It is always quite amusing to see the reactions of people to things. In this case it was the collected reaction of three very powerful, very colorful alicorn ponies. The room went fully silent for a moment, before Luna fell to the ground. Now part of me was ready to jump out of bed to make sure she was all right, were it not for a few factors.

First, Celestia did not look concerned at all, and in fact looked to be choking on her own tongue as she fought with all her might to maintain that regal look of hers. Second, I could hear a choking sound coming from the floor, and while I could not see Luna from my place on the bed. I was pretty sure she was either choking to death, or trying her hardest not to laugh out in the royal Canterlot voice by stuffing her hoof in her mouth. In that few surprising moments, I opted to go with the second possibility.

Now, why were they having such a reaction? That would be because of Princess Adorkable to my right side. Poor Twilight, she had that thousand-yard stare, her pupils shrunk to pinpricks. I am pretty certain that twitching of her right eye was not normal. Then you could not miss her wings snapped out wide, every feather out of place, her fur standing on end, her tail frazzled and mane nearly on end itself.

I cast a worried look at Celestia who continued to battle with the laughter she struggled to hold in. “I—uh, think I broke her.”

The white sun goddess’ face broke for only a fraction of a moment but broke nonetheless. I took a minor victory cheer in my head when it did. I had managed to make perhaps the single most-powerful creature in this universe... smirk! Albeit I had not meant to, and my language in front of ladies was unacceptable, but, still a tiny victory.

I watched Celestia step around Luna, who must be on the floor still at the foot of the bed. Reflecting on that moment, I think I can tell why Luna was the bearer of the Element of Laughter in her time. She really did have that kind of personality once you got to know her. Not the bubbly-in-your-face of Pinkie Pie, but a joy of life and a wicked sense of humor. I had found that out my fourth day in the castle, when someone, or should I say, somepony, had changed the enchantments on all of the day guards armor to make them appear to be bright safety orange.

Celestia moved over to Twilight and waved her hoof in front of the purple alicorn's face. “I believe you may have, my little human. I am sure she will recover, but you may be in some trouble when she does.”

She looked over to me. “Of course I will need to add one hundred bits to your fine, and inform your overseer of this."

Glancing over at the frazzled alicorn, who showed no signs of coming out of it yet, then back to Celestia. “Perhaps we could just let Twilight deal with me... and keep AJ out of this? If she finds out, Granny finds out, and…” I paused. “Honestly, she scares me more than any other creature I have ever met has.”

I took note of Celestia's smile, who then leaned down to me and whispered, “A little secret, Shane, she scares everypony on the Council of Nobles. A reputation and respect well earned despite her argent stance of never setting foot in the Council chambers again. I myself have nothing but respect for her, as her kind comes along very rarely in life. A self made mare, proud, strong, and almost an alicorn-like wisdom,” her eyes twinkled a bit.

She leaned back up. “However, I am afraid you will need to face the wrath of the Apple Matriarch. You need to learn to curb that tongue of yours, my little human.”

I snorted. “Good luck,” catching her rolling her eyes then looking over her shoulder as Luna stood back up slowly, trying to wipe away the oncoming tears from her eyes. The smile on her face practically glowed. Then a voice to my right spoke, a very soft voice.

“Shane, did... did you just use the most foul word of words, in front of Princess Celestia?”

Out of the corner of my eye I saw Luna shoot me a sympathetic look before I answered Twilight.

“In my defense, I am wounded, in pain, and just was told I would never see my home again.”

Her wings slowly relaxed as she fluttered them back down into place. Her horn lit up and she smoothed down her mane and tail in one flash, the whole time with her eyes closed. They slowly opened and I saw doom in them. I looked into the abyss of true librarian rage. She did not yell, but rather spoke in that same soft tone.

“I see. I will let Applejack know your defense of the word.”

Now Celestia tittered and covered her mouth with her hoof. This of course sent Luna to the floor again, a hitching giggling sound originating from down there. Once more, I kind of wished humans had expressive ears like ponies did as I muttered. “Could we not?”

---

After an earful of Twilight's views on foul language, we soon returned to the subject of why magic had worked on me, or at least her theory on it.

“So,” she continued as she had been for the last few minutes. “If my theory is correct, then objects like your weapons, metal objects, and such—things made from non organic substances will never change their wavelength. However, objects like paper, your clothing, and such should—again, in theory—over time absorb enough of the latent radiation of our world to change their signature so a pony can touch them or even manipulate them.”

I gave a nod of understanding. I am no scientist, but what she spoke of kind of clicked as reasonable.

Luna was next to talk. “If Twilight's theory is indeed correct. It would also lend quite a bit of credence to why you were able to not just kill, but break up the corrupt life magic of three timberwolves so they would never form again.”

