Night seemed to fly in and take over the skies outside. With absolutely nothing to do but await Celestia's appearance, I was left to lay in bed with Silver Star. Nearly and hour ago, she had reluctantly left my side and headed off with Princess Twilight once she announced that Day Court was about to end. I asked her why Silver was leaving, seeing as how Celestia had stated that she wanted to speak with both of us. The answer I got was that I was bedridden and Celestia was too busy with the nobles that had gathered outside the court. I then asked her how she knew that, since Twilight hadn't left the room since she reappeared a few hours ago, but I didn't get an answer that time.

"She in trouble?" I asked Swift Lightning once the door closed.

"I think so," he answered. He explained how, even though I wasn't a walking corpse, that the spell she used could, and most likely would, be classified as necromancy. Seeing as how that was dark magic, Silver could face punishment. When I asked him what kind of punishment, he couldn't really tell me. It had been so long since something like this happened that he had no idea what could happen. I also believe that he would never have asked before this event.

So, time dragged by as usual. Swift decided that would be a good time to start asking me about Earth. What was it like? How did I live without magic? Were there ponies on Earth? I answered all I could to the best of my ability. Swift seemed a bit disturbed upon my revelation that humans were the only creatures capable of actual speech, and ponies and horses were nothing more than farm animals. Swift put a halt to his questions and mulled over his newfound information. I'm glad he stopped as well; talking about home made me fell a bit... well, homesick. I missed my parents, my friends, school...

Other than a nurse pony who came in and changed the bandages on my body, nothing really happened. When the nurse had unwrapped my arms, I had gotten an eyeful. It literally looked like I was mauled, but I didn't see any bone through the shoddy patchwork that were my forearms, so I figured that was something. My foot was a lot better, as were my shoulders; a new layer of skin had already started to grow over the wounds, and the graft on my foot was taking well. The nurse, while she had me unwrapped, had also taken the liberty to give me a quick wipe down with a wet sponge. Thankfully, she didn't ask me to remove the pants Luna's seamstresses had made me, but the nurse had taken the rags of my shirt. While she was there, I had taken the sponge from her grasp and used it to scrub the grim off the locket Silver gave me.

Did she give it to me? I know she said it was a way to transfer her magic, but she didn't ask for it back. I should ask her when she gets back.

At the moment, Swift is messing with the straps of his armor, and I'm laying in bed with the small booklet Twilight had found. All the little book really tells me is the difference between the five types of magic that reside on or within Equus. I flip back and forth, trying the best I can to understand the magical descriptions.

Harmonious magic. Apparently, it's the most common magic on Equus. Every living being, even the non-sapient species, have some amount of harmonious magic within them. It literally keeps them alive, and unfortunately I was on the receiving end of not having any and feeling the terrible effect of such occurrence. Harmonious magic is keen at healing or creating, a lighter form of magic.

Dark magic is basically the same as harmonious magic—according to the book, it is harmonious—but anything cast with it normally has a chance, or less commonly a guarantee, to cause harm to the caster. This darker branch of harmonious magic is primarily used for going against the laws of nature, like bringing back the dead, or voodoo. Well, not really voodoo, more like mind control. Also, even though this isn't forbidden, so long as everything it set up correctly, using dark magic, a pony can summon a demon to speak with. Only speak with; binding them to this world is to difficult to sustain for too long, so unless they wish to be dragged to Tartarus with the demon, they can pony talk for small periods of time.

Chaos magic is more or less the random shit that happens when one lets all the balance and control of harmonious magic fly out the window. Random things happen, regardless of intent or the type of spell casted. In a better term, chaos magic is the joker card of all magic. Cotton candy clouds that rain chocolate milk happens to be one of the favorite forms of chaos magic to be used by the embodiment of said mystical form, Discord. From what little I've been told about him, he is, literally, the god of chaos. However, when used in moderation, chaos magic is little more than prankster magic; no real harm can come of it unless a magical overload occurs, which is very common with this powerful type of magic, so chaos magic is still considered dangerous due to its instability.

