“Too early in the morning for subtlety. That and you asked.”I said before finishing off my mug floating the pot over for another. Spike came back putting some hay bacon on my plate for me. Twilight watched as she probably noticed that I didn't have any eggs on my plate.

“And why aren't you having any eggs?” She asked.

“Don't like them, never had liked them.” I stated.

“Oh really? Have you even tried them?” She countered.

“Eeyup.” I shot back.

“Really now? When was this?” She asked.

“My house when you all woke me up in surprise with a full day planned. You all made breakfast in bed and pretty much forced me to eat in front of you. Which you all made eggs.” I stated.

“Oh...” She stated. “I suppose I have to concede this one. Doesn't mean you're getting out of gemstones mister.” She stated as before digging in.

“Um... can somepony explain what are you two talking about?” Spike said looking confused.

“Would you like to fuel this one?” I said offering it to Twilight.

“I would gladly, as you know Firestorm here is a dralicorn. Which mean's he's half dragon and like you he can consume gemstones as well as his pony side does flowers. Until recently he's hadn't had a flower before.” She explained.

“Well I get the whole dralicorn part. But what does that have to do with him not wanting to eat eggs or gemstones?” He asked before taking a large bite. I couldn't help but stifle a laugh as Twilight gave an annoyed sigh.

“Twilight has an issue with me not eating eggs or gemstones. Even though I had eggs before. Honestly like I said I was never a real fan of eggs. As for gemstones, well it's a little hard to wrap my head around that part of my diet. I had the same issue with flowers until Twilight' s little intervention during our date.” I stated simply.

“Storm you very well know that-” was out of Twilight's mouth before I cut in.

“I know Twilight, I know.” I said before my bite into hay bacon. “Like I said with Dash, I will give it a try. It will take time.”

“Why do you always do that?” Twilight asked.

“Do what?” I asked.

“Always put off something like that every time. You did it with Dash when it came to flying, you did the same with flowers, and you're now doing it with gems. Magic you were pretty aggressive to learn done to shocking yourself for photographic memory to studying it.” Twilight explained.

“Excuse me, I did not shock myself just to study it. That was because of Dash shocking me to keep myself awake.” I countered.

“From somepony over exerting their magic.” Twilight said back.

“Are you saying because I was panicked at the time and wasn't thinking. That it was my fault I got shocked?” I asked as it was a little unbelievable that Twilight would blame this one me.

“No I just.” She said with a sigh. “That wasn't what I meant. I'm just a little frustrated with everything. I don't understand how you can be so cheery one moment and so upset the next.”

“I suppose that could just be a human thing. Humans can be rather teetering things. With emotions that counter and over power, that becomes harmonic and yet so chaotic.” I said before I lightly chuckled staring off in space.

“How can somepony be harmonic and chaotic?” Twilight asked even more annoyed.

“Hmm... how to explain this?” I thought out loud to myself. Twilight eyed me quietly as I thought about it more. “Think of it as a coin where harmony is one side and chaos is the other. Humans have a weird sense of balance to them, We flip on both sides of the coin because no one can be perfectly balanced. It's an impossibility if that was the case. Being perfect is always a fleeting concept because everypony strives for perfection in that sense. This is where inventiveness comes from, a way to perfect a spell or potion or whatever. You can always try to make something better. But better as a whole compared to a better for the person is something one has to depict carefully. This leads to the chaos a human deals with. It's how they balance themselves, something I don't ever think I will get right.” I said followed by a light chuckle. I finished my plate and floated it over to the sink before I got to work cleaning the dishes.

“Ah... Storm?”

“Yes Twilight?” I asked.

“If I can say. You've been handling it fairly well.” She said sitting next to me.

“As a matter of fact, I'm not.” I said before I began to chuckle. “I have a psychopathic pony after my body just for his mind and memory. Yet with all that I'm just sitting here doing the dishes like it's some kind of normal day.”

“Most other ponies would have cracked under the pressure of something like that.” She tried to console, I just smiled and looked over at her.

