“That’s corny, you know that?”

“I know, but in this case it’s true.”

“Yeah, sounds kinda cool though.”

“It does, doesn’t it?”

“Yeah. Well, while you’re doing that, I'm gonna go do some other shit.”

“You go do that.”

So, it took longer than what I expected to, about three fucking weeks longer. How long is that altogether you ask? About a month and a half. And let me tell ya, it was mostly worth it. Why? I had to take a blood sample of my own blood, isolated a single nanomite, which is something literally impossible without magic given my situation. Even with magic it was a pain in the ass. Then I had Ruby create parts for the thing, which I also had enlarged. After that I had Tony Stark some shit and upgrade each individual part using magic. It still astounds me to this day that there is a fucking spell that enhances anything. I’m starting to think I’ making my own rules for using magic because of this. All I have to do is snap my fingers and the desired spell will cast.

Kinda amazing/scary at the same time, isn’t it? Anyway, after shrinking the machine back down to molecular size and test it on my own blood samples. I did have Ruby create, or ‘conjure’ as he calls it, a microscope to begin this whole process. You know? It’s cool to watch cells under a microscope. Not really, it’s more interesting to watch paint dry.

After a few test runs the new machine did succeed in improving regeneration rate, the little thing even began to duplicate themselves! What? You thought they already do? What gave you that? They just help regenerate lost limbs. Humans can already generate lost limbs, the nanomites help speed up the process.

Anyway, after the successful trial runs, I put the sample into a syringe and now I’m about to inject it back into my blood system. And Golden just happened to walk into my room.

“Hey E-” He froze when he saw the needle in my arm.

“You know what this is, stop overreacting.” I state after a few seconds of awkward silence.

“Oh thank god.” His visibly relaxes and walks down the stairs. “It’s those little robots right?”

“Precisely.”

“Oh good.”

“Shut up.”

“What exactly are you doing anyway?”

“Remember when I told about upgrading the little nanomites?”

“Oh yeeeaaaah! Wait, you sure that’ll work? Like, nothing bad will happen?”

“I’m sure nothing ‘bad’ will happen to me. I tested it on my blood to make sure.”

“Oh, ok.” At that I push the stopper, sending the blood by into my bloodstream.

“The effects should be instant.” I mutter under my breath.

“What effects?” Fuck, how did he hear me? I would've answered him, but a numbing sensation overtook my body, I was still standing, but any slight move could send me to the floor. “Hey, you alright?” I couldn’t even move my eyes to indicate I’m alright. Golden got closer and waved a hand in front of my face. After getting no response he backs away, a concerned look etched across his face. “Dude, you’re scaring me. Please say something.” I’m starting to enjoy the look on his face. The numbing sensation already went away and I can move again. I just wanted to get some fun out of it with Golden’s sudden appearance. And I’m not disappointed.

“Im gonna go get the gir-”

“BAAA!” I flare my wings and flail my arms about.

“WAAAAAA!!” He screams and I proceed to laugh my ass of. “DUDE! What the fuck!? That’s SO not funny!”

“Oh calm your *huff* metallic tits Golden. Hooo fuck that was funny.” I had to take a breather after that, it was that hilarious.

“FuckI YOU!” He walks out of the room.

“Wait!” He turns his head to me.

“What do you want, asshole?”

“How do my eyes look?”

“What?”

“How, do, my, eyes, look?” He sighs and walks closer to me. He stops when he’s a few feet away.

“Woah. That’s freaky, in a cool way.”

“Why?”

“They look like the blood vessels are circuits.”

“Perfect!”

“That’s what you were going for?”

“Yes, and it worked!”

“That’s really cool.”

“I know right? Now, where you planning to go?”

“I… actually don’t know. Maybe go see Twilight? Wait, you said it’s barely winter right?”

“Yeah.”

“We need to find Rainbow then.” He walks out the door and out my house in a brisk pace. With me in tow.

“Why?”

“You’ll see.”

“Alright.” I say a little unsure of the events to come.

“So, you’re telling me that everything I’ve done here is on that show?”

“Yeah, you went with the girls to the little town, tell me though, it didn’t show what you did to Starlight when you went into the cave with her.”

*Oh good, it didn’t show the rock.* “We had a stand off, she caused the cave to collapse, and a rock fell on top of her.”

“Did the same thing happen to her like Pinkie?”

“No.”

“What..? Oh.”

“Yeah. Anyway, what else happens?” He was glad I moved on.

“The episode ended with you and the girls partying. Speaking of which. That party Pinkie threw for you, did you almost start crying?”

