“So… this is the Everfree?” I attempted at small talk. Yesterday was an interesting ordeal. Yes, Ed and Twilight had decided that it would be best to take a day to plan the trip into the Everfree. After the train stopped I was woken up by the girls and was then thrown into my first day of Ed’s boot camp.

I wasn’t new to training schedules having played soccer all the way through high school. Granted, I wasn’t good enough to be on their team but I still played on a recreational team. Even still that hadn’t prepared me for what he’d put me through. We’d slept in a spare room Rarity offered. Well, Ed had slept in the room I slept in the shed after making one too many comments about her business, demon cat, and her dresses. Jokes on her though I had found a well-used bed out there.

“Yep, I’m glad we got past the whomping willows so easily.” Pinkie said while taking her time walking. Once again, the group descended into an acquired quiet. So, looked like it was up to me to fill it.

“So, Ed, you never told us who you’re married to.” My head moved through the trees as we neared a clearing, which for some reason had part of a boats mast sticking out of it. Now how did that happen?

“Oh, I’m married to Luna.” Ed happily informed me. He seemed so proud of it too.

“Wait do you mean Luna Lovegood?” My mouth asked before my mind could catch the question.

“No, the princess dumbass.” Oh, my feelings they’re bleeding. Did I say something to offend him?

“Wait, you're married to Princess Luna?!” Twilight yelled while the rest of the group looked shocked.

“Well, the Princess Luna of my dimension.” Now they looked even more confused. Meanwhile, my mind was still trying to figure out how I’d managed to piss him off so badly. Oh, maybe I can make it to him somehow.

“Woah, hang on a sec’. Your dimension?” Apple Cinnamon(?) asked Ed.

“Yeah, Oz summoned me here from my dimension,” Ed explained while pulling something out of his bag. He turned around and showed them a picture, the picture showed Ed with a different version of the group around them. A couple differences were made apparent through the people in the picture had tails and horse ears. Both Twilight and Rarity had horns growing from their foreheads while Rainbow along with… the pink haired girl had wings growing out of their backs.

“Wait, you're a Pegasus?” I asked while looking at, I really should ask her for her name. While Ed pulled a locket out and showed a picture of him with a beautiful woman with long flowing blue hair. She had both a horn and wings so following whatever logic existed that would make her an Alicorn.

“Well guess you weren’t pullin our legs about bein from another dimension,” AJ said while rubbing the back of her neck.

“Wait is that how you knew you could trust me!” Rainbow yelled while somehow bobbing in midair. “Did you fight some sort of powerful villain with me!” Ed chuckled while putting away both of the pictures

“No, I had actually just got done with training my version of you six.” Twilight stood still for a few seconds while her mind went over this information.

“I think we need to turn her on and off again,” I said while poking her. “Ed you broke the wizard, can we get a new one?” He answered my question by shooting a dirty look my way. “Hey Pinkie got a cure for this? Mine involves, less than pleasant methods.”

“Yep leave it to doctor Pinkamena!” Said person popped up beside me wearing a stethoscope. Weird hanging thing doctors have around their neck. “So, let's show this problem not to deal with us.” I really tried not do it but years of repression needed to be answered.

Pulling the stethoscope of hers’s I altered my voice slightly while letting out a dog whistle. “Listen Roberta how about you stop playing doctor and tell me what's wrong with our patient. Or are you too busy in fantasyland playing with your candy bracelet collection to have grabbed the chart from the bed of flowers.” They stared in awe of me while I moved a finger in front of the still shocked Unicorn.

“Well, doctor it seems she has suffered a mild brain shock.” Not missing a beat pinkie had a pair of scrubs on now and holding a chart.

“If I wanted an answer that obvious, I would have called that blind guy who stands on the corner facing it. Huh, this no use, Lacy go get me a nurse we might need extreme measures.” I had glanced over the chart which was filled with plans of how to throw a ‘Late Alternate Dimension Wedding Shower Extravaganza’. “Oh, and if you could be kind enough to not badger her with another story about that new cupcake recipe that you found in that new candy and your book you found that be great.”

Pinkie hopped over to what’s her name and started chatting to her. “Nurse Fluttershy,” there we go a name, hopefully, I’ll remember it, “Doctor Oz needs your help. And I found this great Carrot cupcake recipe that I just know Angle would love.”

