Celestia realised that she had been dreaming when she heard voices speaking in front of her. Familiar voices. Why had she been asleep in the first place?

“You said she was already awake.” That was Twilight, who said that in an anxious tone.“Why isn't she moving?”

“Twilight, I'm pretty sure she's just awakened right now and mere minutes after having to kill other living creatures to save her life and that of others. Knowing ponies, that has to be traumatic, even though it wouldn't be the first time she did so.” That was Praeratus, and in contrast with Twilight he didn't seem worried, or at least was good at hiding it. That was good, though: if he wasn't worried then things were alright... at least from his point of view.

Celestia tried to get up from where she was, some kind of couch or sofa, but was too dizzy to do so.

'Why do I feel so weird?' She thought. 'Did Praeratus make me run twenty miles in an hour or something?'

“See? She's moving. Just a little, but she's moving.”

Then she remembered what happened: the attack of the small monsters, she and the others trying to get out of the Hall before being cornered by a demon that actually (telepathically) spoke to them after eating Twilight's arm, Praeratus attacking the thing, teleporting herself and Twilight back to the ship to get the younger alicorn in the Med-Pod, seeing Praeratus lose his legs, grab a weapon from the armory and save Praeratus by killing the big monsters and most of the small ones, and then cry herself to sleep.

“Celestia, how do you feel?” Asked Praeratus.

“A bit doozy, but otherwise alright.” She said before opening her eyes... and closing them because the lightning of the room was too bright for her.

“I can help with that.” She heard the voice of Ember before feeling her upper left breast being pinched by sharp nails, making her jump and scream in pain while grabbing her hurt bosom.

“Ember!” Screamed the other royals.

“What? She's up isn't she?”

“Yes, but it doesn't change the fact you pinched her breast! Why didn't you pinch something else, like her muzzle or her arm!?”

“It was the first thing that came to my head. Besides, I didn't squeeze that hard, did I?”

“It's not that!” Twilight said before Celestia heard the sound of wings flapping and something wooden hitting the ground.

“Hey, don't flap those things here, the place is already cramped with creatures as it is!” That was Thorax. “Praeratus, how can you live in a place like this!”

“Are you calling me fat!?” And that, Novo.

“Not you Queen Novo!” Apologized the changeling king. Soon enough, everypony that was not Praeratus was screaming and even shoving each other, which in turn made one of them push her to the floor again. And she hasn't even opened her eyes yet!

“Alright that's it!” Screamed Praeratus, who until that momen had been silent.

Celestia heard the familiar sound of psionics being used, and the also familiar sound of voices muffled by closed mouths.

“Look guys, I know you're all worried about Celestia, but that doesn't give you the right to wreck my living room, especially since . As for the why is the room so small, Thorax, this ship is also a home made for two, not a dozen. Now, I'm going to let you go, and when I do I want you to stay quiet AND still. Got that?” She didn't heard anything, but she was sure they nodded. “Good.”

“Cyranus is bigger than a cow!”

“Yes, but he also walks carefully when inside the ship.”

She then heard his heavy body walk to her. “Here, let me help you.”

Celestia, with the pain in her breast subsided, opened her eyes again and, after a few seconds of adjusting, looked around.

She was indeed in the ship's living room, which was currently occupied by Praeratus, Twilight, Novo, Thorax, Ember and Raven, which she didn't know was with them since she had been silent all this time.

The living room was actually alright, aside from two toppled chairs and the couch and a couple of pictures that fell off the walls during the brief scuttle.

“So” Began Novo. “, how are you feeling?”

“Quite alright, still a little dizzy but overall I'm good.” She then looked at Praeratus. “What happened after I... well?” She said in a sheepish tone. Even though she was wholly justified for doing so, she still feel ashamed of literally crying herself to sleep after killing those bioweapons.

“Well, after you cried yourself to sleep” Began Novo, not seeing Celestia cringe at that.”, Praeratus brought you here, after which he promptly beat Aspen's sorry flank to a pulp.”

“Novo! That's not what-!” Cried Twilight before Praeratus interrupted her.

“Not exactly, but close.” The therawyrm muttered in a dark tone, which surprised Celestia. Last time he spoke like that, Discord nearly died. Whatever the King of the Deer did or said really made him angry.

“Praeratus, what happened.” She asked worriedly, fearing that Aspen might be worse than just beaten.

The xeno-hunter breathed deeply, either because he too was ashamed of what he did, or because it would be a long story. Maybe both.

“Well, after you fell asleep...”

