He was breathing heavily, grasping his chest, he tried to calm himself down. "I have two eyes, duh."

She shook her head. "Your eyes Crew. They are hollow like you don't see or haven't seen in some time."

"Crew?" Celestia asked. "Is this true?"

"Of course not!" He lied. "I see you! You're white! Luna's blue! I. Can. SEE."

"B-but your eyes! They're so faded!"

Crew turned back to Fluttershy. "Look!" He shouted, getting in her face. "I can see you, your blue eyes, your pink mane. Humans have different eye colors that might be different to your eye colors!" Fluttershy was on the verge of tears, and already he could see from the sides everyone looked like they were ready to kill him.

Crew sighed, bending down to hug the mare. "Thank you for your concern Fluttershy, but trust me. I can see you." He wiped the tears away and laughed a little. "Why are you crying little one? There's nothing to be afraid of, I just got a little angry, that's all. Everyone gets a little angry right?" She nodded, making a couple sniffles. From his pocket, he pulled some tissues out, and wiped her face. "Don't dirty up that cute little face Fluttershy..."

"You handled that rather well Crew. I think her friends were going to execute you themselves for making her cry." Celestia said.

Rainbow Dash flew into Crew, and punched him right in the face. "DON'T EVER MAKE FLUTTERSHY CRY AGAIN YOU STUPID GROUND POUNDER!"

"Did you say ground pounder?" He asked through his teeth and started laughing. "How fast can you fly you horse!? Can you fly at mock two without pushing yourself?"

"M-mock two!?" Twilight yelled out her question. "Rainbow can only fly at mock one!"

He grinned, knowing he won the argument. "Maybe when my jet is repaired, I'll take you out on a ride twice the speed of sound."

Celestia cleared her throat as the lunch started to make its way around the table. "If anything Crew. I shall be the first to see if it is safe for my little ponies. You did crash it after all..."

I have a feeling it isn't just Rainbow Dash who loves to go fast. Alice remarked, amusement in her voice. Any who, I'm going to see if there are any midieval codes or something that could assist you out of this mess. Going to Stand-By Mode. He nodded, and turn his attention to his food.

It was pork with a bit of garnish, some mashed potatoes, and chopped carrots. He smiled wildly at it, and it smell like his mother's own cooking. He closed his eyes, remembering the face of his mother, one he knew he would never lose the sight of. He grabbed the knife placed next to him, and heard everyone else gasp. Opening his eyes, he saw everyone just looking at the knife in his hand. Then, he picked up the fork and stabbed the meat. After trying to cut it for a few seconds and not getting any work done he set the knife down along with the fork.

"Could I have a sharper knife please?"

Celestia struggled to keep her jaw jaw dropping and eyes widening. She nodded, and clopped her hooves. "Your hands are quite marvelous Crew... To be honest, I'm sure none of us were expecting to see you do that, rather..."

"Eat it like a monster, or a...excuse the pun, but like a pig?" Pinkie seemed to find it funny at least. He shook his head. "No, if there was one thing my mother taught me was to be polite at another's dinner table."

A steak knife was replaced, and he went at the pork again. Once he got the cooked meat cut into ten or so even bite sized pieces, he grabbed his fork and slowly ate one-by-one. Smiling at the flavor he said, "This is wonderful." He grabbed the water, or at least he hoped it was. Alice said it was Dihydrogen Oxide, so he drank it anyways. After that came a long, drawn out burp. Rarity had fainted, while others were staring at him wide eyed once again. "What?"

"WWoooooowweeee!" Applejack burst into a fit of laughter with Rainbow Dash, Pinkie joined in just because. The princesses in the room just shook their heads.

"Must you belch so loudly Crew? Must you belch at all?" Luna asked, speaking for the first time.

"Back on my world, we have many different cultures-" He began speaking of cultures and Twilight somehow got a scroll and quill and started to write. "Many are different because humans have almost completely populated the world, our population reaching seven billion. The French, and I think Chinese humans burp after a good meal, but I couldn't help myself. This will get another generous praise after I'm done."

"So, the louder the belch, the more you feel towards the meal? How strange..."

