Fools, Foals and Ships named Enterprise

by Stevebond1990

Chapters

The Long Way Home
Warm Welcome
Home at Last

The Long Way Home

Chapter 2:

“This world is unbelievable!”

I grinned at Travis as he tried not to sightsee as the shuttlepod descended, “the Sun orbiting the Earth part? Or the fact it’s nearly pristine?”

“Both,” he said earnestly.

“Can’t wait to get a good cloud under my hooves again,” Flash piped up, hopping excitedly in front of his seat as he peered over my shoulder to watch the cloud layer approaching.

“Down boy,” Glare teased, pushing the Pegasus back into his seat, “personally I can’t wait to see my folks again.”

“Me too,” Flash and I chorused.

“Watch out for pedestrians when we enter the clouds, Travis,” I warned the pilot as we dropped to just over five thousand feet above the clouds.

“Pedestrians?” Travis sent me a deadpan look.

“You know? Pegasi?” Flash chipped in, “we’re responsible for the Weather in Equestria so we fly around the clouds a lot.”

“And nap in them,” Glare added, “their cloud walking means they can sleep on clouds.”

“Really, you aren’t just pulling my leg?” Travis asked.

“Travis, I know a spell that’ll make any Unicorn or Earth pony walk on clouds,” I told him, “a friend of mine wouldn’t stop harping on about how great a bed clouds made so one time after I had visited Cloudsdale I tried it out. Trust me, there is nothing in known space that comes close.”

Travis was silent for a moment, “wait, Cloudsdale?”

“The Pegasus city,” Glare explained, “made entirely from clouds, very distinctive.”

“So you couldn’t miss it if you tried,” I added as we approached the cloud layer, “so keep an eye for movement and heat signatures.”

“Got it,” Travis said, turning his full attention into his flying.

After a few minutes, Glare turned to me, “so why are we heading to Mane Cross? Don’t get me wrong, landing this thing in Canterlot is asking for trouble…”

“Especially with that shield up,” Flash quipped.

I made a mental note to write to my brother later, “peace of mind really,” I shrugged, “when the worm eaters…”

“Ferengi,” Travis corrected.

“Worm eaters grabbed me,” I repeated, I had no intention of dignifying the Bastards if I could help it, “I was trying to discover what became of a friend’s parents. Several years ago they were ambushed by a Manticore as they travelled to another town, the beast was found dead among the twisted remains of the Mane gorge bridge. Pony blood was found but not enough to say they bled out and the Manticore’s stomach was popped and found empty.

They were written off as dead but to my knowledge no pony checked to see if they made it over the bridge, so while I was taking a vacation I decided to go to Mane Cross the long way round through the Mane Turk mountains and check. Either way I’d at least be able to give my friend closure.”

“Why not take the airship?” Flash asked me.

“Wrong time of the month,” I told him, still very sore about the retirement of the second airship on that route two years ago.

“So, this side trip is to ease your conscience?” Travis ventured.

“And to give you a little practice on landing without starting a riot,” I snarked, “land beyond the outskirts if you can and we…”

The shuttlepod lurched, I went rolling up the port fuselage, sending a hot lance through the crack in my still healing horn, then sending me along the roof and down the starboard side before rolling back into the port hull to find myself with my back to the outer hull and nearly muzzle to muzzle with an orange Pegasus that had wound up on top of me.

“Err… Dusk? Not that you aren’t a handsome colt or unimpressive back there, but I prefer my partners to have Slot…” the Pegasus stiffened painfully with tears in his eyes.

“On the contrary, I happen to share a fondness for the fairer sex,” I retorted, idly noting that the jumpsuits hid more than expected, pushing on Flash’s chest with my fore hoof to get him standing on his hind legs and pushing him off me with the hind hoof planted in his colt makers.

As Flash flopped onto his back and curled up cradling his bruised fruits, I wondered if my old friend Minuette had familiarised herself with Pegasi anatomy.

I’d probably care more if I’d been a better friend.

“What in Tartarus was that?!” Glare exclaimed, the only one of us besides Travis strapped in and looking half crushed by his harness.

“One of your pedestrians,” Travis explained.

“If it was Thunderlane I’ll drop him in the sheep dip,” I muttered, remembering a couple of incidents caused by that stallion being careless.

Or reckless, half of Cloudsdale was crushing on Rainbow after all.

“I think I see it,” I peered over Travis’ shoulder.

“That’s the Mane Turk mountains alright,” I agreed, “the village is in a valley nestled between the four largest peaks, there should be a clearing at the north end of the old bridge to the south, land there and we can walk in.”

“Got it,” Travis adjusted course to skirt the mountains instead of flying over, “You know, I never checked but… How many of you did the Ferengi take?”

Glare and Flash shrugged.

“I counted forty two, but I stopped after finding the one name I really didn’t want to see,” I admitted sheepishly.

“Damn they were busy,” Travis said, “ok, I’m bringing her down now.”

We waited as the pod settled, once it was down I popped the hatch, “Thanks Travis, do you mind waiting in the pod, Humans aren’t normal here?”

“Ok, call me if anything comes up,” with that I hopped out and started to circle the craft.

Travis had chosen to land less than a hundred yards from the bridge, a quick check revealed no graves on that side.

“Anything over there?” I called out, pulling my head back from the ravine, that’s one doozy of a drop.

“Nothing, either they made it to town or they were carried there,” Flash called out.

“Ok, lets head into town,” I followed Glare as Flash got a little too excited about flying again and crashed into the branches of a tree, “feather brain,” I muttered fondly.

Mane Cross was very similar to Ponyville, though dominated by low grey stone houses with slate roofs to better weather the high winds, there was even an orchard.

“I’m going to start at the Post Office, you guys going to hang around?” I asked as we entered the main square.

“I’m going to send a Telegram to my folks, so I’ll join you,” Glare said.

“Guess I’ll do the same,” Flash shrugged, wincing from tugging a twig from between his feathers, “what about you?”

“I want to tell them in person,” I replied, entering the Post Office.

“Good morning,” a gentle female voice called out from the back of the room, “How can I… oh! I don’t believe I’ve seen you three gentlecolts before?”

The speaker was a middle aged Unicorn mare with a mint green coat and white mane, wearing glasses.

“We just got into town, we’re passing through but my friends would like to send a couple of Telegrams,” I explained.

“Of course, Juniper, could you send two telegrams for these colts?”

“Yes Grandma,” a young, almost filly, voice replied. A Unicorn filly almost into marehood trotted out with an apron and visor on. She had a mint green mane and tail and a cream coat.

“Is there anything else?” the mare asked as my friends went to the filly.

“Actually I was hoping you could help me,” I replied, “a few years ago a friend of mine supposedly lost their parents to a Manticore attack in the Everfree, the very Manticore that destroyed the south bridge.”

“And you think they may have survived?” the mare asked, correctly guessing my train of thought.

“At the very least they made it over the bridge,” I agreed, “either they died of their wounds and were buried in town or they recovered but were trapped by the collapsed bridge.”

“Do you know their names? If they are in town I can direct you to them,” the mare said.

“Thank you,” I said, smiling, “Zap Apple and Jewel Smith.”

“Oh, I’m afraid they were planning on leaving town today when the airship comes in,” the mare replied.

“That’s alright,” I said, “when is it due and could you tell me where the dock is?”

“The Pandora is due in one hour and the dock is on the eastern side of town, you can’t miss it,” she said.

“Thank you,” bowing my head respectfully, then I turned to the others, “done?”

Glare and Flash both dropped four Bits on the counter, “I’ll get these sent off,” Juniper sent the Bits to her Grandmother then darted off into another room.

