The changes to the light were starting to bother me. One moment I was walking toward the Golden Oak library then suddenly the sun goes out and of course I trip on a rock sliding across the floor with a cart in tow. Then it’s back to today only to find out I have been walking towards the center of town due to the fact that my eyes can’t adjust to the changing light so much so fast. Oh ya let’s not forget the tiny tidbit of the sleep deprivation I’m in and Discord pulling some prank around each corner. Given I was able to spot about 80 percent of them from a mile away. That is, once I knew he was more after me then the rest of the town. Although there were those few pranks that would catch me off guard because of how it was set up and man did he get a thrill out of that. I was starting to not trust just about anything but the ground under my hooves. Well, that is until I was walking on soap and slipped. “Moon and stars above I will be happy when I’m out of this mad house of a world. How long until Twilight and the others fix this anyhow?”

“Well if’n she was half the pony I am, then we all would be back at ma farm sip’n cider.” Apple Jack snipped as she walked out from behind a building. She was so gray I could barely make out any yellow on her being. For a moment I was going to keep walking and pay her no mind but then I realized this was not a prank and just a discorded AJ walking away from the first attempt at Discord. Guess I know what that flash of light was from before. “Guess it’s all up to me to keep’n the farm going in all this crazy hooey.” Rolling my eyes I knew there was nothing I could do at this point for her. She did pause for a moment before she turned around to look right at me. “Hay good look’n! I could use a strong stallion like you to help me on my farm. Care to lend a hoof?”

Knowing her disposition for lying at the time was not good in hindsight and my blood instantly boiled at what I saw as a blatant insult. “I’ll be having none of that missy, you can just bite me ya liar! So just keep trotting and find some other fool!” Lowering my head I just turned and walked away before she could say anything more. Another comment followed mine but I was just too salty to pay it any mind. A moment later and I found myself having to calm down and hating myself for what I had just done. It was not her fault that she insulted me after all; it was Discord after all who turned her gray. I’m going to need one hell of a good night’s sleep to fix this, that or a strong cider. Sadly nether was anywhere in sight. As I continued my wonder I did spot something that would have made any pony or brony cry a little inside, or outside for that matter. Twilight was standing in the middle of a clearing just hanging her head in defeat. A single tear slipped from her eye, down her muzzle, then finally falling off to wet the ground. The pastel purple color of her coat had been washed away and she was left with a gray main and coat, I’m sure her spirit was in the same place too. It was a shame to see such a vibrantly bright tiara on her contrasting gray head, like a reminder of the vibrant personality of the bearer it was bestowed upon.

So now I have a problem, should I reach out and help her? Give her a hug? Cheer her on to victory that I knew was just around the corner? Nothing I wanted to do seems right and I don’t think I would trot away from this. Unfortunately I did not have more time to think this over. She moved to wipe away another tear with one hoof causing her to look up right at me. “Volley? What are you-“ she stopped as the gears in her head suddenly clicked. “Volley! You can help!” Aww hell here we go. A weak smile made its way onto her face as she trotted over to me. “You know what’s going on right? Discord, and the other girls, all of it! You know how to fix this right? You know how to defeat Discord right?! Put everything back to normal!!” her pleading eyes where too much for me and all I could do was hang my head lower and look away.

“I can’t”

The book pony freezes and nods her head just a tad “Y- yes you can, you’re here to help me like you said you would as a friend. All you need to do is-“

“I’m not your friend twilight Sparkle.” I grit my teeth as she takes a step away from me, my words piercing threw her. “Your real friends just walked off to leave you, I’m not one of them. I have told you this before.” Looking up just enough to look into her eyes I keep talking. “You need to go home Twilight. There is nothing more you can do as you are now.” Steeling my heart I turn away and start to walk.

“Is that it? It can’t be.” she whimpers back. “Give up and leave? How am I supposed to fix this? The princess entrusted this to me and my friends to stop Discord. And you’re telling me to just go home, to leave?! You told me you would help if I asked you, not turn your back on a friend.” the pony stamps her front hoof on the ground to make her point. “Is that it?”

Stopping for a moment I don’t even look back to mare “yes.” with a twitch of my tail I continued walking away, no clue where I was going but I thought it best to let her be. I knew what was going to happen in the end but as for how she saw me after this? No clue, then again why did I care? If she saw me as such then that would help me out right? Better for her to hate me and stop trying to be a friend.

“Fine!” she shouted back. “This is what I get for trying to be you’re friend, for helping you?” stamping her hooves in frustration the mare turns and walks off. Looking back I spot a pink cloud find its mark and start a little downpour on the defeated pony. Gods watch over me and help me through this because I know this is not going to be the last time this will happen. I thought to myself as I continued walking. She was discorded so I don’t think I can blame her anyhow. With a slight shrug I started to head back to what I could only guess was the middle of town.

“Well at least I don’t have a heart of stone, you however may have one colder then Lunas night.” folding down the newspaper in his grasp and uncrossing his legs Discord sets the paper down on a patio table and walks over to me. Lifting one eyebrow I glare at the chaos noodle. “Oh don’t give me that! You lost the bet so I’m here to collect. And to rub it in your face.” rubbing his paw and claws together he manifests a pie with the letters I and T sticking out of it.

“Double or nothing spaghetti, and if you win I will be your servant along with witch you get all that I know and I will tell all. Just give them one more try.” Growing an even more evil grin Discord lowers his head to look me right in the eye. “And as a little taste of what you can expect? I offer this insight insight? “Incite” is to start something, like “Incite a riot”. The seeds of chaos you hath sown will come to bear fruit in time to be, and said fruit be that of the moon and sun then the magic leaves the tree.”