Crew shrugged, taking another few bites, moaning at the flavor of the juices each time. They did wonders to the meat, go griffins. "Humans are weird. The Japanese humans take their shoes off before they enter their houses. American- which I am- generally prefer freedom over all else. Freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom to live a long prosperous life...but I never got to follow that last part..."

"Why not?"

Be careful Crew, you're leading yourself into this. "I wanted to join the army...or guard as you might call it. We were a hundred thousand or more strong. Naval, Air, and Ground troops all ready to whoop some foreign ass." He laughed shaking his head. "Look at me, rambling on about the home I never loved."

Celestia was looking more interested in Crew every second he spoke. "Please, go on. Tell us of your home."

"Well, like I said our world is populated with seven billion humans of different races, however we're the only sentient species. Many humans suffer from a range of disorders due to how we're evolving and how we're changing the world. Too many people, too many factories, too much smog. We're killing our planet, slowly...."

"So why should I risk having you here then?" Celestia asked.

Alice decided to step in. "Because if you hurt my human, then I will enter your bodies, and disassemble you at the atomic level. Atom by atom, you won't even know you're gone." His eyes flashed purple as she spoke. "This is a threat, but this human is different. He is eco-friendly, he powers his house with the sun rather than burning coal or fusion. He is smart, caring to all living things, and is great with children who don't even have homes to all their own! Don't you DARE! HURT MY HUMAN!"

Everyone, once again sad to say, was staring at Crew who was now Alice. His eyes were still purple. "You wished for me to speak Princesses, those are my first words. Do not hurt my human!!!" His fists slammed down on the table, making his glass of water spill over and his fork to jump in his plate. "And don't you dare call him a threat to this world! He is lost, and afraid! Wouldn't you freak out, try to defend yourself around creatures who could or would harm you!? THREATEN EVEN!? I know you haven't yet, but it was implied in the tone of voice you carried."

Alice, enough, let me back in control. Override code: FREYA. His eyes turned back to normal. He blinked a few times, waiting for his vision to return. "I'm sorry you had to see her like that Celestia, Luna, girls." He nodded to each as he said, "She is very protective over me. She may be a robot, but she can think and act like most of us here. She cares not for how others feel to her words, robots do not have those kinds of feelings. Alice however, keeps her word, much like I. Our names mean more than any currency could buy, because if we allow ourselves to be bribed by another, we lose a part of ourselves in the process."

"So it is loyalty you inspire?"

"You could lay, I'm blindly loyal Celestia." Crew smiled, knowing this to heart. While he was blind he had to rely on everyone around him, now he just relied on Alice. "I am loyal to those who give me their trust. Their trust should not be taken for granted, and that's how it should remain." After he finished the potatoes he smiled, rubbing his belly. "That was a good meal Celestia. I give your chefs much praises for their work."

"Griffins are masterful chefs when it comes to cooking meat. We have a few around because some of the my guard requires meat." Luna said. "Well, those who were inflicted with the mutation..." Her gaze seemed to go out for miles. "Poor souls..."

"Anyways!" Celestia said, quickly changing the topic. "I must set a few ground rules for you Crew while we wait to hear which of us you choose to enter the guard under. You are not allowed to leave the castle-" A metal band flashed around his wrists. "-secondly, as a guest, you have access to everything the palace has to offer. You stay will be not only your cell, but your paradise. If you wish to view the rest of Canterlot, you must be either with my sister or I."

The ban looked to be made of some sort of gold. It floated with glowing runes around his wrists. "What happens if I try to leave without one of you."

"Simple. If we are not within ten meters of you, you will slowly feel heavier." He already knew where that was going. If he stayed to far, he would simply get crushed.

He waved his head to shut her up. She got the information across well enough. " 'Ight Celestia, I understand those terms, and I fully accept them. I highly doubt if I left here there wouldn't be either mass panic or mass hate towards me...I don't like it, but then again, who would like getting bound like this...?"

They all seemed to blush up at his words. He smacked his face and chuckled. "Naughty...so...dirty..." Rarity said shaking her head. "You sir, are much like every other stallion. Sexual jokes within each word you speak. Humf! Brute..."

