Author's Notes:

Err huh, wait we are posting a chapter now? but its not yet time

Shhh Shh brain its ok, sleep sleep.

Wait why do you have a pillow behind your back?

Huh no reason...Anyways I am crazy but because of a bout of inspiration I have been on a writing spree and have written up a few more chapters ahead of normal. So I said to myself

"Hey Self."

"Sup you lovely author you?"

"I am going to release some extra chapters"

So I gave myself a thumbs up.

ZZZZZZzzzz....

Did you just fall asleep during my story?

The Alter Accords

Chapter Eight: Confiding in a friend

“Pinkie I can explain, please let me explain.” Velox hastily asked of the pink party pony that had just caught him redhoofed changing from one form to the next.

Pinkie Pie, a normally upbeat pony who had a smile for everypony or dragon or griffon or really anything, stood in shook her mane had deflated as she just stared at him. “This is why your smiles are fake. I thought you just didn’t like certain things and didn’t want to hurt anypony’s feelings but…but…”

Velox wanted to say something, anything to her but he didn’t get a chance as she had turned around and started bolting into the woods. The shapeshifter wanted to be scared about his secret but found himself unable to as he realized that one of his friends just ran into one of the most dangerous places he had ever seen, alone and at night.

“PINKIE!” he quickly winged it outside to look for her but didn’t see her. The thought to just stay in the cave that she would find her own way crossed his mind for about half a second before he took flight. “Pinkie it’s dangerous out here, please I don’t care if you tell your friends I just rather you be safe then-.”

The universe, once more wanting to kick a pony while he is down did so for its seeming amusement, as a blood curdling scream was heard nearby followed by a loud boom of artillery of some type.

Velox found the pink pony running through the woods followed by something that blended into the trees he could see through. Occasionally Pinkie would turn and pull her cannon out of nowhere to fire at what was after her.

Quickly he pressed through the trees, ignoring the cuts he got by ignoring the branches he had to pass through to get to the forest floor. “Pinkie I am here to hel-”

Pinkie Pie, a pony who specialized in popping out of places and surprising other ponies found herself on the other end, combined with stretched nerves, a discovery that shocked her, and frightened for her life while running away from dangerous creatures did what came naturally: she fired her cannon.

Everything swam in the pegasus’ vision as he felt a tree had broken his impromptu launch thanks to the massive amounts of stuff just shot at him. ‘Vision not good, hurting all over, pretty sure I may have broke-oh wait blood in my mouth…buck.’

The howls came and chilled the blood that was flowing in his veins and it appeared to have done the same to the party pony as she went from scared and concerned for the pony she just shot, to scared again about what was chasing her. “Oh no the Timberwolves are getting closer.”

Pulling up some knowledge he had learned as Novo he remembered that they hunted in packs like regular wolves but were made of wood and magic, with little way to actually put them down at all unless via fire and a few other methods. Trying to stand up he found his breath coming hard through him and causing searing pain to try to bring him to the land of darkness and sleep, he wasn’t flying that was for sure.

‘Cant change to Novo if something is broken, might just kill me if it’s in something important.’ “Pinkie, Run.” He said as he was brushing off confetti and other objects that had slammed into him a moment ago.

Pinkie was still in shook and just looked quickly to him, luckily in the darkness of night she couldn’t see how badly he was hurt. “Wha-but the wolves.”

“Pinkie its fine, I got them, just get out of here, I will fly away once I know your far enough away they won’t chase, GO please, I don’t want my friends being hurt if I can help it.” He smiled for her, one from his heart as he meant what he said.

He wasn’t sure but he thought he seen her hair poof up a tiny bit which he thought was strange. “O-okay.” She started to run as he coughed a hacking cough making her slow for a moment. “Are you sure you will be ok?”

Currently he was trying to suppress a cough so he just nodded again and tried to smile for her. It seemed to do the trick as she ran off as he started to gather his mana and surround himself with water.

