I stood in my house, it was still a mess from house warming party. After I sighed I started to clean. Lifting all the trash all around the room. The living room looked like it was a party battle field. Then I levitated a trash back over. sixteen bags later I had the house clean. Outside I stacked the trash bags as a pyramid. You think that being up all night I would be tired. But I just had a lot of energy. A lot more after everything that happened. Granted some of the spells I now know is because of him.

"Damn it. Why am I not tired." I said in frustration as I had walked around the house throughout the night. I finally decided to think everything out. I levitated a white board over to me in the living room. I haven't decided which room is going to be my hobby room yet. They got me a house that had two floors and a basement. I started to think the basement would be it but I can't say for sure what kind of hobby I wanted to start yet. Hell I didn't even know what kind of hobbies are out there. I sat there looking at the white board. Damn it, I drew a blank and it was pissing me off. So I put the black dry erase marker down and headed to the kitchen. Maybe a snack or something will get my mind to work. With the fridge open all I could see was apple by products. The juicy fruit just didn't seem appetizing. Then it dawned on me, I wasn't in the mood for an apple. I was in the mood for apple chips. So floating over a knife to me as well as the cutting board, I started to cut through it. That crisp sound at each cut of the knife, I went through about five. I sat there with some nicely cut slices of apples. I then floated out a pan to lay each slice out. Finally I took a deep breath in and slowly let out a small ruby red flame across the pan. It was a few minutes of this then I stopped to check my work. They weren't perfect but they were chips, sort of. I lost about a third of them to black crispy things. I laid them out on a rack so they could cool. A sudden knocking on the door caused me to jump. Who the hell could it be at this hour? I walked over to the door and let my metallic finger grasp the handle of the door and opened it.

"Hello Firestorm." Luna said as she stood there at my door.

"Uh. Hello Luna. Come on in." I said as I stepped out of the way, she slowly glided in. "Not to be rude or anything but. Why are you here?" I asked the princess of the night.

"I wanted to see how you are doing after yesterdays events." Luna said then stopped sniffing at the air. "What's that delightful smell?" She said.

"Oh I was trying a cooking idea I had." I said as I brought over the pan over.

"Oh? If you don't mind my prying. What are they?"

"Apple chips. I suggest taking one of the brown ones. The black ones are the failed experiments." I said rubbing the back of my head.

"May I?"

"Go right ahead." I said as she lifted one of the chips in her magic. I did the same, I can't have a princess suffer if these turned out badly. Two crunches later, both Luna and I smiled.

"These are rather good." Luna said with a smile.

"I'm glad and rather surprised they turned out so well." I said before trotting over to my cases of syringes. My metal fingers of my metal hoof flipped the clasp on the case. I pulled out one of my last remaining shots.

"Why is that?" Luna said as she watched me.

"Well cooking was never my strong suit. I dabbled in a bit of it. I guess you could call me a jack of all trades master of none." I said then plunged the needle into my neck. I really wish I could take my shot elsewhere.

"You surprise me." Luna said.

"Why?" I said after I placed the needle back.

"Well besides being from another world. You seem interesting as a pony. You rather see yourself hurt then any pony close to you and you beat yourself up when you fail to do that. You avoid as much as possible to tell about the pain you feel in your heart." Luna started to say. I let out a sigh.

"You're right. I do those things and I try to hide my feeling when it comes to pain. Because I don't like ponies to know my pain. Though if they know about it I won't deny that it happened. Its things like that made me the pony I am now." I said not looking at her.

"Things like Aria." Luna said.

"Yes, like Aria. The real Aria. Not that thing in the ponified image of her."

"Can I ask you something?" Luna asked in a calm tone.

"Go ahead." I said flatly.

"How close we're you two?" She asked, I froze there not answering. "Storm?" Luna said in a worried tone.

"Close. Very close." I started to say with my head lowered. "She was one of the very few that I let get close to me." I said as a tear run down my face.

"One of the few?"Luna inquired.

"Yes." I said.

"What about Twilight Sparkle?" Luna said as she stepped closer. I was silent for a few minutes.

"Luna, what do you really want to know?" I said as I stared straight ahead. My voice unnervingly calm.

"Firestorm I just want to know. Do you love Twilight Sparkle?" Luna asked.

"Do I love her?"

"Yes, do you?"

"Why ask that?"

"Because I'm worried for the both of you. You both just went through something very traumatic and this may be a by product of it. I want to make sure so you two don't head down the wrong path."

"Luna, I don't know and I don't think Twilight knows either. If it is false then it will unravel and there is no stopping it. I hope this is true. I really do. I know I'm being a little selfish here but... I want this." I said then turned to her. "I want to be normal for once Luna. I don't want to have my past haunt me at every turn. I don't want to feel like the outcast to everything. I know very well you know that Luna and you better than anypony can at least know how I feel. I just want to be happy for once. I don't want to hide behind a mask. My self doubt, my sadness, my past are cracks in a very painful mask that I choose to wear to protect me and those I hold dear." I said as I broke down in tears again.

"Your remember now don't you?" Luna said as she stood next to me.

"Not all of it but a lot of it." I said.

"I can't even fathom the pain you've had to deal with as you can't mine. But understand this, you don't have to wear your mask around any pony. Your friends here will help you deal with you problems." I wiped the tears away from my eyes with my left hoof.

"I just hope they can." I said then sat down on the sofa quietly. Luna sat next to me quietly.

"If you need to talk to some pony I'm willing to listen when I can." Luna offered.

"Thank you Luna. But I think I'll be fine for now." I said not looking at her.

"So what were you going to do in here?" Luna said as she noticed the white board I had out.

"Huh? Oh, I was trying to figure out something to do really. I can't sleep, I can't get tired even after spending hours cleaning up the disaster that was my house warming party." I said as I floated a bottle water over to Luna and I from the fridge.

"Ah I see. That is something you're going to have to deal with from now on. I'm surprised it hasn't started sooner." Luna said then took a sip of her drink.

"What do you mean?"

"Alicorns have strong magic that keeps the body energized. So think of it like Pinkie pie drinking coffee." Luna said, I shuttered just thinking about that. What if that pink ball of energy just has a caffeine boost. Ponyville would be covered in a party apocalypse. "Your body will be able to stay up a few days straight before you require sleep. I'm kind of surprised this didn't start when your magic released itself."

"I think it's because of Shadowstorm." I said.

"What does he have to do with it?" I think it's because he controlled me. I now have knowledge about more spells than just the levitation that I could barely handle before. Look." I said as I picked up the table, two large chairs, and the bookcase full of books behind us. "I couldn't do that before. I know I don't have the magical prowess that Twilight, or you two." I said then took a sip of my water.

"That is possible. But what spells do you know of?" She asked giving a stern look.

"If you're wondering about that black lightning spell. Then no I don't know that one. I know normal lightning." I said then placed my front hoofs about a foot apart as my horn glowed. Shortly after sparks of electricity started off my hooves before it turned into a small stream of lightning. "I also know how to control my fire a bit better." I said.

"That is quite impressive. What other spells do you know?"

"Well besides this? I learned the basic shield and light spells. But I think every unicorn knows them." I said

"Well they are taught early to a unicorn when they start to learn magic."

"I figured as much."

"Is there any more?" Luna inquired.

"There's a spell I know of but having used yet. I'm still not sure about it."

"What's that?"

"Blink." I stated.

"Blink?" Luna said then paused. "Oh the blink spell. The small teleportation spell."

"Yeah. I'm not sure on it because I may end up in the clouds."

"What's wrong with the clouds?"

"Because I can't fly Luna." I stated flatly.

"Oh right. Why don't you have Rainbow Dash teach you?"

"Fear of heights" I deadpanned.

"Oh right. Well I think you should try and get over it. I think you would love to fly. The freedom it gives you." Luna said with a warm smile.

"I may one day but it's just too soon." I said with a shiver. Then an idea hit me. "Hey Luna can I ask you for a favor?"

"It depends on what you want?" Luna said with a raised eyebrow. I smiled then leaned in close and whispered my request into her ear. After a few moments I pulled back. She took the time to contemplate this.

"I don't see why not."

"Great!" I said as I hopped off the sofa. "How should I contact you to let you know when?" I asked.

"Just send me a letter that day and I'll make sure it happens."

"Alright. Thank you Luna." I said with a blush on my face.

"I should take my leave. My sister may wonder where I flew off to." Luna said as she got off the sofa herself and went for the door. "Oh before I forget. Shining Armor will be over in the afternoon so make sure your here to meet him." Luna said as she opened the door with her magic.

"I will, Princess Luna. I hope you have a good night." I said as I walked her out.

"Oh I will Firestorm. I wish the best of luck between you and Twilight." She said and I blushed.

"Thank you." I said as the alicorn of the night spread her wings and took off. Disappearing in the vale of clouds on her way home. The sun started to peak off into the distance. The light pinks of the undercloud easily seen as the blue of the night sky, that gave way to the orange of the sun on the edge of ground. The light chirps of birds could be heard in the morning. There melody told of work to be done. I smiled and went to get ready, I had a lot to do.

***---***

Ok, so things didn't quite start off like I planned. I couldn't find Pinkie any where, you would think that ball of pinkie super sonic bouncing energy would be easy to find or at least some pony has seen her... Not even the Cake's have seen her. I thanked them and went off to my next planned location, Sweet Apple Acres. Applejack who I found out was up shortly after I left my house. I wanted to bring up the idea of the Apple Chips to her. I knew she and her family had the market cornered on apple and apple products. So this was right up her alley right?

"Oh hey Partner. What's got you up so early?" Applejack said as she gave a tree a good buck causing all the apples to fall into buckets.

"Oh nothing much really. I just wanted to shoot an idea past you." I said pulling out my project from last night.

"What would that be?" She asked as she turned towards me.

"Before I say. I want you to try one first." I said then floated over one of the chips. She bit it right out of the air. She pondered it for a moment.

"Hmm. They’re quite good."

"I knew you would like them." I said with a smile.

"Now what are they?"

"Apple Chips." I stated. She looked at me curiously.

"Oh? How did you make them?" she asked I told her what I did quite fast. "They do sound like a good idea. Don't take this the wrong way but why don't you sell them yourself?" She said.

"Well mainly because apples are your business and I wouldn't feel right crossing that line. Plus I figured this was a good way to pay you back for helping back at the Crystal Empire." I said.

"Storm. You don't owe me anything. What are friends for?" She said.