Well having a few seconds, I moved the still unmoving Twilight over toward a tree. “Heya Twi, thought I let you know that we need to get moving so I really, really, don’t regret this.” My hand moved into my bag and pulled out a glowing blue bottle, which I threw at her, lightly. The bottle made contact with her and upon breaking drenched her down to the bone. “Well Nurse Butters I leave it up to you and Lisa to finish helping our, and by that, I mean you're, screaming patient.” Stuffing my hands in my pockets I walked forward toward Ed who had watched the scene with muted disbelief.

“Well, we don’t got all day.” I kept walking the somewhat beaten path. As I took a few steps forward I felt something pass me and saw Ed take the lead again. Turning I saw Flutter listen to Twilight go on about something while her horn drew out all the water her clothes had. As the group descended into silence again, I once again took up the task to fill the silence. Over the next couple of minutes, we had covered a wide range of topics such as magic, animals, and various bits of history. Which lead me to a very valid concern. “So, do we have to worry about any of those things? I mean I would hate to have a run in with them.”

“Oh, I don’t think we have to worry about them.” Fluttershy said quietly with me barely hearing them. I stopped and drew my sword and shield while letting out a sigh, Ed seemed to catch on to what I was thinking.

“You just had to jinx it didn’t you?” No sooner than I had said that did than a bush started rustling near us. “Well, it better come out. there's no point in a surprise attack.”

“No fun, no fun, we would tear one to pieces and laugh at stunned face.” The creature that walked out looked like it had jumped right out of a D&D manual. It had the body of a lion, wings of a dragon, and spiked tail of a scorpion. This thing was a Manticore if I’d ever seen one. “Now though, now we fight.”

“Fluttershy can you entrance it?” Twilight muttered to the Druid who had gone as ridged as a statue.

“Manticores aren't supposed to be able to talk,” Fluttershy said to herself. Seeing a chance for an easy kill the beast lunged at her with a speed it wasn’t supposed to have. Ed was quick to push her out of the way but the Manticore still bit down on his arm. With all its strength it dug its jaw into the arm now in its mouth but the arm gave no blood.

“Hope you enjoyed the taste cause that’s going to be the last thing you’ll ever get,” Ed yelled kicking the beast off. As the creature spat out small bits of crystals, steel, and blood.

“Arm is not meat buddy and it hasn’t been for a very long time now,” said ED with an evil grin as he ripped his sleeve to reveal the crystal and metal arm underneath. Everyone just stood in shock as the manticore got back on its feet or paws. “I don’t know how this world works when dealing with manticores, but I’m pretty sure you can’t just stand around like idiots with a deer in the headlights look on your faces. Oz, time for a few lessons about using the environment, so get your ass over here.”

“Yes, Ed-sensei!” Action time, so don’t look like an idiot. I Concentrated as I arrived next to him.

“Arm not real, me bite off other arm then you make match.” The freak of nature spat out one of its teeth upon realizing this it let out a long hiss.

Ed took a long look at the thing analyzing every part of it before giving a nod. “You know the most important rule of a fight right.”

“End it as soon as possible. Never give your opponent time to recover. Stay vigilant.” I listed off what I could think of.

“Yes, to all of those.” Ed pulled his claymore out of his bag before taking a second to think about something. Making up his mind he planted the sword in the ground before clapping his hands together. Taking that as a signal the manticore charged forward but I was able to smash it in the face with my shield.

“Terra Bane!” Once again reality broke as the attack dug in but apparently the D&D monster guide was not lying about its natural defense cause it barely sunk in. That or I was way weaker than I thought. Either one was just as likely.

“Sword is made from Darkness. Will take to master, master will reward.” Spat the rejected art project.

“So, your master uses dark magic, do they? I would very much like to meet this person. There aren’t a whole lot of people out there that can wield it without succumbing to its corruptions.” Ed rose a replica of his claymore from the ground.

“Yeah tell the minion to take us to the boss cause that always works out” Oz snarked trying to get a glance of the others.

“Who knows this might be one of the smart ones.” Ed returned playfully.

“Me no unfaithful. Me always bring subjects for master!” The fur rose up on it before it let loose a howl.

“Huh guess it is smart, it brought reinforcements.” From all around approached wolves made of wood.