“Thank you again,” I said, then headed outside.

“So, next stop, the Dock?” Flash guessed.

“Right,” I agreed.

The mare in the Post Office had been right, you couldn’t miss it. It hung off the side of a cliff with retractable cranes, lifts and gangways.

With everything pulled back it looked like one of those massive diving boards in Cloudsdale.

“Down boy,” Glare teased as Flash stared longingly at the platform.

“There’s the ticket hall,” I said and walked up the steps.

“What do you mean? I checked two days ago!” a Minnesota accented male voice demanded.

“I’m sorry sir, but there’s nothing I can do, the fares have gone up again,” a more neutral accented stallion replied.

“Just as we are trying to go home? Again?!” the first voice demanded.

“Just let it go, Sugar,” a mare that sounded like Applejack said.

I cleared the top of the steps to find a small brown stallion in a uniform being glared down at by a tall Orange stallion with a Zap apple Cutie Mark with a cream coated mare with a jewel Cutie Mark beside the Orange stallion.

“No, every time we try to return to our Family the fares mysteriously go up, I’m done with it!” the orange stallion declared.

“That doesn’t change the fact we can’t afford it,” the mare pointed out, brushing a tuft of her Brunswick green mane out of her eyes.

The stallion seemed to shrink at the cold truth in her words.

“I’ll just be… going,” the small Pegasus disappeared as the couple settled onto one of the three steamer trunks with them.

I walked over slowly as the mare hugged her husband, “excuse me?”

The stallion looked up with stern eyes, “can we help you?”

“Are you Zap Apple and Jewel Smith?” I asked.

“Who’s askin’?” the stallion demanded.

“Sugar,” the mare reprimanded.

“My name is Dusk Shine,” I said, “I used to live in Ponyville where I met Appljack, Apple Bloom and Big Mcintosh.”

The mare gasped, “you met our foals? Great Celestia! Are they alright?”

I smiled softly, “they were fine when I knew them, but I’ve been out of town for the past few months so I can’t speak for them recently,” I explained at their curious looks, “though Applejack can be a bit stubborn, she tried to do Applebuck season by herself after Mac was injured a few months before I left.”

The stallion chuckled as his wife looked horrified then fell silent and whistled innocently when she gave him ‘A Look’.

“Well, I’m Zap Apple and this is my wife Jewel Smith, what can we do ya for?” the Orange Stallion asked blowing a loose strand of his red mane out of his eyes, trying to divert his wife’s attention.

“I was looking for you because your family thinks you are dead,” I said honestly.

“Oh No!” Zap embraced Jewel as tears spilled down her cheeks.

“At first I thought so too, but looking into it I found that your bodies weren’t found an no one checked to see if you made it over the bridge,” I continued, hoping that by being quick but clear I could minimise any pain.

“So you volunteered to find out?” Zap guessed as he rubbed his wife’s back.

“Not exactly,” I admitted, “talking about you is a painful subject for them so I decided to go alone. If I was wrong then at least I could tell them where you were buried, either way they’d have closure.”

“However, that is thankfully unnecessary,” I added brightly, “ready to go home?”

“Yes but… we can’t afford the fare,” Jewel said, drying her eyes.

I frowned and looked at the ticket office where the stallion from earlier was sitting, he looked up and may well have pissed himself before he looked down hastily.

“And what if alternate means of travel could be arranged?” I asked.

“Maybe,” Zap said slowly, “but how?”

“I and my companions didn’t arrive by airship or chariot, and the roads gone,” I pointed out, “five ponies will be a squeeze but we should manage.”

"What about our luggage?” Jewel asked.

I looked over the trunks, “is there anything in them that will react badly to a shrinking spell?”

At the shake of their heads I gestured for them to stand and prepped a shrinking spell, trying hard not to show how much pain it was causing me, in a flash all three were the size of match boxes and I floated them over to Jewel who put them in her purse.

“Ready?” the two Earth Ponies nodded, “Guys?”

“When you are,” Flash said, I nodded and started walking back.

“That’s it?” I snorted in amusement at Zap’s disbelief.

“I thought the same thing the first time, trust me they’re safe,” I reassured him.

“Just one thing, our pilot isn’t a pony,” I stated as we approached the pod, “he’s an Ape-like creature with a body structure similar to Minotaurs.”

The couple shared a look,” but he’s ok?”

“I trust him with my life,” I said solemnly, Flash and Glare nodding.

“Very well,” Zap sighed, “if you trust him.”

“One moment,” I knocked on the hull and the hatch popped open, I lifted it up and Flare hopped in.

“Climb on in, Glare will get you seated and buckled,” I said to them, the couple looked warily at the hatch then cautiously entered.

I climbed in to find the Apples on the rear starboard bench seat with Flare strapping them in, I took the seat behind the pilot on the port side, leaving Flash to lounge on the rear port bench after entering, closing the hatch behind him.

“So you found them?” Travis asked, looking over his shoulder at me.

“Yes, and you are providing a free taxi ride,” I joked, then turned to the others, “all set?”

“Ready,” Flash said brightly, ignoring Flare glaring at him.

“We’re ready,” Jewel said.

I turned around, “To Ponyville Travis, with most haste,” I said in my best Blueblood impression.

That got a laugh as Travis cycled the engines and, with a gentle lurch, the pod lifted off, orientating to face south east and starting off towards Ponyville.

I watched the forest go by far below, craning my head at one point as what looked like Zecora’s cottage passed by.

Soon enough we were hovering over the edge of the Everfree, a short walk from Sweet Apple Acres.

“I can’t thank you enough,” I just smiled at the grateful couple.

“Don’t, your Family will be doing enough of that soon,” I pointed out, “Go, this has been a long time coming, no need to wait any longer.”

“Thank you again,” Zap said, then started back towards the farm, his wife close beside him.

I looked to Flash and Glare, “we’re burning daylight and I for one can’t wait to get home.”

“My cousin’s on this side of town,” Glare said, “I’ll catch you two up later.”

“Guess I’ll stick with you for a bit,” Flash said lazily, hovering upside down next to me.

“See you at later Glare,” I said, Flash giving his own farewell as I started heading into town.

It almost felt like a dream, I could only see the barest hints of time’s passing as we passed through, ignoring the ponies that stopped and stared or pointed, whether at me or the uniform? I don’t really care.

“You know what?” Flash said beside me after a while, “Despite everything that’s been thrown at you, you still have a heart of gold.”

“I’m not so sure anymore,” I admitted under my breath, I could almost feel Flash’s concerned gaze so I raised my head to speak…

And got a mouth full of paper.

I resisted the twin urges to: A) spit it out and B) to extract it with my magic.

Pulling it off with my hoof, I saw it was a piece of paper with the words ‘The Holder of this Note is Entitled to…’

Hang on!

This seems familiar.

“To the Viginity of One Elusive Belle?” I stated in disbelief, “That Idiot!”

“Hypocrite,” Flash called out as a pair of Pegasi ran over, one stallion and one mare, “you did the same thing yesterday.”

“But I couldn’t lose,” I interjected as the mare cleared her throat.

“Excuse me, but I bel… Dusk Shine! But you died!”

“Charming,” Flash drawled sarcastically.

“Rumours of my Death have been greatly exaggerated,” I deadpanned, “and this?”

Cloudkicker smirked as I held up the paper, “well, Elusive lost it in a drunken poker game and it found it’s way into my hooves. I fully intend to cash it in.”

“You really expect him to give it up to you?” I deadpanned.

She puffed up indignantly, “and what is that supposed to mean?”

“Scuttlebutt has four different colts in three cities claimed to have taken your virginity in the space of a two day period,” I shot back.