Cosmic magic—the kind of magic I had to learn from this book alone, since Swift didn't know squat—is the most powerful form of magical essence. Only magic wielders of great endurance and intellect can manage to utilize this type of magic. The book also states that alicorns are born (or created, as with Princess Twilight Sparkle's lengthy story tells, courtesy of my pegasus guard) with an innate connection to cosmic magic. The power of the universe at the tip of their horns... No wonder Celestia is so powerful. Cosmic magic is very versatile when it comes to its uses, so that may be the reason the princesses are able to do almost anything.

Demonic magic, however, is by far the most interesting. A dark, evil variant of the harmonious forces, demonic magic is primarily found within the depths of Tartarus, the afterlife of this world. A place for souls to rest if they have been good, and a place to suffer for those who have been bad. The inhabitants outside the Heaven-like section consist of demons of all kinds, ranging from beasts of legends to simple trickster imps. This form of magic specializes in self-enhancement, imprisonment, harm and destruction, and even has it's own branches of sub-magic. Blood magic, which is a common branch, is illegal to use in Equestria, and can result in incarceration for life, depending on the spells used. Thanks for that tidbit Swift. Blood magic is used to summon other beings from wherever they may be, and bind them to the user's will. It can also be used to transfer life energy, create more demonic versions of the caster (turn them into monsters really), and create new life via artificial means, which is taboo on Equus, no matter where or who you are.

There are a lot of other subcategories of demonic magic, but I'm feeling a bit too sleepy to read on. I put the booklet down on the small metal trolley near my bed and turn over to find a comfortable position. I mumble a goodnight to Swift, which he returns, and I try to drift off to sleep.

Or at least try to.

The door to my room opens with enough force the doorknob smacks into the wall with a loud bang!, jolting Swift and myself into upright positions. Silver Star, devoid of all golden garments, strides into the room, and thankfully she's alone. I really don't want to deal with royalty right now. But I also don't want to deal with whatever's wrong with Silver. She's mopey, her ears glued to the sides of her head.

"What happened? Is everything okay?" Swift asks, walking over to her side.

"I lost my rank." Silver Star shakes her head. "I save Garcia's life and General Sleet demotes me back to being another guard... Great."

"There's a lot things that could have happened, Silver." Swift drapes his wing over her armorless back. "You should be thankful. You can easily climb back up the corporal ladder."

A second later, another guard pushes in a small metal cart with a few bowls on it. He leaves without a word, closing the door and leaving my two guards and I alone.

"Dinner?" I ask, slinking back into my bed.

"For all of us," Swift answers.

"I'm not really hungry. I'm going to sleep, night y'all." With that, I turn over in bed and try to snuggle deeper into the thin mattress.

"Well, you've been in bed for almost nine days now Garcia," I hear Silver tell me. "So suck it up and eat a little something. I didn't save you so you could just waste away."

"Geez, you sound like my mother..." My breath hitches in my chest when I mention her, and the heavy feeling returns in my heart.

"Come on," Silver says. "You gotta eat something."

"Why do you care?" I ask it in a soft tone, not trying to be mean.

"I don't want us to get in any more trouble," comes her reply.

I grunt at her. Seconds tick by, and sounds begin to be made. I'm guessing that Swift and Silver are starting to eat, and that's fine with me. I don't hear much other than the slight hum of the lights and the quiet breathing of my roommates, so I begin to relax enough that I'm starting to drift off. Darkness begins to drip into my vision, and I let it overcome me.

But I'm ripped from the peaceful embrace when I feel Silver's weight on the edge of the bed.

"Come on," she beckons, "you gotta eat."

"I'm not hungry," I repeat. "Thanks though."

"Dude, come on."

"Sorry Silver, I'm not hungry."

"Come on Mavie, just—" I tune her out after hearing my parent's nickname. Hearing the one thing that only my mom and dad call me... It just gets me thinking about how I most likely won't ever get to see them again. It really doesn't help my already sullen mood.

Interrupting the unicorn, I quietly speak. "Please... don't call me that."

"Excuse me?"

I lift myself up a bit and turn to face Silver. "Please. Don't call me by that name." My eyes dart down to the bowl in her forelegs, the back up to her. "Call me whatever you want; Maverick, Garcia, human, whatever. But please... don't call me that."

Silver opens her mouth to speak, but Swift is at her side with a wing on her shoulder. He slowly shakes his head, and she seems to understand. But that doesn't stop her from trying to get me to eat. Silently, Silver Star holds out the bowl, waiting for me to take it.

