Megan sat Bryan down on a chair in the waiting room of Ponyville General. As carefully as she did this it resulted in him wincing as he was sat down on the chair. He gritted his teeth and let out a pained groan. "I'm sorry Bryan," Megan said "I'm being as gentle as I can."

He sighed "Don't worry about it Megan. There's nothing that can be done about it anyway." he sat and waited as Twilight and Trixie returned with some tea for both he and Ace.

"Here you go Bryan." Twilight said levitating the tea to him.

Ace took a sip. "How's your leg, bro? The big bug worked you over good in there. I mean ouch, I heard the bones cracking with what she did. Makes me glad I was not the one she wanted. Not saying I'm happy it was you, but I don't envy the pain you feel right now and the adrenalin hasn't worn of yet. I know I'm not going to be feeling chipper either in another five minutes."

Bryan laughed and then winced. He drank some of his tea and sighed again. "I think there are a lot of cracks in my skeleton, but no clean breaks. They beat the stuffing out you Ace, and it still took a high level stun spell to take you out. No wonder so many are afraid of you, you come across as invulnerable sometimes. Still I'm dreading the exam, there is no way I'm getting good news today."

Megan and Twilight looked Bryan over. The sight was worrisome to say the least, bruises seemed to be appearing before their very eyes.

"I'm going to go to the library and get Pinkie, I'll be back soon. Megan take care of him until the doctors come for him." Twilight said as she headed for the doors.

"Alright." Megan said. she turned toward Bryan and said "I think this is worse than the smooze Bryan." he merely nodded and finished his tea.

"Hey look at it this way worse story better ending. After all you got two lovely mares to give you welcome home after the docs let you out." said Ace

Bryan smirked "I don't think this is going into a book Ace."

"And you get my new drones keeping a eye on you to make sure you do what the doctors say. Honestly it's like you try to get yourself killed." said Sunset.

"No he tries and succeeds in making us fuss over him." said Trixie

Everypony in the waiting room and at the nurse's station erupts in a chorus of laughter at Trixie's remark making it clear to Megan that local pegasus has a bit of a reputation.

Both mares and drones giving that you've got to be more careful and stop worrying me look.

"No I just no it's not my time. After all I still have to get you two pregnant and now teach Megan here how to fight. Not that she's not skilled, but the street brawler style can only take you so far." said Ace.

Megan then smiles a sweetly as he could and actually batted her eyes at Ace "Ace would you be dear and shut up before this 'street brawler' headbutts you into a coma." Megan said while sounding surprisingly menacing.

Ace's ears lowered as he remembers the recently acquired bruise on his face. Trixie and Sunset laughed.

Bryan leaned close to his herd mate "That was a little harsh don't you think?" Megan simply gave him the sweetest look she could.

Nurse Redheart chimed in at that moment "The doctors will be here to take you two into the exam rooms in a minute. Bryan Are you sure you're all right?" Nurse Redheart asked with concern.

Bryan sighed once more "I am sure that I am not, how bad it is I can't say. It's bad though, I do know that." he and Redheart had be friends for three years and knew better than to pull any punches when it came to his health. He'd been unlucky a few times before in his misadventures with the Cutie Mark Crusaders, but it was never once this bad. Nor was his training as hard on him as the torture had been.

"Yeah Red he got it bad worse then when I trained him. Though your probably glad I was so hard on you otherwise you would probably be in the great pastures of Elysium right now." Said Ace

Bryan shook his head, he did not want to go there, not anytime soon. "The pain just reminds me that I'm still alive. That's fine with me, I ain't ready for Elysium and I'm not going to be real soon."

Megan gently took Bryan in her arms and held him, she desperately did not want to let him go.

A voice broke the room's silence "Alright Bryan Luna and Ace Crimson Moon, it's time for your exams."

Megan was seeing another new pony, a tall pink unicorn.

"Hello again doctor Candy Stripe." Bryan said nervously

She looked him over and asked him "Can you walk?" Bryan shook his head "I see," she turned to nurse Redheart "would you go and get a gurney please?" Redheart just nodded and left returning a few moments later with a large gurney. "Ok now we just need to get you on it." said the doctor "Oh and before I forget we'll have to do an examination on you as well." she looked at Megan.

