"Good to finally meet you properly Luna." I said; the two royal guards were still saluting and I was really hoping they would cut that shit out so they could open the door to the food.

"We are pleased to meet you as well Sir Aron." Luna replied; she looked past me to Rainbow Dash who was just staring awkwardly. "And you are?" Luna raised an eyebrow at Dash.

"Rainbow Dash Princess. I am an Element of Harmony. I was there when you... Returned." Rainbow Dash replied, very clearly scared. Luna paused.

"I see. Guards you may open thine own doorway to the feasting." Luna said, then looked past Dash to the guards. They looked at each other for a second and one shrugged before holding open a door to the dining hall.

"So how is Equestrian life treating you Princess Luna?" I asked about as casually as I could. I'll admit I didn't know much of her history besides that she had gone crazy and got sent into space with Wheatley. I was going to try and actually respect this Princess since I didn't want to be the reason for her going insane again. Or to relapse if she was still insane.

"It is very different to what we know. Our subjects talk so differently and creatures like you wonder our halls."

"Yeah times change, where I'm from our royals used to talk like you do, with thy and the royal we. Some still do but the common thing now is how I'm talking. I'm not surprised you don't know what I am, only been here a couple months now. Celestia told you anything about me?"

"So strange that rulers would sink to their people's level. But we, I suppose you are right. Times change and I have been gone a while. What of the Traditional Canterlot Voice?"

"No idea what that would be, you using it now?"

"No we are not. It is what many consider a shout."

"Oh, in that case no. We never used it." That I know of.

"And yes, 'Tia has mentioned you a few times. I have been very eager to meet with you."

"Yes she has mentioned." Just as I said that we reached the main table, there were half a dozen over tables out with some lords and the like sat down. I wasn't overly sure where I would be sitting so just scanned the room for a spare table out of the way.

"Ah hello Aron, Rainbow Dash, sister. Glad you could join us." Celestia welcomed from in front of me, the food was already coming out. The Princess herself sat on a long table with about a dozen chairs, two other ponies were sitting near here but the rest of the table was free. I recognised one of the ponies with Celestia, the guard captain or something. Shining Armor. I wasn't sure who the other unicorn was but he looked like a cunt. Luna trotted off and went round the table.

"Where we sittin'?" I asked. Celestia held her smile and held a hoof next to her, where a seat that looked like it could support me a lot more was. Then a normal pony seat was next to it. I shuddered. But if she wanted us next to her fine, saves me from being on a circular table with a load of other snobs that I didn't want to talk to. I started walking down the right of the table and Luna and I managed to reach our seats at the same time. Dash sat down without a word. After about a minute a couple more important looking ponies walked in and spread around the room. Dash ended up sitting next to a couple mares and started talking with them, it was kind of weird seeing Dash converse with lordlings or whatever the fuck they were but I didn't complain. Celestia's horn started glowing and waiters started pouring into the room with trays of all sorts of shit. I was blanked out when a waiter walked over to me with a trolley.

"Aron of Earth?" The dude asked. I flinched and shook my head a few times.

"Huh oh yeah that me." I answered, the guy rolled his eyes and floated a plate with one of those metal semi-circle covers on it onto my placemat and walked past and did likewise for Rainbow Dash. I noticed Celestia had a huge salad thing and had already removed the cover. "What's the protocols for eating Celestia?" I asked, both she and Luna had started eating but I couldn't see past to the other ponies on our table, the peasantry on the outer tables weren't eating yet. It dawned on me far too late that I could've looked to my left where Dash was.

"Do what you think Aron." Celestia said and started chewing on a piece of lettuce. Bitch. I just shrugged and pulled the lid of my own food and noticed Dash watching me and doing the same. I almost gasped when I saw my meal, it was some kind of fish platter. Muscles, prawns, a fucking lobster, some potatoes and some other bits of fish and vegetables. Was pretty awesome. I picked up a fish knife and a folk and just started eating. It was perfect.

"I love you." I muttered, Celestia giggled slightly.

"I'm glad you like it." She said, I saw her nose twitch slightly, so close to cooked fish must've sucked for a vegetarian. But she knew what she was getting into when she ordered it for me.

"Hey, Aron..." Dash asked; I turned to face her, chewing on a bit of lobster. "Can, can I try some." The mare closest to Dash actually gasped at that pretty fucking audibly. I very nearly let her.

"Not this Dash, you've never eaten meat before and it's probably not good for you. I am tempted to let you just to fill your curiosity but fish, and this fish, is a very divine taste. You might not like it at all. Added onto the reason some of this is salted." I replied, probably more reasons given than needed to convince her not to eat my food, and the salt thing was a lie. But I didn't want her sick or completely off meat if I had a meal she could actually try. She looked kinda sad at that. "I'll let you try some pork or chicken next time I have meat alright?" I asked. She perked up a bit at that.

