Of Magic and Steel

Chapters

From the Ashes of Defeat...
Reveille
Adapt
Interlude: Snowed In [CLOP]
Setting Off
Rescue
Royal Summons
Ranger
Shakeups
Second Chances
Testing and Training
Emerald: Visiting Mom
Ponyville Arrival Pt 1
Ponyville Arrival Pt 2
Healing
Preparing Home [CLOP]
Realizations Pt 1
Realizations Pt 2
The Interview
Interlude: Night in Las Pegasus [Clop]
OC Request

From the Ashes of Defeat...

Of Magic and Steel
From the Ashes of Defeat

The wind was biting cold as I climbed out of my car in front of the local superstore.

‘Damn, it is chilly.’ I thought as I shoved my hands deeper into my pockets in an effort to keep them warm. I quickly made my way inside to the warm interior of the store.

I headed over to the stationary aisle and grabbed a couple notebooks as well some lead and eraser refills before heading to the checkout.

As I stood in line, I saw a few airmen from the base just across the highway from the store pull out their cell phones at about the same time. Shrugging, I just figured it was a coincidence until, while I was paying for my purchases, all of them dropped their purchases and bolted for the doors and their vehicles.

‘Okay, never seen anything like that while I was in.’ I thought as I recalled my time in the military as I walked to my car.

As I reached my car, the hair on the back of my neck stood up. From the base, not even half a mile away, I heard the wail of the sirens that announced an air attack. At first, I thought that maybe they were doing an exercise or just testing the system, but the announcement that played was not one that would follow a test or an exercise scenario.

Then I heard it.

The high-pitched whistle of a warhead cutting through the air. I quickly lifted my head and began searching for it, hoping to see at least a flash of it so I knew the general area of where it would hit. I spotted it, and it was definitely no mortar round.

Time seemed to stop as I spotted the conical shape of a MIRV. My blood froze in the same instant.

‘So this is the way the world ends.’ I thought as everything moved back to full speed.

Everything was peaceful.

Then a flash of light as a miniature sun was born.

A wave of heat.

Then….

Nothingness.

I drifted in that nothingness for who knows how long. As I drifted, knowledge and memories were downloaded into my memory.

Wielding a massive six section sword against monsters of all types.

Casting spells using small glowing orbs the size of marbles.

The feeling of using weapons both familiar and alien.

Facing down men who fancied themselves gods.

Memories of fighting on hostile worlds against insurmountable odds.

Then, there was a feeling of intense pain as a green substance was infused into my body, making me stronger, faster, and more resilient.

Then suddenly, a feeling of cold and wet. The nothingness replaced with a field of white. As I lay there while my senses overloaded, I saw a pair of blurry figures approaching where I lay just as I slipped from consciousness.

Author's Note

Okay, A bit short I know, but I didn't want to try and cram to much into one chapter and make it seem rushed. Also, the shortness of this chapter works better I think for the suddenness of the event. Anyways, I would like to thank everyone who favorited the first chapter and started watching me. Please feel free to leave feedback. I want to know where I can improve. Also, if anyone has any ideas for the cover art, I will be willing to discuss commissions via private messages.

Reveille

Of Magic and Steel
Reveille

I wasn’t sure how long I was out, but as I slowly came to, I became aware of a gentle pulsing, slightly out of sync with my heartbeat.

Through the darkness I saw, just on the edge of my vision, almost imperceptible flashes of…green?

Slowly my awareness began to expand and I began to hear heavily accented voices.

“Is he going to be alright?”

“I think so, he is fine physically, but Celestia knows what his mind looks like.”

“Ja.”

That final voice made the recognition of the accent click. I was in the care of Russians. Ones that spoke amazingly perfect English, but still Russians. And who in the name of all that is holy is Celestia?

Slowly I opened my eyes, only to shut them again as the light in the room stabbed my retinas like a bunch of rusty ice picks.

I think that I need to rein in my imagination a little bit.

“Owwwwww.” I groaned as I slowly brought my hand to my face.

“Ah, he is awake. So how are you feeling my friend?” A gruff male voice asked in that heavy accent.

“Like I got thrown into the Cauldron only to be spit back out.” I bit out as I pushed myself into a sitting position.

“Easy now. Here let us help you.” A soft female voice said with that same accent as it came close accompanied, strangely, by the clip-clop of hooves.

I shook off the strangeness as two sets of hands, one most definitely male and the other possibly female but both were almost…furry feeling, helped push me up into a sitting position and helped me move to lean back against the headboard of the bed I was in.

Finally, I was able to open my eyes and take in the room I was in. It was fairly Spartan in its furnishings with a dresser, desk, a pair of nightstands, and a table with chairs in addition to the bed that I lay in, all made in a simple but durable design. The walls were the off white that usually accompanied being a hospital.

Of course, most hospitals aren’t staffed by anthropomorphic ponies.

To my left there was a white furred anthro with reddish brown hair that consisted her mane. She was wearing a nurse’s uniform that
I would have to place somewhere in the sixties or seventies. White skirt, white blouse, kind of a beige cardigan sweater, even had one of those little hats with the red cross on it. The other was a tall muscular stallion that had a close cropped black mane with dark grey fur. He was wearing a Russian uniform, an officer’s one judging from the shoulder boards. It appeared to be something from before the wall fell in ninety-one.

“It is good to see you awake! How are you doing?” He asked in a boisterous tone.

“Like I’m losing my gorram mind. Anthro ponies. What next? A pretty pink pony princess?” I snarked.

"Well, she isn’t pink, but if you want to talk to her we could send a letter to the Princess. It would take some time to get a response due to the distance and her rather busy schedule.” The female responded.

I looked at her, blinked a couple of times, and face-palmed.

“You’re serious aren’t you?”

The pair nodded. I sighed. Then I realized something rather important.

“Why the hell am I naked?”

“Well, your clothes were completely soaked. We had to remove them to treat the hypothermia.” The nurse responded.

“Alright, I can deal with that. If they are dry, I would like to have them back. Also, did I have anything else with me when I was found?” I asked as I went through the motions of seeing if everything was attached and in proper working order.

“Yes, there was a rucksack and a rather large sword.” The stallion replied.

I raised an eyebrow. “How big is this sword?”

“Well it is almost as long as you are tall and nearly as broad as you shoulders at the hilt” He replied.

My eyes widened in shock. He saw this and chuckled.

“I know. It took two of us just to move it into the barracks. Even now, two weeks later, we have to chase of the young colts who try to use it as a test of stallionhood.” He said with a laugh.

I stare at him incredulously, until the nurse hands me a stack of clothing.

“Here you are. I hope that they didn’t shrink when they were washed.” She said in that accented voice. Now that I had a chance to listen properly, I noticed that while her accent was the same as the stallion’s, it wasn’t like the Russian accent that most Eastern European women had. It was softer, almost melodic.

“Thank you.” I replied as I took the stack from the mare. Then without even thinking about it, I whipped back the covers and stood up.

Normally, I have pretty much zero modesty in my own home. I.e. I walk around the house buck naked. So I didn’t realize that I had just flashed the pair until the nurse gasped out an “oh, my sweet Celestia.”

I looked at her and followed her gaze down to my groin. Now, last time I looked down there, I was of average endowment for a white guy. Now, however, let’s just say that all but the kinkiest of women would run screaming “Aw, hell naw!” when I dropped my pants.

“Huh. Well that’s different.” I said before shaking out the pants that I had been given.

“What do you mean?” The nurse asked, her blush evident through her fur.

“I was never this…gifted before.” I replied as I buttoned my pants and slowly made my way towards then lone mirror in the room.

Once I reach the polished surface, I take in the changes that had happened to me.

My shoulder length brown hair had a few more streaks of silver in it, perfectly natural given what happened.

It appeared that I had gained an inch or two in height, pushing me just past the six foot tall mark.

The two biggest changes were my muscles and my eyes.

My muscles were defined in a way that I had been nowhere close to before the event. It was the definition that you can only achieve by going to the gym, without fail, for at least two hours a day, six days a week.

I sighed, now I’m going to have to really bust my ass to keep this new body up.

My eyes were by far the most startling.

First off, I used to have brown eyes. Used to.

Now I have blue eyes that seem to almost glow with an inner fire.

Check that, they are glowing.

Suddenly, I become aware of the pulsing sensation again. With each pulse the glow in my eyes intensifies. I fall to my knees.
I realize what the pulsing sensation is.

Mako.

The world tilts sideways as I lose consciousness again.

Author's Note

Yes, two updates in one day. This was the last chapter that I had pretty much written out before hand. Hope that this is okay for the beginning of character development.

Adapt

Of Magic and Steel

Adapt

The next time I awoke, the room was dark and I was alone. Slowly sitting up, I looked down at my hands.

‘This has got to be some weird, radiation sickness induced dream or hallucination.’ I thought to myself, my earlier, almost detached, sense of calm now in pieces. I glanced towards the mirror hoping not to see anything.

Sadly, my hopes were dashed when I saw two glowing green orbs in the mirror.

“Damn it.” I growled to myself.

Getting up from the bed I was sitting on, I moved towards the window. Looking out of it, I see a serene village covered in snow with just a few gas powered street lamps lining the edge of the thoroughfare. They provided little in the way of actually illumination with the fluttering flames, maybe a dozen feet or so around each lamp were dimly lit. The thing that lit up the village was the majestic full moon that hung overhead.

The full moon was another thing that drove home the fact that I was no longer on Earth. On its surface, seemingly made of craters, was a silhouette of what appeared to be a unicorn, most likely a mare from the slender look of its features.

Stepping away from the window, I moved towards the lamp and looked it over for a switch. My hand brushed over a slightly raised rune and the light came on.

‘Hmmm. Must be some kind of magic based technology’ I thought as I blinked the spots from my eyes.

Looking around the room, I see a small shelf above the desk with a small collection of books.

I walk over and pull one of them down. Looking at the cover, I see a yellow furred mare with matching wings and a grayish-black mane and tail wearing what appears to be the archetypal archaeologist's outfit of a khaki shirt with short sleeves, khaki shorts, a tan pith helmet, and a machete.

Thankfully, through whatever happy cosmic coincidence that the natives of this world speak English, they also write in it as well. The title, “Daring Do and The Quest for the Sapphire Stone” lead me to the conclusion that the story was in a similar vein to Indiana Jones. I thoroughly enjoyed the movies, so I moved back to the bed and began reading.

Several hours later, the nurse from the previous day came in with a tray of food.

Smiling, she set the tray down on the table before turning to me.

“I brought you some breakfast. Are you doing any better?” She asked.

I smiled in return. “Slightly. It’s going to take me some time to fully adjust, but going from being vaporized to waking up in a world where I’m the alien is a lot for a guy to take.”

“I can understand that. I was thinking that you were taking things a little too well yesterday.” She responded.

“With some of the things that I am slowly figuring out, I have a feeling that yesterday will not be the last time I have a panic attack. But, on my old world I was a soldier and there was a saying that we all pretty well lived by, especially if we were combat troops.” I replied as I made my way to the table.

“What is that?” She asked as we both sat down.

“Adapt and overcome. There is very little you can truly plan for in wartime, so you have to take the punches as they come and change your tactics while maintaining discipline and adhering to the law of war. Even when the enemy lacks honor and does despicable, cowardly things to try and gain the upper hand.” I say as I sit down to eat.

“Now you mentioned being vaporized, what do you mean?” The nurse inquired.

“On my world, about seventy years ago, a weapon was developed that could unleash the power that lies at the heart of a star. It was only used in anger twice, but the vast majority of the two cities that were targeted were destroyed in an instant. Since then, there had been a tenuous peace between the powers that had the weapons, but it seemed that finally something happened to push the delicate balance over the edge. These weapons were launched against my nation and I was less than half a kilometer from the epicenter. One second I was there, the next, poof. Gone, so much ash on the wind.” I said as I tucked into the meal.

The nurse was silent. I glanced up to see her holding her hand over her mouth and tears in her eyes. When she spoke, her words were punctuated with sobs.

“Ho...how could anyone be that, that, that cold and cruel?” She asked.

Moving more on instinct than anything else, I got up and pulled the mare into a hug before responding.

“Because there is one truth to my race. As compassionate as we can be, we can be just as ruthless when pushed far enough. As for why the world was destroyed? I doubt that anyone would be able to tell you with any certainty. All I know is, cooler heads did not prevail and the world burned for it. For me, this is a second chance to do what I was meant to do with my life.” I replied.

The mare sighed in my arms as her sobs stopped.

“What were you meant to do?” She asked.

“You recall I said that I was a soldier?” She nodded. “Well, I joined because I had a desire to protect those that I cared about and our greatest threat came from outside our borders. Did I live for the fighting? I won’t deny that I got a rush when my life was in danger, but I never sought out a battle. But when it did inevitably occur, I was ready and I did my job.” I continued.

“Did it ever bother you having to take a life?” She asked quietly, so quietly that it was a whisper really. ‘I guess the theories about SOLDIERs having enhanced senses were true then.’

“At the time I did so, no. I didn’t have the luxury of time to consider what I had done. But when the patrol was done, my weapon turned into the armory, and I was back in my barracks, the gravity of what I had done sank in. But the guilt was tempered by the knowledge that by taking the lives that I had, then there would be innocent lives that would continue, even if for just another day or week. That was the reality of our fight. Our enemy hid in the shadows and had no regard for innocents.” I replied as her breathing began to even out.

“So no regrets?” She asked.

“None. In the end, I prefer to look at the lives that I saved by doing what I did. If I had to do it all over again, then I would.” I said as I rubbed her back between her shoulder blades, the tight muscles slowly loosening.

She sighed. “You should eat. Your food is getting cold.”

I chuckled. “So it is.” I replied as I released her and moved back to my chair.

As I resumed eating, she wiped her eyes to dry the last of her tears.

“So what is your name?” She asked once she was fully composed once more.

I leaned back and considered. “Well, considering that this world will allow me to make a new start, I think a new name is in order.” I replied as I thought. “You can call me Talisman, Talisman Stryke.” I said finally.

She smiled. “It is a pleasure to meet you Talisman Stryke, my name is Tender Heart.”

I returned her smile. “It is a pleasure to meet you as well. Now, I am going to assume that I am in a hospital or clinic of some kind. What do I need to do to get out of here?” I inquired.

“Well, we need to get you checked out by a doctor, then we will need to see about getting you accommodations elsewhere.” She said.

“Well then, how quickly can we get that done?” I asked.

After meeting with the local doctor, an absolutely massive stallion by the name of Soothing Touch, I was able to leave the hospital with the bag and the reset of the clothing that I had been found with. The black cargo pants were joined by a short sleeve shirt and a harness that had a leather pauldron over the left shoulder. On the back of the harness was a magnetic plate that went from my right shoulder to my left hip.

Slinging the bag over my shoulder, I glanced at Tender Heart who was guiding me around the village that I had found out to be called Stalliongrad. When I found out that tidbit of information, I groaned internally at the pun.

“Ready to go yet, Tender?” I asked.

“Almost, but shouldn’t you put something else on? It is well below freezing.” She said as she wrapped her scarf tightly.

“I’m pretty sure that I won’t need it.” I replied as I followed her to the door.

As we stepped outside, my hypothesis that my elevated metabolism, and by extension elevated body temperature, would prevent any discomfort.

“How is it that you are not freezing?” Tender Heart asked.

“The temperature that you recorded when I was unconscious, did it seem a tad high to you?” I asked as we made our way down the main thoroughfare.

“Well, I suppose it did now that I think about it. Why?” She asked.

“If I was a normal human, and not the augmented being that I am now, my brain and organs would have been cooked a while ago. But I am feeling no ill effects of a high fever.” I explained.

“That, is quite impressive. What do you mean by ‘augmented’?” She inquired.

My eyes widened as I silently cursed my slip up.

“When my world was destroyed, I wound up in a void. If I had to guess, it was the area between realities. I brushed up against a number of realities, and I am sure that this bag has a large amount of goodies in it from those other worlds.” I replied, lifting the bag in question slightly before continuing. “The enhancements that my body underwent were from a world known as the Planet to the inhabitants. On that world there was an elite military group known as SOLDIER. Their operatives were enhanced with something called Mako, which was actually the energy of the planet known as the Life Stream, which was extracted from the Planet and refined. It makes my blood highly toxic to anyone else, and grants me superhuman abilities. The level of enhancement that I have is that of a SOLDIER 1st Class, the elite.” I explained.

“That sound exceptionally dangerous.” Tender replied.

“It was for the candidates. From what I understand of the lore from that world, and the memories that I was given, I am only the sixth person to have this level of enhancement and be walking around afterwards.” I replied as we turned a corner.

“So you have memories as well?”

“Yes, they gave me the knowledge to use my new skills and abilities. I just need to practice them.”

“But if you have the memories?” She began.

“Having the memories is one thing. But using them is another. They don’t magically grant you the ability to use the skills. I could quite possibly kill myself or get myself killed if I do not train these abilities.” I replied.

“What kind of abilities?” Tender inquired.

“If I am correct as to the contents of this bag, then the ability to use magic is within my grasp. But for now, I want to see that sword.” I replied as we approached a gate guarded by a mare and a stallion.

I let Tender Heart take care of the talking at this point, and we were soon inside one of the barracks looking on an interesting sight.

A group of stallions were around a pair of crates cheering one of their fellows.

One the crates lay something that I had never expected to actually see.

The dark grey metal, engraved with lines coming from the hilt to a point about a third of the way down the back side of the single edged blade, barely reflected any light until you got to the leading edge, which gleamed brilliantly in the light from the chandelier.

In all its glory, there lay the Buster Sword.

The stallion that was trying his hand at it, was barely able to get the hilt to lift off of the crate that it was resting on before he dropped it back down.

Taking the bag off of my shoulder and placing it on the ground, I motioned for Tender Heart to stay back before heading to the group.

“How about I give it a go?” I said once i was next to the group.

They turned and laughed at me, mostly likely judging by my size.

Though I stood nearly six feet in height, most of these males were over that and had to be pushing three hundred pounds of muscle. Despite my smaller and leaner stature though, I had tipped the scale at the doctor’s at almost two hundred fifty pounds with less than ten percent body fat. I also had a feeling that this sword was keyed to me some how.

“Of course! Just don’t blame us if you hurt yourself.” One of them said.

I chuckled. “Don’t worry. I won’t. But just in case, could you guys step back a few paces?” I asked.

Smiling, the group humored me and stepped back, clearing a ten foot or so circle around me.

Taking a deep breath, I took hold of the hilt.

A voice rang out in my head.

‘This blade is my family’s honor. Use it well.’

I shook my head. ‘Didn’t expect to get any advice from Angeal.’ I thought.

Holding the hilt in my right hand, I lifted the blade with ease.

The weight surprised me slightly, I had been expecting it to weigh more. Gaining my balance, I lowered the blade to one side as I placed my boot on the crate closest to me and pushed.

The first crate collided with the second and both slid across the room, two of the stallions having to move or get crushed.

Once the space was clear, I raised my blade and gripped the hilt with both hands and moved through a basic kata for the massive sword, slowly gaining speed as I repeated the movements until the blade was singing as it cut through the air.

Finishing with a flourish of spinning the blade in my right hand over my head, I settled the blade on my back, the magnetic plate grabbing it.

I looked around at the stallions. They all had looks of disbelief on their faces. Shrugging, I said:

“This sword is mine. Due to the enchantments on it, only I can lift it.” I explained, pulling a hopefully believable explanation out of my arse.

Thankfully the group believed it. Tender and I headed out of the barracks shortly afterwards.

“So that was impressive.” She said.

“I am so glad I did not screw that up. It would have wound up a lot differently.” I replied.

“So you took a chance to show off? Do you have a death wish?” She asked heatedly.

“No but it seemed like something that I needed to do.”

“And that last part?”

“Pulled it straight outta my arse.” I replied.

Tender looked at me incredulously.

“Hey, I had to say something.”

She just shook her head and lead me out of the compound and back into town.

Chuckling, I followed her.

“So is there someplace I can stay? I mostly ask because I’m pretty sure that I don’t have anything resembling local currency.” I asked once my larger stride caught up to hers.

“Well for the time being you can use the spare bedroom in my flat. Just don’t go burning it down please. I just renewed the lease.” Tender replied.

“I think I can manage. I just don’t want to be making you go out of your way, so I will see about doing some odd jobs around town to get some coin.”

“Good. We can always use a strong back around here and I am sure you can handle most tasks that we need taken care of.” She said.

“I’m pretty sure I can.” I replied with a smile as our steps crunched through the snow as darkness descended around us.

Interlude: Snowed In [CLOP]

Author's Note

Just a little something extra that I will be doing periodically as the ideas and circumstances dictate. Most of the situations will be alluded to in the story so if you don't want to read humanXanthro pony sexy times, fell free to skip it. If you do, scroll on down and let me know what you thought.

Interlude: Snowed In [CLOP]

I awoke to the sound of silence in the guest bedroom of Tender Heart’s flat. Looking at the clock on the wall, I saw that it was just past two in the morning, so silence was usually nothing to worry about, but I couldn’t hear the usual sounds of the building. The clanking of the boilers in the basement and the whir of the blower motors for the heating were conspicuously absent from the background. I could however hear a strong wind blowing outside the windows. Walking over to them I peered out to the city below.

“Well, that’s just peachy.” I said as I observed the complete whiteout of a strong blizzard in the area.

Heading out of my room, I walked down the short hallway to Tender’s room. I knocked gently on the door and waited for a response. Soon I heard the sound of hooves on the wooden floor approaching the door.

Tender opened the door to her room rubbing her eyes.

“What is it Talisman?” She asked, her accent a bit thicker than usual do to her half awake state.

“Just letting you know that there is a bad blizzard going on outside and it has knocked out power to the building. Probably going to wind up getting snowed in if we aren’t already.” I told her.

Tender looked at me blearily for a moment before launching into a rapid string of curses in the local variant of Russian. Most likely pertaining to the questionable parentage of the local Weather Team and such.

After about five minutes of what was probably an impressive tirad if I was able to understand it, she calmed down enough that I felt it was safe to approach her.

I might be a super soldier now, but things still hurt when I am hit hard enough.

“Feeling better?” I asked.

“Not really, I forgot to pick up some medication yesterday before I left the clinic and was planning on picking it up today, but that plan is shot.” She replied.

“Are you coming down with something?” I asked, concern lacing my voice.

“No, just a twice a year issue that mares have to deal with.” She said, blushing through her fur.

I wondered for a moment what she was talking about before it clicked. She was talking about her estrus.

‘Well, that is going to make things interesting.’ I thought.

“Well, we will deal with things as they come.” I said putting my hand on her shoulder. “If you want to stay in your room for the duration of however long we will be snowed in, that is fine. We have plenty of food so I can make something for you so you can eat.” I said.

“Thank you Talisman. You are quite the gentlestallion.” She replied with a smile.

I smiled back at her. “I try.” I said before pulling her into a hug.

She returned the hug firmly. “Whoever you end up with is going to be a lucky pony.”

I chuckled. “I’m sure that they will be. But right now, I am helping you out how ever I can. Now go and get some more sleep. We can deal with things once it is light out.”

“Since the heat is out, do you want to stay with me?” She asked timidly.

I pulled back and looked at her. I saw an almost hopeful, yet timid look in her eyes.

“Are you sure?” I asked. “You are starting your cycle.”

She shyly nodded. “I think I can control myself. Truthfully, the last time we had a storm like this I was terrified and I was alone. It was years ago, but I still haven’t been able to get over how scared I was.”

It was then that I noticed a slight tremor in her frame that had nothing to do with the cold or her heat. I pulled her tighter into my chest before speaking.

“Come on, let’s get some rest.” I said before pulling back and leading her to her bed.

Soon we were curled up under the covers on her queen size bed, me spooning against her back and my arm over her stomach.

“Thank you Talisman.” She said sleepily.

“You’re welcome Tender.” I said as I laid a kiss on the back of her head as we drifted off to sleep as the wind howled outside.

I awoke at a more decent hour to the sound of Tender Heart whimpering quietly. Though this wasn’t from the storm that was still blowing strong outside the windows. There was a distinct tone of need and lust in it.

The fact that she was grinding her rear into me helped my still sleep fogged mind make the connection.

I could tell she was still asleep and not doing it consciously, but it still caused me to think. I had been in this world for almost two months now and due to the events that lead to me coming here, there was no chance for me to return home. But becoming intimate with one of the locals was another step entirely. As I lay there, I considered Tender. Comparing her to the other mares that I had seen around the small city, she was quite beautiful. It was a wonder to me that she didn’t have any suitors in the village. Though, thinking about it, she probably did and they didn’t stack up to what she wanted out of a partner. Realizing that, I realized that I was pretty lucky to have been invited into her bed, even if it had just been to provide her comfort from her fears. The thought that she trusted me, stranger from a strange world, enough to invite me into her home, and then into her bed, made me smile. Settling back into a comfortable position, I decided that if she did ask me to become intimate, I would say yes. I squeezed her firmly to my chest as I drifted off again.

I awoke some time later to Tender quietly moaning and moving around even more than she had been earlier. Her legs were moving up and down and one of her arms a was moving quite vigorously. I could also smell her arousal through the blankets.

“Having fun?” I asked as I nuzzled the back of her neck, the soft fur tickling my cheek.

She let out a startled “Eep!” at being caught playing with herself.

“I’m sorry. I couldn’t control myself, I needed to try to get some kind of release.” She said as she tried to pull away.

I pulled her back and said. “If you want some help, you just have to ask.”

She relaxed against me. “Are you certain?” She asked quietly.

“I am. I thought about it earlier while you were still asleep. Even if some all powerful mage is able to find a way to send me home, my home world has become a wasteland. Even with the enhancements that I received when I was transported here, I wouldn’t survive for very long. So, I will at some point find a place to settle down permanently and I would probably find someone to spend the rest of my life with. But at this moment in time, you need relief, and if I can help you with that, I will.” I said as I ran my hand back and forth across her stomach, causing the muscles to twitch and elicit squeaks of pleasure from her.

“You are not planning to stay here in Stalliongrad?” She asked, turning to face me.

“I have a whole new world to explore. Since I have magic now, and it is primarily combat magic, I can go around and help villages and towns that don’t have a guard presence. I want to be able to do something good for the people. Here in Stalliongrad, you have plenty of hands and no really need for me to stick around. If I did I would probably go crazy from the boredom of little to nothing to do most of the time.” I said.

“So even if I asked you to stay?” She asked.

“I would have to turn you down, as much is I enjoy your company, it would be like asking a pegasus not to fly or a unicorn to not use magic. Humans have a strong desire to explore. A famous scientist once said ‘Exploration is in our nature. We began as wanderers, and we are wanderers still. We have lingered long enough on the shores of the cosmic ocean. We are ready at last to set sail for the stars.’ He had a unique understanding of our place in the universe and tried to use his talks as ways to foster better relations between the many peoples of Earth. Honestly, I wish that I had been able to see one of his talks in person, but he passed when I was very young. But the sentiment is true. Humans are curious and we want to see and experience new things. This world has a lot to offer in terms of that. I could be content to stay here and try to make a life here, maybe with you, maybe not, it would depend upon how well we would mesh as a couple, but eventually I would get that wanderlust and want to explore and see new things.” I said as I stroked her cheek.

She sighed sadly. “I understand. It’s just that I have never met anyone that I felt I could trust enough to let them in.”

“I kind of figured that. I might not know much about how beauty here in Equestria is judged, but looking around town, I can see that you are one of the prettiest mares around.” I replied, making her giggle.

“Why thank you kind sir.” She said with a smile.

“How about this? When the snow clears and the passenger trains start running again and I can head out, I send you a letter to keep you up on my adventures. Also, if and when I find a place to settle down, you would be more than welcome to join me there if you so desire.” I said.

Tender smiled before pulling me into a kiss. My eyes widened for a moment, then closed as I deepened the kiss before pulling back.

