At Darkstar One, Blitz was preparing to arm himself. “Minerva, show me a video feed on the location from the drone,” Blitz says.

Minerva smiles and waves her hoof and shows a screen showing what a drone was showing. “Here you go.”

“Reading on humidity and concentrations of water?” Blitz asks moving along the armors.

“Humidity, 49%. Water, not by much.” Minerva said.

“So the type K6-L7 stealth unit won’t work, then you are the best one for the job,” Blitz says stopping in front of a green armor before starting to put it on and finishing with the helmet similar to the aerial armor he used hunting Quetzalcoatl. Extending his left forehoof two parallel metal claws come out before retracting. He then goes and grabs a few items from the arsenal before walking out and watches as Minerva drops a red Speeder bike from the cargo bay. “If I’m not back before you finish upgrading, come get me,” Blitz says.

Minerva nods. “Okay, just…be sure to not hit any trees.”

“I have never hit a tree, sent others crashing into them, yes, but never hitting them,” Blitz says cloaking himself and the bike before speeding off.

A half a day later, Blitz stopped his bike on the cliff overlooking the valley below where the ship had crashed. “Minerva, can you read me?” He said, speaking into his mic and placing his glasses on.

“Loud and clear,” Minerva says.

“Any chance the bounty died in the crash?” Blitz asks.

“Negative. Had the probe search thoroughly,” Minerva says.

Blitz sighs and sees it hanging a bit off the cliff, but enough for him. “Keep an eye out for any kind of tech I can recover and have your probes on standby to pick it up.”

“Already on it, just find the bounty and catch it. I want my new body.” Minerva says.

Blitz smiles and walks around the cliff and heads inside the ship, but places a relay at the entrance. “Have you checked completely in the ship?”

“Yes, most of it is fried from the humidity and the rest not worth salvaging,” Minerva says.

“You know we can’t just leave it here,” Blitz says.

“Understood, blow it up,” Minerva says.

Blitz nods and shoots several pads from one of his forehooves and walks away before an explosion was heard. ‘If that doesn’t get somepony’s attention, nothing will.’ Blitz thinks activating his stealth.

He walks away as the parts of the ship head down the ravine. Before stopping when he heard somepony burst through the foliage. Looking back, he sees a brownish gold pegasus running to the edge. “What the heck happened?!” She yelled.

Blitz stealthily jumped onto a nearby branch and watched to see what she would do. “Great, something blew up the artifact. Now, what am I going to bring back to the university? I can just hear the headmistress now. Daring Do, you have been gone for two months…” The pegasus, now known as Daring, kept ranting.

Blitz sighs and drops his invisibility and walks over to her. “Excuse me?”

Daring was so lost in her rant she didn’t register him until he tapped her shoulder. “Gahhh!” She yelled turning around and sees the armor. “Well…at least it’s not a total loss. Maybe I can take this back.”

“I’m a pony, not a thing,” Blitz says.

Daring jumps back a little. “What the heck?”

“You going to freak out a bit longer, Ms. Daring?” Blitz asks.

Daring calms down and rubs her head. “Sorry, but my artifact just went down the ravine.”

“Don’t cha mean blew up and fell?” Blitz asks.

Daring raises an eyebrow. “I meant down the drain too.”

“Ok, well I’m off,” Blitz says starting to walk down the path down the ravine to the valley.

Daring adjust her hat before running after him. “Hey! You owe me.”

“For what I might ask?” Blitz asks as she came up beside him as he walked.

“For kinda killing my easy artifact to grab and give to the university.”

“Ok, for starters, A, you don’t know what happened to that thing and B, it wasn’t old, that thing was newish,” Blitz says.

Daring looks down the ravine and sees the pieces of the supposed artifact. “I still need something.”

“Can’t help you there, I got a job to do,” Blitz says.

Daring moves in front of him. “Listen, buddy, I need an artifact or my headmistress would chew me out and you owe for destroying my other chance.”

“Can’t help you, I have to bring somepony in,” Blitz says stopping and getting a little annoyed.

Daring pokes his chest. “You owe me.”

“I owe you nothing. Now unless you want to be charged with obstruction of justice by the courts, you will back off.” Blitz says as Daring finally notices the Marshal badge.

Daring sighs. “Are all stallions this way?” She asks herself, heading back up.

“Finally, now I can get back to searching fo…” Blitz was cut off by a roar and Daring screaming. “I can’t just leave well enough alone, can I?” Blitz asks himself before running back up to see Daring fighting jungle cats.

Blitz raises an eyebrow. “Don’t just stand there, help me!” Daring yells.

Blitz brings up one of his blaster and shoots, the blaster bolt hitting the tiger in the head as it jumped at Daring. It slumped midair and hits the ground and slid off the cliff. The other felines, seeing this, turns to him. “Who else has a death wish?” Blitz asks, aiming the blaster again, a small breeze blowing the small cape on his left fore shoulder.

The rest of the felines then ran out into the jungle out of fear, Blitz shooting a few warning shots into the air to keep them running before turning to Daring hosting the blaster. “You hurt?” Blitz asks.

Daring sighs as she gets up. “I’m fine.”

“I’m not going to be able to leave you alone in good conscious,” Blitz says turning away.

Daring looks confused. “What does that mean?”

“I’ll help you.” Blitz finally says.

Daring looks surprised. “Really, you’ll help me find an artifact?”

“Yes, but I also have to bring in my quarry as well,” Blitz says.

Daring nods. “Okay, but only if you get me something good.”

“I make no guarantees about quality,” Blitz says starting to walk down the path again.

Daring quickly follow him. “What do you need?”

“Just to bring in the criminal dead or alive, it doesn’t really matter,” Blitz says.

“So what’s your name?” Daring asks.

“Officer Southern Cross,” Blitz says.

“Southern Cross huh? Unusual name.” Daring says. Blitz says nothing as he keeps walking. Daring tries to keep up. “And you think that bounty is here?”

“Think, no. Know, yes.” Blitz says.

Daring raised an eyebrow. “Really? You’re that confident?”

“Yes, my source is reliable,” Blitz says.

Daring looks ahead of them and sees the bottom of the valley. “And who’s that source?”

“Confidential,” Blitz says.

Daring scoffs. “Then how could I find out if what you were saying is true?”

“You don’t like how I can’t verify if you do work for a university,” Blitz says.

Daring huffs. “You try to find an artifact every time you leave.”

“I don’t hunt for the past, I hunt the scum of the present,” Blitz says turning back to see Daring writing that down. “Um…what are you doing?” Blitz asks.

“It’s a good quote.” Daring offers with a smile.

“Uh huh,” Blitz says before continuing.

After they reach almost down something moves quickly into the shadows. “What was that?” Daring asks, hearing some rocks move.

“Some wildlife from the looks of it. Looks like they are spooked by what happened to the thing.” Blitz says scanning with his helmet.

Daring looks to him. “And anything dangerous by the looks of it?”

“Nothing I see so far,” Blitz says as the sun starts to set.

Daring looks up as the light leaves the valley. “Dang it, we need a fire before we freeze down here.”

“You want to make camp?” Blitz asks.

“Well yeah. What were you planning?” Daring asks.

“I was going to hunt for my quarry through the night,” Blitz says like it was a natural action.

Daring shakes her head. “You really like being nocturnal, don’t you?”

“No, I just don’t sleep on the job,” Blitz says. Daring gives him a look before Blitz starts gathering wood.

Daring keeps watching him. “I thought you were going to continue to hunt?”

“I said I would help you and you want to make camp,” Blitz says.

Daring tilts her head as he places the wood in a pile. “You are going to help me, but you’re still going to hunt, even if I’m staying in one spot?”

“No, if we get separated then we may not meet up again so I’m staying with you,” Blitz says lightning the fire with a small burst from the flamethrower in his forehoof’s armor.

Daring sits down as the fire starts up. “So, if we find a temple?”

“I will follow your lead,” Blitz says.

Daring smiles. “Great. Then we set out after some sleep, we’re going to need all the energy down here.”

“Go ahead,” Blitz says.

Daring nods and lays down near the fire and goes to sleep immediately.

Blitz sat there and watched as he activated his stealth field waiting to see if anything was foolish enough to approach the camp for the rest of the night.

Daring yawns as she awakes again and sees Blitz hasn’t even moved yet. “You were up all night?”

“Somepony has to keep watch,” Blitz says simply.

Daring nods as she gets up. “You find anything down here while I was sleeping?”

“Nothing, but I saw a few animals savaging near the camp,” Blitz says.

Daring sighs and puts out the fire with the dirt around it. “Let’s go.” She said walking deeper into the valley.

Blitz nods and follows in silence all the while scanning for anything until he stops when Daring trips in a small hole. “Stupid hole.” She says aggravated.

“Daring,” Blitz says.

Daring gets up. “I’m fine.” She said brushing her clothes off.

“I was just going to say that’s no hole. That’s a track from a large creature.” Blitz says pointing out it was too perfectly round.

Daring looks to the hole and then around it and sees a set of holes in a certain distance apart from each other heading deeper into the valley.

“Want to take a guess?” Blitz asks.

Daring looks at the hole more closely before looking at the rest and then starts making motions with her hooves as she kept looking. Blitz waited patiently for her as he searched the bounties for a match. “Crab.” She suddenly said. “It’s a giant crab.”

“Close enough,” Blitz says getting a match.

Daring looks to him. “And what do you think it is?”

“My quarry,” Blitz says as he read. ‘Alias: Cancer. Species: Crustbergious Maximus. A thug for hire wanted for destruction and robbery of three mints, fifty-eight confirmed acts of homicide, black market selling, and killing of ninety-eight officers trying to arrest him. Bounty: 650,000 credits alive, 300,000 dead. Looks like you’re going to get that body soon.’

Daring looks into the valley. “So how you take care of this?”