"Okay Aron, it does smell kind of, funky." Dash replied and started eating her salad.

"Thou eat meat?" Luna asked from my right, I looked over to her and past Celestia who was just happily munching away, though I'm pretty sure she had moved away a little bit.

"Yeah, humans are omnivores. Can eat veg and meat. We can eat most things, to a limit. Can't eat grass and I despise some of the fruit and vegetables you guys have that Earth doesn't." Expanding on that, they had some fruit and veg that Earth didn't have, the most common one's I had found was this banana looking fruit, but was bright blue and tasted like a mix of blueberries and disappointment. It also had a weird leafy bush thing on the end of it. There was also what looked like a fruit but was apparently a vegetable that looked like a mix of a pear and a triangle of cheese. Yellow as well, that tasted horrible. They did have something called a Unigue that I quite liked, some fruit that looked like a purple crescent moon and tasted like a mix of pepper and apples. A very alien food.

"I see, ponies are technically omnivores but most never touch meat, and having it the first few times can make us ill." Luna replied.

"Makes sense. Our worlds have so many similarities. But you guys don't even have melons or peaches here." To name a few foods they didn't have. Supposedly the world here was rich in gems and gold but not so much with other metals. They didn't have stuff like titanium or magnesium. They did have a thing called blusteel which was a blue metal stronger than steel and much better to use than most materials but was stupidly rare.

"We shall have to talk after dinner in a more private area." Luna replied. I shrugged and broke a muscle in two to get at the meat.

"Thought that was the plan. Me and Dash have a room already so I can just wonder with you, nowhere to be." I said, then ate the muscle I had stolen from its shell.

"Aron I hear you have plans of going to Cloudsdale soon." Celestia said a few minutes later. I had devoured a lot of my meal already, the prawns and lobster were gone. I had started on the veg and finishing off the fishy remains.

"Yeah, Rainbow Dash is going to a young fliers thing. I'm going to be her support. I know Twilight is going and obviously Diamond but dunno anyone else who is going." I replied.

"How do you know that?" Dash asked chewing on a bit of food. I smiled slightly.

"She has Diamond spying on me, and Twilight sends reports on me as well." I answered for Celestia, she looked pissed at my answer but lost her glare very quickly.

"Well, I wouldn't go as far as spying. And Twilight sends reports on anything she finds important or worth my time."

"Fucking Twilight, I need a house." I grunted.

"Get a job then." Celestia replied quickly. I stuck my tongue out at her.

"I'm an immigrant here Celestia, I should benefits and a home and all that shit."

"Technically illegal immigrant. You haven't got a pass or any family in Equestria."

"True I suppose. I'll just keep leeching off Twilight and the crown then as a rebellion."

"Rebellions should be stopped before they take off too much though."

"My rebellion will be focused in Twilight's library stealing her food. I doubt many ponies would want to join my resistance. Let alone fit in the library for it to become a problem."

"It is good hearing banter again." Luna interjected. I smiled.

"It's my job to be a cunt to Celestia. A job that I'm not getting paid to do I might add."

"Keep it up and I'll hire you as the court jester." Celestia said, voice dripping with sarcasm.

"Nah I'll pass. I have a rebellion to run remember."

"is that why you are here? Discuss terms of surrender?"

"Of course Princess Celestia. I want an extension built onto my fortress where kitchen staff will be on call at any time of day. And I promise to stop throwing toilet paper around the royal gardens."

"I don't know if I can accept those terms. How about twenty hours of the day?"

"Twenty-one."

"Deal."

"Well there you go Celestia, you just stopped the shortest rebellion in the world."

"I shall write it in the history books." We started giggling at that, Celestia was kind of cute laughing but I'd noticed most of the ponies had adorable laughs, or at least the women did. Diamond's laugh was from Diamond. Though I hadn't heard FemDia laugh. "You need to come to Canterlot more often when I'm not busy." Celestia muttered after a second, wiping a tear from her eye.

"No offense Celestia but what is it you do all day?"

"Talk with lords, solve issues ponies may have. Paperwork. You're just lucky to catch me on basically a break most times."

"Or you clear the room when you hear I'm on my way."

"Or that yes." I carried on eating, and carried on until I'd finished, our meals were taken away and desert was served. Apple pie; was pretty great.

After dinner, most of the lords and ladies and whatnot pissed off and left Dash, Celestia, Luna, me and a load of guards in the room. Most of the stuff had been cleaned up but a few waiters were wondering around tidying tables and clearing plates. I was beyond full and felt kind of sick. None of the others looked all that much better.

