I open my eyes, and immediately they’re assaulted by bright light.

“Agh!” I bring my hands to my eyes. “That hurt...” My senses begin to return to me, I’m lying in a bed, a very comfy bed. And I’m not in an hospital like Ponyville Medical Center. I’m in a medical ward. If the many voices around me prove anything.

“Who was that?” With eyes slowly adjusting to the light I sit up on the bed I’m in and look around. The walls, minus the one behind me which is marble, are curtains, and the room is kinda small, for human standards anyways. I hear hooves on marble and a unicorn with a light brown coat, dark brown mane, blue eyes, wearing a lab coat and stethoscope, walks into the room. “Oh good, you’re awake. The Princess was starting to worry.” He grabs a clipboard that was hanging on the front of the bed I’m laying on. “I’m quite surprised you didn’t sustain any internal or long-term damage from your… event last night. It’s especially a miracle in your position.”

“Why?”

“There was no trace of any healing magic on you when we scanned your body. Yet it was able to heal at a faster rate than the guards you were fighting against. We assume that your species has such an accelerated natural healing ability.”

“Yeah, lets go with that.”

“But something tells me that’s not the case.”

“Why do you say that?”

“When we scanned you for any internal injuries, we noticed an unusually high amount of metal in your system. Even for an omnivore your size.” He remarks, not taking his eyes of the clipboard. “Care to explain?”

“Yeah, where I come from my kind have developed… advanced technology. Super advanced compared to you ponies.”

“What does that have to do with you having an unusual amount of metal in your blood?”

“I’m getting there, please let me finish.” He nods and I continue. “And with that technology, humans have developed these microscopic robots, you know what robots are right?”

“You mean some kind of machine?”

“Yes, except we developed a certain kind of machine that helps me heal much more effectively and it basically makes my entire body more efficient. It also makes me stronger, my mind can process things faster than the average human brain, and it increases my intellect.”

“... So what you’re telling me… is that these little machines… are making you… faster, smarter, and stronger? And these little machines help you heal as if it was a potent healing spell.”

“To put it simply, yes.”

“I see… Can you prove any of this to me?”

“Sure.” I snap my fingers and a microscope and needle appear on the nearest table in the room. Using my magic I bring the needle over to me. I grab it and insert it into my left arm, drawing some blood into the needle. I take it out and set it on my lap, my snap again and a little glass slide appears. I gently grasp it, stand from the bed, walk over to the microscope, and set the slide on the little platform. “Look into the eyepiece.” I point to the eyepiece and back away. The doctor, I assume, walks up to the microscope and looks into the eyepiece. With his back facing me I couldn’t tell what expression he had on. He then turns around after staring into the eyepiece, giving me a straight look.

“I will be taking this sample for study.” The slide levitates and the pny begins to walk out the room. I snap my fingers and the slide teleports to my hand.

“No, you will not.” I touch my finger to the my blood, and it sucks back into my body.

“Why not!?”

“It is of matters known between me and Princess Celestia and Luna.” Yes I was pulling lies from thin air.

“O-oh...”

“Sorry to be a little harsh, but I really can’t share things like this with ponies. Moving on though, can you call Princess Luna for me?”

“Yes, of course sir.”

“Please, call me Ember.” The doc nods and heads out the room.

~Did you really have to lie like that?~

*It was the best I could come up with were he wouldn’t ask question and I would have to make more lies. Plus it’s better than explaining human technology and potentially causing and era of indutrialization.*

~You do know that may not happen? Don’t you?~

*Better safe than sorry, plus I’m just being slightly paranoid.*

-Slightly?-

*Shut it.* Just then Luna walks into the room.

“Ember, I’m glad to see you better.”

“What makes you say that?”

“The doctor explained that you suffered a massive concussion. We were quite surprised that this was the only concerning injury you acquired.”

“Hmm… What were the less concerning injuries?” Luna put her hoof to her chin.

“Multiple lacerations across the abdomen, many, many fractures and broken bones, organ damage that lead to internal bleeding, and heart failure.”

“Oh wow, ok. That’s considered less considered?”

“The medical staff have spells that can easily heal these kinds of injuries.”

“Then why not a concussion?”

“Magic can only heal so much when it comes to the mind and brain. We can only hope the worst is memory loss.”