"That's fine." Megan replied "But he comes first, and I need to be here when Twilight gets back with Pinkie." the doctor nodded and Megan picked Bryan up and laid him down on the gurney. "It'll be alright Bryan, I promise." she said softly and kissed his cheek.

The unicorn looked at Ace "Can you walk? Or do we need to wheel you in as well Captain Crimson Moon?"

"I can with help. Which I have." Ace said as the two drones held him up.

The doctor could see he was in bad shape as well. "Very well."doctor Candy stripe said "If the three of you will follow doctor Stable here." she said motioning to an amber colored unicorn with a brown mane and tail with blue eyes.

The doctor's face scrunched up "It's been a while Ace, I'm glad to see that you're not that bad off this time. I can't say I'm happy with Bryan's condition though what happened to him?" he asked as they headed for the exam room.

Megan sat in the lobby waiting for Twilight's return, her worry was all to apparent.

"Well you know him he turned down a mare that wouldn't take no for a answer. So the bug queen tried to make him say yes. I just got swarmed by her drones. It wasn't a fair fight though. It was only a two thousand or so to one. If she hadn't cheated and stun spelled me a couple times I would have won." said Ace as the drones helped him along.

Doctor Stable just shook his head "And it would have been better if he had said yes? Hmmm it took the same spell twice huh? What did you parents feed you when you when you were a colt Ace?" he asked as opened the door to the examination room.

Ace had to watch as Bryan was wheeled into the room across the hall, he looked even more miserable than before.

"I was raised in Neighpon doc. I ate what every pony else there does, rice, peaches, wheat, fish, chicken and pork. Not a lot of farm land in the islands so we have to eat meat to stay healthy. Though my fave was fried rice with white wine." said Ace like it was no big deal.

"Well you seem to made out of something different from most ponies Ace. Now let's get you up on the table and have a look at your injuries." he said as he prepared a medical scanning spell.

The changelings helped Ace to lay down of the table.

"Ok let's get you on the table then undressed. So we can see how bad the bruising is."She levitated him to the exam table. "Do you need help undressing?" Asked Dr.Candy Stripe.

"To answer the one question if he said yes. He would have to explain to it to his new herd. One a princess the other by most accounts and from what I see. Is me untrained as human female.... though that's just a rough evaluation of her skill so I think he chose the less painful one... Also the queen Chrysalis was hot but not the nicest of approach to finding a date."

Bryan winced while being levitated. "Just so you know doc, I am not making a habit of getting myself tortured." he said as laid there waiting her to begin the exam. "I don't think I can do it myself actually, I'm hurting more than I was a few moments ago." he weakly tried to move but found it to be impossible.

Doctor Stable looked at Ace "Well you're certainly right about that. I never thought that Bryan would end up in herd though, life is full of surprises." he began scanning Ace and found that the tough pegasus while injured wasn't bad off at all. "Well," he said "it seems that you only have a fractured right hind leg along with a number of cracked ribs, four of them. A nasty set of bruises," he looked at Ace's face "including a black eye. I'm not sure I want to know how you got that. That's it really Ace, other than a light case of spell shock form a single high level stun spell you're not hurt that bad. After a few days of rest and treatments for your cracked bones you'll be fine."

"That plus the wing out of joint. About that I thought.... Doc is it bad that I been hurt enough to know by pain what's wrong?" Ace Asked

The doctor carefully examined Bryan the look on her face was clear. "And you were doing with Ace? Did he hit you by accident? Or did you two fight a dragon army?"

The doctor tapped a bruise on Bryan's leg and grimaced at the his reaction. She did a full body scan after the two minute mark it was clear he was in bad shape...

"Six cracked ribs two broken, fracture left arm, broken wrist, slight concussion, hair line fracture in the left collar bone and right knee, and the right leg is clean broken. Plus to many bruises and cuts to count. Are you sure Ace didn't do this?" Said Doctor Candy Stripe.

The doctor scanned Ace's wing "So it is. Well Ace I wouldn't say that it's bad it really helps when patients can identify their own injuries. And you're no different than Rainbow Dash when it come to getting hurt, no more so than any other adventurous pony I've met." he grabbed Ace's wing and quickly set it back into place "There we go." he said adjusting his glasses.

