It had been a day after Twilight's little stunt, and I was still in a fair amount of pain. I was currently hunched over in my wheelchair with my right elbow resting on my knee while my left arm was in a sling. Even though I was in my armor -which was working overtime to heal my wounds- I was still in no shape to fight and barely enough to walk. But this conference had to be done. Serenity, Drax and myself were waiting patiently behind the curtain that lead into the conference room where most if not all of Canterlots nobility, along with the magic projection crystals were located.

"I hope everything will be alright," Serenity said with a hint of worry in her undertone.

"We're being thrown to the wolves," I replied. "A trial by public execution without any help whatsoever. We're guilty by association." I leaned back in my seat with a weary sigh, replacing my elbow with my hand. "All we can do is stand firm and speak the truth."

"We might as well just shoot ourselves in the foot," Serenity added with a sigh of her own.

"Aim for the head, less suffering that way," I added.

Celestia's assistant and Twilight entered threw the curtains and approached us. Raven Inkwell -the assistant- informed us that we were to be ready in a few minutes while Twilight wandered over next to me, hugging my neck and whispering yet another apology. It was yet another in a long string of them since I had first seen her this morning. Celestia had dealt with her as promised, so Twilight was much more under control of herself and not relying on her raging hormones. I rubbed her back, yet again accepting the apology before we were given our sixty second warning.

"Help me up," I requested to all of them. "And hand me my stupid cane." I clenched my jaw to hold back the wince as Twilight and Drax helped me into a standing position before Serenity offered me my cane. Once we were set, Twilight let me support myself by leaning against her while I limped into the room. Celestia worked her way towards me and supported my other side with a single hoof. I ignored the flurry of flashes from cameras as I stumbled towards the podium. Once there, I stepped in front of it and sat down on the steps that led to the stage. "I'm gonna sit down."

Once I was down, Celestia was able to get everyone to hush up before she headed towards the other end of the stage where Luna and Chrysalis had been standing. I eyed the crowd as I waited. All of them had to be reporters, most of them were ponies, but there were a few minotaur’s, some griffons, a zebra, pretty sure I saw a cat and a dog in there as well. Many had cameras while. Others held notepads.

Eventually, I looked towards Celestia. "Where do you want me to start?" I asked.

She glanced towards the crowd, then back to me. "From the beginning."

Simple enough.

I nodded and began my short note response. "Several months ago, I crashed on your planet." That garnered numerous wide-eyed stares of shock that slowly drifted towards Celestia, who shrunk under the many stares. Seems she failed to mention that detail. "And yes, you heard me right. You are -nor ever will be, alone in this universe."

"So… you're an alien? From a different planet?" One mare reporter asked timidly.

I shot her a finger gun. "Bingo. My name is Excalibur Prime. The one over my left shoulder is Serenity and my right is Drax-" I gestured to them both with a point of my finger. "-we are Tenno, warriors from a bygone era. We come from the Origin System many light years from here."

"How did you get here?" A minotaur asked.

"Getting to that. I crash landed after I was attacked fleeing from the very ship that invaded here."

"So, you brought them here!"

From there the room divulged into a cacophony of accusations and hateful words. I tried to get the crowd to settle down but to no avail. Celestia and Luna tried as well but with just as much success I did.

"Oh, for the love of…" Reaching over, I grabbed Drax's pistol and fired a razor-sharp round right into the ceiling with a loud boom. Everypony, save for the two humans with me, winced from the deafening sound, covering their ears and curling up in their seats. I handed the man's pistol back to him before I held out my hand towards Serenity. She stared at my open palm for a few seconds before she gave it a slap.

I pursed my lips out and slowly licked them in bemusement.

"Give me your tonfa…"

"Oh…" she reached over her shoulder and drew the right of the two before she handed it to me. "You should have said something."

"I was about to when you slapped my hand," I replied, grasping the weapon and pressing the tip against the floor. I grit my teeth as I forced myself to my feet before easing my way down the steps, one at a time. "This world has faced my enemy. Not the worst. But formidable nonetheless." I limped my way into the aisle that went right down the middle of the seating. "You have seen what they can do. The remnants of their attack lay just down the valley," I explained with a point of the tip of the tonfa towards the wall to accentuate my point.

"But you lead them here!" one mare frantically shouted as she stood up. "How do we know you're not here to destroy us! To take our foals as slaves, and to, to… to take mares and impregnate them!"

I glanced towards Celestia with a furrowed and confusing brow. She was shaking her head in disbelief and mumbling something. Luna held a hoof to her muzzle to keep from bursting out laughing.

"We do not need your help!" I turned back and locked eyes with the large minotaur. "We have defended ourselves for eons! We can handle anything this creature could possibly throw at us! He is weak, a child could destroy him!"

I just waited patiently for him to finish talking before I finally responded. "You know," I said, addressing the crowd. "My primitive ancestors used to throw rocks at the moon in an attempt to fell it from the sky. Yet no matter how hard they tried; it was always out of reach. They could not fathom how such a simple action always ended in failure." I turned back towards the minotaur, pulling a holo-device from my hip and held it up. A one to one scale of a generic pony appeared. "This is you." Quickly, the feed zoomed out as the pony became nothing more than a speck against the comparison of the much larger Class 5 Grineer Galleon that encompassed the pony like a cat to a mouse.