I look at it questionably. "...If I eat, will you let me sleep?" I get a nod for an answer, so I sigh and take the bowl from her, as well as the spoon she was holding against the side of it.

My dinner turns out to be warm oatmeal. I can tell just by looking at it that the cooks added a bit too much milk to the mix. Not really caring, I dip my spoon into the pale brown puddle and lift it to my mouth. No real taste, either, but the sweetness of honey and the bland taste of oats stand out, even if by just a small bit. I scoop another mouthful, and quietly listen to Silver and Swift's conversation. Silver's filling her stepbrother in on the details of her demotion. All in all, there's not much for them to talk about, so she soon turns back to me, shuffling her weight on the bed to fully face me.

"I'm sorry," she says. I look up from my oatmeal and Silver continues. "I didn't mean anything by calling you that, but we can tell it's a touchy subject. I won't do it again."

I nod at her, mumbling a thanks.

Silver looks back at the cart of food and a familiar blue aura envelops her horn. The same magic covers a banana on the cart and it begins to slowly hover towards the bed. It falters in the air, almost hitting the ground, but after a few second the banana pick up altitude and makes it onto the bedspread. I look up at Silver Star's face. She looks winded, tired. I hear her mutter something as she bends over and picks up the fruit with her hoof.

I reach out and put a hand on her shoulder. Silver looks back at me.

"You okay?" I ask.

Silver's eyes dart between me and the sheets. "...I feel like a foal again." I give her a questioning look. She huffs in response. "It's hard to do anything with my magic now. I feel like I'm learning again."

"Well, I do have half of it," I say as I take my hand off her and place it over my chest. "Thanks again for that." Silver gives me a half-hearted smile and turns back to her banana. Before she can start peeling, I reach up and turn her to face me. "No, seriously. As far as I know, or anypony—I mean, anyone, whatever. As far as anyone here knows, you saved my life. I can probably never repay you for that. So... Thank you Silver Star."

We all go back to our late dinner. Swift inches his way back to his spot nearly eight feet away against the wall the whole time we eat, but Silver is content to sit on the edge of my bed with her fruit. I finish my bowl of oatmeal before the others and put the bowl on the trolley beside my bed. As Silver finishes off her banana, I shift and lay down, this time facing my guards.

"Good night y'all," I say as I close my eyes.

"Night Garcia," Silver says quietly.

"Good night man," Swift calls out a bit louder. "...Hey Silver? You mind if I preen?"

"Just make sure you get everything in the trash this time."

"Geez, I miss the basket one time at home and you never let me hear the end of it."

"Do you know how disgusting it is to step on a wet feather?"

"Yes, I have to deal with the feeling every time I go out in the rain."

"Drool isn't the same as rain, Swift."

I feel small smile touch my face as I listen to my friends argue. My friends... I don't think I've referred to Silver or Swift as a friend... Or at least Silver. But I suppose two friends are better than none, especially in such a weird world as Equus. Those two goofballs might just be what I need to survive here. At least until I know for sure if I can get home or not. I really hope I can, though. I've been gone for almost two weeks now; my parents must be worried sick. And that's even if time flows at the same pace here on Equus. For all I know, I could be here for two weeks, but two months could have passed on Earth.

"Hey, Maverick?"

I crack open an eye and look over at the unicorn who said my name. Silver isn't looking back at me, but she's done eating, so all she has to look at is the floor. Silver's hoof slowly draws circles in the sheet as she waits for me to answer.

"...Yeah Silver?"

Silver Star moves her jaw as if she's chewing, but I know she has nothing to chew on. After mulling over what she's going to say, Silver finally speaks.

"...Would you mind if I slept with you again?"

"Does this have anything to do with me petting you before?" I ask her. "I hope I wasn't sending any kind of message, but—"

"No, it's not that." Silver chuckles softly, but it's short-lived. "Well, it kinda is, but really... It makes me feel better."

"Care to explain?" I say as I half-heartedly wave a hand at her to continue.