After grimacing Bryan answered the doctor "No Ace didn't do this, and I think that I would have preferred to have fought a dragon army." he sighed "Ace and I were assigned to secure the survey site and were attacked by a swarm of changelings. After being defeated because we were so badly outnumbered, a thousand to one I think, maybe twice that. We were captured dragged into the supervisor's building and the queen tortured me when I refused to give her what she wanted." he drew in a breath "I've never had a cracked bone before, let alone any that were broken. Twilight and Megan are gonna freak, so is Pinkie." he was worried. His time as a guard could be over after this brutality.

"Hissssss. Thanks doc. At lest I can fly while the leg cast is on. I'm worried tho Bryan took some bad hits I know I heard bones crack. More then once. He's not the strongest warrior but he's definitely smarter then most. Buck he's smarter then me at most things. I'd hate to hear he has to be medically retired." said Ace

"Well your on your own with them. As to your job...... I can't in good conscience recommend you return to service. Not for a long while at least. But even then I am going to recommend modified duty till you are cleared by a medical professional. Does your unit have a assigned medic. Or a regular doctor for check ups?"asked doctor Stripe.

Doctor Stable looked at Ace "Well he may have to be, but only doctor Candy Stripe knows the human body well enough to make that assessment. I'm still trying to catch up with all the research she has published since Bryan first arrived in Equestria. Yes that leg of yours will be in a cast, and I would recommend that you not fly around to much otherwise you might strain yourself. It's not a crime for a warrior like you to accept help from his mares Ace."

Bryan looked at her "Yeah a griffon named doctor Bone Saw, he is really good and has read all of your research on me and my needs medically. To say that he knows what he is doing is to understate it actually. The two of you should compare notes sometime, I think you'll find some of his findings helpful." Bryan calmed himself "I think Princess Luna will be sending the rest of the thirteenth to Ponyville so he'll be here in a few days most likely."

"Ok doc sooner I'm in a cast the sooner I get to spend two weeks in bed with my herd." Said Ace.

"Wait you mean that Griffon with black beak all way has bone to chew on. Has full surgery kit in his jacket, and hits on every mare and molly, worse then Ace?" And for the first time ever doctor Candy Stripe looked like she wanted to kill someone.

Bryan looked at her "Are you all right doctor? I've never seen you lose your composure before." he scrutinized the doctor he'd know her for as long as anypony else and never once did she lose her composure. She was always professional on the job, and true to her name she was a sweetheart when she was off the clock.

"Ehhem sorry. I went to med school with Doctor Bone Saw. Let's just say while Ace is a flirt. He knows when to stop Bone Saw dose not and I lost count of how many times we caught the lecherous bird peeping in the mares locker room." She took a few breaths. "I'm fine with any luck I'll be in Canterlot again before I see hide or feather of that Griffin. Now let's start on patching you up. This may sting a bit."

Bryan's look was one of shock, it looked as if he might faint.

A few hours latter the princesses had arrived at the hospital. Princess Celestia was talking to Twilight trying to help Megan and Pinkie calm Twilight down, she was devastated to hear the extent of Bryan' injuries. Princess Luna on the other hoof was finally able to pin down this specific captain of her guard for a debriefing. He usually managed to pawn it off on a subordinate. this time he could not escape! She trotted into the room where he was recovering for the moment. They had decided to keep him overnight to try and keep him from doing anything strenuous.

Luna looked at Ace "Well Captain what exactly happened to you and Lieutenant Luna?"

"Whole swarm jumped us. I was holding my own till I took that second overcharged knock out spell then swarm overran me while I was slowed." Said Ace as he lays on his belly with the two changeling drones giving him a massage to his sore muscles.

Luna's eyes narrowed at him "Oddly enough the medical report say that only a single high level spell was used. I need an actual report Captain Crimson Moon, not this lax excuse for a report. And I'm going to have to ask this question as well." Luna sighed not wanting to ask but having no choice in the matter "I am going to ask you how you feel about Lieutenant Luna's fitness to serve in the thirteenth after this incident. So I need an accurate report captain." Luna demanded sharply.