Tilting his head the king of chaos suddenly smiles down on me. “I have no use of your knowledge when I can reweight history with the snap of my paw. But oh that is a tantalizing thing! And it is fun to watch you wriggle. Alright! You got me.” He stands tall offering his paw to me. I shake it with my hoof and the spirit grins. “I will want a glass of water as your first act as my minion.”

I chuckle a bit and shake my head “It’s not over just yet so don’t go count’in eggs.” With a flick of his claws he was holding what looked to be a small heavyset mare with a horned helmet and long golden locks of hair. After a moment I tilt my head to one side. “Funny how she is not actually signing hmm?” clutching the mare he shake her a bit and tosses her off into the distance. Was that necessary?

“Well fine then, I guess I can let them have another shot at me, not like it will happen after what I did to them. Get ready to do my bidding my little distraction.” A moment later and I was being controlled by magical threads and a smaller Discord clone was pulling on them with marionette handles. Thrashing to get free only got me tangled up in them and left me floating in midair all tied up like some cow in a rodeo. “Oh and what a fun distraction you will be!” Starting to clap and laugh at my current and soon to be predicament, he disappeared, piece by piece, with each clap a body part vanished, leaving me hanging and alone.

“well, that was fun and a half. And why does this feel familiar somehow? I don’t remember getting tied up before so why is this not a new feeling to me?” I struggle a bit more but just swing like a pendulum instead. “Fabulous”

“I bet it was. But who am I to question your kinks?” A voice pushes through the chaos of the background and Discord’s distant laughter. My ears twitch and spin to find the direction but even my ears are tangled. How? Just, how?

“Oh haw, haw.” I twist to look around to see who it was now but those strings bound my head and I could not turn enough to see anyone. “Pick on the bound up guy, ya so funny.” Oh man I really am stuck in this junk!

“Can you blame me for being able to get back at you so soon?” Electric Blue walks out from behind me with an even bigger grin then Discord just had.

“Hello Blue, what’s up? Why or how are you so close to me? If it’s about the chat I had with the mad hatter don’t worry, he will go back to where he came from and this will be over in a bit.” I try to tap my chin but the strings where making even that simple gesture impossible to do. “Ok maybe give or take 30 minutes or so.” A shrug was about all I could manage, sorta. “Say would you by chance help me out if you can stand being near me for a moment?” my gun twitches but is held fast to my flank and it’s pointed right at a hoof. which hoof I don’t know or can tell but ether way I was not able to use my gun. “As you can tell I’m a bit tangled up and not able to get out easily. If not, you can let me hang around too, not that much of a big deal.” I would like to get out but seeing as a big harmony bomb was about to go off I was not in too much of a rush.

“Oh I can see that clear as day! And that’s how I want you right now. As for how I’m able to get near you? Just a bunch of magic filters for emotions.” As I hear this I stop trying to move my hind leg that was sticking out and slowly look to the mare. As I lock eyes with her she presses her nose to mine and smiles to show her sharp changing teeth. “Oh don’t worry I’m not going to drain you. Your emotions taste horrid, toxic, and rotten, but not without a strange sense of hidden power. But I think I will change your mind instead.” as she blinks her blue pupil-less eyes show threw as her horn charges up with magic for what I could only guess was a memory spell.

I try to wriggle free, putting more effort into it but I just could not get a break. I blame Discord for all of this. “Ok going off of what has happen before with the Princesses, you may not want to do that.” I was not freaking out per say, but I was getting a little uneasy about how folks want to mess with my head. Then again I was still slowly starting to panic. And the bloody threads where not letting me move away at all. And on top of this I had a mare pressing her nose to mine and I was starting to blush. Ummmm… ok. That’s not normal.

Lidding her eyes she gave me a sudden kiss on the lips. “Shame I have to do this, aside from making me sick just by your emotions alone. You’re a cute one.” Shortly after that there was a small flash and pop. The sudden bright light blinded me for a moment but all I could do was try to blink it away. Stepping back the mare smiles but she was rubbing her horn underneath her illusion. “Well I guess there was a lot to get rid of, that hurt a bit. Well it is a good thing you won’t remember that kiss too.” Without moving I just stared off into the clouds like a silly filly still blinking. Nodding happily Electric Blue bit down on a string near my haunches and tugged to pull it free of the floating handles above. With a muffled thump I was dropped onto the ground, which was all I needed to shake me out of my little daze. Pulling myself back to my hooves the pegasus had hidden her changeling features by now and was looking me over. “I’m sorry to hear about your loss sir. And it’s a shame you have to leave town, but I hope it all work out for you.” Her smile looked real and honest as she spoke, stars above she was good at this.

Standing up and looking back down at her I touch a hoof to my lips “You kiss awfully well for having fangs. I would think that gets in the way but I guess not?” I break out into a laughing fit as I point at her “I still remember everything too! So no need to try and fool me with a BS story like that. I-” freezing in place I slowly lock eyes with the now stunned blushing mare and point at her slowly with one hoof, and then I follow it back as I point to myself followed by a shiver down my spine and a deep blush as well. “I’m human, Why did I enjoy that!?” backpedaling I shake my head with shrunken eyes.

“w-what is going on? You don’t h-have a charm on you or a memory guard! W-why did that not work?! You should be w-walking out of this t-town without a clue why!” the mare was beet read and panicking as she tried to work out what she did wrong.

