"So you have grown some backbone. But all your new found courage and bravado means nothing." Tirek raises his hand a glowing orb in it. "Behold a true Nightmare come to life!"

Bryan's eyes narrowed. "Is that a Tantibus artifact? How in Equestria did he get it?" Bryan stood and readies himself not knowing what he should expect from this object.

Everything started shaking then he heard the screams of ponies as paradise estate behind him twists in to a mangled and twisted collection of caged ponies suffering in it. Megan suspended above it all her wrists bound over her head and her ankles bound below her her far enough to almost be a stressful to her.

Bryan stood neutral. "That's it Tirek?" He said flatly. "You are hopelessly out of you depth here here with me." Bryan raised his head and stared sharply into Tirek's eyes. "I am a member of the Lunar Guard Tirek! We can't be swayed by nightmare visions of any kind. We are each trained specially by none other than Princess Luna herself for just this sort of thing. Every single night for two weeks we train in the dream realm preparing for the day when her highness Princess Luna calls upon us to fight in this abstract reality to defend Equestria and her peoples."

The world warps again shattering Tirek's hellish nightmare vision and returning to a night sky with the moon high above with the landscape restored. "You see Tirek, you may be able to scare the unprepared with such things, but the Lunar Guard is ready for such craven ploys and we stand firm against them. So if you're looking for a fight you'd better have something more than a few cheap parlor tricks and low end nightmares." Bryan's blades flashed from their sheaths. "You'll find that here I am far more powerful that such cheap and desperate methods."

Megan stood in awe of what she had just seen. That Princess Luna herself had actually trained her guards to withstand such foul magic and methods proved how much she cared and how seriously she took her position. "It'll be okay." She said reflexively to the fillies. "Bryan can do this." Megan smiled, he was growing. Now if she could only get him to fully recognize it.

"So you know a few parlor tricks! This is my reality, not yours and in this world I make the rules!" He stomped his hoof and the ground shatters and from the cracks bubbling black goo raises up taking form of Megan and his other friends then charge at him.

"Oh how wrong you are Tirek." Bryan says shattering the facsimiles with a swing of his sword. "Only Princess Luna alone rules here Tirek. I will force you to see the truth of this." Bryan said trusting his swords into the ground and making an impossibly fast series of hand gestures. "Now behold the power of illusions in the dream realm." Bryan's voice rang out in chorus as there seemed to be a hundred of him all of the sudden.

"Megan, what's big brother doing?" Asked Baby Heart Throb.

"He is keeping Tirek's focus on him for some reason Baby Heart Throb. I wonder what he is up to?" Megan mused for a moment. Then her eyes widened with a realization as her thoughts drifted back to an earlier event that night. Trixie had been putting on a stage show after Twilight's coronation ceremony to keep the fillies and colts entertained while their parents took part in the more adult activities of drinking various wines and idle conversations that went with it.

Annnd viola!" Trixie has said with a flourish as Cinnamon, Bryan's pet rabbit emerged from Trixie's hat. The delighted stomping of the applause from the fillies and colts pleased not only Trixie but the playful little rabbit as well. "Thank you, thank you. You are all too kind. And Trixie's adorable assistant thanks you as well our wonderful little admirers." Trixie said as Cinnamon squeaked in agreement.

The foals leave to go tell their friends about the amazing performance they had just seen and Megan walked up to Trixie and plucked Cinnamon from Trixie's levitation field and began petting her. "That was a wonderful performance Trixie. You really do know do know how to put on a show." Megan said

Trixie chuckled lightly and tossed her silvery mane "Megan darling, a performer of Trixie's caliber knows how to keep her audience's attention. Why it would be positively criminal if she couldn't."

"So that's what he is doing." Megan whispered "He wants Tirek focused on him so Princess Luna has the time to show up and deal with him." Megan thought to herself.

"Yes! It's like Trixie taught me, all I have to do is keep his attention on me. That will give me the edge I need." Bryan thought "Okay Tirek now let's see if you can figure out which one is the real me before I land a meaningful blow." Bryan smirked "Don't get it wrong though, or you'll be left hurting in the worst ways."

He smiled then reared back on his hind legs before slamming them down creating a shockwave attack in all directions.

Bryan shook his head and leapt into the air avoiding the attack as Tirek suddenly found himself taking a very serious shock. "Bad move." Bryan chorused from the top of a tree having reestablished his illusion.

Megan got low and braced herself for the shock which did not come. Instead Megan and the fillies heard a soft voice chanting "I wish, I wish, I wish."

Megan opened her eyes and got a surprise. It was Twilight and she had somehow created a barrier around both Megan and the fillies. Megan blinked, how had Twilight gotten here? She hadn't seen her earlier.

