So, to spare you all boring details, I'm going to just skip between major events. That's to say, ones where I became involved in to the point where it could be argued I had an impact on how it ended. That's to say, I'm skipping a few weeks after Zecora, which, by the way, passed a few episodes, namely "A dog and pony show", much as I wanted to get involved there, and to the parasprites. How was I directly involved, you may ask?

Well, it was a normal day, as normal as it could be here, and I was on the rooftops of Ponyville, invisible to the ponies' sight, as I watched Twilight run around the town, being Twilight to make sure everything was perfect for a royal visit, even though I remember it being a casual one according to the princess in the epis-oh, right. Twilight. Duh. Actually, before I dive in, I want to point out my intervention with Zecora did actually work, as, a few days after that, Zecora went back, and, though it was a little rough, she was accepted.

Anyway, I was on a building overlooking Sugarcube Corner when I saw Fluttershy walk in. Oh, you have got to be fucking kidding me, I said mentally.

You have issues with parasprites? Harmony asked Actually, never mind, I remember them. What do you plan on doing?

Depends, I said. Do they prefer random music, or any kind?

Honestly, I don't know, Harmony said. All I know is that they love music.

Guess I'd better go through my music data banks, I thought before accessing said system. "Okay, nothing with lyrics," I muttered. Has to be something that could be used for parties, if the actual episode is any indication. Or at least something with a lot of instruments, and a good beat. Or maybe I can use an anime song. God knows those are good and can be used at parties. Okay, so, what anime have I watched with basically no lyrics, or at least enough to where it fits into the song beat?

. . . Yeah, I got nothing. Still, I can make it easier for them once shit hits the fan. I stepped off the roof I was on, and made my way towards the Everfree. More accurately, I began to walk towards Zecora's hut. I knew she didn't know what the parasprites were, but I can hopefully give her the basics so that Twilight and the others will know what to do.

One thing to note that had happened since Zecora and I first met would be that, whenever Fluttershy was gone, I would sometimes go to her cottage, as, well, I needed more than a single zebra and goddess to talk to. Oh, and plan how to make Angel Bunny go "missing" in the Everfree. I don't care if I'm Harmony's champion, I will kill that fucker. Anyway, as a result, I had become friends with most of the animals there, even if I couldn't understand them, verbally. Fortunately, they seemed to know that, and most were quite capable of acting stuff out so I could know what they wanted to communicate. Besides, Harmony can't make me invisible to animals with a great sense of smell.

I passed the place by, with the bear and a few of the larger birds. outside, and gave them a wave I knew they could see, which the bear returned, and continued on my way into the forest.

The few wild animals I encountered were smaller than me, and most sensed either Harmony's power on me, something like that, anyway, or something else entirely. Only the large ones in the forest would try to attack whenever I encountered them. As a result, I made it to Zecora's hut with ease.

I knocked on the door, to which I heard, "I will be there soon, as sure as the sun rises in June." Okay, a weird rhyme, but usually Zecora isn't in an episode just for conversation, so I guess it makes sense. The door opened a few seconds later, and Zecora, wearing her cloak, stood there. "Hello, Excalibur," she said. "A pleasure."

"Zecora," I said with a slight joking tone, can you not rhyme every time you talk?"

"'Tis how I was raised," Zecora said. "I will not give up that base."

"Fair enough," I said. "May I come in? Ponyville's got a bug problem with something from the Everfree, and I'm sure somepony will come by to talk to you about them. Figured I may as well try to help out."

"Yes, you may enter. Tell me, what cause is the sender?"

"Like I said, a bug problem," I said as I walked in. "Ever heard of parasprites?"

"Nay, I have not," Zecora replied as we sat down in a pair of chairs she bought from Ponyville. "What is it that must be sought?"

"The ponies will most likely come for some way to remove them," I said. "If and when that happens, tell them, in your own way, that they need to use music to lure them out of the town."

She nodded. "That message, I will deliver, as if I was the sender."

I nodded. "Thanks, Zecora," I said. "While I'm here, need me to get anything for you?"

She shook her head. "Simply a grand view," she said. "One I doubt can be given, even by you."