Shaking my head slowly I become more stoic. Ever have something hit ya so hard your brain just shuts down to try and reboot? Ya that’s me. “I’m human, well I think, I don’t know right now. But my mind doesn’t work like a normal pony. I think Luna tried to pick my mind before and it rebounded on her I think, I don’t know.” Rubbing the back of my neck I look away “But if an alicorn can’t pick my head then no one can.” I slowly turn and start to walk off again “let’s just never speak of this again alright?” This will be a lie at some point I know it, or blackmail.

“But, umm, hol-hold on!” Blue try’s to put words together before I was gone. “So you’re not g-going to tell?” seeing me shaking my head calmed her down a bit. “G-good! Don’t talk to me ever again!” with a fierce beat of her wings and a gust of wind she was off in the opposite direction from me albeit with her current condition it was more of a quick stumbling movement through the air. I on the other hoof was blindly walking forward, the spell did nothing but daze me a bit. But that small kiss had done more damage than a spell. I was human! Well my mind was, right? Ya, Maybe?

“Aww dam it! I’m kicking that cake loving flank so hard the sun will have a black spot!” franticly rubbing my head with my hooves I try to wrap my head around what happened then I suddenly had an epiphany. “That’s it!” I rub my eyes and chuckle a bit. “Discord and no sleep makes a pony go mad, that’s all. I just need to get some sleep! Aww man I was getting scared there for a moment! Thinking that blasted transformation spell got into my head.” With that there was a humongous flash emanating from the center of town. “Hmm?” looking toward the flash I could see a tell-tale rainbow rise up and split too form a bubble of harmony. “Woo!” I shout and stand up on my hind hooves flailing my front legs in the air. “I messed up nothing! All is right!” I stop for a moment and grin. “Discord owes me six hundred bits!”

The harmony moved fast and not a second later it was washing over me but something was odd. I had no clue what it was supposed to feel like but as the light washed over me it pulled at my being, not my body but something else? After it had passed I collapsed onto the ground and was out of breath. It was not a choking feeling but more of my body had just been starved of oxygen. Trying to get back up just caused my legs to give out the moment I put pressure on them, what little pressure I could manage at that. “What- *gasp* the heck?” I gulp down more air before I get back to normal and I stand back up. After stumbling to get my balance I rested a hoof on my chest as I take deep breaths. “Ok that’s not cool. Was that the elements trying to fix me or something?” moments pass and other ponies start to emerge from their now normal homes. Looking around the towns folk find the normal world as it was intended. Nothing floating, spinning, or another shade of color for that matter, it was all back to the comfortable reality. Well, aside from the fact that word may spread like a supercharged wild fire. I was garnering some of the most hateful looks I have seen sense that one time a man dressed up as the sewing life alchemist looking for his daughter at con. I can handle some hate but not on a scale like this, so with my ears lying flat on my head and my tail between my legs I made my way out of there and back toward the library.

Hate was all I saw on the way back to Twilights home, more than I thought was warranted. Fillies and colts where herded back inside and doors where slammed as I trotted by. Looks of un-known fear and utter disgust peppered the faces of the ponies I saw for more than a fleeting glance before they were gone. It made it all the more clear that I was in for a long bumpy ride and it would not be getting better. That and the mare tasked to keep an eye on me was most likely just as mad as the rest of the town but for a much more valid point then the rest of the town in my opinion. Ok so I’m not going in the library, I’m going to just hide behind it until I could figure out what I was going to do. Tired, lack of sleep, now getting hungry, and walking back to a possible trashing from up to six mares that I may kinda look up too, Ya this was as good as a plan as any. Not accounting for whatever Discord had done to the time of day, I had lost track of it all together apparently as the sun was starting to set by the time I had gotten close to the library. I did not want to be spotted by any pony that would be around the building so I took the long way around to get behind the tree and in doing that I caught a glimpse of the guard hauling off the stone draconequus. Going prone I crawled toward the building through a small clearing between the large tree and the next closest building. I froze for a moment as I spotted the leader of the land Celestia chatting with the six mares responsible for Discords capture. After a moment she was off towards the capital flying right over my head. Thank the stars she did not look down.

I finally made it to the back of the large oak tree as I barely pick up the voices of the other mares saying their goodbyes to each other and head back to their homes. The day was finally over and I got through the opener without getting knocked out! Finding my way to my little spot under the balcony I sat down and stared off into the distance for a moment before I let out a long sigh. “I need to find a place for myself.” There was no way back home that I knew of yet and it was looking like I would be here for a bit. So I guess my next step was to find a job and get a small house. I was starting to fall asleep as I was sitting up before something grabbed my attention. A small clawed hand was waving down at me from the balcony overhead. “Hay spike, need something?”

“I saw your note you left me” he poked his head over the side to look at me with an unamused look as he dangled said note.

Looking off and rubbing the back of my neck I shrug “Ya I’m sorry to leave you with all that. I will pay ya back for that honestly. Sorry about Twilight too.”

“I heard what you did. Not cool dude.” he pulls himself back and I can hear him walk back inside. “I’m cashing in, I need help cleaning up all the scrolls the princess sent to Twilight. She is getting ready for the ceremony tomorrow so get in here and help me clean them up.”

Oh that’s right; there was a ceremony for the main six for all this. Figuring it was better not to comment I nodded to no pony and got up to make my way to the front door. Spike was there at the front door waiting for me and waved for me to come in. “hold on Spike, Twilight is angry with me-“

“I know” the dragon interrupted.

