“Ahem...” Pin Stripe cleared his throat, causing Lyra to slowly back herself out of the kiss.

She looked me deeply in the eyes for a moment, and managed a short smile before taking a seat back down at the table, now close at my side.

Pin Stripe rolled his eyes and chuckled, Lyra smirked and lowered her head slightly.

I really wasn’t sure what to say. I was still in shock from listening to Pin Stripe and Lyra describe what went down last night.

That kiss from Lyra—Holy crap, Lyra kissed me—that just... Shit, I don’t even know! I’m still trying to process everything. If these two have anything more to tell me, they better lay it on lightly or I’ll probably pass out.

“Anyways,” Pin Stripe began, “the doctor at the hospital said that you won’t be able to use magic until your horn grows back.”

I touched that strange bump underneath the bandage on my forehead with a hoof, only now to actually come to terms that it was all that remained of my horn. I sighed and crossed my hooves on the table.

So much for trying magic again any time soon.

Lyra looked to me at eye level, biting her bottom lip with concern.

I sighed again and accepted the fact that I would just have to wait. Besides, if losing my horn and my ability to perform magic was the only consequence for saving Lyra, even though I have no clue how I did, I think I can live with that. I gave Lyra a reassuring smile, which she returned.

However, another concern of mine arose.

“Does anypony else know what happened last night? I’m pretty sure somepony would have noticed the tallest building in town being reduced to rubble by now.”

The green unicorn and the brown earth pony glanced at each other for a moment, but didn’t say a word.

I sighed at their silent response. This can only mean two things; everypony knows and we are in deep shit, or, nopony knows we were even there. Either way, this won’t end well.

“Everypony knows, don’t they?” I asked flatly, already knowing the answer to the question.

They nodded their heads.

Shit, I was afraid of that. Damnit!

I rubbed the side of my head with a hoof, “How much do they know?”

Pin Stripe sighed, “Well everypony knows that we were involved in the collapse of town hall-”

“Well I could’ve guessed that.” I deadpanned, cutting off Pin Stripe, burying my head in my hooves on the table.

“On the lighter side,” Pin continued, “the hall was going to be rebuilt anyways, and nopony was hurt. Well, other than you, and technically, Lyra too I guess.”

“They also know that you almost lost your life saving mine.” Lyra added, trying to lighten the mood.

“So, they know pretty much everything then.” I lowered an eyebrow and raised a hoof, sharing a glance between both Lyra and Pin Stripe.

“Basically, yeah.” Pin Stripe shrugged modestly.

Lyra nodded her head.

“Oh this is just awesome.” I didn’t hold back my sarcasm, and I grumbled as my head dropped onto the table.

I think I will actually stay indoors today after all. Facing the public probably won’t be the best idea right now; I’d rather not go around getting judged and blamed for basically destroying the town’s probably most historic structure. Great, now I’m in a shitty mood again.

There was a knock at my door, catching the full attention of the three of us.

I sighed in frustration and stepped up from the table towards the door. With my usual luck, it’s probably the cops here to arrest us for destruction of property or some shit.

“Who do you suppose that is?” Pin Stripe looked over to Lyra, who shook her head and shrugged.

“Uhh... Where in tarnation am I?” Braeburn finally regained consciousness, and found himself in a very dark, damp, underground holding cell.

“Welcome to your new home, pony.” A male, amphibious-sounding voice cackled from beyond the darkness of the cell.

“Wha-Who’s there? What do ya’ll want from me?” Braeburn called back into the dark.

A pair of glowing blue eyes revealed themselves, and a dark figure stepped forth. It took Braeburn a moment for his eyes to adjust to the darkness, to actually examine the figure before him.

Glowing blue eyes.

Sharp fangs.

Death-black coat.

Translucent blue wings.

Perforated black hooves.

Braeburn scowled at the suspicious pony-like figure. “Now what in Sam-hay are ya’ll s’posed ta be?”

“They’re Changelings.” A mare’s voice croaked from the cell next to Braeburn’s; she had a southern accent, but not quite as thick as the Apple Family’s.

“Changelings?” Braeburn cocked his head around, looking in the direction of the mare’s voice, “What the hay is a Changeling?”

“Shape shifters.” The mare answered, and coughed dryly. “They can assume the form of anypony...”

Braeburn’s eyes shot open, and he looked back to the dark figure still in front of his cell. The figure was grinning evilly. Braeburn scowled back, and pounced towards the figure, only to be stopped by the bars of his cell.

“Why in tarnation do ya’ll got me imprisoned in here for?!” Braeburn lashed out at the figure, who only chuckled.

“I’m so glad you asked...” Another dark figure, tall and female, stepped in front of Braeburn’s cell. She stared him down with her glowing green eyes.

I groaned as I reached out and swung the door open.

A newspaper was immediately shoved right into my face, too close to even get a look at what was on the front page.

“Is it true?! Did you really save somepony’s life?! That’s so awesome!”

You know, I almost forgot about my pounding headache. Thanks, Rainbow Dash.

I scratched the side of my head vigorously, trying to shake off the headache returning with a vengeance.

“Ugh,” I groaned, “Rainbow, I’m really not feeling up for this today.” I looked up to the blue pegasus hovering in my doorway.

Her mouth dropped open at the sight of me. “Wow, you’re horn actually is gone...”

“You don’t say.” I quipped blankly, staring with a flat expression.

