It had been about a month or so since the events of that night. I had spent the first week alone in the room Celestia lent me. After that first week I started my punishment. I hated every minute of it. In those three or so weeks Celestia deemed it fit to release the ‘All Powerful’ Discord. She had Twilight and her friends try to ‘reform him’. Much like situations before it worked.

Discord had his fun messing with the girls. He turned Serenity’s Tigris into a tiny tiger. It was rather funny watching her run in circles from that six inch tall cat. Throughout the day he pulled many different antics. Everything ended with him relenting and becoming good. Did I forget to mention that I fallowed him around with my Vectis trained on his head in case he seriously hurt someone? Good thing Specters have more than one use. Celestia didn’t even know I was gone.

Oh and there was the whole Spike and Timber Wolf thing. I only heard about it because of Serenity. She didn't even know what was happening until after it happened.

Anyway, I sat in the room Celestia gave me with my head resting on my left hand while I looked at the video feed of a helmet-less Serenity with the metal backing of my ship behind her.

“So how’s guard duty treating you?”

Celestia found it fit to ‘torture’ me with guard duty. She had me be her and her sisters lead guard. Wherever they went I had to go. Celestia found it fit to talk to me, which I did. She avoided the topic for the first week but for the next two she pretty much forced me to open up. I also apologized to her and her sister and Cadence for my actions. They thanked me and things went back to normal between us. She said on multiple occasions that she enjoyed learning more about me and my planet. It was also a good way for me to vent. The truly unfortunately fact was that the Sparkle family wanted nothing to do with my sorry ass. I didn't push any buttons and let them be. Maybe in the future they could come to forgive me.

“I hate it,” I removed my head from my hand and rested my arm on top of the other on the table, “No matter where I am or who I am with its boring as hell, "I explained, "Please just stand here and do nothing for the next twelve hours!” I said with false enthusiasm, “Kill me?” I deadpanned.

Serenity giggled, “Yeah well, at least it will be done soon, right?”

“God I hope so! Which reminds me, how did those repairs go? Is Ordis building the replacement engine yet?”

“I got the rest of the engine out the other day and Ordis started building yesterday,” she answered with a shrug and a head tilt while she glanced to the side momentarily.

“Thank you,” I complimented.

“No problem,” she answered. We sat there in silence for a little bit, “Hey Excalibur, I was wondering… well only if you feel like answering that is?”

I raised an eyebrow, “And that would be?”

“Well… I had been wondering, what do you see in Twilight that you like so much?”

That hit me like a runaway train. Mainly because I wasn’t expecting that question, but in the last three weeks I had come to terms about what had happened. Was I proud of it? Well, no. I hurt Twilight where it hurt the most. I leaned back in the swivel chair placed my hands on top of my head and turned ninety degrees to the right and looked out the large window and at the sunny day Celestia had provided.

I took a deep breath, “Hooo I don’t know…” well I did know. I listed off what I thought about her. She is smart, funny, friendly, kind, loving, a bit of a book warm and a teacher’s pet. Everything I could think of I listed. Twilight was in my eyes the perfect girl… er mare.

“… and she’s very cute,” I finished.

Serenity giggled, “I…” she laughed a little harder "I don’t know what to say?” she said between giggle fits.

I turned back to the feed, “Yeah well-“

“Oh how interesting!”

Discord… bastard couldn’t take no for an answer. I turned my head to the right and looked at the tiny draconequus sitting on my shoulder. He laid there idly with his head in his ‘hands’ and a 'foot' dangling down while it swung idly from side to side.

“So you do care about little old Twilight!”

“Can I help you Discord?” I playfully asked with a hint of annoyance and a fake smile.

Like he would catch the hint.

“Just thought I would stop by and say hiiiii!” he stood up and placed his eagle claw on my cheek, “Little Miss Moonbutt threw me out again.”

“Did you swap her shampoo out with dehydrated bubblegum again?”

That was a funny site. Luna’s screaming her lungs off. I kicked the door in with my gun ready and Celestia in tow and all I see is Luna sucked to the shower wall with bubblegum as the adhesive. I almost died of laughter and exhaustion while she glared daggers at both of us. I almost left her there sucked to the wall.

Almost...

...

Now I regret not doing it. I know what my next prank on her is going to be.

“No… maybe… yes…”

And that was the straw that broke the camel’s back. I grabbed Discord by the wings with my right hand and stood up out of my chair.

“Excuse me! I think you are supposed to take me on a date before we head this far in our relationship Excalibur?” he said while placing his claws on his hips and accentuating his point while pushing his head slightly forward.

“Don’t worry Discord, I still love you,” I said sarcastically while walking to the door.