"Well Aron, I'm going to head to our room. I'll see you later." Dash said and got to, kissed me and after a quick hug that I enforced. Left. A guard followed her out and I presumed lead her to our room.

"And with that, I'm going to go to bed. I will see you in the morning sister. And if I don't see you before Aron, goodbye." Celestia then declared and likewise left, without the kisses and hugs though. That just left me and Luna sitting a seat apart.

"So." I muttered. Luna looked to me quickly and smiled slightly.

"Tell me about yourself, Aron." She ordered.

"What do you want to know? Not much to tell honestly." I replied, shrugging.

"Well first, where are you from? Celestia mentioned another planet?"

"That's basically it. I woke up one morning in my pit I call a home. Celestia was in my room. Told me I had, wild magic, inside me and transported me here through a magical portal. I've been here ever since and have stopped believing this is some twisted dream. I come from a planet called Earth, or Terra. The only sentient race are humans, things like me. We have a lot of stuff you guys do, but our technology level is hundreds of years ahead of yours."

"I see. What of the, grenades you made?"

"Wow, Celestia has told you a lot. Those are a human invention from about six hundred years ago. You happened to have the materials and I hired a man to build some for me, and damn are they effective. I tested them down in Ponyville and had the town fuzz on me within seconds."

"Town, fuzz?" Luna asked slowly.

"Police, er, guards. Well, I had the town mayor on me along with a couple friends."

"Seems like you've had some adventures."

"Eh, not really. The highlights have been fighting, you. Talking down a dragon, a town-wide rave, and the grenades honestly. I haven't done all that much."

"Talked down a dragon?"

"Yeah, a dragon tried to fall asleep near Ponyville and I was asked to tell it to fuck off. Blood dragon I believe Celestia called it." Luna gasped.

"You're lucky to be alive!"

"I really am. I very much fucked up." I said, then started going into the story of the dragon, skipping bits but I really couldn't be asked to repeat it all that much. When I had finished Luna looked unsure of herself.

"We see what you mean when you agreed to still be alive. If you didn't have that sword you might have died."

"Oh fuck, I know. Speaking of, do you know much on Spiritus?"

"Bits. I remember when we received the sword but even back then not much was known about it except for the fact it was indeed Spiritus Procellarum. I don't remember who it was who gave us the sword. Strange it was just lying around Old Canterlot after all that time."

"Yeah, I was thinking the same when more of the sword was given to me. Something that enchanted should have been protected. Though I'm not sure how rare enchantments are here."

"Pretty rare, there are only a few metals that can be enchanted, gold, blusteel and a few other metals. Usually metals from Tartarus. Which is where the sword supposedly comes from. Or at least was forged there. Do you have it on you?"

"No, it's got some green, emerald looking metal as the blade, bits of a black metal and some gold on the hilt. I've never seen anything like it and it doesn't feel enchanted."

"How would something enchanted even feel?"

"No idea, no magic on Earth. We have nothing enchanted. I figured it would just make me feel stronger or faster or something. Hell, I expected the thing to pulsate in colour or glow."

"We have some things that follow that description. Gold enchants glow."

"Oh yeah, my bag of holding glows. Kinda." I should remember that bag more often, just sits in my room full of bits. I even made a trip up to the dragons hold to stock up a bit more. For anyone asking, the grenades were all over my room in various crates and boxes. All locked via Twilight magic.

"Bag of holding?"

"A gold coloured bag that holds a lot more than it looks like, it's about the size of my head but can hold almost all of my sword. Managed to hold forty-six grenades which are about the size of my fist." I held up my hand in a fist in case she couldn't visualise that.

"Sounds interesting." She didn't sound interested.

"So what of Princess Luna, what is there to learn of her?"

"My history is long and dark Aron."

"Then focus on the present, what have you been doing since you returned?"

"Do you not fear me?" I paused for a few seconds.

"Why would I fear you?" Luna looked down at that.

"Because of my past, because of what, what I become. Other ponies fear me."

"I'm not a pony. Plus I barely know the history as to why you turned into Nightmare Moon. I was there when you returned and yes you were a bitch. But once you got hit by that rainbow shit you seemed fine."

"...Bitch?"

"Being mean."

"I see. Well, thank you, Aron. And I apologise for shooting at you." I smiled and shrugged.

"Hey if you hadn't shot at me I would never have found Spiritus so I got something from that. The Timberwolves were more of a threat to my life than you were." Luna raised an eyebrow.

"You don't think I'm a threat?"

