Author's Notes:

Hey, guys so here is the next chapter. The reason why it has taken me to put this chapter is out is because I've been working on a project.

This project was huge and it gave me a chance to see if I wanted to do voice acting. So the link will be to that video. I have set on private for now I'm not sure I want to post it for the public yet (kinda nervous) But it was fun to do and if you're interested the link will be here. Don't worry it is SFW, it's just the first scene of the MLP movie with the audio stripped and re-done.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ag7xPKMuKy0

Yes, I did all the sounds and voices. Quiet proud of myself considering it was my first time.

The next chapter is almost done so it shouldn't take me too long to have it up and ready.

The moist coolness of the air tickled my nose as I stared at my hands.

I did magic.

Currently, I was sitting on my bed having just finished my morning meditation. My fingertips rubbed against each other, my left hand moved slowly as the transformation had started affected my joints. It felt like I never had to move my hand before and I'm just now learning how just by watching others. I knew how it was supposed to move but it didn't move the way I'm used to.

I did magic.

Without a shadow of a doubt, I did perform magic. I created a magic circle that protected me from the Ursa minor. According to Celestia, it was an ancient form of magic, but that is all she said about it. I wonder if there are any books on the matter that I could read to study up. Perhaps I should send a letter to Celestia to see if there are any books in her library.

My eyes went over to Harmony's stick as it rested on the wall.

Why are you doing all of this? What's the end goal hmm?

Harmony giggled a chirp in my mind, and that didn't do anything to ease my mind. Harmony must have picked up on this because the giggle turned to a feeling of relaxation as I got the impression that things will be explained.

I couldn't help but wonder when I'll be given answers, or why is that the magic that I do doesn't affect me, but when a spell is placed on me I have a negative reaction to it. So many questions that don't have any answers.

Ah, whatever let's see if we can't figure out how to use this magic that I have. So how did it work, was it a feeling? Is it an incantation? No, I didn't say anything outwardly or internally so that's out. Celestia did say that I would need the stick to do it so let's start with that.

With an outstretched hand, I summoned the stick as it touched my hand I had it wrap around my arm. A smile graced my lips at the novelty of the simple action. "That's never going to get old," I said to myself before I closed my eyes and began to reach within as if I was meditating. It was a shot in the dark, but it's a start at least.

At first, I didn't see anything, nor did I feel anything. No whispers in the dark, pressure or bump. My legs attempted to cross but because of my now horse like knee caps, all I could do was shift around. Frustrated my feet, hooves now, slammed into the ground with a clop. My eyes snapped opened and a growl of frustration rolled in my throat.

Nothing feels right anymore! I'm so tired of this curse at this point does it really matter to find a counter. It was going to take magic to remove it. So wouldn't it be counterproductive? A counter for the counter to rend the spell null. Might as well have Twilight zap me with straight-up magic so I can go full pony and stop wasting people's time!

Fuck my life!

I laid back down and threw my covers over me content of staying in bed.

Why do I bother getting involved and helping? All it does is get me hurt and zero recognition.

You're not supposed to do it for the praise, you do it because it is the right thing to do.

I know that goddamn it! What's wrong with wanting to be recognized for the hard work, to be praised, to be acknowledged, to be adored, to be cared about...

...I'm so lonely.

What's the point of doing anything if nothing changes in the end.

Might as well stay in bed. I closed my eyes and enjoyed the darkness and the warmth of my body heat.

Screams and cries of panic pierced the wooden walls of my solitude.

My eyes snapped open and I let out a growl before I sat up. A trail of beeped out expletives left my mouth as I got up and threw on my cloak. The girls had retrieved it from the lake and Rarity worked her magic to fix it up for me at no extra cost thankfully. A flick of my hand the stick around my arm unfolded and I used it to steady my self as I stood up.

With wobble steps, I made my way up the stairs. Over the past few days, walking has been getting easier for me especially once I was able to figure out a way to use my new tail to keep my balance. I still relied on the stick from time to time but at the very least I was able to stand without collapsing. I still find my new body parts a bit unsettling. Like feeling the ground through hooves instead of feet, and my tail moving on its own at times as if it has a mind of its own.

When I reached the top of the stairs I noticed Twilight as she zipped around and collected rolls of parchment. As Twilight was distracted with her...thing. I went to the window. I quickly found the source of Everyone's distress. Thick globs of dark smoke rolled across the sky. The smoke was thick enough that it blocked out the sun. The environment began to get darker as the shadows grew in power.

Ah, the dragon episode.

"There's a dragon resting in the mountains," Twilight explained, "Princess Celestia has asked us to get the dragon to take its nap elsewhere."

Should I go? Why should I? Nothing is going to change if I do and why run the risk of getting hurt. What if this is the one that makes me go full pony?

'Apathy is death,' Kreia whispered into my mind.

Fuck off Kreia. It's called being smart and cautious.

"The mares and I are going to take care of it," Twilight said and I looked over to see her floating over her saddle and began to pack it with books and rolls of parchment.

Yea they can handle it, they don't need me.