Once I reached I opened the door and held him up to my face, “You better go free Luna this time before I decide to call this one assault.”

It took Celestia and me forever to free the Lunar Princess. I had to shaver her bald... Anyway, I grabbed his nose with my left hand and his tail with my right. I leaned out in the hallway and stretched him like a rubber band before launching him down the hallway with a loud SNAP! He bounced around the hall like a rubber ball. Everything he hit glowed white and binged like a pinball machine before he crashed around a nearby corner. I swear I heard the Wilhelm Scream when he did.

“Ah… rude!”

I slammed the door shut and walked back to my seat while I wiped my hands –in a cliché kind of way- and sat down and looked at Serenity.

“And then that happened. Where were we?”

“We were-”

TINK TINK TINK!

Serenity turned her head to the right and looked at the back of my ship, “Ordis, who is it?”

“It’s *BZZT* I DON’T TAKE ORDERS FROM YOU!!! *BZZT*”

I rolled my eyes, “Ordis open the damn door!” I ordered out of frustration.

“Yes Excalibur, sorry Excalibur,” he responded.

I sighed, “Thank you Ordis.”

“You’re welcome Excalibur,” he turned his voice to Serenity, “Miss Applejack, Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash are here.”

That’s right Rainbow was done with her training recently. Anyway, I swiveled one hundred and eighty degrees in my chair and leaned back as stared at the ceiling while I waited for Serenity to get back to me. I heard three separate hoof steps on the metal floor of my ship.

“Hey Twi we were-“ started Applejack.

‘Wait… Twi!?'

“Shh shh shush!” whispered Serenity in a failed attempt silence the mare.

I spun around in my seat, “Serenity, what’s going on?”

She snapped to attention and started sweating bullets and was as stiff as a board, “W-what do you m-mean Excalibur?!” she asked while putting on a fake smile.

I narrowed my eyes, “What are you hiding?”

“Nothing!”

“Ordis,” I had an idea, “How many bodies are on the ship?”

“Five Excalibur.”

“Could you please list them each person’s name by alphabetical order?”

“Applejack, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Serenity, and Twilight Sparkle.”

Busted.

Serenity gulped, "...Traitor..."

I caught her red handed. I was a little angry but I was mostly worried, mainly because Twilight had heard everything. We hadn’t talked since that fateful night so I had no idea what she was planning. I opened my mouth but was cut off when I saw one of Twilight's purple eye and part of her ear peek up from under the table. She saw my bemused expression and ‘Eeped’ and went back to hiding under the table. Serenity rolled her eyes and disappeared from view momentarily before coming back up with the mare in question. Twilight squirmed and tried to run away but was only able to catch air with her hooves.

“Twilight, we might as well come clean,” Serenity said.

Twilight let out a defeated sigh and went limp in my partner’s hands. Serenity set her down. Twilight's ears were the only sight until she placed her fore hooves on the table and looked at me.

“So-“

The door to my room shot open, “Excalibur are you-“

‘Don’t you ever knock Sunbutt?’

My head dropped before I focused on Serenity. I mouthed the words ‘Shoot me’ before turning around and facing the solar princess with my arms crossed. Celestia gave me the death glare while she looked between me and the feed.

She focused on me, “Excalibur, I explicitly told you that you are to have no contact with my student for the time you are here?”

“And I have followed that to the letter,” I said in my defense, “Little miss 'energy claws' found it fit to make me squeal like a pig,” I said while turning and pointing my left thumb at the Tenno in question. I started daggers at Serenity.

She laughed nervously, “Ahehe. Sorry Princess Celestia. I had no idea that Excalibur was under strict orders… then again we didn’t plan on getting caught,” she said the last part to herself while glancing off to the side.

I looked back at Celestia. She opened her mouth to say something but was cut off.

“Actually princess, this was my idea,” Twilight admitted. I turned around and raised an eyebrow, “I was… curious about something.”

“Clearly,” I replied. I turned back to Celestia, “Is it time for my shift to start?” She nodded,” Alright,” I said while slapping my legs with both hands. I stood up and walked over and grabbed my rifle from a nearby corner and walked back over to the feed, “Thank you for your work Serenity.”

“You’re welcome Excalibur.”

I was just about to cut the feed when Celestia spoke up.

“Excalibur, is it alright if I talk to my student?”

I turned back and looked at her slightly surprised, “Sure. Just press the top of the device when you are done.”

“Thank you.”

I grabbed my helmet from the table and placed it over my head before leaving the room and closing the door. I headed straight to the throne room. Well, I ran into Feather Duster. She hadn’t seen me in a few months and was eager to catch up. Well… I told her everything. She felt bad about what Twilight and I went through but she wasn't angry like i had expected. She was worried. She said things would get better. Because, ‘Friendship is Magic’! That's right around when Celestia came trotting up. We said our good byes and I followed Celestia.

