Bonds Between Worlds Ch 5

By Foxgear

(August 23, 1992, Nico’s Log

Two or maybe it’s been three years now since I arrived in this world called earth. I have not found a way home to my native Equestria yet, and from the words of Swan, another Patroller from beyond my time, there may not be a way home. None the less I have not given up the search, while also keeping my promise to Bailey Apple to guard his farm from the monsters that appear from Equestria by some unknown means.

I have asked Bailey of his history of Swan and her late husband Lon, he only described his interaction with them as just him helping his fellow man. He has not dropped any hints regarding how much he really knows about them. I’ve decided to let the matter drop as it doesn’t seem to further my goal of getting home.

Well speaking of Swan, I must talk about my friendship with her son, Ferocious. He and I have become a sort of biker brothers, as he had aided in my instruction and acquiring of a motorbike. It’s a breath-taking experience, it’s almost like galloping on a horse, only much faster. Applejane’s mother doesn’t seem to like it, especially after seeing her daughter on the back with me, clinging to my waist.

That has been the biggest adjustment, dating Applejane. I find our time enjoyable and I have noticed the more time I spend with her; the less I feel the need to look for a way home.

On another darker note, monster attacks have been on the rise lately. More and more timber wolves roam the forest than ever and I keep finding tracks of something much more dangerous wondering the woods, but I am unable to find it. I worry about what manner of monster it might be and where it will strike next.

There have also been huge spikes of magic recently. They spread out like a wave over the land and it assaults my senses, blinding me of its origins. I wonder what it could be?

End of log)

Nico ran full speed through the southeast orchard, gun in one hand and a knife in the other, ahead of him ran his prey. A chimera. He fired five rounds into the chimera, blowing the snake and goat head into piles of gore. The back legs gave out without the goat head to control them and he jumped onto its back hacking away with his knife at the lion’s throat. The lion head gave a meek roar as it toppled over on its side, dead.

Wiping his brow Nico stood over his kill with satisfaction. He’s been chasing the three-headed bastard for a few days now, the beast only coming out at night. The chimera has been picking off the neighbor’s livestock and using the Apple’s vast orchard as its home base. It wisely it left the Apple livestock alone to not draw attention to itself.

It had been a strangely effective plan Nico had to admit. He had been looking everywhere but the Apple’s for the monster’s den, only finding the small cave by accident just today after discovering some scattered bones and Bailey’s off handed comment about small caves scattered around the orchard.

The caves were more like large dens, then actual caves, but they were large enough for cougars, coyotes and even a small chimera to squeeze into for shelter.

“I hope you don’t have a momma roaming around here, she might be a bit cross with me after this,” Nico chuckled as he looked the chimera over. It certainly was smaller than most chimera he’s fought, it was barely bigger than a full-grown horse. “At least you’ll be easy to bury. You just stay here while I go get a shovel.”

His eyes shining bright with magic Nico walked through the tangled orchard with ease through the late hours of the night. He gave a loud yawn looking up at the moon that hung low in the night sky. It was nearly morning; chore time would be starting soon. Breaking into a light jog Nico ran for the tool shed, hoping he could grab what he needed before the other farmhands showed up for work.

But his hopes were dashed, not by a farmhand, but by the lights on in the farmhouse. He cringed, remembering he had fired his gun. Of course, everybody would have heard the noise. Slowly walked out of the trees. Not wanting to accidentally get shot by one of the Apple men, who were probably still half asleep.

In the shadow of the porch light something moved, he stopped where he stood and held up his hands, “Mr. Bailey, is that you?” Nico called out. The shadow moved, they defiantly had a rifle in their hands. The person stepped out into the light and much to his surprise it was not Bailey, but Washington Apple, Applejane’s father.

“Nico?” Washington said looking perplexed. “What are you doing out here? Do you know what all the gunfire was?”

“Yeah, that was me. That cougar that’s been harassing the neighbors came by my place. Probably was attracted by the scraps I threw out for the coons, it woke me up and I chased after it and hunted it down."

Washington looked at him with disbelief, “You went hunting a cougar, a cougar, at night, by yourself? Are you insane? It could have killed you!”

Well, he wasn’t wrong, Nico mused as he shrugged off Washington’s concerns. He began walking for the tool shed, not wanting to carry on his conversation with Washington as that could lead to holes in his story being discovered. Also, he needed to bury the chimera before someone stumbled across it by accident.

However, his fate was sealed as he walked into the yard light, and judging by the gasps coming from the porch he’s probably really stepped into this time. Nico turned around to the horrified faces of Applejane and Granny Smith, who came out see what was going on, just in time to see his heavily blood stained clothes.

There was no talking his way out this one. As Applejane was already running towards him.

“Oh, my god, Nico are you ok? What happened to you?” She said concerned as she started frantically looking for any wounds.

Gently he took hold of her arms and held her back. He wasn’t injured so there was no need for her to get full of blood. “I’m fine AJ, it’s just cougar blood.”

“How’d you get full of blood if you shot it?” Washington asked, “It didn’t get the jump on you, did it?”

That. That right there was the reason he didn’t want stick around for conversation. Too many opportunities to poke holes in his lies. The Apple’s weren’t stupid people after all.

“Maybe,” Nico cringed, already imagining the earful he was about to get. Hopefully, he could downplay things. “Look, I was chasing the cougar, it got up in a tree and jumped down on me. I shot it, it died, I got covered in blood. Nothing to worry about.”

“Oh, yes there is!” Applejane said firmly as she began dragging him towards the house. “You’re coming with me, you’re going to get cleaned up and then I’m gonna check you for wounds and that’s that! After that, we’ll have breakfast.”