“I think we have it established that I'm pretty cracked in the head already. If not from all the blunt force traumas to my head then from the stress of having a whole world to save on my shoulder from something I don't even understand.” I said as I moved off to the next dish.

“Even so your handling better then I think I could.” She explained.

“Really?” I said eyeing her for a moment. “It seems that you're handling pretty well yourself.”

“What's that suppose to mean?”

“You're the personal student to Princess Celestia one of the co-rulers of Equestria, as well as being one of the most powerful ponies that is directly tuned to the element of magic which is one of the most powerful magical artifacts, the Elements of Harmony. You saved Equestria what, four times already? Then you have a coltfriend who seems to be one of the most oddball princes Equestria has ever seen that's been controlled twice and has officially snapped at least twice, probably on the verge of a third time. Then given the news that a great evil is coming without much of a clue what to expect. Seems pretty stressful for one pony to deal with.” I explained in a calm even tone, not to insinuate anything. Just to state it how it is.

“I suppose I can see what you mean but I don't see the dark side of things like that. You've got to have hope Storm and to believe in the magic of friendship. With your friends around there is nothing you can't do.” She said gently leaning into my side, out of a sense of habit my wing gently draped itself over her as she left a smile show on her face. “I love it when you do that.” She said gently nuzzling into my side. I couldn't help but smile back lightly as I continued to do the dishes with my magic. I gently brought her closer to me.

“Whenever you want me to do this just tell me and it shall happen.” I said giving her a gentle peck on the cheek. She blushed cutely as sat there with me, watching me finish the dishes. It also helped that Spike finished his plate and put those in to be cleaned as well. After that Twilight and I went upstairs while Spike went over to Rarity's to help her out, much to Twilight's suggestion. She began to go over the information she had gathered the other day again. Well I suspected again really since I fell asleep while she was explaining my body to Dash and Applejack. I sat there silently before the idea hit me to draw a bit more. So I floated over my sketchbook that I had started with a pencil and began to draw my marefriend going over her notes. She would make little notes on a piece of parchment from time to time but she mostly went over the novel's worth of data. Every so often she would glance over to me as I continued to draw. She would blush for a moment before focusing on the data again. This happened a lot as the day went on, my guess it finally came to a head when she put down all the papers and turn to look up at me directly.

“Storm what are you doing?” She asked.

“Drawing.” I answered.

“Drawing what?”

“You”

“Why?”

“Why not?” I countered.

“Storm please just tell me.” She asked.

“Twilight I just want to draw the most important and most beautiful mare in my life. I hope that isn't a problem, if it is then I'll stop.” I said as I set the pencil down, she blushed for a moment.

“Storm I'm no pony special, especially to warrant you doing that. I mean I'm rather plain looking to begin with.” She said looking away.

“Twilight don't doubt your own beauty.” I said looking directly at her.

“But I'm not as beautiful as Rarity or the Princesses.” She said, I got up and glided down to her before I landed with a thump. Then I gently hugged her while I wrapped her in my wings.

“Twilight you're beautiful and I won't let anypony say otherwise, even you.” I said as she blushed before she snuggled into me. I smiled quietly and kept her covered up with my forelegs and wings. That's when I noticed the data in more detailed, with my magic I floated it up and began to look over it. It seems it was one of the many scans of my body towards the end of the experiment. What it looked like was a magic levels indication sheet. Honestly I only knew it because that's what it was labeled as. It seems that most ponies have different magic levels, more the unicorns and in my case dralicorns. Since we contain another magic pool so we can cast our spells. But it seems that I had a third one that was pretty small compared to the other magic pool and the internal magic. I guess my confusion must have been apparent on my face.

“I don't quite understand it myself.” Twilight said which got me to look down to her. “This third magic pool doesn't fit with the normal pony metamagic principles. Unicorns and Alicorns have the secondary magic pools, while pegasi and earth ponies have a larger mane pool for their natural magic abilities. It's gets weirder because it seems that little pool of magic increased after the experiment yesterday and hasn't returned back to normal size.” She explained as she pulled the paper from my magic. “It's almost like it absorbed some of it.”

