In my room, I let Gilda, Geirmund, Nadene, Trixie, and Growl have a look around, making themselves comfortable, while I sat on the couch and waited for my robo eyes to finish doing what they were doing and start working. At one point Nadene sat next to me, so I idly started petting her head, and she started purring. Other that that, we spent more time catching up on current events.

"So, come spring time, there will be the squad competition. After that, I should be good enough to leave."

"You're going to be coming back in the fight, right?" I heard Trixie ask.

"To be honest, I'm not so sure anymore."

"What do you mean 'you're not sure'?" Gilda asked angrily.

"I've been doing a lot of thinking. Sure, I could get better, but then if I go back out there, who's to say I won't just fall back into the same old hole I'm working so hard to climb out of? The fact is, I don't know if I really want to go back to fighting."

"What of those who need to be saved? We have done much good in a short time." Growl stated methodically.

"Remember, a long time ago, I told you all what my goal was? I said, 'As long as we fight, even if we die, we'll have succeeded because we'll have made the world aware.' Or... something like that. The point is, from the very beginning, yes, it was about saving people, but more importantly, about getting the word out, and having them save themselves. Now, we've got Aoi doing his part, and from the news clippings I put together, there's a whole bunch more out there, all doing things in their own little way."

"What are you saying?" Gilda sounded a little choked up.

"I'm saying, it MAY be time for us to pass the torch. We've had a good run, and, we don't want to push our luck. How long has it been since the ponies we took on saw their friends or families, how long has it been since the cats have truly had a home to call their own? We can't make people keep fighting forever. They've done a tour of duty, and we've all done two. Marble Pillars is stepping up their game, and with the massive expansion they've had from the other dens falling in with them,..." I let out a sigh. "I'm saying it might be time to let other people carry the burden."

"But, what about the crew?" Nadene questioned.

"They'll be free to do whatever they wish, just like they've always been. If they want to keep fighting, they can do that. If they want to settle down, they can do that to. I know the tribe has been missing the jungles of their home, and many of the griffins want to settle in as well. During my time here, I found a peace of mind, a tranquility that I know, if I go back to fighting, I'll lose it." At this point, I'm regretting having the conversation right at that moment, because I can't read the expressions on their faces.

"I always said, the reason we were on that ship was we were fighting so we didn't have to be on it anymore. We all had something we wanted to accomplish, something we needed to do. The reason I was there, getting the word out, and letting people know, starting the cause, and making the banner for others to rally behind... I've done that." I paused to let everyone think through the reasons they were on board.

"That doesn't mean we have to split up. We could still use the ship. Remember, we're the front runners for the new trade committee. I know for a fact Etch has been busy in Canterlot as a correspondent with Gem Fido, acting as a neutral party."

"That's nice and all, but giving up the fight, I don't know if I'm ready to do that. I'm still hoping on the off chance that my parents are alive." Gilda said thoughtfully. "But, I should have known, as soon as you started living with the ponies, you'd want to stay."

"Gilda... it's not like..."

"Yes it IS like that Griffin! From the very beginning, that's what you wanted! To laugh and play all day, not a care in the world, and then I had to come along and drag you on this crazy warpath! When you got hurt by Ember, you should have quit right then and there, but you stayed, and you kept going along with it. Why? Because of ME! You stayed on longer than you wanted because you were so damn afraid that if you left, you'd be all alone. And now that you're not such a chicken shit anymore, just like that, you're bailing! I can't go till I find out what happened to my parents, but you're totally okay with just letting me go it alone?"

"Gilda, I stayed because I wanted to, and if you don't want to keep looking, that's fine, because with the way things are going, it likely wouldn't be US who found them anyways. Again, the whole point is that we've gotten others, an entire den of trained and armed soldiers, who know the battlefield. Let them carry the weight of the world for now."

"I... I... you're right." She let out a sob. "I just... I don't know. I don't blame you for wanting to stay. When I look at you, and see how much better you've gotten, but then I think about everyone who's just like I was, Etch and Growl were, my parents are, and I don't think I can stop yet, but I don't want to keep going without you either. I've just been so worried about everything since I found out I was pregnant."

*Pffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffftttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt* *Guh* *Hack* *Cough* I beat my hand on my chest to try and force out the water I just swallowed. I then fell right off the couch, and tripped as I tried to get up, hitting my arm on the coffee table. Reason number 242 why I always wear a protect spell.

"Uh..... what?"

"Oh...... oops. Surprise? I wanted to tell you sooner but, I needed to wait for the moment to be right."

"Air... need air. Open window."

"But it's Mid January..." Trixie mentioned.

"Open the damn window!" The gentle hum of magic was prelude to a rush of ice cold air, the shock of which snapped me out of it. "Thank you, that's enough..." The window closed with a click, so I waited a few moments to collect my thoughts.

"Okay." I took several deep breaths to calm down, before blowing it all away with excitement. "I'm gonna be a daddy!"

'Well, he took that much better than I was expecting.'

"Oh, why didn't you tell me sooner?"

"I was worried that you might be mad."

"Why would I be mad?" I was genuinely curious.

"This happened because of what Nadene and I did?"

"And we all said 'water under the bridge.' Oh, but this changes everything. You definitely can't go fighting a war now."