Glaring at nothing I shake my head “look she does not want to see me so are you sure its fine for me to be going in there? I just don’t want to bother her.” I may not call her a friend but she was going to become something much more in time. It would be silly to be on her bad side when that day arrived. It’s always better to try and be in good graces with folks but I understood that was not always going to be the case.

Looking back at me as I stood just outside the doorway the baby dragon shoots me a confused look. “You’re not her friend and I’m cashing in on your debt. Why do you care how she feels?” That was a bit too blunt.

“Ya, this coming from her number one assistant? I’m a bit surprised you are not just as mad at me for what I said. What’s going on Spike, what are you planning?” out of bad habit I back away from the door sensing a trap wither it’s good or bad.

His shoulders drop as he rolls his eyes and waves again for me to follow. “Just get in here and help me. You do owe me.” with a bit of a grunt I reluctantly walk into the library. Poking my head inside to look around before I entered to make sure Twilight was not around and it was odd I did not see her. She did not leave with the others did she? Stepping lightly I followed the dragon all the way up to the bedroom where I was surprised to see a very large pile of scrolls that filled a little less than half the room. I don’t remember Twilight sending so many letters by this point in the show but there it was. No wonder Spike needed my help. “There is more on the balcony too, can you grab them for me? I will start on this pile.” nodding I turn and trot out onto the balcony only to spot Twilight herself leaning on the railings looking out across the now moon lit town. Spike then poked my bandaged side through my cloths with a claw making me hiss at the shot of pain.

Turning around to see what made the sound Twilight gasped a bit seeing me glare at spike. The clever little bugger set me up! I knew it! “Volley! I-”

She stopped as I waved my hoof at her “My bad, your assistant tricked me to come up here. I will be out of your sight in a moment. Sorry about that.”

All I could do was turn away before Spike grabbed my hind leg to stop me. “Hold on! Twilight put two and two together and realized what you did. She was too scared to talk to you or even go looking for you to apologize.”

I slowly look back to Spike only. “Scared of what? And why apologize?” I tug sharply on my hind hoof to free it from the dragon’s grasp.

“Because that’s what friends do when they make a mistake.” Twilight almost blurts out. I look over to her from Spike and tilt my head. Right before I open my mouth she continues talking. “I’m aware you don’t think of me as a friend but I will think of you as one and treat you as one. And you keep saying that you don’t need any friends and I just can’t believe that.” I turn to face the mare fully and again before I can talk she cuts me off. “I realized what you had said back when I failed to stop Discord the first time. You were not telling me to give up and leave town. You where directing me to go home to the library where I would see all the letters from the princess. I don’t know why you could not tell me directly but I’m sure you had a reason for it. So I want to apologize for what I had said. I was too scared you would be so mad at me that you would not want to see me.” the mare kicked her hoof on the floor and looked back up to me as she continued. “So I’m sorry for what I said when you were helping me. I know you’re alone in our world but something tells me you were not alone in yours. If that’s correct then why shut yourself away from everyone? Not just me and my friends but all of Equestria? And you know so much about us to begin with as well. So I want you to know I’m willing to be your friend even if you may not be around all the time to help as you said before.”

Standing there listening to Twilight tell me this hit hard. As of now I was alone in this world and at the same time I was pushing others away because I thought I would be leaving soon. So what would the point of making friends be? That and I did not want to interfere with their time line. I had to get back to my own world but how far have I gotten in that endeavor? Going a week or up to a month without seeing my friends was not that big of a deal. I did it all the time back in collage but yet this is different. Was it because I was trapped here, unable to even communicate in any way to them that made it different? Was I just too stubborn to see that? I just shut my eyes and stood there as the silence grew in the room. “I’m beat. I need sleep.” Eyes still shut I walk forward to the railing past twilight and bumped into it. “As of now I hear you Twi but I can’t quite say anything, don’t think I can. Tomorrow I need to find a job and get out from under this balcony. Along with looking for a way to get back home.” eyes still closed I slide over the railing to the ground below.

“Volley!” the mare and dragon run to the railing and are met with a loud bam sound. Looking down over the railing to see I was standing on the ground safe with a large blast mark in the ground under me with a quickly fading red glow. looking back up with my eyes still closed I yawned as I waved good night and curled up under the balcony, absent mindedly taking bites of the grass that was immediately next to my mouth. “Strange.” the two say in unison, look to one another, chuckle, and retire back into the bedroom. After swallowing the mouth full of grass I was soon taken by sleep’s sweet embrace.

too much?

Nuzzling my pillow I smile at the soft embrace of- “…” my eyes pop open and I grit my teeth “For the love of gods this better be a hospital!” Throwing my covers off I look around only to see I was not in a place of healing but in my home back on Earth. This time I knew it was yet another dream. Narrowing my eyes I whisper to myself “So help me Princess Luna you best have a point to all this.” Punching my pillow I roll out of my bed as a pony and buck my bedroom door open. Letting my hooves fall heavy with each step I walk past the computer and bathroom into the living room. With a huff I look around to see nothing other than the furniture of my home on earth. Whipping my head around I look up to the loft and start up the starts gritting my teeth for what I thought to find. I was not all the way up the stairs but I posed at the point where I could look around the loft peaking over the top most step. Sure as the sun and moon there she was, sitting on one of the two couches I had up here. Slowly leaving the stares behind I stand behind the coffee table that was in front of her. “Hello Princess. Dare I guess why you are here yet again?”