“Could it be some way for my body to acclimate itself to the elemental magic?” I questioned.

“It's possible in theory but no pony could successfully do it, from what I've seen that most unicorns suffer a magical overload and their horns crack from the power before they were forced to release it.” Twilight explained.

“Hmm... could it be the more draconic side of me allows me to hold it better than unicorns?” I questioned.

“I would say that but your body holds the magic not with your pool of magic. It's more contained within your cells itself sort of like photosynthesis in plants where it makes the food it requires. Your cells turns all that electrical energy into a special kind of energy sort of like adrenaline. But you can't run on it hence why you been to having a throbbing headache. You body how resilient that it is can only take so much. Which is why you have to release all that power or more precisely most of it since you do absorb a bit of it to produce the adrenaline effect.” She explained to me.

“Hmm... did you contact Celestia or Luna about it?” I asked.

“Not yet, I was planning on doing that later tonight after I had more time to go over the data. I figured you would like to know since it's your body and it's quite fascinating to study.” She said smiling, my ears flattened back when she finished that sentence. Some small part of me questioned if she just liked me because I was an odyssey. I knew better than to say something about that out loud. Hey I may be an idiot but I wasn't that stupid. I stared at the little unknown bar on the page. What was this magic if it wasn't from the lightning I had taken, like, four times, then what could it be? This told me one thing for sure, I was not a smart pony, or drony, or whatever I am. With that I put the sheet back and just continued to hold Twilight close as I just let the moments pass between the two of us. “Storm?” Twilight asked as I looked down at her.

“Yes Twilight?” I questioned.

“Do... do you trust me?” She asked, I blinked at this.

“Why wouldn't I trust you?”

“Well I did almost shock you to death with my experiment, not to count the many other times I had caused you pain in a way. I don't know, it just feels like you shouldn't trust me like you do.” She commented as she looked down.

“Twilight, truth be told yes, a lot of bad things has happened but it's the opposite. I'm the one that shouldn't be trusted, not you.” I said as I pulled my wings back.

“How can you say that Storm?” She said.

“I... I just feel that I have to try and keep myself in check. Like if I don't try to pull back from everything, my anger, my sorrow, or something worse. That I may hurt every pony I care about, that I will do something far worse than what I have already. Twilight in the dreamscape when I saw Grimwand I went off the deep end. Everything that I had gone through just came to the surface of my mind and I didn't do anything but attack. I didn't care I was cut up or bleeding, just that I made him pay.” I said slowly moving away from Twilight as I slowly made my way to the balcony. “It took Luna getting in my way to finally stop me after she had forced him out of my dreams. I... I'm not sure if I would have stopped if she didn't get him out of my sight.” I said quietly.

“Storm, I can understand about being worked up to the point you stop seeing what's right in front of you. That after it's done you question yourself about your actions and if that can happen again.” Twilight said before appearing before me cutting me off from going out to the balcony. “I've gone and went a little crazy over researching like when I tried to understand Pinkie's Pinkie sense. As well as when I went overboard with the want it need it spell when I thought I was late with my report to the princess. Storm, you're not the only one that gets worked up and loses sight of things. Every pony does the same, I'm sure even Princess Celestia and Princess Luna do as well.” Twilight said coming closer to me. “Maybe I should give you some positive reinforcement.” She almost purred as she got face to face with me which wasn't hard since I was a step closer then her. We were muzzle to muzzle before she went in and gave me one hell of a kiss. I only say that because my wings decided to pomf again while a radiant blush crossed my face. She pulled back for a moment before pouncing on me. What I didn't expect out of this was falling onto the bed instead of the stairs that I was on at the time. It took me a few seconds to realize that Twilight was laying on my chest staring down at me with a knowing smirk before she leaned in and gave me another kiss. “Look at who's the adorable one now.” She commented, I couldn't help but chuckle a little which she gave me a confused look.

“My bounty is a boundless as the sea. My love as deep; the more I give to thee. The more I have, for both are infinite.” I quoted as I looked directly into her eyes, she blushed as I spoke.

