I woke up god knows where, an intense feeling of thirst prompting me to awaken, with the sun beating down on me and sand causing the armor around my collarbone to itch.

Wait… Armor?

I checked my body again and found that the paper mache armor I was wearing before was now heavier and sturdier, not to mention the clank of metal against metal when one of my gauntlets brushed against my breastplate.

Ok, this is weird, but not the biggest question on my mind. Where am I and how did I-?

I stopped when I remembered just what had happened before I blacked out, namely the darkness that pulled Warrick into the ground and the hole that opened up afterward.

Oh no. Oh nonononononono!

“WARRICK!” I shouted. “WARRICK, CAN YOU HEAR ME!? WARRICK, IT’S JANE! WHERE ARE YOU!?”

I started to sprint, picking a random direction, my heart pounding in my chest.

“WARRICK! PLEASE, ANSWER ME! WARRICK, WHERE ARE-!?”

I was cut off as I tripped on a rock I didn’t notice and fell flat on my face. I groaned in pain grabbed my nose, recoiling a bit as I saw blood. Not much, probably not more than a scrape, but it was still a wake up call.

Ok, keep it together. If I don’t I could die before I ever find him. I sat up with my legs crossed and tried to gather myself, my heartbeat slowing. Deep breaths. In through the nose, out through the-

I flinched as I saw a blue flame exit my mouth as I exhaled sharply. For a moment everything felt completely silent. I’m not even sure if my heart was beating.

Did I just…

I got up and clenched my fist, pulling my arm back.

This is stupid. There’s no way this could possibly work.

I exhaled through the nose as I punched forwards, a short burst of blue flame firing out before dispersing.

Holy shit, I’m a firebender. No, it was blue. I’m not just a firebender, I’m freaking Azula.

“Ya’ll stay right where ya’ll are,” a southern sounding voice called out from behind me.

I turned around and to my astonishment found myself staring at a small orange horse with blonde hair and a stetson hat, a sleeveless vest covering her front half. She glared at me, pointing a sword at my face. She didn’t seem at all intimidated despite the height difference between us.

“Ah don’t know what ya are, but yer type ain’t welcome here.” she spoke, narrowing her eyes, “Go on and git!”

I considered just running off right there before I remembered I had firebending powers and could probably roast her face off. I decided against it, though, no need to make enemies, and this might be the only person… being for miles. I needed some information, but I also needed to get her to drop her guard.

Time to put on the waterworks.

I dropped to my knees and started to beg. “Please! Please help me! I need to find my brother! I don’t know where he is or where I am! Please help me!” I pleaded, tears streaming down my face.

The horse blinked, taking a step back, not having expected that response, “Now just uh... jus’ calm down,” she started, lowering the weapon, “What was that about a brother?”

Almost got her. Just a little more. Time to pour it on.

“My brother! His name’s Warrick and I don’t know where he is and he can’t walk and he’s probably all alone and oh god, I just need to find him!” I blurted out, practically blubbering as I spilled my heart out without taking a breath. As much as a convincing actress I could be, even being able to cry on command, the fact that I was genuinely worried for him made it much easier to sell my performance.

“Alright, alright,” she said, putting her hooves up in an effort to sooth me, “Ah’ll help ya’ll out, jus’ promise ya’ll won’t do any of that fire stuff in town. Ponies are scared as it is.”

I kept sniffling as I raised my head, my eyes no doubt red and puffy. “O-Ok. Th-Thanks. Um, who are you? What are you?”

“Mah name’s Applejack and I’m a pony,” she said, sheathing her sword and adjusting her hat, “Care ta tell me yer name?”

I was about to respond when I realized how loaded a question that was. I mean, who the hell was I right now?

Well, acting always did make me feel more comfortable. Besides, if I tell half truths, she can’t fault me for that later.

“You can call me Azula. And thank you so much for helping me.”

“Well, nice ta meet ya Azula,” Applejack said, giving me a smile and holding her hoof out like she hadn’t just been pointing a sword at me.