Applejane marched into the house with him and tow looking to Granny and Washington for help, but the two adults just snickered as his girlfriend dragged him towards the showers.

“You get cleaned up there Nico, but that’s all you two better be doing!” Granny called after them, which had Applejane’s ears burning redder than red peppers. He watched as his girlfriend ground her teeth in frustration while biting her lip as to not smart off to her mother. He found her expression rather enduring.

Ruffing her hair Nico placed a kiss atop Applejane’s forehead and went on ahead to the shower, leaving her fuming even more for messing up her hair.

A quick shower, with lots of scrubbing later, Nico emerged from the bathroom clad in a towel and did full body spin for Applejane’s inspection. As he had told her, he wasn’t wounded.

“Told ya.”

“Yeah, yeah, I can see.” Applejane retorted to his smartass comment. She held out a pile of clean clothes and stormed off into the bathroom. Leaving Nico a bit confused.

(Maybe, I teased her too much. It was a lot of blood.) He mused not thinking much of her strange behavior. (After I bury that chimera I’ll get her a treat from town. That’ll cheer her up.)

Quickly donning his clothes Nico left for the tool shed. Only to stop midway when he heard Booster give out a whinny. He changed course for the barn.

“We’re hungry! Give me some oats!” The stallion whined, whipping the entire stable into a frenzy. Now all the horses were demanding their morning feed. Looking at his watch Nico was surprised to see it was already six, thirty minutes’ past when he was supposed to feed the horses. He’d just have to bury the chimera after chores, hopefully, nobody stumbles across it till then.

Grabbing a five-gallon bucket and a shovel Nico filled the bucket with oats and began walking stall to stall, dumping a little in each horse’s feeder. He made sure to do Booster last for being rowdy.

“Sorry for his behavior,” Abi, Applejane’s horse, said as he dished out her oats. Three years after the incident at the rodeo Abi was still around, she no longer competed, but she made a good nag horse, and her foal was looking to be a good rodeo horse too. “Thank you, how’s Rocket doing? Is he behaving?”

“He’s like his father,” Nico joked as he dished out Booster’s oats. The big stallion snorted, standing up straight and looking proud. “He’s a good runner, he’s from good stock.”

“He’s also wild. He keeps this up, he’ll be glided.” Nico said giving Booster a look of compassion as the stallion grimaced, as a fellow equine he didn’t like the idea of gliding horses. He managed to convince the Apple’s not to do it if the stallions kept control of themselves. Rocket may end up being the first stallion gilded in two years.

Booster sighed, he didn’t want his offspring glided, “Bring Rocket in and I’ll talk to him.”

“Will do, buddy.” Nico smiled, earning a happy whinny from both stallion and mare. The chores were done. Nico was about to leave when a thought crossed his mind. “Hey Abi, has something been bothering Applejane lately?”

When she was feeling down or depressed. Applejane would come into the barn and spill all her troubles on Abi. Who would then tell him, so he could make her happy again. He couldn’t place it, but something seemed to be bothering Applejane lately and she refused to give him any hints as to what it might be. Like she was expecting him to know what it was that was bothering her.

“She has seemed worried about something, can’t say what, she just holds my head and mutters soft words,” Abi replied. Seems he’ll have to get her two of her favorite treats later.

“Thanks, guys, I’ll see you later.”

Going to the tool shed Nico finally got his shovel and went to bury the chimera.

Sugar Cube Corner was the town bakery, also the only bakery. The owners were a young couple Mr. and Mrs. Cake, who have recently married. The young blue skin woman was busy laying out another batch of fresh baked goods for the ten o’clock rush since the early birds had come and gone already. She looked up as the bell above the door rang, meaning a customer walked in.

“How may I help you…” Her usual cheery greeting faltered as a hunched hooded figure stood in the doorway. Mrs. Cake nervously looked over her potential customer/possible robber as they stumbled to the counter. From the two mounds on the person’s torso, the baker could identify the hooded person as female. “Hello… do you know what you want?”

The purple sweater-clad girl pointed to the tray of fresh goodies and in a raspy weak voice said, “One dozen, I don’t care what you pick.”

“Oh. Ok.” Quickly she picked out a bunch of sprinkled long Johns and placed them in a takeout box. “That will be six-fifty.” The sweater-clad girl reached into her pocket, making Mrs. Cake nervous, the girl seemed to roll her eyes under her hood and dropped a five and one dollar bill on the counter. She dug around in her pockets, clearly expecting to find the remaining fifty cents, but instead found a hole in her pocket. Big enough for two quarters to slip out of. The girl cursed. Then two coins fell on the top of the dollar’s bills.

Both the girl and Mrs. Cake were surprised to see Nico standing behind the girl. The girl looked suspiciously at him. Then took her box of goodies and left without even saying thank you.

“That was very kind of you, Nico, though I could have just given them to her. Fifty cents is not going to break the bank. We sell more than enough coffee to cover it.”

He waved her off, “It’s fine, I had some change burning a hole in my pocket. Now you have any honeymooners? Applejane’s feeling a bit sour.”

“Oh! I just made a fresh batch! Here you are.” Mrs. Cake retrieved two round donuts with chocolate icing and a huge mountain of vanilla cream and sprinkles on top. Very carefully she placed the two donuts in a plastic bag so they wouldn’t get shushed. “That will be two dollars.”

Nico threw the bills on the counter and left the store with his purchase in hand. Behind him, Mrs. Cake shook her head.

“Three years and he still hasn’t proposed. No wonder Applejane is frustrated. Then again…” Mrs. Cake looked to her husband Mr. Cake, who smiled goofily from inside the kitchen. “I can relate to love dumb men.” It took her husband two years, six months and twelve days to propose. Hopefully, Nico doesn’t make Applejane wait much longer.