"I know. But I feel like I owe you special after I heard that Pinkie promise?" I said as I tried to remember what she said.

"Yup that was a Pinkie promise. It's like a sacred promise around here. Something you don't break unless you're forced to." She said with a nod.

"Ah. I understand. Well let's put it this way. I have a set of rules I go by. There my version of Pinkie promises that I hold myself to."

"You mean like the you rather see yourself hurt then one of us things?"

"Eeyup." I said in my best imitation of Big Mac.

"Ah I see. I can respect that. So I'll make you a deal then. I'll start making and selling these here chips but you at least let me pay you a percentage."

"Applejack you don't need to pay me anything." I said. Applejack gave me a smirk.

"I know but let's say I have my own rules I go by." she said with a smile. Damn it she got me on this one and my own words too. I've got to give her credit though she did turn that one back on me fast.

"Alright. But nothing big alright?" I said.

"You got yourself a deal." She said and spit on her hoof hold it out. The whole lets spit on it came to mind as soon as I spit on my own hoof and shook her’s.

"Finally a pony that isn't afraid to get a little dirty." Applejack said with a grin.

"Well sometimes a ponies got to get dirty to get the job done right." I said in an almost imitation Applejacks drawl.

"You making fun of the way I talk?" Applejack said switching her smile to look of annoyance.

"What? Oh. No, no, no, no. Sorry I sometimes go into an accent out of habit to either make a point or just for timing. Sorry I use to do voices for kids." I said with a nervous laugh as I scratched the back of my head with my metal hoof.

"Ah I see. Then why didn't I hear you do that before?" Applejack said.

"I tried not to offend anypony especially with me being new here and all." I said

"I guess that make sense. So what do you have planned for today?" Applejack said switching the subject.

"Oh well... I was going to talk to Rarity about a gemstone."

"If you don't mind my prying. What do you want a gemstone for?" Applejack asked with a knowing smirk on it.

"Well it's just..." I said as I sat down on my hunches.

"You want to get something special for Twi don't you?" Damn it, how in the hell did she know? I could easily feel the blush on my face.

"I knew it, so you and Twi an item?" She asked.

"I... I don't know yet. I mean last night." I said then caught myself.

"Oh? What happened last night?" She said prying.

"Oh yes you must tell us." Rarity said from behind me. My face got instantly redder. Damn it.

"Oh well it um..." I started to say stambering.

"Twilight and him were smooching under the stars." Pinkie said bouncing out of a tree. I jumped in surprise.

"Pinkie! Where have you been?" I said looking at the pink party pony.

"Oh, I've been around." She said jumping around on her hooves.

"Well I've been looking for you." I said as my left eye started to twitch.

"Oh I know. So see yeah." She said as she dived behind the tree. I run behind it and she was gone. How in the hell did she do that? I mean come on she just walked behind a tree and she was gone.

"Can somepony please explain how she does that?" I said walking back over to both Applejack and Rarity.

"Not a clue there partner." Applejack said as she adjusted her stetson hat.

"I'm sorry but I couldn't figure that out myself." Rarity added.

"Oy." I said rubbing my temple with my left hoof.

"So what's this about last night?" Rarity said with a prying look about her.

"Um... I plead the fifth." I said.

"The fifth of what?" Applejack inquired with a raised eyebrow.

"Ah. sorry something from my old world." I said looking away.

"Well why don't you tell use what it means?" Rarity said.

"Well it means I don't want to say anything that would incriminate me. But a lot of the um... Ponies use it to say that they don't have to say anything." I explained.

"Oh that is a very convenient." Rarity said.

"Indeed it is and since you're here I did want to talk to you." I said turning to Rarity.

"What do you need to talk to me about?"

"A gem."

"Why a gem? I mean there's nothing wrong with wanting to talk to me about gems. But what ever for?"

"I think it something for Twi." Applejack chimed in.

"Oh. So you two finally decided to get together?" Rarity said with a smile. Damn it, are we back on this again. I sighed.

"I don't know honestly." I said in a very even tone.

"Are you using this to persuade her?" Rarity said now with a raised eyebrow.

"What kind of pony do you take me for?" I asked feeling insulted.

"Oh. Don't get me wrong dear. I know many of colts that think they can get the mare of their eye with gifts." Rarity continued. I felt my eyebrow twitch as I shot her with the starting of an annoyed look.

"Um. Rare I don't think that's the case here." Applejack said after she noticed my look.

"But Applejack what else could he be doing wanting to talk about gems after that kiss he and Twilight had the night before." Rarity said and I was done. I walked away from the two of them. "Where are you going? I thought you wanted to talk about gems?" She asked trying to call me back.

"Yes. I wanted to talk to you about gems, Not get berated for my good intention like that." I said back as I looked back before I continued on my way.

"Now look what you did Rarity you made the buck mad because of your big mouth again." I heard Applejack said as I walked deeper into her acres. Frankly I wanted to cool off before I tried to talk to Rarity again. Why did Rarity have to go there. I mean yes, I like Twilight a lot and I did want to do some special pony for her. But not so I could become her boyfriend or whatever they call it here. I wanted to do it because I care for her. It's why I asked Luna for a little help and all I wanted was a gem. Just a gem that I thought would be perfect for Twilight's gift. Was that so hard to ask for. If I had to go digging in the dirt for it, I would. All I need is the one. Hell Rarity could have the rest. I sighed again as I sat done under one of the trees. I gentle breeze blew as I closed my eye just to listen to nature itself. Normally I would try to go run my head under some cold water or watch a river but I didn't want to go too far away and get lost. Knowing my luck I would find myself in some big city.

"Storm? Are you... um, alright?" A timid Fluttershy said stepping up next to me.

"I'm alright I guess." I said as I opened my eyes to see her a few feet in front of me.

"Really? You seem bothered by something."

"Just something that happened a few moments ago."

"Did Twilight and you fight?"

"What? No, Fluttershy. I haven't seen Twilight since last night and we both were happy."

"Because of the kiss?"Fluttershy asked, Okay who in the hell has been telling everypony what happened? Please tell me it's not Pinkie Pie.

"Yes we were both happy about the kiss. Well I hope Twilight was happy about it." I said then followed by a sigh.

"Then please if you want... Tell me what's wrong." Fluttershy said sitting next to me.

"It's nothing to worry about." I said trying not to cause more of a problem then I already had. Applejack did sound quite angry at Rarity when I left.

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah." I said looking back out.

"You know... If you want, you can talk to us about anything?" Fluttershy offered.

"Well, The thing is Fluttershy. Sometimes things I need to talk about. Just don't feel right to talk about." I said as I turned to Fluttershy. She nodded quietly as I continued. "I feel odd here. Like I'm just some kind of... For lack of a better term, Freak here."

"But you're not a freak." Fluttershy said.

"That doesn't change how I feel. I mean look at me. I'm some kind of race that I barely know and understand. The only ones I know hold me on some sort of pedestal because I'm like Celestia and Luna to them. I just want to be normal for once. Like fly in the sky like other pegasi, cast magic like any other unicorn, and just do what ever earth ponies do. Is that too much to ask for?" I said going off on a little tangent.

"I understand how you feel. I felt the same back at flight school. I couldn't fly because I got scared too. Until one day Rainbow Dash had a race with some other pegasi. They knocked me off to the ground below that I never had gone to before. It was only by luck that the lovely butterflies down here saved me and taught me how to fly. So I know how you feel being different. Is this what worries you about Twilight? That she is going to find you different?" Fluttershy asked as she placed a hoof on my back.

"No. Honestly I think you six are the only ones that treat me relatively normal for my lack of Equestrian knowledge and my shortcomings." I said.

"You'll always be you around us. I know that for sure. Not some freak or anything but our friend." Fluttershy said smiling with a light blush.

"Thank you Fluttershy." I said with a smile on my face.

"She is right. You are our friend and we will treat you as you should be. A friend." Rarity said as she trotted around Fluttershy.

"Darn tootin, we know how hard things are for you. But you would do the same for us if the roles were switched." Applejack said with a smile.

"Thank you." I said smiling still.

"And I do have to apologize for my words before. I didn't think about what I was saying till Applejack pointed it out." Rarity said as she stepped in front of me.

"What did you say?" Fluttershy asked.

"Oh well. I made it sound like Storm here wanted to be Twilight's Coltfriend by giving her stuff. Which was wrong of me to stay. I hope you can forgive me." Rarity said.

"Of course Rarity. Let's just say it was a slip of the tongue? Alright?"

"Oh of course. Now what did you want to talk about involving gems?"

"Well I wanted to get Twilight a gift, something that I think she is going to like. Just to show I care, not like in a under... hoofed sort of way but as a friend. I don't know if I'm going down the right path on this but. I wanted to find a gem so I could get it cut down into the same star pattern as her cutie mark and get it on a book cover, so she could write in. I don't know what she should use it for and honestly it would be up to her but I thought she would like something like that. Am I being too promiscuous with this?" I asked worriedly.

"That sounds nice." Fluttershy said.

"That's down right kind of you." Applejack followed.

"I see why she likes you." Rarity said last with a smile on her face. "I do think I know what kind of gem you're looking for but I am fresh out. But maybe I can help you find some. We can even get Spike to help."

"How would Spike help?" I asked.

"Well he helped me gather some gems as reserves for my dresses. I can find them and he can dig them out." Rarity continued.

"I wouldn't mind asking Spike to help but I want to make sure that he gets paid for it." I said.

"Well he is a dragon so if we collect some of the gems. Anything you don't want we can give him as a reward for helping."

"And the rest for you so you don't need to go back out so soon to replenish your stock." I added.

"You caught that didn't you?"

"Yes I did." I said.

"Rare even I could have plucked that one out." Applejack said with a smirk.

"Hmm... I guess I need to work on my subtly a bit more." She said with a nervous chuckle.

"So should we go get Spike then?" I asked.

"Ah, yes. That sounds like a good idea." Rarity said as she started to lead the way.

"Good day to you Applejack and Fluttershy. I hope the rest of your day goes well." I said as I left.

"You too Firestorm and good luck." Applejack replied back, Fluttershy just smiled and waved.

