Standing out of view behind a curtain wall, I watched from backstage left as Celestia, Luna, and the Elements all took starter questions and got the crowd of press and important ponies warmed up ahead of time.

“You going to be alright, Shane?”

I glanced down to my left at the golden-armored mare standing next to me. “Yeah, just, you know,” I gave a gesture. “A lot of peo—ponies out there with a lot of questions. I am not really one to be the center of attention, Golden.”

Fact was there were a lot of creatures out there. Not just ponies, but griffons, some taller-looking pony which I assumed by their manner of dress to be Saddle Arabian. I spotted a few diamond dogs, and even near the the back, a deer standing with a Yakyakistanian.

I caught my name and glanced back at Celestia in time to hear her say. “Now, fillies and gentlecolts, may I present, Shane McDonald. Now, please, everypony and everyone remember, hoof up if you want to ask a question, no blurting things out.”

I glanced one last time at Golden and then walked out. Unarmed, my weapons and backpack were under heavy guard in my room. I donned my best pair of blue jeans, one of my nicer button-up shirts, and of course my hat and boots.

Stepping out onto the stage, I reached up and tipped my hat back, glad to be out in the sun, looking out at all the faces in the garden looking back at me.

“Howdy, all. I... well, I guess you are here to learn a bit about me,” I paused, frowning some, then looked around and down at the tons of ponies and other species present. Everyone was standing, no seats. I was standing, too, looking down on them. I didn’t like that one bit, and it couldn’t be comfortable for them. I thought for a moment as many hooves shot up in the air and flashes strobed as pictures were taken.

Well, heck, let's take a play out of an old movie. “You know what, I know you can’t be comfortable having to stand and look up, and I ain’t comfortable up behind this podium like some important person.”

I looped around it and steadily climbed down to the grass. “How about we all just sit down, or lay down, and treat this like just a classroom question-and-answer?” as I sat down in the middle of a green patch.

I gestured with my hand, and before long, many were following suit, but in their own odd way. A lot had smiles now, while a few looked confused but went with the flow. I spotted Celestia out of the corner of my eye give an approving nod.

Once everyone was comfortable, I gave a nod once more. “There. Now, I think first question will go to...” out of all the hooves in the air, I pointed to a little off white one of a scrawny little Pegasus colt up front. Oh, I knew who he was, as I had asked he be invited directly. I figured giving him first question would not only look good, but would be the chance of his lifetime.

“You in front there, yes the little Pegasus—um, colt is the term, right?”

Looking around, many of the press gave a nod to show me I got the right word.

“M-me sir? Oh! Um... F-Featherweight of the Foal Free Press in Ponyville. Thank you for calling on me. I have one question, we all received the press pack, it explained who and what you are and from where. However, it did not explain how you got here, would you please explain?”

I gave a bit of a smile, tough question from the little guy. “Well, Featherweight, the truth of it is, I don’t know how I got here. I went to sleep in my little cabin back home, and I woke up here. No flash of light, no big boom, nothing crazy happening. Just... poof, here I am. Truthfully, I am scared, and just as confused as all of you are.”

He gave a nod and sat down, jotting all of that down as others were already doing as quickly as they could. More hooves shot up and I pointed to one in the back. “The earth pony in the back row, yes, you with the blue mane.”

He stood up so I could see him better, and so he could see me. “Iron Snips, from the Stalliongrad Freedom Print. We would like to know, are you here to try and take over? Are you here to disrupt harmony?”

Once more if I had expressive ears, they would be down now. I shook my head and reached up, taking my hat off so I could look at him directly.

“Mr. Snips, I have no designs other than to get home, or if that can’t happen to live out my life quiet and peaceful here. Perhaps on a farm, or some small place as I am a quiet type of person. There is just one of me, and how many millions of ponies, griffons, diamond dogs, and all manner of other creatures here? I have no magic, no powers... no, sir, I just want to live in peace and harmony, perhaps make a friend or two if I can be so lucky.”

This made him smile as he sat, and I noted many nods and more smiles now. I pointed to a griffon that sat in left of center of the grouping. “You next.”

Standing, the griffon nodded once. “Glenda of the Griffonstone Gazette. Thank you for calling on me. Something else that was not in the press release, do you have a wife back home, any offspring?”

Like a stone crashing into me, my heart sunk. I looked down away from the smiling faces and eager looks, trying my hardest to get my emotions under check. I could ill afford to let my guard down now, let alone show any opening in my armor before this group. However, my sudden silence did not go unnoticed. Once more behind me, I missed the look of great concern from Celestia to Twilight and over to Luna.