I grabbed it and shook, giving me a curious look in response before shrugging it off. “Um, you said something about a town?”

“Yup! Appleloosa!” she beamed, pointing in some random direction, “Right this way!” she pulled away, starting to trot off, though she kept looking around, ears swiveling toward any little sound that went off.

I picked myself up and wiped my eyes before following. “Um, if you don’t mind me asking, why do you have that sword? Is there something particularly dangerous out here?”

“Can’t be too careful, what with them changelings running free.”

“‘Changelings?’”

“Yeah, they’ve always been a problem but they didn’t start raiding towns until the war got worse.”

I felt my blood run cold for a moment. “Um… War?”

She turned and gave me an incredulous look. “You’re really not from around here, are you?”

“No argument here.”

She sighed, coming to a stop. “See, thousand years ago, the princesses ruled together, but the older one, Celestia, wanted it all fer herself, so she changed her name to Solar Flare and told everyone she was the queen. Her little sister Luna didn’t like that too much and decided to fight her over it. It’s been going on ever since.”

Oh boy, a fight over the throne with everyone caught in the middle. Yeah, that never ends badly for everyone involved.

“So, whose side you on?”

Applejack made a face, spitting on the ground. “Ah ain’t on noponies side, ah’m just trying ta’ keep mah kin safe.”

I smirked. So that’s why she put the sword down so easily. Guess I’ll play up the familial relationship as much as possible.

“Just worried about your family, huh? I can appreciate that.”

“What about you? How’d ya get separated from yer brother?” she asked, resuming her walk, looking back at me.

I groaned. “Applejack, I doubt you’d believe me if I told you.”

“Look, Ah feel fer ya but ah ain’t taking ya into town until ya tell me,” she said, turning to look back at me, “So get ta talkin’.”

I sighed. “Ok. Well, me and my brother went to a con where we bought some trinkets related to our costumes. Next thing I know my brother gets pulled into the ground by what looks like a black mist and I fall into a hole in reality that just appears out of nowhere. Next thing I know I’m lying on the ground with sand in my face.”

She gave me a look, looking me over with a rather critical eye, “Thats the craziest thing ah ever heard.”

I sighed and chuckled. “You sure? I could come up with something crazier if you want.”

“No thanks, ah’m good,” she said shaking her head, starting to move again. We soon came to what looked like a town straight out of the wild west, only full of multi-colored ponies. They all froze when they saw me, with many hugging their children close.

“Um...Klaatu barada nikto?” I replied, holding up the Spock hand.

One of them let out a shriek and they all scattered, dashing into their homes and I assume barricading their doors.

“Oh fer apples sake!” Applejack groaned, face..hoofing? “Ya’ll can come out ya yellow bellied cowards! It’s just a lost pony looking fer her brother!”

“That ain’t no pony ah’ve ever seen!” came a voice from one of the houses.

“That’s because I’m a human. Also, the translation for what I said was ‘live long and prosper’, if that helps any,” I explained.

“See? She ain’t gonna hurt nopony,” Applejack insisted, “Now all of ya’ll get out here and give Azula a proper Appleloosa welcome!”

“Does it involve getting drunk? Because I’m kinda udnerage,” I whispered.

“WELCOME TO APPLELOOSA!” a stallion shouted, suddenly appearing from out of nowhere, a big grin on his face.

“GAH!” I jumped back, frozen in an exaggerated pose before quickly taking a more normal stance. “Um, ahem, hi. You’re, um… really chipper.”

“Consarnite Braeburn!” Applejack scowled, poking the stallion in the chest, “What did Ah tell ya about scarin’ folks like that?”

“Gee sorry cuz,” Braeburn said, lowering his head, his ears splaying back, “Ah just get so excited welcoming ponies to our little town.”

“Yeah well, just turn down the excitment will ya?” she asked, sighing, “Azula, thisin’ here is my cousin Braeburn, our local uh... greeter.”