Tirek was done with games as he opened his mouth a turned his had firing a powerful beam leaving a burning arc on the ground that exploded a second later.

Bryan stood up from the resulting crater a moment later. "You are hopeless Tirek, just utterly hopeless." Even as his armor fell off of his body in pieces Bryan himself had remained unharmed. "I can't believe you would so thoughtlessly resort to such forward methods again after they so utterly failed you twelve years ago. You clearly learned nothing from your death at Megan's hands back then." He stood up fully now as the moon shown down upon him a with soft, pale light. Bryan stretched and began to pop various joints in his body to relieve the pressure in them. "So if you won't won't play along with my mentor Trixie's methods then you'll just have to play along with my mentor Ace's methods instead. I'll warn you though, his are much more direct and much more painful in nature."

For the first time in her life Megan smirked. It was an uncharacteristic response to the situation but Megan could feel the power rising inside of Bryan. She felt it through their life long bond as a pulse that surged through her being. She just sat there and smirked, it was over and she knew it.

Bryan exhaled and stared right at Tirek. This towering, looming figure from his childhood nightmares could no longer frighten him. No now he was in charge of what came next. Starting at his feet the moonlight be to change into a suit of armor like Megan had never seen before. The moonlight first transformed into a pair of armored boots of a midnight blue color and with the form of a dragon's talons. The moonlight continued up Bryan's body become a pair of grieves next the new armor continues to show the draconic motif as the light still moved up Bryan's body and transforming into this new armor. Next the moonlight crept up his arms transforming into a pair of dragon themed gauntlets with clawed fingers and spread on to his torso becoming a breast plate and an aerodynamic set of pauldrons. The moonlight came at last to Bryan's head where instead of becoming a helm it became a circlet with a single turquoise dragon's eye.

Bryan's eyes shown briefly with an inner light as he gently extended his left arm and some of the last of the moonlight transformed into a strange bow with no string attached. Then the moonlight finally dissipated becoming a large pair of dragons' wings with the same dark blue ridges and membranes the color of the lunar surface. His transformation complete Bryan now spoke in a voice that was as still as the lunar surface itself. "Now Tirek behold. The Lunar Dragoon, Mirage Knight!" He said clearly as he raised his bow, drew it back and loosed an arrow that struck the monsteruos centaur in the face exploding in a blinding flash.

Tirek stumbles from the shock of the blow and it's power. "What trickery is this?" He clenched the orb in his hand a blade of darkness jumped out of it and he began to swing wildly with it.

Bryan stood neutral and when the blade neared him he swing his left forearm and shattered the blade of false darkness on his armor. "You never did have any real dark magic Tirek. Even now you foolishly cling to the illusion that you do. Only Princess Luna wields such power, only she can. What's more you stand alone where as I stand with many others. Those who do not know the blessings of friendship and love can not overcome those who do." Bryan looked at Tirek. "You don't have long left Tirek. With all of the ripples you've caused in the dreamscape tonight Princess Luna will be swift to arrive. And when she gets here you'll be cast into Tartarus where you belong!"

Megan looked around and saw it for the first time. There were ripples in the landscape like on the surface of a pond or a lake. She could also feel something else, someone else. Someone very powerful was coming.

"That said," Bryan thought "this form is till very new to me and not entirely reliable at the moment. I don't have very long like this and I don't really know how it works exactly just yet."

Then there was a sound of braking glass. "Then use your instincts, even an ape like you has them!" Shouted Ace's voice only what strutted through the whole in the dreamscape was not a Pegasus but a mixture of one and a Dragon truly massive in size larger red bat like wings rippled in muscle a massive powerful tail ending in silver spikes and riding on its head was an Alicorn Trixie and a human Sunset Shimmer looking woman. The beast walked over to where Megan was and settled down.

"Hi, he insisted on dream fun tonight because just sex was not enough and then he noticed the ripples." Said the new human in Sunset's voice.

"Ace has some issues about his parents, that's why the whole dragon thing." Said Trixie as Ace pulled out a giant bag of popcorn.

"Go on Bryan kick his tail and save Luna having to actually work!" The Ace dragon pony bellows

Bryan's right eye twitched, and then he facepalmed. "He busts in here as a dragon and starts acting like he knows what's going on? Oh Luna grant me the strength to deal with idiot." Bryan thought "Well Tirek, convinced yet? You have no chance here!" Bryan shouted as he drew back the phantom bowstring and took aim at Tirek. "Three, two, one killshot." Bryan said before letting the arrow fly and then he crouched down and flexed his new wings and shot in the air at a rate that would impress any Wonderbolt jealous and make Rainbow Dash very proud.