I exhaled slowly and then looked up, having wrapped things under control. “No, ma’am, no one back home, just me. Been like that for a long time now.”
More questions were asked, and as they went by, I did my best to answer them. A few times Captain Swords would answer or fill in where I had none, too. He at one point sat down next to me and kept close, almost in a friendly way. I liked that, even with the turmoil raging inside me right now. It was nice to have somepony—a friend—to stay near.
---
Rarity smiled some as she took a small helping of cake. “That went very well, I think.”

I quietly sat off to the side, away from the others, thinking. Finally, I just needed time alone and I stood up. “Princess, I just... I don’t think I can face the Council and the Table of Peace right now. That press conference took way too much out of me,” I lied, and damn Applejack snapped her gaze right at me. She knew, too. I saw it in her eyes, and the frown on her muzzle.

Celestia spoke up before Applejack could. “That is quite all right, Shane, I thought as much and had the meeting moved to next week.”

I saw Luna rise and start walking towards me. “We will escort you back to your room, Shane."

My eyes narrowed, but I gave a nod. “Sure,” standing up.

Once outside the room, she dismissed her guard, and we started to walk. She was quiet for a good part of it before she said.

“We understand the need for secrets, Shane, ones we keep to protect ourselves from pain, from our past,” turning her head to look at me. “The ones you keep are tearing you apart on the inside. We—I know that well, and I suspect you know I understand better than others would.”

I didn’t bother to look over, I just didn’t dare. “Leave it alone, Luna, please. This isn’t something I can share, it ain't something I want to remember or dredge up. Just... please, let it be, okay?”

She gave a small snort but looked back to our walk. “Very well, Shane, but think on what I said. What ever you hold inside shows to your new friends. They see the pain as clear as the sun in the sky. You do them all—including me—a disservice by ignoring your pain.”

We came up to the door without any more words said. I gave a dip of my head to her “Thank you for walking me here, Luna,” before turning and walking in. Closing the door, I neglected to notice the look she gave me of worry.

---

I glanced up in the mirror with a smile, looking at the little blond haired, green-eyed angel in the back seat. She had her new Applejack plush from Build-A-Bear in her lap, and I could tell she was becoming sleepy.

I turned and saw my wife look at me with a smile, but as I opened my mouth to say something, I could see the grill of a truck. I heard the horrible crash and screech of metal on metal. I knew exactly what was going on. This same nightmare repeated at least once a week. I couldn’t do anything to stop it, either. The flashes of light, the crushing sounds, a terrifying scream, pain.

Suddenly, unlike ever before, things just... stopped. They became nothing, dissolving into a white room, no walls, no floor, just white. I was almost alone, but there was another here. Standing still, looking at me was the moon princess herself. Her eyes showed the pain, tears rolled down her cheeks as she spoke.

“This was no dream. It was too vivid, too detailed,” Luna stated, looking at me in the eyes. “Shane, this was, a memory.”

I could not look at her, rather just staring down at what ever down there was. A hoof softly touched my shoulder. Part of me was angry she would invade my dreams, while another part of me sat shocked. After all, I had a goddess in my head at this very moment. There was, however, a larger part of me that was relieved, that was grateful for a moment away from that nightmare.

I spoke but didn’t look at her, looking anywhere but the concerned alicorn princess. “What are you doing here, Luna?” my tone perhaps a bit defensive.

“I am the Princess of the Night, Shane, and dreams are my domain. Yours was so dark, so vivid, so filled with pain, it almost literally ripped me away from my nightly patrol and to your side,” she paused, then continued. “Shane, you can not keep this from your friends. Tell them, let them help you, as they have me.”

I fought down the tears I knew were starting to come. “I... I don’t want to lay that on them, Luna, it’s bad enough you know now.”

She shook her head. “Tell them, Shane, it is not a burden to them. Already they are your friends, even if you do not think so. How long now have you carried this?”

I kept my head down. “Ten years now, I…” growing quiet then I looked up. The princess was weeping now, tears raced down her dark-blue furred face. I could see the pain, for me, in her eyes.

“Tell them all, Shane.”

I gave a little hitching breath, then nodded my head. “O... okay.”

She again touched my shoulder. “Wake now, it is late, but I will gather them all, including my sister.”