***---***

"I still can't believe you talked me into this." Spike said with a mouth full of gems. We were here for about an hour digging through the ground. Let me rephrase that. Both Spike and I were digging in the ground. Rarity was using her magic to find gems for us. Spike had to dig through the ground. I on the other hoof used my levitation magic to make the gems shoot out of the ground. I floated them over to the third cart we started to fill. For some reason and I still can't understand how, Rarity had talked me into bringing six carts so she could fill them with gems. Honestly I was fine with two maybe three carts but I gritted my teeth and bared it. I did ask for her help in this. So who am I to complain. I walked over to Spike and whispered into his ear.

"Maybe you can find a gem you can shape into something special from your cut for Rarity. You know as a gift?" I said as saw him perk up.

"You right. Maybe I can find another fire ruby." Spike said as his mind headed into la la land.

"A fire ruby?" I questioned.

"Oh you found one?" Rarity said smiling as she trotted over.

"No. I was just wondering what it was." I said as she deflated a bit.

"It's a rare gem to find. Used for a lot of high end fashion." Rarity said as she grinned. "And Spiky-Wiky gave me one as a gift." She said as I could see the normally purple and green dragon turn into a very interesting shade of red. So it was true. I had a sneaking suspicion he had something for Rarity when he made googly eyes at her when she asked him to help gather gems. It was that or he just wanted some of the gems. It was kind of hard to tell. Rarity suddenly perked her ears as her horn had an azure color glow about it.

"What is it?" I said after I noticed her look.

"I found some interesting gems over there." She said turning her gaze towards a large tree. It reminded of a giant red wood. Which seemed odd because it's the only tree in the middle of this large dirt plateau. Both both Rarity and I walked over to the tree. While Spike decided to hop onto my back.

"Spike can you ask next time before you hop on?" I said as I turned my head towards him.

"I don't see the problem with it. Twilight let's me ride on her back all the time." He said in a very nonchalant way.

"And I'm not Twilight." I said as I turned my head back. I saw Rarity let her horn glow more.

"It's down by that root." She said as she pointed a hoof to a rather large root. The good thing about this spell she highlighted the gems for me. There was a very large gem caught my eye. I wrapped them in my magic and started to tug on them. These suckers where deep that or wrapped up in the roots very well. I started to focus on it more. It felt like someone was trying to pull it away from me. I couldn't let that one happen. I had a sense of pride on this. An over glow shot around my horn as I continued to focus. It began to show one of them a very black looking gem. That one wasn't the one that caught my eye. It was the other one to follow it. A rich looking purple gem that had floating white star like particles within it. It was perfect, She had a star pattern for a cutie mark and this gem was riddled with it. Another over glow shot around my horn as I started to focus and within moments the group of gems shot out. A lot of different gems, way different than the ones we already dug up. But it wasn't the only thing I dug out, A large gray thing. This had to be what happens when you mix a cave man with a dog. That's the only thing I could explain it. It wore a red vest had a few a sorted gems in it. The collar around it's neck had embedded diamonds and a topaz as a tag.

"Um... Hi?" I said to it as I lifted the gems over to me. It looked quite angry at me, and I returned that look.

"Ah orange wing pony. You help... Oh hi Miss Rarity?" His scowl quickly shifted to a look of worry as he turned his look from me to Rarity.

"Oh hello there." Rarity said smiling.

"Hello again." Spike said grinning down. I floated away the gems from his claws and pocketed the purple game with the stars into my own saddlebags. "So what are you doing here Diamond dog?" Spike said crossing his arms. Diamond dog? Now that I think about it. I guess that does fit.

"What are you two doing here, Miss Rarity?" The diamond dog had asked.

"Oh just getting some gems. What about you, Mr Rover?" Rarity said addressing the diamond dog.

"I was getting new gems when I get pulled out of the ground." Rover had said as he looked over to me.

"Well I'm afraid that was our doing. I hope there's no problem with that?" She said with a devilish smirk.

"No problem, No problem at all." He said ducking back into the ground. "I hope you enjoy them, bye." he said before disappearing into the ground before anything could be uttered.

"Could somepony tell me what happened?" I said as I blinked a few times.

"Oh just an adventure we had." Spike said with a smile on his face. Rarity shared the smile not telling me a thing. Fair enough I suppose, after all I kept things from them. So it's only fair. I sighed quietly as I went back to the cart.

"Something wrong?" Rarity inquired

"It's nothing important" I said quietly as I looked over the other two gems that was pulled out. One of them was a round, black gem. It looked polished to almost perfection. I looked at it closely the only thing that was off about it was no reflection. Like it swallowed all the light around it. The last gem was a white marble pattern with a light blue cracked right through it without it being cracked itself.

"What do you have here?" Rarity said as she took the gems away from my magic. She floated over the gams to her. With a few looks at the gems she smiled. "We need to go and get these checked. I have a good feeling about these." She said smiling and trotted off with a bounce in her step. I hooked up the carts and followed. I took us about a hour to reach Ponyville, Spike also started to complain about not getting a bite to eat. I smiled quietly and pulled out one of the smaller gems. Then I floated it over to him.

"Will this tie you over till we are done?" I asked and Spike nodded then took a bite out of the gem. Whoa I didn't think they ate it like that. It was a potato chip to him. He munched on it as we got to Rarity's store. One drop off later we continued to the gem store outside of town. Spike behind us with a bucket full of a sorted gems. None of the real big ones I noticed. I swiped one of the smaller ones myself just for a theory. If I was part dragon I should be able to try a gem myself. But I didn't want to break a tooth on it. Entering the old rustic looking store, dark wood walls and the counter that matched. The counter had a light wood top to it. The old looking mare sat there with a set of spectacles on the tip of her nose. The brushed back orange mane draped around the sides of her dark blue coated head. She wore a turtleneck brown sweater and a white undershirt that had two long sleeve that ran down the front forelegs.

"Hello Rarity" said the mare at the counter as she readjusted her spectacles on her face closer to her eyes.

"Hello Keen Eye, how are you this fine evening?" Rarity said addressing the mare that was named Keen Eye.

"I'm doing fine Rarity just waiting for another customer" Keen Eye said as she smiled.

"Well you're in luck. We are your next customers." Rarity said as she floated the two gems she owned, and I floated the one I housed next to them. "Hiding a lovely gem like that. Oh you're such a bad pony." she said in a teasing tone.

"Well I think it would make the perfect one for Twilight's gift." I said with a small smile on my face.

"What do you have here?" Keen Eye asked as she floated up the gems to her. "oh how lovely a Obsidian pearl." She said as she floated up the black orb looking gem in front of her. Her horn gave of a blue glow the same blue as her eyes.

"What's an obsidian pearl?" I asked.

"This is the outcome from the blacken rock made from water touching molten magma then compressed to an almost perfect sphere. They’re quite rare." She said then placed down that gem. After she floated up another one. The marble gem with blue crack on it rotated in her magic. This took a few moments for her to tell what it was. She pulled over a large book that was adore with a gem. "This is intriguing."

"What is it?" Both Rarity and I asked.

"This is an Azure White Ruby."

"Is that rare?" I questioned.

"Quite, but I couldn't tell you the price on it." Keen Eye said.

"What about this one?" I said as she floated up the last one.

"Oh this one I could tell you right off the bat. It's a Star Amethyst. Not really rare but very nice to look at. So what would you like to be done with these?" Keen Eye asked as she floated the last gem down.

"Well I'll take the other two. As for the Star Amethyst that would be up to Firestorm." Rarity said as she took the gems and left.

"Well I was wondering if you do gem cutting?" I asked.

"Yes I do, it depends on what you want this cut into." She asked as I pulled out a piece of paper and laid it out. I started to explain what I would like out of it and she seemed to understand as she pulled it back. My payment for it was that small gem I had from the gem finding. I sat there and watched, it was amazing. She lifted up the gem as it took over in her magic. It started to cut out shape I requested out of it after making a flat side to it with a glowing white line that went through it like a hot knife through butter. She placed the star piece shape gem on the table with the remains of the gem which she cleaned up.

"Here you go Mr. Firestorm." She said with a smile.

"That you Miss Keen Eye. I hope you have a nice day." I said as I waved before I left.

"Wha'cha doing here Storm?" A very Rainbow Dash sounding voice could be heard from above me right outside the door to the jeweler.

"Oh hi Rainbow Dash. Wha'cha doing?" I asked as I looked up at her.

"Nothing really just relaxing." She said with a shrug then landed next to me. I place the gems into my saddlebags.

"I see. Sounds like fun." I say.

"Yeah but you know what would be more fun?" She asked with a smile. Why did I not like where this was going?

"Oh, Whats that?"

"Having a flying buddy. Feeling up for it?" Rainbow said grinning at me.

"Dash you know I can't. I'm afraid of heights." I stated not for the first time.

"Oh I know. That's why I'm going to help you get over it." Dash said as she reached over to grab me. Oh hell no! I took off as fast as I could.

"No can do Dash." I said at a full gallop for my house. I take a turn and Dash is right there.

"Oh come one. I swear it will be fun." I about faced and took off again. I go over the bridge to the park and behind a tree to find Rainbow Dash waiting as she took another bite of her apple. Damn it, Why does she have to be so persistent on this. I took off again before she could say anything I dived into Sugar Cube Corner to find her ordering one of Pinkie's cupcakes. Off I went again, I head towards Sweet Apple Acres to find her right at the front gate. I turn around to find as I felt a sharp pain in my tail. "Now hold on FireStorm. This is for your own good."

"Yes for my own good to be scared out of my wits just so you could have a flying buddy. No thanks." I said as I gave my tail a good yank and dashed off. I got over the bridge then stop and dived under into the water after taking a deep breath. Maybe If I hide here she won't find me... Wait. What's that? It's wavy, pink, and bouncy. Oh dear god it's a swimming Pinkie Pie. I try to swim but my balance is off because my right foreleg weighs me down. I get to the edge of the river and make my climb. But alas I don't get far when I feel another yank on my tail and out of the water I get hoisted. I look around to find Pinkie smiling at me on the bridge and Rainbow Dash holding me up in the air a few feet from the ground.

"Ready to give up?" Dash said smiling.

"Give up on what? Oh are you two playing a game of hide and seek? Can I join?" Pinkie said before I inserted my hoof into her mouth before the bombardment of questions happened.

"Dash please put me down." I asked.

"Not until you say you will go flying with me." Dash said in a huff.

"Alright. I will try and go flying with you. But I can't promise anything and please take it easy on me." I said feeling the dread to come.

"Fine by me. Let's get you up into the clouds." Dash said before I cut her off with.

"Not today. I have stuff I need to finish." I said as she let me on the ground soaking wet.