“Are you implying I’m a slut?” she demanded.

“I’m merely stating the rumours,” I countered smoothly, “not my fault you interpreted it that way.”

She huffed, “well I’ll just take that an…”

“I hold it now,” I argued, “finders keepers.”

“Wow, didn’t know you swung that way,” Thunderlane blurted out, “I mean, everyone thought you were sweet on Applejack.”

“On the contrary, I happen to prefer the fairer sex,” I disagreed, “but how often does Prime blackmail material like this fall into your lap?”

Thunderlane shrugged, “never.”

Cloudkicker fumed, “just give it to me,” she made a grab for the slip but I caught her and threw her back.

“This stays with me and you two are going to buzz off, understand?” I said, staring down at her.

“Yeah right?” Cloudkicker scoffed, “what’re you gonna do? Send us to the Moon?”

“Don’t you know it’s a bad idea to give ideas to the colt pissed off at you?” I deadpanned.

Both gulped, “You wouldn’t really…” Cloudkicker started.

“Do you want to find out?” I asked ominously, fixing a look on her.

The mare was moving in under a second, Thunderlane sticking around a moment longer, “you’ve changed Dusk,” he then took off after Cloudkicker.

“He’s right, you’re right scary when you want to be,” Flash agreed.

I stuffed the paper in my duffle bag, “are any of us the same anymore?” I asked aloud.

Flash stilled beside me, “no… I guess not.”

We continued in silence for a few minutes, then I reached the Golden Oaks library.

It was just as I remembered it, bar the green door and a lot more tool marks around the windows.

“So you lived here?” Flash said, looking over the place, “it fits you.”

“A lifetime ago, maybe,” I replied, opening the door and entering the ground floor of the library proper, dropping my duffle on the nearest table.

I was taking in the minute changes I could make out, when a female screamed.

“SPINES!” before Flash could react I was up the stairs, my horn Charged, I heard a second, less piercing scream as I hit the second floor landing coming from… My Room!

The door was locked so I blasted it down and rushed through, stopping on the other side.

Spines was sitting in the centre of my old bed, her stomach swollen and her vagina leaking copious amounts of clear fluid, on her left with her claw wrapped tight enough his hoof to draw blood was Elusive.

The normally Prim and Proper stallion met my gaze and instantly started shaking.

“What in All The Worlds is going ON!”

Warm Welcome

Elusive 'Hondo' Belle knew he wasn't a particularly brave pony, while he was willing to 'take one for the team' where his friends were concerned, he knew he was nothing compared to Rainbow, Applejack or even Dusk, but right now?

He was Bucking TERRIFIED!

The first contraction had come and Spines' screamed, to his surprise somepony had yelled her name from downstairs and thundered up the stairs, the door disintegrating in a bright purple flash...

Standing in the doorway was Dusk, his Magic Aura charged in a swirling maelstrom, his eyes stormy, clad in a tight navy blue jumpsuit that showed off a deliciously toned...

...

Damn it! Back for less than a minute and he's turned me Bi!

"What In All The Worlds Is Going On!"

One second; I'm in his room, Spines is on the bed, clearly about to lay eggs, clutching my bleeding hoof, and...

"Dusk, it's not what it looks like!"

I wince as Nurse Redheart facehoofs off to my left, I open my eyes to see him staring at me incredulously.

"You're really going to try to sell me that?" his tone is dripping with disbelief.

"I wasn't thinking," I admitted, wincing as Spines' screamed again, her claws digging deeper into my hoof.

"Clearly," Nurse Redheart's voice dripped with sarcasm, "look, unless you're going to help, please leave."

"Flash?"

"Yo?" I wasn't the only one to jump as an orange Pegasus glided in.

"First off, don't do that," Dusk gave the unrepentant Pegasus a glare, "would you kindly go outside and ask Doctor Phlox if he would mind coming down with whatever he has on reptiles? Preferably quickly?"

"Why do I have to go outside?" Flash asked.

"Because there's a lot of Magical junk in the basement and an enchanted lightning rod above us, I have no idea how they'll affect a transporter lock, so I'd rather play safe," Dusk replied.

"Ok, back in a sec," with that the Pegasus was gone, leaving Elusive with a rather cross Unicorn.

"You're here?" I almost gave my self whiplash as Spines' spoke, drawing Dusk to her other side, "Just like you said."

"Did I?" Dusk looked confused for a moment, then shook his head, "either way, I'm here."

"Don't you remember the Sun and Moon?" I asked desperately, "drinking alone, we come in and ask you what happened, then share embarrassing stories?"

"I remember the bar," Dusk admitted, his ears flattened as he strained his memory, "I was drinking... to forget? To forget what... Oh?"

"Yes, Oh?" I teased.

"At least I wasn't caught," he retorted and grinned victoriously as my cheeks, neigh, my whole body burned.

"You remember?" Spines' said hopefully.

I had to fight the urge to Daww as Dusk gently nuzzled Spines' cheek, "most of it, I'm here now Spines, don't worry."

I gasped as Spines had another contraction and Dusk took her other claw, though at the wrist.

I turned to Dusk as Redheart started doing her thing, "So where have you been?"

He just gave me that insufferable, 'I know something you don't' grin Dash taught him, "Out of this world."

I raised an eyebrow, "No seriously, I was abducted by aliens."

The other eyebrow joined it, "I know how this sounds, but in a few minutes my proof will walk through that door."

"Really?"

"Ensign, I believe I signed you off on medical leave, what's this I hear about destroying a door with your Magic when such is strictly prohibited?"

I'm seeing it... I'm seeing it, hearing it and smelling it...

"There is a patient here, Doctor," ok, that's definitely Dusk.

So where in Tartarus did...

"Good afternoon, I am Doctor Phlox, the Chief Medical Officer of the SLV Enterprise," The... alien said to Nurse Redheart.

"I am Nurse Redheart, I'm from the Ponyville Hospital and unfortunately I'm the only pony that could be spared," She gave a sigh and shook her head, "do you have any experience with dragons?"

"I'm afraid not, but my people have run into a number of egg-laying reptiles, hopefully that will help," Phlox replied.

Spines' Screamed loud enough to crack the windows and the first egg emerged.

I starting to struggle to feel anything but pain in my hoof as Dusk, squeezes her other claw and... starts singing?"

Come Little Children, I'll take thee away...
Into a land of, Enchantment...

Come Little Children, the time's come to play...
Here in my garden of Shadows...

I noticed Dusk's horn light up and a music box on a shelf opened, it started to play this eerily beautiful melody.

Spines' relaxed a little then tensed as the second egg popped out, Phlox took the chance to push some instrument to her neck, that let out a hiss and Spines relaxed further.

Follow Sweet Children, I'll show thee the way...
Through all the pain and the sorrows...

Weep not poor Children, for Life is this way...
Murdering beauty and passion...

Spines tensed but no egg came out, her grip was eased over before and it was visibly becoming easier for her.

Hush now dear Children, it must be this way...
Too weary of life and exceptions...

Rest now My Children, for soon we'll away...
Into the calm, and the quiet...

Redheart and Phlox were talking quietly as the last egg made it's appearance, cleaning the eggs and setting them into a small basket. I sat entranced, who knew Dusk could sing so well. Judging by Spines' face, maybe her.

Come Little Children, I'll take thee away...
Into a land of, Enchantment...

Come Little Children, the time's come to play
Here in my garden of Shadows...

Spines got sleepy as she was cleaned up, Dusk and I averting our eyes, Nurse Redheart gave her the basket, Spines cuddled it and was tucked in.

"I think we should let her rest," I suggested.

