The coronation party was in full swing as Bryan sat down heavily after a slightly awkward meeting with Twilight Velvet and Night Light. Twilight's parents were kind and warm ponies but Bryan sensed that the two of then were just waiting to embarrass the newly crowned princess with all kinds of silly stories and adorable baby pictures just as Granny Smith had done with Big Macintosh, Applejack, and Apple Bloom. He smiled at the memories of those days when he was introduced to the Apple Family and how they became his second pony family. He also teared up a little at the thoughts about his first pony family. They needed his help and he couldn't yet reach them, and that worried him to no end.

"Hey Bryan!" Shouted three familiar voices shaking him from his stupor.

He looked up and saw the crusaders looking at him. "Oh hi girls. I was just thinking." he replied

"Yeah we noticed." said Scootaloo

"Are you alright Bryan? You looked kinda sad." said Apple Bloom

"Yeah." Sweetie Belle said climbing up into his lap and nuzzling him.

Bryan sniffled a little and said. "I miss my sisters, and my mothers. I want to see them again and make sure they are safe. I'm really worried right now."

Scootaloo and Apple Bloom moved to hug him from the sides. "You'll get to see them again Bryan." Apple Bloom soothed. "They're your family and you'll be able to help them."

"Yeah." said Scoots "You'll come through for them because you have us and we're going to help you in any way that we can. You'll see them again I just know it."

"And, and, and... what they said." Sweetie Belle said getting a laugh from Bryan.

Bryan hugged Sweetie Belle "I swear Sweetie if you get any cuter you'll, something." His hesitation caused all three fillies to giggle. Bryan flushed and said. "Whatever Sweetie has got, I think it's contagious." This caused all three fillies to laugh again while Bryan just stuck pout his tongue in response.

Bryan sat with the fillies for a while and let himself relax somewhat though his overall unease did not lessen one bit. It actually increased when he noticed Ace approaching him with what appeared to be a serious look on his face. "Okay you three you'd better go back to the party, Ace is coming over here and it looks important." he said

"Awww, but we wanna stay." The three of them said in unison and flashing his the strongest cute faces they had.

Ace walked up. "Aww, that's so cute. Ok crusaders, scram. We have a battle to plan and we don't need you three under hoof." Said Ace. The crusaders gave Ace the taste of their power, Ace just smiled. "I have five younger siblings. The cute face don't work on me. At least not from foals." As he made a shooing motion with his wings.

"Go on girls it's fine. We'll have plenty of time to do things together later on." Bryan said "And besides it's rude to leave your date waiting Sweetie Belle. As Rarity would say it's positively bad form dear."

Sweetie's face lit up with a realization. "Oh! That is kind of rude isn't it?" She said looking at Bryan and Ace who both nodded in ascent.
Bryan hugged the fillies and they looked up at him sweetly. "Now get back to the party and have some fun with your friends. I think I remember Spike being over by the bowl with the blue fruit punch. He was talking to Twist, Dinky, and Pinchy. Twist was really animated so I'm guessing she is excited about helping Bonnie at the chocolate shoppe over the summer."

"Okay." The crusaders said in unison before giving him a group nuzzle and trotting off.

"I'm betting Hammer was the hardest one to resist when she was a filly." Bryan laughed "I mean seriously you have four sisters so I'm not really surprised you can resist them when they do that."

"Hammer is still hard to resist. Only now she has also learned it's easier to ask for forgiveness then permission. Like that stupid reunion she set in motion. I swear sometimes I wish the master had taken his belt to her a flank more often. That said I know we all got equal whooping from him when we deserved it. Still that said I never got to pay my old man back for the hoof beatings he gave me but that's just fate there. Buck when did I get old B? I'm standing around talking about the past every other chance I get these days." Said Ace with a shake of his head.

Bryan chuckled She certainly is hard to resist, my spine was actually pushed back into alignment by her when she hugged me, not that I'm complaining about it. It really sucked having that problem. As for when you got old Ace, I don't know exactly but it probably snuck up on you. Anyway I very much doubt you're here to plan a battle Ace, it's not like you to be this serious. Or is something worrying you still?" Said Bryan unable to let go of his own unease.