Everyone went pale.

"How many rocks would it take you to fell such a monster?"

"H-He's trying to scare us!"

I heard the clip clop of hooves on stone behind me as Luna approached, eyeing the feed carefully. She looked towards the tiny pony, squinting to make out the little holo-pony before she decided to move onto the much larger ship. "We knew it was big. But not that big." She looked up at me as I closed the feed. "How many rocks would it take?"

"Depends on whether or not you can get it moving fast enough to punch through several meters of hardened steel," I replied with a shrug. "But you'd have to hit something vital, which is located much deeper in the ship's core. There's a reason we choose to sneak inside instead of chip away at its armor."

"Like a castle?"

"Which is easier to kill the king? Chip away at the building by throwing hundreds of rocks at it or sneaking inside and hit him over the head with just a rock?" It was a stupid comparison, but which is more effective? Death by a thousand cuts or death by one. Eventually they will die, but one of them is faster and more efficient than the other. Luna nodded as she wandered back towards her sister. "Flash and bite, the day is won not with a strike to the heart but hundreds of cuts about it."

To quote a certain voice of the pirate radio station, Nightwave.

I shrugged. "But if you feel that I should not be here. Then strike me down!" I challenged, dropping the weapon and taking a couple of steps back.

No one dared to move.

No one would.

"That's what I thought," Bending over, I grabbed the weapon with a wince, limping back towards the steps, dropping back down into sitting position. "The universe is bigger than you will ever know. Let me tell you now that you think you're tough. Every dog does. But there is always something bigger, stronger, louder…

"And has a lot more teeth."

I stared out over the silent crowd. "Right now, even wounded. This dog is a lot bigger than you. You should be glad he was willing to stand by your side and not go right for the neck." I stood up and began limping towards the entryway we entered through. "We'll help clean up the destruction before continuing with further negotiations. We're done here."

Once I was out of sight, I slumped into my wheelchair, my body screaming at me to finally take a break. I was panting like a dog in the midday sun.

Celestia and Luna began to speak, recapping the important events pertaining to us of the last few months. The crash, our agreement, she glossed over the touchier details, but did explain how and who defeated Tirek, saved countless others and who came up with the plan to prevent loss of life. Many were not fans, but they could not deny our heroics. Lastly, she finished with our defense of Ponyville and the planet.

"We are not alone in this universe. Our world lacks the necessary power to defend itself from foreign invasion. A galactic invasion. We have seen weapons and destruction far beyond our wildest imagination. I'm sorry, my little ponies for keeping such a secret hidden. I was a fool, believing that silence would be the answer. Perhaps it was fear, or something else keeping my mouth shut. For that, I apologize. But now, we have an opportunity to expand beyond the stars and to ask for the help we so desperately need at this time. Which is why I am going to let the Tenno be our galactic defense force at this time until further notice. Thank you."

The room diverged into shouts and demands to answer questions, but Celestia and Luna paid them no mind as they left the stand and approached us.

"Let chaos reign," I remarked.

"How do you think this is going to end?" Twilight asked as she stood next to me.

"Poorly," Luna replied, voicing exactly as I was thinking. "But I think the thought of another invasion from the stars is enough to keep ponies from thinking otherwise."

"The point is that we are bringing you well into the modern age," I added with a slight moan. "I have some calls to make."

Yep, I wasn't feeling good.

Celestia began to wheel me along with her magic as everyone else followed behind and away from the conference hall. I could tell we were heading towards my room by the route we were taking, all the while, I could feel my stomach begin to become worse and worse. Churning and moaning like an infested victim. It wasn't until we were at the door to my bedroom that I said something.

“I feel sick…” I moaned as we rolled into the room Celestia had set up for me to try and recuperate in. I took a few deep breaths to try and keep my stomach in check, but it was all in vain. Celestia seemed to see my discomfort and immediately grabbed a small trash can and placed it in my lap. That seemed to send me over the edge as I heaved not a second later, vomiting what little food I had eaten and a lot of fluid into the metal container. I heaved a second time, gagging and wincing at the vile stench with a moan.

“I think you’re pushing yourself too hard,” Celestia said with a worried tone. “You’ve been out of the hospital for less than twenty-four hours. You are clearly in no position to be doing what you are doing… especially with your body in such a failing state.”

I panted, burping with a disgusted groan. “I have to…” I belched again with a dry heave his time. “Make amends with my mistake…”

“You can barely walk. Let alone fight, you’re done for now. End of conversation!” Serenity sternly added as she stepped around in front of me and resting her hands on her hips, glaring down at me.

I glanced up at her, feeling like a child being scolded by his mother before I nodded weakly. “Alright… okay… no strenuous activity for the foreseeable future.” Serenity crossed her arms and raising a brow. “Alright!” I said a little more firmly. “Jeez… I got it mom…”

She rolled her eyes with a playful, half smirk before stepping aside and slapping me on the back of the head, causing me in turn to roll my eyes as I was wheeled towards my bed. The trashcan was removed from my lap via Celestia’s magic just as I reached the bedside. I pushed my pathetic self out of my seat and started to get into bed before Luna and Twilight stepped up and helped me fully to get onto the mattress. I rolled over onto my back with a pathetic sigh. I took one last deep breath and pushed myself up into a comfortable sitting position. Celestia rolled the chair out of the way as I watched her. While that happened, everyone continued to watch me while I sat there silently. Twilight took the time to turn into her hybrid form -making sure to have a dress this time- and crawled into bed next to me.