“I take it you are open to the idea?” I asked.

“I am, but when it comes to leaving Stalliongrad, I do not think I could. This is home for me, and even if it was with someone like you, I don’t think I could start over elsewhere.” She said.

“Fair enough. So friends with some very nice benefits while I am here and pen pals when I leave?” I asked with a raised brow.

“Hmmmm, I suppose that will have to do since I can’t get you to stay. Such a shame though.” She said as she ran a hand over my groin.

I jumped slightly at the touch before pulling her into a fierce kiss, allowing my hands to run over her body. I ran the fingers on one hand through her mane, tugging lightly on the blue hair while the other traced patterns through her tan fur beneath her sleep shirt. I slowly traced my way down her spine, making her back arch before I reach the waistband of her sleep pants. I ran my hands along the final boundary, before slowly sliding inside them and grasping her panty clad back side. She moaned into my mouth as her hand slid under my shirt and started running over the contours of my chest and stomach, the fur on her finger adding extra sensations.

I moved the hand on her back side to where she had told me where her cutie mark was when she was explaining about Equestrian culture. I ran my fingers through the fur, the change of texture and a pleasurable squeal from Tender told me I was in the right place. Her hands then made their way into my pants, one squeezing my backside as I had done to her, while the other moved to the front and began stroking my shaft, bringing a lust filled groan from me as the soft fur added that special something to the act.

I then moved my other hand from her head and lifted her shirt so I could reach her breasts without the barrier of her shirt. Her breasts were a small D-cup, but were firm and did not have much in the way of sag that comes with larger breasts. I quickly located her nipples, swirling the fur around them, causing the fur to tickle them lightly before lightly tweaking one before switching to the other as my other hand moved to her front and caressed her panty clad mound.

Pulling back from the kiss, I said. “Someone is excited.” Her reply was a needful moan as I ran my fingers over the now soaked material.

“Please stop teasing me!” She said once she caught her breath.

I smirked before rolling over on top of her, straddling her waist. I pulled her shirt off before leaning down and kissing her as I began to fondle her breasts, kneading them and tweaking her nipples gently occasionally.

Interlacing my fingers with hers, I began making my way down her body, kissing, licking, and gently biting as I made my way down. Once I got to her neck, a nip with my teeth caused her to moan throatily. I paused for a moment before biting more firmly and applying some suction on her neck causing her to moan loudly and making her back lift off the mattress.

I then continued down until I reached her breasts, taking a moment to admire the fleshy orbs. Covered in her tan fur, they were firm and heaving from her heavy breathing. I leaned down and took on of her nipples in my mouth, my eyes locked with hers as I did so. When I gently bit down and began suckling, her eyes rolled back into her head as she let out a throaty moan. I switched to her other breast after a couple of minutes, giving it the same treatment, all the while keeping my eyes on her face, enjoying the looks of bliss and the sounds of her appreciation.

I continued kissing my way down her body, running my tongue over her abdominal muscles, making her giggle lightly.

Soon enough i reach the waistband of her pants. Looking at her with a questioning glance, she nodded and lifted her hips, allowing me to carefully pull them of, taking care not to pull her tail.

Once I had her pants and underwear off, I lowered my head between her thighs, the smell of her arousal, which had been building throughout our activities, became almost overpowering as her juices leaked out, making the fur around her winking slit glisten.

I was able to keep my focus as I placed kisses up and down her firm thighs, drawing close to, but never getting close to her center.

Suddenly, tiring of my of my attentions not being where she was wanting, Tender reached down and grabbed handfuls of my hair and pulled my face into her sopping wet pussy, the forceful contact bringing a long, low moan from her lips.

The first thing I noticed was the heat coming from her core. The second was the taste, which was very sweet and more flavorful than any human woman I had been with, probably on account of the fruit and vegetable rich diet the nearly all Equestrians had.

I dug in with gusto, running my tongue all over and cleaning up the copious amounts of juices that had already flowed out, savoring the taste and the aroma.

I then drove my tongue inside of her entrance and began to sample directly from the source. The heat was incredible inside her and I had to wrap my arms around her legs to hold her still as her movements became more vigorous and frantic.

Moving up to her clit, I began to lick and suck on the little bundle of nerves, causing Tender to arch her back and tighten her grip on my hair.

Smiling to myself, I moved one hand to her entrance and swirled my fingers around it a few times before plunging my middle and ring fingers in, causing her to cry out at the sudden intrusion.

Deciding to test the waters, I added my pinkie finger for a few moments, causing her cries to increase in volume, before removing it, and while looking at her face, began to slowly work it into her puckered backdoor.

Her eyes widened as she looked at me and I raised an eyebrow as i continued to move my tongue over her sex. She nodded and smiled, giving me permission to continue.

I began to move my fingers in and out of her holes, slowly at first but speeding up to what was a mind numbing pace for the mare. After a couple of minutes of this I inserted my index finger into her convulsing pussy and moved my ring finger to join my pinkie, spreading and stretching her holes.

Glancing up at her, I saw her face locked in an expression of pure ecstasy, her mouth open in a silent scream of pleasure as my fingers pistoned in and out of her.

Soon enough she reached her peak, her legs wrapped around my head as her upper body lifted off the bed as her muscles clenched causing her to do a crunch as her juices flowed at an even faster rate, before she began screaming in russian as her holes clench down on my fingers and her juices sprayed out as she rode out her orgasm before she went slack and dropped to the bed.

“How was that?” I asked as I pulled my shirt off and wiped up my face and hand before discarding the shirt.

“Mindblowing.” She replied with a gasp.

“Well, better get ready. That was just foreplay.” I said as I got off the bed and removed my pants, which had become uncomfortably tight.

I climbed back on the bed and sat next to her with my back against the headboard, giving her a few moments to recover her breath.

Well that was the plan anyways.

I had barely sat down before she rolled over between my legs and taken my stiff cock into her mouth, causing me to gasp from the sudden sensation.

My enhancements has also increased the length and girth from they were before I had come to this world. Going from an average length of around seven inches to over ten and a doubling in girth gave me quite an impressive sight. But having read some anatomy books on Equestrians, I discovered that I was at about the average for a stallion.

Tender was quickly displaying that she had no problems with the size, taking it all the way to the hilt without gagging.

As she bobbed up and down my length she caressed my balls in her hand, gently squeezing them and rubbing the soft fur of her hands over them. Soon she stopped and got off the bed pulling me so my legs were over the side and placed her breasts around my shaft and began rubbing them up and down while taking the tip into her mouth and swirling her tongue around it.

Such was her skill, the sensations that were being created by the soft fur, and telling of how long it had been that I had received such attentions that I very quickly began to reach my peak.

“Tender, I, I’m getting close.” I said as I ran my fingers through her hair, gently pulling on her ears as she moaned around my cock.

Hearing this, she ceased the tit fuck and began to go for speed and suction. Dropping down quickly and pulling up quickly while sucking in as hard as she could, she brought me over the edge quickly.

“Tender!” I shouted as I peaked.

She hilted my member quickly and began working her throat muscles, taking every burst of my load down her throat, pulling back slowly to coax all of it out, collecting a generous amount on her tongue that she showed me after I had finished and she had removed her mouth, making a show of swallowing it.

“Okay, that was bloody hot.” I said as she stood up.

“Glad you liked it.” She said before leaning into a heated kiss. We both tasted each other as our tongues wrestled for dominance, but neither of us minded.

Soon we were back in the bed properly and were in a heated make out session as our hands wandered.

Tender took my stiffening member in her hand.

“I think someone is ready for round two.” She said as she gently strokes me to full mast.

“Hard not to be when worshipping such a beautiful mare.” I said as I swatted her cutie mark, a bird with a red cross in its claws, causing her to let out a cute “Eep!” I smiled as I rollover on top of her, and pulled her into a heated kiss.

“Are you ready?” I asked as we parted for air.

She laughed lightly before replying. “Such a gentlestallion. Now shut up and rut me until I can’t see straight.”

Smirking I obliged her request by lining up with her entrance, and driving myself into the hilt, causing her to gasp in pleasure. Taking a moment to properly brace myself, I began thrusting hard and fast.

The sound of flesh hitting flesh filled the room along side her moans as I penetrated her deeply, filling her completely as the tip of my cock touch the entrance to her womb, her canal stretched to its limit to try and accommodate the invader. Normally this would be painfully, but Tender was showing no issue with pain.

I continued for a few minutes before pulling out and flipping Tender onto her stomach as she yelped at the sudden movement. Lifting her backside into the air, I entered her again, gripping her hips to increase the power of my thrusting.

Her moans increased in volume at the more powerful thrusting. I gave firm swats to her backside, right on her cutie marks, making her moan harder and clench down when I did. Looking at her tail as I pounded her into the mattress, I got a wicked idea. Grabbing her tail and pulling on it firmly with one hand caused her to reach her peak near instantly. Happy that my conclusion was correct, I kept a firm grip on her tail and used it as a handle to aid my thrusting as Tender began to experience back to back orgasms, her juices flowing from her and down our legs and onto the sheets soaking them thoroughly.

Finally, the sensations became too much and I began to reach my peak.

“I'm getting close, where do you want it?” I asked as I began to grunt from the exertion of holding back.

“Sweet Celestia, do it inside me, breed me you magnificent stallion!” She screamed as she went of another peak.

Her words flipped a switch inside me as I redouble my efforts before finally reaching my peak as I spray copious amounts of my seed inside her womb as I hilted with a final powerful, bruising thrust.

Once I was spent, I collapsed onto her back and wrapped my arms around her waist rolling us onto our sides, me still hilted inside of her.

Soon our breathing and heart rates slowed to a more normal rate, her muscles still twitching as she tried to milk every drop from my slowly softening member.

“That was literally the best sex I have ever had. If only all stallions had your endurance and ability to please a mare. Most fall asleep after their orgasm and rarely does the mare get any satisfaction.” She said, still a little breathless.

“Most human males are the same. I myself am of the opinion, if she can still walk after you’re done, you aren’t doing it right.” I replied with a chuckle.

She gasped a little as my member finally softened enough that it popped out, a thing string of cum following it.

“For that I am glad. A few more times like that and I think my estrus will be satisfied.” She replied with a sultry smile.

“I look forward to it.” I replied, squeezing her gently. “Just give me a little while to rest and get something to eat and drink first.”

Setting Off

“So you are leaving us?” Tender Heart asked me as I was packing my rucksack.

“I am, Stalliongrad has been good to me for the past few months, but now that winter is over and the tracks have been cleared, I have a new world to explore.” I replied as I opened the case that my Materia.

The little glowing marbles that were arrayed in the case, were a boon that I could not believe. Over the past few weeks, I had spent several hours a day practicing with them and experimenting with different combinations to see the various effects. My specialty had quickly become the Lightning Materia. I had a Lightning in both of my bracers, the song of the magic contained within the stones a gentle crackling of a live circuit. The one on my left arm was linked to an All Materia while the one on my right was in a single slot. A Fire, Ice, Cure, all linked, a Haste, a Barrier-M Barrier pair, and a pair of summons that I was able to use rounded out the Materia on my bracers. Moving to the buster sword, I slotted another Lightning that had recently been birthed and paired it with an All, a Comet-All pairing rounded out the magic that I wanted for my blade.

Taking the blade in my hand and flicking my wrist, the sword vanished into my subspace pocket.

“I am so glad I figured out that trick, I have enough to worry about without a sword that size sitting on my back.” I said with a grin.

“Yes, some ponies might think you’re compensating for something.” Tender said as I placed the case into my ruck.

“I think we can agree that I don’t have anything to worry about in that department.” I replied with a slight warming of my cheeks.

About two weeks after I had moved in with Tender, a blizzard had rolled through overnight, causing the building to be snowed in. Fortunately we had plenty of food and water to last us for a few days. Unfortunately however, was that happened to be the week when Tender started her estrus. Ordinarily the mare was able to get some medication from the clinic to help ease the symptoms, but had not been able to acquire it before hand. This lead to some tension, before I finally offered to help the poor mare with her suffering.

Needless to say, by the time the snow had been cleared a couple of days later, both of us had a distinct wobble to our step once we finally left the mare’s flat. Since then we have enjoyed a casual relationship for the past five or six weeks.

“This is true. I will miss your company on those long cold nights.” She said with a sultry grin.

“And I shall miss yours. But I think we both know that if I stayed here, I would go mad.” I replied as I walked up to her and placed my hands on her hips.

“Yes, that would be a bad thing I would imagine. Things getting lit on fire or fried from electrical surges.” She said with a smirk.

“Yeah, as it would turn out the council dislikes casual destruction of property.” I replied with a chuckle.

“Well, you should get going my friend. You wouldn’t want to miss your train now would you?” Tender said after a moment.

Soon enough I was at the train station and saying my goodbyes and gathering gifts from the various residents, general in the form of care packages that contained some local dishes and some clothing or other random trinkets that the residents of Stalliongrad wanted to pass on. There were also several bottles of what I was assured were top shelf vodka, straight from the distillery in town.

Shaking my head at the embracing of the old Russian stereotype by the ponies of Stalliongrad, I waved good bye to everyone and boarded the train.

Settling down in one of the passenger cars, I leaned against the window to look outside. Soon the train began moving and I looked around the car once we had pulled out of the station.

The train was something that one would have seen in Europe during the 19th century. Lavishly appointed with lots of lacquered hardwood and dark colors for the fabric and sconces with early electric lights. There was a gentle rocking motion as the train gathered speed. My ticket was going to a city called Las Pegasus. The locals in Stalliongrad did not know much about the city, but with the similarity to Las Vegas, I could almost imagine that the town was a place that never slept and was a city of lights and casinos.

Three days later, the train was finally pulling into the Las Pegasus station.

Standing up and stretching, feeling the vertebrae in my back popping back into alignment, I grabbed my ruck and headed for the exit.

Stepping out, I was glad I had slotted the Ice Materia as the wave of heat slapped me in the face. Channeling just enough energy to chill the air around me, I headed into town, shielding my eyes from the sun.

‘I so need to buy a hat.’ I thought as I moved my way through the crowd.

Soon enough I had reached what appeared to be a western clothing store. Looking at it and the wares in the window displays, I shrugged my shoulders and went in.

Twenty minutes later, I walked out with a dark brown stetson and a tan duster, as well as a hundred and fifty bits lighter. Impulse purchase done, I set off to look for some employment.

As I walked along, I began to smell smoke. Ordinarily not anything I would pay attention, but I also caught the smell of burning insulation and wiring. Switching to a sprint, I rounded the corner and saw a business ablaze.

There was a crowd out front, with a pair of ponies that were being held back from going back into the business.

Hurrying up to the front of the crowd, I asked a stallion what was going on.

“The business caught fire and it spread quickly. The owners live above the shop and apparently their colt is still upstairs.” He said hurriedly.

“Where’s the fire department?” I asked as I shrugged off my ruck and duster.

“On their way, but they might not get here in time for the colt.” He said sadly.

Taking off my hat, I increased the power flowing to my ice materia.

“Okay, I’ll be back in a minute.” I said before flinging a Blizzraga at the entrance before charging in,

Several more Blizzragas and I was upstairs and checking all the rooms.

Finally, in a room towards the front of the store, I found a small colt of the floor, thankfully still conscious.

Picking him up and cradling him in my arms, I flung a Lightning at the window, shattering it and taking most of the frame out.

“Hang on, we’ll be safe in a moment.” I told the colt over the sound of flames.

I charged forward and leapt, curling around the colt, reflexes honed by running across the icy roofs of Stalliongrad allowing me to twist so I landed on the ground, albeit a little rougher than I had intended, but I was able to roll and land on my back.

I uncurled from around the colt and he opened his eyes and coughed a little.

“Thank you mister.” He said hoarsely, throat raw from the smoke.

“No problem, little guy.” I replied as his parents quickly came over and took him into their arms.

“Thank you so much. I don’t think we can ever repay you for this.” The father choked out as he held his family.

“No need sir. Just doing the right thing. I had the abilities and I would rather make use of them to help people.” I replied as I stood up.

“All the same. Thank you.” He replied gratefully.

“Any idea what could have caused it? Did you not have any kind of fire suppression?” I asked, knowing that resturants back on Earth had to have some kind of fire suppression over cooking areas for just such a reason.

“We did, but for some reason it didn’t work. I even pulled the manual release. As for what happened, something caused the grease in the fryer to splash up and hit the burners which lit the rest of the kitchen up. It moved too quickly to have been accidental as well.” The stallion replied.

I considered the stallion’s words. The setup sounded like something out of a mob movie when someone stopped paying the ‘protection’ money to the local mafioso. Looking around the area, I saw a couple of stallions glaring at the crowd from an alleyway.

“Sir, were you having to pay ‘protection’ money to someone?” I said emphasising the word.

The stallion looked at me and sighed. “Yes I was. The Don of Las Pegasus has a tight grip on the area. I finally got tired of being threatened and extorted and refused to pay anymore. The next day this happens.” He sighed again. “Looks like we will have to leave town.”

I looked around at the crowd. Whoever, and whatever this Don was had the people of this town so downtrodden that they were being bullied into paying to have their businesses and if they didn’t he wasn’t above destruction of property and outright murder to make his point.

“No, if you do that you let him win. Do you have someplace you can stay until your business gets rebuilt?” I asked as the fireponies did their work and extinguished the rest of the inferno.

“We do have some family just outside of town. Why?” He asked.

“I’m going to look into a few things. Maybe right a few wrongs.” I replied as I swung my duster on and donned my hat. Picking up my ruck, I nodded to the family. “Nothing gets to me more than people putting kids in danger.” I finished as I walked off, stopping briefly to talk to the fire chief to find out where the local police office was.

With directions to the Sheriff’s office I headed across town.

“So you want to do something about the Don of Las Pegasus, huh?” The Sheriff asked from across his desk.

“Sheriff, something has to be done. Property damage is one thing, buildings and material possessions can be replaced. But when lives are placed in jeopardy, something has to be done.” I said, eyes narrowing.

The Sheriff sighed. “That is easier said than done. The Don is a five hundred year old dragon that is absolutely massive. He has been operating in the area for the better part of four centuries. Even the Princess hasn’t had any luck with this. Hay, a couple of days ago, a team of WonderBolts went out and they lost one of their guys. He got shot out of the sky and the others couldn’t get close enough to get him out of there.”

“Have they tried to mount a rescue attempt since?” I asked.

“No, and I doubt that they are. Too dangerous they said, not worth the life of one stallion to send in a team to assault the place and risk their lives.”

I shook my head. “You know, where I come from Sheriff, we were constantly at war. One of our Tier 1 operators was listed as Missing in Action, and after an exhaustive search, was listed as Killed in Action. However several years later, completely across the country we were fighting in, they found a symbol carved into the wall of a shack that this operator was known to use when in distress or when he was isolated. His status was returned to MIA and they have continued the search. We always make every effort to bring all of our people home. Hell, even seventy years later we are finding remains from the Second World War and bringing them home.” I said.

“It’s not that simple. Dragons really don’t have a central government. Add in the age of the Don, and you get a situation that even the Princess would have trouble avoiding collateral damage. I don’t see what you can do.” The Sheriff replied.

“That is what I aim to find out. But, in my experience, not many things can withstand getting hit by a chunk of metal going several times the speed of sound.” I said with a smirk.

The Sheriff sighed. “Looks like I’m not going to talk you out of this. What do you need from me?”

“I need a vehicle to get me out there and any captives that I find and myself back to town. Something with armour would be nice as well.” I replied.

“I’ll see what I can find for you.” He said.

Rescue

I made my way down a small trail in the mountains of the Marejvae Desert outside of Las Pegasus. I swear all the puns in this world are going to kill me. I look above me to scan the cliff walls with my suppressed rifle, the stars glinting overhead, my helmet’s motion tracker showing only small contacts of the desert wildlife.

The armour that I was wearing was a boon that I had discovered when I was still in Stalliongrad over the winter. It was that of an Orbital Drop Shock Trooper, and right now that high tech armor was helping me moved quickly across the desert from where I was dropped off by the Sheriff. The armour consisted of an underlayer that consisted of a thick and airtight ballistic weave and helped to regulate the body temperature of the wearer. On my legs were powered actuators that decreased the effort needed to move across pretty well any terrain for longer than even my enhanced endurance could allow me. The portions on my arms and chest allowed for increased lifting strength as well. It was no MJOLNIR armour, but it was enough to make the trek easier. The helmet was the best part though. Motion tracker, smartlink optic reticle, and best of all, VISR. Visual Intelligence System, Reconnaissance or VISR was a piece of kit that all the soldiers and especially Tier I operators back on Earth would have giving their souls for. Granted most of the more useful features, like the overlay of the targets, didn’t function, but I was able to use a scanning feature that I had discovered to get navigation assistance by scanning maps of the area. I had set a nav marker on the mountain that was the Don’s base of operations.

The rifle that I carried was a Tier I operator’s dream. A modified M4 carbine, it had the attachments that allowed it to link to the sensors in my helmet that allowed for the smartlink optics that would help to compensate for wind and other environmental factors. It also had an integrated suppressor, the barrel from the front sight post forward had been replaced with a suppressor that maintained the same overall length of the weapon without having to have a longer barrel that could have made the weapon unwieldy in close quarters. The rail on the upper receiver only had a flip up iron sight as I had not had time to get any other optics zeroed in before I came out on this rescue mission and I was not lying in the snow to sight in the various optics that I had in my bag of goodies when I was back in Stalliongrad, my new found resistance to cold notwithstanding. It also had adapter plates on the left side of the weapon for attaching to the magnetic weapon holder the back of my torso armour.

I carried on my vest a double combat load of fourteen magazines, plus another magazine in a butt stock pouch and the magazine currently loaded in the weapon, giving me four hundred and eighty rounds for my primary weapon.

My sidearm was a suppressed M6 from the Halo verse. A .50 caliber handgun, the barrel had been replaced with a highly effective suppressor. The weapon attached to a magnetic plate on my right thigh, with eight twelve round magazines in a pouch attached to my left thigh, those combined with the one loaded in the weapon, gave me one hundred and eight rounds to work with.

The suppressors on both weapons were highly effective, the only sound when fired was the sound of the weapon cycling. So long as I was able to kept my rate of fire low, I would be able to eliminate most of my targets without being discovered.

Soon enough I reached a rise about half a kilometer away from the mountain and observed a vehicle approach the cave opening. The vehicle appeared to be some kind of official transport. This was confirmed when I saw six Equestrians in some kind of plate armour get out before another one with both wings and a horn wearing a dress climb out of the passenger area. Words were exchanged with the ponies guarding the entrance to the cave before the ones by the cave lifted crossbows and fired the heavy bolts into five of the larger and most likely male guards’ chests and the leg of the smaller, most likely female guard before going down and grabbing the two females and dragging them inside.

‘Well, shit. That complicates matters.’ I thought as I got up from my prone position and began sprinting up to the vehicle, my dark matte colored clothing and armour providing me a bit of stealth, even under the light of the full moon. Soon enough I was taking cover behind the vehicle.

“Can’t believe that prissy alicorn was stupid enough to come here.” One of the remaining guards said.

“No kidding. At least the boss has a meal now with those idiots.” A second guard said, the rustling of clothing indicating he was gesturing to the fallen stallions.

Incensed, I edged my way around the front of the vehicle and observed the layout of the area and the arrangement of the guards.

There were only two ponies outside the cave. Lining up my reticle on them, I moved my rifle from the furthest one to the nearest a couple of times until I had the sequence that I wanted to fire in.

Twice the rifle kicked into my shoulder and the two dropped to the ground, holes in their heads, dead before they hit the ground.

I quickly made my way to the entrance of the cave, spotting two more henchmen, a griffon and a unicorn, both looking rough around the edges. Both were dispatched with a single headshot, the smartlink optics aiding my aim.

Moving through the tunnels, I dropped more patrols as I cleared tunnels and rooms, each with a single shot, and in the case of a barracks type area, I took to a more up close and personal approach, placing my rifle on my back and using a combat knife attached to my chest armour. Grisly work to be sure, but the less chance of having to get into an open firefight or having someone come up behind me, the better.

Nearly an hour later I was approaching the main chamber of the tunnel system, and what appeared to be where this particular dragon’s horde was kept.

Sticking to the shadows, I was able to observe half a dozen or so henchmen, and the Don himself. The dragon was a big bastard, nearly twenty meters long and as big around as an SUV. I listened in as the dragon monologued.

“So you think that you would be able to just walk in here and make demands of me little princess. Oh you poor deluded child, so sure of your power.” He said.

“You can’t do this. I am a member of the royal family of Equestria. If you don’t release me and the ponies that you are holding prisoner there will be consequences.” The pink princess said, her tone trying to be regal, but a waiver in her voice betrayed her fear.

I took note of a pegasus stallion in a blue and yellow jumpsuit that had numerous tears and one of his wings hanging limply, the appendage damaged painfully. There was also the mare that was with the princess, she had been stripped of her plate armour, her leg tourniqueted above where the crossbow bolt had pierced, still oozing blood and the limb hanging unnaturally, the bone obviously broken by the projectile.

I began lining up my shots, knowing that as soon as I started firing, the element of surprise would be gone.

Taking a deep breathe, I opened fire. Six shots, six seconds, six bodies hit the ground.

There were about three seconds where there was nothing but stunned silence, then the dragon roared, shaking the cavern and rattling my bones.

Reaching into a pouch on my belt, I pulled out a sphere of tungsten, and slung my rifle on my back before stepping out of the shadows, charging on of my more unique skills that I had perfected in Stalliongrad.

“Who dares enter my domain and attack like a coward!?!” The dragon roared as I approached.

“A SOLDIER First Class that has seen the injustices that you have perpetuated on the citizens of Las Pegasus. I have come to remove the taint that you leave where ever your forces go.” I replied as the crackle of voltage built around me.

The dragon laughed cruelly. “What do you plan to do you puny thing? Slay me?”

“That’s the idea.” I said as I raised my right hand, the tungsten sphere sitting in the crook of my index finger, thumb ready to flick it forward.

The dragon laughed, opening his maw widely, giving me the perfect target. Lining my arm up with the opening, I flicked my thumb as if I was shooting marbles, but this marble left my hand at hypersonic speeds, punching through the dragon’s upper palate and through the top of his skull, the force and micro shock wave from the sonic boom sucking out his brain matter and splattering it in the small crater formed in the back wall of the cave.

The dragon’s body swayed for a moment before collapsing with a resounding thump that shook the ground.

Walking up to the princess, I depolarizes my visor as I shook of the latent static charge.

“Are you okay ma’am?” I asked her.

I got the response of the pony turning and retching as her stomach emptied. Sighing, moved over to her and pulled her tri-colored mane back and rubbed her back between her wings until she finished dry heaving.

Doing a bit better?” I asked quietly.

“A bit. Who are you and what did you do?” She asked.

“My name is Talisman Stryke. As to what I did, I used my rifle on the henchmen. The dragon, I used an ability of one of my spells to accelerate a ferrous metal projectile to about five times the speed of sound. Can you stand? We need to get those two down and get out of here. They definitely need medical attention and you could probably use a stiff drink or two.” I replied.

She gave a short laugh, probably the beginnings of shock induced hysteria, but she nodded. I moved to the pair that was chained up. Going to the stallion first, I shook him a couple of times and he opened a pair of emerald eyes.

“Hey can you stand?” I asked.

“I think so. Are you the rescue team?” He asked, his voice raspy, and for some reason slightly distorted.

Nodding, I reached up and pulled the shackles open with a sound of screeching metal. The stallion stumbled for a moment, but quickly regained his footing before heading to where the pink princess was.

The mare on the other hand, was suffering from blood lose and was barely coherent. I shot of a quick Cure spell to try and stabilize her before carefully pulling the shackles off and picking her up bridal style, taking care not to jostle her injured leg.