'Well, what do you know, she can somehow beat her previous crack record' Thought Praeratus as he watched Twilight freak out at her now-whole arm and screaming about how it was impossible to regrow deattached limbs from nothing. He had already made sure that all the monsters were dead, and after ordering the guards to make sure no one would enter his ship (the equestrian ones complied inmediatly; the rest refused before he managed to 'convice' them peacefully), he brought Celestia to the living room and laid her down on the couch. While in the way, he saw that the Med-Pod was occupied and remembered that the last time he saw Twilight she had a bloody stump where her left arm should have been. He was also impressed and a bit proud that Celestia managed to start and then program the device to heal Twilight; regrowing an arm was a much less difficult task than reviving a woman, but it was still impressive, even more so considering that Celestia had to do it herself without his assistance.

It was entertaining seeing the usually calm purple alicorn act like that, but there were important things to do.

“Twilight.” He said, hoping that it would be enough to make her look at him and stop rambling about her new arm. It wasn't. “Twilight!” He said again, this time louder. Nothing, she still didn't look at him. “TWILIGHT!” He finally shouted.

That did the trick.

Twilight, who Praeratus had sit on a chair so that he could reattach his legs, fell down screaming from it due to the force of the shout.

“Wha, wha, what!” She scramed looking in all directions until she fixated on Praeratus. “Oh. Sorry.” She said with a sheepish smile before she remembered that her left arm had been eaten and realized where she was. “Wait, I don't have to be sorry!”

“I just want to know how are you?” Said Praeratus calmly.

“How am I!? I've grown a new arm from nothing!”

“Not from nothing, the Med-Pod injects the broken bones with liquid collagen before-” He began to say before Twilight raised a hand.

“Nevermind!” She groaned before remembering something else. “Celestia! Where is she!?”

“She's alright, but right now that's not what matters.” Responded the therawyrm. “Now, why were you on the Med-Pod? Did those things get inside the Hall?”

“Me, along the other scholars, heard a roar coming from the hall, and we had barely met with the others when one of the demons crashed through the wall and bit my arm off. Now, you told me where she is but not how.”

“She's sleeping in my couch.” Replied Praeratus. When he saw her staring at him, he continued. “After putting you inside the Med-Pod, she saved me from the monsters, which had managed to pin me down because I was stupid enough to forget that the monster didn't come alone.”

“Didn't come alone?”

“There was a small army of young bioweapons accompanying him, alongside two big ones. And the first one was intelligent.”

“Aren't all of them intelligent?” Asked Twilight, who by now had started to become worried.

“Yes, but only in the sense that they are sapient. This one, on the other hand, was-well, technically is, able to speak through telepathy, and is also a blue psionic.”

“Blue psionic?” She whispered, fearful by these news. Praeratus had told her what he knew about psionics to satisfy her curiosity: how they worked, which species where naturally psionic, how the Milky Way treated those that could use them and, most importantly, their rating. And if Praeratus was right, blue psionics were significantly stronger than red psionics, although not as strong as purple ones like Praeratus himself and nowhere near as green ones. “But weren't they supposed to be red?”

“Well, that one is blue, and there are several ways to strengthen the psionics of oneself. It seemed like it was the leader of the others, and to make things worse it managed to run away while I and Celestia killed the rest. That means there are at least seven of the big ones, and since the small ones are their offspring, who knows how many of those are they hiding out there.”

“Oh, no.” She said with wide, terrified eyes. Not only one of them had gotten stronger with its psionics, the demons could create to create an army of smaller yet still dangerous. Worst of all, those weren't clones, but their CHILDREN. Praeratus was sure that ten of them could destroy all life in Equus; the paled at the idea of dozens, hundreds of full-sized, nigh-unstoppable monsters from space.

“Don't worry, though. I'm pretty sure it won't be able to move with the pummeling I gave to it, and I think I killed all the little freaks they could make. Plus, I didn't feel psionic energy in any of those freaks.”

“How can you be sure about that? About the small ones being dead I mean.”

“I can't give an actual answer, but I don't think that, as biological weapons designed to attack civilians, they were not supposed to reproduce at all. Plus, they've out of their pod for less than two months, not enough time for them to either lay a lot of eggs, give birth to enough hatchlings, or enough time for those hatchlings to grow and become dangerous.”

“That's it?” Said Twilight in an skeptical tone. “That's all you can say?”

“Look Twilight, I don't really know about what can those monsters do even though it was the Confederal Senate the one who tasked me with their extermination!” He snapped to her, making her recoil in a bit of fear that turned into concern when the therawyrm sighed in exhasperation and looked at one of the walls of the room. “These last weeks I thought that, while smart, dangerous and outnumbering me ten to one, those things couldn't replace those I killed. But now? Now I don't know what to think anymore.”

They stayed like that for fifteen seconds.

“So” Began to say Twilight again. “, what do we do now? The speaking one is still out there.”

“I'll begin searching for it and its' brethren again, and when I find their hideout I'll blow it to pieces with the ship's cannons. But to search for them I need the permission of the other kingdoms to do so.”

“But why? I mean, I know why do you want it, but wouldn't it be easier to simply scout their nations without asking them?” She asked.