"Oh come on. What's so important that you have to do before you can go flying with me?"

"Well Um..." I said starting to get nervous.

"Oh he is getting a gift for our Twi." Pinkie added in. I turned to her in surprise.

"Pinkie!" I said.

"Well it's true isn't it?"

"Yes but I don't want Twilight to know yet."

"Oh what's the big deal?" Dash said.

"It's important to me. I want this to be a surprise for her. Something nice." I said as I tap my front hoofs together.

"So you two are really going out?" Rainbow Dash as she landed next to me.

"I don't know honestly..." I said not looking at ether one of them

"How do you not know?" Dash asked.

"Because I don't. Please leave it at that." I said as I got up. I headed for home as the two of them followed.

"So what is this gift you're getting Twilight?" Dash asked.

"A book with a star amethyst on the cover." Pinkie said.

"Ok, How do you keep doing that Pinkie?" I said as I stopped and turned to the pink ball of pony energy.

"Do what?"

"How do you know what I'm doing special since I haven't told any pony what I'm planning?" I asked

"Pinkie sense." she said nonchalantly.

"Pinkie What?"

"Trust me don't ask. None of us can figure it out. We just chalk it up to Pinkie being Pinkie." Dash offered. I sighed and continued on my way.

"So when do you want to get over your heights?" Dash said when we stopped at my door.

"How about after another day. Just not today." I said as Rainbow started to give me a grin.

"Alright. See you then." Dash said then took off into the air before I could say anything. I turned to Pinkie to find her gone again. How the hell does she do that? I opened the door to find a very lovely lavender unicorn sitting on my sofa. I started to blush looking at her.

"Hello Twilight." I said coming over after I placed my saddlebags on one of the end tables.

"Hello Firestorm. How are you today?" Twilight said with a smile.

"I'm alright." I said with a small shrug as I got up on the sofa next to her.

"Did you sleep well?"

"Not really."

"Is it nightmares again?"

"No, it wasn't anything like that its something that I have no control of."

"What like your storm. Wait did your storm happen? How did you get over it without any help?"

"No Twilight. It's something that happens with Alicorns or in my case a Dralicorn. Since we have so much magic running through us we don't need to sleep as often. Which is fine if I could find something to do at night." I said looking at her.

"Lucky. I could get so much done if I could eliminate sleep like that."

"Well I was lucky I decided to do some cooking to pass the time."

"Oh?" Twilight said looking at me.

"Yeah I made some Apple Chips and I ran them over to Applejack to get opinion on them." I said rubbing a hoof against the back of my head.

"That was nice of you." Twilight said.

"Yeah. So what are you doing here? If you don't mind me asking." I said with a raised eyebrow.

"Oh well... About last night." She started as she got red in the face.

"What about last night?" I asked than a sense of panic ran through my head. "Did I do something?" I said as the worry evident on my face.

"Oh no, no, no. You didn't do anything wrong." she said as she smiled.

"Oh. Then what about last night?" I said tapping my front hooves together.

"I still wonder why me?" Twilight said. Oh, it was this again. I can deal with this.

"Not to sound rude but why does it bother you that I like you like that?" I said looking at her.

"Well I'm just an egghead and very plain looking." She said as she ran her hoof in circles on the sofa as she watched it. After I brought her head up to look at me and the soft smiled on my face.

"Twilight, you're not an egghead. Your brilliant and why smarter than I am. If anything I should be the egghead here. I may not know everything but I know enough about everything give or take. As for the plain looking. You don't look plain at all. If anything your beauty is beyond any words I could think of. Just remember one thing." I said then my smile got a bit bigger and went on with "Make sure you study up, there will be a quiz." In a joking tone I added. She looked at me a little surprised at my words then her blush reddened.

"Then I'll make sure I get a straight A on it." She shot back, I let out a hearty laugh when said that.

"That's my number one student." I couldn't resist to say.

"Shouldn't I be the one to say that to you?" She shot back.

"Good point." I said then levitated a book over with ease.

"I see your magic is improving."

"Eeyup." I said quoting Big Mac then placed my forehoofs apart to leave about a foot of space between them. I let my hoof glow as the familiar sparks started to shoot from my hooves. Within moments I had a stream of electricity running between them. Twilight watched in amazement.

"That's a new spell."

"Yeah. Honestly just learned it recently" I said as I let dissipate. Then I started to form a shield between the same hooves leaving an opening. I placed my muzzle against it and breathed out into it causing flames to filled the bubble of magic. It continues to swirl as I closed it. I had effectively made a contained fireball. It stayed there then pressed the shield together till it disappeared as well as the fire, little embers flew away and died within the air.

"What other spells do you know?" She said as continued to watch. I didn't answer her, what I did do was use my magic to close all the blinds, doors, and closed the curtains to make the room pitch black. I then felt that oh so familiar warmth in me as my horn started to illuminate the room. It flicked like true fire.

"After this there is one other spell I know. I just... haven't used it yet." I said as I let the room bathe in the fire like light.

"What spell is that?" Twilight asked as she started to lean on me.

"I believe it's called blink. But I'm nervous to try and use it." I said as I placed a wing around her. I felt the fur on our coats mingle with each other as she leaned against me.

"That can be a very scary spell for first time users."

"If you want I can show you how it works." She offered.

"I guess. Wait this isn't going to teleport me into a wall or..." I gulped before I continued. "Into the sky?" I finished.

"Very unlikely. Especially if you're able to picture where you want with ease."

"Really? So as long as I picture it I can teleport there?"

"Well within reason. It does take a lot of magic to go long distances. I doubt you have enough magical power to achieve that." She said going into a teacher like pose. Then stopped for a moment realizing what she implied. "Not that I'm saying your magical power is bad or anything. What I mean to say is that you have a lot of magical power just maybe not enough to do something far like I can, I mean-" She got out before I put a hoof over Twilight's mouth to stop her before she burnt herself out trying to rephase her words.

"Twilight, I know I don't have a lot of magic at my disposal. So you don't have to worry about insulting me about it and I figured I didn't have the ability to do long distance right off the bat. I have the sneaking suspicion that a certain lavender unicorn does." I said with a smile. She blushed at that getting my point. "I'll try it but I doubt I'll get far. Maybe a few feet of the ground." I said as I opened up the blinds and curtains again, letting the magic fade from my horn.

"I know you will do well." She said as she tried to be reassuring, It did help a bit as I let the warmth of my magic take my horn. I started to picture the kitchen in my mind, a bright flash overtook me as I appeared above the floor. It took me a few moments to realize that then I dropped to the ground with a thud.

"Ow." I said getting back to my hooves then realized something was missing as soon as I tried to put it down. I tried to put weight onto it and I fell over. "Ow." Twilight ran in with my metallic hoof wrapped in her magic.

"Oh my." She said as levitating me up by her magic. She then inserted my apparently removeable hoof back into the metal spot on my right nub that used to be my leg. It reminded me of what I had done and what could have happened to Rainbow Dash because of me. The look must have been apparent. "Firestorm, are you alright?" She said with a worried look on her face.

"Yeah." I said in a half hearted reply, my gaze didn't look at her but out of the window to the sky. A gray pegasus with a messenger bag across her side just under her wing flew across the sky just close enough to be seen. Twilight poked me with her hoof.

"Firestorm I know your lying to me. Please tell me what's wrong." She said in an almost pleading tone. Subtle enough where it sounded defined in a royal tone. But the tone also gave away to the feeling of worry for friends she has, I let out a sigh quietly as I closed my eyes.

"My mind has wandered back to Rainbow Dash and what I could have done to her if both princesses didn't stop it before it was too late. I know I shouldn't dwell on things like that, especially after what happened with that thing." I said with a venom to my voice with I said thing.

"What thing?" Twilight said as she noticed my tone from depression shift to a sense of anger.

"That fake Aria." I said.

"Fake Aria? Are you sure she is fake? She seems to have memories of you and things." Twilight started to analyze.

"There's one thing that she doesn't have compared to the real Aria." I paused for a few moments as Twilight tried to figure it out. "Her heart." I stated. Twilight's head tilted head in a look that said she didn't quite follow.

"What do you mean?" She asked. I finally opened my eyes and looked at her.

"It's something hard to explain Twilight. It is something you just know. When you get close to some pony you learn a lot of about them. But the one thing you learn very deeply is their heart." I said, it was easy to see Twilight's confusion. I honestly didn't have any more answer than that.

"I don't get it." She said.

"Let me ask you something. When discord messed with your friends. How could you tell something was wrong?"

"Well they acted differently then they use to."

"How did you know they were acting differently?" I asked.

"Because I know my friends." She said.

"It's like that." I said as I trotted past her. Something started to bother me more as I thought about it. How did the imposter really know all those things. The real Aria passed away way before I got here and she knew more about this world then I did. Could that have been some dream pony that both Shadowstorm and Nightmare Moon created to tear me down? Shadow seemed to know a lot about me and it wasn't a surprise really. He seemed to be something from inside me. Was he created as well when I entered this world? There was so many unanswered questions it really disturbed me. They weren't going to go away that easily either. I needed to better myself, not for me but for my friends and Twilight. I was not going to let that thing control me again.

"Storm." Twilight said in that ever worried tone still present in her words. Turning around to look at her directly. "Can you tell me about her?" Twilight asked. My left foreleg started to shake. Not from anger but from the sadness those memories would bring.

"Sure." I said in a solemn tone as I resat on the sofa, Twilight joined shortly after. "What do you want to know?"

"How did you two meet?" She said, It was a good starting point as any other.

"It was a long time ago. We were both quite young at the time. Maybe middle school I think." I said as my mind rewinded back to those times. "It was during an art class that we really first met. Back then she was pretty timed, Kind of like fluttershy but not so um..." I said then failing for a good word.

"fragile?" Twilight offered.

"For lack of a better word, yes. I saw her from time to time around the school, but we never really spoke till a class assignment where we had to do portraits of each other." I continued as my eyes stared off into the distance not really focusing on anything but the past. All this flooded back to me a like an old film reel, Silent black and white style.

"So then that drawing of her?" Twilight started to ask. I knew what she was talking about. Especially when she already explained the memories the Pinkie and Rarity saw.