‘Ok, my guess is when they come at me, I will be able to use this for about a few minutes before I completely collapse, transforming twice in a day plus something in me is not right…actually I will be surprised if I make a minute. But no regrets, I could use level two of the current but I think that would kill me right away with how I am now, besides…my vows, I won’t ever use that again for myself.’

The glowing green eyes appeared out of the darkness of the woods. Wolves, huge in size nearly twice as big as himself, appeared in his vision, blurred as it was. He counted nearly all six before he had to stop as the first one lunged. He sharpened the water on his wing and used it with a well placed thrust of his body to turn his wing into a makeshift blade cutting into the wood of the wolf splintering it to pieces rather easily.

“Not so tough are you buckers…oh right regeneration.” His statement came as he watched the wolf putting itself back together fixing the cut he had given it.

The second wolf lunged now and he had to move quickly out of the way with a whoosh of water, however when he stopped he found himself spitting up a lot of blood and found himself weakening. ‘Ok moving like this is bad, really bad, have to stick with counterattacks movement is digging things into me inside.’

Using his wings and sometimes his tail and hooves to defend himself he kept in place more or less and kept cutting down the wolves as they lunged at him. The wolves were getting faster though, well at least it seemed that way to him but he was just slowing down. Claws were landing hits, teeth finding holds on him for a scant second sinking down into him before the head was popped off with a hit of his hooves or even a shot of water itself.

His back was against the wall now, actually it was a tree, and he knew he had maybe one or two more shots in him before ‘The Current’ faded completely. Wolves wouldn’t attack him from behind as with his back was against the tree for protection, however he knew this was it he knew this protection wouldn’t do him any good as it was and it would only-

Quickly deciding he turned his body rapidly and sliced at the tree with a bladed wing at an angle. The tree fell and he could barely roll out of the way, but it had worked, he got all of the wolves with it.

Collapsing onto the ground in a puddle he found he was having a hard time staying awake now but at least he wouldn’t be eate-. “Regeneration is horseapples.”

The wolves were pulling themselves back together slowly but surely and Velox had no strength left. “At least I was a good friend in the end.”

He passed out just as one of the wolves leapt at him.

‘His smile was fake, it was so fake there wasn’t anything more fake then that fakeness.’ It kept running through Pinkie’s head, the last smile she had seen him give her. ‘I asked if he was ok and he smiled a fake smile, he is hurt but he can fly away right I mean even, oh wait he was starting to glow, which means he can’t fly now.’ Pink pony lungs were burning from how fast she was running, and while she was an earth pony she was far from being the most fit. ‘I promise to cut down to a hundred cupcakes a day I just need to find somepony to help him. I don’t want him to die, he is my friend, a friend I didn’t want to listen to and ended up shooting cause he scared me after I ran from him like a filly.’

She seen light in the distance at first she wondered who would have a light on in this forest when she remembered. “ZECORA, HELP!”

She wasn’t alone it seemed as she came out in a hurry with a Lavender pony and an orange one. “What seems to be the trouble my friend, who seems like something is coming to an end.”

“Ya Sugarcube what has got ya so riled up.” AJ had been here with Twilight researching on some apple tree friendly ways to remove and keep bugs from eating up her trees before calling it a day.

“Velox is fighting Timberwolves and he is hurt!” she shouted out of breath and pointing back the way she had ran from before collapsing onto her belly passing out from the exertion.

AJ was running full tilt in the direction that Pinkie had pointed leaving behind her lavender companion, her normally bright orange coat paled in color when she had heard what Pinkie said. ‘No, no, no, no, this aint suppose to happen, he saved Bloom easily he can take those things down no problem. But Pinkie said he was hurt.’