"And let the professionals look after her," Nurse Redheart added, making a shooing motion with one hoof.

I winced as I put weight on my injured hoof.

"One moment," I froze as the alien lifted my hoof, then played one of his devices over it.

Before my eyes the cuts knitted together, leaving unblemished skin.

Redheart inspected the hoof, then I tested it as she turned to Phlox.

"I've never seen anything like that," she said.

"Well, I've had a fair bit of experience treating our Equestrian crewmen, particularly the Ensign," Phlox replied.

I looked sharply at the now shy pony, it didn't help him as he looked as innocent as a kitten sitting in a patch of feathers next to an open bird cage.

"Do we really need to go over that doc?" he asked nervously, "it couldn't really be helped."

"Your most recent trip to my Infirmary was most certainly your fault," I felt a twinge of worry as Dusk flinched as though struck.

"Doc?"

"Just go before I change my mind about keeping you in sickbay," the colt was out the door in a cloud of dust, but ducked back.

"Tell Spines I won't be far if she wakes up before I'm back?" he asked.

"Of course, now shoo," Redheart replied.

I took the opportunity to follow as Dusk ran back down the stairs, stopping at a table with a large duffel bag on it and that Pegasus lounging on a bean bag with a Daring Doo book.

"I don't believe we've been introduced," I noted as I settled next to Dusk.

"Point," Dusk agreed, "Elusive, the jarhead who's got his arse lost in the bean bag is Flash Sentry, one of the security officers on the Enterprise, Flash, the filly's wet dream beside me is Elusive Belle, one of my best friends and Bearer of the Element of Generosity."

"Filly's wet dream?" I can't help but twist my mind into a knot.

"You know," Flash said teasingly.

"Snow white coat," Dusk said.

"Bright blue eyes," Flash added.

"The svelte form," Dusk added with a glint in his eye.

"The airs," Flash added with a grin.

"Just every little filly's Prince Charming made flesh," Dusk added with a predatory grin.

Oh Faust... wait a moment?

"Then why have I never been proposed to?" felling a little smug.

"The colt is supposed to propose," Dusk pointed out.

"Besides, why would they risk ruining the fantasy unnecessarily?" Flash piped up.

"Thought of everything haven't you," I muttered.

"Eeyup," Dusk agreed in a good imitation of Big Mac.

"So, what did you do to end up in the Infirmary?" that wiped the grin off his face.

"Which time?" I'm not sure who's more shocked, me or Dusk.

"What do you mean which time?" I demanded.

"He's been put in the Infirmary three times by injuries that nearly killed him, seven times he's had to be patched up on the fly after random damage and malfunctions aboard ship... and I can't count how many times the ships escaped destruction by the skin of it's teeth," Flash elaborated, my jaw joining my stomach somewhere around my fetlocks.

"Dusk?"

"There was a war on," he protested.

"You were in a war?" I don't think Princess Celestia will be any more pleased than I am.

"The Xindi attacked Earth, you have to understand, they had no idea where Mythis was, we had little choice but to become citizens," Dusk pleaded, "I joined Starfleet's Explorer branch, they recalled the cruisers to act as command ships for the scouts and with Enterprise being one of the newest and most powerful..."

"Enough, I get the picture," I sighed, rubbing my temples, "you can discuss that later, right now there's an emergency."

Both tensed and looked up at me, "What emergency?"

"You don't have a suit for the Wedding tomorrow, the Elements' attendance is mandatory," I smiled as Dusk's jaw dropped and Flash howled with laughter. I'd never managed to get him into the shop for a fitting, especially as male models are rather hard to find in this town, for some reason, and even before Dusk was a prime specimen of Unicorn masculinity.

"No," he said flatly, derailing my train of thought rather violently.

"No?" I asked incredulously, "but this is a Royal wedding?"

"I am a Starfleet officer," Dusk told me in an authoritative tone that sent a shiver down my spine, "thus I will wear my dress Uniform."

"But..."

"No Buts!" I shied away at the command, "However, there is one complication."

"Indeed?" I raised an eyebrow.

"I..."

"He was decorated for Bravery under Fire and is too modest for his own good," Flash supplied, waving in response to Dusk's glare.

"Decorated," I gasped.

"Yes," Dusk said exasperatedly, "I don't know if I have to wear my medals, it's never come up before."

Ah, "I shall pen a missive to the Princess and ask," I replied happily, "She left a set of seals that could act as substitutes to Spines' flames so she could recover without being burdened."

"Just..." he sighed in resignation, "write to her and I'll see if I brought them with me."

I just kept from squeezing, and trotted over to the writing desk.

Dear Princess Celestia

It is with much glee I write to inform you Spines has delivered four healthy eggs into the world,
sadly this is not the only reason for my missive.

A pony that has been dearly missed has returned after several months abroad, apparently he's on medical leave,
our lost little pony has asked me to inquire whether he will be required to wear his decorations during the wedding,
It seems he has spent at least some of the time in service to a foreign military and been decorated for bravery.

For my friend, I ask if it is indeed necessary for him to wear them and ask you pass on the news to my friends already with you.

Yours faithfully,
Elusive Belle

I rolled up the scroll and applied the seal, breaking the little wax dome as shown and the scroll flashed away, I managed to hear Dusk curse and Flash laugh, it seems he did pack his medals.

I jump as a scroll flashes back in front of me with unusual speed, I open it with my magic and read:

Dear Elusive

I Thank you for the good news, as I pen this your friends are celebrating, Your other news is quite surprising yet very welcome. If this is the lost pony I think you mean then there will be much to celebrate tomorrow.

The note on his decorations is curious, while there is precedent I won't say I'm not looking forward to satisfying my curiosity,
it is already noted that decorations are to be worn, the groom being the exception, so I believe that settles it.
In case our friend is reluctant, kindly inform him everpony is to wear them.

I have taken the liberty of booking two tickets for the morning express, they await you at the station,
I look forward to seeing you tomorrow,

Yours in Faith
Celestia Galaxia

I can't help but grin as I look up to see a curious Flash and a nervous Dusk, "Decorations are to be worn."

I can't help but grin as Dusk slams his head onto the table.

I can't blame Celestia for booking the first train to Canterlot, it was the only one not booked solid.

But as the Sun peaks over the Canterhorn, I feel the urge to curl up and go back to sleep.

"Hey, Elusive?" I look over to see Dusk looking nervous.

"Do you mind if I quickly..." I smile, of course he would want to.

"Go see you family," I assured him, "I'll wait by the fountain outside the gate."

He smiles gratefully, "Thank you." I smile as I watch him run off.

Idly I wonder how his parents will react, I then realise I'll be in trouble for not mentioning who the wedding's for, I did a little research two nights past and discovered the groom is his Brother.

I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.

It doesn't take long to reach the fountain, the city seems smaller when there aren't dozens of snobby nobles swanning about, forcing you to go around them. I can't believe I used to want to make connections with them.

To stave off the inevitable musing on how Dusk had been right I take a closer look at the fountain.

The fountain itself is made of two layers, each bowl has three figures. On the upper bowl the figures face the centre vertical water spout.

There is a Pegasus, Unicorn and Earth Pony. Curiously the Earth Pony is clearly Celestia while the Pegasus is Luna, I don't recognise the Unicorn but the family resemblance is clear.

The lower bowl has three Alicorns spaced equally around the edge, all chasing each other, the first two are Celestia and Luna but the third is smaller, possibly younger, but isn't the Unicorn from the upper level, only resembling her.

"A daughter, perhaps?" I muse, "perhaps this Mi Amore Cadenza?"

