I lost track of skill points last chapter, so I had to go back and fix it. Shayla has 21 unspent points at the moment. My bad.

“So this can be your house,” Louie said happily as he ran ahead of Nova and jumped through a doggy door, disappearing into the house before her. They were currently in a neighborhood of sorts, with many houses lining the street. It's like they planned to have a small town in here or something.

She looked the house over as she approached the front door, a frown on her face. While she appreciated their help and willingness to provide her with a house, she’d rather be out there with the others, helping however she could.

Stepping through the front door she was greeted by Louie, who was sitting on a table a few feet away.

“So it was my idea to add dog doors to all the houses here!” he exclaimed, his tail wagging like crazy. “That way I can visit everyone any time I want!”

“Lovely,” she muttered as she walked past him and looked around the living room and kitchen area. “Tell me, Lou, when will Summer Breeze and the others return?”

“Tomorrow?” he said as he tapped his chin. “They’re doing some more training in their super cool training dimension right now!”

“I see,” she said as she walked over to a couch and laid on it. “My little friend, I would like to be alone, to process my thoughts.”

“Okay!” he barked as he jumped off of the table. “I’ll be around later though! I’m just gonna go take a nap!”

“You do that,” she said with a nod, his energetic self a bit much for her right now.

He gave a few barks then sprinted straight through the doggy door, leaving her alone in her new house.

Once she was sure he wasn’t going to run back in, she let out a groan and used her magic to slowly remove her clothing and gear, wincing as she did so. The damage she’d suffered was still there, since she’d have to wait for Summer Breeze to return to actually be healed. Till then, she felt basically useless.

When she was fully undressed she carefully laid down on the couch, staring at the wall on the other side of the room. Mind going over everything she’d just learned.

According to the others, Champion has not only killed their mother and aunt, but also Princess Cadance and her entire family. He blamed that on Bronies as well, which has only increased the hate and violence against them.

Then to make matters worse; he has named himself ‘Lord God King of All’, and is in the process of assimilating other nations into this one. In his grand attempt to rule the entire planet.

And to be honest, he will at this rate. None of the people here can stand against him, nor can she. He’s reached a level of power that is unheard of, and he knows it.

But that doesn’t mean they’re just going to give up. They have their friends and families, not to mention all the other bronies of this world who’ve been caught as well.

For now, their main goal is to try and track down any more bronies and bring them here. The next step is a bit more complicated, since no one knows where they’re keeping all those they’ve captured.

As for her, she’s been painted as a traitor to all. Champion made an announcement the same day he took over that he found evidence pointing to Nova being the one who helped the Bronies enter the palace and kill the princesses. Looks like he covered all his bases, making it so even if she got away from him that the ponies of this world would still hate her.

“Absolutely perfect,” she muttered, rubbing her face in frustration.

I stared into the face of my mask as I held it in front of myself, a conflicted look on my face. The wind whipped past me as I sat on the ledge of the building, my focus solely on the eyes of the mask.

There wasn’t a thought in my head as I stared at it, as I’d just needed a moment after my interaction with Domitor earlier.

Just thinking his name pissed me off as I squeezed the mask a bit, chewing a bit aggressively on my lip.

“Shane,” Rosemary said as she leaned up next to me. “Can we talk?”

“No,” I replied simply, my eyes twitching.

“This aggression you have inside of you,” she began, ignoring my desire to not talk about this, “it is making everything worse for you.”

“Oh is it? I haven’t noticed,” I said as I gave her a deadpan stare. “Guess I should stop, huh?”

She frowned at me, “this is serious.”

“This is serious,” I mocked back at her in a goofy voice.

“Shane,” she said in a stern tone. “I’m trying to help you. You’re not processing your emotions in a healthy manner, and when you feel any sense of-”

“Uh oh, I’m doing emotions wrong apparently,” I said as I raised my hand and stuck it into her face, flipping her off. “How about you take a hike and let me handle my emotions my own way. ‘Kay?”

A sad sigh escaped her lips as she shook her head and reached out, putting a hand on my mask. “I am here for you, when you are ready.”

“Great, good for you,” I sneered, yanking my mask away from her. “When I need my own personal psychologist, I’ll call for you to be one. Till then, stop trying to ‘fix’ me.”

She just moved forward and hugged me, with me only feeling her presence around me as she did so. I didn’t respond or move, just let her do her little hug. After a few moments she faded away, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

But I wasn’t allowed to be alone it seems, as I heard someone walking up behind me. I quickly shoved my mask onto my face as they approached, as I knew who it was.

“Are you good, Shane?” Floria asked as she stepped up next to me and sat down.