"I did. And do, I know Celestia can end my life without blinking so you probably can. Just at the time all you did was shoot magic balls at me, that traveled pretty slowly. But before we entered the old castle some Timberwolves attacked us and busted Diamond up pretty badly, had they killed him we would have probably all died."

"I am more prone to war and fighting than my sister. But she could hold her ground. The guards are pointless." I paused and thought back on something.

"Cou- could you write that down?" I asked.

"Sorry?"

"Could you write down that Celestia's guards are pointless?"

"Why would I ever do that? Celestia warned me you ask about Equestrian secrets but I didn't realise you were this bad!"

"Oh no no no! Princess, you get me wrong. You see, me and Diamond were discussing Celestia when I first arrived and I made a bet, a er, never mind. I discussed that Celestia could probably hold her own against most threats and her guards were more for show than anything else. This would just solve an argument. I'd destroy the letter or whatever as soon as I showed Diamond. Who is actually a royal guard." Luna was silent and just looked me over with an eyebrow raised. "Whatever. How is the Lunar Guard coming along?" She still said nothing. "Ah whatever I don't care. Anything else you wanna talk about or we done here?" I asked.

"You are dismissed, Aron." Luna said rather coldly. I shrugged and started to leave. "You do not bow before your princess?" I rolled my eyes before turning to face her.

"I bow for no one. I called you Princess a few times due to respect, the same with Celestia. But privately and mostly publicly? You're just Luna and Celestia to me."

"Be wary Aron, you do not want to make an enemy of me."

"Luna, you'd know if I wanted to make you my enemy. Good night." I said and walked out. Wow, that could have gone better. I decided to leave Canterlot pretty quickly the next day.

The next morning came pretty quickly, I had a great sleep and had been spooning a very flustered and tired Rainbow Dash the whole night, I had come in after my talk with Luna and wanted another make-out session. This time she wasn't wearing a dress I could mess up but it was still pretty fun. I wouldn't be surprised if she asked me to go down on her soon or even asked to go the whole way. Which I'd probably be up for. I got dressed in front of Dash who looked more disappointed the more clothes on, but damn was she up for me usually sleeping naked. She put her dress back on in the effort to not carry it.

"I'll do my hair when I get home." She said looking at the mess of hair she had, I was likewise. Though I wasn't going to sort it. I just brushed my hand through my head and moved on.

"Let's not get breakfast here, wanna get out as quickly as possible." I suggested.

"Talk with Luna that bad?"

"It started fine, she was obviously bored of me very quickly and then got pissy when I asked for Equestrian secrets."

"What would you even do with them?" Dash declared.

"Exactly. I made a bet with Diamond that Celestia's guards are useless and Luna outright admitted it. I asked that she put that on paper so I could prove it to Diamond. She got pissy."

"Oh so wasn't even proper secrets?"

"Nope."

"Well I want to get home anyway, I have some.. thin- masturbating to do." Dash said, I smiled and laughed a little bit.

"You have no shame Dash."

"You don't. I'm sorry my coltfriend has a dirty mind that I've taken bits from."

"Sure it's all me. Stupid sexy Dashie." She rolled her eyes and stuck her tongue out. I just walked over to the door and opened it for her. I didn't expect Celestia to be standing outside my door with a small group of guards behind her, all armed. I audibly gulped.

"Luna spoke to me earlier." Celestia said, more monotone than Diamond. I took a step back. If it came to it I would just dive out the window and hope Rainbow Dash followed me and saved me.

"Did she? Sisters tend to do that." I replied carefully. Celestia nodded slightly.

"Spoke a lot about your little talk last night." I gulped again, and I felt myself pale a lot.

"Oh really? Well me and Dash need to get back to Ponyville, for a thing." I said. Then looked to Dash quickly and then looked to the window.

"Uh huh. Guards!" Celestia shouted. The five guards all lowered their weapons to me. I stepped back again and was shot forward by Celestia's magic. "My guards are here for a reason Aron. Don't question me again. You're cute when you're scared." Celestia whispered when I was almost touching her face with my own. She licked my nose and then dropped me. "Escort Aron and his, lovely marefriend to the chariot bay." Celestia declared, the guards raised their weapons and Celestia stepped out of the way so I could walk out. "Was lovely meeting you Rainbow Dash, you are always welcome in the castle." Celestia added as Dash walked past. Three of the guards started walking off but two stayed and tailed me on either side of me.

"What just happened?" Dash asked when we were fairly down the halls.

"I pissed off a very playful, powerful, sarcastic ruler." I declared.

"She's fine Aron don't worry about her, she pulls stunts like this with ponies she likes." One of the guards said. I turned to face the speaker.

"Oh hey, Sunflower. Didn't recognise you under all that armour." I said; the named guard smiled.

"And me." Grumble said.

