It was definitely late night when Grievous awoke from his brief sleep. The train car was dark save for the white light of a full moon that filtered in through the windows gently illuminating the dozens of slumbering ponies. Grievous truly was out of place, a cyborg, his metal arms folded over his chest and his expressionless metal face staring off into the dark, his golden eyes peered down to see Fluttershy sleeping quite soundly beside him using her forelegs as a pillow. Her butter yellow fur and mane still had traces of dirt and sand in it, even the obsessive-compulsive Rarity had not escaped the desert's harsh environment. But at the moment she had been too tired to fix her mane and clean off her fur and simply fallen asleep to Grievous' right.

They trusted him. Their physical closeness, their behavior, even the way the six looked at him said that much and it was obvious they thought of him as their friend. The seventh member of their group. And truthfully, Grievous didn't really know what to consider them. Friends? Acquaintances? Or just the ones who could send back to where he properly belonged.

However, his musings were cut short when he heard a sound he did not want to hear...buzzing. It was quick and would've been unnoticeable to most but his keen audio receptors picked up on it immediately and it sounded much to loud to be a common insect pest. The warlord stoically stood with his haunting gaze fixated on the door to the next train car just ahead of him and quietly began navigating his way through the sea of ponies who slept on the floor. As he was in no mood to deal with panicking ponies. Carefully stepping over Applejack and Braeburn he swished his cape to the side with a hand so it wouldn't drag over any of them and silently slid the door open and shut it just as fast, never once turning his back.

A pair of beautiful green eyes met his own golden ones as Chrysalis stepped out from behind a seat majestically, a few strands of her blue mane draped over her face and her shredded looking insect like wings buzzed once when she flapped them.

“Good evening general.” She spoke casually, absolutely no hint of worry at being disovered.

“What do you think you're doing here Chrysalis?” He growled quietly. His metal feet making no noise when he approached the former Changeling Queen.

“Just checking up, making sure everything is running smoothly,” she glanced down at a holed through hoof in a rather uninterested fashion, “you did well. A brave act rescuing the yellow one-”

“Fluttershy,” Grievous snapped.

“Fluttershy,” she repeated coldly, “if I didn't know any better I'd say you are starting to like them,” she grinned knowingly.

“I'm just making sure I can return to where I belong and I can't do that if any of them are dead,” he lowered his head threateningly and resisted the urge to strike her. Chrysalis only rolled her eyes and walked over to the side doors her horn flashing green to open them forcefully.

“Of course,” she said but obviously didn't believe him in the slightest.

“Where do you think you're going?”

“This train is on route to Canterlot, which has a protection spell that keeps members of my kind out and since Cadance and precious Shining Armor used their love to reactivate it the damn thing is stronger than before. Oh and you can stop the train by pulling the lever in the front car.”

“Isn't that the conductor’s job?”

She glanced back at him with a raised brow and he realized she had been the train conductor. It was then Grievous knew he would have to be cautious when dealing with Changelings in the future...they really could take on the form of virtually anypony!

“Good luck dealing with the snobs,” she said and flew away into the night, the doors shutting behind her.

- - - -

Canterlot was certainly the royal capital of Equestria. Towering spires, outside the city there was a beautiful waterfall that flowed under and around the city. Towering buildings of stone, beautifully painted gold, or purple; or another extravagant color. It was quite a spectacular sight even for Grievous, for a world that was predominately controlled by multicolored ponies he was impressed.

“Oh does my mane look okay? How about my fur?” Rarity asked Applejack nervously. Grievous rolled his eyes and shook his head slightly and increased his pace so he was at the head of the group.

“Everything's fine sugarcube, you worry to much,” Applejack soothed the nervous clothing designer and playfully bumped her with a shoulder.

And just like the city itself, the ponies that inhabited it were vastly different than the ones he'd previously seen. Most were dressed expensively, those that were not were obviously those who worked but they too seemed content with their situation. A whole crowd had formed to see the heroes and survivors in...but Grievous immediately stole the show.

“What is that?”

“That's the hero who saved Ponyville and Appleloosa?”

“Yes I believe it is.”

Other statements of the sort bombarded him making Grievous feel both proud and tad irritated. Others looked a little uneasy at seeing something much bigger and much more deadly than probably anything they had ever laid eyes upon since Chrysalis' foiled invasion.

All commotion was abruptly ended when Princess Luna approached them. All bowed humbly before the Night Princess who's seemingly eternally flowing dark blue and sparkling mane contrasted the sunny sky.

Luna was not offended that Grievous did not bow as she was not his ruler.

“Rise” she said gently, “guards, take the survivors to their assigned lodgings,” the huge armored guards began escorting the relieved survivors away and Luna quickly shifted her attention to Grievous and the six ponies.

“Welcome to Canterlot, General Grievous,” she acknowledged in a formal manner.

“Thank you, it is an impressive city,” he replied in an equally formal manner with his hands behind his back.

Twilight Sparkle shifted awkwardly.

“My sister unfortunately could not be here to greet you however she shall return tonight at the banquet.” She beckoned them with hoof.

“Please, follow me.”

Pinkie Pie enthusiastically hopped after her with a big smile.

“So we're gonna have a party!?”

“Yes but of the FORMAL sort,” Luna cautioned.

“Oh okay...I'll just have some formal fun!”

Grievous again rolled his eyes, the others just laughed happily that everypony was safe and they could once again enjoy each other's company.     Next Chapter: The banquet Estimated time remaining: 49 Minutes