“Why do you ask that?”

“Just a little curious.”

“I almost did.” The tone in my voice made it clear that I was not enjoying this conversation.

“Ok.”

“So, what else has this cartoon, show me doing?”

“Hmm, you did that thing with Tirek, awesome by the way, and then you did that thing with Starlight, the dreams, then then I came into the picture, then there was that little scene with Luna. There’s probably some little things I missed, but that’s most of what I’ve seen.”

“Cool.” I look up. “Hey, we’re here.”

“Oh really?” He looks up with me. “Huh, perfect. But how do we get up there?”

“I could fly us up there, but I don’t think both of us can walk on clouds.”

“Why can’t you? Could you even carry me?”

“I could carry you with my magic, and I wasn’t born wit these wings, remember?” *You can cast some kind of cloudwalking spell right Ruby?*

“Yeah.”

~Of course.~

*Can you cast it on me and Golden?*

~Of course!~ I feel a rush of magic and a red glow washes over me and Golden.

“Woah, what the fuck was that?”

“Just a cloudwalking spell.” I grab Golden in my magic and I take off towards the cloud mansion.

“Woah shit!”

“Calm down.” It only took a few flaps and I made to the front of the cloud mansion. I then set him down next to me.

“Thanks.”

“No-” I’m interrupted by very loud sobbing.

“That must be Rainbow!” Golden rushes inside.

“Ooookaaay...” I follow, a fair bit calmer than the robot. When I entered to building I was amazed on how it resembled a roman mansion. It does on the outside, I didn’t think I would look so much like a roman town square. All the pillars and patterns, it makes me a bit jealous. I look at the tracks left by Golden that eventually lead to her room. The girls are all hugging around Rainbow, wos looks to be crying about something, along with the girls. *What the fuck is she wearing…*

-A rainbow robe with turtle slippers, and she’s holding a turtle, no, tortoise, that has slippers on it’s feet that look like Rainbow.- To my right is Golden, a sympathetic look on his face.

*Wait, why..? Ooooh…* It doesn’t take a genius to figure out what’s going on. Reptiles usually hibernate like bears. But really? Rainbow crying over something like this? It’s not like the tortoise is dying! Although, I still thought this was… kinda funny. What? Fuck you, it is funny, she’s being overdramatic about a fucking tortoise hibernating! What’s not to laugh at? At least I managed to step out the room and out the house to laugh my ass off. Once I’m calm I walk back inside to Rainbow’s room. And it seems the girls are content to just sit there in silence. I shrug and head back out. They might question me later about leaving and coming back, then leaving again. *Eh… no harm in telling the truth.* From the porch I noticed that ponies were milling about in town. With that I decided to head into town and walk around.

“So lemme get this straight, you left because ya thought it was ‘funny’ that Rainbow was cryin’ over Tank goin’ inta hibernation?” Aj asked and she kicks a tree. All the apples that hung from it fell into the placed tubs below the leaves.

“Pretty much.” I kick a tree not too far from Aj. Knocking the apples from it and they fall into tubs placed below.

“Ya know that’s a little messed up right?”

“Not really, it’s just me with a weird sense of humor, well, weird for you ponies.”

“Whaddya mean by that?”

“Anyone would laugh at that from my planet. At least, a lot would. Some would just look sympathetically.”

“Like Golden Streak?”

“Yep. He’s more of a softy than anything.”

“Then why are you like that?”

“Did I ever tell you of my past?”

“No...”

“Did you read that letter that Celestia sent Twilight?” I turn to look Aj straight in the eye. Our eyes meets and she quickly looks down, her cheeks turning red.

“Yeah...” She squeaks.

“There’s your answer.” I kick another tree, the apples fall into tubs again.

“Uh, is that really why you’re like… that?”

“That’s most of the it. I was already a bit… dense? Aagh, there’s a better word for that.”

“Ah know what cha’ mean. Ya just don’t think’s at big of a deal, and to be honest,” Heh. “Ah don’t think it’s a deal either.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, Rainbow cryin’ over her turtle that’s goin’ to hibernation? Its not like he’s gonna kick the bucket.”

“That’s exactly what I thought!”

“Good to know we’re on the same page.”

“Yeah. Y’know, you’re always the level-headed one in every situation. I like that.”

“Like you? Thanks.” In the corner of my eye I see her blush a little.

*Do they always blush when complemented?*

=Maybe they don’t get compliments like that?=

-Maybe, but considering what they’ve done, you’d think they’d get praised wherever they go.-

*Yeah, I guess that’s just how this world works?*

~Indeed.~

“Thanks, Aj.”