The farm pony was normally much quicker and fit then the baker was, even if she had the habit of popping up randomly and one time kept up in speed with Rainbow Dash flying at full speed which was strange but she didn’t seem able to do so again, so she quickly spotted a tree falling in the distance and ran towards it. She seen the Pegasus pass out muttering something as one of the wolves jumped towards him. Intercepting the wolf with a shoulder check she launched it over the downed tree and into another tree to be splattered into firewood, which promptly started to reform.

“Ok you varmints ah aint gonna let you lay one claw on this here Pegasus you got that!” AJ meant it more than anything she had ever meant before that. She proved it too, bucking to pieces each of them a few dozen times before she was panting from the exertion, normally she held her strength in check for bucking trees, but seeing her friend passed out and bleeding more and more as the puddle of water he was in turned more and more red made the level headed mare lose control and want to break these things in half. She did that plenty to be sure only to have them regenerate again and again.

“Come on I-I can keep this up all night.” Boastful and proud she didn’t want to admit she was over exerting herself and quickly running on dry.

It was worse when she stumbled after the buck of one of the wolves and found her side suddenly screaming at her as fire traced over it. The wolf had gotten a good swipe at her but only cause some minor superficial damage, least she hoped it was only superficial, not that it didn’t hurt though.

She was about to buck him to pieces for that when she caught sight of another wolf leaping at her, she knew she was too slow to get that one though it didn’t stop her from trying to turn to do so.

Only to have the wolf burst apart in fire as behind him stood Twilight Sparkle, mage unicorn extraordinaire horn ablaze with power. “Thanks for holding them off Applejack I got them now.” Blast after concussive blast rang out as each one of the wolves found themselves burnt to pieces, except for the lone one that ran away with its tail between its legs.

Twilight came over to where AJ was looking over the downed Pegasus with worry etched on her face. “He’s going to be ok, right Twi?”

Casting a diagnostic spell on him she found out the extent of his wounds. “Oh no.” she said quietly. “We have to get him to Ponyville hospital now. Huddle up.”

AJ did so as quickly as she could against her friend and the bloody coat of Velox as a bright flash of violet light had them at the hospital quicker than anything possible. “Doctor we have several deep lacerations on the patient as well as internal bleeding, broken ribs, and a pierced lung.”

Hearing the wounds being listed off as a doctor came over and looked him over, she found herself soon racing down the hall with the wounded, now pale, pony on a gurney. “Y-you’re going to be just fine Sugar, just fine, just hang in there and don’t let me-us lose you ok?”

When the doctors told her and Twilight she had to stay there as they headed into emergency surgery she felt her eyes watering up as the doors closed.

It had been a few days since the attack, Twilight and her friends had all been worried, but after a few scares the first couple of days the doctor said he would should be fine though may need more time to heal cause of the extent of his injuries. All of the Elements had found themselves visiting when he was cleared to have them all taking turns by his bed and saying a few things when they did so. Well all but two ponies.

The first was the blonde earth pony that had fought off the wolves buying Twilight enough time to get to him. She had needed a few stitches of her own when she got to see a doctor but nothing that was threatening to her health. Her sister had even made the comment that now they both had battle scars to show off, though it didn’t make her any happier despite Bloom’s attempt to do so. Every time she visited the downed pony, all she seen was his possible death in her hooves that night as each of the tubes that helped him breathe and keep him healthy hissed or beeped.

Her friends had found her with her head at his neck silently crying more than once and each time they had to make her leave when she was like that.

The other pony was worse than then her though. Pinkie Pie had said nothing to any of them since the incident, instead visiting nearly all hours she could except when she had to work for the Cakes. She didn’t cry, she didn’t smile, she didn’t speak at all and her friends were worried about her.

With how much she was around him it was no wonder she was the one there when he woke up.

His body hurt all over, more pain then he could actively remember feeling all at once at any time, but what was more was the thing in his throat. Gagging at the tube as he woke up he heard somepony call out for the doctor or nurses or anypony to come help.