“Howdy!” Braeburn said cheerfully, dropping his pout rather quickly, giving a wave.

“Certainly not the kind of guy that stays sad for long, huh?” I whispered to Applejack.

“Nope,” Applejack said, shaking her head, “Now, what about the rest of ya? Ya’ll gonna come greet our guest?”

Some of the ponies began to stick their heads out their windows and doors, still looking at me warily. I stood in as nonthreatening a manner as possible, smiling as I waved awkwardly, something I realized was incredibly similar to when Zuko tries to join the Gang for the first time.

“Now has anypony seen somepony like her?”Applejack asked, “Goes by the name uh... Warrick?”

“Uh, yeah. He’s a boy, little shorter than me, kind of a stick of kid. And if his face wasn’t covered by his helmet you’d see he has spiky black hair. Like, really spiky. I’m talking porcupine,” I added.

The townsponies muttered amongst themselves but the answers they gave weren’t all that helpful, apparently, I was the first human any of them had ever seen.

I sighed. “Great. For all I know he’s not even on the same planet,” I muttered.

“Hey, ya can’t just give up,” Applejack said, giving my leg a friendly whack. “Now come on! Let’s get something ta eat!” she said, starting to trot away, Braeburn behind her.

“Meh, good point. So watcha got?” I asked as I walked behind.

“We ain’t got much but if its apple related we got it!” Braeburn said happily as Applejack led us into what looked like a saloon.

“Ya’ll just wait here, Ah’ll see if’n we can cook somethin’ up!” Applejack said, gesturing for me to sit down, following Braeburn into the kitchen.

I shrugged and sat down on a barrell, the seats far too small for someone my height. I sat there for a few minutes, the many townsponies still looking at me warily, when I noticed the barrels were all marked with a symbol similar to the mark on Applejack’s butt.

“So… guess you guys really like apples, huh?” I asked, trying to engage in small talk.

“Heh, ya’ll could say that,” Applejack said with a chuckle, “There ain’t a pony in the apple family without an apple cutie mark.”

“‘Cutie mark?’” I asked, suppressing a giggle. “What’s that?”

“You really ain’t from around here are ya?” Applejack asked with a sigh, “Yeah see this?” she asked, pointing the the mark on her hind end.

“Yeah, I was meaning to ask about that. You all seem to have one. That a cultural thing to get a tattoo?”

“Whats a tattoo?” she asked, giving me an odd look.

“It’s when someone marks their body permanently by using needles to basically ink their skin.”

“Cutie marks ain’t nothin’ like that!” Applejack said with a shudder, “Ponies get their cutie marks when they find what their best at. It represents who ya are.”

“Wait,” a smile stretched across my face. “Are you saying that when you find out what you’re supposed to be good at in life, it reveals that to you in the form of a magical butt tattoo?” My smile grew even wider. “Tell me, have you ever had a guy check you out and say it was just your cutie mark he was looking at?” I asked, unable to keep myself from snickering.

“Ya’ll just watch yerself,” Applejack said, giving me a flat, unamused look before returning to her cooking. She came out after some time, a plate covered in various treats balanced on her back. She slide it onto my table, giving me a smile, “Go on! Dig in!”

“Wow. Nice spread,” I commented before taking a bite out of an apple pie. I stopped still after the first bite.

“Somethin’ wrong?” she asked.

I turned to look at her, my face still frozen in shock. “This. Is the best pie. In the history of pie.”

“Heh! Ah’m glad ya like it!” Applejack said, beaming with pride, “And ya’ll ain’t even try the fritters yet!”

Deciding to take her suggestion, I popped one of the fritters into my mouth before practically melting. “God, kill me now, I will never experience something this good ever again.”

Applejack just smiled, obviously happy someone was enjoying her cooking so much. The happy moment was ruined however when several shouts of panic came from outside.

“The hell’s going on?” I asked.