I nodded again as I stood up. "Right," I said before heading to the door. "Thanks again."

She nodded, not speaking a word, and i left, going back to my camp on the edge of town. When I arrived, I almost ducked back into the brush before I remembered I was invisible to most, literally thank Harmony for that change to my current stealth generator, when I saw Fluttershy, with ten parasprites flying around her or nesting in her hair, there. Please don't let parasprites have a good sense of smell, pleeeeeeeaaaaasssssse.

"Huh," Fluttershy said in room voice, that's to say our normal inside voice. "I wonder who this could belong to." She explored the camp a little-note to self, nail a note to her door talking about permission to search- and came across where I stored the food I had gathered over my time here that was still fresh.

Harmony, I may need to relocate, I said as Fluttershy gasped.

"What kind of monster would eat an animal?" she asked, shock in her voice. Right of my head, the answer would be manticore, bald eagles, most birds, really, bears, most large cats, wolves, which can say dogs, if their evolution is the same from back home, and a few other animals you have at your house! I don't care if she meant sentient or not, there are carnivores for a reason.

Right, Harmony replied, and i heard her sigh. Sometimes, I wonder if I made the right choice by letting Celestia and Luna, those full on peace lovers, use the Elements. They try to make Equestria a utopia when a utopian would understand that some animals eat meat, and only that, or that some omnivores prefer meat.

Next I see them on friendly terms, I'll relay that, I replied.

"I-I need to tell Twilight so she can tell Princess Celestia," Fluttershy said before she ran away, a single parasprite staying behind.

"Oh no you don't," I said as it sniffed my food. I drew my bow and an arrow, strung said arrow, and let it fly, hitting the bug and sending it flying with the arrow. "Little bitch," I said. Okay, relocate first, then nail that note to Fluttershy's door before or after freeing those parasprites she'll keep in there tomorrow. "Time to get to work."

That night

After relocating most of my camp, having to leave a few parts there as the bearers arrived to see if Fluttershy saw it as it was, to a little further in, I had went and told Zecora about my relocation, and that I was in the same direction as my old one, just a shorter walk. Anyway, I was in a meditative pose, my legs crossed, hands on knees. It allowed me to quickly jump into a combat stance, and I was able to sleep in it. The moon had set, the pattern of the mare in the moon gone, as expected, given the weeks that have passed since Luna's return.

I imagine I fell asleep at some point in the night, as, when I next opened my eyes, all I saw was a black void. To test my theory, I held out my hand, and keep in mind, I was still in the meditative stance, and thought of something. What appeared was the hilt to a halo energy sword. Yep, I'm in a dream. Which does make sense, given what happened next.

"Hello, Excalibur," I said from behind me, which caused me to turn and see Harmony. "You adjusted to the dreamscape quickly."

I shrugged. "I'm a Tenno. We need to have control over our own mind for our abilities. And I don't mean any of my movement abilities, which all Tenno have. So, any particular reason you're here?"

"Simply to guide one here," Harmony said. "You can trust what she says. I asked her why she wished to see you before guiding her here."

"And just who may that be?" I asked.

"Us," a single voice said before a light blue pony wearing an ankle, if that's the right term, length dress appeared. Her mane was baby blue, and she had both a horn and wings.

I reached out, grabbed the energy sword hilt, and ignited the blades, the heat coming off of them felt just barely on my skin. "Why are you here?" I asked.

"She simply wishes to speak with you, Excalibur," Harmony said. "You forget, I asked why she did, and I can tell when one is lying. I would not have let her if she wished harm to you."

"Better safe than sorry," I replied. "Besides, she can control dreams. Who's to say she isn't your equal in them?"

"Me," Harmony said.

"Forgive me if there are no facts for that," I replied. "Now, again:why are you here, Princess?"

"We simply wish to speak with thee," Luna replied. "We know thy are not a creation of Nightmare. In our time of being possessed by her, we became familiar with how her magic felt when she used it. We felt no such thing as thy escaped from our old castle, and the fact Harmony, the true eternal goddess, chose you as her Champion helps to assert that you are not a threat to Equestria."