“Like how I took out that tiger,” Blitz says.

Daring looks surprised. “You’re going to use that thing? Are you sure it will work?”

“I have many ways to take things down. Now I think we have artifacts to find?” Blitz asks surprising Daring as he had no hints of any reservation about fighting the giant crab.

Daring nods. “Well, maybe where they’re hiding.”

“Knowing my luck that is a possibility,” Blitz says sighing.

Daring sighs. “Let’s go.” She said following the tracks.

They spent a few days looking after losing the tracks in a river. “If I had known it would have been like this I would have brought Terran along. He’s good at tracking.” Blitz says.

Daring looks to him. “Your dog?”

“In a sense,” Blitz says.

Daring sighs and keeps looking. “Where do you think they went?”

“Hard to say, it is crab-like so it could have been underwater and we passed it,” Blitz says.

Daring looks at the river. “So you got any way to find him?”

“Other than boiling the river, I got no ideas just yet.” Blitz jokes.

Daring chuckles. “You planning on making crab soup?”

“Read my mind,” Blitz says smiling under his helmet.

Daring smiles. “So, any idea where to go next?”

“I’m sure he would have left the river by now and is somewhere around here. I highly doubt a huge crab walking around out there would go unnoticed, it’s like the opposite of the Canterlot serial killer, he’s too big to hide and not stealthy enough.” Blitz says.

Daring sighs. “Well, let’s go.” She said wading through the water. Blitz follows her till she stops. “Wait, Canterlot Serial killer?!” Daring yells.

“Yeah, he was a problem a month ago,” Blitz says.

Daring still looked slightly shocked. “He didn’t hit the university, did he?”

“I don’t know about that, but he got eighteen victims before he was caught,” Blitz says.

Daring sighs. “I’m going to have to rush back when this is over.”

“But, first we have to focus on the here and now,” Blitz says as they make it to the other side.

Daring nods. “Yeah, I wonder how far these guys are, for reason…I’m getting bored. I never get bored.”

“In my experience, it’s never a good idea to say such things. It’s as bad as how could this get worse…” Blitz says before stopping. “Did I just say what I think I said?” Blitz asks.

Daring nods grimly. “Unfortunately.” As a loud stomping sound came from the darker parts of the valley.

“Why. Did. I. Say. That!” Blitz says hitting his helmeted head against a tree after every word.

Daring looks at him in pity before looking at the stomping sound and sees a giant walking crab. “Wow. That’s big.”

“He is actually smaller than I was lead to believe,” Blitz says joining her side as it walked passed and looked like was chipping away at the cliff as if digging. “Is it me or does it look like it’s trying to collapse the cliff onto himself?” Blitz asks.

Daring nods. “Yeah, but why would he do it there? If he wanted to collapse this place, he could do it on the other side because of the cracks already there.”

“Um…is there anything around here that could be able to pay it. Because the thing is basically a thug for hire and his profile suggests he’s not too smart.” Blitz says.

Daring looks confused until she sees something come out where the crab came out from and growls slightly. “Ahuizotl.”

“Somepony you know?” Blitz asks.

Daring nods. “Unfortunately.” She said as they watch Ahuizotl walk up to the crab and watches as it hits the wall until what looks like a building start to come into view from the rocks being chipped away.

“Well…he had a reason for that,” Blitz says a little surprised.

They keep watching until the crab gives a final hit and the walkway appears. “Let’s go,” Ahuizotl said walking in with several felines behind the crab as it seemed to release steam and started to shrink to a more manageable size.

“Shall we crash the party?” Blitz asks.

Daring holds him. “Wait, we need to let them go first because of all the traps.”

“Hum…I think Cancer is going in first and for openers, we have the classic boulder trap.” Blitz says.

Daring nods and starts to move closer. “Come on, they won’t check the entrance anymore.”

“One moment,” Blitz says bringing up a blaster. “It seems we have some undesirable company,” Blitz says noticing the looked like native ponies trying to sneak up on them.

Daring holds him back a little. “Show respect. But only fire up when they will attack. They don’t know much about the outside world. They don’t even know a lightbulb.”

“So any chance warrior society then?” Blitz asks lowering his blaster.

Daring nods as they walk up and she bows and they bow back. “Don’t look at them in the eyes, that’s a challenge.”

“Any chance you can speak their language?” Blitz asks.

Daring walks up to them and starts to speak a weird language that not even Blitz’s decoder can pick up. After a while, Daring was looking a bit shocked before she walks back to him. “There are actually natives in the temple, but they sealed it up for a reason.”

“What about Cancer, they know anything about him?” Blitz asks.

Daring shakes her head no. “No, but they think he’s a god, as always.”

“Tell them he is a fallen warrior who committed major taboos for wealth and I was chosen to come and punish him and avenge those already sent after him,” Blitz says.

Daring turns back to the natives and speaks what he said to them. The natives then grew angry and start to raise their weapons as if they are going into battle until one turns back to him and speaks something. “He said, we will help if you need it, basically and there was something about protecting me extra special. Didn’t say why.” Daring said.

“Tell them I would welcome the help and would appreciate if they dealt with the natives in the temple if possible, but I must face Cancer alone as a member of my clan for the sake of restoring honor,” Blitz says.

Daring turns back to the natives and speaks what he said and they nod before they walk in with Daring and Blitz following. “They would disable the traps that didn’t activate and let you face him.”

“Tell them they honor me and my clan for helping,” Blitz says.

Daring relays that to them and they speak a few words. “They say you’re welcome, in a sense.”

“Then our course is set, Daring,” Blitz says sheathing the blaster.

Daring nods as they enter the temple. “Yeah, let’s get this done.” She said as some stones shifted. “Apparently this where the traps deactivate. Now we just need to follow and oh shit!” Daring yells as she was pulled into a corridor that quickly closed. “Why does this always…?!” Her yell was cut off as the door close against the ground putting them in pure darkness.

“This is why I don’t usually go to old temples,” Blitz says turning on a light on his helmet.

The natives suddenly move to the door and messes around the walls of it before turning back to him and saying something to him.

“Translation please.” Blitz requests looking at where Daring was.

The natives look a little confused before pointing to the door and tapping it with his spear.

“Ah…you want me to open it,” Blitz says walking to the heavy stone door and started pushing it open as he hears the natives chatter behind him. After he pushes it open one of the natives places a stone dais in front of the doors and locks it in place as the rest rush inside. Blitz follows behind them and finds them stopping at a room with four columns in a square shape and they are looking at the area in the middle.

Blitz pushes his way through the crowd of natives that were of a different color and designs of war paints and finds Daring on a table with her clothes ripped apart showing front half and out cold, but also has some kind of white stuff on her. “That better not be what I think it is.” He said going to her. “Wakey, wakey, Daring Do!” He said before slapping her.

Daring jolts awake and find Blitz looking at her. “About time. Why do I feel sore all over?” She asks groaning. Blitz points to her and she looks down and sees her clothes ripped apart and something on her. Daring grew curious and touches the white stuff with her hoof and pulls back to see it act like slime. “They didn’t.”

“Are these the same natives because they seem like a different tribe with their war paint and how they are pointing their weapons at me?” Blitz says.

Daring pushes herself up and sees the other tribes pony and sees the original yelling at them. “For your crimes against the gods and our clan, you will remain banished to this temple and for killing and taking our mares and daughters for your own. But now you will die by our hoof. We got a couple of rapists.” Daring translated.

“Daring, tell them what I do next is by the laws of my clan and you are under my protection. After you say that, don’t open your eyes no matter what till I say so.” Blitz says leaving no room for argument.

Daring nods and speaks to them all while the original natives back off to the end of the room and after she finishes, she closes her eyes. “Go ahead.”

Blitz nods before walking up to the group who was here and stares at them for a moment before bringing up his hoof and two claw-like blades shoot out and before any of them could react, he buried them into the eyes of the stallion with a sickening sound that was a mix of cracking bone and slashing flesh.

Daring kept her eyes closed as she hears more of the same crunching noise and slicing sounds with yelling and what sounded like fighting. After a while, they stop and somepony taps her shoulder and she opens her eyes to find Blitz in front of her. “You’re alright, right?”

Daring nods and steps off the table, but then buckles under the pain and lays down. “Ow. Apparently, they did a lot when I was out. Ow.”

“Don’t worry about it, I’m right here,” Blitz says petting her mane trying to keep her attention away from the brutalization and borderline mutilated corpses behind them.

Daring smiles. “Thanks for coming Cross.” She said as the original natives come up to them and hold out something.

Blitz smiles. “Anything for a friend.” He said before looking to the native. “What is that?”

Daring looks to the native before speaking to him and they talk for a bit. “It’s just a cloth and also a dress their mares and daughters wear.”

Blitz bows to the native as a sign of respect before he helps Daring clean herself up and puts the dress on herself. “You’ll be okay, right?”

Daring takes a step before taking another and when she reaches her hind leg does she collapsed. “Nope, my flank really hurts.” Blitz nods and picks her up on his back to carry her. “Thanks, Cross. Most stallions aren’t you.”

Blitz chuckles. “True, most stallions aren’t me. Now then, shall we?”

Daring nods and speaks to the natives who nod and led them out. Blitz walks down a corridor that the natives would not enter. “Let me guess, from here on we are on our own?” Blitz asks.

Daring nods. “Yeah, the crab you’re looking for went down one way while Ahuizotl went down another and they consider this a sacred place. They won’t go unless the god allows them.”

“So from what we told them, they would assume their god would approve and be with us?” Blitz asks.

Daring nods. “Yep, you’re the god and I’m the connection between mortal and spirit.”

“Oh boy,” Blitz says.

Daring giggles a bit. “Hey, be happy they are on our side.”

“You unlucky in that department most of the time?” Blitz asks.

Daring blushes. “Yeah.”