"Sup guys." I replied.

"Hey Aron, have a good day?" Sunflower asked.

"Yeah was pretty awesome, had some time with Dash, met a friend, the show was great and dinner was even better."

"A friend you say?" Grumble asked.

"Yeah, musician called Glaze; saved her from some swarming fans. Wouldn't say friend being fair, but she seems great."

"When you say time with Dash here?" Sunflower asked, I looked back and saw Dash blushing.

"What we do behind closed doors is none of your concern." I said. Dash rolled her eyes.

"Hot." Sunflower muttered.

"You made friends with Luna too." Grumble said.

"You weren't there, she probably hates me honestly."

"No, she's talking very highly of you Aron." Sunflower replied quickly.

"Huh, unexpected. Suppose that's why Celestia didn't execute me for being a cunt to her sister."

"Sure that's why." Grumble said rolling his eyes.

"So y'all flying me home?" I asked.

"Yep, it's one reason as to why we volunteered to pick you up this morning when Celestia asked." Sunflower answered.

"One? And she planned that?"

"Yep, one reason. Yes, she did. Was pretty livid for a bit when Luna said what you had talked about, but was talked down by Luna pretty quickly."

"And Sunflower." Grumble said. The Pegasus mare stopped in her tracks for a second but carried on pretty quickly.

"Yeah I put a good word out for Aron, so what?" Sunflower asked. I rolled my eyes again and sped up a little bit.

The day we went to Cloudsdale was a pretty shit one, it was raining over Ponyville and very outcast, a couple ponies I talked to were saying it would be hard for Pegasi to fly through the cloud layer. I still found it strange at how low the clouds actually were in Equestria but I'd tried to understand the weather system already and just found myself not caring.

Twilight woke me up fairly early and cast the spell on herself and I. Diamond didn't need it being a Pegasi so just sat and watched. I was kind of glad Spike wasn't coming, none of the others were. Only Twi, Diamond, me and Dash. I figured Dash's friends would want to be there but they seemed busy doing one thing or another. Plus we wouldn't have all fit in the chariot that was coming to pick us up. I'd hate to burden the Pegasi pair that was transporting us. Diamond had decided that he would fly alongside the chariot rather than ride it. Once Dash arrived at the library she also agreed. Something about practicing her speed. I wasn't all that excited to watch Dash do some stunts and general flying around, I'd seen it all before and supposedly this was to impress the judges, who happened to be Wonderbolt members. So I guessed that most of her performance was going to be whatever the fuck they do. I had a pretty big breakfast, not expecting to eat for a while, apparently Cloudsdale was further away from Ponyville than Canterlot was and security around that city was meant to be mega.

"So Diamond, or Dash I guess, what's Cloudsdale like?" I asked whilst we waiting, Spike was already out with Rarity but the rest of us were sitting around the table.

"Pretty nice, nicest Pegasus city." Diamond grunted.

"It's 'kay." Dash said. I looked to Twilight.

"Cloudsdale is meant to be beautiful, I've only ever seen it from below. Being a unicorn, but the city is very beautiful, with water flowing by something the Pegasi call an aqueduct, the Weather Factory is a big tourist destination as well as the various war museums. A lot of the buildings are open with big pillars holding them up."

"Thank you Twilight. So it's like Earth ancient Greece?" I asked. Twilight looked confused. "I didn't expect an answer, I'll see what it's like when we arrive. What's travel like?"

"Couple hours. Canterlot is only twenty minutes at the most." Diamond replied.

"Huh alright. Y'all going to be okay flying for that long?" I asked.

"Aron I'm a guard, I'm trained for long flights, as are our drivers." Diamond said.

"I need the practice. Yeah practice." Dash said, she was shaking a little.

"Dash come with me." I said, standing up and walking towards my room, Dash quickly followed. I closed the door so the other two wouldn't see and grabbed Rainbow Dash in a hug, she accepted it and hugged back. "You got this Dashie." I whispered. "Just try to keep calm, you'll be fine."

"Ho- how did you know?" She asked.

"You're shaking and seem, out of it. Plus it's my job to see when you're worried or scared and the like."

"I don't want to screw up." She muttered.

"You'll be fine Dash, you're the best flier in Equestria remember." She smiled slightly and I knelt down, lifted her face up to me and kissed her softly. "You got this Dash." She looked scared again.

"You don't understand, I'm trying to pull off a sonic rainboom."

"A what?"

"Sonic rainboom. It's when a Pegasus fliers so fast they break the sound barrier, for me I'd send a huge rainbow to follow me and to explode outwards. It's only been done once."

"By who?" I asked, the logic being 'well if some dead pony can do it you can.'