‘Ok so in the hospital, makes sense with how I feel and the thing in my throat a tube chances are, but how did I get here?’ Velox was having a hard time making sense of the last day or so he could remember. It didn’t help his recollection that a unicorn doctor had come in and was magically levitating a tube out of his throat. After a bout of gagging had passed where he was sure if he had anything in his stomach it would have been violently launched across the room he heard the doc speak to him again.

“Hello do you know why you are here?” The beige pony had asked him. When he shook his head the doc used that to levitate a quick to write on a chart. “Do you remember your name?”

Star was about to answer him when he remembered he couldn’t recall what form he was in right now. “Starshifter.” Hoping that would appease the doctor.

“I will need your full name.” The brown maned pony physician asked simply.

‘Quick body check, too weak to tell if I am Lego, use magic…nope, quick twitch my wings.’ Feeling those appendages twitch for a moment he smiled. “Velox. Velox Starshifter.”

The doctor seemed happy with the answer and wrote something down. “I am Doctor Horse, I will be your primary recovery physician, do you remember how you were hurt.”

“Can’t really remember the last day or so actually.” The Pegasus commented a bit sadly always hating to lose more of his life to that darkness that he couldn’t see past.

Another mark on the chart the doc sighed and spoke. “Well from what I have heard you were out trying to defend your friend at the risk of your life, from what you ask, a small pack of Timberwolves.”

The doctor was going over the lists of injuries that he had sustained and for some reason each time he listed a new one a flash of the battle or chase had come across his mind though he couldn’t identify the pony he was helping, fragmented yes but there. “I am not really a detail person doc, mind just giving me an overview of how bad it was or is?”

Horse just looked at him for a moment before coming to a decision. “You were brought in by two of your friends, once here we had to take you into surgery where you flat lined three times on the table. We almost didn’t think you would make it the third time but we barely managed to get your heart started again.” If Star hadn’t already been in need of blood he would have paled further instead it just made him dizzy to know how close it had been. “Once out of surgery we had to defibrillate you once in your room but since then you have recovered nicely. Since you showed up it’s been nearly a week where you have been unconscious.”

‘A week and four deaths or near ones at least, well he said I was protecting a friend, so if I had to go out at least it was for a friend.’ He heard the doctor finishing up with what he was going to be in for rehabilitation and he sighed. “I don’t suppose plenty of juice, wing ups, and bed rest will work will it?”

That got a chuckle from the doc before he shook his head. “You had some deep lacerations, we had to knit some of the muscles back together with magic and it will take a week at least even with magic for them to heal properly at that point it will be two weeks of you taking it easy and you will have lost some muscle definition.”

The doc then went on to tell him of a series of exercise he can do easily right now till the muscles knitted properly that wouldn’t put strain on them and make it a lot easier for him to get back into working shape. When the doc levitated a pager to his face he read it then he then excused himself and left.

Star sighed and was trying to reconstruct what had happened in his mind when the door opened and in poked an eye behind a dark pink straight mane. “Pinkie?” When she nodded he smiled glad somepony was there to see him. “Come on in Pinkie, I am fine, abit weak but I should live.”

Her hair poofed out some and she gained some of her color back and quickly went over to him to give him a gentle hug not wanting to hurt him. “I was so worried, you got so hurt from the Timberwolves and the ribs being broken and I am so sorry.”

Running a hoof through her mane he smiled to her. “Don’t worry Pinkie it wasn’t your fault.” She was about to protest though it seemed Velox never seen it. “Doc said I was protecting a friend, don’t remember much of what happened and who it was I was protecting, but buck not a bad way to go if I had to choose.”

“Y-you don’t remember what happened?” He shook his head and seen Pinkie bite lip before her tears welled up and she pressed her face into his chest making him wince some. “I am soo sorry.”

A chuckle was her response and he hugged her. “Don’t worry, though I am guessing it was you I was protecting?” Feeling her nod he gave her another hug. “Then I don’t mind the injuries at all, a pony that makes everypony smile the best they can and who brings laughter to all, who wouldn’t want to protect that.”