“Seems your luck is changing then,” Blitz says.

Daring smiles. “That’s because I got my good luck charm here.”

“Your hat is good luck?” Blitz asks.

Daring giggles. “No, you. I need a stallion sometimes because the ancient natives respect stallions more than mares. I’ll be lucky if I can find a native tribe with a female god.”

Blitz was about to reply when the temple shook a bit. “I bet Cancer is behind this,” Blitz says.

Daring sighs. “You go get him, I got to deal with Ahuizotl. I can go with some of the natives and you can go with some as well.”

“Tell me, does Ahuizotl have any bounties on his head?” Blitz asks.

Daring shrugs. “Don’t know. But if he’s gone, there goes my villain.”

“And the one who has been trying to kill you,” Blitz says.

Daring blushes. “I doubt he has that much of a bounty anyway. Besides, without him on a temple one time, kinda ruined everything. No thrill or anything.”

“Maybe I can offer you something more interesting,” Blitz says considering the fact she kept up with him decently most of the time.

Daring looks to him. “What is it?”

“Forget about it. Take all of the tribesmen, I’ll come after I finish with Cancer.” Blitz says letting her down.

Daring keeps looking at him until she sighs. “Okay, but you’ll be okay, right?”

“I’ll treat you to a crab dinner in Los Pegasus after this is over.” Blitz offers.

Daring chuckles. “Alright, but I still need help.” She turns to the native and speaks a few things and some of the native’s smiles and lay down for her next to her, which she takes one and gets onto their back. “Be careful.” She said to Blitz.

Blitz nods and walks down the corridor where the rumbling is coming from as Daring and natives went the other way. Blitz keep walking until he ends up in a large room with seats for an audience on the second floor and cages on the walls on the first floor. ‘Arena, great.’ He thinks as he sees something on the other side of the room. “Oy!” Blitz says before starting to talk louder. “Alias: Cancer. Species: Crustbergious Maximus. A thug for hire wanted for destruction and robbery of three mints, fifty-eight confirmed acts of homicide, black market selling, and killing of ninety-eight officers trying to apprehend him. Bounty: 650,000 credits alive, 300,000 dead and I have come to collect.” Blitz says getting the crab’s attention and he notices his helmet picking up targets on the audience area.

The crab turns to him and chitters a bit. “So you found me after all this time. Even here, me harassed by a bounty hunter. Boys, waste…” Cancer says.

He didn’t finish as Blitz quickly takes out a blaster and shots every single one before they even had time to draw their weapons. “Nah ha, you got to fight me on your…oh darn it, one of them had a bounty on his head. I guess I will have to settle for the dead bounty.” Blitz says sounding only slightly inconvenienced.

Cancer growls before turning around and body slamming through the wall and outside into, what looks like the valley.

“Always got to have runners,” Blitz says turning on the music player.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbBEsKivqm8

Blitz nods his head to the beat before running after him and jumps over the large rock that suddenly got in front of him and keeps running after him after he got onto a higher rock ledge. He soon catches up with him and sees him hitting the wall now and again to gather some rock and throws it at him which he dodges by using the walls as a jump platform. Blitz sees they were heading into maze-like ruins. “Minerva, I assume your probes can see me,” Blitz says, jumping over another thrown rock.

“Playing that Cash music I see. Yes, I can see you.” Minerva said.

“Give me a 3D map of the maze ahead and track Cancer and me when we enter it as well as any other goodies,” Blitz says.

Minerva can be heard smirking. “Got it, tracking you now. You’re approximately fifteen seconds away and there’s another baddie on the ledge ahead of you, a bounty that one too.”

“Gotcha, I don’t have enough of the transporter pads with me so I will carbon freeze them and you have the probes pick it up and later pick them up with Darkstar One and then teleport them,” Blitz says jumping up on a few broken pillars and used them as steps before jumping over the bounty who looked shocked before spraying him with something from his gauntlet and he froze as he was instantly covered in carbon and looking like an ugly statue. “Remind me to find a way to make them look less ugly for their mug photos.” He said to Minerva as an afterthought as he grabbed something sparkling for later.

“Not possible.” Minerva jokes back to him. Blitz chuckles before jumping off a pillar and finds Cancer moving through the maze of pillars as Blitz starts to jump on top of them. “That’s not how you do a maze.” Minerva reminds.

“If you play fair, but…” Blitz leaves off jumping in front of Cancer before spraying his flamethrower at him causing him to scream and scramble to run the other way. “I don’t play fair.” Blitz finishes continuing the chase.

Blitz follows him as he backtracks through the maze and into the valley once more as Minerva chuckles. “Like you made me take off the camera in the shower room. You know I want to see.”

“Get a good look then,” Blitz says activating stealth and reappears in front of Cancer and gives him another helping of the flamethrower.

Cancer roars and swipes at him wildly, trying to fight through the fire.

“What’s wrong Cancer, don’t like the fire?” Blitz mocks, staying out of reach as he sprays.

Cancer then hits the walls and starts to make all the rocks start to fall. Blitz stops spraying and jumps back as the rocks fall between them and then Cancer burst through the pile and grabs some rocks before throwing them at Blitz and runs past him.

Blitz wouldn’t have that and fires a grappling hook from his right foreleg’s armor tying the right half of Cancer’s legs together causing him to skid and slam into a wall. Blitz lets the grapple disengage and reels it back in before taking out both his blaster pistols and setting them to stun from fire at Cancer over and over again.

Cancer growls and charges at him as Blitz jumps out of the way as Cancer hits the wall and stuns himself as the constant blaster bolts took its toll. “Pathetic insect!” Cancer yells turning around.

“Says the sore loser,” Blitz says as he was already on him and slams a device on him and activates it, trapping Cancer in a yellow energy bubble before sending him away as the song ends. “You get all that Minerva?” Blitz asks.

The Darkstar flies overhead. “Got the little guy, your speeder bike, and the bounty from this. Want me to pick you up or want to go back to your friend?” Minerva asks.

“I made a promise, go ahead and deliver the small fry and pick up your custom body and pick up Terran from Omega,” Blitz says.

Minerva giggles. “Already picking out the options.” She says as the Darkstar One entered stealth mode and flew away.

Blitz smiles as he walks back to the temple and finds a battle going on. He was reaching for his blaster but was stopped by a hoof. He looks over and sees Daring smiling at him. “Don’t, they are just practicing. Since this place no longer holds the criminals they are planning to open it again.”

“Dealt with your foe then?” Blitz asks holstering them.

Daring nods and points to Ahuizotl tied up. “He’ll be out, but it will be good to have competition. He is already upset he lost one of his cats.” Daring says.

“Hey,” Ahuizotl spoke up. “Sorry for what happened to you. Never expected rapists to be here.”

Blitz stares at him for a bit as he searches the database of equestrian bounties the probes had gathered. “Huh…you do have a bounty on your head, but I won’t be collecting it because Daring doesn’t want me to,” Blitz says.

Daring smiles as she walks over to Ahuizotl and pets his back, making him purr. “That and the mare always win.”

“And I already cashed in on your latest lackey and two of his boys,” Blitz says.

Ahuizotl growls before huffing. “What do I care, I don’t need to pay them a share so that’s less trouble for me.”

“Oh Daring, while chasing him down in a maze not too far from here, I picked up something by reflexes,” Blitz says withdrawing it to see a statue of a hawk and an eagle made out of pure crystal.

Daring takes the statue of the two birds. “The flying crystals. You traversed the maze of madness and death and found them.”

“It’s valuable?” Blitz asks.

Daring nods. “You have no idea how valuable. You just saved my flank, twice now. I owe you big time.”

Blitz just shrugs. “Well, I’m heading to Los Pegasus to see the place seeing as I have never been there. Want to come along?” Blitz asks.

Daring nods. “Sure.” She turns to Ahuizotl. “Want to come?”

“Um…kinda stuck here for a while, beside this is my home.” He says.

Daring rolls her eyes. “Okay, have fun with the natives,” Daring says and with that, she and Blitz head off to Los Pegasus.

A month later Daring enter the Headmistress’ office at the Canterlot University. “Hey, I’m back,” Daring says.

The Headmistress turns to her. “Daring, do you know how long you have been gone!?” The Headmistress yells.

“Three months and two days,” Daring says.

The Headmistress glares at her. “That’s right and you’ve have been out doing what? Finding artifacts that don’t exist?”

“How do the flying crystals sound?” Daring asks gently putting it on her desk.

The Headmistress’ eyes widen. “Wha…how?”

“They aren’t so mythical and I had a little help. I also got my next book wrote. Tell me, what do you think of the cover art?” Daring asks showing her a picture of herself and Blitz in his green jungle armor, evading traps with the faces of Cancer and Ahuizotl foreboding in the background.

The Headmistress takes the cover art. She then looks to Daring with a big smile. “Daring, you got another renew! By the way, how did you hear of the famous mysterious marshal, Southern Cross?”

Daring looks confused. “What?”

The Headmistress shows her the cover art. “This pony with you is the famous marshal, Southern Cross who caught the Canterlot serial killer, saved the Wonderbolts and Shadowbolts, helped catch the Crippler and brought down a huge flying snake trying to steal the golden jewel-encrusted trophy being presented to the Wonderbolts in the same show.”

Daring looks surprised. “I met him barely a month ago?”

“Daring you might want to go research the library about him real quick.” The Headmistress says.

Daring nods and quickly rushes off.

Not ten minutes later, the entire University heard, “WHAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

It was about a week later when Rainbow bursts through Twilight’s door, her labored breath said she flew hard the whole way there. “Twi. You. Have. Got. To. See. This.” She says in between breaths as Blitz who had stopped to rest from the journey back to Ponyville, looked up from his book on unicorn magic, not far away as Twilight trots over.