Tirek tried to block the shot with a new blade of darkness. Again the blade shattered however.

"You learn nothing do you Tirek? You don't have that power, not now or ever!" Bryan began to feel anger at this fool for making such a mockery of the Lunar Princess with his feeble attempts to use a form of magic only a very few actually could. Bryan dove towards Tirek releasing a barrage of arrows that pelted the over sized centaur and began to drive him back.

Megan meanwhile looked at Ace, Trixie, and Sunset. "I know this is the dream world, but we have young fillies present. Could we not have any of that kind of talk about intimacy please?" Megan's face was red and the fillies were looking at Ace and his mares with curious eyes.

"How old? I learned about it when I was ten." Said Ace causing his mares to face palm/hoof.

Megan glared at Ace. "They are three and four years old Ace! Ember is is five and none of them need to be hearing about your private activities!" Megan scolded before stopping. Something had shifted and there were additional ripples in the dreamscape now. Someone else was coming, and they did not seem very happy.

"Tirek clutched his wounds but he could feel it coming as well. "She has noticed the battle. Until next time. You both will wish I simply ended you this night." He faded from the dream and seconds after he left Luna the towering goddess like princess of the night smashed into the dream like wrecking Ball on a mission.

"WHERE IS THE FIEND THAT WOULD ATTACK ONE OF OUR CHAMPIONS IN HIS OWN MIND! WE SHALL MAKE THEM BEG FOR TARTARUS!" Shouted Luna in ye olde caps lock.

"The coward Tirek fled when he felt your approach your bombasticness. But not without Bryan showing he actually has some bite in him" said Ace giving Bryan pat on the back with his hoof claw that knocked the poor guy on his face.

"Ow!" Bryan said while standing. "You should realize that Kirins aren't that big given you have one in the Family Ace." Bryan then turned to Luna.

"The overgrown oaf speaks truly my princess. Tirek has fled, and he now posses an Tantibus artifact unless I'm mistaken."

"Hey! You be nice to our big brother!" Shouted the fillies who circled around Ace and began giving him the third degree. Megan, Bryan, Luna, Trixie, and Sunset all blinked at the sight. Here was this gaggle of adorable little fillies getting on Ace's case and lecturing him about being more careful of others and how they could get hurt if he didn't.

"One hammer is still growing she has at least two more years given she's around Apple Bloom's age. Second if your going to dream dream big." Said Ace with a grin. He then lowered down to foals. "Trust me kids I put him a lot worse when I trained that lanky runt."

Bryan shook his head. "Ace she won't get much bigger. I mean she is about the size of Charger for Luna's sake. Only longer because of her tail."

"Worse!" The group of fillies cried. One with a purple coat and a light pink mane and tail stepped forward. "Bad monster you play to rough!" She said catching Ace off guard as the rest of the group began to lay into him.

"Bully!" Said the white coated filly.

"Meanie!" Said the tan coated pegasus filly.

"Yeah! You need to learn to be nicer to others!" Said the pink pegasus filly.

Trixie and Sunset didn't even try to contain their laughter, much to Ace's chagrin they found him being chastised by such young ponies to be hysterical. Then the final indignity came when Princess Luna started laughing at the sight.

"Oh these little ones are so spirited!" Luna said between giggles.

Bryan chuckled dryly. "I was never a lanky runt Ace. I've always been taller than you after all. Oh my little sisters you are just amazing. Now it's time to leave Ace alone little ones. I think he got the message." The fillies gave Ace one last hard look which was pulled off rather well before turning around an trotting over to Bryan.

"So Bryan what is this all about?" asked Megan

"I don't quite remember it all of the way, but I'm betting Tabi has something to do with it. I seem to vaguely remember something like this coming from one of her anime or video games. I don't quite recall which right now. Speaking of..." Bryan said as he briefly stumbled only to be caught by Megan and the fillies as his new form dissipated.

"Big brother! Are you okay?" Said a very worried Ember.

Bryan nodded "Yeah, that form is just very hard to maintain is all." He exhaled and stood up straight again. "I am glad I can't do that in the waking world, it's too much."

Bryan felt his hand get nuzzled. "Are you sure you're okay Bryan?" Asked Twilight to which Bryan nodded.

"That power is a dragoon. I don't know where you heard of them, but weapon master taught us about them. And honestly as awesome as the power is I find it some what morbid that you know of it." Said Ace

Luna titled her head and asked."Why would thou find it morbid."