“But it’s my fault!” Pinkie just about screamed at him before quieting down. He was about to say it wasn’t but she continued. “I followed you after you gave another fake smile, I wanted to find out why so bad then I saw you change and I panicked-.”

He wanted to hear the rest of what she was saying but his head gave a throb and he was suddenly watching that nights events play out again unknowingly mimicking Pinkies retelling in the background. “Oh ya all that did happened didn’t it?”

“I-I will make it up to you I promise, I cross my heart-.” a hoof to her mouth shut her up.

Making sure he wasn’t speaking any more he smiled and pulled it back. “Pinkie you don’t have to make it up to me, honestly you are my friend, even if I knew beforehoof what I do now, I would have still gone in and experienced it the same way. After all you are safe right?”

Star was confused now because as soon as he said that she bust loose with a new wave of crying that he couldn’t stop no matter how many hugs and pats on the head he gave. So he decided to let this one ride out and just comfort her as best she could.

Pinkie was sleeping now, she had cried for nearly two hours before just passing out. Apparently that was just enough time for others to get word he was awake and start flowing in to see him. The first who came was Rarity promising to make some better gowns for him to wear to brighten up his time here. Fluttershy came next and gave him a big hug that surprised him, and slightly hurt before promising to bring some things that should help him heal up quickly as well as some fresh fish, having learned about his dietary needs.

The thought of fresh fish made his stomach growl a few times before she had left. Dash came by next and boasted how she wish she knew about the fight so she could have given those wolves a once over before promising to help get him fit again in no time.

“I heard you were up.” Came the voice of the most magical unicorn in Equestria. “Spike sends these to you.” She levitated a stack of books in with her as she smiled.

“He didn’t really did he?” seeing her look a tad bit sheepish he laughed before wincing. “No problem Twilight, I don’t seem to be going anywhere for a while so a good read isn’t too bad.”

Setting them down nearby on a desk she smiled and nodded apparently agreeing. “That’s right. I am sorry though.” He was about to ask for what when she told him. “We had Zecora look all over the Everfree and couldn’t find your brothers to tell them you are hurt.”

He thought he felt Pinkie twitch in her sleep so he just petted her a few times to calm her before he spoke. “Ya, they said they think they were on to something so would be gone for a while, knowing them they will most likely show up when I am just about done healing, telling me I am healing too slow.”

Twilight laughed though for some reason he felt wet on his chest as she did and before he could see to why Twilight turned away. “Anyways I have to go to Canterlot for a few days so I am glad I got to see you before I left; now I should go Applejack is waiting for her turn to visit.”

As she left with a wave Star looked down to see Pinkie crying in her sleep he was about to wake her from her nightmare when the farm pony came in, not wearing her hat and seeming to have not gotten much sleep lately judging by the bags under her eyes. “Look boss I know I have been skipping out on work but trust me I have a good excuse, a dog ate my everything.”

She didn’t take too well to his joke and just caught him up in a hug crying. “Stupid, stupid, stupid.” Was all she could save over and over again and weakly beat on his arm with a hoof.

For nearly an hour that is how their visit went before she had to make the excuse to get back to the farm, this left him and Pinkie alone now. “How can you stand it?”

Pinkie’s voice from his chest made him jump slightly. “You’re awake?”

Feeling a wet nod he asked her for how long? “Since Twilight came in. How can you stand to lie to everypony?”

He leaned back and started staring off into nothing as the pink pony raised her blue eyes to look at him. “You deserve the truth Pinkie after what I put you through.”

“After what you put me through, but what about what I-” A hoof to her mouth silenced her.

“Pinkie, I know this is going to be hard but mind if you wait till after I am done to ask questions?” Eventually she gave him a nod and he smiled. “Ok, where to begin…”

My first memories were of darkness, it was suffocating and I couldn’t breathe. I don’t remember how long I was there as time had no meaning but then I remember the sound of rocks breaking then bits and pieces of memory with me stumbling through a forest. If you asked me where I was before that I couldn’t tell you but my first memories were of five years ago being helped by a pony who wanted nothing but to make sure I was ok.