“I... um... wow.” She got out before I gave her a kiss in return.

“Oh that was gushing with so many romantic undertones.” Rarity said to our right, which caused us to jump giving out a surprised yelp with me landing on the floor with a thud and Twilight on top of me.

“Rarity!” Twilight said blushing on top of me. “What are you doing here?”

“Oh well Spike came over to help and told me that it was just you two alone. I thought maybe you wanted some help in the romantic department since to be honest darling you two are very, oh how shall we say, lacking?” Rarity stated before I could tell she was grinning as she continued with. “Well I suppose not as lacking as I thought.”

“No offense Rarity, but isn't some things suppose to be a private matter?” Twilight stated and I would completely agree.

“Well that would normally be true but Twilight darling you're a bit different. You need some example to learn from.” Rarity countered as I found myself floating into the air upside down. Thinking fast I used my hind legs to help hide my more sensitive areas. Twilight had gotten over to Rarity looking a little worried. I on the other hoof looked rather annoyed at the fact that I was once again being floated up without being asked. On top of that she was holding me upside down again. Of course I doubt she even noticed how annoyed I was.

“Do you really have to do this?” Twilight said sounding as annoyed as I felt. Serious I was enjoying a private moment with my marefriend. God this is Earth all over again, at least there I knew when to get the fuck out of the room when they wanted a private moment. But do I get that here? No, not even a single moment alone.

“Darling a lady must know how to be romantic if they want their relationship to last.” Rarity said as she had her eyes shut and her hoof in the air like she was trying to make a point. As soon as that comment left her mouth I instantly face hoofed. Why, oh why did Rarity have to say that to the one mare that has a hair trigger for over reaction worry. I watched Twilight's eyes widen as she turned to me.

“Storm can we please try.” Twilight implored, I sighed quietly as I pinched the bridge of my nose. A quote came to mind that fit better.

“Friends can help each other. A true friend is someone who lets you have total freedom to be yourself and especially to feel. Whatever you happen to be feeling at the moment is fine with them. That's what real love amounts to letting a pony be what they really are.” I quoted looking directly at Rarity who was still holding me upside down. They both looked confused at my choice to words.

“Darling that is a very nice statement but what does that have to do with this?” She questioned, once again I sighed before I answered with.

“It seems a true friend should help their friends do what they need to do 'alone' to feel what they need to and be fine with it because they are being true to themselves.” I comment.

“I think I get it, Rarity what he means is that he and I should find our way to be romantic.” Twilight comment before looking back at me with confirmation.

“Exactly, Rarity I do appreciate that you want to help us with this but this is something only the two of us can do alone. One pony's outlook to love may not fit with another’s.” I said.

“I see.” Rarity deflated a bit at this before I get dropped onto the bed right on my head.

“Rarity I'm sorry.” Twilight stated as I watched Rarity leave slowly down the small set of steps. We watched her head towards the door that lead down to the library's first floor. She stopped for a moment noticing a book on the floor. I noticed what book it was since it was my sketch book. She brought it up to her to the page it was left open to, the one I had been working on before I went down to comfort Twilight.

“Twilight, you're one lucky mare.” Rarity said as she put the book down on the table with all the data on it.

“What do you mean?” She asked.

“You have a stallion that truly cares for you. He may have trouble getting the words out but he does.” Rarity said as Twilight and I looked at each other before we returned to her to find that she was completely gone. Twilight went down and went over to my sketch book before she opened it herself. She brought it back with her as she hopped onto the bed with me as she flipped over a few of the pages. She went over a few of my sketches from memory that I did from time to time. But she also noticed my sketches of her that I had done a few times. Like the one of her asleep in bed that I done a few times during my bits of sleepless nights that I had to deal with. In my honest opinion they weren't that good, but it was enjoyable to do. Twilight slowly flipped through these with a look at me ever so often.

“Storm... I don't even know what to say about these.” She said then turned to a page of one of my sketches of me and her together. I drew it from my own imagination with her reading a book as I laid next to her. My left wing was draped over her like a blanket to keep her warm in the snowing late night with the fireplace in the background. As she continue to just take in every detail I drew into it I came up and did the same as I drew in that image. My left wing draped itself over Twilight as she jumped a little looking back to see the wing. She blushed as she leaned into me gently as she continued to look over the sketch.