She headed outside and up to a prepared carriage. It was massive. The carriage was white with golden accents –I wonder why?- and a large backrest with a sun on the top and a large red cushion to sit on. Out in front sat two white male pegasus guards. I don’t know how they intended to lift that beast of a ride. Then again most stuff here that even I can’t explain I chalk up to magic.

She climbed on and took a seat on the cushion. She waited until my archwing arrived, which was less than a minute. Once it was attached and ready to go I activated the engines and hovered a few feet off the ground. When Celestia saw I was ready to go she ordered her guards to take to the skies. I flew on her left and scanned the skies for threats… like there would be any. After about a minute something very important hit me.

I banked over to Celestia, “Princess, where are we headed!? I can’t protect you properly when I know nothing of your plans!” I screamed over the roaring wind.

“Is it not obvious!?”

“Not really!”

She pointed a hoof forward. Following the direction of the appendage I could see we were headed right for Ponyville, the library to be exact.

“Ponyville!?” I looked at her, “Why!?”

“You’ll see!” she may have had a straight face I could tell she was grinning on the inside.

I wasn’t nervous per-say I was… uneasy. While we soared through the skies my mind went to the last few words Twilight said. 'I hate you' and 'I don't ever want to see your fucking face again'. But then there was the 'I do'. A few minutes later we landed next to the library.

Serenity walked out from inside my ship while I closed my archwing on my back and Celestia got off her chariot. I grabbed my Soma off my back and held it. Serenity walked up and stuck out her hand and we shook hands. When we finished I grabbed my gun again and looked at Celestia. She smiled at my teammate and nodded. Serenity nodded back, causing me to become a little suspicious. They were planning something and I knew it. I removed my archwing and transferred it over to Ordis before I followed the two inside the library. When I entered the 'building' it was pitch black and the lights were off. I activated my night vision to see what was going on.

Someone just so happened to flick the lights on at that moment.

Everything went white. I screamed in agony and shock and let go of my rifle and grabbed my helmet with my right hand, killed my night vision and fell to one knee.

“Excalibur, are you okay?” Celestia asked, concerned.

“I can’t see a damn thing!” I answered out of frustration.

I stood up and blinked my eyes while the stars started to disappear. Slowly but surely my eyesight went from white to blurry. While my vision started to come back I could make out seven different colored pony bodies, one dragon body and one human body. Once I fully regained my sight completely I could see everyone looking at me with concerned faces. I ended up focusing on the banner that hung from the ceiling that said ‘Welcome Back! Hope You Can Forgive Us While We Forgive You!’.

“Uhhh…?”

Celestia walked up explained how on that fateful night Twilight couldn’t hold a grudge against me and pretty much forgave me right after I walked out the door. So I was the one that needed to learn a lesson. After the explanation Twilight walked up to me. I kneeled down to her level and removed my helmet.

I looked into the beautiful purple orbs, “Twilight… I am so very, very sorry.”

She gave me a smile while her lower lip quivered and tears started to fall. She lunged forward and took me into a big hug. I didn’t resist and took it with open arms… figuratively and literally. She cried into my neck while I cried into hers. After a couple of minutes we broke apart and I stood up.

“So Excalibur?” Celestia asked. I wiped my eyes and looked at her, “Do you think you learned something from this?”

Odd question.

“I believe I have,” I looked at Twilight, “Those, no matter who they are or what they do,” I looked at her friends, “Under the darkest of circumstances can be forgiven by those who care most about them,” I looked back at Celestia, “As cheesy as this sounds… friendship is magic,” I looked back at Twilight, “Thank you for giving me another chance Twilight.”

Her ears fell back, she looked to the side and rubbed her foreleg, “Anything for you… my love…”

I knelt down in front of her and scratched her ears –much to her delight, “Twilight, I think I owe you another date… a proper date.”

Her smiled widened along with her eyes, “YES!” she screamed at the top of her lungs while she jumped about ten feet in the air, causing me to lean back, surprised.

She –literally- froze in midair with a face of realization before falling flat on the floor. She sat up while her eyes spun in her head. She shook it quickly while holding a hoof to her head. Once that was done she placed her hoof on the floor and looked back at me and blushed. She cleared her throat, “Ahem... I mean, I’d like that.”

Author's Notes:

Originally i wanted this to be part of the last chapter but that put it over 10k words. Dont pester me about forgiveness, Sunset was forgiven by Twilight and the human mane 6 the minute she crawled out of the crater she made. I mean she turned into a demon enslaved a school, nearly killed Twilight and her friends. Excalibur broke her heart and had over a month to learn his lesson.