“Hey, are you alright?” The kind soft voice asked, I didn’t know this though, as I could barely understand her at the time. It would take a good while before I would, nearly a year of learning to speak again, and walk properly, and just generally everything. By the time I could understand her I realized I was an earth pony with a red coat who seemed to want to analyze and gather as much info as possible. It also could because I had no memories before that but it became who he was. That is the pony who would lately be named Lego, but till then I was just Starshifter, the name given to me by the mare who saved me: Cascade Nights.

Cascade was a unicorn who was cast out of her home for the color of her coat and mane, being completely black on both, but her cutie mark was one of the most lovely I have seen. It was cloak made of the aurora wrapped around a star that shared every color of the spectrum. It was her that told me a story.

“Once upon a time, there was a mare who was rivals with our princess now, she would raise the moon and place the stars every night. But she dare not moved them, for each star is the destiny of a pony and she dare not change any of them for fear of changing a pony’s life. That is why each pony has a set destiny that no matter how much they fight against will end up claiming them in the end, it’s just their choice how well to accept it or not.”

I hated that story. In the end I hated the thought of my destiny being fixed that I couldn’t change it. If I couldn’t change it that may mean I would never find out who I was before I lost my memory, it might mean I would never know my family that I might have lost, it would mean losing part of my life that I would never remember living. Most of all it took choice from me, the choice to know I am going down a stupid path and go down it anyways as it was my choice to make regardless and should always be my choice.

When I told her this she just smiled and said. “I guess that makes you a Starshifter then.” And the name stuck.

Nearly half a year passed when I discovered how true my name was. We were going through a canyon at the time with her wagon, her home and I suppose mine too at the time. However this canyon was close to her home and some locals found out about the two of us passing through, so they decided to throw rocks from the top of the canyon onto us.

This of course caused a land slide that buried us alive. Cascade was hit in the head with a large rock and was knocked unconscious while I tried my best to keep a pocket of air for us both to survive using my body and its strength.

I never got to even wake her up to tell her bye, she just bled out in front of me with her horn broken off and a good part of her head crushed in from the rock. It was her death that made me change as I asked myself if I couldn’t stop one pony, one that I cared for so much, from dying how could I change my own destiny. I yelled out in the small pocket my back was keeping supported. “I want to change!”

And I did. I felt my cutie mark change and with it I followed becoming the green unicorn that I would later name Novo, which means ‘Change’ in old Equestrian, similar to how Lego means ‘To Gather’.

I don’t know why I knew what the riddle ‘All is one and one is all’ ok that is a lie, I do cause of my change but I can’t tell you what it means. Anyways I suddenly knew what I could do and I changed the rock covering me into a solid tunnel with supports. I wish I could have been badass and walked right up it then and there to see the ponies who buried us, but that much magic after just becoming a unicorn wiped me out and I passed out.

Three months passed as I was just wondering aimlessly at that point, no reason to go anywhere in particular. I think I was a bum for a good amount of that time as I remember ponies tossing bits at me occasionally till I learned how to change metals into other metals and charcoal into gems. I hate doing that but you have to do what you have to do sometimes.

It was at the end of those three months that another event happened; it is a rather dark one that I am kinda ashamed to admit…I tried to kill myself.

Star stopped his story for a moment when he heard Pinkie gasp and pet her head. “Obviously I didn’t cause I wouldn’t be here now, so remember that ok?”

Once she settled down he continued.

I came across the gorge that Cascade had died in and where my first rebirth took place. I was in a dark place with no direction in life and no goals, I was alone and friendless and every day I wondered why couldn’t she live and not me. I am sad to say I let the darkness take hold of me as I jumped down the canyon cliff with the intent to end my own life.