I didn't have to wait long for Dusk to return, looking thoroughly downtrodden, "They weren't there," he said miserably.

I can't imagine how he's feeling, "We'll see them at the wedding, I know they were invited."

After all, it's very bad manners not to invite your own parents, even if you aren't speaking with them.

"I was hoping to see them first," he sighed, "come on."

We're at the gate, the Guards being more than a bit obstructive, when what sounds like a Manticore growling erupts to my left.

The Guards and I jump, scanning for the threat only to realise Dusk is looking rather sheepish.

"I think I need to visit the kitchens once we're through?" I shook my head in amusement.

"Oh Dusk?"

"Are we clear to proceed, gentlecolts?" I asked the guards, both ran an eye over Dusk but the one with a white strip in his plume nodded.

We passed through the gates and once we were out of earshot Dusk turned to me.

"I'm bunking with you, right?" he asked me.

"I won't pretend to know how the Princess has arranged the day, but I would assume so," I replied, "at least until after the ceremony."

"Good," he said cheerily, then dumped his duffel on top of my trunk, "mind getting this to the room while I raid the kitchen? Thanks!"

I spluttered for a moment at his Dash like move, "hold on! You don't know where the room is?"

"I'll ask one of the staff," he yelled back, then disappeared down a side passage, "catch you in a bit."

"But I..." but he was gone, I considered going after him but I'd just get lost, probably the only ponies who know more about the layout are the Princesses, I chuckled fondly, "that stallion."

I glanced at the luggage and noted the now struggling footman, I promptly lifted Dusk's duffel off, which was surprisingly weighted, earning a relieved sigh from the stallion.

Upon reaching the room I note three familiar voices from inside, my hoof is barely raised to knock when the door flies open and a pink hoof hauls me through.

I'm no the bed staring at the ceiling as a pink, fluffy thing bounces around.

"Where shall I..." I take pity on the poor colt.

"Leave them by the door, I'll sort them shortly," the stallion groans in relief as he drops the bags, then quickly leaves, though not before stopping to doff his little hat, then the door closes behind him.

It's then I notice three excited mares circling me, I feel like one of my outfits on display.

Is this how Dusk felt last Hearts and Hooves?

"So..." Dash drew out.

"HowwasitisSpinesokhowmanyeggsdidanyhatchooh!ooh!ooh!whydoyouhavethatoldduffelbag?" Pimkie exhaled.

"Yeah, why do you have it?" Dash questioned. lifting the strap up by one hoof, "not something you'd normally use, like... ever?"

"Ah, but it's not mine," I explained, pulling the gaze of all three mares.

"Then, who does it belong too?" Fluttershy asked.

The door burst open before I could speak, revealing a frantic Applejack, covered in dough and flour, looking like she'd galloped all the way from the kitchens.

"As I was saying..." I started.

"Dusk is Back!" Applejack shouted.

I facehoofed as Fluttershy eeped from... somewhere, Dash stopped flapping her wings and was nearly swallowed by the soft cushions on a nearby armchair and Pinkie gasped and stopped mid-bounce...

How? ...no, it's Pinkie!

"And you ran off without bringing him with you?" I deadpanned.

"Oops?" Applejack said, rubbing her neck.

"Never mind, he'll find his way," I sighed, then clapped my hoofs, "come on, we need to clean up for the rehearsal."

I pointedly picked Applejack up with my Magic and moved her to the door of the ensuite.

She looked about to protest so I gave her a look, "don't you want to be clean and smell nice for Dusk?"

The door slamming and the water turning on was all the answer I needed, and judging by her grin, Dash shared my thoughts.

I was getting rather worried now, and I wasn't the only one.

We waited for Dusk to return but he didn't arrive before we needed to head down to the rehearsal, he didn't arrive for the rehearsal either.

And now the wedding's nearly over and he still hasn't arrived.

As the happy couple say their vows I find myself taking a closer look at the groom. Something seems off, the way he moves seems slightly wooden. Now, it could be nerves, but my gut says something's up.

Maybe that's why he's not here?

"Princess Cadence and Shining Armour," Princess Celestia announced proudly, "it is my pleasure to pronounce you..."

"STOP!"

My head whipped around at the shout from beyond the doors... a shout in a familiar voice.

The doors burst open to reveal a ragged... Princess Cadence.

"You? How did you escape my bridesmaids?" the Cadence by Celestia growled, I wasn't the only one that looked suspiciously at her, she coughed to cover her slip, "How dare this imposter interrupt my wedding?"

"Ah don't understand," Applejack protested, looking between them, "How can there be two of them?"

"There can't," I announced, hiding the sinking feeling in my gut behind a brave face, "You can glue a horn on your head or hit a wing harness with a chameleon spell but you can't fake Alicorn Magic, one is a fake."

"She's a Changeling!" the ragged Cadence announced to the crowd, "they take the form of somepony you love and gains power feeding off your feelings for them!"

The bride Cadence growled and was coated in green fire that fell away to reveal...

"Right you are, Princess," the title dripped with loathing, as the bug like pony (or perhaps, pony like bug) laughed, "and as Queen of the Swarm, it is my task to ensure my subjects are fed."

She stepped down in front of the younger Princess, the pink Alicorn's glare rolling off her like water off a duck's feathers, "Equestria has more love than any other nation we've encountered, my children will feed so well the Swarm will grow in strength beyond even our wildest dreams!"

"They'll never get the chance, Shining Armour's spell will keep them from ever reaching us!" Cadence retorted.

As the bug queen chuckled, I realised the shield only covered Canterlot, the rest of the country was Defenceless!

And why was that bug laughing?

"Oh, I doubt that," She replied smugly, she then turned to the groom, her horn lighting up, "Isn't that right, dear?"

I could only stare in Horror as Shining Armour nodded, his eyes glowing the same green as the bug's magic.

Cadence made to reach him but was stopped by the bug, "uh, uh, uh! Don't want to go back to the mines, do you?"

The queen turned as Cadence stepped back, walking to stand next to the entranced stallion, "ever since I took your place, I've been feeding off Shining Armour's love for you. Every second he grows weaker, and so does his spell. Even now my children are chipping away at it."

I couldn't help looking out the window with most of the guests, I gulped on seeing the swarm of black dots.

"He may not be my husband, but he is certainly under my spell," the queen announced, earning a gasp from Cadence and Shining's parents.

"I'm afraid he'll be unable to complete his duties as Captain of the Royal Guard!" Bug queen declared.

"Not my Shining Armour!" It was hard not to feel for the young woman, completely helpless and left begging her enemy.

Hold on! Her plan relies on her having complete, uninterrupted control of Shining Armour!

"You've forgotten just one thing," I threw in, a teasing smile crossing my muzzle.

"Oh?" the queen inquired haughtily, "and what's that?"

I pointed to a spot behind the queen, "Her!"

She turns around and instantly steps back, subconsciously trying to make herself look small.

I would be running for the hills if Princess Celestia ever looked at me like that, She is Royally PISSED.

"You may have made it impossible for Shining Armour to perform his spell, But now that you have so foolishly revealed your true self," I jumped back slightly as the two mares literally locked horns, "I can protect my subjects from You!"

Princess Celestia flew up and charged her horn, unleashing a beam of pure magic, the queen retaliated in kind.

For a brief moment it looked like Princess Celestia would surely win, my glee turned to horror as the bug's green beam started to overtake Princess Celestia's golden magic.

Then it happened.

The green magic touched her horn. There was a blinding flash.

There was a flash of gold as something flew through the air, but my eyes were locked on the snow white body falling to the floor.