Outside Nico placed the bag of goodies on the seat of his truck. He was about to climb in and go home when he caught the girl in the purple sweater in the corner of his eye. She was huddled in the alley, stuffing down her purchase with another girl in a green sweater. We’re they homeless? He wondered.

“Hey mister,” A devious sweet voice said. The purple sweater girl was suddenly behind him, startling Nico as he tried to get some space between them, but his back hit the truck and she kept getting closer. “I just wanted to say thank you.”

A dull pain flared in his abdomen. A knife was in the purple sweater girls hand, the blade caught in the chainmail sewn into his jacket. The girl looked surprised as she tried to pull the knife free, but he grabbed her wrist with crushing force. The girl hissed in pain, dropping the knife. He ripped the hood off her head, an impossible amount of orange fluffy hair popping out.

“Do you have a freaking pocket dimension in there or something? Also, this is a shitty way to thank someone.” He pushed her away, stomping on the knife with his boot in case she tried to reach for it. “I’d suggest you get out of here girly-(BANG!)”

A shot rang out. Nico clutched his chest, red blood spilling between his fingers like rain off a roof. Up top on one of the buildings the glare of a scope shined, the girl in the green sweater stood posed with her rifle barrel smoking.

As Nico fell back against the door of his truck looking around the area, there was no one else around, no panic of the gunfire, nothing. All was silent. Between gaps of blackness, he saw a green mist encompass the street and the soft haunting lull of alone singing voice.

(See nothing, hear nothing, see nothing, hear nothing,) Is what the voice chanted, two more voice joined, the power of the spell increasing as the mist encompassed the grinning girl before him.

“It’s nothing personal, Nico Vega, you’ve just been causing too much trouble for our boss.” The girl said. Her voice coming from all around him.

Nico pulled his pistol and pointed it at the girl’s last known position, “Neither is this!”

He fired once at the where the purple sweater had been and then once where the green sweater girl had been. No sounds of pain come from the position of the purple girl, but a cry of pain did from the green girl. The green mist cleared partially, revealing the green sweater girl clutching her shoulder on the roof. Her hood had fallen back to reveal her pink face and purple hair.

“Aria!” A voice screamed from the mist. Nico turned his gun towards the source and fired. No cry of pain come from it.

“Slippery, that one,” He muttered under his breath as he staggered away from the truck. He closed his eyes, listening for the third girl. He heard her voice floating in the wind, he pointed northeast, one building away from the pink sniper.

“Sonata! He knows where you’re at!” Nico’s shot rang out and the singing stopped. “Sonata! Sonata!” The green mist cleared, revealing a blue skinned girl on the ground, clutching her stomach and crying. Running across the open street the orange haired girl knelt next to her fallen comrade, whispering soft assurances to her. “You bastard! I’ll make you pay for hurting my sisters!”

Nico grimly raised his gun a third time, the pistol shaking in his grip from the loss of blood, “You should have thought twice before attacking me then.” Cocking the hammer back Nico took aim. A shot rang out but wasn’t his own. He fell to one knee, his pistol falling from his grasp as he put pressure on the bullet wound on his leg. Up above the pink sniper lay across the edge of the roof with her rifle smoking once again. She rolled onto her back panting hard as she pressed her hand against the wound.

“Adagio! Take him out!”

“I got it!” Adagio snarled angrily back. Rising to her feet, the yellow skinned girl pulled at the collar of her sweater to reveal a choker with a big ruby attached to it. The green mist gathered and flowed into the necklace. Suddenly the girl changed.

Webbing grew between her fingers, her fangs enlarged, her eyes turned red, thin see through fins grew on her arms and finally, a pair of pony ears appeared atop her head.

Nico gasped, “You’re Equestrians!”

But his fellow pony didn’t seem to want to sit and chat about her magic or how she and her sisters come to this world. Thus, he transformed too, which seemed to surprise her as she hesitated in her charge for a second. Fighting through the pain Nico batted her strike aside and reached with his right hand. Grabbing hold of Adagio’s throat. Her arm’s flailed in the air trying to claw through his arm as he squeezed her neck.

A shot rang out and Nico’s released Adagio, his right arm falling uselessly to his side. The pink one got him again! Diving for cover Nico hobbled to the nearby alley as the pink sniper let loose another shot. Thankfully this one missed. On the other side of the alley, he looked back to see the yellow girl missing. She must have gone to check on her friends. Taking his chance Nico continued to hobble, staying close to the building to avoid any further sniper fire. The further he went, the more the green mist dissipated. Meaning he was almost of their casting range.

Crossing the street, Nico found himself outside Canterlot High, the green mist fading entirely. He sighed in relief as he leaned against the horse statue in front. He took a moment to look himself over. Finding that his wounds had closed since transforming, which was nice, but he was still low on blood and the pain was making it hard to focus.

A huge surge of magic flared up. The same magical force he’s been sensing for the last few days and it was right behind him. On stumbling feet, Nico stood before the mirror located at the base of the horse statue. The flow of magic was massive. It was more powerful than anything he’s ever felt before.

He placed his hand on the mirrored surface and it passed through the surface. His hand comforted, twisting into a different shape, he quickly pulled it back through the mirror. Staring in awe at the mysterious magic.

“What the hell…(SLICK!)” All the air left his lungs as he felt the sharp searing pain of knife pierce his body, right through one of his bullet wounds on top of that. He stumbled forward into the mirror, twisting his body to look at his attacker, Adagio, smiling and waving as he disappeared into a spiral of colors.