"Well," Silver says, rubbing her neck with a hoof. "...I feel better when I'm around you. You do have half of my magic, and we harmonize when we're close. It makes me feel better, you know?" I shake my head, but the motion is lost in the pillow I'm currently resting on. Silver huffs. "I'm trying to say... You have a piece of my inside you. And the part inside me resonates with what's inside you, and that makes me feel whole. I kinda wanna be there for you—with you..." She sakes her head, and finally looks down at me. "Do you get what I'm trying to say?"

"I'm pregnant?" I joke, a smile creeping onto my face.

"Har, har," Silver mocks me.

"Yeah, I kinda get it," I say. I totally don't, though.

"So...?"

I look at her hunched form. With the way she's sitting, Silver looks almost human. Sitting on the edge of the bed with her hind legs dangling off, her forelegs keeping her from falling back. It's rather interesting. I had no idea a pony could be that flexible. But more human-like, I guess... No. Not human-like. Her eyes hold truth. And that truth speaks for itself. Seeing the tough crazy unicorn before me speak like that... Yeah.

I give her an answer by scooting back and making room on the bed for her. "Make sure to get the lights," I say as I close my eyes again.

I hear a soft click, and the room goes dark. A second later, I feel Silver Star press her back against my chest. I raise my arm and let her scoot closer before draping it her form, then carefully put my chin on the top of her head.

"...Are you two spooning?" I hear Swift ask.

"Shut the buck up."

~ ~ ~ ~ ———— ~ ~ ~ ~

The halls are empty as I walk through them. Not a guard in sight. Not even Silver or Swift. Where did they get to? Shrugging, I continue on, unguided and with no real path in mind. I guess I've never really noticed, but this palace is very beautiful. The carved marble, the polished granite, the expertly woven rugs and curtains, the dazzling stained glass windows. Right now, little light is flowing through the glass artworks. A sliver of moon is all that floats in the abyss of the night sky. The real source of illumination comes from the torches on the wall; orange and yellow flames gently dance on their podiums, uncaring and oblivious to any spectators.

I reach the end of the hall and begin traversing a tall spiral staircase. The stone steps are cold under my uncovered feet, and with nothing but my pants to keep my warm, the feeling dulls throughout my body. As I climb, I just can't help but think why Celestia would allow me to walk through her castle unescorted. Come to thing of it, why am I alone? Swift hasn't left my side since he was assigned to me, and Silver... well, she likes it when I scratch her neck.

Pulling my feet over the last step, I find myself in a large square room. Not a living soul is to be found, but various weapons of all sorts are on the floor and embedded in the walls. Daggers, spears, small and large shields, halberds, swords, even a mace hear and there. I carefully step over all the weaponry and head over to the large double doors. I'm about to push them open, but a loud yelp emits from the other side, followed by a sharp clang! I push open the doors anyway.

The next room is just as large as the one behind me, but his one is full of life. Ponies of all kinds, earth, pegasi, and unicorns, fill the room. Weapons are all in their grasp, be it in their mouths, hooves, under their wings, or floating beside them. They are all expertly dodging or parrying their foes attacks, and responding with a vengeance.

"Quite the display, isn't it?"

I look to my left and find the Princess of the day sitting beside me. Celestia's ethereal mane and tail still flows in a non-existing breeze, and her golden armor seems to shine. She keeps her focus trained on the many pairs of training guards, not even bothering to look at me.

"...Yes, it is," I reply.

"All of my ponies that choose to apply for the title of royal guard must know how to handle a weapon," Celestia tells me. "One can not rely on brute strength, flying to dodge, or magic to counter alone, for the enemy, if there ever is one, could be armed. One must be quick with their hooves. One must be versatile. One must be—"

A loud clang and shout interrupts Celestia's little lesson. I look forward just in time to see a sword fly my way. I back up a step and put my hands up to shield myself, but the sword arcs in the air and comes down in front of me, its tip buried in the stone floor. Slowly, I look down and see that the blade is resting right between my big and second toe.

The fighting ponies all stop and look my way. All I do is stare at the sword. It's decently long, nearly three feet, maybe a bit more than that. The handle is wide, like, really wide, so that a hoof could easily wrap around it. the pummel is made out of some sort of familiar-looking yellow stone, and jewels of the same yellow crystal dot their way down the blade till the midsection of the weapon.