“Oh no,” Applejack muttered before unsheathing her sword and dashing outside, Braeburn following right behind her. I greedily stuffed all of the apple treats into my mouth, not caring how disgusting I may have looked, before peeking my head out the window. What I saw would’ve made my jaw drop if I was already swallowing.

A huge swarm of bug-pony looking things were approaching almost right upon the town. They fired green blasts from their horns that either blew up what they touched, set them on fire, or both. Many of the townsfolk were running back and forth like chickens with their heads cut off, and a few unfortunate ones actually got hit and were sent flying, sometimes in pieces.

Holy crap, no wonder they were so scared when I showed up. This is brutal, I thought as I tried to keep myself from hurling up Applejack’s cooking. One of them turned to me, charging up its horn, only for Applejack to thrust her sword into its eye. It slumped to the ground, twitching slightly.

“Snap out of it Azula!” she chided, pulling her sword from the body, “Iffin’ ya stand there, yer gonna end up dead.”

“Y-Yeah. Got it,” I replied shakily before dashing back inside.

Firebending powers or not, I’m not an experienced fighter. A few years of martial arts isn’t going to prepare me for this.

I hid under the counter, finding a small filly with red hair, a pink bow, and a yellow coat cowering there already. She stared at me wide eyed, completely overwhelmed with fear, tears in her eyes. I motioned for her to be quiet and she nodded, still looking at me with terrified eyes. After a few more minutes the sounds of fighting stopped. I peeked my head above the counter and my heart sank when I saw Applejack, Braeburn, and a tall red stallion with blonde hair struggling in goops of green goo. I also saw the bug ponies move aside to allow a tall one, with obviously feminine features like long green hair. I think I even saw eyelashes and eye shadow.

“Well, well. If it isn’t the little apple annoyances themselves,” she began, her voice smug. “Hard to believe you three have fended off my changelings time and again. But I guess even you can’t handle my elite soldiers.”

Wait, those are changelings?

“So you’re her, huh?” Applejack growled back. “Chrysalis.”

The tall changeling smacked her across the face with her hoof. “Queen Chrysalis, you downtrodden peasant!”

Applejack defiantly spat out blood. “Why are ya even here? You been attacking us for a while now. You think Solar Flare is gonna stand for that?”

Chrysalis smirked. “Stupid little peasant. Who do you think allowed me to attack here? Your beloved Queen and I have come to an agreement, and as the first act of our new alliance, she has decided that all those who aren’t with her are against her, and allowed me to enforce such measures. Your little neutrality is no more.” She chuckled darkly before leaning in. “She did ask me to give you all one chance to officially pledge your allegiance to her, but I do so hope you disagree.”

“Rotten bitch,” Braeburn mumbled out, glaring at Chrysalis as hard as possible.

“You leave my family alone ya big cockroach!” a young voice called out, a rock sailing through the air, whacking Chrysalis at the base of her horn.

I looked near the door and saw that the little filly that was hiding with me before had somehow gotten to the door without me noticing.

Chrysalis held her hoof to her horn, seeing a glowing green liquid, barely enough to be called a scrape. Even still she, looked completely shocked before her face contorted into pure rage.

“Get her. I want her as a smear on the ground,” she ordered, her voice soft yet terrifying.

“RUN, APPLEBLOOM!” Applejack screamed.

Oh shit. Oh shit. Ohshitohshitohshitohshit! They’re gonna come in here and kill her. They’re gonna come in here and kill her, and then me!

I saw a group of the changelings break off and start walking towards the little filly, who was standing still like a deer in headlights.

Think of something. Think of something, think of something, think of something, think of-!

A crazy idea popped into my head right then. It was risky, and even if it worked, it wouldn’t last long, but it was better than just sitting still. Unfortunately, it also involved me doing things I’d rather not.

I’m so sorry, little filly. I thought before leaping over the counter running over to the filly and kicking her, sending her tumbling into the street. Everyone looked at me, shocked and confused.