Twilight looks to a book Rainbow got and sees the cover art. “What the heck?! How did he get on there?!”

“What is it?” Blitz asks from the table.

Rainbow shows him the book. “Southern Cross on here.”

“So Southern Cross is quite popular. Why is it a surprise he starts appearing in literature?” Blitz asks.

Rainbow opens the book to a particular page. “Cause Daring Do talks about how Southern Cross saved her from being raped by natives and finding a weird creature they take down.”

‘Ah, I see you edited it a bit Daring.’ Blitz thinks. “Still not seeing why it’s a big deal, I mean it is fantasy,” Blitz says.

Rainbow places the book on the table. “The fact that Southern Cross is in here. Daring only writes about adventures she’s been on.”

“Daring, I thought A.K. Yearling wrote the books?” Blitz asks confused.

Twilight leans in. “They are both the same pony. We kinda met her.”

“Ah, would explains why Rainbow and the rest of you appear in the book. I thought it was just for the use of star power.” Blitz says.

Rainbow looks proud. “Yeah, I’m awesome.”

“By the way Twilight, I still don’t understand this teleportation spell,” Blitz says pointing to a part in the book. ‘I can tune and repair hyperspace drive, but this is hard for me?’ Blitz thinks.

Twilight looks at it. “Basic. Mostly for non-living objects, then you can work on living things and then yourself.” She places a pencil on the table. “Here. Just follow and I’ll see what I can do.”

“Ok,” Blitz says watching her intensely, Twilight feels like it is like a hawk or some great predator sizing her up.

Twilight sighs and starts to charge her horn before placing it a foot away as she releases her magic. “Just find the shape of the object and mass, a range as it is forgiving and then imagine the place you want it to go.”

“Ok,” Blitz says concentrating hard and a small vase of flowers started shaking before fading in and out of existence.

Twilight watches as it then disappears. “Where did you send it?”

Blitz thinks hard on where he imagined it would go. ‘Oh boy.’

Minerva smiles as she places the settings on the body before a vase of flowers popped into existence in front of her. “Weird, but thanks, Blitz.”

“Um…no clue, I really didn’t focus on a location,” Blitz says.

Twilight sighs. “This is a warning. If you don’t have a location, one of two things will happen. Either you will teleport into a random location a hundred yards away from your current location or your atoms will be scattered all over.”

“Or one of the flowers will appear in your mane,” Blitz says noticing the flower and thinking the look over.

Twilight reaches up and feels the flower in her mane. “Or if there are pieces of it like the flowers then the parts of it like this.” She said taking the flower out of her mane. “Then it will…” Twilight stops seeing the thoughtful look. “What are you thinking?” Twilight asks.

“I think the flower looks good in your mane,” Blitz says.

Twilight stops and starts to blush. She quickly throws the flower away. “Anyway, parts of the object will be scattered all over instead of just the atoms.” She said blushing.

“Tell the truth, was that on purpose?” Rainbow asks.

“N…n…no, it was an accident,” Blitz says embarrassed and blushing.

Twilight breathes as she tries to calm down. “Well, can you do it again and this time on the pencil?”

“Y…y…yes, good idea.” Blitz agreed quickly and trying to concentrate on the pencil surrounding it in a yellow aura and this time it appears on the bookshelf not far away.

Twilight smiles as she looks back at him. “Keep working on bigger and bigger objects until I’m sure you’re ready.”

“Yeah, maybe he’ll put an entire bouquet in your mane next time.” Rainbow teases.

Twilight just teleports a bubble of water over her and drops it. “How’s that for the boutique?”

Rainbow shakes herself dry and smirks gesturing to Blitz who had a full face blush now. Twilight scoffs. “Stallions.”

“Then what’s that?” Rainbow asks holding up a mirror showing Twilight her own blush.

Twilight sends the mirror away. “Nothing.”

Rainbow stills smirk and go to Blitz before lifting him up by the forelegs and show himself straining against his clothes. “How about this?” She asks as Blitz tries to cover himself.

“Rainbow!” Blitz says embarrassed using his magic to move her away a bit.

Twilight heavily blushes. “Rainbow, that’s molesting. I can actually have you arrested.”

Rainbow shrugs. “Just showing proof.”

“I’m tempted to risk the teleportation spell on myself to escape,” Blitz says.

Twilight shakes her head. “Don’t, just don’t.”

“Said tempted, not going to do it,” Blitz says.

Twilight smiles before Rainbow come between them and smirk. “What’s this?” She asks knowingly.

“Rainbow!” They yell in unison.

Rainbow laughs as she flies out of there so fast after grabbing her book. Twilight sighs as she looks to Blitz. “Sorry about that, she’s usually like that.”

“Doesn’t help I’m no good at such things,” Blitz says.

Twilight smiles. “You’re talking to me.”

“I meant talking about feel…forget it.” Blitz says bummed.

Twilight looks carefully at him. “Want to talk about it?”

“If you want to try,” Blitz says.

Twilight sighs as she sits down across from him. “So you said you had a problem with, what?”

“Talking about my feeling with mares. It’s something I have struggled with all my life. Usually, it isn’t a problem with other species, like Griffons.” Blitz struggles to say.

Twilight smiles. “Well, how do you feel about Applejack?”

Blitz slams his head against the table and groans.

Twilight looks curiously. “What?”

“You had to ask about the most complicated relationship. I don’t even know about it myself.” Twilight barely understood him through the table.

Twilight sighs. “Well…how about Rainbow?” Twilight asks as he raises his head.

“She is well…” Blitz stops trying to find the words.

Twilight smiles. “Yeah, I kinda expected that.”

“See what I mean?” Blitz asks.

Twilight blushed. “What about me?”

Blitz opens his mouth to speak, but nothing comes and slams his head back down. Twilight sighs. “Blitz, you will never figure out your feelings for any of us if you don’t talk.”

“The main problem is I prefer not to speak as much, it affects me in this and nothing comes. I prefer actions to speak. The last few months I have probably spoken more than the last few years.” Blitz says raising his head.

Twilight blushes a little more. “Well, you could try to speak to me like that.”

“That’s just it, I can say what is wrong, but when I start talking about feelings with a mare, my mind goes blank. My second adoptive father taught me many things, but not this.” Blitz says getting Twilight’s attention as Blitz was usually secretive of himself.

Twilight smiles. “You’re doing it.”

“Oh, have I said how I think you’re…” Blitz seems to try to continue, but it was as if somepony hit his mute button.

Twilight keeps smiling as she moves over to him and sits by him. “Don’t worry about hurting my feelings. I won’t be mad.” Blitz feeling her wing around him now was blushing like crazy. “Now try it,” Twilight says.

“I…I…I…th…thin…think…y….you…a…a….are…c…c…c…c…cu…c…cut…” Blitz stutters uncontrollably.

“You almost got it,” Twilight says.

“…Cute.” Blitz finally managed.

Twilight smiles and kisses his cheek. “You did it.”

Blitz’s head hits the table again. Twilight looks at him and lifts his head and notices he’s unconscious and looking overheated. She smiles and places him down on the table again. “Great job and I guess I underestimated how hard that was for you.”

“Hey Twilight, look what I just got from my comic subscription,” Spike says running in holding a new issue of Power Ponies with Southern Cross on the cover.

Twilight blanches at that. “Unbelievable.”

“I know, Power Ponies team up with Silver Cross, at last, was released. The very least they could do was release a few comics of him staring in it alone before this.” Spike says.

Twilight looks a bit interested. “Really?”

“Yeah, I mean its simple storytelling,” Spike says winking for a second.

Twilight rolls her eyes as there was nothing there. “Then write a letter to them. Tell them about your idea.”

“Hang on. What’s that on Southern Cross’s shoulder pad?” Spike asks looking at what looks like an insignia.

“Hold a second,” Twilight says leaving before bringing back a picture of Southern Cross taken at the Wonderbolt vs. Shadowbolt show and uses the magnifying glass to catch the shoulder pad to see the same insignia. “How did I miss that?” Twilight asks, thinking she found a new lead as she hadn’t gotten far with her investigation after Southern Cross disappeared from the stadium.

Spike looks at it too. “Oh yeah, that’s all over him. I just passed it off as just signature image.”

“Maybe or it represents something,” Twilight says.

Spike shrugs. “Well I know most symbols and I haven’t seen this. Maybe it’s just something somepony came up with. Wait, there is another one.” Spike points out.

Twilight looks at where Spike is pointing at. “Yeah, I see it.”

“Looks like a reed,” Spike says.

Twilight nods. “Yeah, I’ll look at it later, but for now, don’t you have a comic to read?”

“Oh yeah,” Spike says.

“Let’s hope this one doesn’t end up like the last one,” Twilight says.

Spike frowns. “Hey, I got this one from a real comic book store, not an enchanted store.”

“Just be careful,” Twilight says as Spike finally notice Blitz.

Spike points to him. “What’s he doing here?”

“Oh, nothing,” Twilight says blushing.

Spike raises an eyebrow. “Really?”

“Y…yes, he came over to study some new magic,” Twilight says.

Spike still has an eyebrow raised. “Okay, but don’t do anything funny.” He said walking away.

“I swear he learned that way of raising his eyebrow from Applejack,” Twilight says turning her attention back to Blitz.

Blitz groans and brings his head up again. “What happened?”

“Hey, feeling better?” Twilight asks wrapping her wing around him again.

Blitz nods. “Yeah, I’m…” He stops as he looks to her wing before looking at what it was connected to.

“We made some good progress today with your transportation spell and being able to talk about your feelings with mares,” Twilight says.

Blitz blushes a bit. “That’s…good.”

“And thanks for the compliment,” Twilight says laying her head on his shoulder.

Blitz tries to smiles. “You’re…welcome your highness.” Blitz says trying to compose himself, but failing.

