Author's Note

This chapter includes some rather intense violence, reader discretion is advised. There is also some torture in this chapter as well.

Sick of It

Bryan woke to being in Megan's arms. He realized that his position had adjusted while he was sleeping. He looked up from Megan's chest at her still sleeping face. He listened to her heart and rubbed his cheek against her soft skin and closed his eyes falling asleep again.

He was awakened later sometime after the sunrise to the sound of Megan singing and Twilight nuzzling him. "Good morning sleepy head." Twilight cooed. "Are you awake enough to join me in the shower?"

He rubbed his cheek against Megan's chest again "If I didn't have to get up I wouldn't right now, I like where I am." he replied

Megan smiled and caressed his cheek "Yeah but you do need to get up, and I need to get a shower at some point too Bryan."

Sighing he got up and followed Twilight into the bathroom. He walked in and got undressed. He noticed that Twilight was looking at him funny. "What is it?" he asked her

"Oh," Twilight said sweetly "It's just that you seem to have a problem right now." she was looking at his crotch "Just get into the shower with me and I'll take care of it for you."

Bryan looked down to see what she was talking about. He said nothing and joined her in the shower while Pinkie and Megan were downstairs making breakfast and getting to know each other. Bryan and Twilight came down the stairs together dangerously close to each other and joined Pinkie and Megan at the table for breakfast. Afterwards Bryan got up and went to retrieve his armor and weapons. He would not be caught flat-footed a second time.

He walked to the door in his armor and kissed Twilight "All right I'm headed out to get Ace and work to secure the survey site. We should be done in a few hours, if we are not gather everypony you can and come looking for us." he paused thinking for a moment "Hey Twilight, would you put a tracer rune on my armor just in case?"

"Sure thing Bryan. I can even conceal it so nopony will notice it." Twilight replied.

Megan looked at Bryan worried "Are you expecting trouble Bryan?"

He simply nodded as Twilight took the steps to apply and conceal the rune on the back of his armor "There we go all ready Bryan." she said

"Thanks Twilight. You and Megan should go to the train station to meet the doctors coming in from Canterlot." He was thoughtful for a moment "Oh yeah Luna said that she was also sending the royal seamstress to help with your clothes Megan. As for you," he said to Pinkie "you need to stay in the library to look after the pets."

Pinkie threw a mock salute and squeaked out "You can count on me Bry Bry."

Bryan smiled at Pinkie's antics "I knew that I could Private Pie, do a good job and there will some cupcakes in it for you."

Pinkie squealed and giggled "Don't worry sir I'm on it!" she said happily.

"Alright than I'm off and I should be back soon." He said as he left the library.

As Bryan left the library Megan noticed for the first time a small brown rabbit look up at her twitching it's little pink nose.

Pinkie rushed in and scooped up the little lagomorph and cradled it her forelegs while cooing to it softly "Oh hi there Cinnamon, did you have fun playing with Gummy?" the rabbit squeaked at Pinkie and gave what looked like a little smile.

Megan look at Pinkie and asked "Pinkie do you know this rabbit?" she said as she petted her little head. the bunny squeaked at her cutely as she did this.

Pinkie giggled "Oh yeah definitely, she is Bryan's rabbit after all." Pinkie nuzzled her and cooed softly "Who's a cute little bunny wunny?" the rabbit nuzzled Pinkie's nose and nestled into her chest fur.

Megan couldn't help but smile, Bryan had always loved anything cute. And rabbits were definitely cute. Twilight caught Megan's attention after she finished clearing the table and setting the dishes in the sink.

"Hey Megan," She said as she headed for the door herself "I need you to come to the train station with me."

Megan looked puzzled "Why do you need me to come with you Twilight?" she asked

"Because," Twilight replied "You'll need to be introduced to the doctors and everypony else. The doctors are going to examine you when they get everypony healed, and the royal seamstress will need to talk to you about your clothes."

"Alright." Megan replied and followed Twilight to the train station.

The walk to the station was pretty quiet as not many ponies were out and about, there was still activity in the market as the passed through town. It was soon that they arrived at the train station.