“I’m great,” I replied calmly, not looking at her.

“Oh you’re great?” she asked in a tone that suggested she was not in a good mood. “Is that why you keep starting fights with Domitor?”

“You don’t get it,” I mumbled as I clenched my fist over and over again.

She grunted and nodded at me, “you’re right. I don’t get it. So make me get it. Why are you so hostile towards him?”

“Oh where do I even start?!” I snapped, turning to face her, “that guy and me? We’re never going to see eye to eye, and I prefer it that way. I can NOT stand being near him! He let Lenrick almost rape ME!”

“He’s the one who stopped it before it happened,” she said calmly. “I was lost in shock and was useless till he acted and attacked that monster. If he hadn’t of been there, things would of-”

“Yeah, that’s what everyone says,” I said, taking on a mocking tone, “oh Dom, thank you for not letting me get raped even though you are the whole reason it happened!” I dropped the tone and sneered as I turned away from her, “I don’t care. He’s guilt ridden over killing Lenrick, and that is why I hate him. Why I’ll never forgive him or be nice to him. He has sympathy for the guy who…”

Floria sighed as she shook her head, “Domitor doesn’t want you to know this, but he’s not guilt ridden over what he did to Lenrick. He’s torn up about the fact he let Lenrick do that to you. Sure he’s upset at having killed someone, but that’s not the source of his regret and guilt.”

“Sure,” I said, a mix of emotions washing over me, ending with anger. “Fuck ‘em. I don’t care about his reasons, I’m just happy he’s depressed and guilt ridden.”

“There’s no helping it, is there?” she asked in a sad tone.

“Nope, mortal fucking enemies,” I growled, “I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s waiting for daddy to show up so he can turn me over and gain his favor. Little fucking prick pussy.”

“If you think that, why are you still here?” she asked carefully.

I did not know how to reply to that, as a lot of emotions boiled up, ones which I did not like to think about. “You ready to watch me kick this tournament's ass?” I suddenly asked, changing the subject.

The sudden change in subject didn’t faze her at all as she shifted into a happier mood, “oh hellz yeah! You'll probably get to go up against a lot of super powerful Thorn users!”

“I hope so,” I said as I flexed my right arm, “I’m getting tired of fighting all these pushovers!”

She let out a laugh as she reached out and squeezed my arm, “fuck those are some solid ass muscles!”

“I know right?” I replied with a smirk. “I work out like all the time.”

“Holy Bamalooah,” she exclaimed as she checked my other arm, “you’re just solid muscle!”

“Damn straight,” I laughed, standing up and using my Wardrobe to flash away all of my armor. I then flexed hard as I struck a side chest pose, really showing off all of my muscles. “Eh? Impressive as fuck, right?”

She stared at me with wide eyes as she looked me over. “I did not expect you to look so fucking cool…”

I raised an eyebrow at her as I held the pose, then reality set in as I realized what I was doing.

“Fuck,” I hissed as a massive wave of humiliation and shame washed over me, causing me to open my Wardrobe menu and re-equip all of my armor and clothes again. I then just stood there like an idiot, not sure how to react now.

Floria just sat there staring at me, then a wide smile appeared on her face. “You are fucking awesome, Shane.”

“Eh… thanks,” I muttered, adjusting my sheathed katana awkwardly.

Her eyes drifted to my sword as she continued to smile, “so what’s its name?”

“What?” I asked, still feeling all kinds of fucked up emotionally after what I’d just done.

“Your weapon, what’s its name?” she asked as she reached out to touch it.

I swayed my hips away from her, moving the sword out of her reach. “It doesn’t have a name.”

“What?!” she asked, suddenly looking very shocked. “You have to name it!”

“I don’t really care about stuff like that,” I admitted as she pulled out her large Ego gun.

“Shane, bro, you have too! Naming them bonds them to you and gives them more power!” she explained as she kissed the side of her gun. “This hotties name is Mr. Trombone.” The gun shimmered a bit as if responding to her words.

Drawing my own sword out of its sheath, I frowned, “I don’t know…”

“Just do it!” she pressed as she put her gun away. “Trust me!”

With a sigh I grabbed the katana in both hands and thought about it for a moment, “erm… okay. Katana, your name is now… uh… Jessie… Stabby?”

The moment I spoke its new name, the wooden sword began to shimmer lightly. I blinked as I waved it around a bit, feeling a difference in the way it felt in my hand. “Whoa.”

“Right?” Floria said with an excited smile, then raised an eyebrow. “Wait, Jessie Stabby?”

I just smiled sheepishly at her as I put the sword back in its sheath, “yeah, first words to come to my mind.”

