This was it.

Today was the day.

The day that I betrayed people that trusted me, that stood by me, that wanted to help me, a complete stranger. I didn't want this anymore… God, I didn't want to do this to them. Their lives sounded peaceful, after everything they'd been through. But I can't go back now. Either Discord will chop my legs off and send me back to the shithole of a home I own, or he'll call me out on it and have them do whatever it is they do to enemies of the country. Or both, if he feels like it.

"Andrew!" Twilight shouted. "We're gonna be late!'

I slipped on my clothes, stuffing the gems into my pocket and putting the fourth one around my neck, the chain holding it underneath my shirt and just above my chest. The gem was flatter than the other two, which made it even easier to conceal. I opened the door to my room, saying nothing as Pinkie forcefully grabbed my arm and pulled me away, going on about her previous experiences in the castle. I slowly slipped away, walking beside them but saying nothing in particular.

They had no idea why I was here. I blended in nicely, not a suspicion in the world. They were all so happy, even without Pinkie being all over the place. I gasped softly as I felt a hand grasp mine. Looking down to Fluttershy, I recognized the care and compassion in her eyes, but they were for the wrong reasons.

"Don't worry. I'm sure she can find figure something out," she smiled, looking away a few seconds after. "I… I hope she does."

The stammer wasn't out of anxiety, she leaned into me for support. "You okay?" I asked, noticing her pace become a bit slower.

"Yeah, I guess I'm a little tired," she said, rubbing her head gently. "I'm sure it's nothing."

I nodded slowly, then tightened my grip on her hand as we kept up behind the girls. Applejack glanced back to us, giving me a sly grin as she winked and chuckled. I would have shaken my head, or even stick her the middle finger… but I couldn't. I didn't want to do anything else but get to the damn castle. And I got my wish.

The entire thing looked fantasized and medieval all at once. The various buildings that cut off from the main castle itself were connected by bridges which all led to the center structure. Posted outside were buffed out men in golden platings and armor. Some were patrolling from the top of the wall, while others were scattered at the bottom of it. The two standing to either side of the gate in front of us nodded to Twilight, their horns glowing different colors as the gates were encased in the same aura and opened.

"Pretty nice, huh?" Rainbow said, briskly walking to my right. "Oh yeah, and I guess I was right, hm?"

She nodded to my and Fluttershy's hand, which were entwined together. "I guess so," I sighed.

We made our way inside, and into an enormous hallway. The walls had to rise to at least two stories before meeting at the arches. They were mostly white, but the red carpeting and gold lined columns and arches, not to mention the stained-glass windows, were very beautifully made.

Hey, I took some architecture in high-school.

But I looked away when Fluttershy stumbled to the ground. I caught her before she could fall, a guard moving out from his position to help us. "Is she alright?" He asked, a gruff voice that sounded like it belonged to a drill sergeant.

"I'm okay," Fluttershy grunted quietly, slowly standing up with my help. "I'm just a little dizzy."

"Fluttershy, are you sure you're fine?" I questioned, watching the girls turn the corner. "I could–"

"I'm sure, Andrew," she said. "W-We should catch up… before they think we're lost."

The guard gave me an unsure look, and I shrugged. We went to catch up to the girls, which was fairly easy since they'd stopped to talk about the portrait of Blueblood, or so it said on the plaque beneath it. Fluttershy explained that he was an asshole of sorts, in my words at least. It was during the Gala, a big party they held in Canterlot. We moved on, finally to the throne room.

My heart raced. My knees were weak, my palms sweaty. Every step was an eternity going by. My body couldn't stop trembling… but I forced myself to go. The doors were pulled open by magic forces, and there they were. The two most powerful rulers of Equestria.

Like I had seen before, Celestia, I presume, had a summer colored, flowing mane, with light-tan skin and white(ish) wings and a horn of the same color, but I could swear I saw a tone of pink or something. She looked tall, even from her seat. Next to her was a younger looking woman with similar features, just in darker colors. Her mane looked like you were looking into the night sky, and her skin looked like a smooth sort of milk-color. Her wings and horn were indigo, and she had on makeup to match. Princess Luna, I presumed. They were both wearing some sort of robe with the sun and moon, and their left sleeve had a small opening on the side of the shoulder.

Aside from all that, they were pretty hot. Beautiful, whatever helps. But they looked wise, or something akin to that. Twilight went to meet the both of them, giving them both a warm hug. The girls all said their greetings, and I barely heard Twi introduce me.

"This is Andrew," she smiled, gesturing towards me.