As they waited Megan was once again thoughtful, there were never any trains in Ponyland. They barely had castles and houses, she looked around at her new surroundings she realized that was indeed not Ponyland. This Equestria was undeniably it's own place, what's more it seemed to have some human influence at a glance anyway. Closer inspection however disproved this, but she doubted that anypony would get mad her for thinking that way, it sure looked as if that was the case.

As the train pulled into the station and stopped with a hiss as the steam billowed from the engine it made some sense that she would think that. Megan watched as a lot of ponies disembarked from the nearly every last one of them seemed to be a medical professional of some kind. All of them were led by an unusually tall unicorn pony with a hot pink coat, red and white mane and tail, and "cutie mark" as Bryan had called it was a medkit over a heart. She looked Megan over with her large emerald green eyes.

In a soft voice she addressed Megan directly "I am doctor Candy Stripe, and you the other human very clearly." she continued to appraise Megan as looked at her "You seem healthy enough for the time being, so I don't think you'll mind if my colleagues and I turn our attention to the stricken ponies."

"No that's not a problem." Megan replied.

"Very good then, I do believe that the pony hired by the royal sisters to fill in for Miss Rarity is going to be out shortly. Lady Twilight if you would give the rundown on the patients condition and it's severity real quick we shall set to work healing them."

"Of course."Twilight replied trotting off talking to the doctor.

After a few moments more Megan was approached by an ice blue earth pony with light blue eyes and a purple mane and tail, her cutie mark was three bows. "So you are miss Megan?"

"Yes, I am but please just call me Megan." she replied

"Very well, if you'll come with me I'll we'll get to work. Oh by the way, my name is Roxy. It's very nice to meet you Megan." she said softly.

Megan smiled "It's nice to meet you too Roxy." Megan said warmly. "Uh Roxy, where are we going?" Megan asked curiously

"We are going to my regular employer's studio right here in Ponyville. Normally this kind of job would be left to Miss Rarity, but as she is indisposed at the moment I am to help you with your clothing situation." she said as she moved through Ponyville on her way to the studio.

Bryan walked to Ace's house from the library with a heavy step. He was somewhat disturbed by how empty Ponyville seemed without the usual daily activity. He also couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong somehow, but there was no way for him to sure. As he approached the house he just couldn't shake the sense of impending dread that loomed over him. He knocked on the door and waited for Ace's response knowing that he was the only one home at the moment. As he waited his thoughts turned to his friend and mentor Trixie, she was by far the finest showmare in all of Equestria. A master illusionist she had quite literally taught him everything he knew about the art.

And countless times over the last year her lessons had helped him greatly. Whether it was keeping his head in a difficult situation, thinking on his feet under pressure, or just plain outwitting an enemy. All that she had taught him had value.

The door opened and Ace stepped out in his armor. "I figure I'd be seeing you today. So how's Trixie doing?" he asked

"Well," Bryan replied as they started towards the survey site "I asked Twilight about while we were in the shower." Ace snickered "And she said that Trixie was doing well, but would probably be out without treatment for a few weeks. Thankfully I sent a letter to Princess Luna last night and she's sending help, which has already arrived by now. As for us we are to secure the survey site until it is able to resume operation." Bryan sighed "Luna also said she was organizing some backup, but failed to mention who at the moment. I'm guessing it's because of the aid situation and logistics."

Ace nodded "Thorough, so what's really on your mind Bryan?"

"Twilight and Megan want to form a herd Ace." he replied flatly "I do see the sense in the idea......." Bryan trailed off.

"Really?That's great news Bryan, what did you say?" Ace asked with a smile

Bryan repressed the urge to glare at Ace knowing it wouldn't work. "I told them I had to think about it, this is not a small thing after all."

Ace froze for a moment, and then slapped Bryan on the back with his left wing. *Smack!* "What the BUCKING Tartarus were you thinking Bryan?! I need to think about it. Horseapples, you need that thick head of yours examined is what you need to do. You've got a pair of the hottest mares next to Luna and my mares, basically asking you for a threesome every night for the rest of your lives, and you say you've got to think about it!"

Ace shook his head in shock and disbelief. " Baka, that's just so stupid Bryan. That's one of the stupidest thing I've ever heard, and you can ask the rest of the thirteenth. I am an expert of doing stupid things" Ace fumed for a few moments as they continue to the site. After a minute or so he composed himself, took a deep breath. "Ok cause I out rank you I'm making this an order, When you get home apologize for being stupid and rut both mares senseless, or so help me I'll put you through that training all over again!" Ace said venomously.