"A dragoon spirit can only be born by slaying a dragon carving open its head pulling gem like symbiote from its skull. There is also a very small window to do this. Too slow and the dragoon spirit would dissolve. So according to the weapon master it's most often extracted as the killing blow. They are very real but to have or use one is to be an enemy to all dragons. Even if you can use its power to make them baby you." Ace was not often grim in tone but he clearly finds the thought of Bryan as a dragoon somewhat unsettling.

"Wait! That sounds familiar." Bryan grew thoughtful for a moment. "Yes I vaguely remember that story from one of Tabi's video games. In fact it sounds pretty much identical to a part of the game's story that she explained to me. " Bryan sighed "So that form is a product of my memories of my time with her then, if I could remember what the knights could do in that game beside their weapons, armor, and flight ability I could more fully use that form. I have a feeling it will be needed again given that Tirek got away. It is disconcerting though, and it makes me wonder where such inspiration and ideas really do come from."

"So when was the last time a dragoon was seen by anyone Ace?" asked Twilight

Ace scratched his face. "Honestly, no living dragon has ever seen one. And the weapon master only heard the story from his grandfather's grandfather. As far as I can tell dragoon's wing wraith and war beasts that forced the dragons to obey and used the dragoon power of the ancient dragons of the past. The way weapon master told me of it, I don't think ponies even lived yet. But no, no living pony in the world has seen one. Legend says that they the spirits where either destroyed by the first dragon lord or combined them to make their scepter. But no one dragon or otherwise knows the truth, if they are real or not." Said Ace sighing. "If they existed they are so lost to sands of time only Daring Do could possibly find the truth if she spent the rest of her life searching. But to be honest that kind of power is scary. Even to me." Ace settled down on his belly suddenly feeling very tired and weak.

Twilight moved closer to Bryan and he stroked her neck to settle her. "All power has a price." He replied plainly. It's a good thing that this doesn't exist in the physical world, all the world would be endangered by such unrestrained power. And everyone in it equally no less."

"This is a bleak subject." said Luna "Let us turn our minds from it and tend to other things. Such as why does this mare have a physical presence here as all of you do? As a memory this should not be so."

"That's another explanation I owe all of you. It's best not handled here and now however. It would be best for everypony to gather at the library later on so I can give that explanation. That way we'll all be together and I only have to do it once." Bryan replied

"I shall inform my sister and the others not present at current before I return to Canterlot then." Luna said as she left.

"Ugh! I am not looking forward to how I'll feel when I get up today." Bryan groused

"That's why you have a herd. No matter how bad things are it's always better to wake up next to them." Said Ace his eyes looking up at Sunset and Trixie as the two chuckled.

"How dose our stud act confident and full of himself one moment, then sage and reverent in the next, only to become sappy and romantic in the next?" asked Trixie

"I'm still trying to figure out why we both love this flying fool." said Sunset

"There is no denying the effect Ace has on those around him. Mostly it's life shortening stress and grey mane inducing aggravation, but not always." Bryan quipped with a smirk. "Still it's not all bad news, just mostly. Anyway we need to get get back to a resting state so we can at least fake being functional." Bryan yawned "Crap, I am not liking how this night is turning out."

"Don't worry Bryan I'll help you get back to sleep." Twilight said while rearing up and nuzzling him.

Megan smile and looked at Trixie and Sunset. "The ponies in Ponyland were always very affectionate." Megan said answering the unasked question in their eyes.

"Well we have a dream to finish and a mental barriers to create to keep tall, cranky and ugly out of our dreams." Said Ace as he stood up and walked back through the hole he made it seeming to reverse shatter sound included.

"Let's get some rest." Bryan said

The next morning, ish Bryan yawned very loudly still not having fully rested from his encounter with Tirek the night before. He stretched and yawned again. "I hope everypony gets here soon or I'll be asleep by the time they get here." He looked down at his plate of pancakes and did his best to resume eating them.

"I wish you would just tell me what happened last Bryan." Twilight said worried. "I could help you out if you did."

"Just calm down Twilight." Megan replied "There is a lot of ground to cover and we need everyone here to get it out in the open is all"

"Yeah." Pinkie said "Don't worry your pretty little head about it Twily. We'll know soon enough."

Ace walked in with a smile. "Morning day dreamers."

"It's ten A.M." Twilight replied "How can you be so energetic Ace?"

"Says the mare who didn't have her sleep disrupted." Bryan deadpanned causing Twilight's jaw to drop. Bryan looked at at the alicorn and managed a smirk.

Pinkie giggled "You need to be more careful Twily, you really set yourself up for that one."