Twilight giggled. “See, you’re learning and don’t call me highness again. I’m just a princess and I don’t like that at the end of my name or the beginning of it.” Twilight whispers into his ear.

“Y…y…ok Twi…Twilight.” Blitz says.

Twilight smiles. “Good, keep practicing.”

“O…ok, but…could you move…a…b…bit?” Blitz asks, his blush growing.

Twilight looks to her wing before folding it on herself and moving away a little. “Sorry.”

“I…it…w…wasn’t…com…com…completely…un…unpleasant.” Blitz stutters.

Twilight moves a bit closer and places her wing around him, but stays away a little. “How’s that?” Blitz went completely quiet and Twilight could have sworn his coat was changing to purple like hers. Twilight sighs and was about to let go, but Blitz hooks her hoof with his. Twilight looks at their hooves before looking back at him, still looking forward. She smiles and leans against him as she noticed he was doing better without saying a word.

Twilight sighs as she starts to move a bit closer. “Blitz?”

Blitz nods, still blushing badly.

Twilight smiles. “I think…I think I may actually like you.” Twilight could have sworn she saw a cloud of smoke erupted from his head before he collapsed on the table…again. Twilight sighs and leans back up. “Oh, Blitz.”

“Hey Twi, do we have any…?” Spike stops seeing Twilight with her wing around Blitz. “Never mind, I found it.” He said picking up a random item, paper, and heads back up.

Now it was Twilight’s turn to blush uncontrollably. “Oh boy.”

The next afternoon Blitz was ducking his head into a bucket of ice water. “You sure that this will help?” Twilight asks. Blitz gives her a gesture meaning yes.

Twilight looks at the bucket before taking a deep breath and dunks her head in it.

The feeling was at first exhilarating and a rush and soon turns into a freezing feeling that was traveling down her entire body. She pulled her head up just as Blitz did and took deep breathes. “The best way to cool down quickly, even if it gives you brain freeze half the time,” Blitz says.

Twilight breathes carefully as she gets in control again. “Hey…sorry for last night.”

“What are you sorry for?” Blitz asks.

Twilight blushes slightly. “That talk we had together.” She said before dunking her head again to get rid of the heat.

“It needed to be done eventually,” Blitz says.

Twilight brings her head back again. “Yeah, I guess so. You feel better after that, right?”

“Yeah, still incredibly difficult for me, but I am closer to getting over it,” Blitz says shaking his head as Twilight took a good look at him. Blitz notices the stare and looks at her. “What?”

Twilight shakes her head and looks away. “Nothing.” Blitz just shrugs as he dunks his head once more. ‘I never noticed his eyes were a golden yellow.’ Twilight thinks.

Blitz gasps as he brings his head out again. “Man, that feels good.”

“You best get back. The Apples must be worried by now.” Twilight says.

Blitz’s eye widens before he gathers most of his stuff. “Shoot, see ya Twi.” He said rushing out and closing the door behind him.

Twilight exhaled happily. “So, new stallionfriend?” A familiar voice asks.

Twilight smiles a bit. “Mayb…” She then turns around and sees Cadance. “Oh boy.”

“Oh, I can’t wait to tell Shining Armor,” Cadance says hugging Twilight.

Twilight let’s go of the hug. “Don’t, he’ll kill him.”

Cadance smiles. “Oh, I’m sure Shining won’t hurt him too badly.”

Twilight just stares at her. “I’m not talking about big brother.”

“Oh?” Cadance asks confused. “Though I must say, it is a surprise. I and the rest of the royals were thinking you were infatuated with Southern Cross.” Cadance says.

Twilight looks confused. “Cross? His name is Apple Blitzkrieg.”

“No, the mysterious Marshal Stallion you have been investigating.” Cadance clarifies.

Twilight sighs. “It’s just weird and how do you and the others know of that?”

“You asked the guards for everything on him and your brother is in charge of them all,” Cadance says.

Twilight blushed. “Heh, heh, oops.”

“Oh, I must tell your parents as well,” Cadance says.

“No, wait,” Twilight says. Cadance giggles, but stops. “He isn’t ready for that,” Twilight says peaking Cadance’s interest.

Cadance looks to her. “Really now, you got that far?” She asks smirking.

“No, it’s just…you know what, it will be easier to show you with my newest spell.” Twilight says tapping Cadance’s horn with hers and Cadance saw all of what happened last night through Twilight’s eyes.

Cadance smiles as Twilight let’s go of the spell and looks to her. “Aw, my little sister is growing up.”

“You now see why he isn’t ready yet, right?” Twilight asks.

Cadance smiles. “Did you know Shining was like that once?”

“And he never told me you two were even dating.” Twilight reminds.

Cadance giggles. “And now you are acting like him.”

“Oh, should I wait till my wedding and then inform him with an invitation as well?” She jokes.

Cadance laughs. “No sweetie.” She then glares at her. “That’s the worst thing you can do. Promise you will never, ever, do that.” She emphasized by poking her with a hoof.

“That was a joke, but give me some time to help him get over this before you inform any of them,” Twilight asks.

Cadance smiles. “Okay, sweetie. Just remember to treat him right and help him in any way.”

“What kind of mare do you think I am?” Twilight asks.

Cadance smirks. “A brash one that overthinks things. I foalsat you, remember?”

“Hehehe.” Twilight chuckled nervously.

Cadance smiles. “Well, I have to go now. But remember, always listen, turns out stallions can hide it better, but they always need an ear for them that understands.”

“Yeah, I gotcha,” Twilight says. Cadance nods before teleporting out.

Twilight lets out a sigh. “I hope Blitz is doing better.” She says.

Blitz grins nervously as the fillies’ looks at him for his present. “See, about that present…”

“Can we finally open the box you sent from Los Pegasus?” Applebloom asks.

Blitz nods. “Oh, got here before me and yes, yes, you can.”

“Yay!” The fillies cheer as they run inside and Applejack walks out.

“Miss me?” Blitz asks.

Applejack smiles and hugs him. “Glad you’re back.”

“Glad to be back, had a heck of a month. I was so tired I fell asleep at the library waiting for something and couldn’t make it here.” Blitz says letting her support him.

Applejack nods. “Well you’re back and that’s what counts.”

“Thanks, Jackie,” Blitz says.

“Cool.” The fillies cheered as they take out a gambling set for almost all the games of Las Pegasus.

“Before you say anything, it was the only thing appropriate enough to buy for them,” Blitz says.

Applejack sighs. “At least they can have some fun.”

“Just remember they’re viciousness.” Blitz reminds putting on a hat he got from Los Pegasus that was the same type as Applejack’s.

Applejack looks at it. “What’s different?”

“What, you don’t like it?” Blitz asks.

Applejack looks it over. “It’s just that nothing is…wait a minute, the material is different. This isn’t going to last long.” She said frowning.

“Still nice,” Blitz says.

Applejack sighs. “Yeah, it is.” She said putting it on.

“Hey.” He says in a joking tone.

Applejack looks over and sees him wearing her hat. “Hey, give me that.” She said trying to reach for it, but he was holding her back.

“A trade.” He says.

Applejack groans before taking off her hat and grabbing her real one. “There.” Applejack says before feeling something in her hat. Taking it off and looking in it she sees a smaller hat like the one she wore when she was little before Blitz disappeared. “Blitz…this is…”

Blitz places his hoof on her mouth. “No need to say anything,” Blitz says.

Applejack smiles as she looks at him. “There’s some apple pie in the fridge. Why don’t we all celebrate with it while teaching these young gamblers?” She said gesturing to the three fillies looking over the many games and trying to figure out which one to do.

“I didn’t think you wanted to lose the farm,” Blitz says.

Applejack giggles. “As long as there are no real gambles being played. Now get that pie.” She orders.

“Ok, Jackie,” Blitz says.

Blitz heads into the kitchen as Applejack goes over to the fillies and helps them out. Blitz drools slightly as she opens the door and sees the pie in the fridge. “This will be yummy.” He said reaching for it before his mic beeps. Looking confused he holds a hoof to his ear. “Yeah?”

“Can you come to the ship please?” Minerva asks.

“Terran awake?” Blitz asks.

“He’s sound asleep in the living room,” Minerva said.

“Ok, I’ll be there in a few hours,” Blitz says.

Minerva sighs. “Okay, I’ll see you there.” She said before signing off.

Blitz brings the pie to the table as Applejack is teaching them one of the games. “What’s the game?”

Applejack smiles. “Blackjack.” As an attempt at humor, the other four at the table meet for a quick second before showing pictures of a black version of Applejack. Applejack frowns. “Very funny.”

“It was a good attempt,” Blitz says.

Applejack then smiles. “Yeah, it was.”

“Ok, I’ll deal,” Blitz says using his magic to grab the deck.

They watch as he expertly like a Las Pegasus dealer. “When did you get so good?” Applejack asks.

“I watched the dealer closely,” Blitz says, not really paying attention as he still deals the cards.

The others watch as he stacks the deck and then gives them the cards before placing it down. “Game time and I’m going to win,” Blitz said with his poker face.

“I suck,” Blitz said as he watches the other fillies win their last cards.

“As you said, those three are vicious.” Applejack says.

Blitz sighs. “Yeah, but you need to admit you lost too.”

“Ok, I can’t beat them.” Applejack says.

Blitz smiles. “Okay, well I have to go. I’ll be gone all night probably, but I’ll be back in the morning.”

“Ok, don’t stay out too long.” Applejack says.

Blitz rolls his eyes. “Yes, mom.” He said starting to leave.

“You get off with that only this one.” She yells at him.

Blitz waves him off. “Yeah, yeah.” He calls back before running off.

Blitz was still smiling as he reached his ship and knocks on the door. “Minerva, I’m here.” The door opens, but the entire ship was pitch black as Blitz starts to walk around. “Minerva?”

“Yes?” Minerva said.