“And magic can’t heal any kind of brain damage?” She sadly shakes her head. “Ahh… good thing I can heal from that huh?”

“Yes. Are you sure you are ok?” I nod.

“I wouldn’t be walking around and talking if I wasn’t now wouldn’t I?” I smirk.

“I suppose.” She offer a smile.

“Yeah, moving onto a lighter subject, does Celestia know of what happened?”

“I can assure you that she has no clue of last night’s event.”

“Good, now what do you say we get out of here.”

“Let’s.” She agrees and we walk out the little room I was in.

“Oh, one more thing, can you take me to the ponies I spared with last night? I’d like to formally meet them.”

“Oh perfect! I was taking you to them anyway! Follow me please.” I do as she says and she takes me to a different part of the… infirmary I’m going to call it., which basically looks like an indoor medical camp, and replace the tents with curtained rooms. And it’s all looks like it was originally a hallway that was turned into a medical ward. Luna leads me a down the corridor to a more private-looking part this place. To one room that looks to be built like a separate part of the ward. Though no windows are present and the only door has a large red cross on it.

“What’s that?”

“Urgent care.”

“Ah, but shouldn’t whatever magic they were using heal them to perfect health?”

“You exhausted the magic used to enchant the armor that allows them to heal.”

“Oh… Will they be alright?”

“Yes, they will.” She opens the door with her magic and we both enter. And first thing I notice is that it’s a short hallway,with beds and curtains representing a room, which are bigger than the one I was in. Second thing thing I noticed is the there are four beds in one combined curtain to make a one big room. And laying on those four beds are the ponies I fought last night. All covered in casts, splints and bandages, makes ‘em look like mummies. They look us, more specifically Luna, and they do their best to sit up, but only one stallion and a the one mare manage to sit up and salute. “At ease.” Luna waves a hoof and the two lay back down. “No need to for formality, my little ponies, I would like to introduce the combatant from last night.” She motions towards me with a foreleg. When the four look to me I straighten out and salute to them.

“An honor to meet you all.” I put my hand down. “My name’s Ember.” This time they manage to salute back.

“Night Skies.”

“Dusk.”

“Lunar Star.”

“Moonlight.” They name themselves off from left to right.

“To think we underestimated you. You’re one heck of a fighter.” Lunar comments.

“Thanks, I can say the same about you guys from what I heard the guard is really… flawed.” Luna cut in before the others could answer.

“This is because my guards are trained by the best warrior's around! We have had the most respected and feared warriors come from all walks of life and they have taught my ponies well.”

“I know, I’ve never had to fight like I did in years.”

“What happened last time? If you don’t mind me asking?” Dusk asked.

“I sent him to the hospital, much like you four, accept I ended up paralyzing him from the neck down.” They all go wide eyed and their ears fold back. “Yeah, not a pretty sight. Fucker deserved it though.”

“What would warrant such brutality?”

“He made fun of my mother. No one makes fun of my mother. Nobody.”

“Oh...”

“Yeah, anyway. It was nice meeting you guys. I kinda need to go.”

“Anytime.” All four say in unison. I wave to them before I teleport back to my house.Once there I leave my room and see that the girls, minus Applejack for obvious reasons, looking around my house for something.

“What are you all doing here?”

“EEP!” Fluttershy shrieks. “Oh, it’s you. Hello Ember.” She says when she turns around. Subconsciously I stare into her rear. Nothing needs to be said as all will be explained.

“Hey Fluttersh-”

“Ember!” Twi exclaims. “We were looking for you!” Hey eye twitched noticeably.

“For what?”

“Fer somethin’ that involves testin’ yer abilities.” Aj answers with weird look in her eye.

“Can you tell what we’re gonna do exactly?”

“Oh buck it!” Rainbow shouted. “We’re in season and we need a stallion, now.” All five of them blush.

*In season..?* I think for a second.

-If she means what we think she means… Run-

*Right ahead of ya.* I bolt to the back door.

“Hey! Get back here!” I heared Rainbow shout. As soon as I’m outside I take off of and head to the Everfree.

“Buck! Go get ’em RD!”

*Fuck me...* “Fuck off!”

“Not without you monkey boy!” She reaches me and crashes into in a second, a true testament to her speed. When she crashed into me she broke my arm of my right wing. Now, this wouldn’t have been a big deal, if I wasn’t already fifty feet in the air, over a forest. I may be exaggerating about the height though.