Bryan shook his head, reckless as Ace tended to be he rarely lost his cool. It took a lot to get Ace to lose it, short of insulting Princess Luna, his mares or trying to harm them he stayed calm. But even the veteran of Everfree had his limits of what he would take, especially in the stupidity category. He was said to be reckless, but that was because he could trust in his rather considerable talent and ability. He was in the minds of many the greatest warrior in Equestria, few dared question it.

It was true the thirteenth was generally regarded with some disdain in certain circles. Ace in particular was though of as reckless, arrogant, foolish, and a poor excuse for a leader. The thirteenth was also considered by those Canterlot families who deluded themselves into thinking that they were "nobility" as a "dumping ground for the undesirables". Ponies like the thestrals or bat ponies as they were called. Then there were the ponies with long family histories of military service that were drawn to the thirteenth, ones that were actually talented in combat like Ace himself. There was also a small number of Griffons, loyal to Equestria, and loyal to the thirteenth.

And lastly there was Bryan himself, until yesterday Equestria's sole human citizen, and a member of a race that he admitted fought sometimes pointlessly. Of course that was far from true of all humans, in fact the vast overwhelming majority of humans never so much as even threw a punch without first being provoked. Ace's idea about their place in Equestria's defense was "Who cares if we win, we certainly helped." That was his attitude, that was the attitude of the whole Everfree Watch. The group in the Lunar guard that was one of the best.

Ace sighed "Well I'm glad that somepony finally listened to me. I mean Ponyville is right in the edge of the Everfree Forest." Ace huffed and kicked a rock down the road. " Also Fluttershy lives on the border of Everfree, and that zebra Zecora lives in the forest itself.... and then there is you marefriend Princess Twilight. So why haven't they moved my thirteenth into town, as I've requested in my weekly reports since I moved here! I mean it makes more sense than having them in Canterlot. Especially because those rich snobs that form parliament hate having them in the city in the first place!"

Bryan took in a breath "I honestly have no idea Ace, I'm still waiting for Luna to just put her hoof down." Bryan chuckled "I wanna be there when it happens though. Also," he said "remember to keep that last bit under mane. We don't need just anypony having that information at the moment." He shook his head "I am not stupid by the way, you were the one that told me that a herd only works when the mares love each other too Ace. And Twilight and Megan don't yet, though they are both bisexual, so there's a chance it'll work. I won't just rush into it, they both are to important to me. Ace what's really on your mind? There's no way that outburst was brought on by my decision, which we both know is for the best." Bryan queried.

Ace slammed his hoof into the ground "Two years B man! Two years we've been trying to have trying to have foals. And every spring there always seem to some idiots like Rex getting in the way. It's like they wanna stop my mares and I from having any foals!" Ace stomped down the road for a few meters, before resuming his normal trot.

Bryan processed this for a moment "Now that you mention it, that has been going on. It's like they are trying to avoid the next generation or something."

They arrived at the survey sight which was fairly tidy. It would take very little to secure it barring any unforeseen complications.

As they set to work Bryan shifted uncomfortably he couldn't shake the unease gnawing at him. He had been through this before, it always meant something bad was about to happen. Bryan's head shot up suddenly and pushed Ace out if the way. "Ace watch it!" he shouted at the same time he shoved him. A beam of lime green energy passed between them, missing them both by centimeters.

"Well, well," an unfamiliar voice said "you are quick aren't you?" the tone was condescending and dripped venom. They turned to see their attackers and were struck by what they saw. A creature as tall as Celestia, covered in a black coat? With large insect like wings, a horn that has holes in her hooves, mane, tale, and wings. She was surrounded by a swarm of smaller black creatures with pupil less blue eyes. Their mouths were open bearing two "vampire" like fangs, the taller one also possessed these kind of fangs.

As they got to their feet/hooves Bryan spoke "Changelings, I knew I sensed something was off."

"Changelings?" Ace said "You mean those troublemakers from the reports." Bryan nodded "Buck, this is bad." Ace said.

Bryan looked at the changelings for a long while. "We have a slight tactical deficiency Ace."

"Buck Bryan! Plain Equish!"