"Me. When I was a filly." I laughed slightly and Dash pulled back from me looking pretty pissed.

"If you did it as a filly you can sure as shit do it now. With all the training and the like. Just fly up high so you get as much time as possible and pretend someone is falling or something."

"That's horrible Aron!" I threw my arms up.

"Hey it's a goal to aim for alright. Just fly high and go straight down."

"You're telling me this like you know how to do it?"

"Well no, just common logic, you need speed to break the sound barrier, so the higher you are the easier it'll be."

"Thanks Aron, but I'm still. Nervous."

"Would it help if I didn't go?" She shot up in a hug again.

"No please come. Just. Just cheer me on okay?"

"Obviously. If you complete the sonic rainboom I'll give you anything you want. Within reason." Dash perked up at that.

"Anything?"

"Obviously. I won't kill a man but you get the idea."

"Alright. I think I can do that." I heard a knock on the door as she said that and after another kiss and quick hug got up to open it.

"Chariot's here." Diamond grunted and walked off. I quickly followed. Then turned to Dash as I reached the door.

"You good?" I asked, she smiled and nodded quickly. I smiled again and let Dash leave first. Then as an after thought ran back inside and grabbed my sword.

The trip was long and boring, I saw a bit of the Wasteland that Celestia had shown me and spoke to our pilots but neither seemed overly interesting. I didn't even catch their names. Diamond flew next to us the whole trip and Dash kept flying really far away really quickly and then would hover somewhere and let us catch up. A couple times she would sit on clouds and the like. At one point she shut her eyes as we passed and I grabbed her tail and dragged a cloud riding Rainbow Dash along. Diamond was correct about time, the trip took just under two hours if my guessing of sun movement was on point. The city was as beautiful as Twilight had said, the whole thing seemed to sparkle in the sun and the cloud mass was full of huge buildings and an aqueduct that went around the city, with clouds at seemingly random intervals pouring rain down. Waterfalls were falling down into a huge lake below and rainbows had formed around it and turning into rain water as they arced down. The city really did resemble Greek architecture and I had never seen a more beautiful sight. There also seemed to be multiple layers, with a big building at the top that looked like a huge courthouse, it had clouds and rainbows flying out of it and a load of small waterfalls flowing around it much more than the rest of the city. All evaporating before touching the ground.
The city looked much bigger than Canterlot but also seemed more spread out.

"It looks beautiful." I muttered, eyes wide. Pegasi were flying all around the city as well as the ground being littered with them.

"Welcome to Cloudsdale." Diamond replied. Also looking towards the city.

"I never want to leave." I whispered.

"Me neither." Twilight agreed.

The chariot came into land and dropped us down on the outskirts of town, I noticed some ballista and catapults and the like all being manned by Pegasi, they wore armour quite alike the Canterlot guard but this armour was dark grey rather than gold, or blue like the Lunar armour. Most of the Pegasi had some sort of metal padding on their wings with what looked like a recreation of dragon scales, but what I later found out were actually tiny blades. Cloudsdale was beautiful but ready for war.

A couple Pegasi started walking towards us. One of them saluted at Diamond.

"Welcome to Cloudsdale sir." He said, Diamond saluted back.

"Thank you lieutenant. Good to be back." Diamond muttered, the other pony nodded and looked past him at first Twilight. Then me.

"You bring a unicorn and..." The guard said, staring at me.

"Aron of Earth, I'm a human." I explained, the guy didn't seem all that impressed, I didn't blame him.

"I see. Well welcome to Cloudsdale, don't make any trouble whilst you are here and we won't have any problems."

"I don't plan on it." I replied. The guard nodded and looked back to Diamond.

"Have a good day sir." The guard said and flew off with the other guards around him. We stood awkwardly for a moment before Rainbow Dash spoke up.

"I had forgotten what Cloudsdale is like." She muttered from behind me.

"I'd heard rumours that Cloudsdale was one of the more militarised cities. But they look like they are at war!" Twilight declared.

"It is much more calm towards the inner city, but most Pegasi higher ups never really moved on from war and control. There is more money in that, I am surprised none of the guards have outright kicked Aron or you out yet." Diamond replied.

"Racism big here?" I asked.

"Yes, blame that on the higher ups rather than the citizens."

"I intend to, how come it is them in charge and not Celestia, or at least someone under Celestia?"

"Because Cloudsdale, and many Pegasi cities are not under her rule. Technically the Pegasi race never joined Equestria, but most feel welcome anywhere in Equestria and only a few have the feeling that the Pegasi are the master race."

"Huh, Cloudsdale might really like UKIP, or Trump."

"What?" Diamond asked.