Crew stood up. "Do I have a room to stay in?" He asked. "If I do, a tour around the castle and too my room would be rather nice of someone."

Celestia stood to the offer. "I actually have a few private questions to ask of you Crew. I shall take you to your room. It will be close to my own so that I may have a better eye on you." She narrowed her eyes. "I have yet to find myself to trust you far from my site."

"That being?" He asked.

"You crashed into my house..." She deadpanned with an angry look across her face, then looked to Luna. "Our house."

It was a few hours later, Crew was sitting in his new room. Celestia had to talk to him about the run downs of the castle, and a few things he had to do. It wasn't like he was going to be there for free while he was staying in his room. During the mornings the maids will come to his room before going onto her room, and at that time he had to be escorted down the halls to the dining hall. Later he'd come back with fresh linings on his bed.

Crew was fine with it all. Supposedly he'd need to help the maids by next week, which was also fine. He was still sore, but Alice was fine at work taking care of that issue. Already he was able to walk on his own, but he didn't want to. Sloth let it be him this night. As soon as Celestia told him that there was a spell enchanted into the door when locked, it muted the entire room.

Standing up with his wobbly legs, he stood up to lock the door. When it make a slight click from the door, he sat back down on the bed. His hands were shaking, but there wasn't anything Alice could do about it, not that she wanted to. She knew very well what he was going to do next. He'd done this after the first couple hours of seeing for the first time.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!" His eyes were wide and all he saw was red, and his breathing was off pace. "FUCKING PONIES! WHY PONIES!? DAMMIT! Why...why ponies Alice?"

Alice giggled. "I think they're cute little beings. Lots of energy around them, even that pink one. She seemed to create her own energy just from smiles, even her own." She moved around to his brain and gave him a little bit of his body's own natural relaxant. He breathlessly thanked her and fell back on the bed. "Do you see what I mean now about Celestia, Crew?"

He nodded. "She does...but I know it isn't her. Mom would never make me go though this if she had a choice."

"But doesn't it seem like Celestia doesn't either?" Alice asked quizzically. "Seems that way to me when she and her sister gave you those scrolls."

"By the way, how's the whole search going?"

"Actually, I've found only two ways. They are: One, you could kill yourself, or two, trial by combat."

"Those are supposed to help me Alice?" He laughed. " 'Cuz, that don't sound like either could."

"You took a fencing class on year five for two months. You went there everyday so you could be the best at it."

Crew snorted. "Like their fights will be a simple spar Alice..." He looked over to the scrolls, thinking for a few moments. "Y-you would count as a person too right?"

"Crew?" She sounded slightly worried. "Where are you going with this?"

"Remember what dad told us? You're as human as I am when it comes to problem solving. 'Alice is just like you Crew, but she can help you with anything you want of her, and more!'. Remember? W...now what if, you signed Luna's and I Celestia's?"

"You're dumber than I believed Crew. Honestly, if this is how any Blood Magic works, your idea wouldn't work."

"Hey, it's worth a try right? Plus, I don't like deciding on this. There are so many problems that could arise if we don't. Siblings make the worst rivals ever."

Alice didn't reply, she didn't know what having a sister or brother was like. Crew had a younger brother who couldn't hear, the two were almost always together being each other's eyes and ears, they were twins. Crew was the first to come out, which made him the older twin. However, it was when he was eight when his brother died of heart complications. There was a issue with his brother's heart where it would beat for a few minutes then stop for maybe ten or so seconds. At first it was only slightly worrying, then one day, he stopped breathing. Crew cried out, begging for his brother to breath for several hours, too young to fully understand death like his parents.

She was actually rather silent lately. Alice had been working hard to keep her own systems from collapsing or failing. The crash actually damaged a few key drones, but luckily she had back-ups and enough minerals in Crew to make more. There was still the issue of her AI getting out of control. She already had lashed out at the princesses, and it was the override code was the only thing that had stopped her.

"C-crew?"

"Yes?" He opened his eyes.

"I am sorry about earlier." She said, sounding a little ashamed. "It was very unlike my coding for me to lash out at them."