Walking over to the other two with the injured unicorn, I said. “Come on, let's get out of here.”

“How can we get out? The tunnels are confusing.” The princess said.

“I marked the main tunnel as I made my way through.” I said as I lead the way out.

Soon enough we had made our way outside to the vehicle that the princess had arrived in. I enter the passenger compartment and placed the unicorn in my arms on one of the seats and placed a couple of pillows under her leg.

I stepped outside and asked.

“Can all three of us fit up front without his wing being jarred to much?”

“We should be able to.” The stallion replied.

I nodded and began to pull the five stallions that had given their lives into the transport, carefully arranging them inside. Closing the door once I was sure that their bodies were secure, I motioned the other two into the cab before going around to the driver’s door and removing my rifle from my back before climbing in.

Placing my rifle in the center of the cab between the princess’s knees, I closed the door and removed my helmet.

“Everyone ready for this night to be over?” I asked.

Nods were given. I started up the transport and began driving back to the city. Looking out the window as I drove, I noticed that the ‘Mare in the Moon’ motif that had been present since I had arrived had vanished from the surface of the satellite.

“Well that certainly isn't good.” I said.

“What isn’t good? The princess asked quietly.

“Look at the moon. Seems that the seal on the Nightmare has been broken.” I said gesturing towards the night sky.

The pair gasped and the pegasus asked the princess.

“Your highness, what can this mean?”

“I’m not sure Soarin, I just hope Auntie Celestia is okay.” She replied.

“By the way, your highness.” I said. “What is your name?”

She gave a strained laugh before replying. “Sorry this night has gone to Tartarus and I’ve forgotten my manners. My name is Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, but you can call me Cadance.”

I nodded. “Okay Cadence. I have to ask, what possessed you to come out here with such a small guard force? Surely you knew you would be dealing with an organized crime operation. I have a roundabout count of nearly a hundred ponies and griffons that he had working for him. You weren’t expecting to just walk in and get Soarin were you?” I asked.

Her eyes hardened as tears welled up in her eyes. “I had to do something. I had no idea things would go so badly!” She replied.

“I mean no offense Cadence. I just wanted to try and find out your thought process on this. Because you are the one who is going to have to write the letters to those stallions’ families and explaining what happened to their sons and husbands.” I said as i jerked a thumb towards the cargo area as we turned onto the main road. The pink mare was subdued as the ramifications of her most likely spur of the moment decision sunk in.

Soon enough we reached the city and pulled up to the hospital’s emergency entrance.

I climbed out and opened the side doors. I had just exited with the injured and thankfully still alive unicorn when nurses exited with a gurney.

“Her leg is broken and she has lost a lot of blood. I also have five deceased stallions still inside. If you can have some more gurneys brought out to transport them to the morgue so they can be cleaned up and prepared for transport to their families it would be appreciated. Also the is a stallion in the cab with an injured wing and dehydration amongst other issues.” I said to the first nurse.

She nodded solemnly and began issuing orders to the other staff members, two of which assisted Soarin out of the cab. A group soon exited with gurneys and sheets and carefully brought out the bodies of the fallen. During this Cadence exited the vehicle, her appearance only garnered passing nods from the staff. One of the nurses took her inside to have her treated for shock.

Once the last of the remains were removed, I closed the doors and moves the vehicle to a side lot and secured it before entering the hospital to check on the living members of the group.

After being directed to a seat in the waiting area, I sat down and sighed. It had been a long night, and it looked like things were only going to get more complicated.

Author's Note

Well, things are starting to heat up. Join us for the next chapter in the saga!

Royal Summons

I entered the hospital again a few days later with some flowers for the female guard, River Blossom. Nodding to the nurse on duty I headed up to her room.

Entering I called out. “Hey River, you decent?”

“Hard to be anything else right now Talisman. You still coming here to check up on me?” She snarked back from her bed.

I smirked. “Well, we are both soldiers. Since I helped bring you back, and I am near the hospital, I figured checking up on you periodically and letting you know someone cares wouldn’t go amiss. Soarin is getting out of here today, so I decided to stop by and see you for a bit while I am waiting.” I said as I put the flowers into the vase on the table by her bed. There were a couple of get well cards, one from me and one from Cadance, as well as one from her family in Canterlot. Other than that there was not much to show that anyone had noticed or cared she had been injured.

“So what are your plans once you get back to Canterlot?” I asked as I sat down.

“Not to sure at the moment.” The mulberry furred unicorn replied. “I can still do magic, but I lost my leg, so that limits what I can do in the Guard.”

“Well, you could be an instructor. I am sure that they have positions that are open.” I said.

She shook her head sadly.

“Not for me. I haven’t been in the Guard for very long and I haven’t made the best impressions on my leadership. The only reason that I was on Princess Cadance’s detail was because I was one of the few mares that was available. Then this mess happens. I have to face facts, my career is over.” She said morosely.

I looked at the mare with a critical eye. “I take it that you wanted to serve in the guard from a young age.” I said.

“Yeah, I grew up in Canterlot so I got to see them a lot more than most ponies. When I got in and finished training, it wound up being a who you know rather than how well you could do your job. I always got assigned the crap details. I did them without complaint, but it really takes it out of a girl when you are doing the best damn job you can and the dirtbag that happens to be related to some noble or some retired general or some such gets the nice cushy jobs even if they can barely put on their armour.” She replied.

I nodded in understanding. “There were some issues with that in the military where I am from. It wasn’t as widespread, but the ‘good ol boys club’ was still a thing. I know that it definitely changed my perception of things when I was in. That was primarily the reason that I got out of the service.”

River and I talked for a while longer before I had to go and see Soarin. I left her with a promise to write and to look her up if I made my way to Canterlot in the future.

I entered Soarin’s room to find the doctor going over last minute instructions regarding the stallion’s recover.

Soon I was pushing the stallion in a wheelchair towards the elevators.

“I hate being treated like an invalid.” He groused.

“I hate this bit too. But there is a reason for it.” I replied with a chuckle.

“I know, they don’t want us getting hurt while we are still inside the hospital. Doesn’t mean that I have to like it.” He pouted.

I laughed as we entered the elevator.

“Well, I found this awesome diner near my hotel that serves the best pecan pie I have ever tasted. We’ll stop by and get some. My treat.” I said as the doors closed and I hit the button for the ground floor.

Soarin’s eyes lit up. “Really? I don’t want to put you out or anything…” He started before I interrupted.

“Don’t worry about it. Turns out that there was a hefty bounty being offered on the entirety of the Don’s organization. Apparently there have been a few attempts to collect on it. A few of the lower ranking guys had gotten nabbed, but no one who had ever gone after the big score had ever come back. Not sure if they chickened out and found someplace quiet to disappear to or if they were killed. Either way, I have a significant amount of money, and not much to spend it on. I also got you the room next to mine at the hotel. That way we can go and grab a drink later if you are up for it.” I explained.

Soarin was quiet for a couple of minutes before replying.

“Thanks. That’s a lot more than any of my teammates have ever done for me. Even Spitfire and we have been friends for years” He said.

“She is your current commanding officer?” I asked.

“She is. I know that she has to keep things professional, but a card at least to let me know she cares. But what did they do after I was shot down and captured? Went on to the next city to put on a show. Didn’t even make a token effort from what I have heard.” Soarin said sullenly as we exited the elevator and headed to the hospital entrance.

I sighed. “Then it sounds like I am going to have words with her when I see her. You never leave a man behind. Even if he gets killed, you make every effort to recover his body and bring him back.” I said. “On my world we were still finding bodies from wars decades past and we would make every effort to identify them and then they would be repatriated and buried with the honors that they should have gotten years ago.”

Soarin was quiet as he stood up from the wheelchair. “Is it really that big a deal for you?”

“Let me tell you a little story while we walk. About forty years ago, there was a very unpopular war in a little hell hole called Vietnam. The troops didn’t want to be there, the civilian population didn’t support the troops, even took to spitting on them when they came home. But there was one commander, with the Third Airborne Cavalry Division who told his men, that his boots would be the first on the ground when they got there, and they would be the last off when they pulled out. The story goes that he held to that promise, and despite being so high ranking, he didn’t sit back in his command tent, he was out there on the front line with his troops. How much is true and how much has been embellished through the numerous retellings throughout the years is up for debate. But there are stories like that from every war that had been fought in the last century about leaders that would go into battle with their men and fight alongside them. Those are the good leaders, not because they knew who to rub shoulders with, but they took care of their men and they did everything that they asked of their men.” I said as we walked.

Soarin was quiet for a while after I finished. I could tell that he was reflecting on his interactions with his superior officer. Friends they may have been, but it seemed to me that ego and careerism had struck her badly. She was in definite need of a reality check.

“I get where you are coming from. I guess the memories of my friend blinded me to who she has turned into. Thanks.” He said finally.

“Hey, all I did was tell you a story. You were the one who had to search your feelings and see what was in front of you.” I said, suddenly feeling like some old Jedi Master talking to a Padawan learner.

He smiled, his eyes lighting up a bit at that, though there was still some sadness there. Soon we entered the diner and began eating.

Later that evening I was getting ready to go grab something to eat when there was a knock at my hotel room door. I pulled on my shirt and opened the door. Outside was a pegasus mare that was very familiar.

My eyes widened a bit when I realized who it was.

“Soarin? Is that you?”

“Yeah it is.” She replied her wings twitching nervously.

“Come on in. I’m still finishing getting ready, so have a seat.” I said as I pulled the door open.

Once we had gotten inside, I began pulling on my boots.

“So I take it that a lot of your clothes are enchanted?” I asked as I laced the boots up.

“Yeah, been doing that for years. Kind of nice to be able to go out as myself. Gives me a bit of anonymity.” Soarin replied.

I nodded. “I can understand that. So natural born female wanting to be male, transgender, intersex, or magical accident?” I asked.

“A bit of the last two. My mom was working with a unicorn friend when she was pregnant with me and she got hit with a ricochet on a spell. Didn’t know what happened because there were no ill effects. Then I was born with both sets of plumbing. Made my school years hell, part of the reason I pretended to be male for so long. Then I became a Wonderbolt and any chance of being able to drop the male persona was lost. But now, I figure to heck with it.” She explained.

“So let me guess, you wrote up your letter of resignation and plan to deliver it to Spitfire.” I said more than asked.

“Yeah. Won’t be able to fly as a stunt flyer after my injury anyways. Thinking on what has happened over the years, that just cemented the fact that I haven’t really been happy being a Wonderbolt.” She said with a sigh.

“Well, look at it this way. You get a fresh start and you can even change your name to go with your more feminine appearance.” I said with a smile.

She smiled in return. “Actually Soarin was the made up name. My mom named me Emerald Breeze.”

“Hmmm, it does have a nice ring to it.” I said before standing up and walking over to the mare. “Hello Emerald Breeze, my name is Talisman Stryke. I find myself needing someone to accompany me to dinner this evening. Would you care to join me?” I asked a smile on my face, my hand extended to the blue-grey mare.

She smiled as she stood up and took my hand and shook. “I would be delighted to join you for dinner Talisman.”

We both looked at each other before bursting out laughing. I offered her my arm and after she took it, we headed down to the hotel restaurant.

I woke up the next morning to an interesting sensation of a wing covering my back.

‘You know, it’s not so bad. Dunno if this would be anything long term or not, but might as well enjoy it while it lasts.’ I thought as I lay in the bed that I was sharing with Emerald Breeze. Who would have thought that it would have happened. Soon enough though, nature’s call prompted me to leave the bed and actually wake up.

Once I had showered and taken care of my morning routine, I went to the phone in the room and ordered breakfast for the two of us. After I did that I took up the task to wake up the sleeping pegasus.

“Emerald, time to get up and be somewhat productive today.” I said gently shaking her shoulder.

“Mmmm, piiieeee.” She moaned in her sleep.

A snort escaped my lips. ‘One track mind, this one.’ I thought before trying again. “Yes there will be pie with breakfast. Now get up and go get showered.” I said as I shook her again.

Emerald bolted up, bare breasts bouncing. “Really?!? Thank you thank you thank you!” She cried before pulling me into a kiss and practically flying into the bathroom.

I shook my head as I laughed. Grabbing the key to her room, I went next door and grabbed her suitcase so she would have something to wear. When I came back into the room, I found her standing in the door to the bathroom wearing a towel and dripping everywhere with an embarrassed smile on her face.

“I completely forgot to ask for something to wear.” She said with a blush.

I shrugged. “Figured you would want something to wear besides what you had on last night. Speaking of those clothes, I feel like I should pay for the dry cleaning.” I said, causing her to laugh.

“It’s fine Talisman. I think I can afford it.” She said through her laughter as she went back into the bathroom to dry off.

Soon enough we were dressed, Emerald wearing her enchanted clothes, back in her Soarin persona, and eating the breakfast that had arrived. We were having a discussion about how humans were able to fly using technology rather than having a biological method to do so when there was a knock at the door.

Heading to the door, I opened it to discover Princess Cadance outside.

“Cadance, please come in. Soarin and I were just finishing breakfast.” I said moving to allow the alicorn to enter the room.

‘Soarin’ stood up and gave a short bow to the alicorn. “Good morning your Highness.”

“Good morning you two. I’m sorry that I have been out of sorts the last few days, but with everything that has happened…” She trailed off.

Emerald and I nodded. “We understand.” I said.

“Thank you.” She replied with a smile. “I actually wanted to tell you that Princess Celestia and Princess Luna are wanting to meet the two of you in Canterlot. They wanted me to bring you there when I return later today.”

Emerald and I glanced at each other. “Fair enough. One doesn’t just turn down a Royal Summons after all.” I replied.

Soon after we were packed and on our way to Canterlot in an honest to god airship. Not a zeppelin or a blimp, but what should have been a sailing ship that was powered by crystals and looking like the Alliance airships that were in World of Warcraft. This one, however was a passenger vessel. Nearly three hundred feet long, eighty wide and nearly sixty tall, it was a behemoth when compared to the ships that were sailing around Equestria. Of course, it was nothing compared to a cruise ship on Earth or, more familiar to me, an Iowa-class battleship or Nimitz-class supercarrier.

The ship was making good time from Las Pegasus. I was on deck near the bow, looking out over the landscape below as Emerald, still in her Soarin guise, flew near the ship, a rope around her waist the was secured to the railing in case her injured wing gave out and she couldn’t maneuver back to the deck.

“You know the doctor said to take it easy!” I yelled out over the sound of the wind and engines.

“I know my limits!” She called back. “Besides magic took care of the worst of it. I have to work the muscles to help heal it. That and I’m just riding the wake right now.”

I shook my head at the antics of the pegasus. “Well, I’ll be here if something happens.” I called out as I adjusted my goggles.

Soon enough Emerald landed on the deck and took off the harness.

“So we still have a few hours until we get to Canterlot. What do we do to occupy our time?” She asked as she stretched her wings and back.

“Not sure. Not really much to do on this boat.” I said.

“Well, you said that you can do magic right?” She asked.

I nodded in response.

“How about putting on a little show for the passengers?” She said.

I thought about it. I could use some of my lower level spells and put on a decent show. Multiple fire balls and such, since my control was pretty good at this point due to hours of practice with each type of Materia that I had.

“Sure, let me go get some of my Materia and I can put on a show on the fantail. See if anyone wants to come watch.” I replied.

We parted ways as Emerald went to speak to the Captain and the First Officer of the ship while I went below deck to our shared cabin.

Entering, I dug into my rucksack and pulled out my Materia case. Pulling on my gloves, I began to select my Materia. A Fire, Lightning, and an Ice went into the slots on each wrist. I moved to the tray that contained my red Materia. Running my fingers along them, I found the songs of the ones that I wished to use. Speaking out loud, I asked them.

“Feel like putting on a show?”

The songs changed to a tone of agreement and playfulness. I smirked at the marbles.

“You two are incorrigible sometimes.” I said, the songs changing to ones of laughter as I slotted them into my gloves.

Back on deck I headed aft and saw that pretty well every passenger and several members of the crew were waiting. All in all, about thirty ponies of all three breeds were there, several of them children with their parents.

“Well, looks like you managed to get a decent sized crowd Soarin. What did you do, go to everyone on the ship?” I asked the pegasus with a smile.

She blushed while the crowd chuckled a bit.

Turning to the alicorn, I asked. “Princess Cadance, would you be so kind as to put up a shield in front of the crowd please?”

“I can, but it might not be the strongest.” She said as her horn lit up and a shimmering blue barrier was erected between the crowd and myself.

“It shouldn’t be an issue, just wanting to take precautions. Accidents do happen after all and I would rather not have anyone hurt.” I said as I started to juggle balls of fire, ice, and plasma, two of each.

The crowd oohed and ahhed at the display before I threw the balls off the stern of the ship, the ice dropping out of sight, the fire dissipated, and the plasma burst in a spectacular flash about fifty feet behind the ship.

Whipping my hands from across my chest conjuring two dozen fireballs and began to manipulate them, making them fly in various ways and formations around the ship, while speaking.

“I know that most of you know that Unicorns are able to actively use magic in a variety of ways. Most common is the ability to levitate objects and the ability to create temporary mage lights. Most other spells are related to their special talents or something job related unless the unicorn is particularly studious and has learned more spells than what is related to their innate talents. Myself, I have to use foci as I do not have a horn to channel with. So I use what is know as Materia. Materia is a concentrated sphere of what is known as the Lifestream, a river of energy that flows throughout the planet, it is made up of the life energy all those that have come before and all of those that will come. They willingly give up some of their energy to allow us to use magic through Materia. It is not something that comes easily though. Just as a young unicorn must practice their magic to help strengthen it and to help their reserves grow, a Materia user must practice and gain familiarity with the spells that they are trying to cast. At best an inexperienced Materia user would just have nothing happen, at worst the spell could explode in their face, causing serious injury. The more a Materia is used, the stronger it becomes until it reaches a point where it is considered ‘Mastered’. At that point the Materia will ‘spawn’ for lack of a better term, a new lower level version of itself, allowing the process to be repeated. A true Materia Master, either someone who just has an innate ability to manipulate the energy or someone, such as myself, that has put hours upon hours of practice in to understand how to manipulate the spells, can make different combinations of spells by linking Materia in the slots of their bracers and weapons, allowing them to create even more devastating spells. Spells can also be combined with what are classified as Support Materia that add different effects to the spells. The most common is the All Materia, which allows one to ‘target’ multiple individuals for a spell. It can be something like a Lightning spell which will jump from enemy to enemy, or a restorative spell like a Cure that will heal injuries that your allies have sustained. The problem with using restorative Materia, is that it is basically a bandage most of the time, just something to stabilize injuries until the individual can receive proper medical attention. The crown jewel of all Materia are ones such as these.” I said dispelling the swarm of fireballs before beginning my summoning.

“Rise from the ashes, PHOENIX!”

“From the frozen wastes, arise SHIVA!”

With a cry of phoenix song, an absolutely massive firebird appeared and began to soar around the vessel, its song bringing smiles to all aboard.

A sudden chill overtook the area as the ice goddess rose from a mound of snow and ice that had materialized on the deck. She had a playful smile, giggling a bit, a sound of bells in a breeze, before winking at Emerald and blowing her a kiss, obviously approving of the mare, but causing the mare to blush heavily through her fur.

Soon enough the summons took their leave and Cadance dropped her shield.

“Thank you all folks, I hope you enjoyed the demonstration.” I said, taking a bow as applause rang out.

Soon enough we were back below deck and Emerald and I were in our cabin.

“That was amazing. Especially those last two. What were they?” She asked.

“Summons, basically they are Aeons, or personifications of gods that can be called to the aid of someone worthy. Some like Phoenix and Shiva are on the lower end of the power scale, while others that I have are ones you only call upon when you have to do some serious damage, like taking on an entire army.” I said as I slotted my normal selections of Materia.

“So basically, the biggest stick you have available.” She replied.

“Pretty much.” I said before a knock sounded at the cabin door.

Emerald went to get the door while I put away my Materia case.

“Your Highness, what can we do for you?” I heard her ask.

“Hello Soarin, could I come in?” I heard Cadance reply.

“Certainly.” Emerald replied as she opened the door to allow the alicorn to enter.

I sat on my bed while Cadance took the desk chair and Emerald moved to her bed.

“So what is going on between you two?” Cadance asked bluntly.

Emerald’s eyes widened and her wings twitched, betraying her nerves. I merely raised an eyebrow.

“What do you mean Princess?” I asked calmly.

“Don’t try to pull that Talisman, I am the Princess of Love for a reason, I can sense love in all of its forms and you two are thick with romantic love.” She said.

“First off, that is a damn scary power to have. Smacks of being able to manipulate people something fierce. Secondly, what we do in our alone time really ain’t any of your business. Thirdly, anything that is happening has to be discrete due to ‘Soarin’s profession at the moment.” I replied coolly.

Cadance drew back as if struck. “I’m sorry if it came off that way, I just like to make sure that those I know are in healthy relationships, even if it is just friendship.” She explained, an abashed look on her face.

“Well, what we are is still up in the air. As I said, due to ‘Soarin’s' profession and the fact that he is in the limelight can cause problems due to the press wanting to know every minute detail of the lives of celebrities. That and there are some other issues that it would be up to ‘Soarin’ if he wants to discuss them with you.” I replied, while looking at the mare in disguise. “But only if you can keep them to yourself.” I added, looking at the alicorn with narrowed eyes while pushing mako into them, increasing the glow.

Cadance nodded as Emerald stood up and walked to the bathroom, grabbing a robe along the way.

Cadance gained a puzzled look at this.

“You’re aware of how the Royal Guard’s armour can alter their appearance to make them all look the same?” I inquired, using the knowledge that River Blossom had given me.

Cadance nodded.

“As it turns out, the effect can be applied to any article of clothing that can be enchanted. It can allow you to change any portion of your appearance, so long as the clothing is mostly intact.” I explained as Emerald stepped out of the bathroom.

“Your Highness, meet Emerald Breeze, AKA Soarin of the Wonderbolts.” I said as Emerald moved in front of the alicorn.

Cadance was struck speechless for several moments.

“But, but, how? Why?” She finally stammered out.[

“Because it was easier for me to pretend to be a stallion.” Emerald replied.

“So you want to be a stallion?” She asked.

“Not really, though I am halfway there though.” She said with a giggle.

“Huh?” Came the eloquent response from Cadance.

Emerald turned to face Cadance, and with a smirk over her shoulder to me, opened the front of her robe for a few seconds before closing it again.

Cadance for her part was gobsmacked.

I chuckled at her expression. “So you can see why we want to keep things discreet until she has handed in her resignation from the Wonderbolts.” I said.

“You’re resigning? Why?” Cadance asked.

“Talisman and I talked several times while I was in the hospital and after I was released, and I came to some conclusions. First I have to ask, have you ever made a visit to the Academy?” Emerald said.

“No, I haven’t. I know that periodically the upper leadership of the Air Force and the Guard make visits.” Cadance replied.

“But do they ever make a surprise visit?” Emerald asked.

“Not that I am aware of. They are always announced.” Cadance replied.

“That what I thought.” I replied. “That gives them time to hide the dirty little secrets of the Academy and the Wonderbolts in general.”

“What do you mean?” Cadance asked.

“Quite frankly, if the Wonderbolts were a unit in the military that I was a part of on my homeworld, the entire leadership, a good portion of the rest of the unit and several members of the upper brass would have been court martialed and jailed because of the abuse of the recruits and the abuse of power by the leadership to keep it quiet. I have seen issues with maltraining take out not just the instructors involved but also individuals several rungs up the chain because they kept things from being reported. As the primary role of the Wonderbolts is an aerial demonstration team, trust between wingmen is paramount. If you don’t have that, then the shows will suffer because the more complex maneuvers that require precision and trust that your teammates are going to be in the proper position will not be there. Frankly, once this gets out, and it will even if I have to petition Celestia herself, I don’t think the Wonderbolts will be flying again for a long while.” I said.

Cadance looked at me with wide eyes before looking at Emerald who nodded her head.

“The team has gone down hill in the past few years, I myself am ashamed how much I let happen without so much as a token protest.” Emerald said, eyes downcast.

“Hey, there wasn’t much that you could do without becoming a pariah and being kicked off the team in disgrace. From the sounds of it, you would have had to petition Celestia directly and bypass the entire chain of command which would have cause a world of problems.” I replied giving the mare a hug.

Cadence sat silently for a few moments before speaking.

“I can see your dilemma. Not that it excuses you from your responsibilities as an officer in the Air Force. Depending upon how things go, I will see if we can do something to grant leniency given mitigating circumstances.” Cadance said finally.

Before either of us could say anything, the PA sounded to let us know that we were approaching Canterlot and to prepare for landing.

Cadance took her leave to prepare for disembarking while Emerald got dressed in her enchanted clothing and I packed everything away.

Author's Note

Whew that is a wall o' text, but we are getting to the point where we start interacting with the major players. Stay tuned for more!

Ranger

Once we disembarked from the airship, we were met with a contingent of Royal Guards who herded us into a transport and took us to the royal palace in the center of Canterlot. As we proceeded through the streets, I took in the sights as best I could through the window by my seat.

‘Looks like most of the inhabitants are unicorns. And from the looks on their faces, most of them seem to think very highly of themselves.’ I thought as I observed the locals.

Soon enough we had pulled through the gates of the palace and were at the front doors. The guards opened the door of the transport and ushered us inside where another team lead us through the opulent halls to what appeared to be a private meeting room.

“So I guess we have gotten to the point of ‘hurry up and wait’.” I said, getting a smirk from Emerald and a giggle from Princess Cadance.“Auntie should be here shortly. The nobles always like to cause her headaches when she has to close the court for any reason.” Cadance said.

I nodded as I reached into my bag pulling a folder out and placing it on the table before removing my Stetson and my duster.

I had just sat down when the doors opened to admit two more alicorns. Standing, I gave both of them a shallow bow out of respect.

“Please everyone be seated.” The taller of the two, a white furred alicorn with a ephemeral mane of four colors waving in an unseen breeze said as she and a smaller alicorn, this one with dark blue fur and a lighter blue mane, took their seats at the head of the table.

“Thank you all for coming so quickly.” The taller one said. “Lt. Soarin, it is good to see that you have recovered from your ordeal.”

“Thank you Princess Celestia. I was just lucky that Talisman was in the area and that he has a strong sense of duty.” Emerald replied with a nod of her head.

The taller one, Princess Celestia, turned to me.

“So how is it that you came to be in Las Pegasus? Not that I am upset, but I am curious as to how one such as yourself came to be here.” She inquired.

I got the impression that once Celestia entered the room, that despite her matronly tone and demeanor that she was a shrewd operator who had dealt with many things over the centuries.

“Well Your Highness, to tell that tale, I have to ask one question: Are you familiar with the process of nuclear fission?” I replied.

“It is the process of splitting an atom of some form of heavy metal. It is a very dangerous process though, what do you know of it?” She inquired

“I know that it can create the most devastating weapon known to man. A weapon, that with the current designs, is capable of leveling an entire city in one strike. Also those damnable weapons are the most likely reason that I am here.” I replied.

“Your people created weapons that split the atom? For what reason?” Celestia asked.

“Because of seventy years ago, one of the worst enemies that had cropped up in history was thought to have been researching the weapons for his own use. It was basically, ‘we need to figure this out before the enemy does’. Where we had the advantage over the Nazis was that most of the scientists that were in Europe that had the knowledge to make such a breakthrough had left the continent when the drums of war started beating to escape being killed. It was a state of fear that lead to the development of atomic weapons. We had defeated the Nazis before the test of the Trinity device, but the development continued due to the ongoing war in the Pacific against the Imperial Japanese. Their unwillingness to surrender was what forced our hand in using these early weapons in anger on two of their cities.” I said.

“Two of these weapons were used? Why?” Celestia asked, her mask cracking slightly as she listened to my story.