"Yes that same one." I said as it reassured Twilight's assumptions. "I kept it. Something like that was one of my better works. It wasn't the best, none of my work was good honestly. But that one always felt special to me. Well before me and Aria got together. It didn't take long for her to open up to me. It started simple, with us talking about the day, then moved on to things we liked. It kind of snowballed from there." I went on, Twilight listened carefully. I had a feeling she wanted a lot of context to my earlier comment about her heart. "Well after we did the project and turned it in. We started to really talk more. Lunch time was the only other time we had to see each other. She was really the first one to defend me when I started to get picked on. I had always been picked on for different things but about that time it really started to get more... brutal. Especially after a friend’s death." I said as a tear started to shed from my eye. Twilight listened as her ears drooped back against her head. I think she knew where I was about to go mentally.

"But that wasn't your fault." She said.

"It was Twilight." I stated her look turned from sad to shocked.

"How?"

"My friend committed suicide. The act of killing oneself." I said.

"Then how was it your fault?" Twilight asked not getting how I was involved.

"My friend was going through some bad relationship problems at the time. I had given him advice to help him get out of it. I knew it was destroying him inside. The day he decided to end it his note listed me as the sole reason he did it. That my advice failed which drew him into the act." I had said as I turned my head away from Twilight.

"But." Twilight started to get out.

"But nothing, Twilight. I failed my friend when he needed me. That is my fault and nopony else. A lot of the other students found out about the note and I was labelled as a murderer. Granted I didn't stab him in the neck but I may as well have with my actions. Aria was the only one to really know it was eating me inside She was also the one to stop me from my own foolish act." I said as I looked at my metallic leg. Remembering a marking that used to be there. It was long gone at this point but I didn't say it. Twilight at this point had tears in her eyes as I went on. I had a feeling she regretted asking this. "My family didn't understand any of my actions or frankly didn't care because I never told them. There was things I never brought to them. They didn't really care about me as they did about other things." I went on as I felt a coldness in the deep of my heart. Twilight hugged me.

"Please stop." Twilight said quietly. I barely didn't hear her as she said it into the fur of my coat. I looked down at her, the wetness quietly covered the area she buried her head into. I placed a wing around her as I tried to comfort her.

"Alright Twilight." I said in a very weary tone as I turned my gaze onto the whiteboard that was blank before I left. Now unbenounced to me, until I realized that my magic took one of the markers and drew on it. There sat me and Aria, me in her hooves trying to comfort the sadness evident on my face. Twilight and I stayed there for what felt like hours. She had stopped crying and looked up at me. Her eyes still red and puffy.

"I'm sorry you had to go through so much." She said, I on the other hand had a sad smile on my face.

"This may sound wrong of me but in a way I'm glad I had to." I said.

"What do you mean?" Twilight said still the sadness she felt present in her voice.

"If I didn't have to go through something like that. Then some other pony would have. It's like how I’d rather be hurt then any pony or anyone I care about." I said as I closed my eyes. I didn't want Twilight to hurt anymore about how I felt. After the damaged I just caused from my words already.

"But why?" she said as she most likely looked up at me.

"Because Twilight, I'm a shield for my friends. Their happiness and life is worth more to me than my own life."

"What if you are their happiness?" Twilight shot back. That caught me off guard. No really it did, I didn't really find me as that. I looked down quietly. It wasn't until Twilight had nuzzled into me that I had a small smile on my face. "You shouldn't think so low about yourself Firestorm. I know you mean well and you had so much happen to you. But you don't have to deal with it alone like that. I'll always listen when you need to open up. Just not like that, Alright?" She said.

"Alright." I replied as I looked at her. I started to smile quietly as I nuzzled back. The both of blushed gently as we smiled at each other. But our attention was taken away from a knock on the door. Getting up I slowly made my way to the door. The only ponies I knew here would have just came in. Well hell, I know Rainbow Dash and Pinkie would. Applejack probably just yell for me through the window. Rarity and Fluttershy would probably knock. I opened the door and was bombarded with a mint green unicorn with a silver and white mane. A small pang of pain later and I was on the ground with that same unicorn on top of me, looking really eager.

“Are you the pony that was human?! Oh you have to be! I mean you’re just how every pony has said. The new orange unicorn with weird wings. But that doesn’t matter now. You have to tell me all about how you where as a human. How you act, dress, eat, everything.” The rapid fire unicorn said. She could put Pinkie to shame with how fast she was going. Now here is where I would have asked her to get off me. But her impact with me knocked all the wind out of me. Plus it didn’t help she was pinning me down so it was harder for me to regain my air.

“Lyra!” Twilight said to my right.

“Oh hey Twilight. Did you come to talk to him about humans too?” The pony that I now knew as Lyra said as she was still pinning me.

“Please get off him.” Twilight said, by the sound of it she face palmed. Wait would that be face hoofed? Anyway, Lyra noticed how she had me pinned and got off me. After I took a few deep breaths enjoying the sweet taste of air again. I finally noticed something. My magical prosthetic was still attached to the door handle. Lyra hit me so hard that it disconnected my right foreleg.

“Sorry about that. I just get so excited to find out that another pony knows about humans and then find out that he once was human. Oh you have to.” Lyra said before a purple aura covered her muzzle and shut her mouth. I finally got onto my rump after being pinned down. Granted getting up with only one limb to help was quite hard.

“First off Lyra was it?” I asked and she nodded. “Before I start answering a few things. Can I get my leg back?” I said pointing to my leg still attached to the door with my still flesh and blood leg. Lyra turned and noticed it. With a look of surprised a mint aura covered it and floated it back to me. “Thank you.” I said then reattached it, I really hate having to take this thing off at times. It always hurt to do so. So after some wincing from the reattachment and a quick test to see if I could still use it. “Twilight can you release her mouth please?” Twilight nodded and the magic around Lyra’s mouth disappeared. I held up a hoof to stop another outburst from her. “Now I am happy to answer you questions but I have a few myself first.” I said as I used my metallic fingers to indicate. “One, how did you know I was once human? Twilight and her friends were the only ones that knew.” I asked, Lyra noticed my metallic finger and watched it.

“Oh well the rumors around town told me that. I heard from Bon Bon, that she heard from Derpy, that she heard from Mrs. Cake, that she heard from Pinkie Pie. That you where the new pony in town and you were a human.” Lyra said in a matter fact tone. Why should I be surprised that Pinkie was the one that started that. Now granted I didn’t tell anyone here not to tell the truth, So I couldn’t be mad at her.

“Fair enough, now two.” I said as I raised another finger. “Who are you and why do you want to know?” I asked.

“Oh right. Where are my manners. I’m Lyra Heartstrings and you are Firestorm right?” Lyra asked. For once I was happy that a pony didn’t add the mister.

“Yes I am.” I said with a smile.

“Well I wanted to know because I am fascinated with humans. It’s a hobby I like to indulge in from time to time. Anthropology real fascinating stuff.”Lyra said with a smile.

“I understand the hobby part of it.” I said with a nod.

“Where did you get that?” She said as she pointed to my metallic prosthetic.

“Well it was a gift.” I said, not knowing if I should keep it secret or not.

“I never seen one with fingers. How do they work?” she questioned, I had stopped and looked at her. She had never seen one with fingers. Why did I get the feeling I got a high end model of a prosthetic?

“Really?” I asked.

“She’s right. I’ve never seen that model myself and I have done studies on them.” Twilight added from the sofa. Good thing I don’t get rid of manuals. I walked back to the table and using my magic to bring over the large book, placed it on the table.

“Well why don’t we see why I have these then.” I offered. Lyra came up to the table and watched me flip through the book. A quick skim of the introduction gave the answer away. My prosthetic is a modified version of a griffon’s model. A little surprising to say the least. Mainly for the fact is I didn’t know griffons existed here. Which would explain why I had fingers.

“Well that explains it. But I don’t know why Princess Celestia thought you should have that model since you’re a pony and everything.” Twilight said.

“Well technically, I’m not a pony remember. I’m a Drony.” I corrected.

“Oh right.” Twilight said.

“What’s a Drony?” Lyra asked.

“It’s what happens when a magical dragon and a pony have a kid.” I said to put it simply. She looked at me then back to Twilight who nodded.

“That would explain the weird wings.” Lyra said as she pulled out one of my wings then ran one of her hoofs across the top of it. A shudder ran down my body as my cheeks turned red. Damn it why do ponies have to do that.

“Lyra don’t do that.” Twilight said noticing my action. Acting as she was burned she pulled her hooves away from my wings.

“Oh sorry.”Lyra said.

“No, no, no. It’s fine you didn’t know.” I said trying to keep it vague as possible. “What do you want to know about humans?” I said as a change of subject before she asked what she did wrong. She smiled and went rapid fire on me again. Asking a lot of questions.

“I want to know everything about humans, how fingers work, what humans eat, why they wear clothes, why they don’t have wings or horns?” She started with. I used my metallic hoof to stop her this time.

“Miss Heartstrings, let me start with those before you overload me with questions.” I said then pulled my hoof away. Out of the corner of my eye I saw paper and quill float over in purple magic. “and let’s not forget to let Twilight able to catch up making notes. Right Twilight?” I said turning to her with a smile.

“You caught me.” She said with a small smile of her own.

“I don’t mind. I figured you were going to ask me about it at some point. Like I expect Rarity to question me about human fashion, which I will get to that too Lyra.” I said catching Lyra off before she asked. “As for how fingers work. We’ll let me ask you this. How do hooves work?” I said looking at the both of them. They took a moment and looked at their hooves then back to me.

“They just do.” Lyra said.

“Exactly, they just do. Fingers let humans hold and grip something just like how your hooves let ponies do the same thing.” I said then floated over an apple from the fridge. Then gripped it in my metallic fingers. “Just like this. The only difference here is that I can’t tell how hard I’m gripping it since I now have a prosthetic limb.” I said then the apple burst from my fingers. Good thing I pull a shield around my hoof to keep the apple in it. I then floated the apple piece to a cup in the kitchen to deal with later. Then a towel over to clean my hoof.

“Oh I see. What about what you use to eat as a human?” Lyra asked as Twilight finished her notes on finger.

“That is a good question. Humans eat a lot of things.” I stopped and thought for a moment then remembered to Spike and dragons. “They are close to dragons when it comes to eating, minus all the gem eating. Just like dragons, humans are omnivores. So they can eat both veggies and meat. Now some humans don’t always eat the same things. A vegetarian doesn't eat meat and vegans won’t eat anything that comes from an animal. Which means no milk, eggs, or cheese, as well as anything else that falls under those lines.”

“Does that mean you use to eat meat?” Twilight asked.