Her friends continued to just watch.

Celestia had just opened her mouth when I decided to speak. “You know… there is an old saying where I’m from and it goes like this…” I turned my head to look out over the group of mares, two humans, and one dragon. “‘War is hell.’ But I believe that hell is war.” I sighed, rubbing my face with my left hand before I removed my sling and hung it over the left bedpost. “It changes people. Believe me when I say that this was the man I never wanted to be.”

Applejack nudged Rainbow with an elbow and pointed towards the couch and chairs that rested opposite the bed. The girls, including the princesses and my friends followed suit and headed towards the furniture and grabbed their respective seats.

I let out another sigh, looking towards the solar princess and looking her square in the eyes. “You want to know why I have committed the atrocities I have? Because it’s all I have known for a very long time…”

Everyone's -save for Drax and Serenity- eyes went wide as their attention slowly drifted towards Celestia.

I shook my head.

“What I think you fail to realize is that this is normal where we come from,” I further explained. “The love, joy…” my gazes slowly drifted over the Element Bearers. “Honesty, Loyalty, Kindness, Laughter, Generosity-” I patted Twilight on the side. “Magic and friendship is almost nonexistent. We have allies and very few friends. People depend on us to do the dirty work and protect them. Kill or be killed and many of us refuse to die. The contrast between here and home is near night and day. Believe me when I say I am… we are fish out of water.

I think this is the life we have always desired, but could never achieve…”

I inhaled deeply through my nose and let out another deep sigh.

It was at that moment that there was a knock at the door, grabbing all of our attention. The door clicked open and a guard poked her head in. “My apologies, but somepony wishes to see you?”

Celestia and Luna shared a confusing glance. “We respectfully told everypony we were not to be bothered today,” Celestia stated.

“Not you, your majesties,” the guard answered with a shake of her head before looking directly at me. “For him!”

I glanced towards Serenity and Drax, all of us sharing the same look of confusion, then back to the guard. “Send them in.”

She nodded and stepped back, fully opening the door and letting the clone inside. CT timidly approached, flanked by a pair of equally nervous female clones. “CT, what seems to be the matter?” I asked, concerned.

He swallowed; his hands restless as he rubbed them together nervously. He looked like he wanted to say something but was still too scared to speak. “Come here,” I urged softly, waving the trio forward. CT and his two females stepped towards the bed, nervously glancing towards the princesses. Once he was close enough, I gently grasped his right forearm. “CT, you know you can talk to me. Nobody here is going to hurt you, I promise.”

He glanced towards the princesses one last time. “Are you... well... master?” he softly asked.

I nodded. “I’m well. Just a little nauseous.” His two females continued to shuffle nervously, so I gestured to them with a tilt of my head. “Who are they?” He didn’t respond, clearly unsure as to what to say. So, I took the initiative and asked them in Grineer.

I asked the one to his left -my right- who was the less augmented of the pair. Her left hand was a replacement and so was her right eye. “~Who are you?~” I kindly asked with a warm smile.

She gulped nervously. “~AZ-1409~”

I turned towards the other expectantly. She was missing both her legs from the knee down and the same with her arms from the elbow down. “~BT-7274,~” she responded.

I nodded, then an idea came to mind. “What did they say?” Twilight softly asked. That was the statement that was the perfect transition into my next explanation.

I gestured towards the seven mares and one drake opposite of me with my left hand. “CT, AZ, BT, this is Princess Celestia, her sister, Princess Luna. That’s Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, and Rarity. Lastly, the little guy there is Spike, Twilight’s little brother. This," I gestured towards Twilight. “And this is Twilight, my girlfriend.” All of them greeted the trio with their own hello’s, whether they were verbal or nonverbal. “Everyone, this is CT-7567, AZ-1409, and BT-7274.”

“What kind of a silly name is that?” Pinkie questioned with a furrowed brow and a head tilt.

“Pinkie… they aren’t names. They’re numbers. Their birth numbers. Grineer soldiers don’t have names,” I explained as the pink mare let out a very loud and disbelieving gasp of shock that caused Rarity to wince and everyone else to reel back as well. “I think this is a perfect example of what life back home is like. These clones have never had free will or choice. They have no names, only numbers. Bred for one purpose.” I pointed towards the window a few times. “They know nothing that we do. All of this, the sympathy and freedom they have been gifted, it’s all alien to them!” I glanced towards the nervous clones who might have thought I was probably talking bad about them, except for CT. “They don’t know what compassion or love feels like, and if I had to guess, I believe they think that they will be imprisoned and lose what they have so desperately wanted, should they speak up or step out of line.”

I turned towards Pinkie with a knowing sparkle of hope in my eye. “Pinkie, I think you would be the perfect person to get them started in believing in themselves. You to Fluttershy, they need to know what kindness and love feels like.”

"May I ask why they are numbered?" Celestia asked.