"Like I said it helps not to wake up alone. So how are you feeling? " said Ace

"Like I got hit by the Red Thirteen. So where are Trixie and Sunset? We need them here too." said Bryan

"Trixie is pregnant and has a doctor's appointment after the mana surge Sunset and I are not taking chances. So Sunset is with her and the drones are doing the best impressions of dragon mercenaries they can. I.e. big, strong and terrifying. I'll give them the cliff notes latter. Doesn't matter by whom or how we are being attacked everyday life must go on. Otherwise the enemy gains a victory, no matter how small of a victory it is. " Said Ace his eyes showed he was actually mad about the dream attack but was not going to take it out on someone not deserving of it.

Megan got up from her seat and crossed the room and hugged Ace. "That's wonderful news Ace. It's looks like there is another big announcement for when the others get here."

"Yeah, that's great news Ace." Bryan said now fully awake.

"Woo hoo! Pregnancy party!" Pinkie said joyfully.

"Yeah that whole mess with Megan's arrival had them running blood tests which we just got back yesterday and she's pregnant, it's early but well. Wooooo! I'm going to be a father!" Ace finally broke his stoicism of the moment and showed of his maneuverability spinning and looping around the room with skill that would make a Wonderbolt jealous.

There was a familiar giggle. "Well Ace I am very pleased to hear that you're so happy about becoming a father." Said Princess Celestia as she trotted through the door. Her gaze then shifted to Megan. "Megan you needn't fell guilty about the magic surge that was caused when you arrived. You could not have known such a thing would happen."

"Verily, uh I mean indeed." said Luna "Such things can not be predicted."

"Captain Crimsonmoon a father, now that will be a sight." Said a new pony that was accompanying the Lunar Princess.

"Hello Celine." Bryan said to the bat winged mare. "It's been a while."

The red maned pony turned her gaze on Ace. "Well Ace here seems have been cured of his delusion that he can best me when we're sparring. Otherwise we'd have seen each other much sooner I suspect."

Bryan snickered in reply.

"Who is this?" Megan asked

"This is one of my honorgaurd." Luna replied "Her name is Celine Bloodmoon and her family has served my sister and I for a thousand years. She is the latest in her family to serve as one of my personal guard."

"Oh, I see." Megan replied as she looked over this new mare. She looked different having a pair of leathery bat's wings instead of the wings she'd seen on pegasi in the past. She also felt slightly "off" to Megan for some reason.

"No I beat you at a more important battle. I reproduced, when are you getting a coltfriend miss workaholic?" teased Ace "Besides playing with you with a hoof tied is too trivial now, I have a foal on the way, I have a reunion coming up and a rescue mission to plan. So yeah I don't have time to half heartedly spar with a pampered rookie." Said Ace as he flew in circles on his back a Cheshire grin on his face.

Celine laughed "As a two hundred year old vampony bodyguard I am not the pampered rookie captain, you are. And I was the one being half hearted not you."

"Now that's enough you two." Luna said standing between the longtime rivals. "There is a bigger matter, though the joyous news is welcomed all the same Ace."

Megan looked on confused. "Vampony?" she said

"It's exactly what it says on the label." Bryan replied "I'll uh explain later."

While Ace and Celine appeared to be neutral while waiting for the others to arrive Megan could swear they were exchanging lightning bolts with their eyes the whole time.

Ace took a chance to actually give his rival a light zap when the princesses were not looking. It was nothing to hurt her but it definitely made her fur stand on end for a second. His magic advantage always let him surprise her with a new trick.

Celine just gave Ace a fangy smile as the others finally arrived.

"Okay we're all here like the princess requested. So can somepony tell us what the hey is going on?" Said Applejack sounding a little cranky.

"Geez AJ there is no need to get snappy." Rainbow retorted "So what is going on? You look like a colt on Hearth's Warming morning Ace."

"Trixie is expecting, but my future foal is not why we are here. That big horn head from Midnight Castle is lose in the dream realm." said Ace

"Tirek!" The group said.

"Yeah," Bryan replied "Tirek somehow made into the Equestrian dreamscape at some point. I'm not sure how exactly but his death has freed him from physical constraints, so there it is. But this is not the only reason why we are all here. Last night after Tirek's retreat Princess Luna asked me why my unicorn friend Twilight had a physical presence in the dream realm. Well the reason she had that physical presence is because she is a part of me in a more literal sense." Bryan had paused as if looking for the right words to finish his explanation.

The gears in Ace's head clicked in that moment and he said. "So you have a mare's soul sharing your body. That's why the poison joke turned you into mare when you touched it in the wild that one time."

"Yes," Bryan replied "I do in fact have a part of her soul in me."