“Odd.” The princess of the moon and dreams opens her eyes and they instantly focus on me. “I have taken note how you curse my sister for what you are now. But you show me no such ill will. Where you not mad at me just a moment ago when you woke up? Am I also to blame for that same spell that changed you?” the deep blue alicorn lifts her chin just a bit as if to point out some higher standing.

“Where you not persuaded by your sister to help her with that spell despite what looked to me like doubt on your part?” Luna lowered her head back to eye level, she knew suddenly that I was not going to be taken as a citizen but as something else.

“How did you know? You could not understand us before the transformation. Or could you and where just pretending?” lifting one brow shows me her wonder towards what I knew, that or she thought I was telling lies.

I waved my hoof as I walked over to the second smaller couch and hopped onto it. “I indeed could not understand but I could see your expressions just fine. I’m not extremely good at it but that much I could see. That and you ponies express your emotions a little more than humans do. So now tell me, aside from why I don’t curse your name princess. Why have you been in my dreams and trying to change them so much?” I had a hunch she was after what I knew as well but I don’t want to make presumptions.

Taking a more stern posture Luna nodded. “I was convinced that your knowledge could benefit our land and help to keep my citizens safe. I had gotten a glimpse of your memories from my attempt to read your thoughts before. I saw not only more guns but technology that could advance our safety from unforeseen threats. Along with other inventions I would like to maybe apply to our land.”

Shaking my head I sigh “so that was what you did. You looked shaken up from what you saw, yet you want to know more?”

“I was surprised and confused at what I had seen, but after thinking it over and learning what you are. I re assessed what I had witnessed. I tried to probe into your dreams to try and get information out of you without you knowing. But your mind and perception are far from a normal pony’s. You can see things in dreams most others would never think twice about happening. ”

“Ya I can see how well that turned out.” This would explain why I was able to see threw those strange dreams despite the laws that normally govern dreams. After all, do you ask why your dreams are the way they are? Or even remember most of them? We just shrug it off and say it’s just a dream and keep going with our lives.

The princess glared at me for a moment out of the corner of her sapphire eyes. “Well you are not of this realm so could you blame me at trying to mimic your culture from tiny hints? I can only direct thoughts so much in dreams like that.” Something did catch her eye through the window just behind me.

“Look Princess Luna, like I told your sister and Twilight and anyone who asks for that matter. What I know is not what you guys think it is. Keep to your elements of harmony, that is all that you need right now. And that is coming from the pony who knows upcoming events.”

I watch as the Princess gets up and walks over to the window. “Ah yes, this foresight you have is still to be proven. IF you do not tell us of anything how are we to know? Yes you are from another realm but how do you know that things will not take the same path?” she prods at the shutters and pushes them open only to be blinded by the bright light outside.

Looking away from the window and Luna I start to think. “Where I come from is nothing like this land. Here things are peaceful and gentle. My home is not like that. Even the day to day life can be a struggle for life to some.” I did not live in Detroit but similar things could happen anywhere, as improbable as it was.

“Do not take this land for what you have seen. We have had our share of strife and conflict. Do not take us for some foals’ tail.” Looking back to me on the couch she stamps her hoof to show authority. “I will not have you making light of our land and what has transpired here. The sacrifices made in the past and present.”

Unmoved I relax my face to keep calm and show it as well. “Is that so? By this point you have been updated on history that you have missed while on the moon correct?” a gentle node confirms my thoughts. “All right then.” I tap my chin as I picked out a point in their time. “The battle of the Cristal Empire? How many where lost to both sides?”

Narrowing her eyes Luna stares at me as if to ask how much I knew but she was starting to understand that I did in fact know about things in there world. “One hundred and forty nine of our ponies where lost and even more harmed, only sixty of theirs perished. That was due to King Sombra being ruthless and my sister trying to not kill.” Something flickered in the window and it caught her eye making her look outside. What she saw was a battle unfolding outside as humans shot and stabbed one another in a large open clearing.

“Cute, and that was against another empire?” I looked over my shoulder and the couch with a slightly cold look. Luna pulled her face away from the struggle of the humans outside, half with the colors of red and white as the other side had blue and gold. “What you are seeing is the war of 1812, a grand total of about three thousand three hundred and sixty lost their lives in the initial fighting alone.” The princes covered her mouth as she looked back out the window to see the scene had changed. “And the Civil War was a fight amongst ourselves, of the same kingdom to simplify it.” Luna was shaking her head as she watched a battle unfold of humans loosing limbs to cannon fire and musket balls making short work of waves of men after men. Tears welled up in Lunas eyes as she watches the land itself become soaked in the blood of these strange and violent creatures. It was like she was looking at the Cristal Empire battle all over again, but with much more blood and hate. “Nineteen thousand four hundred and fifty-five where lost at the first battle of Fort Donelson. Shall I go on with the other nine battles I can think of off the top of my head from that one war?” Capturing her composure Luna shakes her head and looks away from the window. “It is just one of the many that happen, and guns aid in it all. One side has a better gun so they kill more and win. This drives others to make better gun to do the job better and faster. It is a bad track that will stain the rest of history in blood, well, more then I think you want on your hooves. Do you see why I refuse to hand this information over? It may seem odd but I actually care for this land quite a bit and I would hate to see it infected with my own human ideas.”