"Heh, nevermind mate." I saw him shrug and then turned to Dash. "So Dashie, where the fuck we going?" She looked up and smiled.

"We still have a couple hours before the fliers event so we could do a tour of Cloudsdale. Anywhere you want to go?" Dash replied.

"I don't know what is in Cloudsdale but if there is a history museum or whatever. I presume you'd be bored if we went to one Dash. And I guess you too Diamond so we don't have to." I replied.

"You want to go to a museum?" Twilight asked, weirdly taken aback.

"I don't care if we don't go. I'd like to learn more Pegasi history and it saves me from asking Diamond questions constantly. You shouldn't be as surprised at the fact I wanna go to a museum Twi, I ask peeps questions all the fucking time around you, especially history and magic." Twilight blushed slightly at that and stepped back with a really awkward smile.

"The history museum isn't very good here, Cloudsdale may be the capital but it's so far from where any action would have been, I suggest going to the inner cities for history, like Fort Skye or Rainbow Falls for more interesting history, only stuff you will have here you could get in any Equestrian museum and hints at interesting history." Diamond muttered. I shrugged.

"Alright no big, maybe one day. How close are either of those to Manehatten?" I asked.

"Rainbow Falls is the closest. Why?"

"Manehatten seems like a place to go to. Thinking on doing a road trip thing one day."

"What is a road trip?" Twilight asked.

"You guys have camping?" I asked, she nodded.

"Sort of like that, you go from camp site to camp site. Or in most cases, city to city or place or place. Whatever. Some people just go on long journey's for a celebration or wedding and the like. In this case I'd basically just go to this Falls place, piss about there for a day or so then move on to Manehatten. Do whatever there is to do in Manehatten and come home." Twilight nodded and I honestly though she was going to write it down, not that it was a great explanation. "Hey do you guys have the Statue of Liberty, Twin Towers and Empire State Building?" The three ponies looked at me like I was speaking an alien language.

"What?" Dash asked bluntly.

"Yeah bad question. Alright, do you have a massive green statue thing of a woman, or mare I guess, holding a tablet thing and a torch?" There was legitimate nodding. I wanted to die. "Fucking Gods above. Why?" I said after a long pause.

"What do you mean. Why?" Twilight asked.

"Why do you have a Statue of Liberty?" I asked. Twilight looked at me again and I expected her to glitch slightly and the universe would explode. She didn't. Weirdly.

"It's called the Statue of Unity Aron." Twilight replied.

"Oh that's not too bad, I know about the whole united Equestria crap when the three races came together or whatever. Still weird parallels in Equestria."

"What about the other two things you asked about?" Diamond asked.

"The Twin Towers and State Building?" I asked, he nodded.

"The Twin Towers on Earth were the trading hub of our Manhatten, weren't sure if you had anything like that. Dunno what the equivalent would be here. They were pretty generic tall buildings so wouldn't stand out if I described them. The Empire State Building was a huge building that was the tallest building in our world for a while. Massive fucker made of concrete and a lot of glass."

"First of, were? Secondly, I do not recognise either of those. We will need to go to Manehatten to see if there are equivalents. Maybe you could show me Earth versions when we go for researching?" Diamond asked. I smiled slightly.

"Might have to do a few trips to Earth, once with you and once with Dash, I wanna show her the glory of video games as well." Dash blushed but said nothing. Twilight looked confused. "I say were because a good few years they got destroyed in a terrorist attack. I don't remember it but it was, and still is a huge deal. I'll explain a bit more later, can't be asked to dwell on it much. To the second though, I couldn't exactly show you. I couldn't go to Manhatten or New York since it's in a different country to me. Unless Celestia dropped us in NY. But we wouldn't have a safe house or anything. Plus talking horses don't exist on Earth."

We stood around talking about this and that, despite my pleas I did end up explaining 9/11 in more detail and the 7/11 bombings and all the shit that came after. The show came pretty quickly and we made our way towards what looked like a gladiatorial arena. With the Greek pillars and the like. The city got pretty condensed closer to the center and I really did find myself enjoying looking through Cloudsdale. The Pegasi walking around gave me some odd looks and a couple children were ushered away from me, some got close and I just made funny faces at them before they would run off giggling before repeating. I noticed there was a high density of guards around Cloudsdale, more so than Canterlot, a lot more. With Canterlot there were loads in and around the castle but in the streets it was one every 300 or 400 yards or so. Here they came in groups of three, all visibly armed and in smaller intervals. Honestly saw more guards in places than I did civilians. Diamond didn't mention anything but looked at each of them with a strong intensity. Was pretty scary.

"Hi welcome to the Young Fliers Competition, which of you will be competing?" A very overly happy, warm mare asked when we entered the stadium thing. Dash walked forward slowing and I smacked her ass slightly as she walked in front of me, she looked back with a blush and a very conflicted look on her face.