"W.. what? But what about finding my parents?"

"What about your unborn child? There is a chance of finding them, but they may be dead, where as you've got a child to think about. If the baby died because you were fighting, do you think you could forgive yourself? And how do you think I'd feel if I lost both you and my son or daughter?"

"I... I don't know!"

We spent several moments in silence, just sitting there, thinking about the situation, before I started again.

"Listen, you are your own person, and as much as I'll worry, I can't forbid you from fighting. But please, won't you stay?"

"That's why I wanted you to come with us, to stay on the crew. It's also why I was hesitant about telling you." Gilda replied.

...
...
...

"Okay."

"Okay?"

"Okay. I'll go, after I'm done treatment."

"But what about needing a reason to fight?"

"Well, I've CLEARLY got one now. I'd be protecting my unborn child. Once I'm finished here, I'll head back out, oh, but I have to make so many preparations! I've gotten loads of new ideas, and I need to make my human form stronger too, and then we'll have to get ready for the baby, and... I hope I'm a good father.......Hey! the eyes are working!" Sure enough, they blinked on, and there it was. There was no blurry, gradual recovery. It was just a sudden 'on'. I covered my eyes to deal with the brightness, though not because it hurt the eyes, but because it was so bright it gave my brain, unaccustomed to signals going through the optic nerve, the magical equivalent of a boot to the head, from the inside.

Once I gave them enough time to get used to the light, I could see clearly, though everything had a slight blue tinge to it.

"Ah, yes, zose are ze floodlights. Zey vill be qvite useful in ze underground or at night. If zey get in zee way, just close your eyes a little und zee eyelids vill cover ze lights around zee edges." Geirmund explained. I did as he instructed, and found that with a little effort, I could move them as I wanted.

"Excellent as usual. Many thanks. Uuuugh." I looked myself in the mirror. "Next order of business, haircut. I look like I have a chicken on my head.

I made my way to the castle mane stylist, while my visitors went out on the town, opting not to stick around while I got my hair done. Lets face it, getting a haircut is pretty boring. Of course, as soon as I entered the salon, a barber and stylist recoiled at the look of me, while some random pony shouted 'the horror' in the background. I didn't need to say a word. I got swept up in a magical aura, plunked down in a chair, and had my head dunked in a basin before I COULD say a word.

In the end, it came out alright. They didn't know anything about human hairstyles, and judging from the way some manes are done around here, I had to exemplify that 'Simplicity is elegance'. They went to work, and settled on a style that reminded me of Wander's hair from Shadow of the Colossus, except without the headband holding back the bangs, so they sat neatly on either side of my face, just barely in my peripheral vision.

"How much do I owe you?"

"Nothing. It's all on the house remember?" The barber replied.

"Oh, right. I've just never been here before."

"Well in that case, here." He passed me a coupon card thing. "It's part of a promotion to try and drum up business. A free couples access to any of the following, so you can take a friend. Knock yourself out. I'm not actually supposed to give these out anymore, but I had some spares left over, and even if the promotion is over, the cards don't expire. It's the least I can do since you brought my daughter back to me. You look like you need to catch a break."

"Um.... thank you."

"Don't mention it. Seriously. I'll get in deep with the ministry of service. You got that years ago."

"Gotcha. I forgot I put it in my other coat."

'Moustachio's Gym, haha... Moustachio, baby peanut, super weak! Not like I need a gym membership when I'm in boot camp. Starswirl's beard emporium? Facial hair would just get in the way, no matter how epic. Ponyville day spa? I could use that. Dale Cloud's Cloudsdale Coliseum? More like Doug Dimmadome's Dimsdale Dimmadome. Could be good...'

My very important card reading was interrupted by Gilda tackling me from behind.

"Reason 4 why I always wear a protect spell."

"Only number four?" She quipped. "What are the first three?

"3, assassination. 2, clumsiness. 1, Pinkie Pie."

"Yeah, those are pretty good reasons." She said as she flipped me onto my back so I could face her. "It's time to go. I know, it was a really short visit, but hey, in a month or so you'll be back with us full time."

"Be careful alright?" I ran my hands along her sides, having them come to rest on her stomach. She shivered slightly at the touch.

"Hey, what's there to wor..." I cupped my hand over her beak. "Right... I forgot. I'll be safe." She gave me a quick nuzzle before walking towards the door.

'Please be safe...'

The day after they left, I went down to the training course early, to get it before Shining's squad. considering he's still at the Crystal Empire with his wife, his trainees took it as him having confidence in them, so they took every opportunity to jeer at us as we went to the field. Not today though. I went out before the sun even came up, before even my team arrived.

"Nice of you to show up bird brain. Can't help but notice you're not so 'fluffy' anymore." Inky chided me. "You really left us hanging."

"Oh shut up, I'm going to be a dad, and I know how we're going to win the competition this spring." I replied as I stopped my run.

"Oh? And how's that?" Posh asked eloquently.

"Simple, we're going to cheat, run like hell, and hope we don't get caught."

Author's Notes:

If you don't know who Wander is, or haven't played Shadow of the Colossus, I direct you to Mr. T, Chairman of the fool pitying department. Doug Dimmadome is from Fairly Odd Parents, and is a Typical Texan Tycoon.