“And you think what we have now is better than this?” I nod back to the princes with the utmost serenity. “And who are you to decide this? Why not let it be decided by my sister and I? Have we not ruled this land justly so far?” Luna walks over so she is standing in front of me looking down at me. “How do you know best better than us?” she opens her wings wide as she stands there. There was an air of anger, that from underestimation. Like hot coals you would not see still burning at there core.

Looking up at her Highness I shrug “Truth is I don’t.” the alicorn blinks in surprise. “I’m simply referencing stories of my land and what has happened in our past. I could be wrong for all I know. But I can just as simply say no and stay safe. On top of that I AM the one to decide this. It’s my information, The intellectual property of my kind as I’m the only one from my world here in yours.” Sitting up a bit more to get at eye level, this was not hard because she was standing on the floor and I was sitting on the couch. “I know how things happen if I don’t tell ya one little thing, hell if I vanish you all still live on with your happy lives. On the other hoof.” I hop down from the couch to stand in front of Luna. Looking up to her I keep my face blank, and ho boy was that hard. “There. Will. Be. Blood.” My pupils shrink a bit. “If I divulge information to you and it’s shown to your ponies, your world. Blood will stain this land and your hooves. There will be those who will point the blame to you and say things where just fine before you made these things. And if you point the blame back to me?” I step forward but the mare of the night stands unwavered. “You will not find me! The moment I tell you anything or I realize you got something out of me you best believe I will vanish from this world and never be seen or heard from again. And don’t you dare think I can’t do that!” shaking my head I step past the princess toward the stares. “Have fun dealing with that without me. Hell, I have only been living it and learning it in classes, who else would know how to curb or possibly negate the repercussions?”

Without looking towards me as I looked back to her Luna holds her head high. “I will think this over for now. But we have ruled over this land for many generations’ and have been able to keep up with changing times. Do not think we can be stumped by such things.” Finally turning around to face me as I stood next to the steps I see her face is more, normal looking. Not that of a ruler or a higher up for that matter. But of someone conflicted about something she cared for. With a slight bow she flapped her large wings and the condo around us was blown away as if it where smoke. Then I was awake, underneath the balcony of the oak tree with Luna standing about thirteen feet away from me. Thinking this was a dream I get up and walk right up next to her and we both looked up to the stares.

“Awake or dreaming still?”

“Awake”

“Why are you here? Can’t you do this all from your personal chambers in the castle or something?”

Shaking her head slowly Luna responds. “You are strange and your mind well-guarded, I must be near you just to walk in your dreams. Speaking of witch” Luna glances down to me but not as much she would for others others, I was kind of tall for a pony. “I will have guards watching you at night. I have also taken note of how you walk at night. Do try and not cause problems, understood?”

Furrowing my brow and looking up to the mare of the night I ask just one thing. “Bat pony night guard?” I could not hide the slight interest in the tone of my voice.

Lifting one brow at me she nods “Two of my finest will be watching as I do not intend to make light of your abilities. So the best will be used.” Looking back to the night sky I smile a bit as the two of us stand there for a little longer. This was kinda cool. No more than a minute later and the princess was stepping away to take flight back to her castle. “You are under close watch by me and my sister for everything you do, please don’t prove my sister right in her thought of you.” As she took flight I cover my eyes to the dust she kicked up and waved her off as she disappeared into the night.

“So it was not a bird after all that other night.” Nodding a bit and a grin on my face I look around rooftops and alley ways. Now where could those guards be? I want to see a night guard! This was the start to another walk around town at night. Looking around for any sighs of dark colored ponies or large bats was leading me around the town of Pony Ville that I had not seen in the show too much. The back alleys and unseen buildings like the tavern-looking building or the slightly higher-class restaurants. Fun as it was it was starting to get annoying, how hard was it to actually find two night guards when there was no one out tonight? I found this was irrelevant the moment I saw the back door to Rarity’s boutique open and the light above it was out. Walking over I could see the door was wide open into the dark shop and the light over it had been smashed. Kinda cool how hooves can step on glass and not be hurt or cut. All I was going off of was the moon light so I could not see inside too well or the glass for that matter. “Hello? Rarity? You know your back door is open?” I poke my head inside, even opening my eyes as wide as I could I could only make out vague outlines of things. Should probably let the guards deal with this. How would I tell them? Pulling my head back from the dark insides of the building made something silver suddenly swipe past my muzzle toward the ground. Not seeing quite what it was I step back tilting my head at the door. Was that something falling or the light? Wondering this was not too important as that same silver thing slowly emerged. It was a large cleaver! And some pony was holding it in their teeth! Stepping back my gun sprang from my side and snaps to its floating position next to my head.

“You’re the same from before! But that thing spurred me on to do this! Discord told me to finish what I start and do what I feel is needed” the pony slowly steps out from inside the boutique with the large butcher’s tool in mouth. When he stepped into the moonlight I could see who it was and it was that same stallion that I had interrupted the other night. I keep back from the stallion as he keeps walking forward toward me.

“Ok hold on, calm down. I’m sure this can be fixed if we just talk through this, but you can’t be holding that thing like that.” I had no clue how to talk folks down from things like this; it was just not in my skill set. I was more disconnected then others so I could never connect to others in a time of need like this.

“Fat chance! That mare is taking my business and its running me into the ground! She has to go! And I was told to just cut down the compaction.” I could see his teeth where sinking into the knife’s handle, his main was a mess like it went through the blenders, and his eyes, something about his eyes was bothering me. Like Discord had done something to him that the harmony could not clear away. Like it was there before discord but that noodle just feed it what it wanted to hear. He moved faster and swung the cleaver at me, I was still out of its reach but if I keep walking backwards I was bound to trip or run into something.