Applejane made the rounds around the horse barn, bucket in tow, as she tossed a scoop of oats into each horses’ feeder. Nico was supposed to do this job today, but no one had seen her lover since he left to go to town this morning. It was now eight o’clock at night.

She hadn’t thought much of it at first. It wasn’t usual for Nico to disappear, usually, at her grandfather’s request, he would disappear on an errand and sometimes not be back until late morning. It was a rather suspicious setup, one that everyone on the farm ignored because it was her grandpa’s business and he signed everyone’s checks, so no one was ready to stand up to him. Except for Uncle Crabapple. He had longed vented his frustration with Nico’s bizarre activity, but that was just one thing on Uncle Crab’s list of issues with grandpa.

Yet tonight, she had a different feeling about Nico disappearance. The slight bulge under her shirt and the discarded pink stick from this morning making her paranoid. Applejane gave Abi her oats, stroking the mare’s mane as she chewed away.

“He wouldn’t run off. Not Nico, he’s… probably just running late. I bet he went straight home after finishing grandpa’s job today. He’s usually pretty worn out and he didn’t get a lot of sleep last night.” She continued to blab to her equine friend, her worry still firmly in place in her guts. Usually talking to Abi relieved them. “I’m sure he’s there.” She muttered softly, her hand stopped brushing, causing Abi to look up with worry. “You’re a mother Abi. Do you think I would make a good mother? I hope so, but… I’m scared... excited, but scared… I really wish I would have told Nico before he left, but… I don’t know how’ll he’ll react.”

Nico wasn’t normal. His lack of memories handicapped him in a lot of ways when it came to social norms and traditions. Thinking about it, it was probably why he hasn’t proposed to her, despite her yearning for him too. With the child growing inside her, time was kind of the essence. Fear of her mother’s scorn for having a child out of wedlock and she didn’t want to force Nico into marrying her. She did not want a shotgun wedding! And her family would host one if they felt they needed to.

“I’ll just go check on him.” She said giving Abi a false smile as she walked away.

Abi looked over to Booster, who looked back blinking.

“What?” He asked.

“You know what.”

“He said he would be back.”

“Booster!”

“I’m locked in here, what do you want me to do mare?”

Abi glared, “You and I both know you can kick down that door. So, help me if Applejane cries because of this there will be no mating next season!”

“Alright, alright, if he’s not back in the morning I’ll go look for him. Good enough?”

“Acceptable,” Abi said bedding down in her straw for the night. Booster simply shook his head and bedded down too, mare’s so demanding.

Unaware of the charlotte’s web level of animal concluding Applejane made her way through the dark orchard towards Nico’s shack. A cold wind made her hug herself for warmth. A bad omen. If there ever was one, but she continued, muttering a soft chant of, “He’s there, he’s there.” Out of hope and to keep her mind off the creepy trees. Even in the half-light of the evening, the orchard at night was creepy. She cursed herself for not having the foresight to bring a flashlight. Hopefully, there was one at Nico’s because she was not wondering around here after dark. Then again if he was there, she might just stay the night.

Ahead Nico’s shack came into view, the final rays of lights disappearing behind the trees, leaving her near pitch blackness. There were no light’s on in the shack.

“He must be sleeping, yeah, that’s it.” She whispered to herself as she walked up to the small abode. She felt a shiver run down her spine. Looking behind her she swore she saw a flash of glowing yellow eyes, but they disappeared. Probably just a trick of the mind. None the less she hurried into the shack, slamming the door behind her and slamming the lock closed. Her heart racing a mile a minute as the hairs on the back of her neck stood up. She’s been out here more than a hundred times, why was it so fricken creepy this time?

Once Applejane finished catching her breath she flicked on the lights. The first thing she noticed, no boots, Nico wasn’t home. Not only that his bed was still unmade, meaning he hasn’t been here since he left. He never came home today.

A cold fear gripped her, did he notice her bump? Is that why he’s gone? Did he run off?

She shook her head, forcing the thoughts away, if none of her family, including her mother, noticed, then there was not a chance in hell Nico noticed. At worse he would have thought she was getting fat, she would have slapped him, but he probably wouldn’t have concluded she was pregnant. At least she hoped, but she really wanted to talk to him about it now.

“Where are you?” She asked loud. Grabbing the flashlight on the counter Applejane reached for the door hinge but stopped when a long haunting howl echoed through the trees. Followed by a chorus of howls. The howls of wolves. She let go of the lock, keeping it firmly in place as she heard claws scratching against the side of the shack. Backing away from the door she pulled a rifle from Nico’s gun cabinet, shut off the lights and laid down in his bed. She laid the rifle against the wall as she pulled the covers over her head.

The wolves scratched at the walls till sleep finally took her and she laid her tear streaked face into Nico’s pillow.

“Nico… where are you?”

Nico had no idea where he was. Only that he was in a cage, scratch that, he was in a prison cell. He rolled, struggling against the chains around his legs, he tried to stand up. But his feet slipped on the stone floor. He didn’t have toes anymore. That was strange.

Tapping his feet against the floor they made a ‘clop, clop’ noise. Hooves. He had hooves again!

“Holy shit I’m a pony again!” He yelled or he would have if not for the muzzle around his muzzle. Still, he joyfully hopped to his feet, smiling like a fool as he looked at his hooves. His smile widened as his front hooves morphed into claws. He reached for the muzzle to remove it, but the sound of hooves made him hide his claws. He wanted to see who his captors were.

Four ponies, all stallions, all of them unicorns, in gold plated armor marched into the dingy dungeon. Three stallions stepped back as the pony he assumed was their leader stepped out from the pack, a sneer present on his face as he looked Nico over. From the red cap that hung off his shoulder, Nico identified him the captain of the royal guard.