“Because the Imperial Japanese had started to resort to suicide attacks, crashing ships and planes into our ships. They would make banzai charges into our entrenched machine gun positions, only to get mowed down. By the beginning of 1945, the Imperial Navy was a shadow of its former self, with all of their carriers sunk, their massive Yamato-class battleships sent to the bottom, and their best pilots and other high ranking leaders had been killed over the course of three and a half years. We tried several times as we took their bastions to try and get an unconditional surrender out of them, but each time the request was ignored. In August of 1945, the city of Hiroshima was struck by the atom bomb known as Little Boy. Something like thirty percent of the city’s population was vaporized instantly. The government still refused to surrender. Two days later, the city of Nagasaki was struck with the Fat Man bomb. Another thirty to forty thousand were killed instantly. The second bombing, coupled with the threat of continued strikes, forced the Imperial government to the table to sign an unconditional surrender.” I replied.

There was silence as this was contemplated.

“What happened afterwards?” The blue alicorn asked.

“An arms race to develop smaller and more powerful warheads that instead of being measured in kilotons of explosive force, were measured in megatons. Eventually a strategy was developed for the use of those weapons. It was known as Mutually Assured Destruction, of MAD. An appropriate acronym if there ever was one. Basically it boiled down to this: If you launch, we launch. Total destruction of major cities and of the ability to operate militarily. It would also have the side effect of throwing tons of radioactive material into the upper atmosphere, quite possibly high enough to cause sunlight to be blocked from reaching the surface, causing what was termed nuclear winter, which would be an extinction level event that humanity and the planet in general would not be able to recover from.” I said.

“I am to understand that this exchange occurred during you time?” Celestia asked.

I nodded. “I was less than a mile from the hypocenter of a thermonuclear detonation. There was a flash, searing heat then nothing. Next thing I knew, I was waking up in the hospital in Stalliongrad and having to adapt to being in a new world and having abilities that were from the realm of fantasy.” I replied.

“What kind of abilities?” Celestia asked.

“I am stronger than any normal human and I have been infused with a substance known as Mako. A side effect of this is that my blood is now highly caustic and can eat through just about any known substance. It is also the reason that my eyes glow. I also have the ability to use magic through foci called Materia. I also have weapons and armour that allow me to have a wide range of situations that I am able to address, such as the one in Las Pegasus where I rescued Lt Soarin, Corporal River Blossom and Princess Cadance. I took the liberty of preparing this After Action Report detailing the events and timeline of the operation.” I said sliding the folder to Celestia.

She took the report and began to read over it. The report was only about six pages, but was a detailed as I could make it without giving a blow by blow account.

After she finished reading it, she passed the folder to the blue alicorn, with a sigh.

“I assume that you are wishing to collect on the bounty against the Don and his organization.” She said wearily.

I nodded. “I would. I was not even aware of the bounties that were out when I went out there. All I cared about was dealing with a group of individuals that purposefully endanger children and rescuing a brother in arms that had been abandoned by his unit. The reward is just a happy coincidence and was in no way the motivating factor.” I replied.

Celestia gave a small smile. “I see that honor is something that you have in spades Mr. Stryke. If I am understanding your meaning, you were in the military on your home world?”

“I was. I served ten years on active duty in the Army. I was an Infantryman in the 1st Infantry Division, one of the more famous units in my nation’s military. By the time I had reached the end of my enlistment, I was very weary from the fighting and constantly being deployed for a year or more. Despite that, I still tried to live my life by the values that were instilled in me by the Army. One of which is, leave no man behind.” I said.

Celestia nodded. “I understand and I thank you for doing what you did. It might not have happened the way that I would have liked, and I mourn the loss of my little ponies, but as you said, they willingly put a foal’s life in danger. We owe you a great debt that money cannot repay.”

“No you don’t. The knowledge that I removed some of the scum from that particular corner of the world and saved that colt as well as those that were held prisoner is enough for me.” I replied, shaking my head.

“Be that is it may, We still feel that We should do something.” The blue alicorn replied.

I raised my eyebrow at this. I could hear the Royal ‘We’ in the statement clearly.

“What would you suggest Your Highness?” I asked before adding. “Also, not to be rude but could I get your name?”

She smiled slightly, the first I had seen since she had entered the room.

“Our name is Luna. What We are suggesting is to give you a role within Equestria, something that will allow you to do the good that you obviously seek to do, as well as to provide a solution to an issue that has appeared within the last few days.” The now identified Princess Luna replied.

I nodded. “It would depend upon the offer Princess Luna, as well as to who I would report to. From what I have been told by Lt Soarin, there needs to be a serious cleaning of house in the upper echelons of your military.”

Luna and Celestia shared a look before Luna replied.

“For what We are considering, you would report directly to Ourself. You would have great autonomy to accomplish the tasks assigned to you as well as access to resources that you would ordinarily not have.” Luna replied.

Celestia’s eyes widened. “Sister surely you can’t mean…”

“Indeed Sister. The need for them may have waned, but there are signs that there will be difficulties coming that even the Bearers will need assistance with. There is also the fact that all of the Bearers are civilians. They do not have training to deal with some of the issues that may arise.” Luna replied.

Celestia closed her eyes as she considered her sister’s words.

“You speak the truth Sister, and I swore that when you were restored I would take your council and thoughts seriously. Consider this the beginning of a new chapter for us.” She finally replied.

Luna nodded, a true smile on her face. “Thank you Sister. This means much to Us.” She replied before standing and turning to me.

“Rise Talisman Stryke of Earth.” She commanded.

I quickly stood up and came to attention, years of training coming to the forefront as my military bearing took over.

“Talisman Stryke, you have been chosen to be an Equestrian Ranger. You will be the right hand of the crown. Your exemplary actions since coming to this world show that you are a just and honorable individual, who when given the option, will resolve issues peaceably and without bloodshed, but will not hesitate when force is required to apply the necessary and proportional amount required to restore the peace. You will be the first Ranger in nearly four centuries. Will you accept this role, Talisman Stryke?” Luna said in an official tone.

Behind my composed appearance, my mind was racing.

‘So basically, I will be like a SPECTRE from Mass Effect. Wouldn’t be too bad a gig, and these two seem to be a decent sort for those that have been in power for millennia. As long as they clean up their military and restore it to some kind of functioning force, I can work with them.’ I thought before responding.

“Yes Ma’am. I will accept this role as a Ranger of Equestria.” I replied solemnly.

Luna nodded. “Very well. We dub thee Ranger Talisman Stryke.” She said in a booming voice.

I blinked at the volume that the small mare reached, and then realized that my ears were ringing and I could not hear what she was now saying.

Reaching up to my ears, I cast an overpowered Curaga. My ears popped and suddenly I could hear again.

“Okay, I would like to kindly request that you not do whatever it was you just did around me, my hearing was enhanced as well and it seems like you blew out my eardrums.” I said as I touched my fingertips to my ear and came away with blood. Yup, she blew my eardrums.

“Our apologies Ranger Stryke. We will refrain from using the Traditional Royal Canterlot Voice in your presence without forewarning you.” Luna replied a blush on her face.

“I thought I told you that the use of the Voice fell out of use over five hundred years ago.” Celestia said.

Luna turned to her sister. “No you did not.” She replied with a put out look on her face.

“I’m sorry then. There has been so much to get you caught up on that it must have slipped my mind.” Celestia said with an apologetic look.

Luna nodded, mollified.

Later that night I stood on the balcony outside the room I had been given in the castle. A rustling of wings alerted me to the approach of Princess Luna.

“Your Highness.” I said with a nod.

“Ranger Stryke. Are you having issues sleeping?” She asked as she landed.

“No, just enjoying the night sky before turning in for the night.” I replied.

“You enjoy the night?” She asked surprise evident in her voice.

I nodded. “On my world there are entire career fields related to the observation and study of the heavens. My race is very inquisitive and seek to find understanding by looking to the cosmos. We have sent probes to the furthest reaches of our solar system in pursuit of knowledge.” I replied.

“Truly? Your race is fascinating.” She replied.

“For all of our faults, we do have some good aspects. We have even been to our moon.” I said.

Here her expression became closed and guarded. “For what reason?” She asked, somewhat coldly.

I raised an eyebrow before replying. “Because it was there. We were rapidly developing new satellites and spacecraft that went higher and faster. Our leader at the time challenged the nation to within the decade, to send a man to the Moon and return him safely to the Earth. Despite the enormity of the project and the things that had to be done very quickly, we succeeded, and sent a total of six missions and landed twelve men on the Moon. The samples that they brought back and the surface experiment packages that they left on the surface provided a lot of insight into the history and formation of our world and our solar system.” I said as I went to my ruck and pulled out a book with an astronaut in their EVA suit on the surface of the Moon.

I presented her the book. “I think that this might interest you. It details the missions to the Moon.”

“I would think that such expeditions would be perilous. How were they able to find anyone to go one such a journey?” She inquired as she began to look through the book.

I smiled. “All of the initial members of the astronaut corps were test pilots. They regularly put their lives on the line testing experimental aircraft. This was just another thing to test for them, and they knew the risks going in. Point of fact, they performed seventeen missions, each longer and more intensive than the last, before there was an incident that any of them were killed.” I said.

“What happened?” Luna asked, looking at me curiously.

“They were doing what is known as a ‘plugs out’ test. Basically the launch vehicle is running on internal power from its own batteries rather than through the umbilicals that ordinarily provide power to the vehicle prior to launch. Something about the American space program to note, to save weight on the vehicles, they used a one hundred percent oxygen system, rather than a safer, but heavier oxygen/nitrogen mix. Up until the Apollo I crew did their test there had been no issues. But that day after the capsule had been pressurized to a higher than external pressure, a fire broke out, killing the crew in less than a minute from asphyxiation from the toxic fumes released by the materials in the capsule burning. An issue that prevented even trying to save them was that the hatch opened inward and could not be opened without relieving the pressure, which took ninety seconds. That caused NASA, our space administration, to take a step back and figure out what the hell happened. Turns out a combination of complacency, shoddy workmanship, poor design, and bureaucrats getting involved caused the quality of workmanship to not be up to standard. Hundreds of changes were made to the Block II module that improved the insulation of the wiring, reduced the materials that could burn, and replaced the hatch with one that opened outward, to facilitate easier access in an emergency.” I explained.

“So their deaths were not in vain?” She asked.

“I would say that they were considering that they should never have happened. But it was better to have lost them then, on the ground where they could figure out what happened and how to fix it. But at that time, they were running at full throttle and hadn’t really stopped to make sure they were doing things safely. From then the next accident was several years later on Apollo 13, where they had an explosion on the Service Module of the Command Module that destroyed their life support when they were on their way to the Moon. Fortunately the way the system had been designed, the Lunar Excursion Module was connected through a tunnel from the Command Module. They were able to shut everything down in the CM and use the LEM as a lifeboat and the crew returned safely to Earth. After that, the next major incident was the loss of the Space Shuttle Challenger just over a minute after lift off. The O-rings that sealed the solid rocket boosters failed due to colder than expected temperatures the night before and the morning of the launch. Final blame was put on the administration due to them pushing to keep to the schedule that they had set, and changes were made that would allow for launch aborts if any issues were detected that could cause an issue with the vehicle. Things went well, with minor issues that while having the possibility of being fatal, they were not, until nearly twenty years later when damage incurred during launch caused the Space Shuttle Columbia to break apart on re-entry. In this case it was a piece of the insulation on the stack’s external fuel tank coming off and striking the leading edge of the left wing when the vehicle was approaching or had already gone past the speed of sound. After this it became standard operating procedure for the shuttle to rendezvous with the International Space Station to do a full inspection of the shuttle’s hull, with the shuttle basically doing a slow backflip as the crew aboard the station filmed and photographed the entire shuttle.” I said as I explained some of the more notable accidents and the things that were done to correct them within the American space program.

We continued talking for a few more hours before I finally felt the call of my bed. Luna bid me good night, and to my surprise, gave me a hug. I returned it with a smile and bid the Princess a good night. As she flew off, I got the sense that maybe, just maybe, I had helped her recover from the traumas she experienced as Nightmare Moon.

Author's Note

Fixed some editing errors. It appears that FIMFiction is having issues with formatting when you import from Google Documents.

Shakeups

It had been a week since I had arrived in Canterlot with Emerald and Princess Cadance and been chosen as the first Equestrian Ranger in over half a millenia. During that week, I was presented with my badge, something very reminiscent of the badges worn by the Texas and Arizona Rangers from Earth, something that amused me.

Now, I was on a transport with Princess Celestia, Captain of the Guard Shining Armour, and Emerald Breeze. Emerald had to reveal her true appearance as a matter of course during the discussions of the numerous incidents of wrongdoing at the Wonderbolts Academy. Shining Armour was stunned, but to his credit the stallion was able to shake off his shock quickly, and in keeping with being a very good commanding officer, listened to the few incidents that Emerald had been personally privy to, all of which were bad enough to warrant a visit by the Guard’s Office of Special Investigations. I could tell that the Captain was incensed over the rampant abuses of authority and bullying, but he kept his bearing well.

Celestia was a harder read however, probably owing to her age and time in government, but her displeasure was there to be seen in a subtle tightening of her eyes and a slight downturn of her lips.

Emerald for her part, wearing a bracelet that was provided by Celestia herself that allowed her to take on her male appearance, was very nervous, her wings rustling and flexing restlessly. I placed my hand over hers giving it a gentle squeeze. She looked at me and I gave her a smile that she nervously returned. Her fidgeting calmed but did not go away.

“I know that this is stressful for you Em, but you are doing a good thing. Fortunately, you have the ability to blend into the background of wherever you decide to go. It will allow you to do what you want and not have to worry about reprisals.” I said.

She nodded. “True, but what can I do?” She asked.

“How about a flight instructor for younger pegasi?” Celestia suggested.

Emerald though about it for a moment before replying. “I think I could do that Your Highness. I know that there are plenty of pegasi that do not live in Cloudsdale. I have heard talk of starting local flight schools, or adding classes to the curriculum at local schools, but it has never gotten any traction.” She replied.

“So parents have to send their children to Cloudsdale, no matter where they live or rely on local pegasi that may or may not be qualified to teach foals?” I said incredulously. “That has got to hurt their chances to do anything besides basic flying.”

Emerald nodded. “Somethings with the pegasi culture are very backwards, now that I have taken a step back and really looked at things.” She replied.

I nodded in understanding. It is never easy to take notice of your people’s flaws, much less trying to do something that goes against the perception, “Oh, it's always been done that way, so why change it?”

I could see Celestia smiling at us from the corner of my eye.

“Well, I think that the town of Ponyville could use such a program at their school, and I believe that you would do exceptionally well there Miss Breeze.” Celestia said, a twinkle in her eye.

‘That old mare is meddling. Must be her old age coming into play.’ I groused mentally. Though, to be honest, I certainly wouldn’t mind having the pegasus close by, given my assignment after this was to go to Ponyville and provide protection to the Element Bearers.

Shining Armour gained a smirk on his face as he cottoned on to the Solar Diarch’s intentions. I merely raised an eyebrow and gave him a pointed look, having walked past where he and Princess Cadance had stolen away in the evening hours of the castle gardens a few nights ago. He immediately stopped smiling and pouted.

The pair of them probably thought they were being slick, but if I was a betting man, Celestia already knew and probably approved.

Soon enough our craft touched down at the mesa that the Wonderbolt Academy stood atop.

Emerald and I disembarked first, followed by Shining Armour who was followed by an invisible Celestia. We quickly made our way to the administration building and entered, making our way through the crowd of pegasi and unicorns that ran the base.

We shortly reached the top floor and the office of the Commander of the Wonderbolts, Captain Spitfire.

Our prior planning had Emerald entering first and giving Spitfire her letter of resignation and her uniforms. After that Shining Armour and I would enter with Celestia still under her invisibility spell right behind us.

Emerald glanced at me as she approached the door. From my position next to the door, I gave her a smile and a nod. She knocked on the door with a single solid rap.

“Enter!” Came a scratchy female voice.

Emerald opened the door and stepped inside before closing the door down just shy of the latch catching.

“Soarin! So good to see you alive. What happened?” Spitfire asked.

“I was rescued Captain. I spent the better part of a week in the hospital in Las Pegasus.” Emerald replied.

“Who was it that rescued you?” Spitfire asked.

“Someone that understands that you don’t leave a teammate behind.” Emerald replied firmly.

“Soarin, we had a show to get to. We didn’t have time to..” Spitfire started.

“Didn’t have time to what? Find your teammate? Make sure that they get medical attention? I’m sure the organizers would have understood that the show would have to be postponed or cancelled.” Emerald replied, the hurt and betrayal evident in her voice.

Spitfire tried to stammer out a response, clearly not used to being called out on her bullshit.

Emerald sighed. “Here, just take this and know that I thought long and hard on it. I finally took a step back and took a long hard look at just how far this team has fallen from what they should be. I cannot in good conscience be a part of it any more.” She said, her words punctuated by the sound of her bag and a letter being put on a desk.

“Also, there is someone else here to see you Spitfire.” Emerald said as she walked out of the office.

Shining and I took that cue and made our way inside the office, Celestia trailing behind. Spitfire jerked to attention when Shining came into view, and her eyes darted over to the right. I followed her gaze and noticed a filing cabinet.

‘Gotcha.’ I thought as I walked over to the cabinet, which had the key still sitting in the lock. As I opened the cabinet, Spitfire spoke up.

“Hey what in the name of Tartarus are you doing?” She asked heatedly.

“Captain Spitfire, I am Ranger Talisman Stryke of the Equestrian Rangers. I am here to investigate the claims of maltraining, abuse both verbal and physical, and reckless disregard for life.” I said not turning to her as I pulled out a thick folder. Opening it, I found a standard feedback form used to report issues or offer suggestions. Reading it over, I smirked. “And it looks like I found all the evidence that I need.” I said handing the file over to Shining Armour, knowing that Celestia would read over his shoulder.

Spitfire tried to rally a defense. “Evidence of what? Some kind of trumped up charges?”

It was at this point that a very pissed of Princess Celestia dropped her spell. “Captain Spitfire, you are hereby relieved of duty and will be remanded into custody of the Office of Special Investigations while they conduct their investigation. As of now, the Wonderbolts and the Wonderbolt Academy are stood down until further notice.” She said.

Spitfire was stunned speechless. After a moment, she slumped in defeat.

I glanced out the window and noticed two more transports setting down.

“Princess, it appears that the teams from OSI have arrived.” I said to Celestia.

“Thank you Ranger Stryke. Captain Armour, please escort Captain Spitfire to the brig.” Celestia replied.

Shining nodded as he pulled out a set of cuffs and put them on Spitfire, her arms behind her back.

Celestia and I left the office and closed the door.

“I do hate having to do things like this.” Celestia said tiredly.

“The downsides of being in charge. You want them to succeed, but sometimes they use the rope you give them to hang themselves.” I replied as I waved to the agents that had entered the corridor.

After showing them the file cabinet that I had located the evidence in, the agents began to photograph and document everything as they began boxing up everything in the office. It was at this point Celestia and I took our leave of the area.

As we exited the building I saw Emerald next to the transport that brought us to the Academy.

Walking over I stood next to her.

“How are you holding up?” I asked quietly.

“Still in shock I think. When we get back to Canterlot, can I stay with you? I don’t think that I want to spend tonight alone.

“You don’t need to ask.” I said with a smile as I bumped my shoulder against hers gently, eliciting a small smile from the disguised mare.

“Thank you.” She said quietly.

That night I was finishing up my shower when there was a knock at my door. I pulled on my shirt and headed to the door.

Opening it, I saw Emerald at the threshold. Stepping to the side, I gestured for her to come in.

She gave a small smile and came in. She set her bag down on one of the tables and pulled out her night clothes.

“Mind if I use your shower?” She asked.

“Go right ahead. I’ll be reading when you get done.” I replied as I held up the book I was reading, another in the Daring Do series. Yes it is a children’s book, but the series is addicting so don’t judge me.

A little while later, Emerald exited the bathroom wearing a tshirt and baggy sleep pants.

I marked my place and put the book on the bedside table before pulling back the blankets next to me for her.

She climbed in and almost immediately latched onto me as she began sobbing.

I didn’t say anything as I pulled the blankets up to cover us up before wrapping my arms around the distraught mare. I ran my hand up and down her back between her wings while the other carded through her mane as she let out her pain.

‘Sometime doing the right thing can be so frustrating.’ I thought as Emerald began to wind down.

Soon enough her sobbing became emotional hiccups. Squeezing me, she said. “Thank you.”

“It’s no problem. You need someone to lean on. I’m just happy I can be that person.” I said as I continued to rub her back.

She looked up at me with red, tear filled eyes.

“You had no reason to do anything for me, yet you rescued me and have stood by me ever since. You are a good man, and don’t let anyone tell you different.” She said firmly.

I smiled as I wiped the tears from her face gently.

“Thank you for saying so. But as to why I stood by you after you got out of the hospital, that was because I had come to see you as a friend, not just someone that I rescued. That night we had dinner, I discovered that you were a funny intelligent mare, a little pie obsessed, but some one that I truly enjoyed spending time with. Even if Celestia hadn’t come up with a way to get you to come to Ponyville with me on my new assignment, you would always have been welcome in my home, whether as a friend, or something more if you wish to pursue it.” I said.

Apparently this was the right thing to say as Emerald pressed her lips to mine in a watery kiss. While chaste compared to the kisses that we shared during our night in Las Pegasus, it conveyed more than just lust.

“I think I have fallen in love with you Talisman Stryke.” Emerald said after breaking the kiss.

“And I you Emerald Breeze.” I replied as I touched my forehead to hers.

Soon we settled down into the bed from our position against the headboard, my arm around Emerald as her head lay down on my chest. The emotionally exhausted mare was soon asleep and snoring gently.

I smiled as I ran a hand through her mane. If anyone had told me that I would have been transported to an alien world, given the ability to use magic, and would fall in love with an alien I would have told them to go and get their head checked. Now though, I feel like I can handle anything that is thrown at me, and the slumbering pegasus next to me would be there at my side.

Author's Note

Alright a new chapter. The Wonderbolts are now under investigation, Spitfire is in the brig, and Talisman and Emerald are going to Ponyville soon.

Second Chances

I walked with Emerald towards her airship.

“You know I can stay.” She said as we approached the gangplank.

“No, you need some R&R and you said it has been what? Over a year since you last saw your mom and even longer since she has really seen you as Emerald? You are going to see her. Make sure to give her the present I got for her as an apology for not being able to go with you.” I said.

“I will. I’m just going to miss you.” She said with a chuckle as she reached up to hug me. “Not even together for a month yet and I already can’t stand to be away from you.”

“Hey, like you said the other morning. I make you feel safe and loved. Given that you haven’t had much luck with romance due to the shallowness of other ponies, I will never hold that against you. Plus, I haven’t felt missed by anyone for a long time.” I said as I returned the hug. “Besides, look at it this way. You get to miss out on the hours of cleaning and setting up that are ahead of me when I get to Ponyville.” I added getting a chuckle out of the mare.

“Mmmmm, yes but cleaning up afterwards would be so nice~.” She purred into my ear, send a pleasant shiver down my spine.

“Goddess, I have created a monster.” I said with a teasing tone as I pulled back to look her in the eye.

Her mirthful eyes danced with humor.

“Have a safe trip love.” I said.

“Even if the morrow is barren of promises, nothing shall forestall my return.” She said quoting.

“Some one has been reading old poems in her spare time.” I said with a chuckle.

Emerald laughed, a beautiful sound that I could never grow tired of hearing. “Yes well, for an incomplete one it is enthralling.”

I nodded. “Not sure where the book came from, but Loveless is indeed very enthralling. But you need to get up that gangplank and go see your mom, love.” I said as a whistle blew, signaling last call for boarding.

I leaned down and gave Emerald a kiss as she wrapped her arms around my neck and stood on the tips of her hooves, pulling herself into the kiss.

“See you soon. Thanks again for the bracelet.” She said giving me one last peck before pulling back and tapping the silver band.

I smiled. “I saw it and thought of you. I know it is a bit early in our relationship for giving gifts, but hey, I wanted to get you something that would symbolize the new start for you.” I said, tapping the phoenix design.

She smiled before giving me a hug with both her arms and wings. After a moment she let go and picked up her bag before hurrying up the gangplank. She gave a wave once she was on the deck of the airship.

I held onto my stetson as the engines spun up, and waved back to the pegasus.

Once the ship disappeared, I walked back to the terminal. Once I got inside, I headed to the front desk.

“Ranger. There you are. She get on the flight alright?” The stallion at the desk asked.

“Yeah she did. Got the case?” I asked.

“Right here sir.” He said handing me a case about three feet long.

“Thanks.” I said, giving the stallion a nod before I headed outside.

Walking through the streets of Canterlot, I was able to observe the ponies that lived there as they went about their daily routine.

In the district that I was currently in, most of them were a hard working type, not afraid to put in a honest day’s work for an honest day’s pay.

Soon enough I had hit the residential section of the city. Pulling out a note, I began looking for the address Luna had provided me.

After a few minutes of looking, I located the house I was looking for. Approaching the door, I knocked.

Soon the door opened to reveal a tall unicorn stallion.

“Can I help you?” He asked.

“Yes sir. My name is Talisman Stryke. I am looking for River Blossom.” I replied.

“She is in her room. Come in please. I am her father, Comet Flash. If I recall my daughter correctly, you are the one who rescued her.” Comet Flash said as he stepped aside so I could enter.
“That is correct sir. I do apologize that I wasn’t able to prevent her getting injured and the deaths of her squadmates.” I replied as he lead me to the living room.

He sighed. “From what I understand of the situation, if you had intervened then all of them would be dead. I feel for the families of her squadmates, but I am just happy that my little girl is alive.”

I nodded. “I understand.”

“Thank you. But why do I feel so horrible about it?” He asked.

“Because you still have your child and the other families don’t.” I replied. “It is what they would call on my world a ‘There but for the grace of God, go I.’ moments. Try not to dwell on it too much, you’ll drive yourself round the twist if you do.”

Just before Comer could reply, we heard the sound of hoof-falls and crutches coming down the hallway towards us.

“Dad are you guilt tripping again?” I heard the familiar voice of River Blossom call out.

“Now dear, you know your father worries about you.” Another female voice called out from what was probably an office from the sound of typing.

“Mum, I know he worries, but I can take care of myself.” River said as she entered the room.

“Howdy River.” I said giving her a wave.

“Talisman! How the hay are you?” She said with a smile as she hobbled to the couch, flopping down with a sigh as she rubbed her underarms.

“Pretty good. Met this nice mare who really likes me and I like her. Got a good job, working directly for the Princesses. How have you been holding up since you got home?” I replied.

River sighed. “About as well as you would imagine. I got my discharge orders handed to me along with all my personal effects as soon as I stepped off of the transport.” She said gloomily.

My jaw tightened at this disrespect to River. “Well, I have an offer for you.” I said as I carefully placed the case I brought on the coffee table so that it would open towards River before pulling the case open.

River’s eyes widened. “What is this?” She asked.

“A gift from myself and Princess Luna. Turns out she is a damn good blacksmith and with a few peeks into my dreams, she was able to craft you an auto-mail leg. It will act like your original leg by using you existing nerve endings to transmit the signals needed to move it. It won’t be perfect, and there is the weight difference to deal with, but you should be moving around without those crutches soon.” I explained.

“Why did you do this for me?” River asked, tearing her eyes away from the prosthesis.

“Because I see potential in you. A potential that was never going to have a chance to shine in the Guard unfortunately.” I replied. “ The prosthesis is yours whether you accept the offer or not.” I added, noticing her expression change.

“What is the offer?” She asked.

I reached into a pocket on my duster and withdrew a badge before placing it on the table.