"For one, they are produced in such large quantities that naming every individual would just be taxing," I explained as I turned towards the princess. "It also allows for easy understanding of their birth batch."

"What does that mean darling?" Rarity asked this time as she eyed the pair, possibly thinking of clothing options.

"Alpha, Beta, and Charlie breeds and their corresponding number in their batch. Alpha and Beta breeds are all female and bred under the best genes to fill in special roles. Sniper and Scorpion in both AZ and BT's cases. Charlie breeds and so on usually consist of grunts and lower ranking soldiers within the Grineer ranks," I said, expanding on my earlier statement. Reaching over, I grasped CT's hand reassuringly as his female compatriots held his other hand, still very nervous.

"The universe has never been a nice place. I think you all understand that now."

The room descended into an uncomfortable silence for a few seconds, causing the clones to huddle up closer out of fear. Pack mentality and all.

"WELL THAT WON'T DO!" Pinkie suddenly shouted very loudly, startling everyone, the three clones the most though as they all jumped and huddled together like kubrow puppies. "Come on Fluttershy! We have a job to do!" The pink mare quickly hopped off the couch and started to excitedly approach the trio but paused mid-step when she saw the fear in their eyes. With hoof still part way in the air, I could see the gears grinding in her head before her overly excited expression and eager glint in her eye softened into a gentle smile. She waved Fluttershy over, who hopped off the couch much more gently and approached her friend.

They shared a nod of affirmation and approached the trio.

The three clones however tightened up, cowering around one another, eyeing the two ponies that only came up to just above their waists. Once Pinkie and Fluttershy were close enough, they each greeted the clones with their own gentle and welcoming way. Pinkie sat back on her haunches and held her front legs open for a hug. BT just watched wearily before looking towards me for permission or an answer.

I patted Twilight on the back, silently asking her to give me a hug. She got the message quickly -and had been watching intently like everyone else- and climbed on top of me with a shuffle before she was in proper hugging position. I held my arms out like Pinkie and gently wrapped them around her back before gesturing towards Pinkie with a tilt of my head. BT seemed to get what I was trying to portray and gently stepped forward. She shuffled nervously, sparing me one last uneasy glance to which I smiled reassuringly, silently telling her that she was safe. The clone dropped to her knees with a pair of metallic clicking noises against the stone thanks to her prosthetics. Reaching out with shaky arms, she hugged the mare.

BT broke down into tears as Pinkie held her close, speaking soft nothings into the clone's ear.

Fluttershy stepped forward and prodded at AZ's hand with the tip of her muzzle, gently rubbing her nose on the back of her knuckles. AZ saw how her companion was reacting, so the alpha clone started to gently pet the pegasus, an exciting smile slowly creeping across her features.

"You can trust them, CT," I whispered towards the clone in question. "I do."

He nodded meekly as Fluttershy and Pinkie began to lead them away. "Come on, I want to meet the rest of your friends!" Pinkie said in perfect Grineer.

I did a serious doubletake towards the door.

I continued to watch the doorway for several confusing seconds before I slowly turned my head towards the rest of -and equally dumbfounded- group.

"Did she just…" Serenity questioned with a point of her clawed finger.

"Best not to dwell on it darling," Rarity dismissed, yet I could hear the underlying skepticism in her tone. She then hopped off the couch and began for the door. "Come along girls, I believe Pinkie and Fluttershy are going to need our help!"

Rainbow and Applejack were the last to hop off before they looked towards me and Twilight.

"Y'all relax now ya hear?" Applejack stated as she passed by the bed. "You have done more than enough for us, you rest now!" Stepping up to the bed, she rested a hoof on my thigh. "Thank you, for protecting mah family…"

Reaching out, I patted her hoof. "I gotcha girl. These stubborn bulls have to look out for each other," I winked.

She smirked before heading towards the door.

Rainbow followed suit with a smirk of her own. "Yah know, I don't think I've ever said this, like, ever… but I don't think I've ever met any pony more awesome than me. You're alright 'Cal. Get well soon."

I smirked at that. "Stay safe knucklehead." Reaching out, we shared a hoof/knuckle bump as her and her friends headed towards the door.

"Get well soon darling," Rarity added with a warm smile. "You have sacrificed enough for our little planet. Please don't let it be in vain?"

I laughed breathily through my nose. "I have my orders," I joked with a point of my finger towards Twilight, who smiled. A smile graced the fashionista's muzzle as well before she too, exited the room.

Celestia and Luna were next, the former approaching the bed first with a forlorn expression on her muzzle and regretful look in her eye. "I…" she paused, taking a deep breath and closing her eyes. "I was a fool. Perhaps I was too complacent. Maybe it was foolishness or my age catching up to me." She opened her eyes and looked square into my own. "But made some terrible decisions in recent months. Please forgive me?"

I let those words sink in before I sighed. "I will forgive you under one condition," I started, making her go tense. "I have not been the most upstanding citizen myself. I have made decisions of my own in recent months that, now looking back, were not well thought through and I clearly have to do some restructuring of my own. Can you forgive me?"

She nodded as we both opened our mouths, "I'm-" we started simultaneously before I rolled my eyes playfully while Celestia giggled softly.