"We are badly outnumbered Ace, like very badly outnumbered. I can guess from what can see there are far more of them than I can count."

"So," Ace said "It's like one hundred to one."

"Probably," Bryan said "we definitely can't win, but we can give them a Pyrrhic victory."

Ace cocked his head.

"What I mean is that can beat them senseless even though we'll lose. We can buy time though, that's all."

Ace reared up and clopped his front hooves together "Let's stop standing around then!" he shouted with glee as he charged the enemy. He flared wings at the last moment and took off skyward with a large flight on changelings following after him.

Bryan took full advantage of the distraction and charged at the enemy. He lunged for their leader and slammed his right hand into her face sending her sprawling sideways and to the ground. He didn't celebrate however he instead turned his attention of the sea of drones that were hissing at him. "Well," he said coldly are you going to make noise like a bunch of cowards, or are we fighting?"

The changelings took up positions around Bryan circling him very slowly. They eyed him up not sure what to make of him. Their queen has by now gotten to her hooves and was eyeing him with similar curiosity.

Bryan smiled a predatory smile at them, he had them guessing and he knew it. So he pressed his advantage and kicked the nearest drone into the air, this stunned the rest just long enough for him to snatch the drone by it's horn. Jumping into the air he windmilled his right arm spinning the hapless drone before throwing it into the rocks with great force. There was a sickening crunch as the changeling collided with the solid stone stopping the advance of the others. Strange purple blood ran from the drone's broken body as Bryan pounced on two more drones grabbing them by their necks and running them into a nearby cart breaking them instantly.

He turned immediately as four drones rushed him while flying. Still holding their broken swarm mates he swung his arms slamming their bodies into the changelings knocking them to the side, and struck another that had charged in after the first four. His open palm struck the drone in the face stunning it instantly, but before it could fall he brought up his right foot and kicked the drone into a larger crowd knocking several to the ground. Bryan smirked as he saw a wave of airborne attackers come his way. They dove at him using a barrier of green energy, he continued to smirk however waiting for them to get close and then teleporting out of the way at the last second. He reappeared behind the cart looking over the stunned drones and thrust both of his arms into the cart, striking it with the heels of both hands toppling the cart over on top of them. It landed on four of the stunned drones with a sickening crunch and blood flew through the air landing with noisy splat. The action on the ground stopped entirely as the changelings were stunned into a momentary surrender. Bryan wasted not a moment in renewing his assault on the shocked enemy.

Ace was still rocketing into the sky with the his changeling pursuers, he smirked as suddenly executed a wing over maneuver and dove at them while sparking with lighting as he juked and dodged his way to the center of the formation. He stopped in the middle of the formation and let loose an explosion of lightning knocking every changeling out of the air. As the unconscious drones fell to their deaths Ace watched for more attackers. A flight of reinforcements came bursting through the clouds trying to catch Ace by surprise. The cagey pegasus was to quick and to wise though, he learned his fighting skills from the best in Neighpon. As they charged Ace from every direction he simply smirked and let lose a blast of air that propelled him out of the way by punching a hole in the enemy formation. After having made the hole in their formation and escaping Ace decided to play hardball.

He drew his Katana and readied himself. He dove on the changeling from above slashing his way through them with his sword. Fallen enemies rained down on the ground below as the fighting intensified. Ace finished his dive leveled off and flew to safe distance away from the following swarm, smirking once again he quickly started flying in tight circle. The changelings were far to slow to recognize their danger. When they drew to close they were caught by the tornado that Ace had caused. As it reached the ground it began sucking any changelings in it's path up decimating their numbers. Ace landed to admire his hoofwork and assess their progress in the battle. Bryan came running towards him with an impressive number of changelings after him.

He turned and stopped assuming a defensive stance "We can't keep this up Ace, there are to many of them."

Ace snarled "Don't you bucking give up on me Bryan! We're in the thirteenth, we don't give up!"

"Are you sure you sure you don't want to give yourselves to me?" a seductive voice echoed across the battlefield, as the largest of the changelings trotted up to them. "At my side you could have whatever you want, and whomever you want. I can give you everything your heart desires. What do you say boys?"

Bryan drew his swords "Go to Tartarus you insect!" he replied

Ace smirked "We got everything we need so buck off!"