"Lets just say that her being here has my mane standing and my wings twitching. Because that means Blueblood has either help or a foothold in Dream Valley. So to be honest I'd feel better sending in half the thirteenth in full kit for the extraction. But at the same time it feels like we are missing way more puzzle pieces here then we even know are in the box. Blueblood was never smart or a leader. That's what has me worried. Those stories you told have a lot of villains that would not even brake a sweat manipulating him like a puppet on a string. And who knows how many showed up when you and Megan left? I might just be paranoid after the wedding and the bugs. But the Fatewriter is getting creative with our stories. I don't like it when she is clever. It means pain for lots of ponies." Ace said his superstitious side showing again.

Bryan sighed "I'm not comfortable with the vast number of unknowns here either Ace. Nopony in Equestria could get to to Ponyland from this side without help from somepony from Ponyland. To say that it's unlikely is a huge understatement. I saw Luna and Celestia talking to Twiliy, Sunset, and Trixie a few minute ago, and Megan was there too. I'm guessing their thoughts are as balls deep in this as ours are." Bryan sighed again. "There are lot of missing pieces to be sure, but we have the Royal Sisters and Megan's fusion with the rainbow going for us. I kind of wonder if this spell Chi taught you might help us out too."

"Only if we die. She is a necromancer remember. I'm not to keen on joining Red as a member of the undead. I mean yeah I've met some nice ones but I don't want to be one you know. Besides that spell has a price and Chi said that with a smile. I love my little sisters but Chi is well playing with undead while not having to fear death? I think the world she sees is not the same as we do." Said Ace his voice having a hint of unease he rarely has.

"No," Bryan replied "I mean the spell to see the threads. It led us to Wind Whistler and it may help lead us to Ponyland. All we'd need to do is focus on somepony in Ponyland, like Twilight for example, or Paradise." Bryan sighed for the third time that night. "It won't solve the overarching issues but having a guide would be better than not right?" Bryan had to admit only to himself at the moment that it was reaching, even though he was being trained in magic he knew the practice had it's limits. And he also knew that all magic has a price, and that was the part worried him to no end.

"Threads are easy to do, but that's not something to worry about. What is the worry is what we find besides ponies. I know you don't like the human weapons we have the vaults but maybe you should carry one when we go. It might be needed." Said Ace looking grim as he considered things.

"No Ace." Bryan said firmly. "Those weapon violate the natural progression of Equestrian technology and should be destroyed. Besides they don't work, I'm guessing that they were damaged by the trip from one universe to the next. It's remarkable that I survived the trip myself, and those three criminals too. There is also the fact that they weren't designed to be used on magical creatures of any kind. The likelihood that they'd actually do anything beyond piss whatever it is off and make things much worse are very remote."

"There is a way to fix them. Hammer said a mending spell could work. As to verses magic, steel is steel as they say. And anything non magical can be made so. The hard thing to do is make magical things non magical." Said Ace. This was not the first time Ace brought up human weapons. The ever tactical part of him saw them as both dangerous and potentially advantageous. But Celestia under Bryan's advice had opted to secure them. Not using them or studying them is something Ace vocally called wasting providence.

"Maybe, but those weapons have no place in this world Ace. To use or study them will cause an arms race that will only end badly. They need to be destroyed period." Bryan replied reasserting his position. "A sword doesn't claim victims indiscriminately, all firearms can no matter how good the shooter. That's why they need to stay out everypony's reach for as long as possible. More so given the aggressive tendencies of griffons and minotuars. Though honestly I'm more concerned about the griffons on this one."