“Well it’s unique at least!” she laughed as she hopped up and stood before me, putting her hands in her pockets. “Feeling better?”

Looking at her smiling face caused me to smile a bit, “no, I feel terrible. But not as bad as I could be, I guess.”

A bright smile exploded onto her face as she leaned back a bit, “epic.” She then looked me right in the face, the mask hiding my eyes, “if you want, we can do this again. Talk, I mean.”

“Hmm,” I hummed as I rocked on my feet again, “sure.”

She gave me a thumbs up and then dropped so she landed on the ledge of the building, “awesomesauce. You want to keep talking? Or you want me to shut up?”

“I don’t know, give talking a try till you piss me off,” I said with a smirk as I pushed up my mask and sat down on the ledge as well.

We sat in silence for a few minutes before she finally spoke again.

“So what do you prefer? Chicks or dudes?”

This caused me to recoil a bit as I looked at her with a raised eyebrow. “Excuse me?”

“You know, for dating and banging. Which do you prefer?” she asked with a relaxed smile on her face.

A frown found its way on my face as I shook my head at her, “I really don’t care about that kinda shit.”

“But if you had to choose,” she pressed, seeming to really want to know the answer.

I rolled my eyes as I looked out over the city before us. I’d never actually thought about stuff like this before, and I still wasn’t that interested in the subject. Romance was weird as fuck to me.

“Dunno,” I muttered, not really sure how I’d swing if I wanted to do the dating game. Or sex. Never really put any thought into it.

“Come on,” she laughed, slugging my arm. “You’re not asexual are ya?”

“No,” I replied with a scowl, not really liking this conversation. But after a few moments I sighed, “look, I really don’t know. Before Lenrick I’d have said guys, but now I’m not sure.”

This seemed to pull her back as she took on a softer tone, “hey, sorry. I get too into things sometimes. Want to change subjects again?”

“Yeah,” I said, smiling a bit at her.

She rubs her hands together, seeming to be thinking of something to talk about. “Hmm… Ah! When you took off your armor, I saw your ass tattoo. I know Domitor’s came from being good at drawing, but what about yours?”

“Oh, my cutie mark?” I asked with a wide smile as I shifted my body and removed the bottom half of my armor, revealing my cutie mark.

Floria leaned forward and stared at it, nodding in approval, “that just looks so badass!”

“Thanks,” I laughed as she looked it over, “I got it by defying God and making him my bitch.”

“Whoa! You made a God submit to you?!” she asked in astonishment.

“Fuck yeah I did!” I exclaimed proudly, slamming a fist into my chest. “Made him do exactly what I wanted with no problems!”

A astonished look sat on the short Kejtdra’s face as she stared at me, “have I mentioned you’re a badass?”

“You can mention it again,” I said with a sly grin.

She giggled and snorted as she leaned away from my cutie mark and nodded in approval at me.

With a flick of my claw I hit the menu button to re-equip my lower armor. I then turned to her, ready to ask my own question, but then I saw a massive shadow being cast over the city before us.

We both glanced at each other as we looked up, mouths' going wide as we saw an absolutely MASSIVE piece of land floating above the tree. With what looked to be two miniature suns stationed under the whole thing.

“What the fuck is that?” I asked in awe as Floria scoffed.

“Huh, I’ve always wondered what they meant by ‘held up by the twin suns’. Guess that answers that,” she muttered.

“Wait, is that Ephemeris Island?!” I yelped, not expecting it to be so fucking big. Thing looked to be a couple of miles long! Which would be a fucking lot with us being only a few inches tall in this world!

“Yep, that’s the island,” she said, a frown on her face. “Guess that means it’s time.”

I blinked a few times then smirked, “Oh fuck yeah. You ready to see me kick some idiot's asses?”

“See those muscles in action? Fuck yeah,” she teased, slugging my shoulder again.

We both stood up and headed for the door that led down to the ground floor.

“Just, one thing,” she said suddenly as we entered the stairwell.

“Go for it,” I said as we began our descent.

“Can you at least try and be nice to Domitor?” she asked carefully, watching my reaction.

I frowned as my eye twitched, “Floria, that’s a tall order.”

“Please?”

Groaning, I shook my head, “I can TRY, okay?”

“Thank youuuuu,” she said in a sing-song voice, clearly very happy now.

Fucking bipolar Kejtdra.

As we continued downward, I saw Rosemary leaning on the rails down below, smiling at us.

‘I’m sorry,’ I thought to her, to which she just gave a happy nod and faded away.

I had to admit, I did feel a bit better. Looks like talking about shit is at least somewhat helpful.