“Yes, I use to eat meat. No don’t get me wrong, since I became a drony I have not touched meat in any way.” I said.

“Well that’s good to know.” She said with a smile on her face.

“Now for why do humans wear clothes?” I said feeling a blush creep over my face. “Well without them they feel naked.”

“What’s wrong with being naked? Every pony walks around mainly naked so what’s the big deal?” Twilight asked.

“I don’t see the problem either.” Lyra added.

“Well for one thing ponies have fur so they aren’t totally naked as humans have very little hair. Most of that is on their head.” I said as the blush redden.

“I still don’t get it.” Twilight said.

“There is more. Humans would have there um… What’s the word I’m looking for?” I said pondering. “There more um… private areas would be on display and humans have issues showing them.” Here my face turned quite red. I was really uncomfortable talking about this. Mainly because I always felt awkward as hell when it came to it. Don’t get me wrong, I was a guy and you can get the idea where your thoughts travel to from time to time but that was in our heads not out of our mouths. “So they wear clothes to conceal them so they don’t feel exposed.” I said now red as a tomato. After a few moments of writing later a small gasp and I turned to Twilight.

“Does that mean that without something on you feel… exposed.” I nodded quietly with my face red as hell. “Oh my.” She said as she blush. Lyra looked puzzled. With a few moments of awkward silence later Lyra decided to ask the next question.

“So why don’t humans have wings or horns for magic?” Lyra asked, I for once was so happy for the change of subject.

“Well because humans are not born with them. Now to be fair my old world did have its own magic, nothing like here but more like tricks. Mainly sleight of hand… Well it would be sleight of hoof here. Pretty smoke and mirrors really. Pretty much tricks to deceive the eyes.” I said. Our Q&A went on for a few hours. There was a few tidbits of info I gleaned from them as well. They had a lot of the same technology as I use to have, computers, phones, and turntables just to name a few. But a lot of them were for ponies that could afford them, which I knew I could not since only the rich had them.

“So what about holidays?”Lyra asked.

“What about holidays?” I inquired.

“Why kind of holidays do humans have?”

“Well. We have new year’s, which is to bring in the new year. There’s saint patrick’s day, from what I remember was used mainly for a reason to wear green and drink.” I said shrugging.

“Drink what?” Twilight asked.

“Well, its called alcohol back there.” I said. “But they do come with different names. Whiskey, beer, ale, lager, sake, wine.” I start to list off.

“We have wine.” Lyra and Twilight chime in.

“I figured as much.” Which I did kind of. I figured Rarity would get a bottle to class up a meal. “There’s more honestly, like gin, rum, vodka, brandy, and one I could easily see Applejack drink since it’s her name and everything.” I said before I caught myself. “Not saying she drinks. Just a random thought is all.” I over correct myself. Damn I was an idiot at times.

“Well some of those we do have. Besides the cider kind.” Twilight said. “If you don’t mind me asking. What kind of drinks do you prefer?” She asked and I stop to think for a bit. Now granted I did enjoy drinking from time to time and I did like to be a little drunk when I had nothing to worry about. In fact I was a bit of a happy drunk and I did take a lot to get me good and sauced to the nines.

“Personally I prefer going with mixed drinks. Something that tastes good to start with. Like a screwdriver. Which is vodka and orange juice.” I explain as Twilight continues to take notes. “But I do enjoy a good wine too. Now granted very rarely I got to have one, but there good none the less.” I continued. “What about you two?”

“Well I do like wine but Applejack’s Cider is my favorite.” Lyra stated.

“I’m about the same but I rarely drink.” Twilight added.

“I see.” I said afterwards like an idiot.

“So what other holidays did you have back home?” Twilight asked getting back to the subject that we spring boarded off of.

“Well lets see, there was the fourth of july. Which was a holiday to show independence. We pretty much cooked out on the grill and watched fireworks.” I said as my mind went back to an old memory of my family and I just sitting on the back of the truck and watched the fireworks go off.

“Anything else?” Twilight questioned snapping me back to reality.

“Well theirs more. Lets see there is Halloween. Which pretty much everyone dressed up in costumes and the kids would go trick or treating to get candy.” I said.

“That sounds a lot like Nightmare Night.” Lyra said.

“Nightmare Night?” I questioned now a bit confused.

“Well for the most part you explained it spot on. Besides the candy offering towards the end.” Twilight explained.

“Isn’t that coming up soon?” Lyra turned to Twilight and asked.

“Why I think it’s next week. I have a meeting with the mayor about it to plan it out.” Twilight stated.

“Mind if I join you for that meeting?” I asked. I haven’t met the mayor yet and I figured I should since I do live here now.

“I don’t see why not. It’s later today.”

“Sweet.” I stated with a smile. It was sooner than I expected but was happy about it nonetheless. “Now there’s not a lot left holiday was that I remember. There’s thanksgiving which where one’s family gets together and have a big meal. When I mean family I mean like the whole family or at least the ones that can make the trip. Well there’s more holidays but I barely know anything about them. Except for Christmas, one of my favorite holidays. About the same as Thanksgiving but we give presents to each other. And don’t forget Santa Claus.” I said with a smile. Happier times these memories where. The decorating, the songs, the cold winter days watching the snow fall. The fireplace burning a log and those cheesy but always good children stories and movies. Not to forget those Christmas specials on TV.

“Saddle Claus?” Twilight asked.

“No, Santa Claus.” I said extincting the Santa part of it. “He is the Jolly old man. Well um here I guess Jolly old Stallion. Goes to everyone’s house and gives gifts to all the good little boys and girls.” I explained.

“Ah. Well Thanksgiving and this Christmas sounds a lot like hearts warming.” Twilight explained.

“Oh really?” I said as she just colored me intrigued. “Please tell me more.” Twilight went on to explain the founding of Equestria according to the old stories. How it took three ponies to find a peace between each of the pony races. It was fascinating and really kind of felt familiar in a way. I don’t really know why. Of course as she explain it dawned on me I forgot a holiday.

“I just remembered a holiday that I forgot to explain. Valentine's day. It’s all centered around love. Well more your special someone.” I say.

“Hearts and Hooves day.” Lyra say.

“What?” I said a little confused.

“Yeah. Lyra’s right that sounds like Hearts and Hooves day.” Twilight clarify. Thank god that Twilight said that otherwise I would have been confused more. I got up a bit and stretched a bit. After sitting there for a few hours I got extremely stiff. So I moved around letting some of my joints pop getting the air out of them.

“Why don’t we do this more questions later. No offense or anything but I think I need some fresh air.” I said looking at the two mares in my living room. They both smiled and nodded.

“Alright, but I want to hear more about humans.” Lyra said as she walked to the door with a flick of her horn the door opened on it own.

“I’ll pencil you in.” Twilight added with a smile. After I said goodbye to Lyra, I turned to Twilight.

“So when is this meeting?” I asked.

“In an hour. Why?” she replied.

“Well I wanted to ask you something in private since Lyra is not here.” I said as I closed the door with a bit of my magic.

“About what?”

“Um… Last night.” I stated as Twilight instantly went red.

“What about last night?”

“It’s just. After that kiss.” I said really trying to keep my thoughts on track.

“I just want to know what you think of me.” I said not looking at her but the heat on my face probably could be seen from space. Hell you probably could see it back home with how hot I felt. It was then I noticed Twilight didn’t say anything. I started to worry but I didn’t say anything. What if she didn’t like me in that way? What if I screwed up so bad that she was only being friendly? I had turned down the dark alley way in my mind. Self doubt and feeling more like an idiot started to pile on with every second of silence between us.

“I don’t know honestly.” She finally said after a few minutes of silence, I had stayed quiet. “I like you but… I don’t know if I like you in that way. It’s just all so fast. You just got here less than a month ago and we haven’t really spent time besides this and our little adventures.” Twilight went on to explain. I could feel my heart breaking at each word. She was right, oh god she was so right. I was pathetic to even try. On top of that I may have just screwed over my friendship with her and her friends because of my reckless actions. My head lowered as she went on. “We haven’t even gone on a date so… are you alright?” She questioned as she must of seen my change in demeanor.

“Yes.” I said with no real worth to it. My hair had fallen down over my eyes to hide my look of depression.

“Firestorm.” She stated with worry in her voice.

“I’m fine Twilight.” I said pulling on a fake smile. I knew it was fake but I had become an expert over time on how to fake a smile. Something you learn when you just don’t want anyone to know that you are in a dark place inside. Luckily for me my darkside was expelled from me so I had no worry about transforming into Shadowstorm again. “If you would excuse me for a moment.” I said as I floated up my saddlebags and head down stairs with them. I placed them on the table down there before I heard the door close. One quick jaunt upstairs to find Twilight had left. She had left a note on the table.

Dear FireStorm,
Sorry I had to leave so suddenly but I just remembered something I forgot. Meet you in front of city hall in an hour.
Your friend, Twilight Sparkle.

I gone over the note quietly a few times. Honestly Twilight was pretty good at lying if no one really knew what just happened. But she may have realized what she may have caused. I don’t blame her, I probably would have done the same. Well I kind of did do the same. But I didn’t leave the house I just moved to any other room for a few moments. With a sigh I decided I needed some fresh air. I grabbed my keys and left.
***---***

Ponyville was unusually quiet. No birds chirping or the clatter of hooves. It wasn’t long for me to notice that everyone was either looking at me or avoiding me. The look of distance that each of them told me enough. What really set it in was me over hearing some of them.

“Is that the pony?” one mare said.

“Yeah the one that destroyed the visitor center.” A stallion answered.

“We should get that monster out of town. He should go into Everfree where he belongs.” Another mare said with venom in her voice at the word monster. My legs started to shake at each word they said. It was then a gust of wind sent a newspaper into my face. I looked at it and saw the title of the main article.

“Firestorm. Monster or Worse?” it read. I folded up the paper and placed it under my wing as I started to walk quietly out of town. If I was this monster as everyone saw it, then I should leave, that is probably why Twilight left like she did. She must see me as this monster like everyone else did. With each step I continued to watch everyone go about staring at me or turning away. Mothers would pull their kids back and hold them. My walk continued until I was outside Everfree forest. I turned back to see Ponyville in the distance. With one final sigh, I walked into the forest. About an hour into my walk in the forest I noticed that it was dark. One light spell later I started traveling this path that lead deep into the woods. Of course it didn’t really matter right? Last time I was here I had to face a Timber wolf just to save my friends. It would be fitting if another one would come after me. A laugh escaped from that thought. Enough to make the noisy forest around turn quiet. I guess even the monsters fear me. The walk itself went off uneventful until I got to an old rickety bridge. I looked down the side of the cliff the bridge was attached to. The fog below hid the ground so I couldn’t judge the distance. I only hope it wasn’t that much of a fall. A testing step on the boards let out a moaning creek.

