Bigmac walked through ponyville after an exhausting day on the farm. Applejack had come down with the flu and had left him to cover her quota for the day. It had been made easier thanks to apple bloom. Within a few more years she would be Applejacks equal in strength. Thanks to her both his and Applejack's workload had been eased a bit. Now he was heading towards the local country club. As he walked through town he got the usual stares from the local mares, he had been the target of many of the towns mares, they thought by calling him hot stuff, are rubbing their goods against him that he was just going to follow them home like a lovestruck foal. As usual he received a few cat whistles. To the outside viewer one would think he did hear them, but in truth he had just gotten used to it and had just been able to ignore them entirely.

Bigmac finally came to the club and when he was about to enter a mare walked up to him swaying her hips. She looked new. He normally didn’t come into town to often, but he lived here long enough to know just about everypony. She walked up to him and leaned up against him twirling her finger on his chest.

“Hey there hot stuff, what's a big handsome stallion like yourself doing out here all alone?” The mare asked. Bigmac gently moved the mare off of him.

“Sorry miss, not interested.” Bigmac said and walked towards the door only to have it blocked by the mare.

“Oh come on big guy, hows about you and I go somewhere private and have some fun?” The mare asked walking up to him and placing a hand on his chest. Bigmac sighed, and brightened up when he saw another mare walking up to them with a peeved look on her face followed by two other mares sharing the same look.

“I believe MY stallion said no bitch.” Cheerilee said walking up and punching her fist into the palm of her other hand. The mare began to shake a little, she had been looking for a good time when she saw Bigmac and liked what she saw, she wasn’t looking to get beat up by some stallion's herd.

“S-sorry mam, I didn’t know he had a herd.” The mare said backing away before running off making Bigmac chuckle.

“Thanks Cheers.” Bigmac said hugging her with one arm and giving her a kiss.

“Anything for my stallion. Now, how was your day?” Cheerilee asked.

“Exhausting.” Bigmac said hugging the other mares in his herd, Marble pie and BonBon. “How are you girls?” Bigmac asked.

“We’ve been good, I got my stuff from the house and can move in anytime you're ready. Is the house ready yet?” Marble asked.

“Almost, I just finished the insulation, you can store your things at Granny’s house until we’re done, I doubt she would mind.” Bigmac said before feeling a massive wave of love from His mares, he loved them so much, he would settle for having just this small herd, if Cheerilee and Bonbon hadn’t been pushing for a full herd. Ponyville was a safe town, but with mares like the one bothering him you could never be too careful. He wished Applejack would form a herd of her own already, then they could form a joint herd to keep them all safe, of course she would need to find a stallion of her own first.

For now he was happy with the mares he had. He walked into the club with his mares in tow. As soon as he walked in he instinctively caught an apple cider that was thrown to him. He looked over to the bar tender with a smile and raised the bottle in thanks. He and her had been good friends since school, he had a ping of guilt, sadness and regret when he saw her daughter bouncing happily by. He looked back at her and saw a sad smile on her face giving him thanks for his concern. Bigmac nodded to her and went to have a seat with his herd.

It was sad that some stallions took advantage of mares somehow, never even bothering to think how lucky they hadn’t grown up in the capital. Her first coltfreind had stuck around during heat for her one year, and ran off as soon as it was over. Legally he was free to do so, but morally once a stallion willingly gives himself to a mare during that time of year they at least need to stay until the foal is grown up. Now nearly 13 years later she was still alone. He had asked her to join her herd a few times, or rather asked Cheerilee to do so, so he wouldn’t make more problems for her, she had enough problems without mares asking if she could teach them how to get stallions to hunt them instead of the other way around, and she had just gotten this job at the club, he didn’t want to jeopardize that.

“Hey mac, hey girls, what’ll it be?” Berry Pinch asked as she walked up to the booth.

“We’ll have the house special tonight and some ciders.” Cheerilee said, “that ok with you Mac?”

“Perfectly fine.” Bigmac said wrapping an arm around her. Berry Punch took their orders and walked away to give it to the cheff.

“Should I tonight?” Cheerilee asked.

“Are yall ready?” Bigmac asked.

“I don’t know, we just barely started building our herd not even a full year ago, are we ready to help take care of a foal?” Cheerilee asked, she loved foals, but wasn’t sure if she was ready to take care of one in a herd.

“We’ll be perfectly fine, I helped take care of apple bloom after my pa and his herd passed, it’ll be no different.” Bigmac reassured her.

“Alright, tonight it is then.” Cheerilee said as she looked over top the bar.

Vinyl walked through the market of omsk beak, Octavia had suggested they split up in case their targets might be here. She had a bored look on her face as she passed by the various stalls. She heard somepony throw a cat whistle her way hoping to get her attention. She ignored it, it wouldn’t end well, it never did. No matter how deep she got in with a male they always dumped her or ran off when they saw her eyes. Stallion after stallion wouldn’t touch her, simply because she had crimson eyes.