“Anytime.”

“You, that’s the first time I get any praise in this world.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. Hey, do you go into town often?”

“Yeah, why?”

“Do the ponies in town… talk about me?”

“Why do ya ask that?”

“I’ve noticed recently that ponies tend to grow silent when I’m around. DO they not like me or something?” I look to Aj, she shakes her head.

“Everypony likes ya Ember, even before ya dealt with Tirek.”

“Then why do they go quiet around me?”

“Hmm… I don’t rightly know, but Ah’m guessin’ that they’re a bit… intimidated by you.”

“I kinda figured, I don’t look like a nice guy don’t I?”

“Took the words right outta ma mouth.” I look over to Aj, and a smug grin is plastered on her muzzle.

“Up yours Applejack.” I chuckle, she snickers back and we go back to kicking the trees. If you’re wondering why we’re kicking apple trees, winter didn’t last long. It’s weird how the pegasi control the weather, even though winter lasted three months. “Hey, what month is it?”

“Febumarey, why?” Fucking puns.

“Just asking. Do you have holidays here?”

“Yeah, Hearth’s Warming is coming.”

“What’s Hearth’s Warming?”

“It’s where we get together with friends and family to celebrate to union of the three pony tribes.”

“Oh, cool.” I kick another tree and once again the air is filled with silence.

“Uh… do, you… have anypony you can spend hearth's warming with?”

“There’s Golden Streak, but I don’t think he would want to do that.”

“Why not?”

“Where we come from it’s considered ‘weird’ or ‘wrong’ for another male to do anything like that with another male. Same goes for women.”

“Really?”

“Yeah,” I kick another tree. “Most people can care less,” I walk over and kick another tree. “But there is always that group of people that think anything new is wrong.” I stomp over and kick another tree, the main body cracks when I kick it. “Especially those religious extremist.” I walk to another tree and practically chop the tree from its base. “Always saying same sex relation is wrong and you’ll go to hell, saying it’s against the fucking bible.” I reared my leg up to kick another tree. “Making it a living hell for us, can’t even show public affe-”

“Ember! Stop!” I freeze and look to Aj.

“What?” I look at myself. “Oh,” Smoke was fuming off me, and my breathing was fast, even my heart was attempting to burst from my chest.. I put my leg back to the ground and take a few deep, calming breaths. “Sorry about that.” I say

“What was all that about?”

“Just some… things I had to deal with back home.”

“Oh. You alright then?”

“I’m fine now.”

“Good,” She turned away to kick a tree, but something seemed to catch on in her head. “wait, you said ‘same sex relations’, does that mean..?”

“*sigh* Yes, well no, I… uh… How would you say it..?” I think for a second. “Oh! I swing both ways.” A confused look takes Aj’s face.

“What?” It take her a minute, but she does eventually understand what I meant. “Oh. OH! Yer inta mares and stallions?”

“In simpler terms, yes.”

“Oh.”

“What?”

“Nothin’, just didn't think your… barn door swung both ways.”

“You don’t think it’s wrong?”

“No, ah think everypony deserves to have a special somepony, no matter their preference.”

“Thanks Aj.”

“Anytime Ember.”

“Guys!” A new voice comes from nowhere, and Golden bursts in from between two trees.

“What?” Aj and me speak at the same time.

“Aj! You’re going to Appleloosa right?”

“Yeah, ah’m also taking Applebloom and her friends, why?”

“Can I come with?” He ask with an almost manic grin.

“Uh… Sure. Ya got bits for a train ticket?”

“Umm… fuck.”

“Don’t worry about it Golden, I’ll buy a ticket for you.”

“Ehe, thanks.”

“No problem.” I kick another tree.

“Ah think that’s enough applebucking fer today Ember.”

“Alright. Let go get you that ticket then. See ya Aj.” Me and Golden walk off towards the train station. “So why did you want to go with them?”

“I remember in the show that CMC go off on own little investigation and help a stallion truly understand his cutie mark.”

“‘C.M.C.’?”

“Cutie mark crusaders.”

“Ah, I never heard the acronym for that.”

“Well now you have.”

“Shut up, smart ass.”

“Fuck you too Ember.” Golden and me laugh at each other, and I can hear Aj chuckle behind us.

Author's Notes:

Didn't reach the 3000 word mark this time... I'm trying to keep it at that, I can't promise that the next chapter will be at 3000 words, but I'm trying my hardest to do so. And the chapter title was a little misleading wasn't it?