I reach out and grab the handle, and with a swift tug, I pull it free from the ground. I bring the blade to my face and thumb its edge. "...One must be able to hold onto their weapon in battle... right?" I ask, slowly looking over to Celestia. Her neutral expression doesn't change, so I go back to the sword in my hands. I give it an experimental swing and smile. "This is a fine peace of work. Pray tell, why is it used for training? Shouldn't something this ornate be hanging on a wall?"

"Every weapon has it's uses," Celestia says calmly. "Even those made for looks must be able to be used."

"I suppose so," I say, swinging the sword once more. After another swing, I put the tip of the sword to the ground and wave over at the guards in front of me, or more specifically the one pegasus without a weapon. He slowly approaches me, his head held high, but cautious. I smile at him and motion towards the blade in my hand.

“This yours?” I ask him. All I get out of him is a simple nod. Figuring I’m not going to get a better answer, I handle the sword so that it lies on top of my hands and offer it to him like one would offer a knight his weapon, which I suppose I could be doing, but I don’t know. The pegasus reaches out with a wing and slowly curls his feathers around the handle. I’m left wondering how the fuck he was able to do that as he walks back to his sparring partner. The rest of the room resumes like nothing happened.

I look back to Celestia, who is looking me over in turn. I put my hands on my hips and puff out my lower lip.

“What?”

Celestia slowly shakes her head. “I was just observing you.” She turns her attention back to the clashing metal in front of us. “I’m a bit surprised how well you handled that weapon.”

“I’ve never handled a sword before, actually,” I say. “A small kitchen knife, sure, but not a real sword.” I shrug and give her a smile, but I’m not sure if she sees it. “Besides, all I did was swing it around. Sorry if I made you uncomfortable.”

“What do you mean?” Celestia asks me, this time turning her whole body to face me. Even though she’s sitting down and I’m standing, Celestia is still taller than me. I didn't’t really notice how much I actually had to crane my neck back to look her in the eyes, but then again, I haven’t had much of a chance to do so. The way these ponies sit like a dog is, actually, kinda cute.

“I mean,” I say while rotating a hand in the air, “I apologize if I made you uncomfortable with that little act of swordplay. I saw how everypony froze when they saw me take it. I saw you freeze, too. It’s like you were all expecting me to slit the first throat I could reach.” I put up my hands in mock surrender when she gives me a surprised look. “But, I’m sorry for that. I should not have picked it up in the first place, even if it almost sliced my foot. I’m sorry I made everypony pause in their training, too.”

Celestia raises an eyebrow at me, but quickly brings it down to furrow her brow. “Why are you speaking like that?”

I give her a shrug of my shoulders. "I guess I'm just talking like I think royalty should be spoken to... your Highness."

"No, no, not that." Celestia looks eyes with me, but her expression is one of curiosity. "You were speaking like us ponies. Equish."

"Say what now?"

Celestia imitates the rotating motion I did with my hand. "You said everypony, not everyone like you normally do."

I cock my head to one side. "I just kinda gave up on trying to say things how I would say them. A being's surroundings influence much of their personality, so I guess your speaking rubbed off on me." I fold my arms in front of my chest. "How could you memorize my speech patterns? We've only really met once."

"Have we?" Celestia asks me, giving me a look of feigned broken-heartedness. "I could have sworn we've been each other's company more times than that."

"Yes, we have," I state, plain as day. And then, my lips curl into a smile. "...But I've only met you, Princess Luna, once."

Celestia sits there, eying me like the smartass I am. Then, after a tense moment of silence interrupted by the fading sounds of clashing metal, she smiles. "Clever colt." Celestia's form begins to shrink and her colors drain to a much darker pallet. In a matter of moments, the princess of the day is replaced by her counterpart, Princess Luna. Dark, nearly black, armor rests around her neck an over her hooves, as well as a tiny tiara of the same metal. She gives me a knowing smile, which I return. I can easily tell that Luna and I are on better terms than her sister.

The ponies in the room dissipate into nothingness and we are left alone in the large sparring room, but their weapons remain behind. The metal instruments clatter to the ground loudly, and the silence that follows is deafening.

I break it by coughing into my hand. "So... I was right."

Princess Luna nods. "Yes, you were. How did you know?"