On the way down though I couldn’t help remembering Cascade and our time together and most importantly one of the things she told me. “If you truly do live up to your name, maybe you can change my destiny as well, and others for the better. I would love to see you fly up and move the stars themselves for ponies, but first you have to do it for yourself.”

I realized my goal then, I had to recover my memories and become my name. When I opened my eyes the canyon’s floor was rapidly approaching and I realized I didn’t want this anymore.

“No, no, please no, I have to change the stars, I have to remember, I have to FLY!” As I shouted that out to the canyon I felt the familiar sensation when I first was reborn as Novo only this time I lost a horn and grew wings. I had finally freed myself from my darkness and I was given wings to express that freedom with, the ability to manipulate weather to at least make nights peaceful for other ponies and most of all I was given life once more. From then I could shift willingly and instead of just randomly like I had sometime did before that. So I ended up naming the new Pegasus form as Velox, which means ‘Swift’ or ‘Rapid’ in old Equestrian, sometime later when it was needed.

Since then I have been traveling and earning money as best I can, studying to understand myself more with my new perspectives and to find my lost memories.

“So in other words you can say I was born five years ago with no memories, but I truly started living three years ago.” He petted the pink pony’s head who was crying again. “Since then I have come to realize that many ponies do not understand that I am a pony too just like them, so I stopped shifting in front of them and even gave names to my forms so that if somepony met more than one of my forms they had something to call them.” He sighed gently and then chuckled. “They are all me and I am all them, but because I change shape, it messes with my brain, making things think differently and making me slightly act different, so in a way they are their own ponies too but really only parts of me. Cause of that it’s easier for other ponies to believe we are brothers.”

“Is that why you came to Ponyville?” Turning his head from the ceiling to the pony on his chest he nodded. “I had heard you first talked to Derpy and that she said you were looking for Twilight.”

“Ya.” It was the simple answer. “It was why I came here originally, my thoughts were if there was anyone, pony, griffon, dragon, anything that could help me find answers, it would be the Element of Magic.”

Pinkie smiled and gave him a hug. “That means you were meant to be friends with us.” He just gave her a hug before she pulled back and looked curious, though he did notice her mane had become fully poofy again. “Then why didn’t you tell Twi about your ability?”

“I wanted to, but during my journey the best answer I got to how I do what I can do was changeling magic or something to do with changelings.” Pinkie’s eyes widened and he smiled. “Ya and I happened to show up right before you all got back from the wedding where it was invaded by changelings. I happened to overhear Twilight and how she wanted nothing to do with anything changeling after that and well, to make the Element of Magic mad, well I am pretty sure she would have obliterated me at the time.” Laying back and suddenly finding himself tired from the long day of visits and getting his story off his chest he closed his eyes. “I would love to tell her now, but…honestly if I did there are so many trusting ponies whose friendship I would lose. I mean, I almost lost yours. Imagine me telling AJ or Dash this, The Elements of Honesty and Loyalty.”

He felt Pinkie now patting his mane soothingly and heard her voice. “Well at least you have one you know is still your friend.”

‘Ya…ya I do.’ With that he found that thought soothing him to a sleep that he really needed.

When he was finally dismissed from the hospital he tried going home to his cave only to have all of his friends tell him nope. Apparently while Pinkie was content to keep his secret for now, she hadn’t kept where he lived a secret…or was it Zecora, he never got that story straight. In the end he had six volunteers to bunk with.

That didn’t last long though as they cut down on whom could do it. AJ was out even if she did have the room, she and her family couldn’t stay around to make sure he was ok with Lego being gone and them having to work heartily now. Rarity was just as busy with her work so she was also eliminated for the same reason. Dash was considered for a good while but with how weak he was they didn’t want to chance him falling from her cloud house and not being able to rescue himself, so she was out. Pinkie was very insistent for a while and even brought them to the Cakes to ask, but was quickly reminded right before they could agree about the foals they had to take care of, which means they couldn’t take care of them and him at the same time.