My mind flashed to a vision of the girls confronting the dragons and of them..dying.

I clenched my eyes shut.

No! That won't happen! They'll make it! They always do no matter what.

The memory of Nightmare Moon blasting a bloody Twilight around the ruins of the castle flashed through my mind.

NO! Goddamn it! These ponies are going to be the death of me!

I reached up and tightened up my cloak. "Let's go then," I said throwing my hood up. Twilight was heading to the door when she answered.

"Okay-wait what!" Twilight said stumbling before her head whipped towards me shocked.

"I'm coming with you," I said tersely, "I'm not letting you girls deal with that dragon alone."

Twilight shook her head, "No, I'm sorry I can't allow you to go," She said, "You're still recovering from the Ursa."

"Oh, I'm supposed to just stay here and twiddle my thumbs, " I said my voice on the rise, "And spend the entire time worrying about you girls."

"You don't have any experience or powers," Twilight said to which I rebutted quickly.

"Oh and you six do?" Twilight opened her mouth and I cut her off, "You have a high level of magic, yes but what about Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Applejack or Fluttershy, hmm? I also don't think you girls take on dragons on a day to day bases."

The unicorn mare lowered her head and slowly put on her saddlebags. "I just...I don't want to see you hurt again," she whispered as she walked towards the door.

Quickly I stood in front of her and the unicorn stopped. I lowered my self as best I could, my new knees made it hard to do so and placed her my human hand on her head. "And you think I want to you girls get hurt?" I asked Twilight while I rested my head on hers. With this contact, I could feel Twilight tremoring.

"When I saw you..." Twilight mumbled, "I thought..."

Ah, I see, it must have been traumatic for her to see me in such a state. It didn't really occur to me to think about Twilight. Celestia didn't show any signs that the sight of my body disturbed her I guess assumed that it didn't bother Twilight. I should have known better as Twilight has been distant lately, particularly around me.

"That's because I ran off alone," I told her, "I promise, not to leave your side."

Twilight raised her head and her misty eyes met mine, "Promise, " she asked with a small squeak. I ran my hand through her mane.

Something rush through me as it clicked within me as I said the next word as if it was fact, a new truth, "Never," I promised as I took a deep breath and let it out. Twilight closed her eyes as the mist in her eyes began to evaporate.

For a while, we just stood there and enjoyed the quiet, and after a while, I noticed a strange fact. It didn't take long but for some reason, Twilight's breathing began to sync up to mine. While I enjoyed the moment something must have clicked in Twilight's mind because her eyes snapped opened and back peddle quickly.

Her normally purple furry head had turned into a slightly darker shade before she zipped around me squealing, "We need to get going the others are waiting for us!" she said quickly and I was left confused.

Did I miss something? Perhaps a pony social cue? I don't really know a lot about horses in general as it never was my thing. I made a note to look up pony mannerisms. I do know that they have a form of communication that deals with touching but since they talk does it translate to something else? As I straighten up I looked to the door in wonder. "What was that all about?" I asked to no one.

"You mean you don't know?" I turned my head around and saw that Spike was cleaning up the mess that Twilight left behind.

Look here you little shit, I said 'asking no one' that means I wasn't talking to you.

"Obviously I don't," I told the drake in an attempt to not be an ass.

Spike looked at me for a moment in his arms books that Twilight deemed unnecessary for her dealings with the dragon. Something was brewing in his mind I could tell but for some reason, he didn't say anything instead he changed the topic. "Why are you going?" he asked me.

"Huh? Didn't you hear me?" I asked unaware if he was in the room the whole time.

"Yes, but..." the little dragon trailed off as he tried to find the right words. He then took the pile of books and set them down in front of one of the many shelves. "I thought stallions were supposed to stay home and take care of the house and the family?" Spike then hopped on top of the pile of books and looked at me, curiosity drawn on his scaly face. "The mares are supposed to go out and do the dangerous work and protect everypony?"

For a moment I stood there and didn't say anything. He asked a good question, a question I've just spent all morning pondering. I still don't have an answer, but I know what I should say.

"Because Spike its the right thing to do," I told him and he cocked his head.

"There a saying back home; the strong protect the weak," I said, "I've also been raised to always do the right thing no matter what. Because that is a man is supposed to do." When I finished I remember an oath from one of my favorite movies when I was younger.

"I am hereby sworn to valor, to speak only the truth, to use arms to defend the helpless, to use might to uphold the weak. My heart knows only virtue. My wrath will undo the wicked," I quoted before I ducked out of the house and left behind an awestruck Spike.

Before I realized that I had to go up the mountain which is going to be cold as balls and went down to my room and got my jacket.

You know, all badass like.

It didn't take long for the rest of the Mane Six to show up with their saddlebags full of supplies. They lined up with me in the back. No one said anything about my presence so I assumed that they thought that I was going to stay behind.

Well, aren't they in for a surprise.

As the girls lined up Twilight began in front of them like she was a drill Sargent dressing down the troops. She had the look of confidence in her stride and when she spoke it did not betray any fear, "Alright mares, I'm mapping out the fastest route, but we've all got to keep a good pace if we expect to make it up the mountain by nightfall."