I forced myself to focus and take in the scene. Two guards by the door, another at the foot of the stairs, and another beside the princesses. His armor had a purple plating over the gold. Probably the CO or some high ranking general. The girls shouldn't be a problem as long as this gem works correctly. And I can just blast those guards.

"So you're a soldier to your kind, I've heard." The big guy, maybe an inch or two taller than me, walked closer to me. "My name is Shining Armor. I'm Captain of the Solar Guard."

Ah. The best of the best of the best. I prayed the gems worked as well as they were made out to be.

"Andrew Navas. Do you mind the rank, or no?" I asked.

"I'm… curious," he grinned, shaking my hand.

I straightened up and saluted. "Retired Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Navas, Ex-Shadow Company," I stated.

"Retired?" Princess Luna asked. "You seem a bit young for retirement."

"Luna," Celestia chided softly. "For all we know his kind could live far shorter than most ponies."

"Actually, ma'am, we're reaching a hundred years," I chuckled. "There are a few that live a bit longer than that."

Luna gave her sister a victorious smirk, and Celestia simply laughed gently. They had nice voices… Celestia's was soft and motherly, while Luna had playful and strong voice. If their voices were anything to go by, I'm sure Luna would put up more of a struggle.

"I'm sorry. We shouldn't have digressed," Celestia smiled. She reached a hand out. "I am Princess Celestia."

My mind froze completely. My heart felt like it would either burst out of my chest or explode if I got any more anxiety. Her hand was just a foot away from me… and that was the moment my entire life was thrown in front of me.

That hand was extended to me out of trust… out of peace. She didn't want to start trouble, my whole reason for being here was to get help. But I would betray her before getting to know her, before seeing who any of them really were. I… I fought for freedom a long time ago… but now I was going to deceive and crush this nation. Did I switch sides overnight? Was I so desperate that I just jumped without thinking? I've done it all my life… joining the military… no backup plan… the IED. All my fault.

"Mr. Navas?"

What was I doing? Better yet… what was I supposed to do? I needed my legs. Without them I would always be half a man. Half a man with no job, no pay, a shitty home, a shitty life. And Discord said he would wipe my memory.

"Andrew?"

Fluttershy's voice broke me from my stare, and I glanced up to Celestia. She looked concerned… Luna looked worried… Shining Armor was confused… and I didn't need to look to see the girls' expressions.

I made up my mind.

"I'm sorry."

And I never regretted anything more.

I grabbed Celestia's hand forcefully, and the gem around my neck bursted into life. Celestia's mane and tail lost their ethereal qualities, falling lifelessly in a blob of gray. I pulled the red gem from my pocket, then turned on the shocked mares. I tapped twice, hitting the two guards rushing behind them square in the chest. My hand was aggressively pulled away from Celestia's, and I heard Shining Armor yell.

I threw myself at him, using my full weight to do so. We tumbled to the ground, and I managed to aim the gem at the last two guards, blasting one in the head while the other had shot in the right of his chest. My hand was encased in a blue aura before it was forced open. Shining Armor's arms reached under mine and put me into a master lock.

"Andrew what are you doing?!" Twilight screamed.

I threw my head back, hitting Shining in the face and giving me my chance to roll out. I jumped to my feet, but the guy was pretty quick. His fists made contact with my face at least three times before I deflected one and punched him in the gut. My hand hurt from the armor, which I had forgotten about, but I rethought my options. He tried to jab me, and I moved around it and uppercut him in the jaw. His other arm forced his elbow into my face, which knocked me down.

"You son of a—!"

I kicked my foot into his inner thigh to knock him down, and I jumped back up, right as he did. I didn't count on him tackling me, then beating down on me until blood was running from my nose and some from my mouth.

"Shining, stop!"

He pulled me up by the collar, a rage-fueled snarl contorted on his face. "He killed Astro!"

I spat in his eye, and he dropped me to wipe the blood from his eye. As he recoiled, I punched as hard as I could. It was enough to knock him off, and I quickly got up and started punching him. But, of course the son of a bitch blasted my chest with a spell to send me a couple feet away. I could tell he was tiring, and I didn't want to give him a chance with his magic.

I ran over as he got up, grabbed his head, then slammed it down onto my knee. His nose had to have been broken, because my knee felt a flatter surface. He grunted before slumping to the ground.

My face felt numb for a minute, and it was only then did I realize I was on the ground. My cheek was swelling, my shoulder was broken, and I was against the far wall, slumped on the floor. I screamed once the pain registered. Luna's eyes were glowing a ferocious white, and her fist had a smear of red across it.