"But Bryan darling however did that happen." asked Rarity

"It all started when I shielded Ember from the Smooze that fell off of the tree branch and onto Sweet Stuff and I." Bryan steadied himself and drew in a deep breath. "What we didn't know then and I have only just been able to remember is that when I was exposed to the Smooze in immediately starting killing me." There was a collect gasp from everypony in the room. "And in the story you've all read that Megan and the flutterponies got back in time to save my life. Well, that's not how it actually happened. How it actually happened was Twilight somehow transferred some of her soul into me so I had just enough time left for Megan to return with the flutterponies and then they saved my life. I would have talked about this much sooner but I simply forgot."

"WHAT!?" Rainbow shouted "How in the hey do you forget something that big?"

"Trauma." Celestia replied flatly. "When a pony is in mortal danger their mind often shields them from remembering those events and harming them further. These memories can resurface and have to be faced when they do, but they often remain buried for the rest of the pony's life. And there is nothing to tell me that our human friends are any different in this respect."

Bryan nodded "Yes, that is what research has shown in humans too."

"Okay, okay I get that much sugarcube, but what's this about you turning into a pony. And a mare? What the hey sugarcube?"

Bryan sighed "Yeah, I turned into a pony and a mare after being exposed to Poison Joke. It was a shallow patrol into Everfree and I came across these strange blue flowers that I'd never seen before. The Poison Joke did what it's strange and wild magic does and poof. I wake up a mare." Bryan looked at Rainbow. "And don't think I didn't notice you ogling my plot Rainbow."

"I never did that!" Rainbow shot back.

"White earth pony mare, long blonde mane and tale, purple eyes, and a really nice body." Rainbow started to look sick at this point. "Yeah that was me, for two weeks actually. Oh well," Bryan said with a laugh. "At least you didn't flirt with me like feather brain over there did. He kept hitting on me until I cuffed him between the ears with my hoof and he realized who I was." Bryan smirked at Ace. "I have never seen Trixie and Sunset laugh that hard, they of course somehow knew it was me and must have decided to prank Ace in that moment."

"Hey! I won't lie you look way better as a mare. I bet even Megan would agree." He reached in to his mane and pulled out the photo and handed it to Megan. "See he looks better that way."

Megan looked the picture over. "I may be biased here Ace but I prefer him that ways he is."

There was a collective "Awwww." and Bryan's face could not have been redder, in fact it was now the same color Ace's coat.

"Thanks Megan, but even I think I look better than way. I'm just plain otherwise." Bryan replied

"It's what is in your heart that matters most Bryan, not what you look like." said Megan

"To each their own. But what you girls think?" Said Ace before passing around the picture.

"Ace darling we each like Bryan for who he is. Besides, I've always said that you're more attractive than you give yourself credit for dear." Rarity replied looking at Bryan.

"Annnnd we already know what Rainbow thinks." Pinkie said

"Hey! I didn't know is was him alright!" Rainbow shot back defensively.

Applejack gave a Rainbow a shoulder check. "Ya'll might have if you didn't spend your time just staring like some kind hormonal school colt." Applejack said with a chuckle.

Rainbow bowed her head. "Alright, alright, I get it AJ."

"I know sugarcube, I just couldn't pass up the chance to give ya a bit of static like Bryan says. That's all." Applejack said with a smirk.

"So This unicorn essence you have dear. It gives you your magical abilities?" asked Rarity

Bryan nodded "Yes and no. Magic is a skill and can be learned by anypony with the will and dedication to do so. That said my unicorn spark for the lack of a better word makes magic use easier for me than any human that does not posses a similar attribute. As a result I am more powerful magically than any other human save Megan. Which means I am about as powerful as Sweetie Belle basically."

"No, I'd say Rairty. But you do sell yourself short. And if you want proof of any pony learning magic, look at me. My rune casting is a slower, but power wise I can match most battlemages." said Ace

"No," Bryan replied "I am a relatively inexperienced apprentice. I have a very long way to go still."

"True." Luna interjected "But the question is can we use this unicorn essence somehow to aid the ponies of Ponyland before the worst come to pass?"

Twilight tapped her chin with her hoof thoughtfully. "Maybe, but I'll need to confer with with Sunset and run some tests to get a good idea of whether or not it's possible. I still think that Megan's fusion with the rainbow is our best bet, but we'll need to find some way to reliably and safely draw out it's power to use it for the connection."

"There is the thread spell. But what we are forgetting is a important fact. Time is relative. Different dimensions have different time flow. For all we know two minutes can mean two days or twenty years. But based on the mare we rescued, how is she doing by the way? It might not be that bad, but we should expect that we will be walking in to the worst case scenario. Which is why I want to ask again that when we mobilize we take the thirteenth through in full war bridle." Ace was now sitting and looking like all the fun and joy inside him never existed.