"That you weren't really Celestia?" I pfft and give her a soft chuckle after it. "There is no way in Hell Celestia would have let me wander the halls alone, let alone hold something sharp. She doesn't trust me worth a damn."

Another nod from the lunar princess. "No, no she does not." Luna scuffs at the stone floor with a hoof, licking her lips. "I am not the best with words, but I know that my sister is not in the best state of mind. And—"

"Her heat should end soon anyway," I finish for her, gently curling my fingers and inspecting my nails. "My guard told me all about what such bad timing it was for me to pop into existence here on Equus."

Luna gives me a wide-eyed stare. She promptly recovers with an audible swallow. "Right..."

"Soooooo?" I drag out as I give Luna a friendly, but wondering look. "To what do I owe this nighttime meeting?"

Princess Luna just shakes her head. "Nothing really. Tia merely wished to see how you would react in such a situation."

"In what kind of situation?" I ask her.

"A situation in which you had a weapon," Luna states firmly. "How would you react is you had a means of escape or harm. That is all."

"Figures." I uncross my arms and stride out to the middle of the training room. Looking over the floor, I bend over and pick up a cutlass. The golden hilt is too wide of me to properly hold the handle, but I still swing it to and fro. "Give a desperate man a sword and he'll kill everything in sight. Is that what your sister thinks?" I ask, turning back to Luna. I don't get much of an answer aside from a swift shake of her head, so I walk back over to her. "Just because I made some stupid mistakes, Celestia thinks I'm a complete danger to everypony around me, huh?"

"N-no, that's not it," Luna says quietly. "Tia is just... wary."

I look down at the cutlass in my hand, then back at Luna. "...Princess Luna, please... Tell your sister that I absolutely will not hurt anypony, no matter what."

"No matter what?" Luna repeats. Her face goes blank, and the next thing I know, I feel something cold against my neck. Looking down, I see a long halberd floating in a bluish aura, the axe blade resting against my throat. "What if you were in danger?" Luna asks. "What if somepony was threatening your life? Would you hurt them then?"

My body reacts before I can tell it otherwise. My arm swings upward, bringing the cutlass up with it. The blade slices right through the wooden neck of the halberd, and the blade falls from my neck. I rush forward and slap my palm against the rest of Luna's skimpy chest armor to push her back, which causes Luna to stumble back a step, but that's all I need to point the end of the cutlass at her chin. Princess Luna's eyes widen a tad in surprise, and I cough into my free fist.

"Let me re-word that," I say, still training the cutlass at her jaw. "...I will not hurt anypony unless they try to hurt me first. I'm sure I said that before, but I guess I was caught off-guard from this whole thing." I emphasize my point by throwing the sword to the ground and folding my arms across my chest once again. "Sorry about that."

"It is quite alright," Luna tells me. "You seem well adhered to your words."

I nod. "...Can I ask something?" She nods, so I speak some more. "If this is a dream, why could I feel the cold metal of that blade on my neck?"

Luna smiles at me. "Have you heard of the phrase "Dreams cannot hurt you"? I feel like you may." She doesn't wait for my answer. "In my dreamscapes, that is not the case."

"Wait, so..." I look at the floor, at the broken polearm and cutlass. "...You could have really cut me? I could have really cut you!?" Luna nods at me, and my blood runs cold. If anyone had told me that dreams could really hurt me, I'd laugh in their face. But here, on Equus, where unicorns and magic is real... I could have hurt the co-ruler of this kingdom! I drop to my knees. "I am so sorry! I didn't know!"

"It is alright, Maverick." The room around us begins to fade. I look at the floor, which is now just a black emptiness. Luna's voice brings my eyes back up to hers. "I shall tell my sister what I have learned from you tonight. You are not in trouble, I assure you." Luna smiles once more. "You can expect more visits from me in the future, but I promise that they will be more... subtle." With that, she vanishes into the darkness, leaving me all alone.

I look back and forth, up and down, all around, but nothing but darkness is here. "...Great, so I have ponies in my head too... Just wake up Maverick."

So I do.

Author's Note

A bit of a filler chapter. These things needed to be said. More things will be said in the next chapter. And the next one after that, and so on and so forth...

Also, it's nice to see the site is no worse for wear, after all that little jumble that brought it down.