In the end it came down to Twilight and Fluttershy and initially the Pegasus had won…least till Angel, an overprotective psycho of a bunny drop kicked him and promptly showed him who was boss and only got a light scalding as punishment.

“Stupid, bucked up, bunny bastard.” Velox said rubbing his chest as it was still healing, while Twilight levitated his stuff to the library. Luckily if Twilight heard him she said nothing. “Thanks for letting me stay here Twilight, I promise not to be too much of an inconvenience. I tend to heal quickly anyways and-”

She interrupted him as she sat his stuff in the spare room she had tucked away to the side of the library. “It’s no trouble at all Velox, you’re my friend and it’s the least I can do.” She also hoofed over a letter. “The princess wishes you well by the way.”

He found himself nervous as he opened the letter.

‘Dear Velox.

We have heard of your recent injuries in the line of defense of one of the elements. We are glad to know that you are truly the knight we thought you would be and have defended an element nearly at the cost of your life.’

He had to swallow bit when he recalled what the doc had said about nearly four times.

‘It is both mine and my sister’s wish you take some time off to relax. We have heard your brothers are away doing research and as such don’t know about your predicament. Your report was sent for you when it was found by Pinkie Pie to let us know that as always one never can predict these things so it was out of your control to not be able to defend the Elements right now. However when you are finally well we would like you to come to Canterlot to receive a reward for your duties and for going above and beyond them.

‘Signed: Princess Celestia.

P.S. Luna has gotten into the habit of eating bacon…I blame you for this.’

“Spike did it.” Of course said dragon heard that.

“What did I do?” With that he started laughing out loud.

Princess Celestia, ruler of the day, the sun guard and lover of cake was spending her lunch eating her favorite butter cream confection when Luna, her sister, Princess of the night, guardian of the moon and stars, and now lover of bacon, came in and started binge eating.

“Sister, I do not think that is going to be good for your figure if you keep that up.” Celestia told her as she took a large bite of cake.

Luna only glared at her and was about to mention the cake she always was eating but instead decided to take the high road. “My dearest sister, I find myself and my Night Guard unable catch the perpetrator of these most heinous of crimes.”

Celestia was a peace loving pony and it hurt her to think anypony could be a mass murderer. However that is what they had on their hooves as once a night for the last few days, right around the time she sent her knight his letter, there was a murder that were all done in the same way too. “And are you sure it’s the same one?”

The dawn bringer already knew it was but had to ask just to keep hope alive. “The victim’s profile is on the par for the pattern, a Pegasus in a predominately unicorn city. Cut nearly cleanly in half after the perpetrator removed one of their wings, then he or she drenches the victim in water to wash away any evidence that they left or at least in the attempt to.”

That last bit caught the ruler’s attention. “So you have a clue?”

She nodded as she levitated a dark blue feather to her sister. “It’s another Pegasus that is doing this.”

Celestia just had a horrifying thought. ‘Water at the scene, cut cleanly in half, dark blue feather…oh no.’

Luna could see the look on her sisters face as she paled. “Celly what is it?”

“We can’t let my student know of this. She would surely try to get involved in it.” The older sister spoke no longer eating her cake.

Luna smiled and chuckled. “Don’t worry I believe she is currently taking care of the injured Velo-oh I see what you mean.”

The white Alicorn stood up and started to pace to think. “Who would want to frame Velox though. Let’s just hope that with him being injured that he won’t find reason to come to Canterlot.”

In a puff of ash and green fire a letter appeared before the ruler. “Dear Princess.” She read outloud hoping to get some good news from her student. “This is Velox, I have talked to my doctor and he says a trip to Canterlot won’t bother my recovery, so as by the time you read this me and the girls are on our way to come visit like you asked. Hope to see you soon: Velox Starshifter.”

Luna caught Celestia looking up from the letter as they both said it at the same time. “Oh buck.”