“I hope this will hold me.” I said to no one. I didn’t really have anyone to talk to anyway. I made my way across the bridge, the creeks being the only sound that could be heard. The forest must know when to be quiet because even now nothing could be heard. I saw the castle in the distance so I may as well head there. I needed a shelter since Ponyville pretty much didn’t need me there. I scared to many of them when Shadow controlled me. I could see the supporting words everyone would say.

“That wasn’t you” something ether Rarity or Twilight would say.

“Ah sugar cube it doesn’t matter what they say. You are you and not this monster.” Applejack would probably add.

“It will be alright.” Fluttershy would timidly say.

“You’re too awesome to let ponies bother you like that.” Dash would straight out state.

“Aww don’t be all saddy-waddy. You should be so happy dappy. You need a party to cheer you up.” Pinkie would say just coming out of no where. Honestly I know they would be what I needed to hear but it still wouldn’t work. Never really did in the past. I just put on a mask for everyone and powered through it. I deal with depression a lot, I never really sought treatment for it. I mean yeah, some days I wasn’t as depressed as others. But since all of this, I couldn’t help it anymore. With everything that went on from crashing into Applejack’s farm to Shadowstorm’s control. From hurting Twilight, to scaring everyone in Ponyville. The doors creaked to the old castle as I pushed them open. A large room just beyond the door held an ornate statue that looked like it held something at one time. I guess this was where Twilight and her friends found their elements of harmony. I went up one of the local towers mainly following the story Dash had told me to find the room where Luna was freed from the Nightmare Moon spirit. Pieces of that spirits armor still laid there. I floated them up to me as I looked over the metallic blue pieces. The moon was still on them but broke right down the middle. I kept them close as I continued to explore a little of the castle where I found a throne room. Two chairs one with the sun and the other with the moon. I sat the armor next to the moon and I sat in it quietly. I looked out the broken window to the left as it was still daylight as the forest top could easily see miles around it. I lifted up the helmet of the armor, the only piece still whole of it all. If I wasn’t already dealing with depression I could have sworn I was hearing pianos play but that could have been my mind playing tricks on me as I placed it on my head. A little snug in places but for the most part it fit. What happened next I didn’t expect as the dark midnight blue metallic head piece started to glow quietly as it turned dark red and changed to fit my head better as I felt a familiar warmth soon through me. The reflection in a broken mirror told me that my hair had turned to fire once again but it emitted through the helmet itself as well as my mane. The tail itself as a lite. I couldn’t help but chuckle at this. Something in this helm made my mane and tail act like I was angry. But I’m far from it, I was just upset I guess would best describe it. It was then I noticed the paper I had placed under my wing.

“Firestorm. Monster or Worse?” The title read

The new local alicorn stallion to arrive in Equestria: Is he the monster that a lot of the residents of Ponyville see him or is he worse? From the recent events, we can assume that he is worse. He has inadvertently destroyed one of the visiting rooms of the hospitals and sent one of the local heroes of Equestria to the hospital and already threatened royalty. Prince Blueblood proclaims that he is a menace to pony society and goes on to say that he was being welcoming when the stallion in question threatened him to make him leave.

I got though before I tossed the paper into the air and torched it. As it disappeared to ashes I turned to the window, to see a cyan pony staring at me. I blinked for a moment. What? Again with another blink I see her wiz off before the door on the other end of the room opens up to see Twilight Sparkle, Applejack, and Rainbow Dash coming in. I don’t see anything before they come up to me slowly. Twilight slowly makes her way up to me.

“Sir.” She started as I raised my eyebrow. “Have you seen a friend of ours. He is orange and.” She got out before I said something.

“Twilight it’s me.” I said. A few moments pass before she looks at me again in surprise.

“Firestorm! What happened to you?” She asked now surprised. I turn my head a bit confused.

“What do you mean what happened?” I asked a little lost at what she meant.

“Well you're bigger and your mane and tail are on fire.” She points out.

“Well my mane and tail normally did that when I was angry.” I said removing the helmet on my head. It reverted to its normal dark midnight blue again as well as my mane and tail as well. I placed it down and walked over to Twilight. “What’s wrong?”

“We should be asking you that sugar cube.” Applejack said. I simply raised an eyebrow. “Well you just left for no reason. Some pony told us they saw you go into the Everfree forest and we all got worried. Why did you come here?” She continued as I sighed and turned to the window not answering.

“Is this because of that article in the newspaper?” Twilight surmised.

“What article?” Dash asked.

“The one depicting me as a monster Rainbow Dash.” I stated as I walked over to the window looking out it. “Partly…” I said letting my words die on my breath.

“Look it doesn’t matter what any pony.” Applejack started to say.

“Stop Applejack.” I said surprising her, Twilight, and Rainbow Dash. “Look I know what you all are going to say. That is not my fault, I was being controlled, I shouldn’t let other ponies get someone as awesome as me down.” I said as I turned to them the look on there face was both surprised and worried. “I’ve heard stuff like that all my life. No matter the words it still stands the same. Regardless of what I do, What I say, and what ever happens. I will still be a monster in their eyes, in their perspectives. “ I said. My now more depressive look turns to an angry one. My gaze returned to the window. “In all honestly I am one.” I said as my prosthetic hoof started to creek from a clenched fist.

“You shouldn’t call yourself that!” Twilight proclaimed.

“Why?” I questioned.

“Because your kind, gentle, protective, and have a long stream of bad events that could.” She said before a crash of glass stopped her as I broke the window more. All of them looked at me.

“That’s enough. Twilight what does a monster do?” I questioned.

“Hunt, destroy, scare, and attack.” She answered.

“The easiest way to hunt, lul the enemy into being defenseless. I destroyed the safety that ponies once had. I scared them as well as scared Blueblood, and how many times have I attacked?” I turned to them. Twilight mulled over what I said and nodded quietly knowing where my train of thought had went. She looked at me but my gaze was not focused on Twilight, Applejack, or Rainbow Dash. But to the pony standing at the door.

“I see you finally understand.” The pony at the door said. The cold chill ran down my spine and visibly did down the three other ponies as well. I took a deep breath.

“Hello.” I said as I floated the helmet next to me. “What do I call you since you're not Aria?” I said looking at it.

“But I am.” He started to say.

“You're not. Quit trying to make me or anyone else believe the lie.” I said before I made my way closer and it was then I noticed the set of wings that adore her sides. She was an alicorn now, though her wings were more boney. She raised an eyebrow as her horn started to glow. Before she got a spell off, I punched her square in the face. Of course the dumb ass that I was, she got still had the energy in her horn. My guess was a lightning spell because it shot through my body down my metallic hoof. The strange thing was as it felt like a shock of a sugar rush just hit my system, along the pain the accompany it. Sparks emitted from my body that slid back from the attack. “Now are you going to tell us who you really are?” I asked again as I placed the helmet back on my head. My mane and tail became a lite again as I started to glare at the fake Aria.

“I suppose that I can’t continue to call myself Aria.” She got out before another punch to the face that sent her back a few feet. “Point made.” She said before she wiped black blood from her lip. “If you must call me something I guess you can me Vermom.” She said, that name struck me with a familiarity but I couldn’t tell where. She then looked at me as those empty eye sockets finally filled with large red eyes. Her normal tan coat started to change to a dark blue as her hair became longer and turned a silver white. Then it was there, a cutie mark a circle with a question mark and a fedora on the top curve of it. She still kept her wings and horn.

“Why are you doing this?” Twilight asked behind me. I didn’t remove my glare at Vermom as both Applejack and Rainbow Dash moved up to either side of me.

“Because it’s my job.” She simply put as she raised a hoof up to look at it. Of course that’s when I also noticed she had claws on her front hooves. It was entirely possible that she was a drony of some kind. I looked at her before her gaze returned to me.

“What was the supposed to mean?” Applejack said digging at the ground with a hoof as she is ready to charge.

“Sorry, privileged information, earth pony.” She said this sent a spark of anger though me. The way she said that was as an insult. My teeth started to grind.

“Listen carefully Vermom.” I said keeping quite calm though my demeanor was far from it. “What is your job? And please state it without insulting my friends.” I got out before I let my anger overwhelm me.

“Can’t say.” She said before my anger finally snapped as my metallic hoof grabbed her by the throat before I stood up on my back hooves pinning her against the back wall. Before she let out a omf. “You know force isn’t going to get your answer either?” she mocked.

“Oh I know.” I said carefully before I leaned in closely and whispered in your ear. “Since you won’t tell me your job in all this. Why don’t I find out what you're made off?” I said still calm as some of the pieces of armor floated over to me. Well the sharp ones at least. I put one of the larger ones against her belly. “Unless you want to answer my question.” I said before a swinging sound got my notice. My eyes widen as a pain shot into my spine and I dropped down, though I got my metallic hoof to disconnect the keep Vermom pinned to the wall. I turned my head and saw a large jagged scythe was imbedded in my back. My friends looked surprised as Applejack snapped back to what happened and dashed at her, turned, and bucked her right in the belly. A large snap told me she more then likely broke something. Dash got into her face and out right decked her. Twilight ran up to me as I fought to get back onto my hooves. The blade still in my back. It was hard to move, my body was a wet noodles around wooden sticks with weak joints. I wanted to scream in pain, one step caused me to let it out but it wasn’t a scream. What did come out was a roar, something closer to what you would hear from a dragon. Twilight, Dash, and Applejack looked at me in surprise.

“Finally, some of that monster comes out.” Vermom said followed by Rainbow getting in her face to yell.

“He is not a mons-” She got out before Vermom brought up her hind legs and kicked her. Applejack turned to watch Dash fly right into me, barely missing Twilight who’s horn lit up. I landed against something and drove the blade in deeper. I struggled to get to my hooves again. Harder this time, I think the blade was right against my spine. I got about a step closer to Vermom before I collapsed. This seemed to be enough for Twilight who’s horn erupted with magic. I couldn’t see its over glow because my world started to become fuzzy. Everything started to turn black as I was left with one sound before dead silence, an explosion.
***---***

I came to in a white void. There was nothing for miles. I should know because I had started to walk around.