"First off, it's universes feather brain. And Wind Whistler has been right here the whole time." Bryan the turns to his adoptive sister. "You have been oddly quiet though. What's on your mind Wind Whistler?"

"I-I just never knew how close we came to losing you Bryan. I can't help but feel empty at the very thought." Wind Whistler replied.

"I see..." Bryan replied

Twilight looks to Ace. "I'm sorry Ace but I can't allow for that. We have no idea how stable the gateway will be until it's been tested properly. And we can't have a fully armored fighting force arrive and traumatize the ponies on the other side. This will have to be done diplomatically."

Luna nodded "It is for the best Ace. Such forceful methods simply misrepresent our intentions towards them and are out of the question."

"Sorry Windy didn't see you there." Said Ace looking at her, then looking at the princesses said. "Diplomacy is fine but well, if they could grab her then we should..." He stops looks at Wind whistler. "Has anyone actually asked Windy what's going on back home?" Asked Ace having just realized the proverbial elephant in the room.

The distinct slap of a palm meeting a face could be heard in that moment. "Oh Celestia, I hadn't thought to even ask you about what happened Wind Whistler."

"It is not difficult to understand how that happened Bryan, things have been rather hectic so it's only natural that you would forget." She then turned to Ace. "I would appreciate you not calling me that Ace, I don't like being called 'Windy' as it is a derisive term. Regardless though things have been very peaceful since I last saw Megan and Bryan ten years ago. Spike did leave one day and we haven't seen him since. Draggle seems to have vanished rather mysteriously as well. Until the minotuars and those dog like creatures absconded with me things were quiet."

"Then that begs the question of how they got there." said Ace

"I don't know." Bryan replied "I would say that Grogar is responsible, but after Northstar and I rang that bell in Tambelon that's impossible. He is trapped in the Nether Realm forever. And getting him out even from the outside is nigh impossible pretty much."

"Wow Bryan, I am so proud of you for being so brave in such a scary situation." Fluttershy said

Bryan blushed "You would have done the same thing if you'd known what to do to Fluttershy."

"But wasn't that Tirek also dead?" asked Ace

"Another Tirek in another universe, now that is an unsettling thought." Bryan replied "Yes, the one we faced at Midnight Castle is dead, but his soul remains and he is vengeful. That attack was on me directly meaning he thought he could remove me and weaken Megan. It was a very foalish idea that was bound to fail. He never was the strategic type."

"It is best not to worry about him now." said Luna "He has gotten my attention and will have much difficulty hiding from me. I will make him pay for this assault on our subjects and our friend sister."

Celestia nuzzled Luna. "I understand your desire to protect our charges Luna, but our subjects do not need a vengeful alicorn on the loose."

"I know better than to take that path sister. I remember that incident and will not repeat it." Luna replied

"What incident? What does she mean?" asked Megan

"Luna and Celestia are immortal beings that have lived for thousands of years Megan. No doubt that both of them have lost their way to revenge at some point because a painful loss. In addition to that, both of them have more than once fought in wars and battles of various types, so they well know where that leads." Bryan replied dryly.

"Just because one know where a road goes dose not prevent one from taking it." said Ace "That's why we have family and friends to remind us which path is the correct one."

Luna tilted her head. "That is strange to hear coming from you Ace. You're often far more easily antagonized than anypony else I can think of."

Bryan facepalmed "Yeah Ace is pretty vindictive at times and doesn't like to listen. Speaking of families just how bad do think this reunion is going to be Ace?"

"Yes." Said Wind Whistler "I would like to know what I'll be in for. And will this trip be wise given Trixie's current state? I'm not sure the news that comes with it will be well received among all of your family Ace."

"Honestly I would be more afraid for them. My sisters will be finding out they are about to be aunts. Any cousins and uncles that may have had plans in motion will be scared of pissing them off. Shadow Wing and I may be the most active but, we are far from the most powerful or dangerous of my family when angered. Hammer is part dragon, was blessed with having the fire breath and earth pony strength from my father's mother's father's side. She is about Luna's height and still has some growth left in her. And her understanding of metal and fire makes her dangerous as she can render you unarmed and unarmored with ease. When I get mad I become aggressive, she becomes cold, and calculated. Chi Spell, is happy and sweet and gets sweeter and scary when angered and her being an immortal necromancer makes it worse as death could be the beginning of her revenge. Dixie is would simply level their keep with the fleet, and Silk Song, would likely poison their food. Mind you that's if they were stupid enough to try and hurt Trixie or her unborn foal. Thankfully my late birth father lead any that stupid to their deaths in a failed coup. But the remainder will be annoying flank kissers trying to buy favors with gifts for my coming foal. As I said Reunions are more for politics then anything else. Speaking of, Rainbow did you and Spitfire get your invitations? Give we are all Firefly's descendants it be nice having ponies that I know are not there to looking for favors."