The badge, silver in color, was reminiscent of the badges used by the Texas and Arizona Rangers back on Earth. This badge however read “Equestria Ranger” along the edges.

River looked at me with wide eyes.

“Celestia and Luna have seen fit to re-establish the Rangers with me as the first and head of the new Corps. I want you to be the second.” I said as she picked up the badge.

“What is the mission of the Rangers?” River inquired as she ran a finger over the words.

“Nominally, we will be the security detail for the Element Bearers. Day to day will consist of patrols through Ponyville and the surrounding areas since they are right smack on the edge of the Everfree Forest. We will also assist where we can when the residents need it.” I explained.

River continued to look at the badge for a few moments before looking at me, determination burning in her eyes.

“I’ll do it.” She said firmly.

I had just entered my suite in the castle after leaving River’s house after a long discussion on what our uniform would be and where we would be working out of when a knock sounded at the door.

Raising an eyebrow, I went to the door and opened it to find Celestia’s aid Raven standing outside.

“Miss Raven, what can I do for you this evening?” I asked.

“The Princesses request your presence in the Royal Dining Room.” She replied.

“Of course. Lead the way.” I said as I stepped out of the room and shut the door.

We headed down the corridors to the Royal Dining Room.

“So any idea what they want to speak to me about?” I asked.

Raven shook her head. “I’m not sure. Probably something to do with the Ranger Corps.” She said.

I nodded as we reached the dining room.

Raven nodded to me as she left to head off to her office while I stepped inside the room.

“Ranger Stryke. Please join us.” Celestia said, gesturing to a chair.

As I sat down, Luna spoke up.

“How did your meeting with Corporal Blossom turn out?” She asked.

“She is wanting to do it. I gave her the details of the doctors that will attach the prosthesis and told her to reach out to you two when she has gotten used to it.” I replied as I began to eat.

“Excellent. We have also taken the liberty of reviewing the records of our troops and have selected twenty for you to look at to see if they will be ponies that you can work with.” Celestia added.

“Thank you. I will look them over tonight so I can interview them before I head to Ponyville.” I replied. “Have you spoken to your armorers about crafting the weapons and armor I provided you plans for?”

“I have. They have already started production of the prototypes and the should be done with them in a few days.” Celestia replied.

I nodded my acceptance.

The conversation soon turned to more mundane topics as we at dinner.

Testing and Training

A few days after my meeting with Celestia and Luna found me and the twelve recruits standing at a makeshift gun range in the training grounds of the castle.

“All right you lot. Listen up. I know that some of you have had some experience with firearms. But the weapons that I am going to demonstrate today are very different from the muzzle loaders that you are used to.” I said as I picked up a round from the table behind me.

“This is a .44 caliber round. It is a slow and heavy round that will knock down most pony sized targets with a single shot. As long as you aim properly for center of mass, your target will not be getting back up.” I said before picking up the rifle on the table.

“This is a Henry lever-action repeating rifle.” I said, moving the lever forward, opening the bolt. “It has a sixteen round built in tube magazine. The magazine is loaded from here and the spent shells are ejected from here.” I said as I pointed out the parts of the rifle. “This is how you load the weapon.” I said before closing the bolt and opening the tube and began loading the weapon.

“Now a big difference in shooting this weapon is how you aim. I have looked at many of the rifles you have been issued previously. One thing that I have noticed is a lack of sights. This weapon has both a front and rear sight, here and here.” I said gesturing to the sights. “The preparation to fire and rate of fire is different as well. Watch closely.” I said before turning to face the targets and shouldering the rifle.

Working the lever to chamber a round, I steadied my breathing and lined up the sights on the first of four targets.

Pulling the trigger and feeling the rifle buck into my shoulder, I worked the lever as I pulled the barrel back into firing position, lining up with the next target before firing again.

In under forty seconds, all sixteen rounds had been fired, each target now sporting a tight grouping of four holes each near dead center.

I cleared the weapon and set it down on the table before turning to the new Rangers.

“There you have it. I don’t expect you to be that good the first, second, or even third time you fire this weapon. But I do want you to practice until you are that accurate with it. But before you start with this one, let me show you your new sidearm.” I said picking up a revolver.

“This is the Colt Single Action Army revolver. It fires the .45 Colt caliber round. Another slow and fat round that will take down most pony sized targets with a single well aimed shot. It has a six round cylinder, but I recommend that you carry it with five so that the hammer isn’t always under tension.” I said before showing the new Rangers how to load and fire the revolver.

I then began the process of teaching them how to fire and adjust their aiming, as well as teaching them the different firing stances and how to best employ them.

As they went through the drills, I observed how they worked individually and how they worked together as the ones who showed proficiency with the weapons assisted their teammates with correcting issues.

I smiled. The team was coming together nicely.

After a break for lunch, we went to another training area that was heavily warded.

“Excuse me sir? What are we doing on this field?” One of the thestral mares, Crimson Moon, asked.

“This field has specialized ward that allow for combat magic to be used without causing injury. We are here because, I want you all to be able to use magic, not just the unicorns and saberhorns.” I replied as I pulled out a selection of nearly mastered Materia.

“How can we do that?” A blonde maned pegasus named Cobalt asked.

“I’m glad you asked.” I replied as I snapped off a Firaga towards the far end of the field.

“I plan to give each pegasus, thestral, earth pony, and nightstalker a selection of Materia that they best hold an affinity for. To do this however, I have to level the Materia up until it gets mastered. At that point it will ‘birth’ a lower level version.” I explained. “ So we are going to play a game.” I said.

“What kind of game?” Orchid Twirl, an earth pony, asked.

“All of you against me. You tried you best to take me down, and I will use my Materia to stop you. If I take you down, I will use my Cure Materia and you will move back to the start and try again. You all work out how you want to play this. I’ll wait over there.” I said gesturing to the other side of the field as I walked away.

I waited for about five minutes as a clear chain of command was established. It must have been that they were already excellent troops, but this team was coming together extremely fast and I was loving it.

Soon enough, they were moving towards me.

The pegasi and thestrals took to the air and split into pairs circling me quickly. The first pair rolled in from behind and I dissuaded them with a salvo of fireballs which they easily avoided until I pulled my hand back towards me, making the attack reverse direction.

The trail member of the pair noticed the change and was able to shout a warning to his lead before they were hit with multiple impacts, knocking them from the air.

A couple of quick Curagas on the pair had them back in the air and winging towards the starting point before I flung a pair of Blizzards at the next pair as they got to close and froze their wings, bringing them down.

Some Fire spells and a quick Cure to each has them going back as well.

Then the spell casters started at range.

A quick layered Barrier/M-Barrier combo dealt with their attack and I was moving casting a Thunder All on them, knocking them to the ground as their muscles locked up.

The Earth Ponies and Nightstalkers charged but a quick Gravity spell slowed their assault and a Fira All combo knocked them back.

This pattern of continued for well over an hour, with different variations as the group learned to effectively bring their own unique strengths to bear. Even the casters had started figuring out how to be mobile while casting to avoid being struck.

“Enough!” I called out, causing all of them to sag. “You all did very well, we got a few new Materia out of it, and most importantly, you all learned how to work together and adjust your tactics accordingly for a threat. That is what I had really wanted to accomplish in this exercise.” I said as I threw one last overpowered Curaga All at the group. “Now, go hit the showers and take the rest of the day to yourselves. Get your gear packed up and be ready to head to the train station once I have gotten word from Their Highnesses.” I said.

The group nodded at the dismissal, tired smiles on their faces as they headed back to the barracks to clean up and pack.

Once they were gone, I spoke up.

“So, what did you think?” I asked.

A barrier dropped and Celestia, Luna, and Shining Armor appeared in the observation area of the training field.

“How did you know that we were here?” Celestia asked.

“I noticed that there was an area of the field that I could not look at for more than a second. Figured it was a ‘Somebody Else’s Problem’ field and the only ones that would have a need to cast that would be you three.” I said with a shrug.

“I see. My assessment is that they have the makings of an excellent team. They took to learning new weapons with ease once the basic function and use was demonstrated to them, and they were able to come together to coordinate attacks and were also able to adjust with little difficulty.” Celestia said. “I do believe that you have the makings of a crack team, Ranger General Stryke.” She added.

I raised an eyebrow. “Ranger General, huh? I haven’t been on the job for a month and I’m already being promoted.” I said shaking my head with a smile.

“You have a team now, it is only fitting that the Rangers have a General again.” Luna said.

I nodded to her. “I shall do my best to honor the position.” I replied.

“Just watch out for my little sister please. She doesn’t have much in the way of social skills despite our best efforts.” Shining Armor said.

I nodded. “From what I have read in her file I was given, she is a very intelligent mare. Those with strong intellects usually do have issues in social situations because they find it difficult to relate to anyone besides other intellectuals.” I said. “I’ll be keeping any eye on her personally. That and I will be doing patrols with the rest of the team.” I added.

Luna smiled. “You have all the hallmarks of a good leader. Doing the things that you ask of those under your command will go a long way to earn their respect. We wish you well Talisman Stryke. May the Creator guide you in everything you do to protect our realm.” She said.

I bowed my head to her in thanks.

“When do you wish for us to leave?” I asked.

“I have arranged passage on the first train to Ponyville tomorrow morning. It leaves at 0800 hours.” Celestia said, handing over a folder.

I took the folder and nodded. “Have their new uniforms been delivered?” I asked.

“Yes.” Shining Armor replied. “The quartermaster delivered them to the barracks earlier today.”

“Good. I want to show up and make a good impression.” I said.

With that we took our leave and went our separate ways.

I entered my room and began packing the things I wouldn’t need in the morning.

After showering, I collapsed into bed. Tomorrow would be starting a new set of challenges, and looking to the empty side of the bed, I couldn’t wait for Emerald to join me.

Emerald: Visiting Mom

As soon as the airship was tied up and the gangplank secured, I bound down it. I smiled as I breathed deeply and took in the sea air.

Heading into town, I had a bounce to my step as I headed to my mom’s bookstore. I smiled and waved to a few ponies who called out greetings as I walked past.

I did get a few whistles from some construction workers as I walked past a new high rise being built.

“Sorry boys! I already have a stallion!” I called out as I walked by, causing in them to groan in disappointment.

I laughed as I walked on, my sundress flowing around me. Talisman was right. I did feel like a whole new mare now that I wasn’t hiding as Soarin’.

Thinking of my stallion, I smiled and blushed a bit. His personality was something to behold, and I loved it about him.

He was a warrior through and through. A consummate professional when he was fighting, but at the same time he was a kind and gentle soul despite his capability to wage violence.

The care and concern that he showed, as well as his respect to the fallen Royal Guards was amazing. He didn’t have to stick around Las Pegasus and he most certainly didn’t have to visit River and I in the hospital, almost daily in fact.

I actually looked forward to his visits while I was healing. Not only did they make the time go faster, but they helped to ease the pain of being abandoned to my fate by the team.

Shaking off the dark thoughts that arose, I walked into my mom’s little store, the bell over the door chiming.

“Mom! You here?” I called out.

“Soarin’?” I heard her call out as she exited the office.

When she saw me, her eyes widened and she began tearing up.

“Emerald! Oh my beautiful girl is back home.” She said as she hurried to give me a hug.

I hugged her tightly as tears welled up in my eyes.

“I’m home Mom.” I said.

We separated and she looked me over.

“Now don’t you look a treat. What brought this on?” She asked.

“Well, I met someone. He accepted me for who I am. He is an amazing man.” I said a smile on my face.

“Oh, and who is the stallion that has captured your heart?” She asked.

“His name is Talisman Stryke and he is just amazing. He has his flaws, his temper is like a glacier, slow but devastating if it turned against you, but he is the most caring person I have ever met.” I replied as we moved to the office to sit down.

“So how did you two meet?” Mom asked me.

“He rescued me actually.” I said. “Spitfire, Fleetfoot and I were in Las Pegasus for a show when the Sheriff asked us to check out an area for them that they suspected to be the stronghold of the Don.” I explained, causing her to gasp. “It was just supposed to be a fly by, get some pictures and come back. But when we got there, we came under spellfire. One of the unicorns got a lucky hit and I went down. I hit the ground hard and injured my wing.” I said before growling. “Spitfire and Fleetfoot didn’t even try to get me. Just moved on to the next town. A couple of days later, I’m chained up in the central chamber of this cave system and Princess Cadance and one of her guards, a mare named River Blossom, get dragged in. River was in bad shape. She had taken a crossbow bolt to the leg and she wound up losing the leg. Then while Cadance was talking to the Don, trying to get the three of us out, he showed up.” I said smiling as I recalled that night. “He killed six of the Don’s men in a few seconds and then marched out from his cover and started down this massive dragon and told him he that was leaving with all of us.” I said, looking at my mom, her hand clasped over her mouth.

“What happened?” She asked.

“The Don laughed at him. Then Talisman lifted his hand and launch a piece of tungsten at him so fast that it came out of the back of his skull.” I said. “He took me down, made sure that I could stand, and then went to River, who he hit with a healing spell before he unchained her. He had Cadance help me walk out and he carried River to the transport that Cadance and her detail had arrived in. He loaded River in first, then after helping me into the cab, he collected the bodies of the stallions that were on Cadance’s detail that had been killed. Once their bodies were secure, he drove us to the hospital and made sure that all of us were treated and that the bodies were taken to be prepared for transport back to their families. He even stuck around while I was healing.” I said.

“Amazing. How long were you in the hospital?” She asked, causing me to wince.

“About a month.” I said sheepishly.

“And why did I hear nothing about it? Surely Spitfire could have sent a letter at least.” She said.

“Spitfire didn’t even know I was in the hospital. When I went to headquarters to resign, she was shocked to see me. After I left, Talisman, Shining Armor, the Captain of the Guard, and Princess Celestia herself went into the office and the next thing anyone knew, the Wonderbolts were being stood down to be rebuilt from the ground up.” I replied.

“Why was Talisman there?” Mom asked.

I smiled. “Princess Luna and Princess Celestia had restarted the Equestrian Rangers. He was made the leader of the new corps.” I said. “That is why he isn’t here with me. He is busy recruiting and training, and then he still has to get our set up in Ponyville. He did extend an invitation for you to come and visit.” I explained. “Oh and he got you this as an apology for not being able to meet you.” I said reaching into my bag and pulling out Talisman’s gift before handing it to my mom.

Mom pulled the wrapping paper off the gift to reveal a jewelry box from a very nice store in Canterlot we had visited. Mom opened the box and gasped.

I moved to look in the box and saw a simple silver chain with a silver pendant in the shape of a book with a crystal quill overlaying it. There was also a note in the box.

“Diamond Blossom,

I apologize for not being able to meet you face to face, but my duties prevent it at this time. I did however want to give you a token of my appreciation for bringing such a wonderful and beautiful mare into this world. Emerald explained that you owned a bookstore and would occasionally dabble in writing. I saw this and felt it fitting for you.

Talisman Stryke”

I had tears in my eyes at the thoughtfulness of the gift. Somehow, without me even telling him, he had gotten a gift that was nearly the same design as my mother’s cutie mark.

“How did he know?” Mom asked me.

“I have no idea. I never even mentioned your cutie mark.” I said.

Mom smiled as she put the necklace on.

“So what does this stallion look like?” She asked me.

Smiling, I pulled out a photo we had taken last week when we went on a double date with Shining Armor an Cadance.

Handing her the photo, I pointed to Talisman, standing next to me with his arm around my waist and his black stetson pushed up to show his face.

“I have never seen anyone like him.” She said.

I smiled sadly. “You won’t either. He is the only one of his kind on this world. He was sent here when his was destroyed.” I explained. “He has been here for almost a year. He has made peace with not being able to return to his home.”

“That poor stallion.” Mom said as she wiped her eyes. “So tell me how you two started dating.” She said with a smile.

I smiled back and told her about our first official date.

The rest of my trip, my mom and I caught up and spent the evenings out on the town. Talisman was kind enough to give me a large amount of bits and told me to go have some fun with my mom. I tried to protest, but he was insistent that my mom got to make memories with her daughter.

Mom smiled when I told her that, and told me that I had better hang onto him.

Finally the day I had to leave arrived.

“Make sure you write to let me know you got there safe.” Mom said hugging me tightly.

“I will. I left you enough money to ship the rest of my things to Ponyville once I get the address.” I said.

“I’ll send it as soon as I can sweetheart. Do you have the gift I gave you for Talisman?” She asked.

I patted my bag. “Made sure I had it this morning.” I said.

“Good. Make sure to tell him thank you and that when I get a chance, I will come out and visit. I want to meet the reason my daughter came home with a smile.” She said, making me laugh.

“I will Mom. I love you.” I said giving her a final hug before we parted.

“I love too Emerald. I always have and I always will.” She said as she let me go.

I smiled and headed onto the train.

Finding an empty compartment, I entered and sat down. Looking out the window, I smiled and waved to my mom as the train started to move.

I settled back in my seat and smiled. Talisman was right, I needed this trip. I felt lighter than I had in a long time. On the first night my mom and I had taken all the enchanted clothes that made up my Soarin’ persona and burned them. The act was symbolic mostly. But looking at the bracelet that Talisman had bought me, with the rising phoenix dangling from it, it also symbolized my new start.

Soon I would be in Ponyville and truly starting my new life with the man that I loved.

Author's Note

First little interlude from Emerald’s perspective. These will pop up on occasion, just to let Emerald’s point of view come through.

Ponyville Arrival Pt 1

My team and I exited the train after arriving in Ponyville. Looking back at the train, I still couldn’t get over how ridiculous it looked. I preferred the trains that ran elsewhere in the country.

Leaving the platform, we got a lot of curious looks from the locals as we headed towards the large oak in the center of town.

The thirteen of us were wearing dark blue trousers made of a durable material similar to denim, black button up shirts, brown dusters, and black stetsons. We were probably quite the sight, moving with precision in a loose formation, our eyes roving over the town.

A few ponies waved as we passed, which we returned with a smile as we passed.

“Seems like a nice, quiet town.” Shadow Mark said.

“At the moment. This place is by the Everfree, so who knows what we will have to deal with.” I replied to the saberhorn stallion.

Soon enough we had reach the giant tree turned library.

Magic can be amazing sometimes.

Opening the door we stepped inside.

There we found six mares and a young drake.

“Afternoon.” I greeted. “How is everybody doing?” I asked.

“Hello, we are doing fine.” A lavender furred unicorn mare replied. “I am Twilight Sparkle. Ranger General Stryke I presume?” She asked.

I nodded. “In situations like this, call me Talisman.” I said, holding out my hand.

“Then call me Twilight.” She replied shaking my hand.

“So I am right in assuming these are your friends?” I asked gesturing to the group.

“Yes. These are Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, and Spike.” She said, gesturing to each in turn.

I nodded to all of them.

“Okay, this is one of the situations where the Ranger General hat goes on.” I said. “The overall purpose of the Equestrian Rangers is as a Quick Reaction Force to deal with any and all threats to the security of Equestria. Our response will be proportional to the threat. If it is something we can sort out by talking it out, then we will. But if the situation escalates, or if the threat comes at us with lethal intent, we WILL respond in kind. Our secondary mission is a security detail for all of you. Now, before anyone complains, we will do our best to keep out of your day to day lives. But if something happens, at least two of us will be glued to you at all times with the exception of Twilight. She is a trained battlemage. I know she has the skill set to hold her own.” I said before turning to Twilight. “The Princesses are going to have a warded training ground built. Once that is done, I will be working with you so that you will hopefully react instead of freeze when things hit the fan.”

“You expectin’ trouble Ranger?” Applejack asked.

“Plan for the worst, hope for the best.” I replied seriously. “As long as you have a plan for how to react when things go south, you can get through just about anything.” I said, my Rangers nodding in agreement.
“Now as far as the Rangers that are assigned to you, I did my best to find somepony who I hope will be a good fit, personality wise. You can ask for assistance on your day to day work, but keep in mind we will be performing regular patrols around town as we will be doubling as the local law enforcement.” I said.

“That’s good. The last officer we had retired a few months ago.” Rarity said. “We generally don’t have much trouble here in Ponyville though.”

I nodded. “That is my understanding. I expect the worst we might have to deal with from the locals is the occasional pony that gets a little ti deep in their cups and has to sleep it off in a cell.” I said.

“So where are you staying?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“I was given a house on the edge of town that the ownership reverted to the Crown when the owner passed and had no heirs. A barracks was built on the property for the rest of the Rangers.” I said.

“Ya mean Sunflare’s place?” Applejack asked.

“I believe so. I have the paperwork, but other than a cursory glance at it, I didn’t read up on the previous owner. Had a bit too much going at the time.” I replied with a shrug.

“What do you mean?” Fluttershy asked timidly.

“I inadvertently kicked a hornet’s nest when it came to my attention that the Wonderbolts had bad leadership. I personally dealt with Spitfire and during the process uncovered a massive amount of corruption in the upper echelons of command that the Captain of the Guard and the Princesses were unaware of. Needless to say, Celestia is not happy with me.” I replied, rubbing the back of my neck.

“WHAT!?! That was you that got the Wonderbolts shutdown?” Rainbow Dash shouted.

“Yes I did. I personally rescued Soarin, Princess Mi Amore Cadenza and Corporal Blossom from the Don of Las Pegasus. While Soarin was recuperating I visited and talked with him. Something that not even his teammates did. He told me about a lot of the things that happened at the academy. I asked him why things were done that way and he told me it was just how things were done. He had tried to raise the fact that it wasn't right with his superior, but Spitfire just said she would take it under advisement. When we searched her office we found complaint forms that date back over forty years about the way things were done. After checking the records, we found that all of the recruits that submitted formal complaints wound up washing out shortly afterwards and wound up stuck in menial, dead end jobs. This was done with the blessing of the high command and without Princess Celestia’s knowledge. She went with Captain Armor and I to address the situation. Once the house cleaning is done, there will be no notice inspections of every unit conducted randomly by the Princesses and the Captain of the Guard. No more nepotism and no more favorites. You earn your place or you’re out.” I explained.

All of the Bearers were stunned at this.

“You know my brother?” Twilight asked.

I nodded. “I do and he said to say that he sends his love and is happy that you finally found some friends.” I said with a smile.

Twilight smiled, a blush dusting her cheeks.

“So, now that the overview of our mission has been given. Time for some introductions from the team.” I said.

I took a deep breath before starting. “As I said my name is Talisman Stryke, and as I’m sure you have noticed, I’m not exactly from around here. I showed up here almost a year ago now outside of Stalliongrad. The ponies there helped me get on my feet and I returned the favor by assisting with odd jobs around the village over the winter. Once the train started running again, I made my way to Las Pegasus, figuring that I could start doing work as a bounty hunter. Wasn’t even in town for six hours when I rescued a colt from his parents’ burning restuarant / house. That is when I found out about the Don. I talked to the sheriff and found out the Soarin was Missing In Action and most likely captured by the Don’s group. I had asked if the Wonderbolts or the local Guard detachment were going in to get him. I was told that the two Wonderbolts had already left town, not wanting to upset their schedule and the commander of the garrison didn’t want to send his men up against a four hundred plus year old dragon and his group. I said I would handle it and asked for transport. When I arrived at the caverns that were the Don’s base of operations, I saw a military transport and seven ponies, six in Guard armor and one alicorn. The five stallions were quickly killed and the one female Guard was wounded. Both the guard and the princess were captured and dragged inside. I then spent the next hour or so making my way through the caverns eliminating any hostiles using suppressed weapons and my combat knife. I found the Don in the central chamber, eliminated the six henchmen, tried to talk the Don down, and wound up sending a tungsten pellet through his skull. I released the three prisoners, we exfiltrated the caves and after loading the fallen Guards into the transport and headed back to the town and to the hospital. Corporal Blossom wound up losing her leg just above the knee and Soarin is on flight restriction to let his wing heal. Princess Cadenza had to, and is still seeing counselors to help her deal with the ramifications of going off half cocked like she did. After being summoned to Canterlot, Princess Luna is most impressed with me and Princess Celestia is not happy with the hornet’s nest I stirred up.” I said.

“How did you use a piece of tungsten to take down a dragon?” Twilight asked. “Adult dragon’s are supposed to have nearly impenetrable hides.”

“Normally they do. But I am a Materia Master.” I said, channeling energy into my Lightning Materia, causing my arm to be enveloped in blue-white lightning. “I used the Gaussian principles to accelerate the piece of tungsten to hypersonic velocities and fired it into his open mouth.” I explained.

“So basically you used this Materia to create a linear induction coil?” Twilight asked.

I nodded. “Full marks Twilight. I basically turned my arm and hand into a railgun.” I replied, getting a smile out of the mare.

“Did you have to kill them?” Fluttershy asked quietly.

I sighed. “If there was a chance to resolve the situation peacefully, I would have taken it. But the thing you have to understand is that the Don and his organization were some of the worst individuals out there. Extortion, kidnapping, and murder were standard operating procedure for them. Every single one of them had bounty on their heads, dead or alive. I collected over eighty bounties in less than an hour and got twenty more over the next month when I mopped up what was left of the group. Las Pegasus is finally free of the threat posed by the Don and his organization.” I replied. “Something you have to understand about me is that I was a professional soldier for over a decade on my world. My job was to go and kill the people that were a threat to my nation and the rest of the world.”

“How many have you killed?” Applejack asked.

I shrugged. “Never kept a tally of confirmed kills when I was in. But with the ones in Las Pegasus, I would estimate my kill count is nearing two hundred. My unit was in some of the worst fighting in the early days of the wars we fought and we had a lot of people trying to kill us.” I replied honestly.

“Why did you go to war?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“About sixteen years ago, a terrorist attack resulted in the deaths of over three thousand civilians in less than a couple of hours. Two of the tallest buildings in the world fell and the nerve center of my nation’s military was heavily damaged. Two days later Operation Enduring Freedom started and we took the fight to the terrorist group and the nation that supported them. When the bombs fell and my world burned, we were still fighting them.” I explained, getting horrified gasps from everyone else in the room at the casualty numbers.

“I fight for freedom and to protect those that can’t protect themselves. Those of us who wore the uniform call ourselves Sheepdogs. We fight in the hope that one day our children won’t have to.” I added.

“Now I believe the rest of my team needs to introduce themselves.” I said, turning the floor over to my squad.

Ponyville Arrival Pt 2

A couple of days had passed since my team and I had arrived in Ponyville. The evening of the day we arrived, we met with the townsfolk at the townhall. Fortunately we were met with open arms.

I was currently going through my new house cleaning and packing away things to donate when a knock sounded at my door.

I dusted off my hands and headed downstairs. Reaching the door, I opened it to find the school teacher, Cheerilee.

“Cheerilee, to what do I owe this pleasure?” I asked as I motioned for her to come in.

“A less than pleasant situation unfortunately Ranger Stryke.” The mulberry mare replied with a sigh.

‘Ah, here on business then.’ I thought as I motioned for her to have a seat on the now clean couch.

“What can I do to assist in this situation?” I inquired.

“It has to do with one of my students.” She replied.

“I see. Are they in some kind of trouble and need a talking to?” I asked.

She shook her head. “I feel she is in trouble, but it is with her homelife.” She said with a hint of sadness in her voice.

I sighed. Not even a month on the job and I wind up with a possible case of child abuse or neglect.

“What do you think is going on?” I asked gently.

“She seems to be malnourished. She is also a pegasus and where her peers are able to fly in short hops, she is barely able to get off the ground. I have also noticed the her growth seems to be stunted. I raised these concerns with the previous constable, but nothing ever came about. I was hoping that you or someone on your team may be able to do a welfare check.” Cheerilee said.

I nodded. “I can have a couple of my team go by and check things out. If they find anything that would warrant it they will remove the filly from the house and turn the case over to Child Protective Services. I will also ensure that a report is sent to Princess Luna as well.” I replied.

Cheerilee sighed in relief. “Thank you. I hope it is nothing, but in case there is something…” She trailed off.