"A loosed bolt doesn't care what hits either. And you haven't seen volley lines work on infantry. I have, from what you told me of them, those weapons are just as bad with out magic ad-ons. But sometimes one must deal with Oni to do good." Said Ace. He looked out a window near by. "I've seen them work before when I got this sword. Whether that was a vision test, a dream, or real. I've seen their power. But just as any tool or power. It is who wields it that matters. Always remember that." said Ace

"This world doesn't need an arms race Ace." Bryan sighed once more. "It's not that the weapons themselves are bad, but they have already been abused. Those three criminals that showed up here didn't hesitate to wrest the spears away from the other gaurdsponies accompanying you on that day and they would not have hesitated to use their guns had they been working. It's only a matter of time before some genius figures out gunpowder anyway. You already have Crossbows and Ballistea which were the first steps my race took in that direction." Bryan stood and stretched. "I'm trying to make sure the process happens naturally and not by interference, that's all. It took my people two centuries to finally gain equilibrium with these weapons and there are those who still misuse them. Do you really want somepony like Blueblood to have access to these kinds of weapons?"

"I would have cut Blueblood's horn off long ago if it was my call." Said Ace reminding Bryan again how much Ace saw Blueblood as trouble before his gamble at the wedding. It's a miracle he wasn't shouting 'I told you so!' from as high up as he could on in Celestia's face.

Bryan laughed "Yeah that was a mess and a half. I think the insurgency in Maretonia was cleaner that that wedding disaster. Lets not sit her and be all serious anymore, we have too many problems and shouldn't be worrying about them at the moment. Otherwise we'll get a visit from Doctor Pinkie Pie again." Bryan said with a shudder. As much as he did love Pinkie she caused him great alarm at times.

"Keep her and her gypsy magic away from me. I can't take her in small doses much less live with her. I seen earth ponies move mountains, but she just... I think she has horn under that mess she calls a mane." Ace grumbled. Twilight had tried to understand Pinkie Pie, while Ace just washed his hooves of her and her crazy. "Up side she is a now cousin by herding I can tern her loose on the family at the reunion. Hopefully it will stop them from wanting another for several years." He added rubbing his head.

Bryan laughed "Letting Pinkie loose in the reunion will just make it really, really fun Ace. And you seriously need to get over your fear of her, this is not helpful nor dignified." He watching Pinkie as she talked with Lyra and Bon Bon while giggling occasionally. "I mean yes it's shocking what she can do. I remember when she suddenly popped out of a mouse hole at Fluttershy's place. It took three rabbits and a kitten to calm me down afterwards. Not to mention half of a pot of tea. She felt really bad about it too." Bryan scratched his head. "Anyway she is a great strategist and a brilliant tactician. If you two teamed up you'd be able to keep your obnoxious relatives away for life. And then you wouldn't dread the reunions anymore."

"In my family I'm actually considered the obnoxious one. I hate my relatives because well, they're stuck up self centered and place way to much emphasis on formalities, and traditions. They also are still playing war over there with the other lords. Wasting troops and resources on ego." Ace was not holding back the venom. "And there are enough of them that if I do what you suggest I and my siblings would driven out our home land permanently. As much as I hate it there has to be a balance."

Bryan looked at Ace. "Three of six of you are here full time already Ace. And honestly if it really bothers you that much then just move everypony else here and tell those idiots to fuck themselves. Seriously if their behavior is that bad then it's bad for the whole family and you need to get the rest of you sisters out of the way so they can live their lives they they choose to instead of being forced to endure pointless traditions and petty, backstabbing, childish, and narcissistic behavior. Look at me me I have to take my family from their home or I'll lose them forever." Bryan sighed again. "You need to make a stand against this Ace or you won't have a family anymore. One last thing by the way, we know where Blueblood is. We just need the second to find the exact location of the changeling hive in the Badlands and we'll have him." Bryan left to join the conversation Pinkie was having with Lyra and Bon Bon leaving Ace to himself and his thoughts.

As Bryan walked off Shadow Wing appeared from behind Ace. "There is one thing wrong with what he said." Said the Ninja.

"Yes, despite being stupid, selfish and fools. They are still my family too. And the lands and its people my responsibility." said Ace

"We both do what our role in the story tells us to." Said Shadow Wing.

"You two are too obsessed with your roles, and that petty superstition. How is it better to see your family destroyed than to have it remain intact? Nothing is predetermined and nothing is as complex and you think. Seventy-eight percent of life is simple and we refuse to see it. One way from the other you Ace will have make a decision to save your family or allow for its destruction. I have chosen to save mine consequences be damned." Bryan shot back over his shoulder.