---

I don’t know exactly what I expected, but what I found was a group. A large group, along with the Elements, Luna, Celestia, there was Cadence, and Shining Armor. Looking a bit tired I saw Dusty, and Golden Shield next to each other, Next to them, Captain Swords, and Sergeant Cortland. All of the ponies I had interacted with, had met, and I suppose in a way, became friends with on some level.

There was one universal to it all, the looks they all had. Tired or not, there was a worry to all their faces, a deep concern that I was unaccustomed to seeing, at least from my own kind. I took up the tea cup in my hand, shaking as I took a sip.

“I... don’t know where to start. I guess, Shawna and I met when we were in high school together. I was on the football team, she was a cheerleader. W-well, as two country kids do, we started hanging out more, and we fell in love. We started to date, making plans, looking to the future and talking about together forever.”

“Well, come senior year, Shawna got pregnant with Cassidy. We were using protection, but I guess God knew what he was doing. Soon as I graduated, I went into the Academy and Shawna started taking classes in bookkeeping. It wasn’t easy, but we made it work, and we got married two weeks before little Cassidy was born.“

My gaze didn't remove from the contents of my teacup, all while the words continued to spill out out. I don’t know that I could have stopped them now if I wanted to. Had I ever told anyone since that day? I couldn’t remember.

“I became a rookie Texas Highway Patrol officer, and Shawna, she kept books for some small stores on the side. We bought a little house just the other side of my parents ranch so they could help watch Cassidy and so she could be close to her grandparents. See, Shawna’s parents passed away when she was twelve, her aunt helped raise her, and they weren’t that close.”

I took a sip of tea again, trying to gather my thoughts.

“My fourth year on the force, I got an offer to join the Texas Rangers. My test scores were good, and I had proven myself with a few high profile cases I helped out with on a task force. I guess someone saw potential in me, and so, I took the offer.”

I glanced up, noting everypony in the room hung on my words. Nopony was looking away, and no pony seemed to want to ask a single question. Looking back down again, I spotted a teapot held in a golden glow, topping my cup up. I shot Celestia a nod, seeing her horn was lit with the same colors.
Taking a few breaths, I shut my eyes.

“Cassidy started to watch the show, My Little Pony, when she was eight. Well, I got to sitting down with her and watching, too. She loved the show, and it was our time together. Even as she got older, she loved the show, knew all your names and made sure I did, as well.”

I found myself cracking a soft smile at the memory.

“So, on her eleventh birthday, we all got in the wife's truck and headed down to the mall. They have this little shop there, it is called Build-A-Bear, a place where you can make a little stuffed bear and tell them how thick you want it, and put a little fabric heart inside, then they stitch it up for you. Cassie, she had all the My Little Pony toys... all but one. We had a real hard time finding Applejack because she was so popular in the South. Luck was with us, and we got one that afternoon.”

“See, Applejack was her favorite. She even had a set of little cowboy boots that had apples stitched into them.”

I exhaled and shut my eyes tightly. I didn’t notice the smile on the farmer pony’s face, nor did I see it fall as I continued.

“One minute I was looking back at her in the back seat. I looked over at the wife, and…”

My eyes shut tighter, trying to fight back tears. A man didn’t cry, damn it. A man didn’t show emotion, especially in front of others. Yet, I could not hold them back, or the hitch in my throat as I spoke. I didn’t look up, I didn’t see the pinned ears, the look of horror starting to show on many a pony's face.

“I... I don’t remember much. I remember seeing the truck as it hit us. I remember some of the sounds of metal crushing and a scream from someone”

Pinkie Pie’s voice spoke, but there was a tremor in it, a tone I knew was not typical for her. “T-they were okay, right?”

I didn’t see Celestia’s head shake. I didn’t see Twilight sling her wing over her pink earth pony friend. I did hear a few sobs, I heard some start to cry. I heard Cadence’s voice break and start to sob loudly.

I fought the tears, I fought the feelings with all that I am. I had to remain a man, that was what Shawna and Cassie would have wanted. It was not what life wanted.

“I-I woke up,” my voice cracked some. “Two weeks later, broken hip, broken leg, broken arm, two vertebrae in my neck cracked. I... I didn’t even get to go to... to their…”

Arms, orange ones, very strong arms were around my neck in an instant and were pulling me into a powerful, muscular neck. I felt wetness on my forehead and I lost it. I began to sob as I had never done in front of anyone before, sitting there on the ground clinging to a orange pastel colored mare who held me tight as she could, and cried with me. My face pressed into a blond mane, and my arms looped tight around her neck.