Typically she was called a vampony, or worse a demon. It’s one of the reasons she lived in ponyville, while she still couldn’t find a stallion, she could at least live there without fear of anypony shunning her because of it. It was ridiculous, simply to shun her because of her eyes, but ponies were skittish, and sometimes xenophobic creatures for the most part. None of this had to do with her objective though, and she didn’t need an earful of Octavia’s disapproval for not focusing on the mission.

She looked up and nearly jumped when she spotted a creature that matched the description of her target. He was big too, she knew he was big, but he was as tall as Princess Luna, and he had a build like Bigmac, but his muscles were more defined rather than simply bulging masses of muscle. She would have to be careful, she didn’t want to draw attention to the guard, and her methods were…. Louder than Octavia’s.

Currently it looked like he was arguing with a Turnip merchant. And from the look on the Griffin’s face he was winning. The Griffin slammed his hand on the counter of his stall and shouted “Three bronze pieces and that's final!!!” her target smiled and threw the money on the counter before taking his prize. She trailed him for a while as he looked through the market. She ducked behind a wall when he looked in her direction, that was close, he almost spotted her.

She watched him look where she had been hiding before moving over to another stall with weapons. After a conversation with the merchant he purchased a Lunar staff. He moved on down the main road and occasionally looked her way, she knew he had to of spotted him by now. Skipping the shadow routine she came out and showed herself to him entirely, she swayed her hips as she walked into an ally before looking back at him, he was looking at her, so she might have caught him. Stallions liked when mares swayed their hips like that right?

She waited for a good couple of minutes before poking her head out. She shouldn’t have made that gamble like that, Octavia was going to kill her. She started walking fast down the main road hoping to find him again when she bumped into the last pony she wanted to at the moment.

“Hey octy, hows it goin?” Vinyl said nervously.

“Vinyl, what did you do.” Octavia asked suspiciously.

“Shit, ummm… well, you see… i may have found one of our targe-” vinyl started but was interrupted.

“That's great! Where are they?” Octavia said looking around and back at vinyl, and her look of excitement slowly tuned to one of irritation, “you lost them didn’t you.”

“Maybe?” Vinyl squeaked with a sheepish Grin.

“I can’t believe this Vinyl, you do realize the seriousness of this mission? We are on an S-ranked mission, we aren't even allowed to return home until it is done, so for all we know we could be out here for years, decades even and you lost it!?” Octavia ranted.

“Oh come on tavi, i’m sure he hasn’t…. Gotten…. To…. far……” Vinyl started before looking over and spotted one hunk of a stallion, he was tall, muscular and looked like a warrior, but what really drew her in was his eyes. His big crimson eyes.

“And do you have any idea how, Vinyl? Vinyl?!” Octavia stopped talking when she noticed her friend wasn’t listening to her and stating off into space. She waved her hand in front of her face a few times trying to get her attention but to no avail.

Vinyl watched as the stallion who had been staring at them walked off towards town square. Buck Equestria, if she could get that she would care if she couldn’t return. She started walking to follow the stallion. Octavia, having given up seeing that whatever had caught Vinyls attention had it devotedly. She decided to venture off and see if she couldn’t find their target. Vinyl followed the object of her desire until they reached town square and he stopped by the fountain. This was it, time to put on the moves and get her a stallion. Maybe a stallion with eyes like her wouldn’t care about something so small.

She started to walk towards him with a sway in her hips hoping that if he turned towards her she could catch his eye. She was getting close, just a few more feet, she stopped however when she saw her stand up and take his hand. She stood there emotionless for a few seconds, then went into an emotional rollercoaster. Rage, Jealousy, frustration, with each emotion her magic spiked without her noticing, neither did she notice the stares directed at her as her entire body was engulfed by an electric blue aura that lifted her off the ground. Another one!!!! This one could have been the one!! He would have to be a blind hypocrite to be like the rest!!!! Why!? Why could she never find a stallion that wouldn’t care what her eyes looked like?!

She looked down at her arm when she felt somepony grab it,her face full of fury. Her emotions came crashing down when she saw it was Octavia with a somber look on her face. In her chasing down the stallion she didn’t notice Octavia follow her and witness everything. Slowly she lowered to the ground and hugged her.

“There's somepony out there for us somewhere Vinyl, we just need to be patient. We don’t even know that stallion, he might not even be worth it.” Octavia said petting Vinyl’s mane.

“I know, I just, I thought……. nevermind.” Vinyl said somberly and walked off towards the market. Octavia sighed and walked after her friend and herd mate, one day, they would find somepony. Someday.