“I think Rarity was right, you may be at a loss for words but you really do care about me, don't you?” She asked looking at the image more.

“Doubt thou the stars are fire; Doubt that the sun doth move; Doubt truth to be a liar. But never doubt I love.” I said quoting once again as I stared at her.

“You're quoting something aren't you?” She said with a soft smile.

“Yes I am but as you said I may be at loss for words at times. But one thing I will never be lost for is my love for you Twilight Sparkle.” I said before I gently kissed her on the cheek. She blushed more as she stared directly into my eyes as I watched those pools of amethyst beauty glisten with the burning flames of love. She leaned in closely as I did so as our horns gently brushed against each other as little sparks shot from both our horns. We both looked up before our gazes met each other and then began to passionately kiss. As the great William Shakespeare once said, the course of true love never did run smooth. That may be true but it's the twists, turns, bumps, and dips that make that road worth traveling. It took us a few minutes before Twilight had to catch her breath. Honestly she looked quite winded as she stared at me.

“Storm, can I ask you a question?” She timidly asked.

“Of course Twilight, you know you can ask me anything.” I said as we stayed there together on her bed.

“Are you alright?” She asked.

“I'm fine Twilight.” I couldn't help but wonder why she was asking that all of a sudden after we just a few passionate minutes together.

“No Storm, I mean are you alright with everything that has gone on so far? From appearing and such, I only ask because it seems to be still bothering you even when it's been quite a while since you came to Equestria.” She asked, oh so that's what she meant.

“To be honest, I'm not completely sure if I am or not. Don't get me wrong I love it here and having little reminders of Earth is helping me cope with all this. Especially having one amazing mare to help me along the way with great friends and family too.” I said Twilight leaning in more against my side. “I suppose I'm doing as well as I can be.” My marefriend looked worried as she looked over at my prosthetic foreleg.

“It still saddens me that somepony I care about has been hurt as you have.” She said as she put her right hoof on top of my left.

“Twilight it's alright, as it's been said what's done is done and there's no changing it. No matter how much we want to, it just can't be done.” I stated as we laid there together on her bed. “Why don't we spend the day reading together, just you and me? No crazy stuff happening, no emergencies, no random ponies breaking in, or Pinkie popping in for no good reason. Just the two of us and a good book, maybe even a Daring Do novel?” I questioned and I watched her eye's light up.

“You’re into Daring Do too?” She asked and I couldn't help but chuckle a bit.

“Yeah you caught me. It's a good set of books, I only got through a few of them. I think I'm on Daring Do and the Golden Rings.” I said trying to remember it.

“Oh! I remember that one, let me go get that one and we can read it together.” She said as I brought my wing up so she could get out from under it. With a few flicks of magic Twilight was back with not just it but a few other books in the series. She snuggled back under my wing as we began to read. The rest of the week went by rather fast with nothing really to talk about, since most of the time Twilight was helping me learn a few more skills. I've gotten the basics down for potion making and I was able to make a simple fur dying tonic that lasted a few hours. I still don't understand how she got me to be the same shade of lavender as she was for a few hours, let alone to allow her to take a picture of it. Much to Spike's help after we got him to stop laughing. I swear I looked like an older brother to her at that point but thank god it wasn't permanent or Dash coming in finding me like that. I don't think I would ever hear the end of that, of course she wouldn't hear the end of her being pink for a week either. Twilight and I ended each day with the same thing, the two of us reading another Daring Do novel. Sometimes we would blast through a book in a night sometimes it took us a few days. But it was all good.