“So, this is the bat pony you found lying about?” The stallion said with an upper crust accent. He was a noble for sure.

“Indeed, lord Grayblood. We knew you would want to deal with this personally. Especially with the Princess gone. His armor is strange, foreign made it seems, he could be a spy or one of those night devils that worships the mare in the moon!”

“Indeed, either way, the result is the same, spy or night devil.” Grayblood made an about face, heading for the stairs. “Take care of him like the rest. There is no place for his filthy breed in this country or even in the entire world. I will ensure no news of this makes it to the princess. Her kindness blinds her to this filth’s evil.”

“At once milord!” The three stallions saluted. Brimming with pride. Lord Grayblood had only the best for the princess, even if the princess didn’t know it. They were sure he would be king one day and they were happy to serve their ‘future’ king.

“Now bat pony it’s time for…” Snitch’s words died in his throat as the muzzle clamping the bat pony fell to the floor. Not only that the bat pony had claws, fangs, a lot of fangs!

Nico stretched his entire body, getting used to his pony shape once gain. The muscle he gained from working on the Apple’s farm seemed to have carried over to his new/old body. He was also a little taller, much closer to normal pony height than before.

“Sorry boys,” He said working his jaw. “But you made one critical mistake. While my kind do look a lot like bat ponies, there are a few differences between them and Rinin like me.”

The three stallions staggered backward as Nico approached the bars of the cell, blue magic pulsing violently under his scaly fur. “Rinin? What is that?” One of them asked trembling.

“You haven’t heard? What kind of backwater kingdom is this? Well, I’ll give you the short of it. A rinin is a dragon pony, we have claws and sharp teeth, as you have already seen. But we also have that one little thing dragons are especially known for. I hope you like lightning!” Nico inhaled, puffing up his chest and let loose a stream of blue lightning, melting the steel bar and frying the three guards. “Time find out what the hell is going on.”

Flying up the stairs Nico instantly ran into Lord Grayblood. The two exchanged looks, Grayblood one of disgust and surprise and Nico one of anger.

Grayblood yelled, “Intruder!” Summoning a horde of gold clad unicorns. Without so much as a warning, they opened fire, magical blasts pelting Nico from bother sides. What didn’t hit his armor sizzled and burned against his skin, but that was it. The attacks were quite weak.

Spotting a window Nico jumped and took flight. It was strange to fly again after so long, his wings not quite syncing up with his brain, leaving him an easy target as more unicorns poured onto the battlements and fired at him. He hissed as the spells sizzled against his fur, smoldering against his flesh. Taking a deep breath, he let loose some lightning, the electric blue arcs hit the gold-plated ponies and traveled between the entire group taking out twenty of them. Their companions quickly ducked for cover.

Lord Grayblood peered around pillar from where he hid, spotting a flock of black-clad ponies in the sky he smirked as he looked to the intruder fail about, “Commander Easy Glider! Provide us some assistance please!”

The Pegasus looked down at the battle through his dark shades, the unicorns of the royal guard were laying down a wide area of magical flack as they did battle with what looked like a bat pony spitting lightning at them. Another group of unicorns fell to the ground, compulsive shocks racing through their bodies.

“Come lads! Let’s show this fledging what real flying is! Wonderbolts! To battle! Thunderstorm maneuver!” The team of pegasi dived, black clouds forming around them as yellow lightning danced between them. The strange enemy looked straight up at them with silted eyes, inhaled deeply, and then let loose a stream of blue lightning! “Clipper look out!”

The red pegasus didn’t stand a chance. Easy Glider watch with horror as Clipper fell to the ground, burned beyond belief. Pegasus were supposed to be resistant against lightning, not outright immune, but they shouldn’t be taking down by one lightning strike! Unless… that wasn’t lightning that pony was shooting.

Easy Glider looked closer at the mysterious pony with his sharp eyes, seeing the scales, claws, and fangs from over fifty yards away. It looked like a bat pony, but that was no thestral. It was more like a miniature dragon with hooves. A dragon pony. Something that he thought was only a myth!

“Sharps, get Clipper, the rest of you with me!” Easy Glider barked pressing the attack. Even if it was a dragon pony, it was four to one and they were the Wonderbolts! The best combat flyers in all Equestria! They would not lose!

The power of their storm grew and as one they shot towards the Rinin In the shape of giant arrow made of lightning! Much to their surprise, their target flew away! They rocketed past. Completely missing and destroying a random building.

“You fools! Hurry up and get after him!” Grayblood screamed as Nico rapidly disappeared into the skyline. The four Wonderbolts got up from the rubble and gave chase, as dozens of pegasus from the royal guard joined them, while earth and unicorn ponies followed from the ground.

Nico glanced back at his pursuers while taking in the landscape. It had been hard to tell up close, but now that he’s seeing it from a distance. He realized the city he was just in was Canterlot! Glancing around he saw other familiar sights and villages and some not so familiar. None the less he was home! He was in Equestria! If that was the case, why had he been locked up? Where were the princesses?

Or maybe a better question was when was this? Swan said she and Lon disappeared six years after he did, how much time had passed since then?

Coming to a stop Nico turned and faced the four ponies leading his pursuers. All the flyers came to a grinding stop, none of them willing to charge him head on. The leader of the group that attacked him stepped up or rather flew up to him, keeping about twenty-five yards between them.

“What’s your name and rank?” Nico asked, surprising the stallion.

“Commander Easy Glider of the Wonderbolts, of her majesties royal forces. Who are you? Or rather what are you?”