I gestured for her to start, so Celestia took a deep breath before speaking," I'm sorry and accept your apology and forgive you."

"I apologize for my actions. Thank you for your forgiveness and I forgive you as well," I apologized.

Celestia glanced back at her sister, who reeled back slightly in surprise and frantically looked between the two of us before pointing at her sister. "What? We have nothing to apologize for! You are the one who screwed up, not us!"

I chuckled immediately. "She's not wrong."

With that, they bid their farewells and headed off into the castle. Drax and Serenity followed them shortly afterwards. That left, Twilight, myself, and Spike.

"Uhm… can… can I join you, Twilight?" Spike timidly requested.

Twilight gave him a sympathetic look then a warm, loving smile. "Come here Spike!" she urged, sitting up and holding both arms wide. He quickly hopped onto the bed, scuttling his way towards his sister and eagerly jumping into her arms. She leaned back into my embrace and resting her head in the crux of my arm, holding him close to her bosom like a baby. He hugged her tight, burying his face in the crook of her neck.

"We're here for you bud," I said softly, reaching over and gently rubbing the back of his head.

"Oh Spike… I know how you feel…" She rubbed his back spines and sides as he started to fully break down and cry, grasping her dress tightly with his claws. I rested my hand on his right shoulder as Twilight continued to idly rub his back as he let it all out.

Spike finally had a moment to just be himself and let it all out towards his closest family member. Look at us, a trio of broken hearts and misfortunes. A little family that understands itself more and more with each passing day, unfortunately. Eventually, the tears had run dry and Spike tuckered himself out and fell asleep on her chest, using her breasts as a pillow. I idly rubbed her head, the sides of her face and the top of her bosom as we basked in our mutual silence. I had also stripped my armor so that we could be that much closer.

"So, what happens now?" Twilight softly spoke, her attention never leaving her little brother as she ran her hand along his ear fin.

"First, involves cleaning up Ponyville. We need to rebuild… again. Gather up the weapons, clean up the bodies, dismantle the debris, deal with any survivors, reterraform and rebuild what buildings we can," I listed before rubbing my face with my left hand and adjusting my right by just resting it on Twilight's bosom. "The next thing I guess is to maybe set up a meeting with a colonial guard clan."

"A what?"

"Colonial guard clans are clans that specialize in colony protection," I explained. "They dedicate their time to protect those that can't. This planet falls well within their minimum requirements for protection. I guess after that, it's ending this war…

"I'm sick of it…"

We sat in silence for a little while longer before Twilight opted to speak yet again. "What about us?"

I took in a deep breath before I responded. "Well… I wasn't lying when I was talking about marriage." Twilight slowly shifted in my grasp, turning her head to look up at me as I smiled down at her. "Twilight Sparkle?"

Her eyes widened and began to sparkle in wonderful anticipation, her body shaking.

"Will you marry me?"

She bit her lower lip, it shaking as tears of joy welled up in the corners of her eyes. My girl sniffled, shaking her head frantically. "Yes! A thousand times yes!" she sobbed.

"Stupidity and all?" I joked.

A giggle couldn't help but escape her muzzle as she closed her eyes and shook her head in disbelief. "But you're my idiot."

"That I am..." I said as we leaned in towards one another, gently pressing our lips against each other's in a loving kiss. "I love you Twilight."

"I love you too, Excalibur…"

Just as we leaned in for another kiss, a little surprised voice halted that action. "Did… did I hear that right?" Spike said softly, causing both of us to quickly look down at him. The tired little drake rubbed his eyes as he sat up on Twilight's belly.

I glanced towards Twilight who nodded, rubbing her own moist eyes. "You did, Spike…" she took my hand into her own, intertwining our fingers. "We're getting married!"

The little guy broke down yet again, but instead of tears of pain and sorrow, they were tears of joy! He launched towards his sister, pulling her in as tight as he could, his arms not quite reaching around her torso.

"Does… does that mean you will be leaving?"

Now that was a bit of a weighted question.

"One step at a time bud," I interjected, leaning forward and resting my hands on each of their backs as they looked towards me expectantly. "We need to plan the wedding before we decide where to stake our claim in the universe. But Twilight is a princess, I don't know how well leaving is going to go over."

"Point is, Spike, we'll be staying for a little while longer," Twilight added with a reassuring smile as she ran a hand over the top of his head before wiping away his tears.

I glanced at the clock and had failed to realize how late it was becoming. It was almost dinner. "Why don't we get something to eat?" I offered. I had eaten that morning and promptly got the joy of tasting it a second time a little while ago. Now that I was feeling better, I was eager for a meal. Especially when the cooks here know what they are doing. Better than choking down a nutrition pill or eating Corpus rations. Neither were very appetizing and were only designed as calorie dumps.

In agreement, the three of us got out of bed and I had to crawl into my wheelchair before we headed off towards the dining hall. But just as we were exiting the room, a little grey mare jumped in surprise, causing us to jump as well.

"Feather?" I questioned now that I could see the little maid better. "Holy sh-mmmmmokes it is you!"

No need to curse in front of Spike.

Her eyes went wide in surprise as well before the little maid suddenly lunged at me, jumping into my lap and hugging me as tight as she could. I hissed and winced in pain as her weight rested on both my lap and her hooves tightening around my waist. She sat back in shock, holding her hooves to her muzzle.