"That it?" I asked, the sword blades still lit.

"Nay, it is not," Luna said. "Though our sister believes only those with the Elements are Harmony's champions, and will support them at all turns while trying to stop thee if you are seen, we wish to help Harmony, and you by extension, however possible."

Both Harmony and I looked at one another, though I still had my face covered. I did, however, deactivate the blades on my sword. "If that's the case," I said, "what would you be able to help us with?"

"Anything dream related, obviously," she said. "And, though I know ponies look down on it now, if Harmony needs somepony. . . removed and it comes to me, I will do what I can to ensure it does not come back to you."

"Uh, Harmony," I said, "can I talk with you for a moment?"

"Of course," she said as she walked over, and I saw a faint shimmer behind her, which is to say in front of Luna. "What did you wish to talk of?"

"I don't think we should accept her help," I said. "Not because I don't trust her, but because of the risk to her if Celestia were to find out. She may think Luna's still under Nightmare's control, and who knows what may happen there."

"I can mitigate some of the risk," Harmony said. "You see, that prophecy of Nightmare's return? I gave it to Starswirl, and have actually had a vision of the future, so I can easily make one, as it involves you. It may, at least, put some hesitance in Celestia's mind to stop you."

"What did you have in mind?" I asked.

"I'll tell you when I have the wording down," she said. "Simply make sure to not change the colors of your sword."

"Oookaaay," I replied. "So, would it give us some breathing room to get allies?"

"Hopefully," Harmony said.

"Good enough for me, right now," I said. "Can you make Luna hear us again?"

"Of course," Harmony said before there was another shimmer.

"If we may ask, what have thee decided?" Luna asked.

It was Harmony who spoke first. "Princess Luna, we have decided that you may help us. If you wish for specifics, Excalibur will tell you." Wow. Funny. Good thing I'm able to think on my feet here.

"Well, first off," I said, "if you and your sister should face us, you are to impede your sister however possible while making it look as if you were trying to bring me down. That, obviously, is a given. Secondly would be if Harmony wants me to kill someone that's hard to find, you are to try to get me information on where they live. Finally, for now, anyway, would be to tell any in your guard, once you get one if you haven't already, and you are certain they are loyal to you, tell them that I am not to be attacked, and if they do, it is to be by the side of their other guards, and they must try to make it look s if they're trying to capture me, but, well, like you, impede the progress of the others."

"Those, we may be able to follow," Luna said. "Harmony, we thank thee for the chance at redemption for what we did as Nightmare Moon."

"You need not thank me, princess," Harmony said. She then twitched a little. "Great," she muttered. "He's meddling sooner than I thought he would." She then, at a normal voice, said, "I have to go. Something has come up, and I must attend to it."

"Of course," I said. "I suppose it is time I woke up, though. I will see you both next time." With that, they both faded away as I opened my eyes to see the sun coming up. Time sure flies when you sleep. Well, time to get to work.

I got up, stretched, and began to make my way to Fluttershy's cottage. I arrived about ten minutes after waking up to see her just now leaving. I snuck around to the back, passing the bear on the way, and looked inside.

"There you are, you little bugger," I muttered as I saw a green parasprite inside, along with the demon bunny. I looked around, and then opened the window, getting the attention of the animals inside. I pointed at the parasprite, as most of the animals inside were ones who I had gotten to know, and they knew I was there for it. I then knelt down, and made a come here gesture in the direction of the feed bag.

Fortunately, a few understood what I was communicating and a mouse and bird brought some over to the hand, which I held up in front of the bug, who began to sniff my hand, which allowed me to grab it in said hand. With that, and the parasprite struggling to get out, I climbed out of the window, and ran towards the Everfree, where I let the thing go, and it flew back into the forest.

About an hour later, with me sitting in the Everfree camp I had made, I began to hear a band playing. I got up and followed the sound to see that Pinkie Pie was being Pinkie, and leading a parade of parasprites into the forest, with the other Elements clapping along. Well, that's done.

Excalibur.

Harmony? I asked. I thought you were doing something.

I took care of it, Harmony said. But that's irrelevant right now. It's time for your first actual mission.