Seems he’d have to give some answers to get some answers. Not a problem if would end this chase. “Night Patroller 088, Nico Vega of the Shadowbolts, of Princess Luna’s Night Patrol, no officer rank. I’d like to talk to Princess Luna, she’ll clear things up.”

Easy Glider’s brow furrowed in confusion, “Princess Luna… never heard of her.”

“What! That’s… that’s impossible! She’s Celestia’s sister! How could you have not heard of her? She’s the one that raises the moon for crying out loud!”

“Princess Celestia raising the sun and the moon. Look I don’t know what your game is here, but if you think you playing the crazy card after everything you did, then you…”

“You listen to me!” Nico interrupted, confusion and anger coursing through his body. “I have no idea how I got here, only that I woke up in a cell and some unicorn douchebag comes and wants to kill me because he thinks I’m a bat pony! I escape and then I’m attacked, and then you attack me! If you intend to kill then prepared to be killed! If some pony is to blame, blame that bastard Grayblood!”

“Grayblood…”

“Commander out of the way!” The other three Wonderbolts came barreling past him, tackling Nico and dragging him to the ground. “Wait, no!” Easy screamed, but it was too late the four disappeared into the trees. Not a few seconds later he heard the screams of his teammates, followed by a heart-chilling roar. He knew what he had to do.

“Commander Easy Glider where are you going?” One of the pegasus commanders asked as Easy Glider flew past.

“I must get the princess!”

The others simply blinked at the pegasus disappeared into the distance. Looking down into the forest, blasts of lightning and fire erupted from the canopy, followed by the screams of terror of their friends.

“I’m starting to think he had the right idea.” The pegasus commander said to another. The other agreed.

“Fools! Get down here! NOW!” Grayblood screamed as the ground forces swarmed the forest. They gulped and flew down into the trees.

Nico moved fast, jumping from tree trunk to tree trunk with blinding speed. His moon phase armor changing from pale white to the colors of the forest to help him blend in. It was amazing that function still worked! He wondered if he could get to work back home?

Back home… he was home, yet it didn’t feel like it.

Brutally he smashed a pony’s skull against a tree, jumping to the next and smashing another pony into the trunk with a sickening ‘crack!’ the gold clad ponies were endless and his nerves were being pushed with each squad he came across. The dragon inside him was rising to the surface, greedy for battle. He never had a problem controlling that side of him before, but he never had to live without it for three years either. Regaining control was difficult and not a priority when he was surrounded by enemies!

“LEAVE! (SMASH!) ME! (CRACK!) ALONE! (SLICK!)” He screamed plunging his claws into the last remaining pony. He was covered in blood. His whole body screamed at him to stop as the wounds inflicted by the mysterious girls that got him into this mess bled and the burns from the unicorns’ spells blistered in the misty air. He found a pond. In the water’s reflection, a demonic reflection of himself stared back at him.

He dipped his muzzle in the water, tasting a cool sip of water, the only peace he’s known since waking up. That was quickly shattered by an arrow piercing his side.

“SON OF BITCH!” Nico whirled around, firing a blast of lightning to focused it shot through the tree his attacker was hiding behind and then through the pony, leaving a gaping hole the size of his hoof in the pony’s barrel. The pony’s friend fled.

Warily Nico slowly walked through the dense forest. Hot steam rising off his body from overusing his magic breath. He swayed in his steps, bumping against trees, tripping over vines and roots. Each one more thing that fueled his anger.

The trees cleared away and he walked out to a familiar ravine. An old worn bridge swung in the wind, worn by weather and time. His eyes followed the bridge to the ruined castle on the other side. Luna’s castle. His home.

In a daze, he followed the overgrown trail, crossed the bridge, and fell to his rear. Staring at the old worn stone. Signs of battle were everywhere. Rusted armor lay abandoned. A huge hole filled the roof. He continued onward, past the old rotten training grounds, the withered garden the Princess used to tend to with great care, to the cemetery where they laid the fallen their tombstones broken and destroyed.

Inside was even worse. The halls were cold and empty. The banners nothing but tattered pieces of cloth. He took it all in silence. Descending to the lower levels, where the forces once blazed with life and fire were long abandoned, the armory was raided clean, the storage house fill of rotten food. Finally, the memorial wall, where the names of the fallen were carved in stone. The tears were already falling before he even read the names.

“Emerald Cutter, Overheat, Applejack, Allure, Rawhide, Tough hide…” And on and on he read each name. Some were missing. But that probably just meant no pony was around to write down their names. “Why…” He croaked. “Why did this happen? What the point of coming back if no pony is here!”

Nico slouched against the wall. Opening crying. He was tired, injured, alone and he just wants to go home. Home to where Applejane and the others were. A home that was warm and welcoming. A home where the ones he loved were still alive.

Behind him the soft clicks of booted hooves echoed, he did not bother to turn around, too tired to care and too tired to fight. He braced himself for horn through the chest or perhaps a spell. What he did not expect was a warm wing to warp around him. Like the hug of a mother, not that he knew what that felt like, but this was probably close enough.

Nico’s head turned up, dirty with blood and grime to the pure clean white coat of Princess Celestia herself, who was hugging him and crying?

“Princess…”

The princess smiled, laughing a lonely laugh as she nuzzled his face, not caring about getting blood and dirt on her clean white coat. “It’s you,” she cried. “It’s really you Nico! You’ve come back!”

Nico fell into the Princess’s embrace. The warmth of her body lulling him to sleep. He was so tired. So very tired.

“Princess get back he’s a monster!”

“He’s killed dozens of our comrades! He’s a heartless killing machine!”