I can see why you're going to make her a princess, Celestia. She definitely has the qualities for it even before her accession to alicorn-hood.

Twilight walked forward her gaze sharp and her neck straight.

"M-mountain?" Fluttershy stuttered as she poked her head out from the group.

Either not hearing her or chose not to answer her Twilight continued on with her briefing. "The dragon is in that cave," she said as she reached the end of the line and pointed at the top of a very long and narrow mountain. At the very top, a trail of black smoke poured out like a wound and stained the clouds.

"Looks pretty cold up there," Applejack pointed out.

With a smirk, Rainbow Dash cut in, "You bet it is," it was a tone that was clearly boasting, "The higher you go the chillier it gets."

"Also the thinner the air is going to be," I said which made all the girls snap towards me.

Rainbow's smirk turned in to a frown quickly turned away from me. I to turned my head away from her and decided to just fling the jacket over my shoulders so that it rested on my shoulders.

"No offense darling," Rarity said with a dainty hoof pointed at my jacket, "But that...uh...jacket is not fashionable for my taste."

I turned to the unicorn with a look that quite clearly said 'WTF' before it don-don on me what she was thinking. She thought that I was showing them how to use it. Not the fact that I was going to use it when we got to the mountain.

With a hum, I held up a bright red sleeve by the blue wrist cover. "Yes I wasn't a fan of my school colors myself," I said releasing the sleeve, "But it will keep me warm up there."

It seems that it finally clicked in the other members of our party that I was going too. The girls looked over to Twilight who opened up a map with her magic and began to study it. "Uh Twilight darling," Rarity said, "Is Sean coming with us?"

With an absent-minded, "Yep," Twilight looked up at the mountain before going back to the map.

"Do you think that such a good idea?" Rarity continued completely forgetting that I was right there next to her.

"Tried to get him to stay but he's too stubborn to listen to reason," came the half-hearted reply.

"I'm perfectly capable to listen to reason," I muttered as I watched as Fluttershy went over to talk to Twilight. Most likely to ask if she could stay behind. I looked over to Rarity who decided to pull out her scarf before she gave Applejack a 'look'. Before I could even decipher what that look meant a pony next to me spoke up.

"How ya doin' sugarcube?" Applejack asked me.

I tilted my head to the side and gave it a strong twist. A resounding popped vibrated within my body and I did the same to the other side, "Good all things considering."

"Ya need to stay here," Applejack's southern twang spoke up.

I looked down to see the cow pony staring me down like a man on a mission. "Oh," I said my tone becoming a little combative.

"This is a mare job," the farmer said and I bristled at, "A stallion has no place where ther' might be fighen'."

"This isn't your job either," I jibbed losing control of my anger, "This operation should be a joint operation with a diplomat and the military, not civilians."

"Princess Cele-"

"I don't care for her reasoning at all," I cut in, "Whatever they may be." With my hands, I adjusted my cloak and pulled my hood down even further. "If it safe enough for Celestia to send you girls then it is enough for me."

Applejack opened her mouth to say something but once again I cut in. "Do not treat me like I'm some delicate flower," I snapped, "Your stallions might be okay with being treated like that but I'm not. I can take care of myself." Without a second thought, I walked away from the mare and over to Fluttershy who was trying to say something to Twilight who was walking away.

The small yellow one let out a squeak as Twilight was approached by Rainbow Dash. When I reached Fluttershy the pegasus was trying to scurry away from her own shadow before she dashed into a nearby bush. With a mouth over my lips to prevent the snort of amusement I reached the bush and leaned over. "Is everything alright in there?" I asked with a small smile.

A pair of light blue eyes peaked out and the muffled voice of Fluttershy said, "Yes...everything...fine."

I raised an eyebrow, "Doesn't look like it," I said before Fluttershy whimpered, "Come on," I reached into the bush and gave her an ear scratch. "We need to get going."

A whimper was the response.

Damn, I wish I knew something that I could use to coax her out.

I got what I needed when I pulled my out of the bush and a whine of disappointment squealed out of the bush. My lips split in half. "If you come with us I'll keep scratching~," I said with a little trill in my voice. There was a small whimper before Fluttershy shot out of the bush and snapped to my chest. With a chuckle, I held the pony up with one arm and with the other continued the scratch treatment.

With a pony in my arm, I turned to the others. "Well let's get going then," I said to the shocked and bewildered ponies as I walked down the path.

"Wait up!" Twilight yelled at me from behind, "Do you have any idea where you're going?"

"Do you?" I quipped.

"Of course I do I have the map!" the irate unicorn.

"But do you?" I said deciding to mess with OCD pony.

"Oh, Celestia help me!" Twilight cried out. I turned around in just in time for her to yank out the map with her magic. With crazy eyes darting over the paper checking every little detail.

"She can't save you now," I crackled.

"This is going to be a long trip," Applejack muttered as she took the lead.

"Oi! Do you have any idea where you're going?" I said with a smirk. Applejack stopped and turned around and glared at me.

I just smiled.