“Ok look! You have to stop this! If you keep this up I will not hold back!” I pump the action to the KSG and the gun lifts up from the low ready to point at the crazed pony. I had to pick up the pace just to keep away as well and I did not like that. I can’t see backwards and keep this guy in my sight at the same time.

“You can’t stop this! I can’t stop this! The alarm and lock on that door was busted by his chaos and it’s telling me to kill her! If I die from losing my business to her then I will take her with me!” kicking at nothing he suddenly starts at a gallop and raises the cleaver to slash at me.

I lower myself to jump to one side or the other. “STAND DOWN! LAST CHANCE!” With that he leaped into the air and showed I can’t under estimate earth ponies. He jumped higher and farther then I think I could have, even in this body.

“Chaos evens the playing field!” *BOOM* I aimed a bit low because of his jumping arc but it did not matter. Buck shot found its mark on his front outstretched leg. As the light of the gunpowder faded his leg was next to nothing. The large shots of lead had ripped the muscle and tendon of the bone and shattered that as well. All that was left was his hoof barely attached by scraps of his hide and what remained of his ligaments. Before he hit the ground he let out a scream of terror, which was part of him realizing his mistakes had repercussions. The energy absorbed was so great that it had thrown off his jump and he was now landing face first in front of me as his leg pulled him back. I stood back up as I did not actually jump out of the way and I realized something. I was not watching but when he screamed he had let go of the cleaver.

I feel back down as my back left leg gave out to sharp pain. “Don’t move! Let me get that. Shadow, get the town guard out here now!” looking back to the new voices I see one night guard gripping the cleaver which had lodged itself into a point just before my hip. And another just landing next to him, after getting commands the guard was taking off towards the hospital. “Volley, this will hurt. Grit your teeth.” Before I could Protest to this he was pulling the massive blade from my hip.

“GGGAAA, THE HELL MAN? FUCK!” gritting my teeth out of the pain my eyes roll back as the pain spreads through my hip. After smashing my head into the ground to keep from moving I could feel the pressure. Looking back to the guard I could see he had a rag and was pushing down on the deep laceration. “Give it to me straight man, are my clothes stained?”

Slowly looking back to me the guard tilts his head as he holds down my side. “Luna said you would be an odd one, and yes, you got blood all over this side of your clothes. Just hold still and you will be fine. The knife did not go too deep.” Looking back to the stallion now passed out on the ground he taps my shoulder. “Hold down on this rag to keep from bleeding more, I need to work on him.” Nodding a bit I follow the guards command. His leathery wings give one powerful beat to help him leap over to the mad stallion that was now turning pale.

Looking over the leg of the stallion he shakes his head about what to do. “You are not going to save that limb, it’s gone. Just put a tourniquet above his knee and save that much.” Looking back to me out of the corner of his eyes he sighs and follows my instructions.

“This is too much, I have only seen a cragadile do this to ponies. Whatever you do is just overkill.” Cinching up a belt that he used from his own gear, the blood finally stopped flowing. “No wonder we are here.” Looking back to me from over his shoulder I could see his silted eyes looking back at me through the dim moonlight. “You really are not of this world.”

That comment sunk in slow but it felt like a knife being slowly pressed into me. “Hay I did not ask you to be here and I surely was not thinking I would have to shoot anypony in this town.” Turning my head away I spot the other night guard in the air pointing down toward us. Oh fun, the cavalry is here. It did not take long for three of the towns guard to surround me with spears and halberds drawn and pointing at me. One more guard along with nurse Red Heart ran to aid the older night guard with the crazed stallion on the ground.

There was a gasp that pushed through as guards told me stay still. I’m only holding a bleeding gash, not like I’m going to bolt anytime soon. Me and the older night guard look over to see Rarity standing in the open doorway with a hoof to her muzzle. “Oh my!” Seeing the passed out stallion on the ground she recognizes the pony and her tone changes a bit “Oh no”.

After pulling the tourniquet a bit more and nodding to Red Heart the older threstral gets up and walks over to the mare of fashion. “My apologies to wake you this late at night madam, but do you know this stallion?” sifting out of the way he points a hoof to the stallion currently taking the room temperature challenge.

Glancing over to see me held at spear point she nods “this is a rival of mine in the cloths business. After I had opened my boutique his business started to see hard times.” Running a hoof through her mane she sighed. “I had offered to help him but he always turned me down and had blamed me for his decline. I had no clue his state had gotten this terrible dear.” Her ears laid back as she shook her head gently causing her large curls to bounce a bit. “I should have…”

“That’s business for you,” the bat pony broke in. “sometimes your shop looks to be holding up then the slightest bump shows it’s not so strong.” Pulling out a note pad he starts to wright down notes and continues to ask Rarity more questions. I had lost track at this point as the guard where encroaching on me as Red Heart looks over and shakes her head at me.

“I’m never going to see you unhurt will I? And this time you caused more then you got!” pointing with one hoof at the stallion now being moved onto a stretcher. “And look how much you did! The guard tell me you shot someone, is that true?” pressing more on my fabric bandage I look towards the two ponies now lifting up the stretcher and starting to move back to the hospital. I knew how hard it would be to explain things to her at this point.