Celestia sighed, protectively wrapping her wing around Nico. He was badly injured. He would need medical treatment and fast. However, it seems she needs to set the record straight with her guards. Not that they were hers. They were EUP ponies. Brave, if not misguided ponies that swore to protect her after she sealed her sister in the moon. They were funded and supplied by the council of nobles, but they were not her royal guard. They did have their uses; hence why they were still around.

“This pony is my friend,” She announced loudly and boldly as Easy Glider landed beside her. He looked uncertain of the situation, but chose to stand with her, she would remember that after this was cleared up. “Not only that but I own him a great boon. One that I am repaying now, if any of you still wish to him harm, for any reason, then it is me you will be facing!” To further illustrate her point Celestia called upon her own armor and weapons, giant twin axes floating in her magic grip.

A deep disturbing chuckle broke the silence, Lord Grayblood swaggered through the crowd of gold clad stallions, confidently standing before her. The princess’s eye narrowed, wondering what his game was.

“My dear soldiers, it seems that foul beast has cast some spell upon our beloved Princess! Join with me to help lift this curse placed upon her! By killing that night devil!” Grayblood gave a battle cry and a group of unicorns bearing his mark charged Celestia. He stood back, fully expecting them to be able to subdue the Princess. Believing her power to be all fluff. She was merely a unicorn with wings is what he believed. Once his guards overwhelmed her he would rush in and cast a charm spell of his own, finally winning her to his side. His plans would be-

The screams of his soldier echoed off the carven walls as Celestia’s axes tore through them like a tornado, their blood splashing onto his face. Celestia rose to her full height, her heavy stomps crushing bones beneath every step as she marched towards him and looked down at him like a goddess of war, rather than the kind-hearted princess he, no they, assumed her to be.

“Easy Glider informed me that you captured Nico and sentenced him to death. Tell me Grayblood, why did you go behind my back? Had you not this would not have happened. No ponies would have to have died today, not by Nico’s hoof nor mine, yet they did and it’s all because of you.”

“My princess, I…”

“Don’t speak, listen,” Celestia said sharply, clamping his mouth shut with her magic. She looked out over the gathered ponies. “All of you listen! I am centuries old. I’ve walked the earth long before you were a sperm cell in your grandfather’s, grandfather’s loins, and I am no fool, Grayblood. I’ve long suspected your crimes. Ever since you were appointed the leader of the EUP, bat pony disappearances have been on the rise. You covered your tracks well, but today, your crimes come to an end!”

Grayblood’s head rolled along the ground. Severed by her ax, Celestia not even giving it the time of day as she trotted out of the cavern with Nico tucked safely under her wing. The EUP ponies shivered and gulped as the uniform stomping of Celestia’s true royal guard emerged from the darkness. White earth pony stallions, clad in black armor descended upon them. The Wonderbolts followed suit, with Easy Glider taking up the lead.

One by one the EUP ponies sorted themselves out, till only those with Grayblood’s personal mark remained. Huddled together in a shivering mess that stank of fear and urine.

Easy Glider snorted angrily, thinking of the friends he lost this day, they didn’t need to die today. But they had and it was their fault!

“GET THEM!”

He was on something soft and warm, probably the softest thing he’s even been on. It felt like a bed. It was comfortable like it was made of cat hair or something, probably wasn’t but that’s the closest thing he could think of. The blanket was a little weird though like it was made of feathers or something, a strange material choice for a blanket. He rolled and tugged on the blanket, trying to roll into a cocoon to wrap himself in the warmth. However, the blanket made an “Ulf!” sound, followed by a heavy mass falling on top of him.

Nico was starting to think he wasn’t grabbing a blanket.

Opening an eye. He discovered his blanket defiantly wasn’t grabbing a blanket, but Celestia’s wing! He was in the Princess’s bed! And she was sleeping right beside him! He squirmed and panicked trying to get out of the bed as his memories came flooding back! He was being chased. He didn’t have time to be lying here!

“Shush, calm yourself, Nico, it’s ok. You’re fine. You’re safe.” She said softly like a mother to her child. His struggled ceased, not of his own volition, but because of the Princess’s magic. “Easy now Nico, it took several hours to get you healed up, if you move too much you’ll reopen your wounds.” She said gently as she rose off the bed. Smiling down at him. He stared back her, eye wide and filled with questions.

“What happened?”

“I had a usurper in my mist, a lesser noble that had forgotten my true…”

“That’s not what I mean and you know it!” Nico harshly, his breathing picking up. He struggled to speak as his throat became choked up as he recounted the names on the wall. “What happened to my friends? Princess Luna, Commander Sixes, Commander Fury, Applejack… what happened to them? What happened to my home? How long… how long have I been gone?”

Celestia looked sadly at him, her own mask cracking as she hung her head, “Five hundred years. It’s been five hundred years, Nico. I’m sorry.”

“Tell me what happened.”

“Nico, I don’t thing now…”

“Tell me! Please…”

She hung her head in defeat, “Very well, it all started two years after you disappeared, at the end of the second griffon war…” Celestia told the story of Luna becoming Nightmare Moon, how she was forced to seal her in the moon and how the Night Patrol her sister had worked so hard to make slowly dissolved, its members scattering to the ends of the earth, with only a few choosing to remain and continue to fight under her leadership and how after ten years they too left her.

“Sixes and some others wanted to try and see my sister again and they devised a plan behind my back to do so. I do not know if they were successful. Only Applejack knew for sure, but she would not tell me. I had lost their faith as I fear I have lost yours. When I first saw you. I hoped you would stay, perhaps stand by my side as you did so long ago, perhaps become Captain of the Royal guard. For the service, you did for me and my sister I would gladly give you all my treasures, even this castle, for you to stay and stand by my side once again.” Celestia’s ears flattened as she looked into Nico’s silted blue eyes. “But I see now, I have nothing I could offer you that could make you stay.”