“What? Azula, what are ya doin’!?” Applejack asked, her expression horrified.

“Shut up,” I ordered before walking out into the street, the changelings eyeing me warily, before I stopped next to the filly.

She looked up at me, terrified, those big tear filled eyes practically breaking my heart, but I had no better option. I raised my foot and stepped on her face, grinding it into the dirt.

“WHAT THE BUCK ARE YA DOIN’!?” Applejack screeched.

“Disgusting vermin,” I muttered before turning to face Chrysalis. “You! Do you realize what you’ve done!? What you’ve ruined!?”

The Queen looked absolutely stunned for a moment before glaring at me. “You dare speak to me like that!?” she snarled. “Do you have any idea who I am!?”

“How could I not?” I asked in bored tone. “It’s not like I haven’t heard about you from the Queen before. Looks like she was right about you being full of yourself.”

Chrysalis look of anger turned to one of curiosity. “‘The Queen?’ You mean Solar Flare?”

“Who else would be talking about? And you, you stupid little bug, have ruined my assignment!” I growled back. “I’ve been trying to find information on the location of Princess Luna and her rebels, and then you have to come storming in and ruin everything!” I huffed and folded my arms. “Oh well, no real loss I suppose. They didn’t know anything.”

“Now jus’ wait’ a dern minute! You’re sayin’ you’re a spy!?” Braeburn asked, completely aghast.

I chuckled before turning back to face the ponies. “No point in denying it now. Thanks for taking me in, by the way. You were all so nice. Especially you, Applejack.”

“YOU DIRTY NO GOOD SNAKE IN THE GRASS! ALL THE HOGWASH ABOUT YOU BEIN’ LOST AND TRYIN’ TO FIND YER BROTHER WAS A LIE!” she screamed.

“Guilty as charged,” I replied with a smile while brushing one of my bangs. “I heard you were a real family girl, so I figured if I played the whole ‘looking for my family’ card you’d fall right into my hands.” I then pretended to wipe my eyes. “‘Oh, someone please help me! I’m lost and I can’t find my little brother! Boo hoo!” I said mockingly. Applejack screamed like a wild animal in response.

“Oh, this is just precious,” Chrysalis chuckled darkly. “Nicely done, miss… Azula, was it? I must admit, this is the most entertaining thing I’ve seen in ages.”

I turned to her and smiled. “Well, I’ve had plenty of experience,” I gloated before turning back to Applejack. “You know, there was one thing I was completely truthful about. Your cooking really was amazing. Best I’ve ever had.” I stepped forwards and reached behind her head, scratching her behind the ears. “Maybe I can convince the queen to have as my own personal chef.”

“Afraid not. The asked that they all be killed if they don’t submit,” Chrysalis explained, an evil smirk stretched across her muzzle. “And I think they’ve made their choice.”

I pouted. “Oh, and I wanted to have my own little pony chef,” I complained before standing up and walking towards the Queen. “She’s all yours then.”

“AH TRUSTED YOU!” Applejack screamed. “AH TOOK YA IN! I FED YA!”

“Well that’s the problem with trusting others. Eventually, someone takes advantage of you,” I replied smugly. Chrysalis began to walk past me, her horn alight and ready to blast the them.

Almost. Just a little further.

“Thankfully for you, that’s not today,” I said before turning and punching at the back of the Queen’s head, shooting out a fireball that exploded and knocking her to the ground. Before anyone could react I sweep kicked towards the changeling mob, sending out a low arc of fire, before jumping up into the air, using the flames as propulsion from my hands to get me several feet into the air, before flipping forwards and letting loose a burst of fire from my feet that explodes upon contact with ground. As soon as I landed I rushed towards the three trapped ponies, all of them still completely stunned at what was happening, before torching the goo that held them, the stuff hardening against the heat, and then quickly cracking them open with some well-placed kicks.

“Go! Go now!” I shouted, grabbing the little filly before sprinting away from the changelings.