“Fuck!” My wings go limp and plummet out of the sky.

“Oh, my bad...” I collide with the canopy and fall through leaves, branches and god knows what. It felt like an eternity, and I was really starting to hurt all over. There wasn’t a part of me that didn’t hurt. I think my wings broke even more. Twigs snapping and leaves rustling is all I hear.

I finally hit the ground, with a notable amount of pain in my chest.

“Fuck...” My breathing was ragged and short. “The fuck… happened?” I look down, only to be mortified at what I see. Besides all the cuts and gashes I got from falling, which are already starting to heal, there is a big, broken branch sticking out of my lower chest cavity, I think right above my stomach. Little spots of blood dot the wooden object. And from what I see in the slightly dim lighting bits of flesh hang off the tip of the branch. Probably bits of stomach and liver.

“Ember! Where are ya!?” Rainbow flies in from the hole I made in the trees. “There you are!” She hovers to the ground a few feet away from me. “Hey, what-” She freezes when she sees the branch sticking out from my chest. And stays frozen in place.

“Rainbow!? Ember!? Ya around here!” That snapped her out of stunned stupor.

“Uh… Yeah! Over here!”

*No dammit! I gotta get up and get the fuck away!* With all the strength I could muster, I heave myself up, using the tree behind me for leverage.

“What are you doing!?”

“Trying to get... away from you... what else?” *Fuck it’s hard to breath* Rainbow walks closer to me.

“Don’t.” Is all I could say. “Don’t you fucking, dare.” Just then the other girls burst in from the foliage, manic looks on all their faces. Which drop to looks of horror when they see me.

“Oh no! Ember! Are you ok?” Fluttershy quietly shouts. I didn’t answer her, all I did was start to walk, well, more like stumble away, deeper into the forest.

“Ember?” Pinkie called. I turned my head to look at her. And I give her the most pissed off look I can create, getting my point clearly across of ‘stay the fuck away from me’, and her face fell. Even her hair turned straight. I kinda felt bad for making her sad like that, but the little pity I had was incinerated in the inferno that was building inside. I turn back around and keep walking into the forest. Leaving the girls to their own devices.

~Are you going to remove that log in your chest? It is tasking to keep you alive.~

*You know the nanobots are already taking care of that right?*

~Are you sure?~

*... Keep at, only for a few more seconds. The pains getting to be unbearable anyway.* I kneel down to a sitting position. Albeit a bit hunched for obvious reasons. I couldn’t pull it out by normal means, so I use my magic to grab the end of the branch. “Ok, three… two… one. *shlorp!* Fucking god dammit!!” I yanked the thing out in one pull. Cause much more pain to flare up in my chest, I fall on my side, my breathing ragged again. Luckily the pain subsided as the hole in my chest began to close. Though the healing felt like it lasted an hour. I’m not the fucking Wolverine! So don’t expect any superfast healing like that.

Finally after four minutes of agonizing pain, it soon subsided. Allowing me to stand and keep walking.

-You know, that really fuckng hurt.-

=Thank Mrs. Obvious=

-I know! I just thought we wouldn’t feel that.- My mind froze, but my legs stwitched to autopilot.

*...What the fuck do you mean by that?*

-Oh fuck, umm…. Me and Emby--

=We can’t feel as much pain as you do.=

*Really? Are you fucking kidding me?*

-No..?-

*Ch, whatever. At last I have the privilege of not listening to your bitchy complaints.*

-Fuck you.-

*I wish. Fuck I need a good fuck.*

=I know. I feel it too.=

-Eh…-

*Should’ve figured.*

-I’m a woman, what did you expect?-

*You damn well know what I expected.*

-Wh--

~This is entertaining and all, but I think you should pay attention to what is ahead of you.~ I stop walking and do just that, I’ve been apparently walking down a path the lead to to a small hut that was built into a large tree. Kinda like Twi’s house before it got destroyed. Except this place looked a little foreboding. Even though this place is familiar looking. So, being the curious son-of-a-bitch I am, I walk up to what looks to be the front door and knock. Some wooden sounding clashes come from inside and the small door opens.