"I- I am, Rainbow Dash." Dash replied. Diamond took a step back, presumable so the mare at the reception desk area didn't call him out for joining or something.

"Alrighty, you'll be number 5, if you could take this-" The mare said keeping her over the top smile, handing Dash a piece of paper that I didn't see her write anything on. "-And go through the left door. I presume you, three. Are watching her?" The mare almost faltered and lost her smile and welcoming aurora when she looked me up and down. but didn't.

"Absolutely. Here for morale support and shit like that." I replied, the mare still kept her smile but stood a bit straighter.

"Alrighty, door to the right, pick any seat that isn't taken." The mare said. I shrugged, cracked my knuckles (which did make her flinch) and walked off. The others following close behind.

"I am never going to get used to people behind put off by me." I muttered.

"I wouldn't say put off." Diamond muttered, I stopped, turned to him and glared at him slightly. "I am sure you will get used to it, or ponies will get used to you. You just have not had a lot of luck with being in welcoming towns or cities."

"Where are welcoming places then?" If the capital wasn't one and an over-sized military base wasn't one either...

"Border towns, places like Appleloosa, Edge, Hoofington, a few more that I cannot recall."

"Littlehorn Valley, Mustangia, Hoof City." Twilight said.

"Though Littlehorn is closer to Zebra territory and they have less traffic than Equestria does." Diamond replied.

"That's only one example that is out of the picture then. I don't care enough anyway, I'm welcomed in Ponyville and Canterlot ponies don't give a shit so I'll keep there." I said after a pause, we got to some seats about midway up and I looked around, instead of a sand floor where gladiators would fight lions and the like, there was no floor. Just a couple clouds and a massive fuck off drop. I felt kind of ill just sitting here staring into the void.

We sat talking for a little longer on towns and cities in Equestria and I discovered that only about two-thirds were horse puns.

I won't go into detail in what the first couple Pegasi did during the event, they all looks around Dash's age so at least my girlfriend hadn't signed up for the wrong event like I had previously thought. I barely paid attention to the show and didn't even register when Dash came on. Must've been horrible for her to come out and I was slouching on the bench staring up into space thinking on all the E3's I would miss. I only got jolted up when I felt a hoof jab into my side by Diamond. I jumped a bit and looked up, watching the cyan mare fly around dodging clouds like an expert. Which considering she was a weather pony kind of made sense, she went through all of them and didn't hit one. I started cheering her and clamping slightly, it wasn't all that amazing but I was there for support not to like it.

"Shit." Diamond muttered. I looked at him quickly but before I could open my mouth with a volley of swears and vulgar I saw what he was staring at. Across the stand in a little box thing say Princess "Motherfucking" Celestia and two Pegasus guards. My mouth dropped.

"Go on Dash give 'em hell!" I shouted, putting a hand next to my mouth. I doubt she heard me but whatever.

Once she was done with the clouds she flew up to a bunch and started flying round one at a stupid speed, that must have been really disorientating. She sped round one, then the other and I noticed the first cloud was spinning round really quickly like a spindle or something. Was pretty cool. I started clapping again and noticed Celestia was likewise cheering her on. She had this. I looked up again and saw she was flying up towards the sun, all three clouds spinning uncontrollably. She went right up there as well and almost became just a speck in my vision, if it wasn't for the fact I had to look away since she flew right into the sun. I lost sight for a bit but very quickly saw her shooting straight down. I almost forgot what she was trying to do and almost shouted for her when she zoomed through the gap in the arena. I stood and looked down and just saw her flying down towards the lush green ground below.

What came next I will never forgot. There was a huge, blast of rainbow explosion just appear from nowhere, the sound of what sounded like a bomb going off or a jet going past came next and finally a large burst of air came up and knocked me on my ass. I saw a huge, long Rainbow streak coming from something travelling extraordinary speeds towards us and it took me a second to notice the cyan form of Rainbow Dash leading the charge with the most beautiful, pure rainbow I had ever seen. Not the faded crap we get on Earth, a full on, blocks the view of the sky, rainbow. The thing filled me with emotions. Happiness, Sadness, Bliss. Love. I had never, nor ever, would ever see anything as beautiful as that explosion of rainbow was. The crowd just exploded in cheering as Dash slowed and landed on a cloud nearby, bits of rainbow flaking off her tail.

It goes without saying she won.

We spent the rest of the day with Celestia and the Wonderbolts. I never did find out if the bothered showing the other candidates after Dash's performance.

Author's Notes:

next chapter will be up tomorrow or monday
i wrote it before i wrote this.