"Very well boys. Get them, but leave them alive. I want them for myself" she said

The swarm closed in......

Ace and Bryan had battled hard, but they were nearing their limits.

Bryan bent over panting as the swarm watched him, he stood up fully. He gripped the handles of his swords tightly. "We don't have much longer." he thought. He forced his body to move once more pressing his fading advantage. He surged forward and slashed at then changelings striking a pair of them with his blades. At the same time however he was struck by a group of them all at once. The first blow landed square across his face, the second caught him in the stomach, the third blow was a buck straight in the face knocking him to the ground. As he fell backwards he dropped his swords and stared up at the sky he thought about what was important. Images of Twilight, Megan, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, and Apple Jack flashed through his mind."I'm sorry everypony, I failed" as his body hit the ground he reached up to his neck where the locket Megan had given him years ago was. Still secure under his clothes and armor it gave him strength for what he knew was to come.

Ace stood on shaky legs panting and sweating. "Damn it!" he growled as his body threatened to give out on him. His ear twitched as he heard Bryan take the blows and fall to the ground. Wincing he lunged at the nearest changeling with a wild hay-maker, which missed cleanly. He was stunned by a swift blow that landed on his jaw, he staggered and took another savage face shot but he didn't buckle. The changelings then jumped the stubborn pegasus raining blows from every direction they could, after a few seconds of a vicious beating he stayed standing. Ace smirked "Is that all you've got!" he shouted defiantly.

The changeling queen tiring of Ace's defiant attitude lit her twisted horn and blasted Ace with a powerful stun spell knocking him out. "Take them over to that building and bind them." she said to her underlings "I want them to be ready for my special treatment." the drones did as they were told dragging both Bryan and Ace into the survey site's supervisor's building. They Dragged them in and secured them using their gel and awaiting the to awaken.

Bryan was the first to awaken. The sight that greeted him was the expectant face of the changeling's queen. She smiled at him and spoke "Well, well where's all of that bravado from earlier?" Bryan remained mute in the face her taunt "So still defiant eh? Well we shall soon fix that." she said charging her horn "Now let's see about you." she unleashed a spell into Bryan's body causing him to scream in agony. She continued to pour the spell into him seeking to break his will, but he resisted. She released him from her spell's hold "My but you're stronger than I expected." she lifted his chin with her hoof and met his eyes. Her large green eyes met a still defiant gaze from his, his focus unbroken. "Well now you are very focused, how admirable. But you can't last forever."

Bryan's reply to her threat was not what she expected. He laughed at her "I don't have to last forever, only just long enough. And considering how much time we wasted fighting you, and how long we've been out." He smirked at her "You don't have much longer before they come looking for us."

The queen just looked at him "You seem awfully confident for somepony who has been captured so easily." she leered at him "Now come here and give me sugar." she tried to kiss him, but he pulled away. "Now, now you really don't want to refuse me do you?" he stared at her with even more defiance than before "Very well, I shall have to persuade you." she said caressing his face. Pulling his head back and pulling his hair getting him to open his mouth she plunged her tongue into his mouth. As she tried to violate his mind she met with unexpected resistance.

Bryan continued to resist."No! Megan! Twilight! Pinkie! I'm not going to surrender! I am not giving up! I am a member of the thirteenth! But more than that, I am the one who stands beside his friends! I will resist!" in his mind he sees Twilight, Megan, and Pinkie Pie. Finding a solution to the unwanted invader in the form of the changeling's tongue he bites down with his incisors causing her to rear back howling in pain.

She glared at him with unbridled hate in her eyes. Her horn glowed "Oh I've only just begun to play with you my new pet."

At the studio Megan suddenly stood and looked at Roxy "Megan is there something wrong?" the mare asked.

Megan nodded "Roxie I need you to get me to the hospital, Bryan's in danger."

Roxie gave Megan an appraising look "How do know he's danger?" she asked

"I'm not really sure, I've just got a bad feeling. Like he needs me, so I've got to get to the hospital and get Twilight to come with me. She knows where he went." Megan said almost shaking.

Roxie trotted up to Megan and nuzzled the back of her right hand "It's gonna be ok Megan, I'll get to Twilight so you can go and help him." she trotted to the door and opened it "Come on Megan, we need to hurry."

Megan followed her to the door and out into Ponyville "How are we gonna get there?" Megan asked.