“I understand. I will head to the barracks to detail a couple of ponies to it now.” I said standing.

We headed for the door and parted ways.

I felt my face harden as I headed to the barracks building behind the house.

Entering I called out. “Crimson Moon, Windrider! Front and center, I got a job for you two.”

The threstral mare and pegasus stallion hustled from their rooms.

“Yes sir?” Windrider asked as they came to a stop.

“From your files, I get the feeling you two are pretty good with kids.” I said getting nods from the pair. “Good. I was just approached by the school teacher Cheerilee regarding one of her students. Apparently the filly appears underweight, undersized, and has difficulties flying where her peers are not. It could be nothing but a medical condition that can’t be treated or it could be neglect and/or abuse. I want you two to check it out.” I explained.

“Because we are good with kids and are both fliers, right?” Crimson asked.

I nodded. “A couple of the others are good with kids, coming from larger families, but they aren’t pegasi or thestrals. I figured you two would know things to look for that might be medical related or not.” I replied.

The pair nodded before I gave them the location of the house they were checking up on. They headed out, taking to the skies once they were outside.

“Think it might be bad sir?”

I turned to see Shadow Mark behind me.

“It is possible. The thing that worries me is that Cheerilee reported her concerns to the previous constable and nothing came of it.” I replied. “It could be nothing or some poor girl has had to suffer because ponies didn’t do their jobs.”

Shadow Mark nodded, running a hand through his blood red mane.

“It amazes me to see how naive most ponies are. Even those in the Guard.” He said after a moment.

“I can imagine that the Night Guard had less of that?” I inquired.

“Correct Sir. We did our work in the shadows. We saw the worst this world has to offer.” He replied.

I nodded. When you work in the shadows, the world becomes shades of grey, rose colored glasses don’t survive very long.

It was about half an hour later when Crimson and Windrider came back and practically broke down my door.

“I take it by the fact I almost had to replace my front door that it is bad?” I asked the pair.

“Yes Sir. The house is in horrible condition and when we explained that we were there for a welfare check after we got a report from a concerned citizen, the father went off. We really need to get her out of that house, but we couldn’t do so with just the two of us.” Crimson said, her voice tight with restrained emotions.

Windrider nodded. “From what I saw Sir, even if the filly did have some kind of condition that hampered her ability to fly, her current living conditions weren’t helping. It is entirely possible that if such a condition exists, that it has become permanent.” He added.

I nodded. “So there might have been an underlying medical condition that would have been treatable if they had gotten medical treatment for her?”

“Yes Sir. From what little I was able to observe, the parents seem to be of the mentality of the old Pegasi culture and would have refused medical treatment for someone that they saw as inferior, even though they were unable to, dispose, of the inferior progeny.” Windrider replied.

“Sounds like the old Spartan culture. It might have allowed them to become one of the most powerful military powers of their time, but it was barbaric.” I replied. “Get six more from the barracks. I will meet you there. That kid is getting out of that house tonight.”

Thirty minutes later, my team and I were at the house. Looking over my shoulder to ensure my team was ready, I got nods from everyone. I raised my fist to the door and gave three hard knocks.

“Cloudy Skies, Thunderhead. This is Ranger General Talisman Stryke. Open the door or we will be forced to open it ourselves.” I called out.

“Go to Tartarus you collection of freaks! You have no say in how we deal with our child!” Came a male voice.

“Actually Sir, as a duly appointed officer of the law, appointed by their Highnesses, and by the laws of the land regarding the health and safety of minor children, I do. Now, I will ask again, open this door. If we have to breach it, things will not end well for you.” I said as I loaded a door breaching round into my shotgun.

“I will never open this door!” Came the reply.

“Okay. Hard way it is then.” I said aiming at the handle.

Pulling the trigger, the specialized round destroyed the handle allowing me to slam it open with my shoulder as I pumped a bean bag shell into the chamber.

Sweeping the room I found the male standing across the room with a musket in his hands, bringing it to bear.

Fortunately he was too slow as I fired a beanbag into his chest, knocking him to the ground.

Four of the team moved to secure him and his weapon as the rest of us moved through the house.

We found the mother in a bedroom, a knife to the filly’s throat.

I sighed and lowered my weapon so it hung loosely by the sling.

“Ma’am, I need you to put down the knife and let the girl go.” I said gesturing for my team to stand down.

“No, you have no right to interfere.” She said.

I sighed before looking to the filly. “Hun, I’m sorry, but this is going to hurt like hell.” I said as I charged and let off a powerful Thundra spell, not quite at Thundraga level, but enough to overpower a pegasus’s innate resistance to lightning.

Both females jerked as their muscles locked up from the current running through them. I had targeted the mother, but her proximity caused the filly to get hit as well.

I crossed the room as the spell stopped and pulled the filly away from the knife as her mother hit the ground. I pulled her close to me and channeled a Curaga into her to ease the pain.

I wasn’t prepared for the filly to latch onto me and begin sobbing. I gently picked her up as the remaining members of my team secured the mother.

I nodded to the team leader and made my way out of the room.

I trusted that my team would have the pair taken to a pair of cells while they were processed while I took the young filly to the hospital to get checked out.

Fortunately, it was late and there wasn’t anyone on the streets other than a pair of Rangers on patrol. I gave the pair a quick update and proceeded to the hospital.

I quickly got the filly checked in and was directed to a waiting room while the doctors worked.

I had been sitting for about a half an hour, mentally composing my report, when a doctor approached me.

“How is she doing?” I asked.

“Resting now. You were able to take care of most of the damage from the shock you gave her. I was able to determine what was causing her issues with flying though.” The unicorn said.

“What was it and can it be fixed?” I asked.

The doctor shook his head. “The issue is with the way her internal magic is routing. Near as I am able to tell it has been an issue since birth and had it been treated then, she would have been able to grow normally. Unfortunately, it wasn't treated and has now become permanent.” He explained.

I sighed sadly. “That is unfortunate. To have something that is instinctual to you be out of reach.” I said.

The doctor cocked his head in curiosity.

“My marefriend is a pegasus. She explained that for the vast majority of pegasi that flying is in their blood. They have to fly, it is in their blood. Very few can handle being ground bound for long periods of time.” I replied, answered the unasked question.

“I see. Well, she is right. Unfortunately, there is nothing we can do about getting her in the air. We can correct the issues with malnutrition and a counselor can assist with helping her to move past this, but it will be a long road.” He said.

I nodded. “There might be something that I can do to help her. I will have to talk to the Princesses about it first.” I said.

I had just sent off my report the next morning when there was a knock at my office door.

“Enter.” I said as I picked up a file to read.

“I heard you had some excitement.”

I looked up and smiled. Getting up, I walked around my desk and wrapped Emerald into a hug.

“I guess you could say that.” I replied as I buried my nose in her mane, inhaling her scent. “I missed you.” I said.

“I missed you too. What happened?” She asked, her eyes filled with worry.

I lead her to a chair and told her the events of the previous day.

Emerald smiled. “I am guessing that you want to petition to be her guardian?” She asked.

I nodded. “I know that we won’t be able to have kids the normal way, and I wasn’t sure if you were ready to raise kids, but this filly needs someone to be there for her, to help her.” I said.

Emerald smiled as she stood and embraced me. “You are a good man Talisman Stryke. I know that you would be a wonderful father. Have you talked to anyone about this?” She inquired.

I shook my head. “Not yet. I wanted to talk to you first.” I replied.

“Well, let’s go see if we can meet with her. What is her name?” Emerald asked.

“Scootaloo. Her name is Scootaloo.” I replied as we left my office.

Author's Note

Yes, I live! Sorry for the long time between updates. I have been dealing with work, moving, getting married, and a fickle muse that wants to work on my other stories. Hope you all enjoy.

Healing

It was a few days before I was able to get back to the hospital to see Scootaloo. During that time I had been busy with ensuring that all of the evidence was properly catalogued and that the pictures from the house were developed and had come out clearly enough to be admissible in court.

One of the most enlightening, and disturbing bits of evidence was the diary of Scootaloo’s mother, Honey Bee.

As it turns out the case had gotten both a lot simpler and a lot more complicated due to the revelations of the diary.

It was revealed during examination of the diary by Amber Night, one of my Saberhorn Rangers, that Honey Bee and Scootaloo’s father, Comet Flash were related. Related to a disturbingly close degree.

I actually had to check on the laws regarding incest, and while allowing a closer relation than most on Earth, as close as second cousins, it did not allow for siblings to be in an intimate relationship, primarily due to the lack of genetic diversity and birth defects that could arise from it.

At least now, we had a reason for Scootaloo’s issues with her wing growth and lack of ability to fly.

Digging deeper, it seemed that the pair had left Cloudsdale after their relationship was discovered and their parents tried to force them apart. From there, the pair had gone to Ponyville and while everything had been fine in the beginning, things went downhill after Honey Bee fell pregnant.

Apparently Comet Flash developed a drinking problem during that time and things had turned nasty. Honey Bee was able to protect herself and her unborn foal, but after Scootaloo was born and her condition was discovered, she became apathetic and only provided the bare minimum for her child.

I had forwarded all of our findings to Luna and Celestia once we were able to shake off the disturbed feelings and get our thoughts together to write our further reports on the case.

Luna had shown up after that and wanted to speak with me in person.

~Two days prior~

“Ranger General Stryke, We would have words with you about your case.” Luna said as she burst through the door of the barracks.

‘Oh boy, the Royal We and slipping back into her old speech pattern. She is pissed.’ I thought as I motioned for her to join me in my office.

“What can I do for you Your Highness?” I said as I sat down behind my desk.

“We wish to know what you are going to do in regards to this case.” Luna replied.

I sat back and thought on my answer for the moment.

“Truthfully, I want to send this case to you and your sister for High Justice.” I replied. “While I could have overlooked the whole siblings knowing each other biblically thing if they had not procreated, what happened afterwards is something that would probably qualify these two for felony child neglect and felony child abuse. Both of which, even if stopping at ten charges, well they would never see the outside of a prison for the rest of their lives. Which probably wouldn’t be long after the rest of the prisoners found out what they were in for.”

“How so?” Luna asked.

“Criminals have a weird code, at least they did on Earth. Don’t touch women and children if you can help it.” I explained. “The ones who did, especially sex offenders, tended to not last long if a guard let it ‘slip’ in earshot of other prisoners and if they were ‘accidentally’ moved into the general population. Same with cop killers ironically enough.” I added with a shrug. “Criminals are very strange beings sometimes.”

Luna gave a small ‘hmmm’ as she considered.

“What would you have Us do?” Luna inquired.

“Your jobs as laid out in the laws and guidelines regarding High Justice. Judge the case based upon the facts and the evidence. We have triple checked our documentation and everything is above board and in accordance with standard police policy.” I replied.

Learning police policy and standard operating procedures in less than a month was a task and a half for me and my team. We are still having to go back and check the books to ensure that everything is done right.

“And of the child?” Luna asked.

“Scootaloo?” I asked, receiving a nod. “That is a tricky one, and something that I had wanted to speak with you about. I have talked things over with Emerald, and she agrees with me wholeheartedly, that the girl needs a good, stable family to help her recover. We would both like to petition the Crowns for, at the moment, guardianship of Scootaloo.”

Luna’s eyes widened at this.

“You both truly wish to take her in?” She asked, to which I gave her a nod.

“Emerald is going to be the flying instructor for the school. She is a very patient and understanding mare who would be able to help Scootaloo develop what flying ability that she has, and who knows, she may even be able to do more than hover once she hits her growth spurts during puberty.” I said. “Myself, I want to help her as much as I can. As soon as I was able to get her away from her mother, Scootaloo latched a hold of me. I am not sure whether or not it was because I was the one who rescued her or if she was just so starved for true affection, but I can see that despite her environment, she is still a good pony at heart. So many would have turned cruel and done unspeakable things in her situation, and the fact that she is able to show honest emotion after all that she has been through, it says a lot about her character.” I added.

Luna nodded. “I will speak to my sister regarding this. For now, ensure that the case is as firm as can be.” She said.

“Thank you Your Highness.” I said. “I will.”

~Present~

“Good Morning, Ranger Stryke. Here to see Scootaloo?” The nurse at the desk asked.

“I am. How is she doing today Nurse Jade?” I asked him as I signed into the guest log.

“Better. Doctor Chaser will be able to give you the details.” Jade Hoof replied.

“Thanks.” I replied with a smile as I walked towards Doctor Chaser's office.

Knocking on the door, I heard a quiet ‘Enter’ and pushed open the door.

“Ah, Ranger Stryke. I was wondering when you would be turning up.” Chaser said.

I smiled thinly. “I would have been here sooner, but getting up to snuff on forensics and police procedures has taken up a lot of our time of gathering evidence and processing the scene.” I replied. “How is she doing?”

“Much better than when you brought her in.” Chaser said. “She still has some nightmares from what the night shift notes say, but it seems that Princess Luna takes care of those quickly and has been counseling the girl to the best of her ability.”

I nodded. “The Boss has a soft spot for kids. She is very gentle when dealing with them.” I replied. “What about physically?”

Chaser grimaced. “She is doing well with the nutrient potions and high calorie meals we have been giving her, but she is still having issues with eating larger portions. Her weight is up a couple of pounds, but when you are over twenty pounds underweight…” He said trailing off.

I nodded and sighed. It would take time for the malnutrition to be countered.

“I just wish I knew where her condition regarding her wings came from. It is exceptionally rare for pegasi.” He said, frustration lacing his voice.

“I know where it came from.” I said. “Both of her parents were carriers of the gene.”

Chaser raised and eyebrow. “But how did it become active? It is a recessive gene.”

I grimaced. “They were very, very closely related.” I said.

Chaser's eyes narrowed. “How closely?”

“Siblings.”

“Horseapples.”

“Yup. Their parents found out, tried to separate them to prevent offspring, but they ran off and moved here.” I said.

“Damn. Are you going to tell her?” He asked.

I nodded. “I will make it as gentle as possible. Also, and don't tell her this, but I am petitioning the Crowns to have guardianship of her.” I replied.

“The ponies in charge of placement tend to shy away from single parents.” He said.

I smiled. “Good thing I'm not single.”

Chaser blinked and then chuckled. “Found yourself a mare, huh?”

I smiled. “I did. Only been together a little while, but we just clicked. Was planning on meeting her mom and seeing how that goes before I start looking for rings though.” I replied.

“Good. But if you make her happy, then her mom will most likely approve. I hope you are ready for the challenges. She will be skittish for a while.” Chaser said, sobering.

I nodded. “We both know it will be difficult at the beginning. But when she latched onto me, I saw just how scared she was.” I said with a sigh. “I have this feeling that I was brought here to do good. This is something good that I can do, somepony that I can save, without having to use force.”

“A good goal.” Chaser said.

“One my world, I took two lessons in leadership and dealing with people to heart. One is from mythology and the other from a leader of my nation.” I said. “The first is from the legend of King Arthur. He had an enchanted sword that had two phrases engraved on the sides of the blade. ‘Pick me up’ and ‘Cast me aside’. The second was from President Theodore Roosevelt. ‘Speak softly, but carry a big stick’.”

“Use words and calm discourse, but have a plan to make the opposing party regret not talking?” Chaser asked.

“Basically. My nation was a military and economic superpower. We had the first and second largest air forces in the world and had the ability to project military power anywhere in the world within hours of something happening. We also, for a very long time after the depression, had one of the strongest economies in the world. If something happened in our economy, it would affect the world markets.” I explained. “Unfortunately, our biggest stick was a city killer and those weapons are why I am here because we weren't the only ones that had them.”

“I'm sorry to hear that.” Chaser said. “Why don't you go see the young filly and to with her?”

“I was planning to. Just wanted to check in with you first.” I replied.

Chaser nodded and made shooing motions making me smile.

I exited his office and headed to Scootaloo's room.

I knocked on the door gently before opening it.

Scootaloo looked up from the book she was reading as I entered.

“Hi. I remember you from the other night.” She said with a small smile. “I wanted to thank you for getting me out of there. My name is Scootaloo.”

“Nice to meet you properly Scootaloo. My name is Talisman Stryke. I am the commander of the Equestrian Rangers.” I replied with a smile as I sat down in the chair next to her bed.

“Nice to meet you Mister Stryke.” Scootaloo said. “So what is going to happen with me and what is going to happen with my parents?” She asked.

I sighed. “As for what is going to happen with your parents, they will be facing High Justice before the Princesses. Due to the nature of the case, they have lost their parental rights regarding you. For the moment, you are considered a ward of the Crowns.” I explained.

“Oh. So what does that mean?” She asked quietly.

“It means that for the time being the Crowns are covering your expenses. Medical, clothing, food and such until such a time you are placed with a family.” I replied.

“Okay. Though do you know anything about my condition?” She asked timidly.

I nodded. “I do. I also know why you are afflicted with it.” I said.

“You do?” Scootaloo said, surprise in her voice.

I nodded. “This isn't easy, but I won't lie to you. Your parents, they weren't just your mother and father. They were also your aunt and uncle.” I said as gently as I could.

“What? You mean that they, that I…”

“That you are the product of incest? Unfortunately, yes. When the doctors told me you condition was genetic, I had my suspicions, but when I read your mother's journal, it was confirmed.” I explained. “Now, the doctors, the Crowns, and the Rangers don't think anything less of you because of something outside of your control. All of us want to help you move past this and grow up to be the best mare you can be, no matter the challenges you might face.” I said.

“Thank you for telling me. I, I don't know what to think about all this.” Scootaloo said quietly.

“There will be time to sort your thoughts and feelings out on this as you go along in life. Right now, you should be concerned with getting yourself physically healthy as it will be faster than your mental health. That, unfortunately will take some time to heal. Trust me on that.” I said, looking out the window in the room.

“What do you mean?” She asked, her head tilted to the side.

“As you can tell, I am not from Equestria. I'm not even from this world. On my world I was a member of the military and was deployed to fight my nation's enemies. During that time I have seen and done things that no one should have to see or do.” I said. “I have had to take lives and I have seen my brothers and sisters in arms lay down their lives for the principles we all believed in. I have seen the best and the worst that my kind has to offer. Some of it still haunts me. And there was a time that the stress and the memories were almost to much.”

“You mean…?” She said, her eyes wide.

I nodded. “Fortunately, I had a Sergeant that payed attention and was able to talk to me and get me the help I needed before I opted for a very permanent solution to a temporary problem.” I replied.

Scootaloo nodded. “Well, I am glad that you didn't.” She said, the alternative if things hadn't played out the way they did in my life going unsaid.

“But, enough of that morbid subject. Why don't you tell me a bit about yourself, favorite subject in school, hobbies, hopes for the future and such.” I said with a smile.

Scootaloo smiled shyly at me before she started to open up.

She confessed that her favorite subjects were in maths and sciences, though to prevent herself from being bullied, she purposely dumbed down her work to be around the middle of the class as far as grades went. History and Language, while understanding that they were important, were her weak points, primarily because of how boring the subject matter was. Her main hobby was riding her scooter and practicing different tricks on it. Her hope for the future was that one day, she could fly.

I smiled as she spoke, taking her hand and squeezing gently as she spoke about wanting to soar amongst the skies, her voice taking on a yearning tone.

As she spoke, I thought back to some of the files I had on my computer. I had been browsing through the files one night and a particular folder jumped out at me and I think the contents of that folder would be just what Scootaloo needed to achieve her dream.

After a couple of hours of us chatting, I had to leave to get back to work. Since I had expressed interest in becoming Scootaloo’s guardian, I had to recuse myself from the investigation. In light of that, I had taken over Amber Night's patrol duties as she had the strongest investigative and organization abilities of the entire team currently.

After promising Scootaloo that I would be back to visit when I had the time.

Walking out of the hospital, I headed for the barracks to get my patrol gear. I looked to the sky and smiled. Scootaloo would get her wings, one way or another.

Preparing Home [CLOP]

Author's Note

Hello everypony! Sorry for the long radio silence. Between moving, having to do job hunting, and now starting my THIRD job since moving next month, I haven't had a whole lot of time to write. Also, there is clop in this chapter. I put a warning when it starts to let you know if you want to skip it. If you do, it is what I think is a pretty hot EmeraldxTalisman scene. So you know, FutaxMale, as I do.

Preparing Home [CLOP]

A couple of days after I had seen Scootaloo at the hospital found Emerald and I in the local furniture store.

"So what do you think we should get for her?" Emerald inquired as we browsed the selection of bedroom furniture.

"Obviously we need to get a bed that can handle a mattress for pegasi, but I think we should stick to just basic things." I replied. "Keep it kind of generic and let her decorate it the way she wants to. Make it her own space."

Emerald nodded. "I was thinking that as well. It would help her feel comfortable if she had her own space." She said. "How about this set?" She asked pointing to one.

The set was pretty basic, a bed frame, a couple of nightstands, a dresser, a bookcase, and a desk, all in plain pine with a clear lacquer finish.

I nodded in agreement. "I think it will do just fine. The frame is for a double so it will last her for a while before she outgrows it. And it is pretty sturdy construction, so it should last for years." I said.

"I agree. Let's order it. The mattress will have to be custom ordered like ours was." Emerald said as we began walking to the counter to place the order.

Thankfully, I reflected as forms were filled out and money changed hands, Equestria was more than capable of accommodating the requirements for couples that had different needs when it came to bedding materials. Since pegasi require a material that has some give to accommodate their wings comfortably, and aside from griffins and some dragons, no other species could sleep on cloud stuff without spells or enchanted sheets or jewelry, a market for mattresses had sprung up. They were quite similar to the higher end memory foam mattresses on Earth, just without the need for monthly rotations to keep the material from breaking down.

By far the most comfortable mattress I have ever slept on.

The furniture shopping done and set to be delivered in a couple of weeks, we headed home.

"Cleaning of the bedroom then?" I said once we had gotten home.

"Yup. You did a good job when you got here, so it shouldn't take too long." Emerald replied as we headed to get the cleaning supplies.

True to her word, the room was spotless in about an hour.

"We will need to get sheets and curtains." Emerald said.

"Clothes too. How about we pick her up in the morning when she is released and once we bring her here, she can see what she wants to do?" I suggested.

Emerald nodded with a smile.

"That sounds good to me." She said. "Now, how about a shower?" She asked, her smile turning sultry as she wrapped her arms around the back of my neck.

"Who would I be if I were to turn down such an invitation?" I asked, making her laugh before kissing her and picking her up and carrying her to the master suite.

One thing that I lucked out with when I was given the house when I started with the Rangers, was the massive master bedroom and ensuite bathroom. The house itself was a respectable size, just over two thousand square feet, apparently the previous owner, while not wanting to live around the memories of her missing daughter, she couldn't quite shake the need for some form of opulence coming from Canterlot.

Thankfully, her tastes weren't gaudy or over the top.

Soon enough Emerald and I were stripped down and enjoying the hot spray from the ceiling mounted showerheads.

I had just started to wash my hair when I felt Emerald's hands on my back, massaging the muscles as she washed my back.

"Mmmm, that feels amazing." I said as I felt the knots I hadn't noticed release their tension.

"I can imagine. Your back is tense." She replied as she rubbed my shoulders.

"Been busy with work and worrying about Scootaloo." I replied. "Once we can bolster the numbers of the Corps then I can take some time off, but there is a lot to get done."

"I hope you can get the numbers up soon. This much stress can't be good for you." Emerald said as she pressed herself against me and hugged me from behind.

"It isn't if I can't burn it off at some point." I said leaning back into her embrace slightly.

"I can think of something that can relieve that stress." She said, her hands beginning to wander.

~Clop starts here~

"Oh?" I said, before I felt her fingers sliding down my ass. "Oh, oh. I can handle that kind of stress relief."

"I hope so. I plan to make you walk bowlegged for a while." She said in a sultry tone as she leaned up and nibbled on my earlobe.

I melted into her arms at that point as one of her hands wrapped around my length and the other began to massage my back door.

She slowly massaged my now painfully erect cock as she slowly worked her middle finger into my ass. She continued for a couple of minutes before stopping.

"Now hurry up and get cleaned up. I want to take my time with you." She said, playing swatting my rear.

I moaned from the loss of contact, but I quickly washed myself and made sure I was thoroughly cleaned.

Now, I like to think of myself as a switch. I can be dominant and submissive in the bedroom, depending upon my partner. And with Emerald, I have no trouble being a bottom to her.

I was just finishing drying off when I witnessed one of the most interesting uses of pegasus magic that probably no one really knows about. Emerald closed her eyes and ran her hands over her fur, drawing out all of the excess water from her fur, causing it to form small clouds. The effect left her fur smooth and shiny somehow.

"That is a neat trick." I replied as I pulled my hair back into a ponytail.

"Thanks. I figured out how to do it back in school. Got tired of being fluffy after drying off with a towel and it makes it easier to maintain my wings since the feathers don't get jostled about so much." She said with a smirk.

"I can see that." I replied as we made our way to the bedroom.

"What else do you see?" Emerald asked with a sultry tone.

I turned to look her up and down.

Her eyes were alight with lust and her nostrils were flaring slightly. Her wings were slightly spread and twitched periodically. I could also see her nipples hardening until they poked out of the fur covering her breasts, a delightfully soft tuft of fur resting in the area of her cleavage. Continuing my downward glance, my eyes swept past her sculpted abs, just barely hidden beneath her coat, defined and solid, but not excessive, the mark of a mare that was extremely active.

Finally, my gaze reached her throbbing mare cock. Just over ten inches long and about four or five around at the tip, widening slightly towards the base, it bounced slightly in time with her pulse.

I smirked a bit as I moved forward, taking my hair out of the ponytail I had just put it in, shaking my head to make it fall so it framed my face.

"I see a mare who needs some relief. And I am more than willing to provide that relief." I said before I dropped to my knees and gently pulled her cock down and began to suck on it gently.

I heard her moan as I worked her length into my mouth and felt her fingers work their way into my hair as her legs shook slightly. I pulled back and licked and kissed my way down her length, looking up as I did so, before burying my nose and mouth into her balls, licking the skin and gently suckling her orbs, generating more husky moans from the mare.

Suddenly, she grabbed fist fulls of my hair and pulled my head back, and giving me just enough time to take a deep breath, jammed the head of her cock into my mouth and started to work it deeper.

I moaned deeply at her aggressiveness as my hands moved to her hips to both support myself and to help pull her deeper.

Careful timing and experience allowed me to keep breathing through my nose as she worked herself into my throat until she was hilted, her medial ring bumping against the back of my throat as my nose was tickled by the fur of her belly.

I looked up at her, desire and probably a bit of submissiveness in my eyes, before she drew back until her tip was resting just inside my lips before thrusting back in, hard.

I was instantly in a state of bliss as my hands fell to my sides as she roughly face fucked me. It was something that I had only experienced once before, years ago now, but I settled back into the role of a submissive easily.

I heard her grunts faintly above me as she abused my throat gain a harsher tone as her thrusting became more erratic. I could also feel her tip flare out deep in my throat. I took one last deep breath through my nose as she slammed my face to her pelvis as she erupted, pumping a good amount of cum straight down my throat and esophagus.

I relaxed as she finished and began to withdraw. I provided a bit of suction as she did, drawing out the last of her seed.

Emerald groaned a bit when she finally withdrew completely from my gullet.

"Sorry about that, I'm not sure what came over me." She said, a slight blush showing through her fur.

I smiled up at her as I ran my tongue up and down her length, working to keep her erect.

"It's okay. I have done that before, so I know how to handle it." I replied, my voice taking on a slightly higher pitch due to my currently still being slightly in sub space. "Granted, he wasn't as well endowed as you are." I added, nuzzling against her length.

Emerald chuckled. "Wow, I certainly wasn't expecting this from you. But I can say that I definitely like it." She said as she held out a hand, lifting me to my feet as I took it.