“Please Oz these are nothing,” Ed assured. “Wait I take it back, they’re perfect training dummies for my new skills!” Turning back, he pointed one of the swords at the creature born from an orgy. “Oz next test knock that thing out so I can teach you how to properly interrogate someone for answers. Mars Bane!” With a single slash from his swords an unfortunate kindle wolf was turned into toothpicks as two became eight. “Me and the girls got this.”

Well I believe that he was a teacher of the hard knocks. So, facing forward I was not expecting him to put a hand on the back of my head. Suddenly I felt a flow of knowledge such as Gate of Truth and the three basic steps. “Well I know Alchemy now and have an entire Wiki page queued up in my brain tab.”

“Make good use of it.” As he took another swing clearly enjoying God’s Arms, I saw the manticore take a leap at me. Raising my shield, I once again blocked its attack. I had reused my Concentration skill so I was able to get another Terra Bane skill off. I felt waves of magic and power behind me but couldn’t risk taking my eyes off this creature. I saw one its paws swing toward me with unknown speed I dogged out of the way while pushing the limb with my shield.

“Master will get impatient soon. Quick allies gather sacrifices we bring all to Master.” Damnit, I ran through options but each one wouldn’t end this so we could get what we needed. I wanted this done as quick as him cause I didn’t to face this master in the woods. I needed help and soon.

“Did you forget what we could do?” Terra asked while my keys once again jingled at my side. Well I could be forgetful from time to time, so yes. I still feel like I was forgetting something. Pushing that in some cobwebbed part of my mind warehouse I focused on the chain representing my connection I pulled on.

“Come Forth Comet!” Reality broke as a blue chained hole opened up beside me. Out from it flew a little blonde witch girl riding a wooden broom stick. She was obviously not human cause due to the joints that shown with an inner blue light. A book appeared in front of her and shot out a beam of red that set fire to the manticore. Comet started flying around me before releasing a few green sparks.

Comet was the first demon you obtained in the game and was a primarily magic focused Demon. “What creature summoned. Will it bleed when dead?” Manny wondered, what I had to name him.

“Let’s see you try. Comet hit him again then assist the others.” Once again in game you couldn’t control the demons when released but well, I think it has been proven that game to life features very from time to time.

“You got it big brother.” See she can talk now, big difference than never saying anything. The sound thing that flew around her let out a blast as a pure bolt of white hit Manny again. After the blast hit the F rated minion fell to ground letting out a whine while the damaged needles in its fur fell out. Another chance presenting itself I rushed forward and tried something new.

“Terra Bane.” Not wanting to risk hitting it again with my sword I thrust my shield forward. As the skill took effect I watched in numb silence as what should have been one face smash turned into three. The thing stumbled back daze putting pressure on its hurt paw resulting in it falling forward for a fourth hit.

“See you did good, though you didn’t need alchemy.” Ed walked before me covered in wood splinters and green goo. “So, feel like talking now?” The Crimson Butcher raised the once noble beasts head with his sword. “Who and Where is your master.”

“Answer now and receive a free healing.” Oz tempted while feeling the chain that represented Comet who was floating around occasionally letting loose a few green sparks.

“This one never betrays master. Return to castle home for punishment. Will laugh when see you broken in front of master.” The thing poked out its tongue before snapping shut destroying it. I could only stare in shock as it then turned into a cloud of black smoke and disappeared.

“Well guess you were right about it being stupid.” Ed mumbled before turning to Twilight. “Mind teleporting us to the castle?”

Twilight seemed to have been writing down a note as Comet offered word suggestions about. “Yeah just need to wait a second. Need to finish this.”

As we settled in to wait, I noticed Comet float over to Pinkie or maybe they were caught in each other’s orbit. The two were very animated with each other but I could feel the chains binding her to me slowly fade to nothing as the time passed. Letting out a sigh I finally got down to it. “Comet return to your key.”

“Okay, call me again when you need me.” The girl waved goodbye to Pinkie and Twilight before flying back through a portal.

“Ahh why did she have to go? We were having so much fun.” Pinkie whined while comforting Fluttershy.

“So, what was that anyway?” Ed asked while looking at me for answers. I wanted to say Demon but that would lead to more questions which we didn’t have time for so I went for something a little more believable.

“She’s something similar to a Homunculus, that’s the easiest way to describe her.” At seeing Ed’s intense look, I carried on. “She is a very advance doll that has something powering her. So, homunculus is the easiest way to explain. I’ll give you the full story someday.” I promised as Twilight let out a triumphant noise.