So I made it short. “It was in self-defense.” Narrowing her eyes she opened her mouth but was called by the two with the stretcher to follow. Looking back to them then back to me she shakes her head. Rearing up on her back hooves she turns and gallops off with the mangled patient. It kind of hurt to see that out of someone like Red Heart, but that feeling was nudged off to the side by a halberd getting to close to my back. “Come on guys! I’m not moving with this gash in my side! Just back up a little.” Swatting the blade away with my hoof made it ring a soft tone.

“Do not lessen to him! do not drop your guard. He has broken his word and harmed one of my little ponies. He will answer for his actions.” Almost harmonizing with the soft ring emanating from the blade was Celestias voice. Almost all the guard turned in surprise along with the two night guard and Rarity. I made an effort to not even grant her that and turned to look away as she landed near the boutique with a gentle beat of her large wings. Stepping forward she looks down at me with a gentle but blank expression, I could only guess it was hiding her true feelings but like always I can’t read her at all, not even a hint of something. “You told me and my sister you would not harm any of my ponies. Yet you have shot one in the dark night.” Leaning forward along with the spears she got a little closer but not passing the ring of guards around me. “Explain.” Her voice had a hint of irritation but I’m going to guess it was more anger then annoyed.

Without moving my head I looked back at her out of the corner of my eye. “I saw an open door to miss Rarity’s shop. Looked inside to see if something was wrong and was almost got beheaded by a crazed stallion. I backed away asking him to stop and he charged at me cleaver in mouth. Told him to stand down, he did not and jumped at me, so I shot to defend.” Looking back to my side I lift the rags a bit to see how the cut was doing and was meet with a gush of blood so I quickly pressed back down as the fresh blood socked into more of my outfit. Man his is going to ruin this whole outfit!

Lifting her head just a bit the princess narrows her eyes a bit. “Most others have since long gone to sleep as the moon is so high. Why are you out and around at this time of my sisters night?”

“Is it so wrong for me to be up and about? It is a beautiful night after all. Why not enjoy it?” looking up to her I grin knowing what I just poked at.

“I would watch what you say, as it stands you can be charged with aggravated assault and attempted murder. You are in no place to jest Mr. Volley. Now unless you can give me a reason as to why you are at this place of business so late at night and as to why you felt the need to harm an innocent pony to such an extreme. You will be taken into custody and your gun seized.” Stepping forward she nods to her guard and all spears are now straight up poking me as another guard steps forward with bindings.

“He was doing the job that I hired him for, your highness!” Celestia looks over to Rarity and held a hoof up to stop the guard.

“Miss Rarity?” the princess turns and walks over to the mare and lowers her head just a bit to Raritys level. “What do you mean job?” looking back to me, STILL holding my bleeding side!

Rarity cleared her thought as the night guard attentively stepped away from her. I took note of how he keeps an eye on the princess but it was not in the normal way that the day guard do, it was a bit more cautious. “After the tussle with Discord I came home to find my back door’s lock was broken as well as the spells Twilight had just put there. Now I had heard through the grape vine how Mr. Volley here was looking for work as a guard, pony for hire? Oh what was that word?” She tapped her chin as she thought of the word.

“Mercenary, miss”

Celestia clearly snapped her eyes to look at the guard with a blank look as rarity smiled and nodded “that’s the one! Thank you dear. Well I had asked him to look after my shop during the night just to be safe as I get the locks fixed.” With a smile the mare moves some of her hair out of the way. Looking back to me over her shoulder Celestia raises one brow at me. Rarity winks at me from behind the royal pony.

Nodding just a bit I look back to my bleeding flank. I’m going to owe that mare so much I don’t think I could ever ask her for anything now. “I did not want too many to know but yes. I’m working as a mercenary, but I would rather say guard for higher as that is the kind of work I will take for now.”

Celestia thought for a moment, she did not smile but her eye brows shifted a bit to a more relaxed look. Spreading her wings she walks over to a guard and pulls out a roll of gauze with her golden aura. In a swirl of magic she created what looked like a large patch with gold runes all over it. Walking through the blockade of guards and all the weapons are suddenly pulled away to make room for her. Watching her movements I was getting nervous and thought to make a move away but I held back. Using one hoof she brushes my hooves away and quickly applies the rune patch with her magic and presses down with one hoof to seal it. I wince as she presses down with much more force then was needed. Smiling down at me as the pressure of her hoof slowly increases she opens her mouth. “Pending your judgment of this event, I hope you are cleared and make a full recovery Mr. Volley.” Her hoof presses down a little more and I can feel myself sink into the ground a bit and a bolt of soft pain throbs in my side. Retracting her hoof more magic swirls around my freshly patched wound. I watch in amazement as my uniform is tugged and blood starts to vanish from its threads. The color now back to normal I watch closely as the threads of the garment weave and bind back into itself, effectively mending the cut cloth and leaving no mistakes or missed stitching behind. She cleaned my uniform and fixed it in one shot! With a nod to the guards she turns to walk away. “Altered Light was it?” she looks to the older night guard. “I will put you in charge of the investigation for this small matter, I do hope for its swift resolve.” The guard slowly nods with a slight look of confusion and surprise. The princess beat her wings and lifts into the air looking over her shoulder with that strange smile. Soon she was out of sight last seen flying towards Canterlot.

“That was strange.” all remaining company look to the night guard mare. “What? Don’t look at me like that, you know it was.”

Author's Note

Ok so I'm getting a feeling I'm putting too many events into the chapters, making it hard to name them. Is this sound about right? should I change how i set up the events to fit in a chapter better?

Other then that you know the drill, if ya find something tell me please ^^
That and an editor willing to fix this pile of words would be nice still.