The top third of her horn was blackened, almost dead looking, the rest was scorched to different degrees, her scalp was burned and her eyes clenched shut, her mane, apparently unharmed, seemed lifeless.

"Princess?"

I could only stare in horror as Princess Celestia struggled to rise, Applejack ran out to try to help her, and a great bolt of green Magic slammed into the farmpony's side.

Before the orange pony came to rest there was a sound like shattering glass, I glanced out the window to see the great shield gone and the swarm of dots descending on the city.

"Foal!" the queen reprimanded, then turned to face the oncoming swarm, several smaller bug-like ponies, flew in trough the open balcony doors behind her.

I looked to Applejack, sighing in relief at her chest moving up and down.

I was about to turn to the others when the centre of the halls double doors lit with a purple glow, then shattered with a flash.

The smoke cleared to reveal Dusk with at least a platoon from the Night Guards.

"Applejack!" The purple stallion rushed to the fallen mare's side, quickly looking her over, I could just make out Applejack's lips moving and Dusk speaking back, both too quiet to hear.

The Guards hadn't been idle, one that I recognised as the officer that had accompanied Princess Luna on Nightmare Night signalled his ponies to attack.

The guards made a good accounting of themselves, occupying the changeling's attention as a number of the guests used the opportunity to escape, the chaos ended as the queen sent a blast at Cadence, who had tried to reach Shining Armour.

"Why do you insist on fighting when all is lost?" the queen growled at the pink Alicorn.

"The Game's not over yet," the whole room seemed to still at the quiet but firm answer.

Dusk stepped out in front of Princess Celestia, shielding both her and Applejack from the queen. I thought he was terrifying earlier but it was nothing to this.

His Magic was a dark and angry shade of purple, not the lighter lavender I remembered, and it wasn't just encompassing his horn... His whole Body was wreathed in wild Magic, there was a fair amount of debris being taken for a ride.

"Your Guard is defeated, your Princess lies at my hooves, Your Capital at my mercy..." the queen started.

"Get ready for the Encore," Dusk interrupted in that same firm voice, a disk of Magic forming on the tip of his horn.

The queen blinked then fired her beam at him.

The disk flashed then expanded into an oval shield, halting the spell. The queen stopped the spell in shock, allowing Dusk to form the shield into a dome around him and Celestia, before the Queen attacked again.

The shield grew slowly, inch by inch, I almost though the queen's attack was feeding it until she grunted and the beam thickened, slamming the shield to a halt mere feet from her, the shield then pulsed, slamming into her as it expanded briefly then contracted, knocking her down.

"How is a mere Unicorn doing this?" She demanded as she climbed back to her hooves.

"Using emotions to power spells isn't a new technique," Dusk explained, idly I recalled passage on how such had fallen out of fashion after Starswirl discovered a casting method that separated Magic and emotion.

"You are drawing from one bond, that with my brother," I suddenly understood as I realised my feelings of friendship for Dusk had seemed to grow over the past few minutes, "I can draw from many bonds."

"But no Unicorn can handle that much power," She pointed out, then grinned, "in fact the effort is killing you."

I felt like a knife had pierced my heart, the pain double as I saw Dusk's face, blood was pouring like a river from a huge crack in his horn that was growing as I watched, looking to his eyes I saw the pain was only matched by determination.

"I'm taking you with me!"

There was a massive Purple flash, accompanied by the queen screaming and I felt Dusk's magic wash over me, then my eyes opened to show the room was tinted purple, a look outside showed Dusk's shield had expanded almost to the city limits, fading once it crossed the walls.

I heard a body hit the floor and I spun round to find Dusk's forelegs had collapsed under him, pitching him forward, I was quick enough to catch him as he fell onto his side.

Oh Faust! This was it, he could really die!

"Dusk?" I asked as his eyes struggled to open, I took out a handkerchief and tried to press it into the crack in his horn to stem the bleeding, "Someone get the Medic!" I shouted to one of the Guards.

His eyes stopped fluttering but his breathing, and bleeding, remained steady.

"Damn it, Dusk," I cursed, "We just got you back," I accepted a heavier cloth from somepony and used it instead of the woefully inadequate handkerchief, "You are not going anywhere!"

He seemed to stir for a moment, then the eye facing me opened, only to close instantly as blood flooded it.

"Elusive?"

I almost sighed, "I'm here, it's me, Dusk."

"If... if I don't... look after Spines.. for me?"

I swallow heavily, "You Are going to make It, Dusk!" I told him.

"But..."

"No butts in polite company," it got a weak smile from him.

"Your a good pony, Elusive. I shouldn't have doubted you..."

I moved aside slightly as the medic arrived, "you were always a better friend than I, Dusk."

Just before they take away the stretcher, "I never deserved you guys."

"No," I mused quietly as the Guards escorted the teams of medics with Dusk, Applejack and Celestia out.

"We never deserved you," I heard to my left, a glance showed a distraught Fluttershy being held up by Dash and Pinkie.

As I lost sight of the group, I wondered what would happen now?

And prayed I would see my friend again.

Home at Last

Chapter 1:

Ask any scholar or astronomer and they’ll tell you Space is Vast and Empty.

Ask any Officer or Enlisted from the LSN (League of Solar Nations) Navy and they’ll tell you it’s uncomfortably lively.

It had been ninety years since Zefram Cochrane invented the Slipspace Drive (which worked by using a Quantum Slipstream to tunnel through a ‘deeper’ layer of Subspace) after his initial Warp models ran into a recurring and potentially fatal flaw.

In that time Humanity had found itself evolving down a different path to their neighbours and by the time they met the neighbours Humanity had not only a sizeable economy but the ships to protect it.

Starfleet dedicated sixty percent of its strength to warships, giving both the Vulcans and the Xindi a rude shock, with the remaining strength equally divided between Science and Exploration.
These were the three arms of Starfleet: Military, Science and Exploration. Unfortunately certain duties were universally shared by all three arms.

Combatting Piracy, Slavery and Smuggling included.

As a result of a small group of Alien… Entrepreneurs stumbling upon an Exploration cruiser, Starfleet had found itself rescuing a group of unusual aliens and playing caretaker while searching for the Pre-Space Flight species’ Home.
With the help of a grateful Andorian Empire, that same cruiser was now heading to a lonely nebula with the intent of both returning these lost sheep but also investigating some of their new friend’s more unusual claims.

It was tense in the bunkroom, three Humans and three odd quadrupedal aliens sat around a table, a mix of Terran Credits, Andorian Pfennigs and Equestrian Bits lay piled in the centre, four cards lay face up in a row with a fifth face down. Each participant had two such cards while a stack of unused cards sat in front of one of the Humans.

“Last card gents, place your bets,” the Human with the card stack in front of him announced, turning the last card.

“Alright Trip, I raise ya two hundred Bits,” the next player declared, the orange coated, blue maned Pegasus pushing the taped stacks of gold coins into the centre.

“Too rich for my blood, Flash!” an African American man replied, pushing his cards away.

“El Foldo!” Red Glare, an Earth Pony, agreed, tossing his cards into the pot.

“Well Dusk, what’ll it be?” the woman on Trip Tucker’s right and my left teased.

I kept my aloof air but inside I was bricking myself, on the one hand I had a nearly unbeatable hoof, a seven to Jack Hearts Straight Flush, on the other I can’t meet the raise unless… well, what could I bet?
Unfortunately not much as strip rules weren't in effect, mainly due to Ponykind’s lack of a nudity taboo, what few possessions I had were too important…

Ok, there was That.

Sadly my dignity had taken medical leave a bottle of Janx or two ago.

I summoned a piece of paper, a pen and started to write, “I wish to wager something other than chips for this round.”