"Yes, but who do you think is the extent of those I consider family? Cousin." Said Ace making a point to ascent the word Cousin to emphasize it.

"Save your family or condemn it Ace, those are your only options." Bryan called back grimly indicating that he was done with the matter.

Bryan remained tense for the rest of the night. Ace was too wrapped up in superstition sometimes and that did annoy him, but what annoyed him most is when Ace became dramatic. Other ponies had accused Rarity of being dramatic and Bryan would always laugh at that assessment of her because it rang hollow. Now as Twilight opened the library door he followed and he followed her he huffed and sat down rubbing his now aching head.

Megan seeing this spoke up. "Twilight where is the teapot?"

"Oh, it's in the kitchen cupboard on the left above the stove. Why do you ask Megan?"

Bryan sighed as he replied. "It's a thing Megan and I do, we have some tea before bed to help us relax."

Twilight looked at Bryan. "Well you certainly seem to need it Bryan. you don't look so good." Bryan just sat in his chair and didn't really say anything.

"Come on Twi, Twi, let's leave the two them to be together for a while." said Pinkie "She'll take care of him right now." Pinkie stated as she trotted upstairs.

Twilight followed Pinkie wordlessly upstairs to put Spike to bed and get ready for bed herself.

Megan came out of the kitchen after having put the water on to boil and looked at Bryan. "What's got you so upset Bryan?"

"It's Ace, he is being dense again, and probably dramatic. He does that sometimes and it never fails to get under my skin when he does." Bryan replied flatly.

"Oh what is he being dense about?" asked Megan

"His family, he's acting like they are going out of their way to ruin the family name. Maybe they are for all I know, I've met only so many of them. But Ace is also very prone to embellishment as well so it's hard to know what's what sometimes." he sighed "I really want to hit him sometimes..." Bryan trailed off.

Megan just placed her hands on his shoulders and started to massage them when there came a knock on the door. "Who is that at this hour?" Megan said going to answer the door.

There stood Shadow Wing. He sighs. "Do you have a moment? I'm sure you have questions, both of you."

"Sure." Megan replied moving aside so Shadow could enter. "We're having some tea, would you like some?" Said Megan as she closed the door.

"No thank you. I've always preferred coffee. Never really liked Tea. So where to start?" Said Shadow as he sat down on a chair.

"Our birth Father was the last head of the clan, he was abusive to put it lightly at least to Ace and to a lesser extent to me. He graduated the Equestria Naval Academy like our grandfather. But never served in in Equestria. As Lord he focused on naval might and massed a great fleet. In ritual sea battles he was unmatched. But he was one of a dozen lords dissatisfied with mere ritual battles. So during the time after my siblings and I fled our father's manner. He and the others launched a treasonous revolt actually attacking towns cities and killing their foes. All with the goal to not just bring back true conquest, but in a bid to take the throne from the Jade Emperor, the Kirn Son Su Fen. In the middle of the conflict Ace was had been set to travel by our sensei and adoptive father the Weapon Master. The ancient dragon who hoarded skill over treasure. In this time Ace joined the Storm Monks of the order of Tempest's Eye. They like the other nine schools answered the Call of the Jade gong to defend the Emperor along side the loyal lords. It is at this time of conflict when many houses stood divided in loyalty, that Ace not trusting most of our kin recruited his retainers. Our father died in battle and the surviving traitors where executed. Their families lands stripped to almost nothing. Then Ace, my twin sister Dixie Bell and myself to claim our birthright as head of what remained of our house and clan enrolled in the Equestrian royal military schools. Dixie the navy, myself actually the military police originally and Ace just officer's school. The years after that we went home and joined the honor battles with our uncles and cousins in regaining lost land and resources. After that was secured we took up the standing offer to join the Equestrian guard forces." said Shadow