“What would you do if a UFO flew over your house and blinded you with spotlights? Or if a seven foot , heavily armored alien accompanied by a giant, dog-like animal probed your mind without your permission while at the same time the animal roared at you or anyone else, probably family or friends?” He said. “Besides, as I said before, I prefer to have official approval to go to other countries. It's a quirk of mine that I got after years of asking and requesting.”

“Well, pretty sure Ember will happily let you search through the Dragonlands, as will Novo.” Twilight said. After all, he had saved their friends, and in Novo's case her daughter too.

“And the others?”

“Well, the only one that WILL definitely be a problem will be Aspen, but you already investigated the Everfree, so all he could do will be complain and insult.”

“Which is basically nothing.”

Twilight nodded. “As for the others, Gestal will want something in return for letting you and Rutherford might probably ask you to let him go with you to destroy the monsters, but otherwise they will let you. As for Throrax...”

“Speaking of which.” Interrupted Praeratus as he looked at the door, puzzling Twilight.

Until Throax came flying and panting to the room, of course. Even after nearly two months with Praeratus on Equus, she still couldn't get her head around psionics and what they could do that magic couldn't, like 'feeling' presences, even from ponies that weren't psionics themselves.

“Praeratus, what did... you do... with Celestia!?” Thorax managed to say between pant and pant. Despite what he said and the way he did so, the changeling king didn't sound angry, nor worried in the usual way.

“Nothing, she's sleeping right now.” He said before narrowing his eyes at the changeling and grunting: “What happened? Didn't I tell you to not bother me until I came out? Did the monsters return?” He said, preparing to bolt if it was indeed that reason.

Fortunately, it wasn't. Unfortunately...

Thorax took a few seconds to recompose himself and replied. “Worse.”

“Worse?” Repeated Praeratus and Twilight simultaneously. What could be worse than genetically engineered monsters that could kill with literally one look at someone?

“It's King Aspen. He's inciting the other leaders to attack your ship and 'rescue Celestia from your vile claws'.”

“But she's okay! She's just sleeping!”

“I know, I saw him hugging her before, but Aspen didn't, and he's, well, Aspen. He didn't take very well your insults, and even if he did he still doesn't trust you at all since you spied on his kingdom.”

“I wasn't spying the damn forest, I was looking for the monsters, and its not insulting if it's the damn truth, much less when I wasn't even actually insulting him.” Growled Praeratus. 'Great', he thought ', now we have another Neighsay. At least he's not preaching that I'm in league with the freaks'

“Thorax, please tell me that the leaders aren't believing his words.” Pleaded Twilight. The last thing the world needed was most of the planet turning on their only hope, or worse, them going to war against Equestria and her allies. It was be impossible for that to happen, but she wasn't be so sure it couldn't happen, since ponies and many other creatures were, to her embarrasment, quite happy to believe what an authoritive figure said.

“They aren't, but they are scared of you after your show with that psionic thing and what you did to Gnasher and the monsters. Heck, I am scared too, but of what would happen if you decide to leave us.” Explained Thorax.

“What are the others doing about it?”

“Raven Inkwell, Novo, Ember and Pharynx are trying to defuse the situation in your behalf, but I don't think the creatures will hear them out: many think that hippogriffs are elitist jerks, and dragons mindless brutes. Changelings, well, you know already.” Thorax said dejectedly.

“And Gestal and Rutherford?” Asked Twilight.

“Gestal does not like Aspen at all, but he's watching it from the sidelines; as for Rutherford, he attacked the monster that ate your arm and got slammed into a wall for his troubles.”

“Is he okay!?”

“Yes, but he hasn't woken up yet.”

Praeratus rubbed his muzzle in annoyance. “I suppose I can talk to him, say something to shut him up before he does something he might regret.” However, before he could step out of the room, Twilight grabbed his sleeve.

“Praeratus, please, don't YOU do something WE might regret.” She practically begged. She, of course, was talking about the fact that, while he was essentially invincible and unreachable, Equestria wasn't. She looked at him straight in the eye with the traditional puppy dog eyes, hoping that it would deter him from doing something rash, since she knew she couldn't completely stop him. It worked on her when the CMC did it, it might work on him too.

Too bad that Praeratus was simply too experienced, different, old and jaded by years of fighting and killing to fall for that, and even if he wasn't, she was simply too old (and, as much as he hated to admit it, freaky with those huge eyes of hers) to make it work.

“I can't promise anything if he's badmouthing me.”

“Promise me at least you won't hurt him please.”

“Twilight, what I did just said.” With that he left the room.

In route to the door, he thought of what 'punishment' would he give to Aspen.