"It happens sometimes. On my world the state is called 'sub-space'. Basically when a submissive, with a proper, caring dominant that is, is in the zone as it were, they enter a state of slightly altered perception where pleasure is heightened and pain is perceived as pleasure when it is properly administered." I explained. "Of course that is an overly simplified explanation, so it may not be all that accurate. Would have to consult with a proper dominant to find out for sure."

"Hmmm, so are you into the whole bondage scene?" Emerald asked.

I shook my head. "I have tried it, but I had a damn panic attack after just a few minutes. Totally killed the mood. But at least I was able to tap out and get let loose. Took me a good hour to fully come down from it." I replied, shuddering slightly. "Dunno where it comes from, but I hate being restrained like that."

Emerald nodded and gave me a kiss. "That's fine hun. I'm not really one for that either. But we can explore our various kinks to see which ones we really like and what ones are just idle fantasies later." She said after breaking the kiss. "I plan to break you though, so I hope you are ready." She added, her eyes showing an almost feral hunger.

I bit my lower lip to contain my moan as I pointed to the nightstand on my side of the bed. Emerald walked over and opened it, removing a bottle of lube and a toy that I had picked up after she left.

It was a faux stallionhood, slightly smaller than hers, but only just. I had been spending the odd night before she came to Ponyville practicing and working myself up to what was about to occur tonight.

"Been expecting this I see." She said, her voice teasing. "What would Luna think if she knew her Ranger General was a subbie?" She asked.

I rubbed the back of my head. "She uh, she knows. Gods above that was an awkward night." I said.

Emerald raised an eyebrow, silently asking for an explanation.

"She popped into one of my dreams because it had attracted her attention. It was of us, doing what we are about to do." I said. "What made it awkward was the popcorn."

"What?"

"Yeah, turns out Luna is a voyeur." I replied. "Apparently she enjoys a good show and said that I was better than half the ponies she has known, before and after her fall, when it comes to embracing who I am."

"Huh. Learn something new every day I guess. Anyways, back to the fun." She said as she approached me.

She lightly pushed my shoulder, making me spin around so I faced the bed and gently prodded me towards it.

I climbed onto the bed and crawled to the center of it, holding myself up on my hands and knees.

I heard the bottle of lube open and felt the coldness as Emerald began to work it into me, inserting first one finger, then another until she had gotten four in and her thumb was rubbing my perineum as she slowly thrust her fingers into my sphincter.

By the time she added the third, my arms had given out and I was resting my face on the bed, eyes probably glazed as her finger tips lightly bumped my prostate as she opened me up.

Then she withdrew her fingers and I could hear the sounds of her lubing up her length.

As she did this, I reflected on the fact that my now higher fiber diet and lack of red meat was a good thing for what was about to happen.

Then I felt the bed shift and Emerald's hands ran over my hips as she pulled herself towards me. I felt the flat tip of her cock press against me and I relaxed as I gently rocked back to help her entry.

There was a slight popping sensation as her blunt tip entered me and my whole body shuddered at the feeling of being stretched and the warmth filling me.

"You like that huh?" She asked as she paused to give me a moment to adjust. I nodded in response as her hands and wings caressed my back and hips. "And to think, that is just the first inch or so. I want to be balls deep in you tonight, claiming you as mine."

'I already am.' I thought, unable to articulate the thought verbally as she began to rock back and forth, easing more of herself into me.

Soon, she had reached her medial ring and I was in a place of both pleasure and agony. I was far more stretched and filled than I ever had been before and the heat and the texture of the real thing never compares to a toy, no matter how well made or enchanted it is.

Emerald grunted as she pulled herself halfway out before slamming her hips forward as she pulled mine back at the same time.

My world whited out as I came as my prostate was battered. When I came back down, Emerald was holding herself steady as she waited for me to come down from the high.

"Man, you must have been worked up." She said as she reached below me and scooped up some of my seed and licked it from her fingers. "Now, I wanted to make sure you felt ALL of this." She said as she pulled herself back until just her tip was inside me, her medial ring scraping as it was pulled out, before thrusting back in quickly.

She held my hips tight as she began to pound my ass like a jackhammer before she paused, leaned forward and grabbed my wrists and leaned back pulling my torso nearly horizontal as she picked up her thrusting again.

My head hung down and I was able to look towards my stomach and at the end of every thrust, I could see my stomach bulge slightly as she drove herself into me.

My previously softening cock sprang back to full mast nearly instantly at this. It was something that I had always fantasized about, but never thought it would happen in a million years.

Then, in a surprising show of aggression, Emerald dropped one of my hands and moved her hand to my throat, pulling me back and slightly restricting my breathing, just enough to be pleasurable. She pulled me back until her breasts were pressed into my back.

"You love this don't you? Me pounding your ass, hand on your throat, dominating you?" She whispered in my ear before nibbling on my earlobe.

Unable to speak, I just nodded and gave a weak moan.

"I figured you would." She said as her thrusts began to get erratic. "I'm close, I hope you're ready for this."

I nodded as she abandoned finesse for power, her hips slamming into mine and her breathing got heavier.

My eyes rolled back as I felt her flare expanded inside me as her medial ring slid roughly over my prostate, causing my rapidly building orgasm to intensify.

Suddenly, I felt her mare cock start to expand as her orgasm began.

Suddenly she made one final, brutal thrust, hilting in me and triggering my own orgasm.

As I exploded, I felt what seemed like a firehose going off inside me.

Soon enough, both of us were spent and we fell onto our sides, still linked together.

"That was incredible. I have never felt anything like that before. It was even better than that night in Las Pegasus." Emerald said breathily.

"Orgasms usually do when you are having sex when compared to oral and masterbation." I replied as I lay twitching, the warmth of what felt like a half gallon of cum filling me. "Though I do have to say, that if I was a mare, or at least a female that was genetically compatible, and that had been vaginal, I would be pregnant. Tonight!" I added.

Emerald chuckled. "Well, magic can do some odd things." She said. "Who knows. Maybe it could happen." She added with a yawn.

"Maybe." I replied as I nestled back into her arms.

'And now the thought of changing species and even genders is stuck in my head. Great.' I thought to myself as sleep claimed me.

Realizations Pt 1

(CW and TW: this chapter is going to contain mentions of psychological abuse/gaslighting, homophobia, transphobia, and the general bigotry that is aimed at LGBTQIAA peoples. Please see the author's note at the bottom for more explanation.)

It had been a month since Scootaloo had been discharged from the hospital and had come to live with Emerald and I. She had hugged us both tightly while crying tears of joy after taking her shopping for new clothes and showing her to her new bedroom. She went to bed that night smiling.

We were able to settle into a good routine at home with Scootaloo heading to school a little before Emerald left, just to give her the perception of being too cool to be seen walking to school with her teacher mom.

I smiled a little as I made my way to my ordered destination of Carousel Boutique.

As far as the orders, Luna had finally had enough of my slightly chaotic dreams as of late disrupting her nightly work and flat out ordered me to sort out the issue, and to do so by going to see Rarity.

So that found me looking at the door of the appropriately named shop with a little trepidation at how this visit may wind up.

Taking a deep breath, I pushed open the door and entered, causing a bell above the door to ring.

"Welcome to Carousel Boutique, where everything is unique and magnifique! Oh, hello Ranger Stryke. What can I assist you with today?" Rarity asked, a smile on her face.

"Well, that is slightly complicated." I replied. "Is there some place that we could talk privately? I kinda want to get this out without being interrupted or lose my nerve."

Rarity cocked her head to the side and raised an eyebrow for a moment before responding.

"Of course Darling. Give me a moment to close up and we can have some tea." She said, going to lock the door.

"Thank you, I will try not to take up too much of your time Rarity." I said, nervously tugging on the ends of my hair.

"Think nothing of it Darling. Now, follow me and we can have some tea." She said, motioning me towards the stairs to the residential portion of the shop.

I sat down on the loveseat in the living room while Rarity busied herself with making a kettle for tea. I glanced around the room, having only been to the boutique once and not staying longer than it took to be measured for a proper suit at Rarity's request.

It was a well-lived in area, with knick knacks and various small bits of art that obviously had some kind of sentimental value to the mare.

There was some signs of her work encroaching upon her living space, but these were more than likely personal projects, compared to the ones for clients or general sale downstairs.

"Here we are." Rarity said, snapping me from my observations with a jolt. "I find a good cup of chamomile helps to ease one's nerves." She added with a gentle smile.

I returned the smile, but I could tell that it didn't quite reach my eyes as she frowned slightly.

"Darling, I have to say, and forgive me for being so blunt, but you look exhausted." She said, worry in her tone.

"Yeah, that would be because my boss has been forcibly kicking me out of the dream realm for the last week and a half. Apparently my dreams the last month have been disrupting the local area because she keeps having to come and quiet me down." I replied, carefully taking a cup and pouring some tea, with only a slight tremor in my hands. "Apparently, and I don't remember a lot of the conversations or even the details of the dreams, but she finally, a week ago, ordered me to talk to someone. I was stubborn and ignored said order, and she threatened to pull me out of the rotation if I didn't get myself sorted out."

Rarity gasped. "That is quite rude of Princess Luna." She said with a huff.

"Maybe, but she has a point. I need to deal with this." I replied.

"How can I help Darling? I might be a good listener, but I am not a therapist or anything." She inquired.

"This most recent situation started about a month ago, but has its roots going back to my childhood." I said. "Tell me, have you ever heard of the term transgender?"

She rubbed her chin as she thought. "I have not, but thinking about the term, I imagine it has something to do with one's gender identity and changing it." She answered.

"In a very, very broad sense, yes. The term refers to an individual whose gender identity is not congruent with their sex. It has to do with how the various proteins that are sending signals before we are born telling our bodies and brains to do certain things and make certain connections." I began. "The most basic way that I can think to describe it is that when your physical sex is developing there are certain signals that are sent to your brain to set the 'switch' for lack of a better term to the matching gender. Now, for some reason, the chromosome was faulty, the signal wasn't sent, or the signal wasn't received for whatever reason, this results in one's gender identity not lining up with their sex."

Rarity 'hmmm'd quietly. "So if I am understanding you right, that would mean that say a pony could have been born a stallion, but their brain is telling them that they are a mare?" She asked.

"A good assumption." I replied.

"My word, those poor dears. I can't even imagine what they must be going through. Going through puberty with the wrong body. Heavens, even looking in the mirror must be painful for them." She said.

I nodded. "In some cases, yes. The dysphoria can be overwhelming for the individual. But every trans person is unique. I have known a few, both men and women, and their journeys were all different. For some the dysphoria was crippling and when they were able to transition, it was like they had become a whole new person because of how much happier in their own skin they were." I explained. "Others it was only minor things, at least at first that caused them issues, but once they were at the point of being able to verbalize what they were feeling, other things were triggering their dysphoria."

"I do hope things turned out okay for them." Rarity replied, taking a sip of tea.

"For the most part, yes. Sadly, we didn't live in a perfect world and trans folks were treated like they were mentally ill until about twenty years ago and even up until the day I was sent here, they were fighting for the rights to get the gender affirming care, which many doctors and experts in the medical field had repeatedly stated were very beneficial and should be done with as minimal roadblocks as possible. But unfortunately the fact that trans people existed and wanted to just live their lives made the conservatives that made up the government and unfortunately a wide swath of my country's population, not a true majority, but fairly close to it, uncomfortable that there were people that didn't fit into their nice and neat world view." I said. "A lot of politicians did everything they could to try to make their lives as difficult as possible, eventually getting to the point of not even trying to hide their bigotry. Unfortunately, they had a lot of powerful and rich supporters that believed the same, that kept getting them reelected, some of them for decades because they had voted to remove term limits and no one stopped them."

"So, they had basically become like a hereditary nobility?" Rarity asked.

I thought about that. "Other than the fact that they couldn't pass their seats down to their children and on occasion there would be an upset in the election and a new person was elected, yes. The median age of Congress was in the mid 50s. And it was mostly male and white. There weren't a lot of women and not a lot of persons of color either. So the minorities were not well represented. Add to the fact that a lot of these elected officials didn't really do much to help their constituents when compared to the groups that funded their campaigns, you can understand why things could be so bad."

"My word. That sounds awful." Rarity said. "I can imagine that people were trying to change that?"

I nodded. "They were, but unfortunately it was an uphill battle and they were very much beholden to the people who helped get them into office. So they had a hard time getting changes made, especially with the media painting them as overzealous or some such nonsense when they raised a perfectly legitimate point or introduced a bill that actually made sense and did some good with the help of their opponents."

"And this plays into your situation how, exactly?" Rarity asked.

"Getting to that." I replied. "I had started to question somethings about myself when I was going through puberty, but I never could find the words to describe it to myself, primarily because it wasn't a thing that was talked about. Experimenting with things like gender, especially in the area I grew up in, was a sure fire way to get beaten up or worse. Add to the fact that my parents were psychologically abusive to me, always belittling my efforts and plans, and basically gaslighting me my entire childhood and part of my adulthood before they both finally keeled over and died, I was never able to find the words when I was younger to describe what I was feeling."

"Darling, that must have been horrible!" She exclaimed. "It must have been a relief to be free of that."

I nodded. "It was, and thanks to a pandemic that got most of the world stuck at home and a whole lot of spare time because we were able to get on the internet more freely." I paused. "The internet was a way of transmitting information around the world near instantly. Our society was very interconnected. But things like the trans experience, from the point of view of the people who were living it, with the ability to share that experience with millions, caused an upsurge in the number of people 'cracking' they called it and coming out as trans. I was one of these people, but I was just starting to figure out what all that meant when everything went to hell and I was sent here."

"But what brought it up again?" Rarity asked gently.

"When I got here I was a bit discombobulated and I wound up in Stalliongrad. In the middle of winter. There were a lot more pressing issues than figuring out the mess that was my gender identity at the time. Then I got to Las Pegasus and things really kicked off and it has been a very busy year for me." I replied. "It wasn't until after an evening of umm, 'activities', that something Emerald said brought it all back up."

"What did she say?" Rarity inquired.

"I had made a comment, and for the love of all that is holy, because I know that you know about her unique features from making her some outfits, thank you for that by the way, she loves them, about how if I had been a genetically compatible female, I would have wound up pregnant, and she says that anything is possible with magic." I said. "Now, neither of us are unicorns or students of magic, so there is no way of telling whether or not it would be possible, but I kinda believe it since her unique features are a result of magic, even though it was a completely unintended consequence."

I took a deep breath to slow my rambling speech as I had gotten up at some point and begun pacing.

"So, if I am making an educated guess, you are having these thoughts of possibly being trans and you would like some assistance in figuring that out?" Rarity asked.

I nodded, biting my lip expecting to be tossed out, despite her earlier understanding of the issues I explained to her.

She crossed the room and wrapped me in a hug. "Darling, I would be honored if you would allow me to do so. One, because it gives me a unique opportunity to design something new and fresh, and two, it allows me to help a friend find themselves and be truly happy." She said.

I pulled back from the hug and wiped a few tears away. "Thank you. That means a lot, it truly does."

"Well my dear, let's get you cleaned up a bit and then we can get started." Rarity said with a smile as she led me to the bathroom so I could get cleaned up.

Author's Note

Alright then. That was a bit of a wall o text, but this is a complicated issue. I should know, because I finally clued into what a lot, and I do mean a LOT, of my close friends had realized, that I am trans. Now, if you are going to start spouting bigotry, just do yourself a favor and unfollow this story, because I will not put up with it. I will report any hateful, transphobic comments and block you. I might not care what you think about it, but there are people who will see your comments and will take those personally, which is horrible. Now, there is a LOT more to this, but I didn't want to write such a long chapter, so it will be broken up into at least two chapters, possibly more, we will have to see where my muse takes me. And to anyone who happens to be reading this that is trans, non-binary, or just questioning and figuring things out, you are valid, and I support you and will be a friend if you need one to listen. Until next time everyone!

Realizations Pt 2

Once I had exited the bathroom, I saw Rarity sitting on her chair sketching.

"I take it I have given you some inspiration?" I asked, wiping an excess bit of water I had missed away with my hand.

"Of course Darling. While you do have similar proportions to a unicorn or earther, there are still unique things about your physique." Rarity replied. "Such as your feet. There aren't too many species that have something other than hooves or talons, and even fewer that aren't digitigrade. So few in fact, I don't know of a species that isn't."

I considered this. It had taken some effort for me to find someone that was able to make me new boots so that I had a few backup pairs, and it had taken several attempts to get them to fit correctly.

"I can understand that. It was a pain to try and get new boots made. That poor cobbler was beside herself when they didn't fit right." I replied.

"The poor dear, but I can understand her difficulties." Rarity said. "Working with an unfamiliar body type can be difficult. Now, I have some ideas, but to make them properly I need your measurements. And no complaining that I already have them."

"I understand as I nodded. Male and female clothing have different measurements because they fit differently." I said with a nod as I pulled off my shirt.

Rarity nodded. "Especially if one wants to properly accentuate the wearer's form. While you are a bit more on the slender side for a stallion of your strength, your shoulders are a bit broader than the average mare, so I have to find a way to make an outfit that helps to soften those edges a bit." She said as she floated a measuring tape over and began measuring me.

"Hmm, Talisman, could you let your hair down please? I am trying to consider what designs would work best." She said.

I reached up and pulled my hair from the ponytail I had it in, shaking it out a bit so it fell freely.

"Much better." Rarity said with a smile, causing me to blush slightly.

Once she was finished with the measurements, she floated a robe over to me.

"Here, go ahead and put this on while you wait." She instructed.

"Wait, you're making the outfit now?" I asked as I pulled the robe on.

"Of course Darling. This outfit will be a simple one that, with a bit of a makeover, will allow you to test the waters to see how it feels." She replied with a smile as she moved to her work area.

"Alright, if you say so." I said, going to sit down and finishing my tea after a quick burst of heat from my Fire materia.

Soon enough, Rarity announced the outfit was complete.

It was a blouse and a skirt combo in a blue hue.

"I didn't want it to be too much either way of the depth of the color so it didn't clash too much with your skin tone, and I had some fabric that matches your eyes almost perfectly." She explained as she handed me the outfit.

I felt the material in my hands. It was soft, much softer than the clothes I had been wearing, even in my off duty clothes which were just as utilitarian as my work clothes, just in lighter colors.

"Go ahead and try it on." Rarity said.

I nodded and pulled the blouse on and buttoned it. It fit snugly, but didn't restrict my movements. The skirt was pulled on and sat gently on my waist, the hem falling to my knees.

Rarity gave me a critical eye to see how her work.

"Not too shabby. Now give me a twirl." She said.

I did, smiling slightly as the skirt flaring out as I spun on the balls of my feet, causing a giggle to slip out.

"What is it Darling?" Rarity asked.

"Oh, I was reminded of a kind of inside running joke amongst the trans femme community, and it is right. Skirt goes spinny." I said with a smile.

Rarity gave a melodic laugh. "Yes it does Darling. Now, would you let me do your hair and makeup before you look in a mirror?" She inquired.

I bit my lip for a moment before nodding. I had heard mention of gender euphoria, and if this was it, I was starting to wonder what I was missing all these years.

Rarity led me over to a chair and levitated a wide variety of products and implements of fabulousness over to float around us. She then stood about three feet away and began with my hair, brushing it until it shined and, using some kind of oil, was smoother than I had ever gotten it since I had started growing it out after I had gotten out of the military and could do so.

"I'm just feeling my hair resting on my neck and I have never felt it so smooth before." I said.

"Have you tried using tea tree oil?" She asked. "It does wonders to smooth and moisturize your hair."

"I haven't. Just been kind of muddling along trying to figure out how to deal with it properly. I mean, I usually just put it into a ponytail or on occasion a braid, but that is it." I said.

"That maybe, and I have to say this is the first time I have seen you with it down myself, since I mostly see you when you are in your official capacity." Rarity said. "But everyone can benefit from proper hair care."

"I take it that was more aimed at a certain farmer and a certain weather mare than at me?" I asked a slight smile.

"I have no idea what you mean Darling." She said with a knowing grin. "Now hold still while I do a bit of styling."

Soon enough my hair was falling in gentle curls.

"Oh, don't you look wonderful already." She said, a proud smile on her face. "Now for makeup."

"In this situation, I am reminded of an actor who, before he was an actor, was a makeup artist, and he said to keep it simple and frame the face." I said.

"For you Darling, I would agree. Your features are just soft enough that there isn't a huge need for contouring. Now hold still." She said as she began her work anew.

After several minutes, some plucked eyebrows, and some debate on her part as she held various palettes up to my face, her work was complete.

"So, are you ready for the big reveal?" Rarity asked with a smile.

I nodded nervously, afraid of how I might feel after looking in the mirror.

She took my hand and led me over to a full length mirror, stopping me before I could see my reflection.

"Close your eyes, and I will guide you in front of it." She said gently.

I did so, and I felt her hands lead me into position and turn my body to face my reflection.

"Okay Darling. Open your eyes." She said quietly.

I took a deep breath and released it before doing so, and then gasping at the sight.

I stared transfixed at my reflection, not quite believing my eyes. I slowly raised a hand and touched my cheek, my reflection doing the same. I swallowed hard to try and keep the tears at bay.

"Darling, are you alright?" Rarity asked.

I nodded. "Th-this is amazing. I-I've always looked in the mirror in the mornings and never really felt anything about my appearance, either good or bad. I could objectively say that the guy was attractive, but I never really felt that I was attractive, and it always confused me when someone said I was handsome. I just couldn't see it." I explained.

Rarity nodded. "And if I were to say that you were beautiful? How does that make you feel?" She asked.

"I can feel it and see it. There is just something that is right about this." I said as I admired my reflection.

My hair fell in loose curls onto my shoulders, the brown and silver strands mixing together. My eyebrows now were thinner and had more of a feminine shape to them. The lipstick was an almost blood red, standing out against my well tanned skin from the long hours of being outdoors. My eyes were the most breathtaking though.

The normally brilliant blue-green glow of my Mako eyes was now stunning and seemed to pop against the dark eyeshadow with hints of silver, the black eyeliner and mascara.

"Rarity, I don't know what to say." I told her. "This, this is more than I could have ever expected."

Rarity smiled. "I am happy to be of service Darling. Especially when it comes to finding your true self." She said before a knock sounded at the door to the shop. "Now who could that be?" She wondered. "I'll be right back Darling and we can talk some more."

I nodded, and after she headed downstairs, I turned back to the mirror and began posing.

Yup, I have definitely been missing out on a lot, because I had never felt this damn good about how I looked. If this is euphoria, I might never want to leave.

"Talisman darling, Emerald is here. Is it alright if she comes up?" Rarity called from downstairs.

"Of course!" I called back, my voice seemingly changing to a more bright tone on its own.

The two mares made their way upstairs, Rarity leading the way.

Emerald entered the room and stopped dead upon seeing me.

"Hello luv." I said, nervously gripping the bottom of my blouse.

Emerald shook her head. "Hello yourself Beautiful." She said. "I thought that you would make a good looking mare if you wanted to, but damn! I was not ready for this! You are stunning!"

I blushing and started swishing my skirt back and forth.

"I didn't either. I just knew that I needed to find out for sure, and I think I did." I said, turning back to the mirror and brushing the hair behind my ear on reflex. "This just, it feels right."

Emerald moved up behind me and hugged me from behind, going on to the tips of her hooves to rest her chin on my shoulder.

"I can tell. Your eyes and smile tell the story. They are brighter and more full of life." She said, giving me a squeeze.

"I know." I replied. "I think, that I need a new wardrobe and some lessons."

"What kind of lessons?" Emerald asked.

"Makeup, hair care and styling, things like that." I answered.

"I can certainly help you with that, Darling. Just let me know when you are free and we can spend some time helping you to get things figured out. As far as a wardrobe, that will be handled." Rarity said from across the way.

"You do realize I will be paying for it. Even if it is just at cost." I said, knowing from my relatively short time in Ponyville that her generosity would on occasion get in the way of her bottom line. "This, I can accept as a gift." I gestured to my current outfit. "But if you are going to churn out custom outfits just for me, I insist that I pay you for them."

Rarity smiled. "I can accept that. Now, I do need to get some measurements of your feet so that I can work on some shoes for you. Both for your duties and for your free time." She responded

This was quickly done and I changed back to my other clothes, being as careful with my hair and makeup as possible when pulling my t-shirt back on.

"Even in that outfit, you look great." Emerald said, giving me a peck on the cheek.

"Thank you." I replied.

"I will have to make you a similar outfit then." Rarity said, glancing up from wrapping my new outfit.

"Thank you Rarity. This means a lot to me." I said.

"Talisman, you are on a journey of self discovery and finding your truest self." Rarity said, a kind smile on her face. "Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your journey."

I smiled and gave the mare a hug which was readily returned. After saying goodbye, Emerald and I left the boutique and headed home.

I got a few stares, a few raised eyebrows, and more than a few knowing smiles from the ponies that we passed as we made our way through town.

"Ranger Stryke, there you are. I was looking for you." The voice of Spike came.

"Hey Spike, what's up?" I asked.

"Are you wearing makeup?" He asked. "Nevermind, not important right now. Twilight got a message from Princess Celestia. We have a big problem!"

I raised an eyebrow. "Oh, and what is that?" I asked.

"That!" Spike said, pointing over my shoulder.

I turned and looked in that direction. It was then that I saw the massive plume of smoke rising from the top of one of the mountains close to town.

"Huh, how about that?" I said, watching the plume grow and spread as it rose into the high altitude wind currents, wondering what in the hell was causing this.

The Interview

Of Magic and Steel
The Interview

“So you want to know my story Ms…?” I asked the mare that was sitting in front of the fireplace in my den.

“Inkwell sir, and yes I would like to know your story, as would most of Equestria. The Princesses have been quite vague on the details concerning your arrival in our world.” She replied as she levitated her pen and notepad in a telekinetic field. “They insist that it is not their story to tell.”

“Well, Ms Inkwell they would be correct.” I respond as I make my way into the seating area with a tray of tea as I chuckle about the Princesses’ response to any inquiries about my past. Hard to believe that the elder one dislikes me something fierce. Hopefully this interview will keep most of the curious away and I can have some peace and quiet outside of the occasional rouge beastie from the Everfree. I set the tray down on the table between the two chairs in front of the fire as I inform her, “All I have is jasmine, I do hope that’s alright with you.”

She gave a charming smile. “It is. Jasmine happens to be one of my favorites. Helps me relax after a long day.”

“That’s good, because there will be parts of my story that are…quite disturbing truthfully. Even for all of their millennia of experience the Princesses were pretty shaken by the history of my people. Most of it, I think that Celestia would prefer to forget.” I reply as I pour a cup for the beige unicorn anthro across from me.

“Why is that?” Inkwell asked as she took the cup and saucer in her hands while her pen danced across the page in the grip of her blue-tinted magic.

“Well for starters my species, humankind, was rather violent. There was hardly a bit of the planet that hadn’t been stained by blood or scarred by war for some reason or another. First, and probably the most forgivable of humanities many sins, was merely for survival. As you can see I don’t have a fur coat like you Equestrians do so you can imagine how even a mild winter could cause problems. Also we don’t have magic. My entire home world was like the Everfree, not for our lack of trying to control the weather. But I digress. Most humans stayed in small familial groups for the early part of our history before growing into larger tribal groups that lived a nomadic lifestyle. Then, once the ice sheets that covered most of the planet began to recede, we started to set up permanent settlements. Shortly after this is when war first started to become perfected.” I explained before pausing to take a drink.

“Perfect war?” Inkwell asked with a look of disbelief on her face.

“Yes, up until that point, it was wait till they go to sleep, then run up, kill all their men, steal their food, weapons, women and children.” I chuckle a bit at the look of shock on her face. “What? In truth there are only five things that any sentient species requires to survive: food, water, shelter, clothing of some sort, and a way to procreate. But as we became less nomadic, the need to find and keep fertile areas was paramount to the different tribes and clans. Still at this time it was a fight for survival. Then things like precious gems and metals began to be discovered. This caused the fighting to move towards controlling those resources.” I replied as I moved to stoke the fire.