"Our other relatives are our five Uncles two aunt's and some dozen or so cousins and a few sworn siblings. Those are the bulk of our family army commanders. Now that said they all love the ritual battles and take pride in earning land and fame. Though my brother and twin sister are the only ponies to defeat a sea pony clan in the water a feat that was and is by many still considered impossible. That aside my birth father, adopted father and brother all agreed on one thing the ritual battles are a waste of resources and time. Unlike our birth father, Brother and sensei see the conflict and repetitive clashes as unhelpful to their goal to keep the nation strong and feel the nation's lords would be better of with unified training together. But most everypony else is of a different opinion. Thus our uncles and cousins spend time fighting training battles over the same lands season after season. This is what Ace has a problem with and why they scheming and plotting to try and take his position or strike out on their own to climb land untied to the clan." explained Shadow

"The Emperor and his young daughter love to read about Ace and the thirteenth's adventures. He actually is looking quite forward to meeting you Bryan. But the reading in court of Ace's exploits and Emperor's love of him has kept most the status climbing in check and annoyed the buck out of our kin. So while I'm sure it's not as bad as you pictured from his embellishments it is still a lot of headaches for Ace, Hammer, and the rest of us. Now I'm sure I have raised more questions then I answered in that so." Explained Storm gesturing with his hoof for them to ask.

"Not really." Bryan replied "It's just Ace being a drama queen again as I'd feared. And really I don't give a flying feather about the emperor Shadow. I've had all of the meetings with so called nobility and royalty I can stomach for several hundred lifetimes. The only ones that were ever really tolerable were Majesty, Celestia and Luna. I would say more about Princess Cadence but I've so rarely had extended contact with her than I am truly unable to say much at all. Queen Rosedust never really acted much like a queen and the Princess Ponies we never spent much time with. As for these ritual battles, well Ace is right. They are a waste of time and resources and have already caused one coup attempt. They need to be stopped and Neighpon needs to be unified in the process. There is no point in fighting for glory and reward because that makes you weak and not strong." Bryan got up and went to the kitchen to get the teapot as it started to whistle.

Megan looked at Shadow. "We need to keep and eye on these two Shadow. They are under a lot of stress right now and need our support."

"Stress is like a smithy's forge when the steel comes out it can be stronger or weaker from it." He said sounding like a fortune cookie.

Megan sighed "He has grown so much since I last saw him Shadow. I am afraid I can't help Bryan anymore or really be there for him when he needs me." What Shadow saw was something few had ever seen. Megan Williams, the Megan who wasn't being some kind of superhuman icon. No instead she was a human being who did indeed have her own fears. What didn't shock Shadow is that said fears centered around her loved ones and not herself.

"He is stronger that's true. I'd say of all my brother's students he is his finest. Especially given how far he came from the the week cry baby he once was." Shadow chuckled

"Bryan was never a weak crybaby!" Megan snapped causing Shadow to jump slightly. "He just has a hard time seeing his potential. Anyway I think we should pick this up later Shadow. I have plans for him tonight." Megan said blushing.

"Right. I'll be off then." He flapped his wings and a bunch of loose feather filled the air and when it was clear he had vanished like he was never there save for a single feather left twisting down to where he sat.

Megan stared blankly as Bryan came back into the room with the tea set. Laughing Bryan said to Megan. "It's like a Sonic Rainboom, I can never see it enough for it to become any less impressive."

"Sonic Rainboom?" asked Megan

"Ask Rainbow or even Pinkie about it sometime, I'm sure Rainbow would just love to show it off to you. So what are these nefarious plans you have for me Megan?" Bryan said with a cocky smirk.

Megan felt her heart swell again, he really had grown a lot, but he still needed to grow more. Megan decided right there that she would stay beside him no matter her doubts, he needed her still and she wouldn't forget that. Megan walked over to him and rubbed against him sensuously. "I said I was going to make love to you Bryan." She whispered hotly in his ear. "I am going to follow through on that."

Bryan looked at Megan. "Let's have our tea first."

Megan kissed him. "That's fine by me Bryan." She replied with a giggle as she sat back down.

Megan and Bryan have their while discussing various things about their lives after they were separated and enjoying each other's company. After an hour they got up to head upstairs Megan suddenly swept Bryan into her arms holding him and kissing him.

Bryan looked up at Megan. "What brought this on? I don't need you to carry me Megan."