“Good eve-” The zebra-looking pony freezes when she sees me. I think it’s a female, she has eyelashes, and good god does she look like a zebra, grey fur with darker grey stripes. And a mohawk that doesn’t look out of place for what looks like a zebra. The weird thing is all the rings she has on her neck, ears and legs. And then her eyes are stark contrast with their bright blue color, it’s actually kinda cute, and you know what kind of cute I mean.

“Wie is jy en wat is jy!? (Who and what are you!?)” She backs away a little.

*Woah ok. She speaks Afrikaans?* “Ek bedoel geen kwaad, ek was net rond te loop en ek het gestruikel oor hierdie plek.. (I mean no harm, I was just walking around and I stumbled upon this place.)”

“Wag, hoe het jy my moedertaal tong ken? (Wait, how do you know my native tongue?)”

“~I speak many languages. Though, I’m quite surprised this language is spoken here.~”

“~Why do you say so?~”

“~Well, you see, I came here from a portal from another world. My name is Ember by the way.~”

“~Ember?~ *gasp* ~Are you not the ‘huyman’ the Ponies of Ponyville have been talking about?~” I nod. “~Ah! Fantastic! I have been meaning to go into town to see you with my own eyes. And my name is Zecora.~”

“~Heh. How have you heard of me?~”

“~Sometimes one of my friends Fluttershy or Twilight Sparkle come to pick up some of my special brews.~”

“~You make brews? Like, potions? Oh! Now I remember! The girls would talk about you sometimes. A pleasure to finally meet you Zecora.~” I crouch down and shake hand to hoof with the zebra. “~So, you really are a zebra?~”

“~This is true.~”

“~Ok. Just being curious.~”

“~It is ok, Ember. I am very curious about you myself.~”

“~Well since I don’t have anywhere else to be, I’d be happy to answer questions if you want.~”

“~That would be nice of you. Please, come in.~” SHe steps back from the door and I kinda crawl in. Once inside I manage to stand up to full height, something I’m very appreciative of. And the inside looks like a shaman’s hut. Masks and shelves full of bottles and containers line the walls. And off to my left sits a cauldron atop an open flame. A bubbling dark green fluid fuming away in the large pot. Across the room is a counter lined with almost empty bottles, bowls filled with some herbs, and who else knows what. Towards the back was a living room-looking area, a couple coaches are up against the back and and one lone sofa sits in front of the others. “~Please, take a seat in my living quarters while I make some tea.~” I nod and sits down on the comfiest looking sofa. Pretty nice.

“~Hey, I just noticed, you don’t speak in rhymes in your language. Why is that?~”

“~That is of a matter I would not like to speak of.~”

“~Alright. Sorry for asking.~”

“~No need to apologize.~” She finished whatever she’s doing and walks over to where I’m sitting. Taking the couch across from me. “~Now, where shall we start?~”

“~How about you ask all the questions first? Then I go after that.~”

“~Splendid!~” She smiles, I smile back.

“It was nice talking. I’ll be sure to come visit.”

“~That would be wonderful. Until next time we meet, Ember.~” We wave to each other and she closes the door. I turn around and make my way back home. But once I’m at the edge of the forest that leads directly into the town I teleport to my house. I make a quick search of my home and retreat to my room when no one is around. And since I had nothing to do I gave myself something to; creating a robot with an artificial brain.

So, as it seems this… Estrous cycle they call it, lasts two and a half weeks. Which is how long I had to avoid all of the mares wherever I go. Which is pretty difficult to do, with most of the population being female. They can apparently smell any male a fucking mile away. A lot of running, flying, and teleporting around happen those weeks. And I decided to stay inside until it passed. Ruby was generous enough to give me food from wherever the fuck he gets it from. And it was smooth sailing from there, I kept myself entertained by working on my new project. Which I decided to start with the artificial brain. You know, it’s really difficult to do with the computer I’m stuck with, maybe I should-

*Knock knock knock* That was the front door.

“Who the fuck?” I quickly and quietly make my upstairs and peer through the peephole in the door. It’s Twilight. *Why the absolute fuck is she here!?* I shrug it off and walk back to my room.

“Ember!? Are you in there!? Rainbow said she saw you here earlier!”

“Go the fuck awaaaay!” I shout a little too cheerily.

“Ember? We need to talk.”

“How about you go away before I make you go away?”