"I'm so sorry!" she squeaked.

"It's fine," I breathed with a single breathy laugh, holding my hurting side with an arm. I smiled at the little mare, reaching out with my free left hand and patting her on the top of the head. “It’s so good to see you, how have you been?” I asked in a strained tone.

Her eyes snapped towards Twilight, who was glaring at her hard and silently ordering the mare to get off me. “Good!” she squeaked again, her voice jumping in octaves before she forced a nervous smile and gently climbed off of me and onto the floor. The pain was more of a dull throb now as I tried to rub it away. “I’m so sorry, I was just eager to see you!” She paused, nervously glancing towards my fiancée of a driver. “Uh… hello princess?”

“Hello…” Twilight said frustratingly, crossing her arms.

“Uhm… you look…” Feather eyed my future wife up and down. “Good?”

“‘Scuse me?” I interjected before things started to get worse than it already was, grabbing both mares and Spike’s attention. “Alright, before you kill her before I get to say hello, how are you doing Feather? Well I hope!” I said, talking to Twilight first then to Feather. I didn't want the former to hurt the latter before I could catch up on lost times.

Feather sat back on her haunches, rubbing an arm with her hoof and nodding. “I am! Thanks to you, actually! Princess Celestia and the rest of the royal family apologized for what happened a few months ago. I’ve since been promoted and got a better apartment. Life’s been great since I met you. I uhm…” she paused, rubbing her hooves together nervously and averting her gaze. “I heard that you were in the castle and hurt so I… uhm… thought I would come and check up on you…”

“Don’t you say anything!” I stated, pointing a finger up and towards Twilight just as she opened her mouth. “I appreciate, more than you know, Feather. We were just going to go and get dinner; would you like to join us?”

“Actually,” she smiled, standing up. “I have just enough time to come and see how you were doing before heading back and getting my next assignment. I just wanted to thank you again, for everything!”

“Well. Good to know I got at least one thing right while I’ve been here!” I said excitedly. “It’s really good to see you Feather.” I waved her forward, urging her to come and give me a hug, which she did. Rearing back, Feather gave me a much gentler hug as I returned the favor. She dropped back onto all fours a moment later and I gave her another soft pat on the head, resting on my elbows on my knees. “I hope to see you again soon.”

“Same here!” she waved stepping past me, but immediately feared away from Twilight, who was glaring down at the little mare. “And you too… princess!” she gulped before taking off into a trot down the hallway.

“You know you don’t need to be a jerk, Twilight.”

“That’s exactly what I was thinking, Spike.”

We shared a high five at my fiancée’s expense as she grumbled behind us before she began to start pushing me forward again. “You’re supposed to be defending me…”

“Nah!” Spike and I said in unison, sharing yet another high five and a laugh at her expense. I swear I could hear her fuming and sparks popping and cracking in the air. My chair started with a jerk and another laugh from me and Spike as we headed off towards the dining hall yet again.

We arrived there in a few minutes, entering the room and greeting the rest of our friends and the princesses. Twilight rolled me up to an open spot at the table before taking a seat to my left with a huff, crossing her arms and turning her head away from me as Spike sat to my right with a giggle.

“Dare I ask?” Serenity questioned with a playful, half smirk.

“Twilight’s jealous.”

“I’m not jealous!”

“She’s jealous of a mare that has no feelings for me,” I further explained, causing Celestia and Applejack to roll their eyes while the others giggled or smiled. Twilight inhaled deeply, closing her eyes and taking her hand, holding it close to her chest before extending it out to try and calm down.

“I’m sorry, it’s been a stressful few days…”

“Believe us, Twi, I think we all know,” Rainbow said with a hint of exhaustion and depression in her tone. “But I think we should just relax and have fun. Focus on the good news, yah know?”

“Speaking of good news,” I teased, turning towards Twilight expectantly. “Do you want to tell them or should I?”

Everyone’s interest was piqued as they focused on us expectantly. Twilight’s once frustrated aura immediately faded as her excitement grew exponentially. “You want some good news?” Twilight eagerly teased, causing everyone to lean in even closer. She bit her lip, building up the tension that much more. I could see that sparkle in everyone’s eyes, they couldn’t take it much longer.

“He proposed!”

A cup shattered against the floor.

Everyone turned towards rarity, who’s right eye twitched. “I’m sorry darling, I must have misheard?” she said, rubbing her right ear with her right hoof as she levitated a second cup of tea into view. “Did you say… proposed?”

Twilight’s smile couldn’t be any bigger as she slowly nodded her head.

Another cup smashed against the floor.

It was chaos in the next couple of seconds. Twilight was swarmed by her friends as I played it both smart and safe and wheeled my ass out of the line of fire and towards the much calmer princesses.

“I guess congratulations are in order,” Celestia calmly stated but her smile was full of excitement. Luna was equally excited. I couldn’t hear exactly what Twilight and her friends were talking about as Serenity stood up and approached me as well. She gave me a wink and a thumbs up, casually waiting for her turn to speak.