“How bad did it get?” Inkwell asked as I returned to my chair.

“Pretty bad when it was just greed fueling the fires of war. Cities were sacked, villages burned, those were some rough times to live in. Then came the one thing that has caused more wars than money, land and love. By far they were the worst of all the wars that have ever been wage with one or two exceptions.” I replied.

“What could be a worse reason for killing another living thing? I thought that-” Inkwell asked.

“All wars are horrible? They are, trust me I served in one. But the reason that these wars were fought was because of the one thing that no two people could ever agree on. Religion.” I reply.

“You mean like what those oddball ponies that are part of the Church of Luna? Inkwell inquired.

I laughed at that. “Similar, but frankly I find the Luna’s Witnesses just plain adorable. But for humans Miss Inkwell, we had no living goddesses to advise us, to guide us. Thus numerous religions sprang up. First there were the polytheistic one which had whole pantheons of gods and goddesses for just about everything you could think of. Then eventually those gave way to the various monotheistic religions with one omnipotent, omnipresent, all powerful divine being. The funny thing is, most religions boil down to the same basic ideas. Being a decent, kind, and considerate human being. Yet it is the scriptures used to pass this message on are so different and easily interpreted in ways that can incite the masses into conflict, that the basic message is lost.” I replied as I took another sip of tea and sighed. I hated discussing religion when I was on Earth, but having to try and explain it to someone who had never heard of something that could incite rebellion was hell.

“Please just call me Ink. So how is all this relevant to how you came to be in our world?” Ink asked with a light blush on her cheeks.

“Of course, please call me Talisman then. As to why it is relevant, it helps to explain why my world was so chaotic and violent. This brings us to the day that everything in my life changed.” I replied.

“Why do you refer to your world in the past tense? Did something happen to it the day that you came here?” Ink asked as she added notes to her now second notepad of the day.

I leaned back into my chair and stared into the fire as I gathered my thoughts.

“The day that I came to Equestria is the day that the Earth burned in nuclear hellfire.” I replied finally.
Ink’s magic faltered at this dropping her quill and notepad as her teacup and saucer slipped from her hands, thanks to my enhanced reflexes I was able to prevent them from shattering on the floor.

“You-your world burned? How is that possible?” Ink asked with a clearly shaken voice.

“Another thing that you need to understand about humans is that we constantly found new and inventive ways to injure, maim, and kill each other. The greatest and most terrifying of the weapons is the nuclear bomb. A weapon so powerful, it could level nearly all of Manehattan and continue to kill ponies and months for years after the fact.” I replied.

“How is that possible?” Ink asked, fear evident in her eyes even if her professionalism stopped the quaver in her voice.

“The nuclear bomb has three main effects. First is the wave of intense heat. The reaction that occurs upon detonation of the device is the same that fuels a star, so you can imagine that it is very, very hot. The ponies from ground zero to a mile or so out, depending upon whether or not there is anything in between them and the blast will be vaporized instantly. They wouldn’t even know what happened. Then the massive shockwave of displaced air will first throw anything in its path away from the blast before it all that air comes rushing back towards ground zero, causing the iconic mushroom cloud to form as ash, smoke, and other debris is sucked high into the air. Of course if you managed to survive all that, your life expectancy will have been reduced to hours if you are very, very lucky.” I said explaining the effects of those weapons the best I could remember.

“And if you aren’t?”

“Then you spend the next few days in excruciating pain as your skin sloughs off and your organs slowly breakdown and fail as your lungs begin to fill with liquid. Radiation is the true killer in these weapons because it lingers for years after the fact and the areas are unsafe for habitation for at least a century. The further away from ground zero you are the better your chances for survival. It is a weapon of terrible power and prior to the day my world was destroyed; it had only been used in anger on two occasions, each within days of the other. The effects gave the world’s leaders pause from using them, eventually all testing was banned worldwide.” I replied before drink some tea to soothe my throat.

“And the day that you came here, what happened exactly?” Ink inquired her demeanor steady once more.

I smiled. “I remember it clearly. It was a cold and grey January day and I had gone to town to pick up some school supplies for the upcoming term…”

Author's Note

Alright, here is the first chapter of what I hope to be a really good story. Before I get any complaints about the whole HiE thing, I know that these stories are a dime a dozen. I hope that I can set this one apart from the rest. Also if Talisman appears overpowered, it is because he will be slightly. Let’s just say that Fate took pity on him and gave him some abilities that could help him protect those that he will come to care for. I look forward to reading the comments section to see some feedback. I will do my best to answer any questions, in an author’s note, a reply in the comments section, or in my blog.

Interlude: Night in Las Pegasus [Clop]

“So Mr Stryke, what are you plans for tonight? Wine me, dine me, and have your wicked way with me?” Emerald asked as we walked down the hallway towards the elevators.

I chuckled a bit as I patted her hand holding onto my arm.

“Well, considering the plan was originally go to a bar and get a few drinks, eat some greasy food, and swap stories. I think I might need to rethink my plans.” I replied.

“Why? Is it because I’m a mare?” She asked, her ears lowering against her skull and her eyes narrowing.

“Partly. Because quite frankly, with that dress, we would be fighting off stallions with a stick and never be able to enjoy ourselves if we went to a bar.” I replied with a smile, causing her eyes to widen and a blush to appear on her cheeks.

‘How they can blush through fur is beyond me.’ I thought as we reached the elevator.

“As for the last of your list…” I began as I gently pushed her up against the wall and leaned in close, our lips close, but not quite touching. “We’ll just have to see where the night goes, now won’t we?” I said pushing away with a smirk.

Emeralds eyes were wide, not with fear though. Something else, maybe lust mixed with excitement. She shook her head before slapping my shoulder.

“Prat!”

I laughed as the door opened for the elevator and I took the pegasus’s hand and led her inside.

“Ground floor.” I said to the attendant who nodded before starting the car downward.

As we descended, I asked the mare.

“So where is there a nice restaurant that someone can get into without needing reservations or having to throw a heap of money at the pony at the door?” I asked.

The mare started. “I’m sorry what was that?”

I smiled as I repeated my question.

“Well, there is the Firefly Lounge just down the Strip. Good food and they usually have some tables at this hour. You might even be able to catch a show.” She said.

I smiled. “Thank you. Here, treat yourself when you get off shift.” I said, handing her a one hundred Bit coin as we exited the elevator.

Emerald’s eyes widened.

“How can you be throwing around that kind of money?” She asked.

“You know how I said that there was a bounty of the Don and his organization?” I asked and she nodded. “Well, turns out most of those guys and gals had a price on their heads that was over a hundred grand. I was only able to collect on about a dozen of the bounties. Gonna have to go to Canterlot to get the rest straight from the treasury.” I finished.

Emerald looked at me.

“How much are you getting?” She asked.

I leaned down and whispered a figure into her ear, causing her eyes to widen and her to stumble a bit.

“And that is just for the Don. Doesn’t count the other sixty some odd bounties I have claim to.” I said aloud.

“So what are you going to do with all the money?” She asked.

“Probably donate most of it. More than I could live off of and that kind of fortune can bring out the worst kinds of people. Probably find a place that calls to me and settle down, start a business handling jobs that require my sort of skills.” I replied.

“So basically a bounty hunter kind of business?” Emerald asked.

“Kind of.” I replied. “More of something to try and help people. Dealing with monsters that are causing problems and deal with criminal groups the police and guard aren’t able to get a handle on.”

“So a regular knight in shining armour then?” Emerald asked, a teasing tone in her voice.

“No, never in shining armour.” I replied.

“Why not? Aside from the obvious that you would stand out like a sore thumb.” She inquired.

“Because a knight in shining armour has never had his mettle tested. I have been tried in the crucible of battle on more than a few occasions. I’d rather show up in dusty battle rattle than ever wear shining armour.” I replied.

Emerald hummed thoughtfully at that.

“I actually had not thought of it that way. She said as we approached the club the elevator operator told us about.

I took one look at the line that extended around the corner before looking at my companion and asked.

“So, how about we go somewhere else and then go back to the hotel so I show you some movies from my world?”

Emerald raised an eyebrow.

“Movies? You mean like motion pictures?” She asked.

“Yes. I take it you have a motion picture industry?”

She nodded. “Yeah, but they aren’t very great.”

“Black and white silent movies? Words flash up on the screen every few minutes for dialogue?” I asked.

“Exactly. Most of them are either slapstick comedies or horrible romances.” She said sticking her tounge out in disgust.

I laughed a bit at her expression.

“Well, I do have some black and white ones, but they have actual dialogue and sound. Also got full color movies with amazing stories and special effects.” I said.

Emerald’s eyes widened. “That sounds amazing! What kinds of movies do you have?”

“Everything from action to horror to comedy to romance to mystery and everything between.” I replied.

Soon enough we found a place that looked like an old style Japanese restaurant from the beginning of the Meiji era. I look over at Emerald to ask her opinion and I saw her lick her lips.

Laughing lightly, I asked her.

“Been here before I take it?”

She nodded before looking at me with wide, hopefully eyes. Even if I hadn’t wanted to try the place out, I would have caved to those emerald orbs.

“Yes we can go. I was going to ask if you wanted to go anyways.” I said with a smile as she squeezed my arm tightly before saying thank you over and over again, making me laugh as we walked into the establishment.

“Good evening and welcome to the Gilded Lotus. Is it just the two of you this evening?” The hostess, a lilac colored unicorn mare in a kimono asked.

“Yes it is.” I replied.

“Well then if you will follow me please.” She said with as she pulled out a pair of menus and led us down a hallway that had raised floors on either side of the walkway.

Coming up to an empty room, she gestured for us to enter.

Emerald slipped her hoof shoes off as I sat on the edge of the tatami floor to remove my boots. Once my boots were off I joined Emerald at the table.

“Here are your menus. Your server will be along shortly.” She said before bowing and heading back to the podium at the entrance.

“So I know that most Equestrians are primarily vegetarians, but I am noticing a lot of meat on this menu.” I said after perusing the menu for a moment.

“It really comes down to the tribe you are from.” Emerald said. “Most pegasi do eat some form of meat due to our high metabolisms. Usually chicken or fish. Unicorns will eat some hard to catch fish like marlin or shark because it is a status symbol. Earth ponies tend to just eat chicken and the easier to catch fish like crappie and catfish, though some of the more hoity toity ones will go for the more expensive catches.”

I nodded as i perused the menu some more.

“I think that I will be getting the chicken teriyaki dish with a sushi roll. What about you?” I said finally.

“I was thinking the same, just with a spicy tuna roll.” She said as our server approached.

“Good evening. Are you two ready to order?” The palomino earth pony mare asked.

We nodded and gave the mare our orders, which she jotted down on her notepad and headed to the kitchen.

“So now that I am getting to see the real you, why don’t you tell me about yourself?” I said as we waited for our food.

“Well, I am from Baltimare. My dad worked on the weather team before he passed and my mom owns a bookstore.” She said.

“I’m sorry to hear that about your dad. How did he pass if you don’t mind my asking?”

Emerald sighed. “We had a rough winter scheduled that year and my dad was one of the best cloud wranglers on the team. He was chasing down a rogue cloud when a strong downdraft hit him and caused him to hit one of the skyscrapers. The medical examiner said that he broke his neck when he hit, so he was gone before he hit the ground.”

I reached across the table and gently squeezed her hand. “At least you can take comfort in that.” I said. “Microbursts like that can be tricky to handle in even the best conditions in open air. But in a crowded city like that, the danger of them goes up like you wouldn’t believe.”

“You’ve seen something like that?” She asked.

“Never personally. Just recreations of events that caused passenger planes to go down and the after effects of moving pieces of planes around the Boneyard. They had one plane that was tied down that actually got picked up and move a couple hundred feet once. It took them a while to figure out just what caused them, but before I came here they knew what to look for and could warn pilots with enough time generally. I hadn’t heard of a crash from a microburst in years. Though it is odd that it happened in the dead of winter like that. Most of the time it happens in the spring and summer months. Lots of warm and cold air changing places quickly during severe storms.”
“You couldn’t manage the weather?” Emerald inquired.

I laughed a bit. “Not for lack of trying to. The best we could do is predict what was going to happen and try to get people out of the way of the storm or into a safe place. Some storms, like hurricanes and typhoons, we can get a pretty good idea of their track because they last for so long and move relatively slowly. The storms over land that can produce tornadoes, those we can show the path that the storm is going and watch for the instability that causes tornadoes, but most of the time you might have just a few minutes to get hunkered down.” I replied as our food arrived.

While we ate our conversation moved onto lighter subjects like our hobbies. Emerald was actually an avid musician in her spare time, having played the flute when she was in her school’s band.

“So you still play I take it?” I asked as I popped a piece of sushi into my mouth.

“I do whenever I have free time. Though until now, I haven’t had much with all the shows and the training at the academy.” She replied.

“I know the feeling. I myself played the violin. I haven’t played for months.” I said as I took a drink of the tea that was provided with our meal.

“Well, I don’t know of any stores that are out here that would sell instruments like that, but I do know of one in Canterlot. She is a bit pricey, but she has excellent products.” Emerald replied.

“I’ll have to look into it when I get to Canterlot.” I said.

Soon we had finished our meals and after paying the bill, we headed back to the hotel.

“So what are you going to show me?” Emerald asked as we entered the hotel lobby.

“Not sure. I will have to look at what I have. Maybe something with some action. How do you feel on the subject of superheros?” I asked.

“Well considering I have a large collection of superhero comics at home, what do you think?” Emerald replied.

I laughed. “Iron Man it is then.” I said as we entered the hotel and headed for the elevator.

Once we had reached our floor and were walking down the hallway, I turned to Emerald.

“Why don’t you get changed into something comfortable while I get everything set up?” I suggested.

Emerald nodded. “Sounds good. See you in a few.” She said as we reached our rooms.

Heading inside, I went to my bag and began to pull out everything I would need for watching movies.

First came a battery pack that had a solar charger adapter that, depending upon usage, I could go almost a full week before having to charge it. Second was a laptop and external hard drive that shouldn’t even exist, as to the best of my knowledge, there had never been a petabyte solid state drive even on the drawing board yet. Then came the HD projector and speakers.

I quickly got everything set up and removed a mirror from the wall to have a space to project the movie onto.

I had just pulled up the folder that the movie I wanted to show Emerald when she knocked on the door.

I opened the door and saw Emerald wearing a gray tank top and blue sleep pants.

“Come on in.” I said as I opened the door fully to allow her to come in, glancing out the corner of my eye at her bust.

‘Even in the dress she was wearing her bust didn’t look that big. Gotta be one hell of a bra she wears.’ I thought as we walked over towards the bed.

“So ready to be amazed” I asked her.

“Sure am.” Emerald replied.

I gestured to the bed, where I had arranged all the pillows up against the headboard and she walked, nay, she sashayed to the bed, rolling her hips provocatively as she walked over.

I took a moment to enjoy the show of her finely toned flanks before she sat down.

Shaking my head with a smile, I went to the computer and started the movie.

Soon, Emerald was enraptured by the film, not only because it was something beyond what Equestria had at the time, but the story as well.

She jumped a few times, like when Tony was escaping the cave where he was held prisoner and she held her hand to her mouth when Yensen died, sacrificing himself to be reunited with his dead family.

About half way through the movie, she snuggled up to me, and I wrapped an arm around her shoulders, thumb rubbing against her fur.

Most Equestrians I had noticed were very much touchers, a fact that I was not really minding at the moment.

Soon the final fight against the Iron Monger armour came up and Emerald practically jumped into my lap when the massive suit appeared and started throwing around the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents.

Then during the final press conference, she laughed at Tony’s declaration of “I am Iron Man.”

She made to get up as the credits rolled, but I wrapped my arms around her waist, pulling her back into my lap.

“What’s up?” She asked.

“Gotta wait for the after credits scene.” I said.

Emerald gave me a confused look, until the credits ended and the after credits scene appeared.

“There are more of these?” She asked wide eyed with excitement.

“Yup. A total of three Iron Man, two Captain America, three Thor, two Spider-Man, one Hulk, and one Ant-Man stand alone movies had been made, as well as four Avengers movies had been made before I came here.” I replied. “And I have them all. Plus something like four thousand other movies and a few hundred serials.”

Emerald’s eyes widened. “You don’t want to get rid of me do you?”

I made a show of thinking. “Well, you are an attractive mare who enjoys action movies and will probably be able to keep up with my nerdiness once you see some more of these movies, so I can handle you being around.” I said finally with a smirk on my face.

Emerald looked at me for a moment before darting forward and capturing my lips in a kiss.

I was momentarily stunned, but I quickly returned the kiss, taking it over from the inexperienced mare.

Soon we had to part for breath and I asked. “Was that your first kiss?”

Emerald nodded shyly. “You could tell?”

“A bit. But kissing is one of those fun to learn skills.” I replied before kissing her again.

Soon enough she got the hang of kissing, allowing me to move my hands from her waist to under her shirt where I ran my hands over her sides and her back, running my fingers through her fur and massaging around her wing joints, eliciting moans from her.

“Oh sweet Celestia, that feels good.” She said when we separated for air.

I raised an eyebrow as I continued my ministrations. “Have you never had anyone do something like this?”
Emerald shook her head. “No, the couple of times that I have had anypony that learned about my secret that I was interested in being more than friends with just saw me as some freak.”

I kissed her gently. “You are not a freak Emerald Breeze. Just a wonderful mare with a few extra bits. If those ponies couldn’t see that, then they are fools.”

Emerald smiled before wrapping her arms around my neck as our lips met again in a loving, if needy kiss.

After a few moments, I felt something pressing against my stomach.

I pulled back and looked down to see a bulge under her shirt, coming to just above her belly button.

“Someone’s happy.” I said with a smirk.

Emerald blushed and tried to hide her bulge.

I gently caught her wrists and moved her hands back to my neck before lifting the front of her shirt, exposing the top portion of her stallionhood.

I looked her in the eyes, seeing a blush on her cheeks as my fingertips grazed over her length, eliciting a gasp.

I smiled as I wrapped my hand around her and gave a gentle squeeze, drawing out a moan before I started to move my hand up and down.

“So I’m guessing that you have never had anyone who did something like this?” I asked as I slowly worked her length.

“N-no. I have always had to take care of things myself.” Emerald said breathlessly.

“Well, it is so much better when someone else is doing it for you.” I said as I ran a finger over her flare, causing her rock hard member to twitch. A bead of clear pre-cum had formed on the tip. I ran my finger over her tip, gathering the fluid on my fingertip before looking her in the eye as I licked my finger clean.

I rolled the liquid around with my tongue. “Mmmm, blueberries.” I said, making her giggle.

I gently picked her up and turned us around, laying her against the headboard before gently pulling her sleep pants off, exposing her sheath, sack, and hidden beneath her female bits.

I looked at Emerald with half lidded eyes as I crawled between her legs, running my hands up her thighs and her sides, pushing her shirt up exposing her breasts, never taking my eyes off her face, watching for any sign that she wanted to stop.

Emerald responded by pulling her shirt over her head and her wings. Once her shirt was clear of her head, I captured her lips in a heated kiss.

“Well if this is your first time, I will have to do my very best to make it memorable.” I said before burying my face in her neck, kissing, biting, and licking as I made my way down her body.

I stopped at her breasts, taking my time to look them over as my hands hefted them. “D-cup?” I asked, getting a nod in confirmation from Emerald as she bit her lower lip. “You have got to have one heck of a bra to be able to fly with these, even under the illusion.” I said as I tweaked her nipples gently, causing her to squeak.

“Y-yeah. T-they are customer made, just like a l-lot of my clothes.” She said, her voice cracking as I kneaded her breasts.

I smiled as I lowered my face down to them, kissing them as I moved around her chest before taking one of her nipples in my mouth, causing her to moan loudly.

After a couple of moments I switched to the other breast, lavishing the same attention on it before making my way down her stomach.

Reaching her groin, I looked into Emerald’s brilliant green eyes before running my tongue along the thick vein on the bottom side of her cock, causing her to take a sharp breath.

“Like?” I asked.

“Y-yeah.” She said huskily.

“Then you are going to love this.” I said before taking her flare into my mouth.

Being male, I know what feels good when it comes to oral sex. That and a couple of previous male partners had taught me a few tricks, and had given me pretty good control of my gag reflex.

Emerald groaned throatily as I began bobbing my head up and down. Her cock was slightly smaller than mine, most likely due to the fact that it was the result of a magical accident, so I was able to quickly reach the base where it came out of her sheath. I kept my eyes locked with hers as I deepthroated her, using my throat muscles to squeeze her tightly.

I could tell that she wasn’t going to be able last long so with one hand I lifted her testicles, gently squeezing and rolling them in my fingers while the other penetrated her folds, causing her to cry out. I felt her ball tighten up in my hand causing me to increase my speed, saliva dripping from my mouth and making her length slick.

Soon enough she reached her peak, releasing a low keening moan as I drove down, taking her completely into my mouth, feeling her release explode in my throat before I pulled back, keeping the tip in my mouth as she continued to spray her seed in my mouth. Swallowing quickly, I was able to keep up with her orgasm. Soon enough she finished cumming and I worked to milk the last of her seed out of her.

“Th-that was a-amazing.” Emerald said as she caught her breath.

“I told you.” I said as I pushed myself into an upright position, removing my shirt and throwing it to the side before getting off the bed to remove my now painfully tight pants.

Climbing back between her legs, I asked. “Are you ready?” I asked.

Emerald nodded. “Make me yours.” She said.

I smiled as I pulled her further down the bed, observing her softening member retract into her sheath with fascination. I then lined myself up with her entrance, glancing at her, getting a nod before I entered her virgin opening.

The resistance was intense, a testament to not only her inexperience but her physically demanding lifestyle. It took several minutes of gentle, shallow thrusting to hilt completely inside her.

I looked at Emerald’s face as I let her adjust to the intrusion and I smiled as I saw her eyes rolled back in her head and her mouth hanging open as she moan continuously.

After a couple of minutes, I began thrusting into her, causing her to start giving out squeaking moans as our hips made contact and her length to pop back out of her sheath.

Pulling out, I flipped her onto her stomach and after pulling her hips up, I re-entered her in one smooth thrust, causing her wings to snap out to full extension and and making her give a muffled scream into the pillow.

“H-harder!” Emerald called out in a moment of clarity.

I smirked as I thought of something that would be entirely possible with her smaller frame.

I leaned forward and wrapped one arm around her chest and the other under her legs as I straightened and carefully moved off the bed into a standing position.

I turned towards another wall that had a large mirror on it.

“Emerald, look.” I said as I moved my other arm to her leg spreading them as I leaned back slightly. “How does it feel to see me inside you? To know that I am the one who is bringing you this pleasure?” I said as I began to lift her up and letting her drop back down, my cock disappearing into her snug pussy.

Emerald’s Perspective - 1st Person POV

This night had taken a turn that I never could have expected. I had felt an attraction to this human when he came to visit me after rescuing me from that cave, but over the couple of weeks in the hospital and his daily visits, that feeling had developed into being smitten with him. He was kind and patient. So much so that I took the risk of not wearing any of my enchanted clothing when we had gone out tonight. His actions at the elevator had awoken a fire in me that I had never felt before. I know that most would consider it trashy to try to bed someone on the first date, but I just knew that I wanted him to be my first.

During the movie, I felt that I should test the waters a bit. I cuddled up to him and he wrapped his arm around me without any hesitation, bringing a smile to my face. At a couple of points, the action got pretty intense, and I had wound up in his lap. Instead of pushing me off, he just wrapped his arms around me and pulled me close.

Once the movie was over I decided to just go for it and kiss him. Oh Celestia was it amazing. He could tell that I hadn’t really kissed anyone like that and had been patient as he taught me through action how to kiss.

Then he started rubbing my back and the base of my wings. I about lost it when he started doing that.

Then it happened. My stallionhood, the abnormality that I had been cursed with in the womb, had made an appearance.

But instead of being disgusted, he had been patient and began touching it, tasting the fluids even before picking me up gently and laying me back before stripping my pants and underwear off.

The feeling of his tongue on my shaft was like lightning, making my eyes roll back from the pleasure. Then he took my length into his mouth.

Words cannot accurately describe the feeling as he swallowed my length. Then as I was getting close, his fingers found their way to my slit and made their way inside, brushing against my clit with his thumb and the finger inside me pressed against my g-spot, making me cum near instantly.

The best part was that his eyes never left mine, those glowing blue orbs, shining with power as he sucked me off. It is an image that will never leave me.

Then when he penetrated my marehood, it felt like I had found nirvana. He was gentle, easing himself inside me slowly, taking care not to hurt me. The sensations as he stretch me, filled me, are beyond description. Then he hilted inside me. I could feel him, just touching the entrance to my womb, filling me completely.

Then he began thrusting slowly.

The emptiness when he withdrew was excruciating, but my patience was rewarded as he thrust back into me.

My moans were barely squeaks as I rode the constant wave of euphoria until he withdrew completely. I was about to protest when I felt his strong arms flip me onto my stomach gently. He lifted my hips with the same gentleness, but filled me with none of the same.

“H-harder!” I screamed, my voice muffled slightly by the pillows.

Then he did something unexpected.

Still sheathed inside of me, he wrapped his arms around my chest and under my legs before he stood up and turned to face on of the large wall mirrors.

“Emerald, look.” He said as he moved his other arm to my leg spreading them as he leaned back slightly. “How does it feel to see me inside you? To know that I am the one who is bringing you this pleasure?”

I looked at the image reflected in the looking glass, seeing the lewdness of my spread legs, my cock fully erect and my pussy spread, oh so wide by his hard member, both it and my lower lips glistening with my arousal as he pounded into me.

“I-it feels amazing.” I said, stuttering slightly from the pleasure coursing through me. I turned my head carefully and captured his lips with mine, just as he hilted in me with one final hard thrust. I thought my previous orgasms this night, or rather the one continuous one that I have been riding on had been intense.

I was wrong.

The feeling of his seed filling my womb, it set of an orgasm that I will never likely reach again, my walls clenching, milking him for all that he would give me, the sensation was too much and my own cock began to spray out my own seed, going all over my clothes where they lay on the bed.

Finally after several moments of heavy breathing, trying to catch our breaths, I came again as his softening member hit that bundle of nerves just right on it’s way out. I watched and shivered as some of his seed leaked out of me and onto the floor.

He then carefully set me down on the bed and pulled the covers over me before climbing in himself.

We were both on the verge of sleep, but I wanted to ask him.

“Talisman, will you be my special somepony?”

He smiled and took my hand, interlacing our fingers.

“Yes, Emerald, I will be.” He said before giving me a tender kiss.

I smiled as we fell asleep, my right wing, the one that had been injured, that magic had allowed me to keep and use, over his back.

Though I would never fly with the Wonderbolts again, and after the talks that Talisman and I had over the subject, I really don’t want to, I think that as long as I can be with this man, this SOLDIER, this warrior from another world that was burned to ash, I will be okay with it.

Author's Note

Whew, that was something else to write. Had to stop and take a few breaks to calm down. Hope you all enjoy this little bit of smut. :twilightsmile:

OC Request

Okay folks, I am in need of ten characters for the Rangers. There are a total twelve Rangers at the current point in the story. So far I have a single Unicorn mare and a Saberhorn stallion. I would like to have a balance between Pegasi, Unicorns, Earth Ponies, Saberhorns, Nightstalkers, and Thestrals. Descriptions would also be appreciated. I will list them below and will update as I get submissions.

Meadow Blossom - Unicorn Mare

Shadow Mark - Saberhorn Stallion

Windrider - Pegasus Stallion

Crimson Moon - Thestral Mare