"Yeah I got it." Rainbow replied "But I don't know if I wanna be around Spitfire after what happened at the academy."

Megan looked at Bryan. "What happened?"

Bryan sighed "Rainbow was a candidate to be Wonderbolt and made it into the academy, but a troublemaker named Lightning Dust kept causing problems and being reckless. We came for a scheduled visit and Lightning Dust nearly wiped us out with a tornado during a cloud busting exercise. It tore off the basket of the hot air balloon we were in and threw us out of it. If Rainbow and a bunch of other candidates hadn't reacted as quickly as they did we would have died." Bryan paused and sighed. "In the aftermath Lightning Dust was sent to prison for her actions and the team's higher ups and sponsors put Spitfire on probation as the team's captain. She is very lucky she wasn't charged as well. And just because things needed to be worse my Acrophobia which Rainbow had nearly gotten me over came roaring back one hundred time worse than ever."

Rainbow tensed up and was about to go off when Applejack stopped her. "Come on sugarcube that was two years ago. It's time to let go."

"I take it Rainbow no longer wished to be associated with the team then?" Megan said

"We uh don't like to talk about it Megan." Applejack replied

"I see things have been difficult for all three of you." Wind Whistler observed.

"Look Rainbow, the bolts are only exemplars of one aspect of Pegasus magic, flight and speed. I am fast but most bolts would dust me in a race. But in a marathon I'd easily out last them in a large margin. You should come if not to make amends with our newly discovered cousin then to meet my teachers. You would like the weapon master, and perhaps my master from the tempest order would have some wisdom you could gain from. Also you could look at the schools for Pegasus samurai and ninjas. If being a monk is not to your liking. I mean before meeting me did you even consider a Pegasus could walk on water or use lighting without needing a cloud?" Said Ace laying a wing on Dash. "The bolts are Equestria's top flyers but there is numerous ways for a Pegasus to be the best. And the world is much bigger place. And okay Rainbow stop snickering I know I'm being sappy trying to cheer you up but at least be respectful of my efforts." He then shoves her chuckling to himself.

"I don't need to make amends Ace!" Rainbow shot back hotly. "Spitfire is the only one with something to make up for..."

"Okay that's enough Rainbow." Bryan said sternly. "Whatever you decide should be what's best for you Rainbow. And don't let anypony else try to convince you otherwise, alright? Now we all have to be about our days and some of us do have preparations for the reunion to make. So let's go about our days and deal with what come later, later."

"Okay yeah." Rainbow said evenly before turning to leave.

"Don't worry everypony I'll talk to her later on." Applejack said before following Rainbow out.

"We need to return to Canterlot of course." Celestia said "We to have much to prepare for. Come Luna we have work ahead of us."

"Yes we do sister." Luna replied as they too left the library.

"We'll come by and see you later Bryan." Fluttershy said "I'm worried about you and I want to do a check up on Cinnamon too."

"Yes, I think I'll bring you some tea later darlings, but for now I simply must finish my latest order. Ta-ta darlings." Rarity sing songed.

Megan looked at Bryan. "She seems very upset about that Bryan."

"Rainbow is as loyal as she hard and hot headed, it's not a surprise really. I can't say I'm all that crazy to see Spitfire again myself, but that's life for you." Bryan replied with a shrug. "And you need to tell Sunset And Trixie what happened too Ace. That and you need to pass along that Sunset and Twilight have some work to do."

"Work how? Sunset is reading books on portals, my homeland and maternity at the same time with Trixie today. And I have been corresponding with Dixie about the trip home and plans which she is not looking forward to. More so as the oldest daughter in the head family she has suitors lining up to meet her at the ports when ever she visits." Said Ace shaking his head.

Bryan facepalmed "How about you go and spend time with them Ace. It may not be far along but Trixie is pregnant, and you do need to be there even at this early stage. Moreover Twi and Sunny do need to have a brainstorm over this, just reading books won't solve the problem." Bryan replied causing Wind Whistler to fall into a fit of laughter. "Did I say something funny?" asked Bryan

"Yeah you were being smart." Said Ace as he left bouncing on Bryan as he did. "Keep him on his toes Windy!" He called slipping out a window.

Bryan blinked "All righty then."

"It is funny considering how many times you used to look for answers in books Bryan." Megan replied causing Bryan to facepalm again.

Author's Note

Celine is an O.C. that Nocturne Hurakan and I came up with while chatting on the P.S.N. with each other. So credit goes to Nocturne for coming up with the idea in the first place.