I turned and pointed towards Luna. “I believe you had a request for when Twilight was to be betrothed. Well, I think we all know what that MEANS!” Luna nearly tackled me out of my wheelchair, tightening her front legs around my chest, immediately knocking the wind from my lungs. I swear her grip tightened each second.

“OH, GLORIOUS OF DAYS!” she shouted in the Royal Canterlot Voice, nuzzling -and deafening as well- me with all her strength.

“No… problem… fuck!” I wheezed. I could feel my bones moving in ways they shouldn’t before it finally happened.

My back gave out...

There was a deafening crack as my back finally cracked. “OH! Daaaaaaaaammmmnnnnnn....” I sighed, my entire body going limp as Luna released me with a look of horror. My entire body was more relaxed than it had been in a long time. I slumped in my seat, slowly sliding down until my back rested flat against the bottom of my wheelchair seat. I panted several times before responding, “Not gonna lie… that felt really good…”

Twilight was quick to run around towards me as aid, but initially, I weakly waved her off. "I've had that crick in my back for three-hundred years! Thanks Luna!"

My girl continued to fret about my health, but I assured her I was more than okay. It only worked a little bit though. It got her to sit down, but all throughout dinner, Twilight would 'occasionally' ask me questions about how I was doing. Each answer was the same, just with different words. I was fine, better if anything thanks to that glorious back crack. Thankfully her friends were able to distract her a fair amount about wedding plans. Each of them shared ideas and who was to do what when the wedding day would come.

As expected, Rarity would be on clothing duty, fawning over sales and junk as well. Pinkie on organization. Applejack and her family would run the food. Rainbow was after her position for an air show. Lastly, Fluttershy was actually on location, I expected music. Maybe another conversation was to come. Of course, Spike wanted to be in charge of the bachelor party…

Pretty sure he failed to understand what that was, actually.

Eh, he can dream.

I would talk to not only my clan, but I'm pretty sure the plethora of people I was close to would want to know as well. Yep, definitely going to need to make some calls.

When our meals were finished, Celestia offered to watch after Spike for the night and everyone bid their farewells and sent us off with one last congratulations. As we entered what might as well be our room, Twilight pushed me towards the bed. I started on a diagnostic scan as she began to remove her dress. The blue light from the little device scanned me from head to toe before I opened the human diagram.

"I'm going to take a shower," Twilight informed me, now completely naked. She glanced back at me, fully turning when she saw the hologram. She had seen this before and knew what I was doing. "How are you doing?"

"Bruising, mostly," I replied as I surveyed the damage, my eyes lingering on the red spot on my left shoulder. "I appear to have some muscular stretching in some places. At least I'm not bleeding internally or facing other medical issues." I closed the feed and glanced up at her face, even though I'd rather stare lower~

"Well that's good." Leaning down, she stole a quick kiss from me. "Want to join me?"

"We can't have any fun though," I admitted, much to my dismay. "Sorry we can't fuck the way you prefer."

She rolled her eyes and turned around, swaying her hips as she headed towards the bathroom. It was obvious she was teasing me on purpose. So, in response, I stripped myself and wheeled after her. By the time I had rolled my sorry carcass into the bathroom, my girl already had the water going by the time I wheeled my sorry but in there. Just like the rest of the castle and in Twilight's, this shower was big enough to fit multiple people, except instead of purple crystal, it was white tile.

Twilight helped me to my feet and I stumbled into the shower, slowly turning around and resting my back against the wet tile and gently sliding down and onto the floor, letting the water flow across my skin and wash away the grime and help relax my very tense muscles. Twilight pulled the curtain shut before turning towards me, her mane and tail now flat. She dropped into a squat above me before resting herself in my lap. She draped her arms around the back of my neck as I rested my hands on her sides.

Pressing her body in close to my own, I closed my eyes and captured her lips with my own. It was just me and her and nobody else. We broke the kiss not too long later and Twilight just rested her head against my chest, just hugging me. I placed my cheek atop her head and pulled her in close. We basked in our love for one another, just by spending time together.

"I like this…" Twilight muttered, adjusting herself so that she could sit more comfortably.

"Sometimes, the best moments are the simplest," I added. "We don't always have to have sex to show it."

"We both love it though."

"But I'm also completely fine with cuddling like this," I admitted, running my hands through the soft fur of her back, causing her to moan in pleasure, which caused me to start scratching her back.

"Naked cuddles," she giggled.

"Hey, I like feeling you all natural," I complimented. "Your nipples are hard, and your ass is gloriously soft against my dick~"

I could practically hear the eye roll, but I could also feel the cheeky smile against my skin. She seemed to have enough of my stupid comments and sat back, giving me a bemused look before she stood up and grabbed a bar of soap and a bottle of shampoo. Twilight sat down in front me, thrusting both the bar of soap and the bottle into my hands.

Safe to say, I got the hint.

I spread my legs as she turned around and presented me her back, pulling her hair around to the front and spreading her wings, letting them rest limping on the floor. "You know," I said softly, setting down the bottle next to me and rubbing both hands around the soap bar until they were foaming. "I think I could get used to this."

"You're just looking for an excuse to grab my teats."