“Get them!” Chrysalis screamed, lifting her head off the ground, her mane on fire, her eyes filled with utter hate.

“Quick everypony run!” Applejack commanded, ignoring me now, making sure the other ponies got out before her.

“That really hurt...” the little filly said, looking up at me, wincing as she prodded her side.

“I know, I’m so sorry. I’ll make it up to you later,” I assured her before Chrysalis landed right in front of me, her face a look of pure rage.

“You dare to trick me you little bitch!?” she shouted.

I flinched for a moment before setting the little filly down. I smirked and took a fighting stance, doing what I could to convince myself I wasn’t scared. “That’s Princess Bitch to you, Queenie. And how could I not? It was so easy.”

“Princess? You think yourself royalty?” she asked with a sneer, starting to charge up her horn. She fired off her shot, aiming at my chest.

I spun to the side before firing a punch at her, unleashing another fireball that she dodged. “At least I handle myself better than you. You’re looking a little frayed at the edges,” I taunted before sending another sweeping kick of fire at her.

She leapt over it, spitting some of that weird goo at me, aiming for my face. I brought my hands up to shield my face, the goo quickly engulfing them.

“No more little fire spells for you!” she gloated before charging forwards.

“It’s not spells, it’s bending,” I shot back, taking in a deep breath before firing a stream of fire from my mouth. She backed off and took to the skies to avoid it, and I took the time to project heat from my hands and harden to goo before tearing it off. “But you’re right, the fire is getting a bit old.” I smirked before going through the proper motions, electricity crackling off my body as I went. “Meet my bug zapper!” I shouted before firing the bolt at her. Amazingly, she managed to dodge, but not without my attack cutting a deep gash along her left side.

“You little whore!” she screamed, her sickly green blood dripping from her side, “I’m going to kill you!” she shrieked, repeatedly firing off several bolts at me.

I dodged the best I could, twisting and turning as I stepped or hopped away from each blast, but one of them finally got me in the leg. I shouted in pain before another one hit me in the chest with enough force to send me to the ground and sliding backwards for a few yards.

She moved in to presumably finish me when the hulking red stallion from before charged over, slamming a rather heavy looking warhammer into the side of her skull. There was a sickening crack and she dropped like a sack of bricks, twitching every so often.

“Whoa. Nice save,” I panted out.

The stallion looked at her for a few seconds before turning to me, holding his hoof out. I took it and he managed to pull me to my knees. I winced as my leg was still in pain.

“You… peasants…”

We both looked over to see Chrysalis somehow managing to get up, her hooves shaking as stoop up, green flames around her neck and several sickening popping noises coming as her neck realigned itself.

“Oh no fucking way,” I muttered.

“I’ll… get you all… for this…”

She started to flutter her wings, trying to take off, when the red stallion rushed forwards, ready to hit her again, before being hit with a small blast that knocked him on his back. Chrysalis took to the skies.

“RETREAT!” she shouted, flying high up into the air. Her army immediately dropped what they were doing, flying up after her. She gave us one last glare before flying off, her swarm following.

I took a deep breath before falling onto my back, not realizing how exhausted I was. It was probably from coming down off the adrenaline high.

The stallion dropped his warhammer, letting out a sigh. “You ok?” he asked, looking down at me, a hint of worry in his voice.

“Considering this is the first life-or-death fight I’ve ever had in my life, not bad. You?”

“Ah’m ok,” he said nodding his head, “My sister ok?” he asked, looking around, “Bloom ya here?”

“I set her down when bug hut tries to kill me,” I replied trying to force myself up looking around. I saw her peek out from behind a barrel. Unable to really talk, I just pointed in her direction.

“Ya’ll ok Bloom?” he asked, walking over, kneeling down to get a better look at her.

“Mah side hurts...” she whimpered, looking up at him.

He carefully lifted her up, sliding her onto his back. After making sure she was secure, he moved over to me, “Can ya walk?”