“Get on with it,” Flash retorted, his wings fluttering as he rolled his eyes.

“I wager my Virginity!” I struggled to keep a straight face as Flash flopped out of his chair and both Trip and Flare made epic spit takes, thankfully avoiding the table.

“What?” Trip wheezed, “yer betting somethin’ so precious…”

“Either I’ll win it back or I’ll be getting a visit tomorrow,” I said dismissively placing the paper stating ‘The Recipient of this Paper is Entitled to Ensign Dusk Shine’s Virginity’.

“Your funeral,” Glare said, shaking his head.

“Well I guess I’ll call, one hundred Credits to your Bits,” Nurse Erika Johnson replied, dumping the hexagonal coins on top of my paper.

“Call,” a now composed Commander Charles ‘Trip’ Tucker intoned, repeating the gesture.

“Alright, lets see the hooves?” Flash crowed.

Trip had three eights, Erika had two pair of sevens and nines, Flash had a six to ten Straight.

“Come to me my Pretties,” I watched dispassionately as Flash rubbed his hooves together but Erika held him off.

“Hold on, we haven’t seen Dusk’s cards,” she looked at me pointedly as Flash became nervous.

I cocked an eyebrow at her and shrugged nonchalantly, turning the cards with my Magic.

“No,” I heard Flash beg, “Sweet Faust No!”

“Straight Flush, Seven to Jack, Hearts,” Glare gave me a grin, “you had it all sown up.”

I just shrugged, laughter bright in my eyes and pulled out my lighter as the pot slid to me in a lavender glow, stopping in front of me as the paper separated and hovered in front of me.

A flick of my fetlock and the lighter lit, a second later I flipped it closed as the paper curled up and burned away.

“Well, there goes that dream,” Erika teased, I ignored the burning in my cheeks as I swept my winnings into a bag.

“Dream?” Flash snorted, “hardly, at least not after I sold it to that mare on Agamemnon,” he blinked as a Pfennig bounced off his nose.

“I signed up for Explorers for a reason,” I pointed out, donning the saddlebags and starting for the door.

“You can’t leave! I need to win back enough Bits to get back to Fillydelphia from Canterlot!” Flash protested.

“Shouldn’t bet what you’re not prepared to lose,” I retorted, slipping out the door before he could call me out on my hypocrisy.

I chuckled as I headed back to my quarters, perk of being an officer, or at least Fifth Officer, was my own room, specifically a room with a view as it was one of the few rooms between the dorsal and ventral armoured shells.

I had wondered whether trading with Hoshi had been a good idea but more nights than I cared to admit had been spent gazing out at the stars, nebulae and other wondrous things.

For some reason Travis always kept the port side to anything we were studying, maybe I should get him a bottle of Bourbon for Hearth’s Warming.

I disarmed the spells protecting my room as I punched in the code.

The bags fell at the foot of my locker, I’d count it all later, and I fell into the chair by my desk.

I was about to write another entry in my log, still paper and ink like before I was foalnapped, when I noticed a yellow tag message from Captain Archer.

I opened it, noting it was dated five hours ago:

To all Equestrian personnel.

As you know an FTL survey probe was launched two days ago to investigate a gravitational anomaly in our path as we move deeper into the nebula. Twenty minutes ago the probe exited Slipspace and we are now receiving telemetry. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

Here’s to a warm welcome.

Captain J Archer - SLV Enterprise.

I clicked the link to the data feed and skim read through the logs until I came upon the Live visual feed. I felt a prickling at my eyes as I resisted hugging the screen.

“Home.”

The Sun and Moon was The place to just hang out in Ponyville after sunset. It wasn’t much, any human would compare it to a rural British pub, but what kept ponies coming back was the atmosphere, it was a place to just sit back, relax with a cold drink and let your problems fade away for an evening.

Just stepping in Applejack felt a weight lift off her shoulders, it took her a moment to locate her friends though she shouldn’t have been worried, Dusk had picked out the perfect spot for them nearly a year ago after he persuaded both Filthy Rich and her Family to open the place.

Despite their reservations the teen had got something right as the inn was a hit, between her Family’s cider and the drinks brought in by train the place was famous for having the best selection of beverages outside of Canterlot.

At far more sensible prices too.

Combined with being the place to unwind, business was good and profits plenty.

She settled onto the bench seat, squeezing Rainbow, Pinkie and Fluttershy a little as Elusive sat next to Spines opposite them, normally the benches fit four ponies easily but everyone had some kind of bag and Spines needed extra room due to her situation.

“Hey guys,” Applejack greeted, “doing ok there, Spines?”

The dragoness shifted gently, waving a claw, “the cramps are falling into a rhythm… I think it’ll be tonight or tomorrow."

“Damn, you’ll miss the wedding!” Rainbow Dash complained.

“Yer just moping ye won’t get to preen after ye pull the Rainboom,” Applejack teased.

Rainbow pouted for a split second then went to retort but was cut off by Pinkie.

“Won’t it be amazing?” she said excitedly, “Ooh! Ooh! Ooh! Do you know if it’ll be a colt or filly?”

Elusive smiled, “Dragons lay eggs, remember?” he pointed out, “Dusk explained it to us ten months ago tonight, the only thing he knew for certain was a Dragon’s eggs won’t hatch if they aren’t fertilised, ergo no colts or filly’s.”

“Unless hatched by Magic,” Fluttershy pointed out, “like Dusk hatched Spines.”

Applejack felt her heart settle somewhere around her fetlocks, everything seemed hollow without the nerdy, loyal, somewhat mischievous purple colt.

“Remember when we found him here that time?” Pinkie said, trying not to burst into giggles.
“After giving Spines the ‘Talk’,” Elusive said teasingly.

Appljack smiled at the memory, that had been a fun night.

Dusk laid back in the corner of the booth, staring at a cider bottle, telling the whole hilarious story of how he took Spines for a check up to find out she was carrying four eggs.
How he got home Spines had flipped out, demanding to know how she could be having eggs when she hadn't even kissed a colt, how somehow he’d kept his cool and calmly explained what little he knew about dragons and then covered what happened with ponies for reference.

How Spines had asked what he meant by the ‘Talk’ and eventually explaining how he’d been given it.
That had gotten them all talking about how they’d been given the talk:

Poor Dusk had walked in on Celestia by accident one night but had escaped unseen or heard, while he knew about sex from his brother’s Playcolt collection seeing it in person was somewhat different and Shining Armour had had to explain everything to him.

Elusive’s was similar but had been caught by his parents, considering his sister Sweetie’s age this may have been a bit much for him at the time.

Applejack and Fluttershy were also similar to each other, being around animals all the time meant they would see dogs, cattle or bunnies in the act and their families had caught on this and gone from there.

Rainbow had a fling at Flight school, nuff said.

Pinkie had the hardest time, not getting the Talk until after arriving in Ponyville, from Nurse Redheart no less.

The night had ended when the cider ran out, something Dusk noticed first, “Why is the cider always gone?”
He then stood up, swayed left on his first step then right on the second, “oh, that’s why,” he then bade them goodnight and started home, swaying all the way.

“Hey, his version may not have had all the facts but at least I understood it and he handled it better than any of your or Celestia.”

“Oh that was fun, walkin’ in to find the Princess blushin a storm after being told a teenage colt did a better job,” Applejack laughed, picturing the exact moment the five of them stumbled into the library to find the Princess with a full body blush as Spines loudly stated that Dusk handled the matter better despite having once seen her in the act, turning crimson as a hungover Dusk added “Next time you don’t want to be disturbed, LOCK THE DAMN DOOR!”