“Anyone there?” I yelled but nothing. Not even an echo. So this place didn’t even have walls for the vibrations to bounce off of. I sighed quietly as I laid down on my side. I was tired of all this. Tired of being a problem to everyone and everypony. Since I had arrived its been one thing after another. The only rest I got was in the hospital which was I sick of seeing and when I was stuck in the castle from Princess Celestia trying to determine if I was a threat or not. In all honesty I’m surprised she didn’t. Maybe then I wouldn’t be such a bother to any of them.

“But you're not a bother.” A familiar voice said. I shot up and looked around but no one was there.

“Who’s there?” I said hoping that someone was there.

“Just little old me dear.” The voice said. I turned around and saw something fade in. My mouth just dropped slowly as I saw Aria standing there. Well to be fair more sitting there. I hoped it really was her. Because this Aria was just as I remembered her but with white wings. Large majestic white ethereal wings. She got up and trotted over to me. I couldn’t help but shake at this. If she was really here then was I dead? “You're not dead Storm. Far from it.” She said like she was reading my mind.

“Are you…” I got out before she stopped in front of me and placed a hoof on my mouth.

“No I’m not reading your mind. I just know what you're thinking. Because I know you well enough to do so. Yes it is me.” She said before removing her hoof and kissed me right on the lips. It felt warm, a familiar worth that I missed for so long. I couldn’t help but start to cry quietly. She gave me a small smile as she held me close and I let all of my pain out into her chest. “You’ve had to endure too much.” Aria said to me as she ran a hoof over my mane. “I know it hurts, and I know you regret that day but I don’t.” She continued. I looked up at her.

“But how? You died because of me.” I said between sobs.

“I died to save the stallion I love.” She said as she kissed me on the forehead right below my horn. “Don’t worry about the past. I may be gone physically but I’m never truly gone.” She said as she started to change before me. She became how she truly was. A human, her long black hair with her tan skin. She wore a white robe that was just as white as her wings. She continued to hold me but it was evident that she was twice as tall as I was. “Now my little pony I will never be really gone. I will always be here and here.” She said as her finger gently rested on my forehead then on my chest where my heart was. “Can you do me a favor Storm?” She asked with a gentle smile.

“Anything for you… Jessica” I said using her real name. Not the name the Equestria wanted me to remember her as. She smiled even more from me saying that. My memories of her was completely back to the way they were suppose to be.

“I need you to move on. Find a pony that you can share what we had. Find love and hold it close.” She said before she gave me another kiss on the lips again. “And don’t forget that you're not the monster that you make yourself out to be.” She said as the world around started to fade to black along side her.

“Jessica? Jessica!” I started to yell wanting her back. I wanted to talk to her more. “Jessica!” I yelled again as tears started to stream down my face again, before a beep shattered the dark.
***---***

The beeping was all I could hear when I came to. I opened my eyes as I looked at out at the night sky, not a word to be said. From my peripheral, I could see a yellow pony’s leg and a pink mane. Fluttershy was in the room with me. I couldn’t tell if she knew I was up or not. With a shift of my eyes I saw she was nose deep in a book. This seemed a little off of the yellow pegasus but the only reason I could guess was that I have been in her for a few days so instead of just watching me sleep she decided to read. I couldn’t really read the title of it but the blush on her face told me it was one of the romance titles as well as the image on the cover. It held a white stallion holding a mare close that had long flowing blond hair. The opening of the door got me to look but I didn’t turn my head. Stepping in was Pinkie Pie. Bouncing like she normally would.

“Hello Pinkie Pie.” Fluttershy timidly said as she put down the book, which was titled “Cove of love.”

“Hiya Fluttershy. How’s our friend?” Pinkie asked as he pulled out a basket from nowhere. I was still pretty tired to try and piece that feat together.

“He’s still asleep.” Fluttershy replied with a frown on her face. Pinkie’s face accompanied hers with a frown.

“I could have sworn he would be up. My hoofs been quivering for an hour now.” Pinkie said before both mares looked at me with me looking back. Of course I didn’t say anything just turned my gaze back to the window. It wasn’t me trying to be cold to them I… I didn’t have anything to say.

“Oh my. Your up!” Fluttershy said in a surprised tone unheard by me.

“Yeah I am.” I said halfheartedly. Honestly I wanted to go back to the white void like that. So I could see her again.

“How long have you been up? Why didn’t you say anything?” Fluttershy asked as I started to sit up slowly. My body ached all over but a lot of it was on my back. Pinkie dashed over and handed me a cupcake. I stared down at the orange frosted treat, part of me wanted to bite into it, at the same time I didn’t.

“For a few moments and I didn’t have anything to say.” I said as my gaze never left the cupcake.

“Are you alright?” Fluttershy pressed on.

“No.” I simply put.

“Should I go get the nurse?”

“No.”

“Do you want to talk about it?”

“No.”

“Is there anything we can do to help.”

“Yes.”

“Well what is it?” Pinkie asked trying to break the simple one line dialogue coming from me.

“Home.” I said.

“But you're hurt.” Fluttershy said as I placed the cupcake on the little tray in front of me with my only hoof. I didn’t have my prosthetic in.

“I just want to go home.” I got out before the tears started to flow. This was too much even for me. All the pain and events just finally hit me all at once again. I would have held it longer but after seeing Jessica I just broke down. Fluttershy came over and placed a hoof on my shoulder. Pinkie came up to my other side and watched in silence. I guess even Pinkie Pie knew when not to be all energetic. I didn’t even hear the door open but it must of because.

“Oh sugarcube you're awake!” A surprised sounding Applejack said. My gaze didn’t turn to her, I just sit there and cried. “Firestorm please talk to us.” She said as I felt a hoof on my leg. I couldn’t even get a word out from my sobs. “Can some pony please tell me what happened?”

“He just woke up without a word.” Fluttershy stated.

“And he was all quiet saying things like Big Mac would before he asked to go home before all the tears just come flowing out like a waterfall. He didn’t even take a bite of the cupcake I gave him.” Pinkie said as she most likely pointed to the untouched cupcake on the tray. There was silence between the three of them as my sobs where the only thing heard. An hour passed when I finally stopped crying. I became silent again as I took a small bite from the cupcake Pinkie gave me.

“Feeling better there sugar cube?” Applejack said a few moments after I stopped and I nodded. I didn’t want to talk much.

“What happened?” I asked before I took another timid bite.

“What happened?” Applejack questioned before it snapped “Oh back there. Well… after you collapsed Twilight became enraged and casted some flashy spell that blew that Vermom varmint away through the wall itself. She flew off into the forest before we could chase her. Twilight had Dash and me take you to get checked out. We got you to Zecora so she can at least get you safe enough to travel the rest of the way. She said that you should heal fine but shouldn’t push yourself. Dash flew you the rest of the way from there. That was a week ago, you’ve been in a coma ever since.” She continued. That did not help how I felt. “Both Princesses even showed up to find out what happened. They are in the forest with Twilight and Dash now searching for clues of where Vermom went.” I looked at her quietly and asked simply.

“Can I go home please?” I asked really hoping for a yes. I was tired of the hospital I just wanted to lay in my own bed. A bed I have not used yet a bed that my friends gave me with my new home to help me fit in.

“I don’t know sugar cube.” Applejack said the uncertainty present on her face. “But you don’t have to worry about your bill. It’s taken cared off.” She said.

“I’m sorry to say but visiting time is up.” Nurse Redheart said from the door as she noticed me up. She didn’t say anything.

“Alright we’ll be back in the morning.” Applejack said.

“And I’ll bring you a nice big cupcake to make you feel all better.” Pinkie added.

“When you want to talk we will be here to listen.” Fluttershy comfortably said. Before all of them left as Nurse Redheart came up with a clipboard and sat in the chair.

“How are you feeling?” The nurse asked, I turned to her.

“Physically or emotionally?” I question.

“Let’s start physically.”

“Sore and worn down to be honest.” I said not looking at her but the window.

“Well that’s to be expected after removing such a large blade from your back. Honestly you're quite lucky. If it was an inch further, you may not be with us now.” She said in a tone that I hoped was trying to help. Because it didn’t. “What about emotionally?”

“Upset and cold.” I said simply.

“What do you mean?” She asked.

“Too much missing context to be accurate with it.” I said as I looked at her off the reflection in the glass. “Mind if I asked something?”

“Go right ahead.”

“Did I die?” I simply asked and she was silent. Not the good kind of silent either. Like the choosing her words wisely kind.

“Why do you ask?” She question with worry.

“Because it would explain something.” I vaguely said. She simply looked at me quietly a sigh of defeat later she finally answered my question.

“Yes. You technically died for ten minutes.” She answered.

“Sorry.” I said.

“For what?” She said a surprised.

“That I died like that.” I said with no real mirth.

“It wasn’t your fault.” She said as I turned to her.

“Can I go home?” I asked, she shook her head.

“I’m sorry but we have to keep you here to make sure you heal up properly. But I can get you something to pass the time. Anything specific you want?” She offered.

“Large sketch pad and pencil.” I asked for she nodded.

“I’ll see what I can find.” She said before she left as I sat there in silence.
***---***

Celestia, Luna, and Twilight Sparkle returned to the hospital without a clue about Vermom’s location. The group returned to find Redheart waiting at the entrance for them.

“He’s awake.” Redhead said with a bow to princess. Twilight on the other hand ran towards the room to stop at the door. Both Celestia and Luna joins her a few moments later looking at Firestorm. But not just him but what stood next to him. As he used his magic and the pencil to draw. A figure stood next to him. It was a tall, standing on two legs, closer to a minotaur but without the fur and horns. This was closer to Lyra’s draws and the figure was female. She had long black hair and a tanish skin. She wore a purple shirt and dark blue pants. A pair of white wings attached to her back as she watched Firestorm draw.

“Firestorm?” Celestia said as he looked up from his bed the figure beside him looked up as well flashing a smile before she faded away.

“Celestia, Luna, Twilight? What are you all doing here? It’s late.” He said putting down the pad face down hiding the image from them.

“How are you feeling?” Twilight asked as she walked over followed by the princesses.

“I’m alive.” He says as magic envelops the pad he placed. The pad floats over to Celestia as she and Luna look at it. The drawing was of the figure that stood next to Firestorm a few moments ago with one word written at the bottom.

Jessica.