I pushed myself up onto my feet, my leg still hurting but not so much that I couldn’t still hobble along. “More or less, I guess.” I looked to the little filly for a moment before turning my gaze away. “I’m sorry for what I did. It was just the best idea I could come up with at the time.”

“Ah don’t agree with it but ah understand why ya did it,”he said with a nod, “Aj ain’t gonna be so forgivin’ though.”

“Oh, come on, what’s she gonna do? Give me the stink eye and-” I was cut off as a pair of hooves slammed into my stomach, dropping me to my knees.

“Ah trusted you!” Applejack roared, her face contorted in a mix of hurt and anger. “And all ya did was lie to me!”

I groaned in pain trying to catch my breath before finally responding. “The only thing I lied about was being a spy and working for Solar Flare. Besides, you can’t be that angry at me, can you? I did save all your lives.”

“Jus’ calm down AJ,” the big guy said, nudging his sister away, offering his hoof to me again. I took it and got up, holding my midsection in pain.

“Um... cuz?” Braeburn asked, trotting over, “Ah don’t we we can go back ta town...” he said, gazing off in the distance, seeing it still burning in the night, ‘What are we gonna do now/”

Applejack looked back to her hometown, her expressions changing almost instantly from anger to intense sadness. “No,” she muttered, completely disheartened.

“Um, I hate to be the one to say this, but you probably shouldn’t have stayed anyway. Chrysalis would just be back with an even greater army. Maybe even that Queen of yours would send her own forces. You heard what Chrysalis said, she’s adopting a ‘if you’re not with me, you’re against me’ policy,” I said.

Applejack just sighed, hanging her head, “Only one place we can go now...” she turned, starting to trot away, looking absolutely devastated.

“Uh, where’s that?”

“With Princess Luna...” she said, not looking back at us.

My brain stopped for a moment. “Wait, you actually did know where the rebels are!?”

“You comin’?” big red asked, looking back at me as the others followed after Applejack.

I sighed and shrugged. “Might as well. By the way, I didn’t catch your name. And the little filly is ‘Bloom’, right?”

“Ah’m Big Macintosh and this here is mah sister Apple Bloom,” he said, starting to move again, “That stuff about yer brother, that all true?”

“Yeah, it is,” I replied walking next to him. “I hope he’s ok. He can’t even walk by himself.” I sighed. “And to think this all started because I just wanted to get him out of the house for some fun. I hope he’s ok.”

“What happened to him?” Bloom asked, looking up at me curiously, “Why can’t he walk?”

“It was when he was really little, in grade school. Some bullies were picking on him while I wasn’t there. They were pushing him around the playground and one of them shoved him real hard. He just landed wrong on a big rock and then ‘snap’, broken spine. Can’t move anything below the waist.”

“Thats terrible!” Apple Bloom asked, wincing as she agitated her side, “Why would anypony do somethin’ so mean?”

“New kid in town, shy, different. I guess that’s all the reason some people need sometimes.”

“Ah hope ya can find him,” she said, laying her head down, “Ya must be worried sick.”

“You have no idea. But right now I just gotta keep thinking happy thoughts. No use worrying over things I can’t change right now. So, um, Big Mac. Uh, is it okay if I call you that?”

“Eeyup.”

“How does your sister know where the rebellion is?”

“She used ta be a part of it,” Big Mac started, “But Bloom wanted to join and AJ refused. When she found out Luna wasn’t going to turn Bloom away, she made us all leave.”

“I see. I suppose I can understand that. I know I wouldn’t want Warrick to get involved in a war. Unfortunately, the war itself doesn’t care.”

“Maybe somepony with Luna found him?” Bloom suggested, looking up at me.

“Considering what this Solar Flare seems to be like, I can only hope.”

Author's Notes:

Here there, Shinigamisparda here. Wrote this with some help from Shagohod. Our final character introduction is complete. Hope you guys have been enjoying so far.