"You're going to rot in the old dungeons until I die!" She bellowed, my eardrums ringing.

Luna grabbed me in the same fashion Shining did, but she picked me up a good few feet higher than he did. But I fell once my gem started glowing again, and I kicked her away. I made a break for the red gem, but my movements were restrained after I started glowing purple.

"THAT'S IT!" Twilight screamed, pinning me to the ground.

The girls were helping the guards and Celestia… and I managed to see Fluttershy covering her mouth as she kneeled over the guard I'd hit on the head.

"Well this was a nice change of pace! Wouldn't you all agree?"

I knew the sarcastic, cocky tone anywhere. I was teleported out of Twilight's hold, and I found myself standing next to Discord. He was smiling… and the girls looked shocked, terrified, and angry all at once. His paw touched my shoulder, and my injuries were healed in an instant.

"How did you… escape?" Celestia grunted, weakly trying to stand with the help of her sister.

"The Elements put you away for good!" Twilight sneered.

Discord reared his head back, laughing hysterically before wiping a tear from his eye. "What did you think I did all those years as an ornament?" He cackled. "Play checkers with my reflection? I found cracks, and I just chipped away from there."

"So he was with you this whole time?" Rainbow questioned, glaring angrily at me. She shot forward, but Discord conjured an enormous bubble to bounce her back into Rarity and Pinkie.

"You wanted to weaken Celestia," Luna snorted. "You thought getting rid of her would make Equestria yours."

"In essence, Lulu," he snickered. "And this would be a drawn out stalemate if you didn't go and break his face."

He reached into my shirt, his paw passing through the fabric, and showed them the medallion that glowed a blinding white.

"All of Sunny's magic is in here, and a just sprinkle of yours, too," he smirked. "Nice job, Andrew."

I averted my gaze to the ground, away from the expressions of the girls.

"You see, no pony would suspect a soldier looking to go home was actually here to overthrow you," Discord laughed, tapping my shoulder. "And I see Gleaming Spaulder didn't give you much trouble."

Twilight was helping her brother stand when she heard this. "Shut up!" She shouted. "We'll put you back in stone and plaster it shut!"

"Maybe we'll dump ya in cement!" Applejack spat.

The only voice I wasn't hearing…

"Andrew."

…piped up.

"Please… is it true?"

"Fluttershy, he's standing right next to Discord!" Rainbow exclaimed. "Of course—!"

"I want to hear it from him!" Fluttershy cried out, her voice quivering and broken. "Andrew… please… just say he's lying…"

I clenched my fist, trying to tune everything out at this point.

"Andrew!"

"YES! All of it! It's all true! From the moment you and Twilight found me I've been lying to get to here!" I yelled. I kept myself from showing any other emotions…

…because I didn't want to cry with her.

"Alright, I held up my end of the deal!" I shouted to Discord. "Now it's your turn!"

He… he chuckled. Then he started laughing… no, cackling. Like a maniac. He bent over wheezing, floating in the air as he hit the ground in hysteric amusement. My intuition warned me… that I wasn't going to like what happened next.

"Of course. You kept your end… so I'll keep mine."

With a thrust of his talon, I was knocked into a chair. No… no this wasn't a chair. Chairs don't roll around. Not straight back, at least.

I was in a wheelchair.

"You bring down Celestia… and I give you your legs."

The arm rests came alive and restrained me, then the foot rests grabbed onto my legs. "What the hell are you doing?!" I shouted, panic setting in.

"Giving you your legs," he smirked.

Before I could swear at him, I screamed in agony. It felt as though my legs were being ripped away from my hips. I lost the feeling of my toes… then my knees… and finally, my thighs. The pain still registered, and yet there wasn't a drop of blood. I was thrashing violently, sweat forming quickly as I desperately tried to break free. But I was powerless…

…and I watched my legs drop beside me.

The pain was nonexistent as his words rang out in my head. The deal… the deal that we made. He didn't say he would reattach my legs.

He said… he'd give them back.

"You… motherFUCKER!" I yelled, pushing my body to its limit to try and break free. "I SWEAR TO CHRIST I'LL PUT A BULLET IN YOUR FUCKING HEAD! LET ME OUT AND I'LL—"

My voice just left me.

And everything was black.

Author's Note

A little short (in my opinion) but it's something! No, I haven't forgotten about this story… but yes, I've been PROCRASTINATING! I'll try and knock it off, so here we are! And, as always, like, fav, comment, and have an awesome day or night! Peaces!