I took that advantage, reaching under her arms and cupping a quick feel. I let out a hearty laugh as she slapped at my hands, forcing me to go back to cleaning her back. I made sure to add in a little of a message as I worked, much to her appreciation before moving onto her wing bones. I was rather mesmerized at how they worked. They were very similar to the mechanical joints on most archwing designs. But I don't know what creature inspired such a design. Definitely wasn't a margoo, their wings are strapped to their asses.

Anyway, I continued to examine her wings, running my hands across the joints and through her feathers, they were firm, yet very soft. I cleaned them as best I could, even going as far as adjusting or plucking them when requested. She told me that preening, while a somewhat unnatural and alien feeling and action, was a very personal action that should only be shared by a lover and that I should feel honored that she would allow me to do such a thing.

This was nice, even though I couldn't stand very well.

I passed her the soap so that she could clean her front as I continued to rub her back for a little while before reaching around and grabbing her hair. I slathered up my hands with the shampoo before running them through her long locks. I made sure to message her scalp as well to get everything nice and clean. After that, I had her stand up and face away from me so that she could wash the soap from her hair as I started to wash her tail.

Yet again, I was intrigued by yet another interesting body part. Her dock was just this little tiny thing that attached above her buttocks. It was as though her spine had come out of her body. Actually, that's exactly what it was. Instead of ending like mine does, hers came out. But I should have known this is what would happen, now was the time I could get up and close to it. Once that was done, I grab the soap bar yet again and cleaned off her legs.

Once that was all said and done, she twirled her finger at me, so I turned around as she sat down behind me and began cleaning my back. Her hands were firm, yet gentle, especially around the metal catalyst between my shoulders. I could feel her occasionally trace a scar from time to time with a finger.

"How did you get this one?" she asked, resting her finger on a scar.

"Is it round?"

"Yes."

"Probably an exit wound. I have no clue which that would be," I replied. Bullets, especially puncture-based rounds, were known for being good at punching through armor, but tended to pass right through soft targets.

"How about this one?" she asked, tracing a finger from my right shoulder blade down to my left lower back.

"A Dax Guard caught me from behind with his Nikana."

"And these three?" She dragged three fingers horizontally across my lower back.

"Infestation escaped."

"How about this one?" This time making a big circle around my left shoulder.

"If it looks like a burn mark. It's probably when a reactor detonated, igniting the fuel cell and sending half the room up in flames. My shoulder was what was exposed before the blast door closed."

"Turn around," she ordered.

I smiled and shuffled around so that I could face my fiancée face to face. She continued to eye my torso and the plethora of scars that dotted and cut across my skin. Twilight scooted forward, spreading her legs and resting her feet by my hips and fully sitting in my lap yet again.

She poked the one that sat square on my chest, just above my heart.

"This one?"

"I…" I paused, thinking about how best to go about it, but figured the truth was easiest. "A… former friend, put an arrow in my chest." I glanced down at the scar as she lowered her arm. "I shot him in the throat. Making us equal."

She sat there like an adorable child, with her hands in her lap and a little head tilt that was causing her left ear to flop.

I placed my hands on her knees, squeezing them once before I began running her shins. "Years or war and death. A testament to my sins."

"And reasons to remember and how you can atone for them."

I smile, slowly lifting my head and looking my girl in the eyes. "I'm so sorry Twilight. I want to change. I need to change."

She shuffled forward and hugged me one again. "This is your first step. You have more than made up for what you did to me. For that, I forgive you and I am more than proud to be your wife and to call you my husband."

I wrapped my arms around her lower back and squeezed her lovingly and appreciatively. "Thank you, Twilight. I love you more than you may ever know."

She leaned forward and we shared one kiss before she stood up.

"Come on goofball," she urged, bending over so that she could grab my right arm and heft me to my feet. I threw an arm over her shoulder as she used her magic to turn off the water and we waddled towards the counter, where I propped myself up momentarily before lifting myself onto the counter. "Here." She offered me a towel and I started to dry myself as she did the same. We were both dry within a few minutes.

Yet again my fiancée helped me off the counter and onto shaky legs before limping our way into the bedroom. She placed me on the bed whereupon I climbed into bed and under the covers. Twilight joined me a moment later, pressing her body close to mine. She traces her finger in small circles on my chest.

"Want to have some fun before bed~?"

I slowly flopped my head towards her and gave her a bemused expression. But that quickly turned into a cheeky smile when she gave me that adorable lip nibble. "You know that the doctor told me no strenuous activity. Pretty sure sex falls on that line somewhere." I rolled my head back onto the pillow.

"How about a blowjob?"

I slowly lifted my head and was greeted by her expectant -and horny- look. I weighed my options. It wasn't that -if at all- a strenuous activity.

"I can go for a blowjob!"

Twilight stuck her tongue out the tiniest bit before she slowly sunk under the sheets.

"Turn around and give me that ass!" I ordered. The sheets shuffled as I felt my fiancée climb on top of me. Her butt appeared a moment later as she rested her feet on my shoulders.

I spanked her right butt cheek.

She squeaked, before flagging her tail…

Author's Notes:

Like always I really hoped to have this out earlier. But I've been so fed up with not only all the covid nonsense and rather unnecessary panic surrounding it, but also the months of senseless rioting has me fed up as well. Just had no desire to do anything. Frustrated and pissed off.

Hope everyone enjoyed the chapter though.