I pondered on that a moment then I looked around, eyes settling on Celestia.

“How many of them are there? The... timberwolves, as you call them.”

She shrugged some. “No one pony can be for sure, but it is a best guess to say somewhere between three and five hundred across Equestria. Some have been seen in other countries, so, perhaps a thousand in the world total.”

I nodded at this too. “And there is no chance they are just part of the balance, part of nature?”

Twilight shook her head. “No, Shane, there is no chance. They are corrupt life magic, the kind of dark magic King Sombra dabbled in. It is thought that perhaps they are experiments of his, things…”

Luna again spoke. “Things best not spoke of out loud, Twilight Sparkle.”

She tucked her ears, but Celestia nodded in agreement with her sister's words.

I took a moment to reflect on some of the darker moments of human history. I was still pretty sure we had people that made this Sombra guy look like a boy scout. Not that it is something to be proud of.

“So,” again I began to change the subject. “I have one other question. Why are my wounds healed as well as they are, as fast as they are?”

Once more, they each exchanged glances as if deciding whose turn it was to respond. Twilight was apparently chosen as she once more set a hoof on my right arm lightly.

“With the magic that Sergeant Cortland was able to perform, it stabilized you, but you had lost a lot of blood. Blood we have no way to match,” she took in a breath. “Cadence was sent for, and the three of us combined our magic to teleport her here. She utilized her unique love-based magic to heal your arm as far as she dared. She alone among the alicorns has that ability. Luna can touch the moon, Celestia, the sun, I myself can create new magic, and Cadence... well, she can heal the heart and body.“

I blinked and looked around briefly, then back to Twilight. “It would appear I owe a debt to her as well then.”

She shook her head. “Good luck getting her to agree to that, Shane. You would have better luck getting Rarity to stop being generous.”

Celestia then said, “My sister and I must return to our duties for now, Shane. Once you are able to be up and about, you can send me your friendship report, but I think we can overlook it being late considering what has occurred.”

Twilight blanched, her purple coat seemed to shift to a much lighter hue. “Y-you are going to let him be... tardy?!”

Luna rolled her eyes. “Not everything must be on a timetable, Twilight Sparkle.”

Taking that moment to turn, the two alicorns headed out the door. “And you have apologies to make, sister.”

Luna snorted as she let her sister go out the door first. “I do not.”

I heard the alabaster alicorn speak as the door closed. “Safety orange, Luna, you had half my guards in a panic and the other half fainted. They looked like oompa loompa from that movie Shane showed us.”

Luna’s voice cut off as the door clicked shut, mirth in it. “They are lucky I did not make them sing!”

I chuckled and shook my head then rolled a bit to look at Twilight. She had an odd look, almost out of place for her. Something was on her mind, I could see it in her eyes.

“What? And don’t you dare say nothing, Twilight. We may only have been friends a few weeks now, but I can see something is bothering you.”

She looked out the window, then back to me with worry on her expression. “Shane, you almost died. You were very close to.“

I nodded my head. I could see where that would eat at her. “But I am going to be just fine, Twilight. That's all that matters, right?”

She exhaled and nodded, then looked back outside. “Shane, I... I should not be bringing this up. But, it affects someone I care about quite a bit, and a new friend I am fast becoming fond of, too.”

That made me pause, then say in a softer tone. “Come on, Twilight, the talks we have had. You know you don’t have to beat around the bush with me.”

Again, she nodded, shifting her focus to me once more, ears down, a soft not smile but not a frown on her muzzle. “Shane, I know what we have talked about. About how your kind saw animals, and how you see ponies, how the lines are, well, there are social pressures for you there.”

I looked right at her. “Twilight, just tell me what is on your mind.”

She grew quiet then glanced back at my face, quite a bit more serious in her look.

“Applejack cried over you, Shane. She outwardly cried when she believed you were going to die. I don’t want you to answer me. I just want you to think hard on that, okay?”

That wasn’t at all what I wanted to hear. It was a punch to the gut to be quite honest about it. Applejack was kind, and sweet, tough as any country girl should be, but as delicate as lace at the same time. She was my friend, but was she more? She couldn’t be more, she was a pony... on the other hand, ponies here were nothing like home. One thing though was for sure, Twilight was right there were, pressures here I wasn’t quite up to facing. Ones that didn’t even address all the pain and hurt I had in my heart as it was.

“I-I will keep it in mind, Twilight. I would do anything to not hurt AJ, or any of you for that matter.”

The purple mare nodded slowly. “You should rest. The doctor told us you should be out tomorrow afternoon at the rate you are healing. Big Mac is bringing the wagon, and we will all escort you home to Sweet Apple Acres, okay?”

I frowned. “I can walk, you know.”