"You know the reason I haven't advanced beyond this position in the guard, is suck at paper work right?..... I won't dismiss him. He was never one of my best fighters but he is one of the smartest. He'll be riding a desk till Bone Saw clears him. After that I'll have on light duty tell he's back to full steam. He's smarter than most of us. If he was to go though officer school he might make a good strategist..... but I doubt that he would do so willingly. Perhaps you can whisper in Twilight's ear Twilight and Megan are his herd now and only fool ignores his mares. Also with him on desk your reports will not be my normal Neighponiese, art. My father cursed me to his grave that I never learned to read and right mainland Equestrian. Don't tell Bryan but I didn't actually read his books but had Trixie or Sunset read them to me as we cuddled by the fire on cold nights." He gave the Luna a mischievous grin. It was no secret that Ace trusted Luna above all others save his own family.

Luna snorted "You do realize that he won't ignore his mares Ace. His loyalty is nearly the parallel of Loyalty's guardian herself. Also I doubt that you'll find another tactical illusionist anytime soon, also he lacks the organization to be a strategist. As for your literacy problem you need to resolve that, I can't keep letting you slide on this issue. You will have to learn to do these things Ace, besides the head captain's position will remain with Captain Nightshroud for many years to come yet. And given that Megan is largely responsible for the pony he has become I very much doubt that he'll sit behind a desk when he's able to do much more." Luna was thoughtful for moment "In the mean time Commander Solis will take you place in charge of the defense of Ponyville for a while. As of now I am ordering you to take some time off."

"I will my princess but I'd feel Safer if Charger or Jammer was in charge at lest I know they can fight... Um no offence meant to Solis. And give recent event's just giving Twilight a guard to command would be more effective after all she knows everypony and the area." Said Ace.

"I was referring to Charger Ace. Did you take a serious blow the the head? At any rate leaving Twilight in charge of Ponyville's defense at the moment would not be a good idea. My sister is preparing her for the impending coronation, there is also another major event coming up as well. I know you and Bryan don't appreciate Captain Shining Armor very much, but he and my descendant Princess Cadence are to be wed very soon." she tapped he chin with her hoof "From the medical report given to me by Doctor Candy Stripe I doubt our adviser will be able to be present though." the night princess turned "Please excuse me Ace, I will need to figure this out."

"Ok I think Megan hit me harder then I thought on the way here..... Thank you for your time my princess."

Luna arched her eyebrow and trotted out of the room. this was far from the first time Ace had gotten himself in trouble with a mare. Nor would it be the last she wagered."You are welcome Ace, it is our duty to see to the well being of our subjects." Luna said

As she trotted down the hall she realized that she would also have to talk with Bryan, this she dreaded. Maybe a brief chat with Celestia would soothe Bryan a little. She stopped outside of his room knowing that Celestia would already be inside, that's when she notices that Pinkie Pie was also waiting outside the room. Luna pondered this and watched to see what would happen.

Princess Celestia look Bryan over, he was still in a sorry state. Though the major injuries had been largely healed he was still bandaged up and looking rather unhappy.

He looked at the Sun Princess "How's Twilight?" he said worry apparent in his voice.

"She is calm now due in no small part thanks to Megan. She is a remarkable young mare Bryan, I can see why you love her so much and in time Twilight will undoubtedly share your feelings for Megan. Did you want my perspective on herding?" she said.

Bryan was thoughtful for a few moments "Really, I've already made my decision. I know why they brought it up and I appreciate why they are doing it."

"Oh," Celestia said "I would like to hear why."

Bryan sat up a bit more "They're doing this because they love me. So much in fact that they don't want to force me to choose between them and force me to hurt myself and one of them. They are doing it because seeing me happy means more to them then one of them getting her way. I know that this is very unexpected in my case, but I love them both very much. I will respect what they are doing and we'll see if there is a another pony who joins us, I won't mind as long as she is one of my friends. I already trust them with my well being so that's it." he smiled as he spoke.

Celestia smiled approvingly "That's very admirable of you Bryan. Sharing yourself like that is going to be hard for you, but I know you can do it. Now I have another matter I must address with you. Something far more grave I am afraid, but I must know if you will continue your service in the royal guard once you are fully recovered." her face had turned serious.

Bryan drew in a breath "That's up to Doctor Bone Saw really, if he decides that I'm to be medically retired then I'm medically retired. I won't lie I have been seriously considering leaving the guard after being tortured though. I am not the best person for the job in the first place, and I have my primary duty as both your and Luna's adviser. I haven't yet made the decision, I'll have to see what the doctor says first, then I'll make my decision. Given Twilight's impending coronation, I would serve Equestria best by choosing a different path though. I will tell you more when I know more." his words had both a resignation and a finality to them.