Winter Wrap-up came and went with Twilight organizing it all after I heard the problems they had before being late by a few days. I almost made sure I finished Pinkie's request in time and gave her the stuffed Nightling. Of course she decided I needed to be double paid as she gave me another hug knocking both of us into the snow. Well I suppose that was warranted as I had made two outfit for it, one being the knight guards uniform and the second was the suit I saw her wear during their date in the dark side of Canterlot. What I didn't tell her was I made a Pinkie plushie for Nightling so she had something to remind her of Pinkie during those lonely nights. But the real kicker was for Twilight, the worse part was trying to hide it from her. I had to resort to the hidden out cove behind the Equestrian history section. Lucky for me that I didn't need to sleep as often as Twilight did. So I had plenty of time to finish it. So after we cleaned up all of Winter and the water tower was filled. We spent the first few days of spring together, all of us. Pinkie's first week of spring party was a huge event that was Ponyville wide. Of course I had learned that I should really not let Twilight drink so much, three failed firework spells later and well some awkward moments that followed we had to put a suppression ring on her. I really hated having to do that to her but it was more for the safety of everypony. She also agreed that if she did drink again she wasn't going to go full barrel on one of Applejack's hard cider barrels.

It was two days before Estrus finally started, some of the mares in town were already started. Twilight, Fluttershy, and Dash being some of the mares. So I had Spike send a letter requesting that Celestia who had already gave me a letter earlier in the week that she was sending a carriage to come pick up me for my visit, to send it a little sooner. A few hours have past with Twilight down in the basement lab, to work on something. I took that time to get my parting gift for her out and sat it just out of sight from the doorway to the basement. I had a hard time focusing to stay off Twilight's advances during the first few days of her Estrus. Dear god why didn't any pony warn me about the hormones and pheromones that a mare can produce? I took up sleeping down in the basement lab to help alleviate the problem. But finally the carriage arrived at the door with a few pegasi stallions that I didn't recognize and one mare. Nightling sat in the carriage in her armor, not even looking at me.

“If you would come this way prince.” The light blue guard stallion said.

“One moment I want to tell my marefriend that I'm leaving. I hope that won't be a problem.” I said in a very neutral tone.

“Of course not prince, but I request you please hurry.” He said before walking over to the other guards ponies. I was rather confused by that but nodded.

“Twilight I'm leaving for Canterlot.” I said through the magical intercom she set up so I wouldn't be hit with the pheromones that were building up in her lab.

“One minute, I'll be up shortly.” She responded, I took the time and levitate the gift up higher just in case she pops in behind me. Which was exactly what she did. I turned around as she was coming in close giving me a very and I do mean VERY passionate kiss. “Are you sure you don't want to stay Storm? We can have some interesting experiments together.” She purred, I couldn't help but gulp.

“Twilight you know why I can't. But I will promise you that when you're really ready. I will stay alright?” I asked. She blushed for a moment before nodding.

“Alright, enjoy your trip and tell the princess I said hi.” She said as her hoof gently brushed the scales of my left wing. Oh damn, why does she keep doing that? She knows how good it feels when she does that all because of the nerve bundles there. She walked me to the door as I fought to get my wings back down from their upright positions. Luckily I didn't drop her gift when she did that. As her back was turned from the table I took the time to place my gift there as I continued to float my bags with me.

“Alright Twilight, take care of yourself and remember I love you.” I said before I gave her a gentle kiss on the cheek. She returned it as she watched me walk over to the carriage, probably staring at my flanks again. “Oh and Twilight, I left you a gift on the table.” I said with a smirk as she whirled around. With that we took off to Canterlot, it was time to see my aunts again and this time without being in the hospital...

I hope.

-End Of Chapter-

Author's Notes:

Well my my my, isn't this a interesting chapter? We learn that Fluttershy is a bit more insightful, Rarity is a bit nosy, and that Twilight still can't handle her hard cider. So as Estrus happens in Ponyville, what does Canterlot hold for Firestorm? Also, what was Spike doing while Ready came back to the library? You'll just have to read on and find out.

On a side note, I hope everyone enjoyed this chapter and didn't have a problem talking about mare and stallion bits. I am trying to avoid the sex tag as much as I can in this story. I have thought about doing a second story with all the more alternate bits and odd one shot idea's from this story. What do you all think? Should I go ahead and do this? And if so, what kind of one shot's would you like to see?