She put her hoof on my arm once more, the good one. “Would you let them do this? You saved Apple Bloom’s life, and she has been doing everything to find ways to thank you. Just, let them, okay?”

I gave a nod. “Yeah, okay. I get it. I will.”

She smiled, leaned in and gave a soft nuzzle to my cheek before turning and trotting out. Just as she did, she said over her shoulder. “I hear Granny Smith has a hickory switch. You might be thankful for sitting as much as you can before she hears about your slip of the tongue,” the door closed.

“Fuck.” I muttered under my breath.

---

I breathed out and tried again.

“Big guy, I can walk, you know."

All I got out of him was “Eeyup,” as the large apple stallion continued to pull the wagon. They had really gone all out. The pads in the rear, helping me up in like I had broke everything, not just chewed on by a twig with an attitude.

Applejack and Rarity walked along with us as Big Mac hauled the wagon along.

“And again, I ask, can I please get down now?”

“Eenope!”

I grumbled. “Damn it, Mac.”

Rarity glanced up at me, blinking. “Shane, darling, do not ruin this beautiful moment. Just accept the gift in the generous nature it was given. Would you really want to upset the Crusaders after all the work they put into this?”

I sighed softly and glanced over to Applejack, who was looking quite smug. “No... and quit that before I have to tell everyone you talk in your sleep when you nap next to Sir Appleton after lunch, AJ.”

She lit up with a deep blush and gave a little tug to her hat, pulling it down lower to shadow her eyes as the three of us laughed lightly.

As we rounded the last corner, I could see Sweet Apple Acres, and... wow. There out front was, at my best guess, every colt and filly from the schoolhouse all gathered under a big hoof-painted sign that read ‘Thank You, Mr. McDonald!’ on it. I could also see parents and others standing around, beaming proud looks at their foals.

Truth be told, I got a tiny bit choked up hearing them let out a cheer when they saw the wagon coming. Four little ones stepped out in front as we came to a stop. Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, who had a bandage over her left ear and part of her head, Sweetie Belle, and the little grey unicorn I assumed was Dinky. Little Dinky had a bandage around her barrel, and one leg, her eye was covered with a patch and small wrap. Sliding down the wagon, I smacked Mac’s hoof away with a playful jab and shot him a ‘I can do it myself’ look.

Slipping down to the ground, I walked over and looked over all of the little fillies, and was lost to life. Suddenly, the smallest one, Dinky, was hugging my leg as tight of a grasp as her wounds would let her, sobbing.

“Thank you, Mr. McDonald, Thank you, thank you, thank you! I am so sorry we went chasing that ball and we should have got an adult, and then the timberwolves attacked, and…”

I knelt down and put a finger on her lips to quiet her. “Dinky, right? You don’t need to be sorry. You didn’t do anything wrong other than not getting an adult to help. I am not mad, I am just glad you are okay. You are okay, right?”

A voice from my right caused me to look up from my squat at a wall-eyed pegasus mare. “My little muffin is going to be just fine, thanks to you, Mr. McDonald.”

I could see tears welling up in her eyes and I smiled at her. “The Apples and Rainbow helped. I just acted like a snack to distract them.” reaching out and giving Dinky a small touch on the neck with my fingers I stood up, looking around to see all the food laid out and a few party games.

“Now, who do I have to thank for this welcome?”

Three voices spoke out at once. “That would be us Mr Mc—Shane. Well, Pinkie Pie helped set the decorations, and everypony—” it was Apple Bloom talking alone, and she gestured to all the other fillies and colts around her. “—helped make the sign and stuff, because we all talked. You are so nice, you helped save us, and everypony is super glad that you are okay!”

I shook my head a bit. “Well, thank you all, then. I am honored.”

A cheer went up and all the little ones took off to do what ever little ones do at a party. I exhaled and watched the three Crusaders trot off to hang out with Diamond and Silver.

Standing alone for a few moments simply to take in the party atmosphere and all of the ponies here. I reflected on that, I had more friends here than I ever had back home, even back in high school. I guess it just took me a bit to see it. The way everyone here pitched in and came to help others without reservation. I was broken out of my self-reflective moment by a pony in the corner of my vision, standing next to me.

“I hear I owe you my life.”

Cort gave a snort and glanced at me then back to watching the foals run around. “I am just thankful I was able to stop the bleeding, Shane.”

I gave him a nod. “I won’t forget the debt I owe you, buddy.”

He shook his head and held up a hoof to me. “Don’t owe me nothing, Shane, we are friends.”

I smiled some at that, and bumped my fist to his hoof gently. He was right, we were friends, perhaps best friends. Something I had not let myself have for a long time before now. Standing quietly, watching folks enjoy the party, with a good friend at your side. Not many things better in life.