'A beating? Nah, I can kill a pony with just a slap, a punch or a kick would pulverize him. Mind-rape with images of the Everfree burning and screaming deer being hunted down by bioweapons? He might not be able to recover from that either. What to do without hurting him? Hmph, I guess a good shout and a glare will be enough for that zab', thought Praeratus, settling in just scaring the hart before arriving at the door of the ship and taking a look outside.

He saw the King of the Everfree, the Queen of Mount Aris and the Captain of the Changeling Guard practically scream at each other in front of a large crowd. Gestal was watching from afar with a neutral expression alongside a glaring Ember, who probably didn't know how to talk to someone she disliked without burning them, and Raven Inkwell, who was scared and didn't dare to intervene in the screaming contest.

“Why did you think he killed all those freaks!?” He heard Pharynx scream.

“And where were you when the monsters attacked, uh!?” Novo said.

“With my entourage! If those monsters had killed the brute, they would have needed me to protect them!” Replied Aspen.

“If those creatures could kill a seven-foot tall space dragon warrior who not only is incredibly strong, but is also in possession of a powerful force that trumps magic, what makes you think you could do anything to them?” Spoke Gestal with a critical eye. “Especially since, as I've been written to and you probably too, those monsters are able to use 'psionics'.”

“That's because the magic of ponies is inferior to the magic of nature!”

“Yeah, right, magic that makes trees attack a city surpases the magic can move the Sun and the Moon.”

Aspen heard that. “An you! Why are you siding with the stranger! He mortally wounded your diplomat!”

“That pompous moron was asking for it!”

“It seems that even now dragons are little more than wild beasts that don't even tolerate each other, to the point that their leader does not care if one of her fellow dragons die for it.” Aspen said in a derisive tone, making her growl.

Praeratus decided to defuse the situation before the damn deer got himself killed. However, just as he was about to step down the stairs to confront him, what Aspen said next stopped him on his tracks.

“And why are we speaking? For all we know the alien ordered the demons to attack the Convocation! And that monster is probably raping Celestia and eating the others alive for his amusement as we speak!”

On another occasion Praeratus would have ignored that, and in fact it would have prompted him to retort back with some snark. But after nearly dying to protect them, and seeing that even though only some guards died (he simply didn't give a damn about a bunch of primitive cops of which he didn't even know their names) Twilight still lost her arm, and having living with the alabaster alicorn for the better part of a month and a half, made his blood boil.

His eyes began glowing purple.

“Estimated creatures of Equus...!” Began to say Aspen, who was too busy monologuing to the crowd to notice their terrified faces and murmurs when they saw the therawyrm walk down the ship slowly but surely, with a murderous frown adorning his head and his sharp teeth bared in a rictus of rage.

The other royals, knowing what was about to happen, were unable to could even scream at Aspen before Praeratus yanked him towards him and...

“How bad was the beating?” Asked Celestia in a livid tone. She would have been angrier, but Praeratus wasn't a subject of hers, knew he had trouble keeping his anger in check when insulted and, deep inside, she was happy with what happened to the condesdending hart. Still, that didn't mean he deserved to be beaten half to death by a five hundred-pound bounty hunter.

“I broke all of his limbs and splintered his antler.” Said Praeratus, a bit of anger on his voice. “He's damn luck he can still scream after what he said.”

“You do realize that this might mean war with the deer, right?” Whispered Celestia in a low tone.

Twilight, who of those present was the one who knew her the most, remembered the last time she heard Celestia talk like that realised what was about to happen, so with upmost care she left the living room after signaled the others to do the same. Admitedly it wouldn't do much since there was no door sepearating them, but at least they would not get in the midddle.

“A show of force will keep them in line.”

“WHAT THE HECK IS WRONG WITH YOU!?” Shouted Celestia, so angry that her mane bursted to flame and she unconsciously used the Royal Canterlot Voice, when she was just a foot away from Praeratus. Since her shout was nowhere as loud as artillery strikes or monster roars he barely flinched, but she neither realized that nor cared at the moment. “YOU NEARLY KILLED SOMEONE WHOSE ONLY CRIME WAS BADMOUTHING YOU!!” She ranted before breathing heavily and calming down significantly, her mane turning back to normal. “I understand it when somepony does something dangerous, but Aspen just insulted you! You are better than that.”

“Celestia, it wasn't just because he was insulting me.” Praeratus said calmly but with an edge on his voice.

“Then why? Why did you nearly kill him?”

“Because he dared to think that I was the one who summoned the monsters; the Confederation made them and send them here, but Equus was supposed to be unhabited and I don't like people blaming me for the mistakes of others, and you know that perfectly.” He said. Despite this, something told Celestia that it wasn't just that.

“That's it?”

“AND BECAUSE I CARE ABOUT YOU, OKAY!?” Shouted Praeratus

Here it is, the chapter that finally implies some romance between Praty and Celly. If you think it's not that good, you'll be right because I don't know how to write romance, but I'm learning.

As always comment, fave and thumbs up.