"Very well," Celestia said "know that you will have the support of all of the ponies that love and care for whatever you may decide. I will respect whatever decision you make, for now rest and get better." she turned to leave "I do believe that Pinkie Pie and my sister would like to see you."

"Send Pinkie in first, I am not eager to see Luna at the moment my princess." Bryan said solemnly.

Celestia opened the door and said "Pinkie Bryan wants to see you now." Pinkie nodded and trotted through the door closing it behind her. She trotted to his bedside and sat down on her haunches.

Bryan looked at Pinkie and said "From the look on your face I can tell that you know what happened to me." she nodded sadly "Pinkie come up here with me." he patted the right side of the bed.

Pinkie climbed up on the bed and laid down beside him. What she saw now that she was paying attention was bad. He was laying there an I.V. in his left arm and a breathing tube in his nose, she was about to ask when Bryan answered her.

"The doctors said it's precautionary, they don't know if I'll go into shock or have some other sudden unforeseen complications." he said as she saw that he was also hooked up to a heart monitor. "Now what did you need Pinkie?"

Pinkie sniffled sadly "Bryan," she began "I-I-I don't know I almost lost you and I never told you how I felt and I......I love you Bryan!" the dam holding back her tears broke she began crying and only stopped when he asked her.

"Pinkie," she looked at him still sniffling "How long have you loved me?"

"I dunno, a while I guess." she replied

Bryan even with all of the pain he was feeling, he smiled "Here we are, both of us just wrecked and yet you still make me smile Pinkie." he was thoughtful " I love you too Pinkie, I think I've loved you all this time and didn't see it. You were always there for me, I would be glad to have you in my herd. I know Twilight and Megan will be too."

Pinkie leaned in and kissed him her mane and tail re-inflating as she did "Can I stay with you? I mean Princess Luna wants to see you but I wanna stay with you."

"Sure thing Pinkie, I really need you here right now." he chuckled "For three years you've always been there for me."

"I always will Bryan." she nuzzled him as Luna opened the door.

"I am sorry to interrupt this moment Bryan but I really need to talk to you." Luna said

"It's ok Luna, we understand. Now what is it?"

Luna looked uncertain "I-I wish to apologize to you Bryan. When I advised you to join the Lunar guard I never envisioned that you would end up being tortured. I should have realized that......that something could have gone very wrong. I understand that you're probably angry with me at the moment, I am your princess and it is my duty to protect you, and I failed." Luna began pacing "No!" she said as she stopped "I did far worse than fail you! I knowingly and willfully sent you into danger. Even though I knew that could not likely survive some of the things that you might encounter, and far worse than that I was involved in declaring you to be a member of an officially protected species." she looked directly at Bryan "How can I be worthy of your continued loyalty after this disaster."

Bryan shook his head "Luna, nopony could have seen this coming. There was no way to know that the changelings would come here, no way of knowing any of it. You've proven yourself to me by caring about me time and again. You inspired me to stand with you, as a princess should. I am the one who took the advice, and I didn't have to. I choose this, I wanted to fight for Equestria and protect everypony. I don't know if I'm going to continue to serve in this way anymore, but you don't need to blame yourself." he smiled "I faced danger everyday in Ponyland, I choose to face it here, and I have no regrets. Neither should you, my princess."

Luna smiled at him "Thank you, my friend."

"Of course my princess." Bryan said smiling.

In a darkened room Sat a figure hidden by shadows sipping wine. "That useless bug failed. Good thing she doesn't know anything important." A crystal glowed red and the out line of a demon appeared in it.

"You're up mister nightmare maker and you'll be happy to hear that not only do you get a shot at Bryan but that Megan mare is here too do make things painful for both of them." Said the figure on the throne.

The demon like thing in the Crystal started to laugh maniacally and in deep powerful voice said. "They shall soon learn that their nightmares are very very real." He faded away Laughing.

The figure on the throne sighed, "That fool better not mess it up. But just in case. You!" A hoof pointed to the darkness "Start setting up for plan D."

Author's Note

Well everypony Echos has indeed become a full colab, so keep an eye out for more in the next little while.