Bill Cipher looked at the scrying mirror with an amused ‘smirk’ as he watched everything happen at once, he was especially amused with the comment section, oh if only they knew what he knew, they wouldn’t be so hateful against ol sunbutt then. Though it was her own fault for getting herself like this he supposed. Either way so long as his pupil was progressing she could sit there with her thumb up her ass in public for all he cared. He twirled the other items in his magic pondering what Nick would be like if he succeeded in the endeavour he had Planned for him. Would he go mad? Would he become a hero? A king? A guardian? A villain? A warrior? Or would he zero sum?

Bill shuddered at the last one, no one deserved to be erased from the fabric of existence, that was going to far for even him. He wouldn’t allow Nick to try this if he didn’t feel he was ready. The etherealite would help prepare him, and soon he would be ready. Bill was jolted from his focus when Zangetsu came into being next to him.

“Wha!? Where am I? Whats going on?” Zangetsu said looking around until he spotted Bill.

“Bout time you popped up.” Bill said pulling out a pocket watch.

“Bill where am I? Why didn’t I appear next to Nick?” Zangetsu asked.

“You weren’t dissipated like normal, you took a direct hit from a god. Simply put your connection with Nick was severely damaged, if we don’t fix it you will begin to fade from existence soon. Come with me.” Bill said floating through the mirror. Zangetsu followed him and when he went through he was met with towering golden gates with what appeared to be clouds at the base.

“Is this…..” Zangetsu asked staring at them in awe.

“Heaven? Sort of, it’s Nick’s old Universe's version of it anyway.” Bill said with a shrug and proceeded to tap on an invisible barrier in front of the gates. Within seconds they were surrounded by figures in silver armor and white hoods, their wings glowing as if they were made of light. Each towered over Zangetsu as they averaged at about nine to ten feet tall and had a warrior's build.

“Halt!! Who dares cross the golden gates uninvited!!?” A Golden one said walking up to them He was a staggering fifteen feet tall and held a massive broadsword in his right hand and a massive shield was mounted on his left arm.

“Michael?” Zangetsu said looking at the archangel as he approached. Michael Sighed as he saw who it was pinching the bridge of his nose with an armored hand.

“What happened?” Michael asked plainly motioning for the other angels to leave.

“He got blasted by a god, need to reconnect him to Nick before he fades.” Bill answered.

“WHAT?!?!” Michael asked shocked that a god could get close to Nick, unless….. “Is Nick in another universe?” Michael more stated than asked.

“Yea why?” Zangetsu asked.

“Then he is out of my jurisdiction, I can’t protect him if any of the forces of hell go after him on the physical plain.” Michael said.

“What!?!” Zangetsu asked.

“Don’t worry about it, Faust and I got a got a bit of an agreement, nothing's getting past us.”

The king of pride snaked his way through the plains of etherius and headed towards his prizes new holding cell, soon he would have the Sigma. He snaked his way into the universe in the form of a shadow.

“Not a thing.” Bill said crossing his arms.

“If you say so, now, as far as reconnecting Zangetsu to Nick it’s going to be a bit difficult, while Zangetsu’s soul can never become independant, his soul is now to big to be directly linked to Nick as he was before, he will need a more solid medium.” Michal said.

“Would this work?” Bill said holding up a sword making Michael's eyes go wide.

“How did you get that? Excalibur was tossed back into the sacred lake!” Michael said looking at the holy sword.

“I know a guy.” Bill said dismissing the train of thought, “now will it work or not?”

“I’m afraid not, the power the blade grants is far too much for a normal mortal to wield, even with Nick’s tampering with original design he is still far too weak to handle it without taking the same trials as arthor did” Michael said looking over the blade. It had made arthor almost unstoppable

“I know that, just have to nerf it a bit.” Bill said clapping his hands making a gold bands appear at the base of the blade, “this should limit it to something he can handle.” Bill said handing it to michael.

“Hmm, yes, this might very well work.” Michael said looking over the blade. He looked towards Zangetsu who had slowly been developing a deadpanned expression the entire time.

“Are we seriously about to turn me into an actual zanpakuto?” Zangetsu asked.

“Huh, I guess we are, that or you could fade away, your call.” Bill said.

“Well, guess I’ll go with door number one, let's do this.” Zangetsu said.

“Your form may change some, this is a holy sword, and even with it’s power limited it will have an influence on the user, and since you're using it as a vessel it will have some substantial changes on you.” Michael said sheathing his sword and taking excalibur.

“What kind of changes?” Zangetsu asked taking a step back.”

“Say goodbye to the dark and gloomy look kid.” Bill said as michael dashed forward faster than Zangetsu could track. He looked down to see that he had been impaled on the blade of excalibur. Soon everything began to twist and shift as he was sucked into the blade and a sort of reflection of him could be seen on the mirror finish of the blade.