“My letter is finished, okay let's go find that master and get some explanations from them.” Putting on her most determined face she focused while her horn lit up. In a burst of magenta light, we were in front of some castle with its drawbridge down. “So, should we split up and look for clues?”

I was ready with a retort but a shrill voice cut off my answer. A corpse shambled into view with a tattered robe and hair loosely attached to it. “Apple, Apple,” It yelled while walking around.

“Listen me and Oz are the most capable fighters, plus if things go bad, I can pull me and him into my world to survive.” Ed reasons while pointing at the corpse that drew closer. “You guys finish that quick and then we meet up in the hall room.”

“Please we’ll have this finished in ten seconds no problem.” Rainbow boasted while the litch fell of the bridge only to reappear on top of a multi headed skeleton dragon. “Ahh make that twenty.”

“Sir Edward please proceed ahead, we shall be along shortly,” Rarity said while summoning gems around her. “And Oz stay alive we must teach you about how to treat a lady.”

“Remember we just need to hold out until the princess arrives with help.” Twilight assured as Ed and I rushed forward past the lumbering skeleton hydra. “We’ll be along shortly.” A skeletal hand started pulling up a massive ape like creature. “I hope…” she finished quietly.

Upon entering the castle, I felt something pulling me forward like there was something I needed to see. “If I was a betting man, I would say that whoever this ‘master’ is that they’re likely in the throne room.” Still running we continued past the garden and hallways towards the wide-open room. Entertaining it we found the master… of nothing.

“They must have heard us coming and turned invisible!” I yelled while walking around. “So, keep an eye open in case they try to stab you in the butt!”

“Damn it where are they. If we don’t find them soon, we head back to assist the six.” Ed yelled while doing their own look around.

“Got a good idea where they are.” I spoke up while Ed ran towards me.

“Where?” He asked looking around.

“Oh, you know the gapping vortex of black with a don’t enter sign.” I pointed at the portal hidden behind the moon throne. Ed gave me a look that spoke volumes about my rapier wit. “Well my strong handsome mentor how about you go first I would hate for my manicure to be ruined.”

Ed gave me a look that could dry an ocean. “Get in there now!” I gave a salute before taking a running jump into the portal. As I opened up my eyes, I saw a field full of grass with white and blue flowers dotting the landscape. Looking up I saw a full moon hang in the sky with stars hanging around it.

“Wow,” Feeling Ed land nearby I stood there taking in the ravishing view for a few more seconds.

“It is, is it not.” A regale voice said drawing our attention to women who I swear appeared out of nowhere. I definitely didn’t overlook her. “This is what our sister deprived our subjects of and when we take out place this is what we shall give them.” The woman had flowing dark blue hair with a few white spots and holding it back was a royal blue headband with a matching foci crystal. She wore a blue combat outfit that showed of quite a bit of skin and hovering behind her were black dragon like wings. Held in her hand was a black and blue glaive that radiated bloodlust. There was only one person she could be.

“Well I must say it is an honor to finally meet the princess of the night.” I spoke while stepping past a stunned Ed. He must be proud I figured out who she was despite the different appearances. “Did you know he’s married to another version of you?” She didn’t even seem fazed by what I said and only let out a soft chuckle.

“It is good to see we are still recognized despite being freed from our host.” Not Luna said, what I caught on to what she implied. “So how about good knight would you like to improve past that simple doll you are wed to?” Well looks like she spiked the ball back to our court.

“I would never betray Luna!” Ed yelled focusing on the thing in front of him like some form of burning feces. “So, you’re the Nightmare Moon of this world then.” Edward said not needing confirmation. Also, to add to my ever-expanding list of shit I apparently need to know, add Nightmare Moon please.

“Is that what they call us now?” Well if we’re getting setup time then better take advantage of it. I felt my MP drop as I cast Heal over me and Ed to top off our health. “We are no Nightmare we are the True Maiden of the Moon. We are the one who should be called Luna not that hallowed husk you claim to married to.” That seemed to piss Ed off even more as his fist almost destroyed the hilt of his swords. “But I can see you tire of this conversation as much as we do. So, come to either offer your life to us or offer your souls to make us stronger!” My mind flicked to the end of what she said.

Souls to make her stronger. Well guess I need her alive to answer that. For now, exposition was done and it was stabby time!

Author's Notes:

Here you guys go. Hope you enjoy it.