"It's fine Alice, you were only protecting me, that's your job."

"My purpose is to make sure that you are safe and well cared for. However, I am developing flaws in my codes that I am trying to work around. I...don't know if I should self destruct or not..."

"That worried?" He asked.

"I am Crew! I'm scared I might hurt you! I don't want to hurt you! You're my human!"

*knock, knock* "Alice, go to sleep mode, but keep eye function on. Rest, try to work out those flaws."

*knock, knock, knock* "Okay...I'll talk to you later..."

"Come in!" Crew called.

Celestia entered the door, and locked it back. "If you're wondering, I have a skeleton key." She showed him a key made of bone. He winced at the slight of it, turning a little pale. "I'd like to ask you a question, and don't worry, I am a mare of my word."

"Am I in trouble again Celestia?" He asked by way of joke.

She laughed a little, and sat down next to him. "Not at all. Now, onto the question...Crew, while we were walking earlier I was running some scans on you. I'm sorry for not informing you, but something was bugging me."

"That was?"

Celestia sighed picking up the scrolls. "What you say now will effect how these turn out Crew Walker...Now, tell me the truth. I will not know if you are telling it or not, but I need to have an answer. I swear I will not tell a soul other than to those who wish you dead." She put them down and looked at him in the eyes. "Were you born blind, and Alice is who you rely on to see? Please Crew, I want to help you. It was not your fault that you crash if you tell me yes."

Crew looked down at his hands. "So... if I tell you, you won't tell anyone who doesn't need to know?" He asked, and Celestia nodded, swearing to her crown and saying only one other pony aside from her sister would know. "Y...I was born blind yes...I had a brother who was deaf to help me see, and I helped him hear. When he died, Project Automated-Logistical-Intelligence-Caring and Entertainment Units one to one hundred thousand was underway. When I was eighteen, Alice was finished, and quickly injected into my blood stream." He smiled. "Alice is six years old now...When he first met me, she was set on fixing everything, but as it turned out, my body never made the nerves for my eyes. I had the organs-"

"But they didn't have function?"

"Exactly." He nodded. "So instead, Alice ended up using two thousand units in a chain to connect my brain to my eyes. At first, the light hurt, for the next few days anyways...After that, I wanted to know what every color was, do everything I could have done if I had eyes that worked..."

Celestia began ripping the papers up with her magic, then burned them into tiny little bits. "Can I speak to Alice?"

His eyes flashed purple and Alice turned his head to gaze at the princess. "Princess?"

"I need you to sign a waver, saying that you are Crew's helper. I must be here to witness you signing it or the nobles will throw fits. I will explain that there was a fault in your systems and that the jet had experienced a jump. There are signs on the jet that show this as proof such as 'bent wings' as it were."

"Why?"

"Because I cannot allow this. The nobles are so ready to start a war, and it is only my sister and I who stop them every time they feel even slightly threatened. Plus...Crew is blind, and I wish to aid those who need help the most."

Alice nodded. "You are just like his mother princess. Always doing whatever she can to help those in need..." She laughed and nodded. "Yes! Very much like her, voice and all."

"Who was this woman?"

"Her name was Freya. Now-" She clapped Crew's hands together. "Lets get my human out of the noble's asses hmm?"

"Yes, quite." Celestia looked a little perturbed, but shook it off. She knew a goddess named Freya, but there was no power to be felt from this human. So she smiled, and teleported the right scroll for Alice to sign.

The rest of that afternoon went smoothly. Celestia left only to come back some time later to explain that Crew was in the clear, but the offers still stood. Crew, felt then that he had to make it up to Celestia. So he started to think on what he was going to do for the time being. The shouts in the court yard showed him the later training ours of the Solar Guard. They all did push-ups and ran dozens of laps. And as the gears began to turn in his mind, he knew then: "Joining the guard is how I'll repay my debt." Alice could only agree. Crew was never the one to take things for free. There was always a price, even if he had to pay it, and Celestia did more than he could ever pay for... Next Chapter: INTERLUDE: Alice Estimated time remaining: 25 Minutes