Megan smiled "You said it was nice so I thought I would carry you upstairs."

Bryan's face reddened at Megan's remarks. "It's better that I'm not hurt or sick this time. It feels like that's always the case when you do this for me."

"Bryan I've carried you like this before when you weren't hurt or sick." said Megan

He cocked his head. "When?"

Megan started up the stairs with him in her arms and replied. "Do you remember when you fell asleep while we were watching that old movie?"

"That one with the song by the Andrews Sisters?" Asked Bryan to which Megan nodded in response.

"That's the one." she said

"Huh, I didn't know that." Bryan replied

"How did you think you got into bed with me that night?" Megan questioned mischievously.

After getting to the guestroom and brushing their teeth Megan decided to draw out the anticipation a little longer by insisting the she undress not only Bryan but herself as well. Megan laid on top of him and began kissing him. Another hour passes and both lay together with Bryan's head resting in Megan's cleavage listening to her heart as he slept. Megan gently caressed Bryan's cheek as she held him close to her. She felt her own eyelids begin to get heavy and her eyes eventually closed sending her to sleep.

This was the last peaceful moment the two of them would know that night for there was an unpleasant surprise awaiting them in the dream world.

Megan shifted in her sleep holding Bryan tighter and closer but not really feeling his body against her own. "I wonder what he is dreaming?" rand through her mind before she opened her eyes and found herself in a odd place. It was a field of stars with bands of what looked like clouds running through parts of it. Megan looked around and surveyed her surroundings, it was like something from a dream. That caused her to start thinking about Ribbon's warning the night before Tambelon had returned to Ponyland. "It's a dream?" She questioned to herself before hearing some familiar laughter.

Megan listened intently for the sound to return, when it did she began to follow it. She moved forward across the endless sea listening to the sounds of laughter and giggling that she knew so well, the sound of those precious fillies that she and Bryan had loved so much during their time in Ponyland. She continued to follow the sounds of the laughter as it got louder and became more frequent. It felt to Megan as if she was being guided by something, or more specifically someone to see what was about to unfold.

Finally Megan came to what looked like a door, she paused for a moment eyeing the object not sure of what she should do at first. She heard the laughter again and decided that she needed to go in. It was as if something was telling her that she needed to see what lay on the other side of the door. Megan reached and grasped the door knob, upon opening the door and walking through she found herself in a familiar place.

"Paradise Estate." Megan said automatically as she looked over the large pink estate house she knew so well. Looking round to locate the source of the laughter, it was the fillies and they were playing with Bryan. Megan smiled at the sight, of course Bryan would be dreaming about something like this. Then it occurred to her, she was in Bryan's dream! How had this happened? She stood there confused as to this turn of events. As she was thinking about how this had happened something changed in the atmosphere of the dream. It change to something oppressive and unnerving.

Bryan stood up and spoke to the fillies. "Go to Megan little ones and stay with her now."

Megan had no time to think about it how he had known about her presence as the ponies came galloping towards her. "Megan help us!" cried Baby Moondancer.

"Come on girls Bryan will deal with this." The fillies gathered around Megan and sh e led them towards the forested area around the estate. This should be out of the way enough." Megan said

"Megan is big brother going to be okay?" asked Ember

Megan smiled at the purple filly and stroked her pink mane while looking into her blue eyes. "I know he will Ember, Bryan has grown stronger so he can do this."

The wind began to howl and the sky darkened Bryan stood unmoved and impassive. "Alright enough with the b.s. show yourself!" Bryan demanded.

There was deep thumping sound like clapping and the ground shook with hoof falls and then a voice spoke behind him. "My, my. You have gotten so brave. Hard to believe you where the same boy clinging to Megan's skirt all those years ago." Said the voice prompting Bryan to turn around and see Tirek, but much larger than before and towering over him.

"You'll find that I'm a long way from the scared little boy I was at Midnight Castle twelve years ago Tirek. Let's dance!" Bryan shouted defiantly as his guard armor and weapons appeared.

Author's Note

Well it's been over two years and the long promised confrontation with Bryan's past has finally begun. Next up Bryan faces his fears head on, stay tuned everypony.