Blitz looks around. “Why is it all dark?”

“Oh for…” Minerva starts and the lights turn on and she was right in front of him. “Reasons.”

Blitz finally sees Minerva in her new body. And apparently she choose the cybernetic version of her ponyself, her slightly blue metal skin, mane and tail a darker blue with it harden to a metal normal hair shape, flexible areas wherever there are joints on a normal pony, having a data screen in front of her eyes and some lines of light running along certain areas of her body. “Whoa, you choose the best,” Blitz said.

“Of course,” Minerva says tackling him to the floor.

Blitz groans slightly as he looks up at her. “Can’t wait, can you?”

“I have waited long enough,” Minerva says before kissing him.

Blitz’s eyes widen as she kissed him and at the slightly metallic taste, but pleasant enough for him and he kisses back before he lets go. “Where’s Terran?”

“Oh, he is sleeping, that loveable thing is raring to go for a hunt,” Minerva says.

Blitz smiles. “Come on, let’s take this somewhere more comfortable.” He said getting up.

“Lead the way,” Minerva says.

Blitz gets up and they head for his bedroom as he heads for his bathroom while Minerva waits for a little outside. “That body, how well would it do in an environment?”

Minerva smiles. “This body is ready for anything. Water, dust, fire, and able to take hits from a blaster better than a normal pony. It even has an internal body temperature regulator for some situations and of course for this. Then there’s the fact, I’m flexible, too flexible, but enough for a normal pony.”

“What about blending in if I want you out there?” Blitz asks.

Minerva sighs. “Holographic system that fits the current body and handles changes as well. So if I get shot, a burn mark with some blood would appear, but in actuality the armor just takes it.”

Blitz peeks his head out. “And the mane and tail?”

Minerva smiles and lets the mane and tail fall apart from their set position. “I can turn it to any style and lock it into place or make it free-flowing.”

“I see,” Blitz says wrapping a leg around her and pulling her into the bathroom.

Blitz smiles and changes a few setting on the shower and turns it to real water running through the heads. “Can you help?” He asks as he takes off his clothes.

“Oh, I have been wanting to for so long.” She says as she helps him take them off.

Once he was out of his clothes he turns to Minerva and pulls her into the shower. “At least it’s working.” He said as he watches carefully for any trouble as the water falls on her.

After the shower, Blitz and Minerva walked into the living room area where Terran was laying down napping. Blitz sighs as he lays down on the couch and Minerva joins him by laying her head on his lap. “So, you got anything else for me?” He asks petting her head.

“No, not tonight. I want to draw it all out and have fun.” Minerva says.

Blitz smiles and looks to her. “And how do you plan on that?”

“A mare has her secrets,” Minerva says playfully.

Blitz chuckles. “Now you’re learning about mare life.”

“Yes, now you best go if Terran awakes while you’re still here, he will follow you back to the farm and I don’t think they can handle him,” Minerva says.

Blitz sighs. “I wish I can stay longer.”

“Just take him with you for bounty hunting,” Minerva says.

Blitz nods. “Maybe I will, but I may want to take you also. After all this, you need to get out and explore with me.”

“Maybe, but for now go on,” Minerva says kissing his cheek.

Blitz sighs. “Okay, see ya.” He said kissing her before getting up and getting dressed.

Blitz snuck into the farmhouse and made his way to Applejack’s room with no problems. After he quietly closes the door behind him he hears a mare clear her throat. Blitz chuckles nervously as he turns around and sees Applejack looking at him. “Hi…Jackie.”

“I was waitin for ya.” She says.

Blitz grins nervously. “Yeah, sorry. I got caught up.”

Applejack says nothing and pats the bed, waiting. Blitz sighs and moves over and lays down in the bed. “Night Jackie.”

“Oh no, you don’t.” Applejack says sleepily as she grabs him and pulls him close.

Blitz starts to blush. “Um…” Applejack puts her hoof over his mouth and lays her head on his shoulder. Blitz sighs and just sits there.

“I meant it when I said I love you.” Applejack says suddenly.

Blitz’s eyes widen and turn his head to her. “You mean…?” Applejack was already asleep and using him as a pillow. Blitz stays silent and helps her get into bed while putting himself in as well.

‘What am I going to do?’ Blitz thinks as he considers the future.

Blitz stares at his coffee as the three fillies still tried to play some games and Applejack was helping them along with Big Mac and Granny Smith. ‘Three of them, one who’s closest to me, one who’s been there my entire life and one who’s really interested in me. What am I going to do?’

“Hmm.” Big Mac says reading the paper.

Blitz looks up at him. “You have a mare in your life yet Big Mac?”

Big Mac seemed to ignore him as he reads an article. “Huh, seems the princesses have put out a missive for Southern Cross in the paper.” Big Mac says.

Blitz gets more downtrodden as he hears that. ‘Great.’ “What does it say?” He asks taking a sip of his coffee.

“They want him to meet them at the palace’s throne room on Thursday at four o’clock.” Big Mac says.

‘In five days, huh? Must be to give me time to get there.’ Blitz thinks.

“Does it say what fer?” Applejack asks.

“Nope, just want him to show up.” Big Mac says.

Blitz sighs and gets out of his seat and starts to leave. “I’m going for a walk through town.”

“Be back fer dinner,” Granny calls.

Blitz gives her a wave before closing the door. “I’ll join him.” Applejack says getting up.

Granny smiles. “It’s so good that you are spending time with him like the old days.”

“I doubt it’s like those days.” Big Mac says. Applejack smacked him upside the head with her hat as she left.

Blitz sighs as he looks down at the menu, trying to find something to get his mind off things. “You going to order, bud?”

Blitz looks up at the bartender. “You got anything to help with relationships?”

The bartender raises an eyebrow. “This situation huh? Alright.” He said taking out a bottle of liquor before pouring him a shot. “I’m charging you for the whole thing. Have fun drowning in it.” The bartender says before leaving.

“It’s a little weak, but it will do to at least relax my nerves a bit,” Blitz says taking another shot.

“Really, drinking now?” Applejack asks walking in and sitting right by him.

“This is nothing compared to what I have to drink when I go to a meeting with my colleagues. So do what you need Jackie?” Blitz asks.

Applejack looks to him. “I’m getting worried Blitz, you seem more distanced today.”

“Yeah, that recent development means I got to leave for Canterlot soon. Asking for a meeting so publicly usually means only one thing when dealing with rulers.” Blitz says.

Applejack watches him carefully and makes sure nopony was listening before saying. “Blitz, are you sure you can do this? Besides, they are asking for Southern Cross, not you.”

“You ask for one, you ask for the whole team. That’s how we work even if only one is called to meet.” Blitz says.

Applejack sighs. “Blitz, is there something else?”

“I’ve had a lot on my mind for a while and need to sort it all out. Not good to leave it all like that for too long. I’ve seen it get somepony killed on the job because he was too distracted by it.” Blitz says.

Applejack nods. “Yeah, except one thing. That bottle…” She said pointing to it. “Big Mac came here and had that, the bartender called it the Relationship Sea. Supposed to help anypony with problems in that department.”

“Just came for something to calm the nerves. I’ll have to go meet the team in two days because of this and won’t be back till after the job is done.” Blitz says.

Applejack looked thoughtful wondering what could have him so conflicted as she tries to think of what it could be. She keeps trying to think until a beep sounded from him, making her look at him. Blitz just looks slightly annoyed now. “Blitz, don’t move and don’t turn around,” Minerva said in his earpiece.

“What is it?” Blitz whispers quietly, on edge in an instant.

Minerva was sitting in his chair looking at the cameras and screens trying to find out what’s wrong. “You got another bounty in the bar behind you, one of the ponies. Got a DNA signature, but not even my sensors can pick it up.”

“Equestrian bounty right?” He whispers.

Minerva shakes her head. “The terrorist bounty.”

“Applejack leave, I got work to do and it seems one of my team is here,” Blitz says seeing a suitcase in the crack of the door behind the counter.

Applejack looks a bit confused. “Alright, but come back and tell me everything. It’s not best to hide when you’re still hurting others.” She said before leaving.

“I’ll think about it, got to get my own thoughts straight first,” Blitz says.

Applejack sighs. “Be safe.” She said before closing the door.

Blitz takes the bottle and jumps over the counter and into the back.

The pony sitting in the booth found itself alone until a few moments later, Blitz reappeared in his blue aerial armor on the other side pointing a blaster pistol at him.

“B…But how?” It asks shocked in its own language.

“You slipped up,” Blitz says shooting him with the stun setting. The pony grunts as the skin crawl before it started to morph itself into a chameleon creature.

‘Unfortunately, it is too cramped in here for the pad. I guess I will have to take you outside.” Blitz says applying the pad and dragging him outside by his tail before throwing him not so gently on the ground and activating the pad.

The ponies outside watch in a bit of a shock as Blitz was about to press the button, but stops. The chameleon looks to him. “What are you waiting for? Send me off.”

“Where are the last three?” Blitz questions as he notices Twilight and the CMC in the crowd.

The chameleon ticks his tongue. “I don’t know. We got paid and left on our own. We were on our way to Omega to enjoy life before some bastard shot our ship out of hyperspace and we got here.” The creature says.

“Gotcha,” Blitz says sending him away as he spots himself in the crowd taking a picture. ‘Minerva, huh? Thanks for the cover story.’ Blitz thinks before disappearing.

Twilight watches as he leaves. “Hey wait!” She yells rushing to where he stood before stopping. “Stallions. Never listen to mares.”

Minerva walks away first with the camera and rendezvous with Blitz where nopony could see or hear them.

“Thanks for my gear and the cover,” Blitz says. Minerva smiles as her body alters to her default form. Blitz smiles as he sees her naked form. “Sexy.” He then realizes what he’s doing. ‘Dang it.’