“What the fuck!?” Zangetsu said looking over the changes, “you never said it would be this fast!!” Zangetsu shouted. His hair had turned white, his face had turned to a younger form so now he looked like tensa zangetsu. Instead of his normal black cloak he now wore a set of golden armor with black and white robes beneath it.

“Wow, you went from looking like some badass to a pretty boy goody to shoes knight!!” Bill said laughing his eye out.

“I think it’s suits you, much better than you're dark look you had before.” Michael smiled, “I am interested as to what the power of two souls working together like this will be like.”

“Yea well, now all we gotta do is get it to Nick.” Bill said snapping his fingers and making a sheath for the sword.

“Will I still be able to coordinate Nick's powers?” Zangetsu asked begrudgingly accepting his new appearance.

“Only when he has the sword in his hand, otherwise no. Now we need to hurry and bind the sword to him before you disappear.” Michael said.

“I believe I can help with that.” A large robed figure said with a booming voice.

“My lord!!” Michael said spinning around and dropping to a knee.

“Rise my child, now then, what do we have here? Ahh yes, the sword of power I designed for the right of divinity. How is it you came by it, last I checked it was in the lake.” The figure stated holding the sword with a gentle smile.

“I… uhhh I umm, I may have sort of asked gabriel to get it for me, it’s for one of your creations, so I thought you wouldn’t mind.” Bill said nervously. He knew better than to lie to or withhold anything an ancient, such a being could wipe out a being that had achieved CHIM , and bill could just barely take down one of them.

“I see, no matter than. I assume you have the other items needed?” The ancient asked.

“....yes…” Bill squeaked.

“Very well, so long as you use them to allow Nick to ascend then you may proceed. Now then I believe we have a sword to deliver don’t we?” He said and snapped his fingers.

Nick sat there with Trixie leaning against his side with her head resting on his chest, the events of the day had tuckered her out a bit so she decided to take a nap using Nick as a pillow. He sat there wondering, should he let her brand him? It wasn’t like it was permanent or that he would be unable to change it if the need arises, and it would help them be closer to one another. Being able to feel her love for him and her feel his would be nice, could help him understand silks way of eating a bit he supposed.

He looked down at her fondly and reminisced over the the last seven months. They had been interested in being friends for sure, but they never actually intended to form an actual relationship like this. No the reason they had gone on their first date was due to Iron Fist’s…. Persistence. They understood his urge in getting them together, he was an old bull at the time that wanted to see Grand babies before he passed. Of course, now with Nick’s… improvements during surgery to mend Iron’s heart, he may start looking to give Trixie a sister or a brother.

He had watched Nick closely for about a month, and when he determined he would make a worthy suitor for his daughter he started to push them to ask the other out. He knew ponies typically had a reversed gender role when it came to Dating then minotaurs, and had no idea with Nick, so he hoped one or the other would give in just to shut him up. They enjoyed their first date enough to try for a second, then a third, than one every week, then sleeping in the same bed…. It was safe to say they liked being together. Nick’s down to earth and blunt nature balanced Trixie’s boastful and flashy nature rather well.

Whenever she got to big of a head he made sure to empty out all the hot air, and when he was about to get so blunt to smack a bitch she reeled him in so things didn’t get ugly, until he pulled out a Turnip, then all bets were off and she left whoever pissed him off to their fate. She was still haunted by the sounds made by their waiter at the golden horn restaurant in Kevil…

Nick was pulled from his thoughts when he heard the door to the bunker opened and in walked Iron followed by Silk and a large Griffin. No.. He wasn’t a Griffin, he had hooves, a hippogriff? Then Nick noted his colors… He had a silver grey beak, black and white feathers on his wings, a grey feathers mixed in with his predominantly dirty white feathers on his neck and torso that wasn’t covered in an old breastplate.

“There you to are. I was worried sick about you two. Are you alright?” Iron asked making Trixie stir.

“Hmmm…?” Trixie murmerd.

“Were fine, had a bit of a day though. Did some shopping myself, apparently we almost had a run in with a herd wanting my balls.” Nick said.

“Ah, yeah that’ll happen from time to time, it’ll be easier once you're herd is full, and Trixie, you need to train harder young lady, can’t have you going and losing your stallion now can we?” Iron chuckled. Trixie responded by throwing a pillow at him.

“Well, so long as you to are safe that’s what matters.” Iron said, “now, Nick I would like to introduced you to Buckbeak.” Iron said gesturing to the hippogriff that had been standing deathly still and silent, “Buckbeak this is my future son in law Nick…. Buckbeak?” Iron said looking at his friend whose eyes had dilated and he slowly raised his hand to point at Nick.

“aaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhh!!!!!!!!!!”