I hobbled into my house, struggling to stand. The past week had been exhausting. There were numerous things the Royal Guard had needed me to do, I needed to inspect a few sections of Canterlot, and Twilight needed me to make a run out of Equestria to retrieve a special piece of equipment she ordered from the Griffons. I shut my door, then flopped onto the ground. I could barely move. Everything ached, and my magic was in static. I heard a knock on the door.
“Come in,” I wheezed. Twilight opened the door and nearly tripped over me.
“Braveheart?” she asked. “Are you OK?”
“Does it look like I'm OK?” I managed to retort. “I can't feel anything. I'm in pain from this week. Do you know how long that flight was? Four hours.”
“Braveheart?” Twilight tried to say.
“Four hours, Twilight,” I said. “That's how long it took me to fly to the Griffons to get your package. I'm sore, tired, and I just want to sleep.”
“Braveheart.”
“I can't take another trip like that. It took another five hours to come back with that heavy package in tow. I swear, I couldn't...”
“BRAVEHEART!” Twilight cried.
“WHAT?!” I cried back.
“If you need a vacation, I'm more than happy to give you one,” Twilight said. “I can see that you're tired and sore. Get some rest, and tomorrow morning, I'll have something arranged for you.”
“Thank you, Twilight,” I said. I rolled over onto my back.
“Are you going to sleep right there on the floor?” Twilight asked.
“I can't feel my wings or my legs, Twilight,” I said. “I'm not going anywhere right now.”
“OK,” Twilight shrugged. “See you tomorrow.”
“See ya,” I said. Twilight turned out my lights and shut my door. I used my last remaining bit of magic to lock it. After I did, I passed out.
I woke up the next morning feeling a whole lot better. I stood up, stretched, and walked outside. I let the sun's rays beat down on my face. I sighed. I took flight and flew over to Princess Twilight's Castle. I landed on Twilight's balcony and knocked on the window. She poked her head out from a room and waved her hoof for me to come in. I opened the window and walked inside.
“Hi, Braveheart,” Twilight said. “How'd you sleep?”
“Best sleep I've had in a long time,” I replied. “I feel better too.”
“Well that's good,” Twilight nodded. “Because you need to be for where you're going. Come on in here.” I walked inside the room Twilight was in. It was lit up with a purple glow. The mirror to the human world was activated by Twilight's machine, and the glass gave off the glow.
“What are you doing with this?” I asked.
“I thought I'd send you through here,” Twilight said.
“I never did say a reference,” I mumbled to myself.
“So, a few things you should know,” Twilight started. “Standing upright takes a bit of balance. But you shouldn't have a problem with that. You won't have your magic or your wings either once you cross. Actually, since your wings are mechanical, I'm not sure what will happen. Same for your hoof. I guess you'll find out.”
“Well, you said that your saddlebags turned into a backpack,” I remembered. “I suppose that my prosthetics should change as well.”
“They should,” Twilight said. “One more thing. I've already sent a message to my friend saying that you were coming across. Her name is Sunset Shimmer. You'll know her when you see her. She's expecting you at the exit.”
“All right,” I agreed.
“Before you go, do you have your bits?” Twilight asked. I opened up my saddlebag and pulled out the bag of bits.
“Right here,” I said, putting them away.
“Good,” Twilight said. “Off you go.” I stepped up to the portal and took a deep breath. I let it out and walked through the portal.
I was sent flying out the other end of the portal, and I crashed onto concrete, luckily on my rear. I flopped onto my back, letting the pain in my ass subside.
“Ow,” I said to myself. “That. Really fucking hurt.” I lifted up my arms and examined myself. My hooves were gone, instead replaced with what Twilight called hands. My mechanical arm was skeletal and more complex than my equine one. I moved each finger, trying to get used to this new body. A silhouette reached out, offering a hand to help me up. I reached out my mechanical hand, and the silhouette lifted me up off the ground. As I reached the standing point, I tried to regain balance. The girl put my arm around her shoulder and helped me stand. I looked at her. She had bright red and yellow hair, a purple shirt with a picture of a yellow and red sun on it, and a black leather jacket.
“Thanks,” I said. “You can let go now.”
“You sure?” the girl asked. I nodded. The girl let me stand freely, and I regained my balance.
“My name's Braveheart,” I said, extending my mechanical arm.
“I'm Sunset Shimmer,” the girl said. We shook hands. “Twilight said you'd be coming,” Sunset said.
“I know,” I replied.
“Come on,” Sunset said. “I'll bring you over to my place. Get you settled in.”
“OK,” I said. I followed Sunset Shimmer as best as I could, trying not to fall over. When we reached Sunset Shimmer's house, I walked inside and sat on her couch.
“You want something to eat?” Sunset asked.
“Nah,” I said. “I'm alright.”
“Suit yourself,” Sunset shrugged. She sat down next to me.
“You still in high school?” I asked.
“Actually, I just graduated,” Sunset said.
“Congratulations,” I said. “Was it a good four years?”
“It was,” Sunset replied. “Well, after freshman year anyway.”
“I see,” I nodded.
“So, while my hand was on your back, it felt really hard,” Sunset said. “Are you wearing something?”
“Not that I know of,” I answered, confused.
“Take off your shirt,” Sunset said. “I'm just curious.”
“All right,” I agreed. I removed my shoulder pack, which was my transformed saddlebag, and took off my shirt. Sunset took one look and her eyes went wide.
“Holy shit,” she gasped.
“What is it?” I asked.
“Your whole back has a metal plate on it,” Sunset said, still surprised. I reached behind myself and knocked on my back. The plate made a clang when I hit it.
“So that's what happened to my wings,” I mumbled.
“What happened to you, Braveheart?” Sunset asked, worried. “I noticed the robotic arm, but this plate...just, what happened in Equestria?”
“Do I have to say?” I asked.
“I'd like to know,” Sunset replied.
“Oh, OK,” I agreed. I told Sunset Shimmer everything. Starting with my parents abandoning me and ending with my discovery of the Assassin Order. I even told her about Sparks, though I nearly cried when I remembered what happened. When I finished, Sunset Shimmer was both in awe and horror.
“Damn,” Sunset sighed. “You sure have been through a lot, haven't you?”
“Yeah,” I said. “My life hasn't exactly been a good one.”
“Well, I'm kind of glad you're here,” Sunset said. “It's been kind of lonely ever since graduation. I really needed someone to talk to.”
“Well, here I am,” I said, blushing. I laid my head back. “I need a nap,” I said.
“Before you take one,” Sunset said. “I need to give you something.” She leaned over and gave me a light kiss on the cheek. She stood up and walked to her room. Shocked for a moment, I touched my mechanical hand to my face. I smiled as I fell asleep.