“Can’t believe he walked in on the Princess,” Rainbow giggled.

“He promised he’d be here when…” Spines trailed off, trailing a claw down her swollen stomach.

“Well he still has time to turn up,” Elusive reminded her, “and I’ll be here with nurse Redheart, everything will be fine,” he assured her.

“But you’ll miss the wedding? After you went to all that trouble for us…” Fluttershy protested.

“And how many times did Dusk put us before himself?” Elusive asked, “how many times did he give up things he wanted to do so we could do things we wanted?”

Everyone was silent as they thought it over, Rainbow looking particularly guilty. Applejack thought of every time he’d dropped what he was doing to help out with whatever problem she or the others had, she smiled as she remembered the time she’d tried to harvest the orchard on her own during Apple Buck season only to stop short of half way from exhaustion.

Fluttershy had found him the morning after curled up in one of the empty apple baskets having secretly worked his way through the opposite end of the orchard where she wouldn’t notice him all week. He completed nearly half the harvest in that part of the farm before fatigue caught up to him.

Helping Elusive on his gem trips...

Spotting for Rainbow when she did wing ups…

Baking cakes in Sugarcube Corner…

Helping feed the Animals…

Dozens of little things that between them and his lessons had left him little time to enjoy the things he liked.

In fact the only time she knew of him asking for her, or any of them, to do something for him was when he asked her to watch the Northern Lights with him.

One Thing.

And he never said a word, always going along with a soft smile.

Ma had said ya never knew what ya had until it was gone.

“That colt had a heart of gold,” Applejack said quietly.

The table was quiet for a moment.

“Do we even know who this stupid wedding’s for?” Rainbow asked loudly.

Applejack and Fluttershy rolled their eyes, ‘real subtle Dash’.

“One Princess Mi Amore Cadenza,” Elusive replied with a mock Canterlot air, “some relative of Celestia, no doubt!”

“And just why do we have to go?” Dash continued.

“Oh, ya know, Elements of Harmony, Heroes of Equestria, that sorta thing?” Applejack said sarcastically.

Before Dash could retort Applejack drained her drink and stood up, “well, I guess it’s time ta head on back, I’ll see ya’ll tomorrow, ye take care now, Spines.”

The others bade her goodbye and she headed for the door, out into the night and onto the familiar path home.

On the way her thoughts drifted to her missing friend and what could have happened, the only clue was the journal Spines had given her after a month had passed.
In it he’d written how he wasn’t convinced her parents were dead, his reasons were sound enough but she daren’t get her hopes up as it was still a raw wound.

Naturally she’d started reading the other entries, revealing whole sides to her friend she’d never known.

“…Applejack, she told me to let go. What The Buck! I’m dangling over a three hundred foot drop, hanging on for my life and she tells me to LET GO! I voiced my shock and she looked me in the eye and said she’d never lie to me and I had to trust her. …I did. I can’t explain it but once our eyes met I knew she was telling the truth, I felt… safe, as long as she was there, I knew nothing would happen… I could feel it in my very soul.

…Or I might just be a sucker for a pretty mare with such amazing eyes.

Either way, I let go. Dash and Shy caught me but I still let go.

Spines is going to be torture when she finds out.”

She smiled at the teasing the little Dragoness had put Dusk through afterward, then chuckled as the next entry fluttered through her mind.

“Never again! Next time I get tickets to the Gala I’m raffling them off! My first thought was to take Applejack as a date but… yeah that sounds even worse out loud, like I have a chance with a mare as amazing as her. Next thing I know I’ve got four mares and a stallion trying to butter me up, is this what Flank Sinatra and Sapphire Shores deal with every day? Somehow I got seven tickets in the end but when it comes I think I’m gonna make a few quick hellos then bug out to Joe's with Spines.”

Just as the farm came in sight her two favourite entries came to mind.

“Ok, maybe I should have taken the hint from AJ, trying to harvest even half a farm on your own is not clever.

Fluttershy found me curled up in an apple basket sleeping off my exhaustion, blasted mare took a picture, said I looked cuter than Winona. Hey, it’s Applebloom’s thing to be cuter than a puppy!

AJ asked me how long I’d been bucking trees… about four days now I think about it… I think.

She then asked why I did after she refused so many times. I told her it was like looking in the mirror, that I’d gone nuts about an assignment and spent days studying fixatedly, going without food or sleep… I really didn’t like how she was running herself into the ground like I have; I didn’t want her to go through what I did.

She kissed me!

On the cheek but She Kissed Me! Said it was sweet of me to go out of my way to help her, even when she was too stubborn to accept.

I’m blushing enough to be mistaken for Cadence’s little brother, I’ve got this stupid grin and I can’t look her in the eye.

Is this how Shiny felt when Cadence kissed him on the cheek?

I swear if Dash says anything I’ll ground her… somehow.”

The second passage crept in her mind as she stepped into the farmhouse.

“Stupid Superstitious ponies. Thinking Zecora’s evil for being a zebra…

Zee-bra…

Spines! Tomayto/Tomahto.

Anyway, they think she’s evil. Pinkie thinks she’s an enchantress.

I cannot convey just how offended I am by that. I Am an Enchanter! How does she think I fix all the random Magical junk everyone brings to me.
Think I’ll bump up the prices in revenge, see how Pinkie handles the response when they find out I did it because of her.

Enchanting is an entirely separate branch of Magic to what Elusive and I learned in school, using tools and Lyrium to place long term, if not permanent, spells called Enchantments on objects or buildings.

YOU CAN’T BEWITCH PEOPLE WITH IT!

Then Applebloom wanders off, probably to talk to Zecora, filly means well but wandering into the Everfree is not a good idea at the best of times.

The Applejack and Dash start mouthing off when Zecora warns us about those…

Those Flowers! I’ve seen them before, one of Shiny’s pranks I think.

Starting to feel light headed now, I’d better sleep it off, I can research those flowers tomorrow.
…
Yep, definitely those flowers.

I thought turning me into an Earth Pony for an afternoon was bad, if I ever get that flamethrower working I’ll be sure to repay those Sun Damned weeds for the blow to my stallionhood.

My horn has blue spots and the consistency of wet pasta. It’s flopping around all over the place!
I can feel my balls shrivelling as I write this.

Oh Buck! They’ll think it’s a curse! Maybe I can talk some sense into them…

Yeah, that sounded better in my head.
…
Ok, that just made this day worth it.

Rainbow’s wings have been reversed, though given she crashes all the time anyway not much difference.

Pinkie’s tongue has swollen up so she can’t talk.

Elusive’s a walking rug, definitely sneaked a picture of that.

Fluttershy has this real deep bass voice, strangely it seems to suit her.

And Applejack’s bite sized now, hiding in Applebloom’s mane.

We’re heading to Zecora’s now, after I pointed out she warned us about the flowers and explaining I’d been pranked with them before, just maybe I can talk to Zecora about a cure without AJ and Dash kicking off.”

She blushed at the memory of how she acted that day, it took Dusk shouting in Zebrikaans to keep a fight breaking out.

Who knew he’d learned the language from the Ambassadors to Canterlot.

Entering her room she trotted to the window and stared up into Luna’s sky, that was one thing Dusk liked to do, stargazing.

Not to map the constellations or nuthin’, he said staring into the mass of space made him feel small, and knowing just how small his place in the Universe is made his problems and worries unimportant for a time.

She had to admit, he was right about that.

She looked up in time to see…

“A Shooting Star!”

Keeping her eyes on the star, “Ah wish Dusk Shine would come home safe.”

The star passed over her head and out of sight behind her, she took one last look at the stars and readied herself for bed, it would be a long day tomorrow.