Nico sat up, looking Celestia straight in the eyes, his face haggard, “I want to go home. To the home I made in the other world. To where my family is.”

A tear slid down her cheek as she smiled at the small rinin, “I can help you with that. Come with me.”

Celestia picked Nico up with her magic, pulling him along towards the room with the mirror that connected worlds. As she entered the hall both alicorn and rinin were in for a surprise as brown blur came rocketing past them! Followed by a horde of guards.

“Halt intruder!” The guards yelled as the brown stallion they were chasing slid on the tiled floors and came charging back. Plowing through the guards like a bowling ball, they were the pins.

Celestia rolled her eyes and captured the stallion with her magic. He was generic looking compared to the colorful ponies she was used to seeing every day. Brown mane and a brown coat with something that looked like a firework for a mark. She was about to ask who he was when spoke, not to her, but to Nico.

“Oh boy! Is that you Nico? You really are a pony! Oh, hay I can talk! I mean you and I could always talk, but I can talk like you and Miss Applejane now! This world is amazing!”

Nico looked blankly at the much more… compact… version of his long time equine friend, “Booster? Is that you? How did you get here?”

“Indeed, I am! I broke out and got old Red to track ya here, Abi all worried about Applejane, since you gone disappeared about two days ago.”

“Two days!”

“Yes, sir re bob! Poor little Miss Applejane’s been balling her eyes out at night to Abi, and Abi’s been scolding me, saying they’d be no matin’ if I didn’t find ya!”

Celestia chuckled as she set Booster down, “I see you really are missed. I’m glad.” Discreetly she did quick mind probe on Booster, reading his thoughts and most recent memories. She saw the girl he was talking about. Applejane, she looked a lot like Applejack, not only that she was with foal! Nico was going to be a father. She’d let that be a surprise for him later.

“If you two colts would give me a moment. I remembered I have a parting gift I want to give you Nico. Would you mind holding him for second Booster?” She said leaning Nico against Booster. The two stallions looked awkwardly between each other as Celestia returned to her room. After a full minute of rifling sounds, she returned with a saddlebag and placed it on Booster. “Come, we have little time left if we are to get you home. The portal only opens for three days every thirty moons.”

With no further delays, Celestia took them to the mirror.

“Take care of yourself, Nico, though I’m sure you’ve been doing that just fine before. Also, don’t open those bag till you see your marefriend, I left something in there for her.” Celestia smiled fondly at him, embracing Nico one last time. Indulging in the warm of another. She could not remember the last time she’s hugged some pony like this. Not in a long while, not with emotion and feeling behind the action. “Goodbye, Nico.”

“Goodbye Princess, it was an honor serving you.” Nico saluted as Booster carried him through the portal.

Nico and Booster emerged on the other side of the portal with Nico riding in Booster’s saddle. The scene probably would have been epic if not for the fact they were in front of school and Nico was looking like death warmed over. On the ground, the Apple’s dog, old Red, yawned looking at them bored.

“Nothing against you Booster, but I think I’ll take my truck back. I want to get to Applejane as soon as possible.”

“I would agree with you,” Booster said, “But they towed your truck. Crab brought it back the morning I escaped.”

Nico cursed, it was about an hour’s ride to the farm and he probably was not in any condition to ride. Looking around Nico thought of asking for a ride, but the street lamps were on and from the position of the moon, he’d say it was about midnight on a Sunday if he counted the days right. Nobody was going to be out.

“Let’s ride Booster!” Nico spurred the brown mustang into a steady trot.

(I’m coming, Applejane, I’ll be home soon!)

They arrived in the farmyard about an hour later. Booster panting harshly from the long ride as he trotted in on sore hooves. Nico wasn’t doing much better. He swayed in the saddle, his wounds reopening from the bumpy ride. Blood caked his face, hands, just about everywhere probably. His vision blurred fading in and out. A tree branch knocking off his hat.

“Where are you taking me Booster? The house is that way?” Nico pointed almost drunkenly, but it was probably blood loss. The big stallion snorted, pointing towards the light up ahead, the light was coming from his shack!”

Slowly the duo rode up. The light from inside revealed the scratch marks made by Timberwolves. Without Nico around seems they got a little bolder. Easing out of the saddle Nico caught a whiff of Applejane’s scent. Filled with fear and worry. He also smelt her tears. She’s been crying. A lot.

Reaching into the saddle bag Nico felt the jingling of gold coins from within, but that wasn’t the only thing. There was a box with a note attached to it. He pulled it out and opened the box, inside was a silver ring with an orange diamond, the note was from Celestia.

(I think you are long past due, give this to her and live a happy life,

Signed, Celestia)

Ring in hand Nico walked to the door and knocked. The latch opened and Applejane peered out like a frightened rabbit, only to throw the door open wide once she saw him. He was bloody, covered head to toe in wounds, but she still hugged him. Squeezing him for dear life. It was a sweet scene, but also a very painful one as Nico’s legs gave out, taking Applejane down with him. She kissed him and he kissed her back.

“I thought you were gone! And what the hell happened to you? You look like hell!”

“I just got a little lost on the way home,” He smiled placing the ring on her finger, she gasped looking at him with tears in her eyes. Nico fell against Applejane, resting his head on her shoulder. He was so sleepy. “I’m kind of tried… can we wait till morning to talk about the wedding?”

Applejane snorted as she pulled him inside and shut the door, “Yeah, I can wait till morning. I’m just glad your home.”

“So am I.”

Author's Notes:

Boon means favor

Getting down to the wire, only one may two more chapters left. I'm hoping to get this wrapped up soon.