Roxie smiled "Get on Megan." Roxie smiled "I'll take you there on my back."

Megan got on Roxie's back "Are you really ok with this Roxie?"

Roxie smirked and said "Just hold on Megan I'm gonna get you there in record time!" she shouted as she tore off towards the hospital.

At Ponyville General Hospital Twilight was talking things over with Doctor Candy Stripe when her horn stared to glow "Twilight what's going on? Your horn is glowing."

Twilight's face dropped "Th-that's the tracer rune on Bryan's armor." her voice was shaky "It'll only go off when he's in danger." she was thoughtful for a moment. "Doctor I need you to heal Trixie right away. I realize that the treatment of the foals is your top priority, but I need Trixie to help me rescue Bryan. It's an emergency!"

The doctor nodded and turned to Nurse Redheart "Which room is ms. Lulamoon in?"

"Right this way doctor." Nurse Redheart said. Twilight went to the waiting area to get Sunset and begin planing a rescue.

After about twenty minutes Sunset Shimmer looked up at Twilight "Twilight I'm all for planing ahead and all, but there is nothing to really work with here." she waived her hoof over the map of the survey site. "Twilight I've got a suggestion, let's just go in there and put our hooves to the flanks of anypony who's got their hooves on our stallions." Sunset said with a determined tone, and an equally determined look.

Twilight huffed "Are you sure Sunset? I mean I don't want to just rush in there and put the guys in more danger." Twilight replied exasperated.

Sunset smiled at her "Twilight sometimes you just have to take the direct approach. If we dance around our stallions are gonna get hurt worse than they already are. I know you don't want that, especially with you having asked Bryan to herd with you and Megan." Sunset's tone was full of patients and sympathy for her friend. "I want them back too, Bryan is my first real friend. He was the only one that wasn't intimidated by Luna, and by me being her student."

The hospital doors then opened and in walked Megan carrying a very winded Roxie in her arms. Megan walked over to a bench and sat the exhausted earth pony on it. "Is there any thing I can get you Roxie?" she asked

The mare responded "No Megan I can get it, I just need a few minutes to rest and I'll be fine." Megan nodded and walked over to Twilight and Sunset.

Twilight let out a surprised yelp "Megan what are you doing here?"

Megan replied "Bryan's in danger and I'm not going to leave him like that. I'm going to save him Twilight."

"Well," Sunset said "you're just in time when Trixie's back on her hooves we'll get going and rescue our stallions."

Twilight's speech spluttered "B-but you're not recovered from the over charge yet! You've got to stay here Megan!"

Megan looked at Twilight with determination in her eyes "No Twilight, I wasn't there for him for ten years I'm not going to let him down. Not this time or ever again."

Twilight was about to say something but Sunset cut her off "She wants to protect her stallion Twilight, just like you do." Sunset nodded at Megan "It's a mare's duty to protect her stallion, so let her do it Twilight. If she thinks that she's ready then we need to respect that. You've had all this time to protect him, she was kept from doing it for ten years Twilight, why deny her that?"

Twilight nodded at Sunset "I won't, I just don't want Bryan lose her again Sunset. He just got her back!"

"Then let her do her job as his mare Twilight." a familiar and confident voice broke into the conversation.

They looked up to see Trixie had been restored to health. "After all I for one would never stand in the way of a mare that wanted to protect her stallion or mare. I mean really that's just stupid." she said while flipping her silver mane.

"Ok," Sunset said "now that we're all here are you ready Twilight?" Twilight nodded "Alright, Sunset said "Trixie get over here, Twilight and I are going to teleport that four of us to the survey site."

Twilight and Sunset crossed their horns and began to focus their magic after Trixie and Megan move closer to them. A moment latter there was a bright flash and a loud POP, and the four of them were gone. They appeared at the survey site and began looking around.

Inside the supervisor's building Bryan smirked "Your done." he said coldly as a voice from outside call out.

"Ok whoever you are come out and hoof over our stallions, and maybe we'll consider going easy on you!"

Ace finally awoke to the sound of Trixie's voice "Trix?' he said weakly. The cocky Chrysalis exited the building with remainder of her swarm to see three mares and a human?

Smirking she said "Just what do the four of you intend to do about it?" while glaring at Trixie