Minerva grows a bit worried. “Are you okay? I’m picking up a lot of negatives.”

“Did one of the probes show you today’s newspaper yet?” Blitz asks.

“One moment,” Minerva says and speaks again after a pause. “Ah, I see one of those.” She says.

“Yeah, also I think we just got another 580,000 creds,” Blitz says.

Minerva smiles. “I’m still upgrading and maybe order some more searcher tech and ammo and of course my favorite, the tech to get them.”

“Maybe consider more probes to cut down on the search time for this planet,” Blitz says.

Minerva nods. “I will, but…are you okay? You hardly go to a bar beside to ambush and trap our heads.”

“I just needed to clear my head now,” Blitz says.

Minerva nods and smiles. “Okay, but be careful, you know how reckless you are.” She said before going to him and taking off his helmet and kissing his cheek. “Good luck.” She said before taking the form of a random mare and walking away.

“Wait,” Blitz says decloaking the briefcase on his back. “Take the armor back,” Blitz says before taking the armor off with his magic and storing it. Minerva gives him the camera before taking the case and places it on her back before cloaking it and heading out into the streets.

‘Now I have to head ba…’ Blitz thoughts were interrupted when Twilight ran up. “Yes?”

“Can I please have the camera?” She asks.

Blitz looks at the camera on him before giving it to her. “Sure, I don’t need it.”

“Thanks, I will give it back after I develop the film,” Twilight says.

“So did you read the paper today?” Blitz asks.

Twilight nods. “Yep, I can’t believe Cadance didn’t tell me.”

“Who?” Blitz asks.

Twilight waves her hoof off. “Just the princess of love and the crystal kingdom.”

“There is a princess of love?” Blitz asks imaging a mare in a cupid costume with a heart-themed bow and arrow.

Twilight nods. “Yeah, I’ll introduce you one day, but for now, you want to see what I’m working on?”

“I wish I could, but I have to help with the barn today,” Blitz says sighing.

Twilight looks a bit disappointed. “Oh, well I have to work in a dark room anyway. And would be quite a little too much when still trying to train you.”

“Yeah, maybe tomorrow?” Blitz asks.

Twilight nods. “Yeah, that would work.”

“I’ll see you then at your library,” Blitz says.

Twilight smiles. “Okay, see you there.” She said before leaving.

Blitz takes a deep breath before heading back to the orchard and worked his flank off the rest of the day. “Ow.” He said to himself as he massages himself from the pain as he rested.

“Told you not to take so many at once,” Applejack says, a few cold packs on his back.

“Yeah, I should have listened,” Blitz says inwardly unhappy he removed the exoskeleton when put on his armor earlier.

Applejack laughs and hugs him. “Yeah, you should have.”

“But at least you had to only take one,” Blitz says.

Applejack grins. “That’s because you have to get used to this and fast. You’re also getting your exercise too.”

“Yeah, like my job doesn’t give me that,” Blitz says jokingly.

Applejack just smiles at him and leans her head on his shoulder. “It’s going to be until a few hours before you have to leave. What do you want to do until then?”

“I don’t leave tonight, I leave in two days in the morning,” Blitz says.

Applejack looks at him. “Well, you got anything you need to do for now?”

“Nothing comes to mind, so you heard what happen after you left?” Blitz asks.

Applejack nods. “Yeah, thanks for your pal helping us out there.”

“The thing was the pony at that booth behind us,” Blitz informs.

Applejack looks a little surprised. “Wow, what was he?”

“Well his species has no name translation for our language, they only have their own name,” Blitz says before he makes a strange hiss sound. “Try pronouncing that in our language,” Blitz says.

Applejack sighs. “Well, want to go eat, my treat?”

“Yeah, may need help to get to the dinner table,” Blitz says.

Applejack giggles. “Alright you lazy pony, up and at em.” She said helping him up and leads him inside.

“Thanks, Jackie,” Blitz says.

Applejack turns to him. “What is family for?” She asks as she sets him down in a seat.

Five days later, Celestia and Luna were sitting on their thrones waiting. To the sides, there was the Wonderbolts and Shadowbolts, Twilight and her friends, and Cadance, Shining Armor, and his guards were posted all over the room. All of them were waiting as Twilight looked at the clock as it was eight minutes after the appointed hour.

Cadance smile as she leans over to Twilight. “Anxious about your coltfriend?”

“He is not and where is he? He was asked to be here eight minutes ago.” Twilight says.

Cadance smiles. “So…worried?”

“No, it’s just rude unless he didn’t read the paper and doesn’t know yet or he seen it days later and was far away and couldn’t make it.” Twilight starts her worry rant.

“Or he could have been here for nearly an hour waiting to see if you would notice.” A voice came from the middle of the court as Blitz appears in his blue aerial armor.

Everypony looks surprised as they watch him look around a bit. “How did we miss his magic?” Shining asks surprised. ‘Or is it so advanced we couldn’t detect it?’ Shining thought.

“You asked for my presence,” Blitz asks focusing on the royals on the throne.

Luna nods. “We did. Now we can begin.”

“You requested me to bring in somepony or take something out correct?” Blitz asks.

Celestia nods. “We have gotten some reports of a large creature, unlike anything we have ever seen before. It is a carnivore as multiple of our guards were eaten by it already. I am reluctant to do this, but we have already sealed off the area and our guards have made three attempts to take it down with no real success.” Celestia says.

“I gotcha. So what does the creature look like?” Blitz asks.

Shining Armor holds his hooves opens wide. “Big, big mouth, lanky arms, walks on two legs, and acts like an animal.”

Blitz thinks in quiet for a few moments before moving his forehoof and pushes a button. “This it?” Blitz asks as a small hologram of a Ranchor appears from the communicator.

Shining goes wide-eyed. “That’s it.”

“Ranchor, nasty things to say the least. So what is the bounty you are offering since you didn’t release the news to the public?” Blitz asks deactivating the hologram.

Celestia and Luna look to each other before looking back at him. “Access to whatever you want, bits and resources. We caught this thing near a village and we fear for their safety. Do this and you will have everything.” Luna said.

“You shouldn’t be so forward. Others of my clan might ask for an entire city.” Blitz warns.

Luna nods. “That’s why it’s only for you. We know only you can take it down and deal with the body. Besides, we don’t want other ponies to know about this or panic would ensue.”

“Very well, then you have to build me and my team a base to my speculations and swear that your country will never attack it for starters,” Blitz says.

Celestia nods. “Anything you need. Just get that thing out of our country.”

“Very well, we can discuss bits later,” Blitz says.

“I want to know the job is being done right. So you must take a few guards as well as two Wonderbolts and a Shadowbolt along.” Celestia insists.

“Fair enough,” Blitz says.

Spitfire, Soarin, and Shadow walk up to him. “You got us,” Spitfire said.

“Very well. Shining Armor who will you send?” Celestia asks.

Shining looks to Silver. “You, your lieutenant and I will go.”

“A real squad is made of five your short,” Blitz says.

Shining slightly glares at him. “We were the first ponies to deal with it and overlook the proceeding fights. I could pick a few more random guards soon.”

“Very well. Pick them and meet me in the Nocturn bar in the city tomorrow evening.” Blitz says disappearing.

Luna watches as he leaves. “Strange, I didn’t sense any magic from that.”

“There is much we do not know. It could be a more advanced magic than we have ever seen and that armor was very interesting. It was full body, yet their look to be no loss of maneuverability.” Celestia says.

Pinkie pops up between them. “Or it could be this.” She said showing them a video game poster with an armor around the same type as Cross.

“Pinkie Pie!” Shining Armor yells, using his magic to make her get away from the sisters.

Twilight sighs. ‘At least there is an insignia on him and it’s both of them. Wait, he said he would be waiting at the Nocturn bar tomorrow, that means I have a chance to talk to him.’ Twilight thinks and looks around to see Rainbow seemed to have a similar idea.

Twilight sighs and turns to Celestia. “Princess Celestia, may we go?”

“Twilight it is too dangerous, the creature ate guards whole,” Celestia says.

Twilight looks confused. “I meant back home.”

“Oh, yes, of course, you may,” Celestia says looking a little embarrassed.

Twilight smiles as she and her friends started to leave while Shining Armor and Silver went the other way to find their choices and the Wonderbolts and Shadowbolt went away to prepare, leaving the three princesses.

“Your thought?” Celestia asks.

Luna sighs. “Quiet, sneaky at best and looking for openings.”

“Feeling conflicted deep down, but suppressed,” Cadence says.

Luna looks to her. “But suppressed of what is the question. War and the terrors of it or something entirely different?”

“No, I think that isn’t the factor. He has seen a great number of battles, but I think it is training and experience that allows him to suppress those feelings.” Celestia says.

Cadance looks to them. “And the fact I feel some conflicting emotions?”

“I cannot say, did he have them before being told about the creature?” Celestia asks and Cadance nods. “Then it isn’t with the job and is personal most likely.” She says.

Cadance sighs. “Then let’s hope it doesn’t get in the way.”

“I must admit, he does unsettle me. His skills and his feats are already making him a legend. Word has reached even the griffon kingdom and the dragons have even heard of him.” Celestia says.

Luna smiles. “And he has many entrances.”

“This is serious Luna, remember what he said. Others of his clan. He is not the only one. There are more like him, maybe even better.” Celestia says.

Luna grins. “Even better.”

“Luna, walk on eggshells with him. If we mess up, we could be facing that clan.” Celesta says.

Luna shrugs. “As long as we respect them and treat them nicely.”

“That is just it, we must be careful not to insult them in any way, even if unintentionally,” Celestia says.

Cadance smirks. “Then let’s hope little Twilight doesn’t do anything brash.”

“Of course not. She’s going back to Ponyville, besides her new library and her castle still needs to be watching.” Celestia says.

“Since when have known Twilight to listen to herself after getting too invested in something? My wedding for example.” Cadance said.

“She has a healthy interest, nothing more. If I was about a thousand years younger I would be trying to learn more about him.” Celestia says waving it off.

Luna stays silent for a moment to let it sink in. “Should we stop her?”

“Could we if we tried, besides she also has an interest in a stallion, but I promised I wouldn’t say who it is?” Cadance asks.

Luna sighs. “Not really.”

The next day as the sun was setting, Twilight stood outside the Nocturn bar and gulped. “Ok, calm yourself Twilight, in here is Southern Cross, the one you have so many questions for,” Twilight says.

“Twilight we are here too,” Rainbow says.

Twilight glares at her. “Not helping.”

“Y…You can do this Twilight.” Fluttershy tries to encourage.

Twilight looks to her. “Thanks,” Twilight said before taking a deep breath and opening the door. Inside everything stopped and looked at them. Twilight saw the majority was bat ponies which fit the dim and cool temperature bar. Twilight chuckles a bit as she and her friends walk up to the bar. “Um…do you know where Southern Cross is?” Twilight asks. The bat pony briefly looks at them before pointing to a lounge to the side before returning to shining a glass. Looking they see him sitting waiting with what looked like what could be described as a fish dog with yellow scales and black stripes running along its body, blue pupilless eyes, and four long teeth protruding from its mouth. Its head laid on Southern Cross’s lap seemingly chewing something.

Fluttershy tilts her head. “What is that?”

Twilight looks at it confused too. “I think it’s a dog.”

“I’d be careful, that thing is vicious. They had a creature fight not too far from here with an Alpha Manticore as the champion. Southern Cross over there walked in with that thing and said it would fight it. The alpha died in less than thirty seconds of being ripped apart.” The bartender warns.

They looked at it carefully as it chewed on a bone as they got closer. “It’s…kind of cute,” Fluttershy said.

“Hear that Terran, somepony thinks you’re cute,” Blitz says scratching its head.

Terran growls and looks up at Fluttershy before snapping its jaws at her and then chewing the bone again.

“Be nice now Terran, she complimented you,” Blitz says as it kicked its hind leg.

Terran jumps down and goes over to Fluttershy before licking her despite having the bone in his mouth. The rest of the bar’s residents moved away to keep a distance from the creature.

“So what do you need princess?” Blitz asks.

Twilight steps up. “Well…” She pauses and tries to think of some, but before she could ask the doors open up and in walks Shining Armor.

“You’re early,” Blitz says getting up.

Shining was about to speak before seeing Twilight and the others. “What are they doing here?”

“I assumed the princess sent them here to speak on something,” Blitz says before whistling, getting Terran to return.

Shining looks to Twilight. “Twily, you need to leave. This doesn’t concern you.”

“I have questions for him BBBFF. I want to ask him everything.” Twilight says.

‘Great, I can barely talk to Twilight and she wants to ask me about everything.’ Blitz thinks.

Shining Armor sighs as he holds a hoof to his head. “So what are you going to ask him about?”

“Well…everything,” Twilight says smiling nervously.

Shining just frowns. “Twily, you can’t ask him everything.”

“I am also on a job now. I have to complete it before I can take on another request. When dealing with first-time clients, we are restricted to one job at a time unless there is a good reason or it aligns with the first job.” Blitz says.

Twilight brings her head down slightly. “Oh, but still, I have a lot of questions. Wait, what if I come with you and help, that way it would align with the first job.” Twilight says perking up.

“That would work, but I have no say in who my employers send,” Blitz says.

Twilight still remained perked up. “So…I can go?”

“He is in charge of that from what I understand,” Blitz says walking past Shining Armor and outside with Terran.

Twilight looks to Shining a bit pleadingly before he shakes his head no and follows Blitz right afterward, leaving Twilight to glare at him. “Hey! Captain of Royal Guards, I command you to let come!”

Shining froze. “Um…what was that Twily?” Shining asks nervously.

Twilight still glared at him. “I said, I order you to let me come along with this mission.” She said hard with every word.

“I…I…I…I can’t disobey an order from a princess.” Shining admits head down as if sulking.

Twilight smiles a bit before starting to walk where Blitz went. “Now come on Captain. We have to catch up to Cross.” She said as Shining nods and follows with his head down the rest of the mares following.

Outside Blitz walks out of the bar and sees the others of the party. “Spitfire, Fleetfoot, Shadow Runner, Silver Spear.” He greets as Terran walks out.

They eye the varren carefully. “Um…?” Spitfire tries to ask while pointing to him.

“My pet and tracker. Nothing has ever escaped him once he has caught the trail.” Blitz says.

They watch the varren still chewing on the bone. “Weird, but cool,” Shadow said.

“That is from an alpha manticore he tore apart yesterday,” Blitz adds making sure the other three guards didn’t get too close.

Fleetfoot backs away a little. “So, how bad is he?”

“He won’t kill or attack unless I say, for example since you volunteered, hold out your hoof,” Blitz says.

Fleetfoot looks a bit scared and slowly holds out a hoof.

“Terran, shake,” Blitz says and Terran walks up and puts its paw on Fleetfoot’s hoof and moves it up and down.

Fleetfoot looks a little surprised. “Wow…he’s like a dog.”

“That is a partial insult, he is much smarter, but he likes you, you got guts doing this,” Blitz says.

Fleetfoot smiles a bit. “Um…thank you.”

“Terran sit,” Blitz says and Terran sits down retracting his paw.

Spitfire looks to Blitz. “So what are we going to do?”

“I’m going to hunt and kill the Ranchor as the job entails, you ponies, I don’t know. Mainly I think you will just observe.” Blitz says.

Spitfire shrugs. “Well, we’re just there to make sure it’s gone or dead. I think we will just watch.”

“It’s good to see you got better,” Blitz says.

Spitfire blushes to the point where they can barely see it. “Yeah, we just needed a week to fully recover.”

“Good to hear,” Blitz says as Shining Armor and the mane six come out.

Blitz looks a little surprised as he looks back. “So…what’s the word?”

“Princess’s orders. They come.” Shining admits.

“Understood. We walk to this place or we going there another way?” Blitz asks.

Shining nods his head down the street. “The train station, we are taking the train there and it might take a few days.”

“Understood. Terran we are going.” Blitz says causing Terran to stand.

Soon everypony was waiting at the station for the military train to come up. “Excuse me?” A mare asks, coming up to them.

“Yes, can I help you?” Silver asks.

The mare nods. “Yes, I’m here for Southern Cross.”

“What do you need?” Blitz asks before seeing her mane moves a bit and sees a break of skin and sees a bit of metal under it.

The mare smiles. “Ah, good. I’m here to accompany you on your travels from now on.”

“And you are?” Blitz asks looking her way.

The mare giggles a bit. “The name is Miva. Nice to meet you.”

Blitz sighs. “Very well,” Blitz says. ‘Could have come up with something better Minerva.’ Blitz thinks.

Minerva nods. “Great, it’ll be a pleasure to help you.”

“You sure that’s ok?” Silver whispers.

“She will follow us regardless, best if it is where we can see her,” Blitz whispers back.

Minerva moves up to Blitz. “So, anything you need while you wait for your train?”

“This job is completely confidential,” Blitz says.

Minerva nods. “Of course, sir.”

“Silver you are going to have to watch her and make sure she doesn’t get into trouble,” Blitz says.

Silver nods. “Yes sir, but what should I watch out for?”

“Everything,” Blitz says.

Silver sighs. “Okay.” He then looks to Miva. “So, what do you usually do?”

Minerva smiles. “Assistance. I’m here as like a secretary to Southern Cross.”

“You will be of use after the job then,” Blitz says.

Minerva giggles. “Of course, I’ll be happy to help with anything you need.”

“The train is about to come into view,” Blitz says.

“What are you talking abo…” A guard starts till they start to hear a whistle that was very far off.

They all look to Blitz in confusion while Minerva and Terran just either chew on a bone or write on a notepad. After a while, a train comes into view that was actually armored than the regular train. As it stops and steams up, a door opens and out steps a Nightguard. “Here is your ride my ponies.” He said, stepping aside.

Blitz and Terran waste no time and gets on the train and the others follow and find the train they entered with a large table with some papers still stern about and the map of Equestria engraved on it. Shining turns to the Nightguard. “Why wasn’t I told about this train?”

The Nightguard shrugs. “Luna’s personal train for anything in Equestria and sometimes the connecting lands.”

“Get comfortable, this thing has lost ten percent of its speed for the armor. That is why it was exactly thirteen minutes and forty-eight seconds slow.” Blitz says sitting as Terran joined him.

The whole group looks a little surprised as the Nightguard looked indifferent and Minerva kept writing on the notepad. “How…did you calculate that?” Spitfire asks.

“I learned and calculated every train you have and also currently have power speed and fuel consumption,” Blitz says.

“Wow,” Twilight said. “And how did you get that far with all that information?” She asks heading inside and sitting down with everypony else.

“You would be surprised how easy it was,” Blitz says causing Shining Armor to reevaluate the security for the country.

Twilight sighs. “So…how long would this ride take since we are slowed down a bit?”

“I don’t know as I haven’t been told the location where this Ranchor is,” Blitz says.

Shining turns to him. “At least for a week in a regular train, this one may add two days.”

“Plus eight hours and twenty-six to thirty minutes,” Blitz said.

Shining frowns slightly at him. “I’m starting to get annoyed by that.”

“Your rulers ask me to do a job, I accepted. You can stomach a few observations.” Blitz says.

Shining sighs and turns to the Nightguard. “Let’s get this journey over with.” He said making the Nightguard nod and head to the front of the car and to the front of the train.

“You can start asking your questions, but I have the right to refuse to answer some,” Blitz says.

Twilight nods. “Okay, then.”