It was then I noticed Rainbow Dash was accompanied by both Twilight Sparkle and Fluttershy; Twilight was biting her bottom lip, and had a hoof risen off the floor. Fluttershy looked even more apprehensive, cowering behind Twilight.

Fluttershy took notice to Lyra and Pin Stripe still seated at the table inside my apartment. “Um, I hope we aren’t interrupting anything...”

“Does it hurt?” Twilight asked me with a bit of uneasiness in her voice.

“I have a splitting headache, so I’m going to go out on a limb here and say, yeah. Yeah it hurts.” If I wasn’t all of a sudden being smothered by a bunch of ponies and my head didn’t hurt so much, I wouldn’t be getting so bitter and dismissive.

I’ve had to accept a lot today so far, and I’ve only been awake for a few hours. Cut me some fuckin' slack.

Twilight bit her bottom lip and took a step back.

“Jeez, are you ever not grumpy Davin?” Rainbow touched back down on the ground and poked me in the chest with a hoof, “Everypony practically thinks you’re a hero, and you’re still in a bad mood! What’s with that?”

“What’s with that? Are you kidding me?” I growled in irritation, only making my head pound harder. I took a deep breath and laid it down as lightly as I could.

“Oh let’s see, I’m probably a wanted suspect for being involved in the destruction of town hall, I just realized my horn is broken off, I almost died, I have a splitting headache, and to top it all off, I have a hangover.”

Whoa, wait a minute... Did Rainbow just say ‘everypony thinks I’m a hero’? No, no, no, no, no. A hero is probably the last thing I consider myself, let alone what people should consider me. Ok, I’ve helped out my friends a few times, big deal. Still not enough for me to call myself a ‘hero’, that’s for damn sure. I’m probably one of the farthest things from Superman, come to think of it. What a ridiculous thing to even consider comparing myself to something like that.

Twilight and Rainbow Dash didn’t say a word, and they both gave me a very, very baffled looks. For once, Fluttershy was the one to speak up.

“Um, nopony is really all that upset about town hall actually.” She peeked her head out from behind Twilight, “In fact, they’re actually just more concerned about you.”

Pin Stripe and Lyra stepped up to the doorway from the table and tried to convince me what Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash said was in fact, true.

I couldn’t believe it.

There was no way that ponies would forget to be upset about Town Hall collapsing just because I almost died ‘supposedly’ saving somepony’s life. There is no way. It’s just not the way things work; for me, anyhow. Ponies are pissed about it, I just know they are! Call it denial if you must, I’m in denial over quite a few things right now; I’m not afraid to admit that. There’s just way, way, way too much to process right now, and I just need to take a step back and really think things through before I either explode or pass out.

Lyra sighed and pointed my head down at the newspaper, now down on the floor. “Just look.”

The front page showed an aerial view if the town hall, reduced to protruding wooden beams and rubble. I didn’t even bother reading what the headline said. The picture said it all, and that’s all I needed right now to come to my own conclusions.

“I don’t see how everypony can think that’s a good thing.” I glanced back up from the newspaper to the five ponies now standing in my small apartment.

Ugh, why did I open my god damned door...

“You see, taking your place was the first key step to our take over of Ponyville...” The Changeling Queen explained.

“I still ain’t seein’ how capturin’ me is gettin’ ya any closer to takin’ over Ponyville, or any other place for that matter.” Braeburn quipped behind the bars of his cell.

The Changeling Queen chuckled evilly. “Oh, you will understand soon enough, Braeburn.” She looked down to the Changeling soldier standing with a grin at her side, “Don’t worry, I’ll be sure to have my best soldier look after your family and your precious little Rarity for you from now on.”

Braeburn snapped and charged at the bars of his cell.

“You let me outta this thing right now, ya hear?!” Braeburn screamed, trying to shake the bars of his cell free.

Both the Changeling Queen and soldier cackled as they both left back into the darkness of the cavern.

“Ya’ll better pray I don’t get outta this here cell!” He hollered into the darkness, “Cause when I do-”

The mare in the next cell interrupted Braeburn’s threat. “Save your energy. You’re going to need it.”

Braeburn growled and fell to his flank.

“What in tarnation did I do to go deservin’ this?” Braeburn shook his head as a single tear shed down his cheek.

“You were in love with somepony, weren’t you?” The mare asked weakly from the next cell.

“I still am.” Braeburn sunk his head, “And there ain’t a dang thing I can do now to save her, or warn anypony!”

“It seems that we are in the same boat then...” The mare stood up in her cell and sat down at the barred wall separating herself between Braeburn.

Braeburn looked over towards the mare, “Just how long have you been stuck in this here prison, ma’am?”

“About a week if my estimates are close. I’m sure everypony from Dodge Junction are slaves to the Changelings by now.” The mare hung her head.

Braeburn huffed and stomped a hoof angrily on the damp rock floor of the cell. “What in the world do these ‘Changelings’ want from us?”

“They want...our ability to love.” The mare had a hard time speaking the words.

“They want what, now?” Braeburn cocked his head back, “How in Equestria do you reckon they are goin’ about doin’ that?’

The mare sighed deeply. “They disguise themselves as somepony you love and trust, and they gain strength from that love.” A tear streamed down her white cheek.

Braeburn rubbed his head with a hoof, and lowered his head finally piecing together the reasons for Rarity’s distrust in him. “They dun’ gone disguisin’ themselves as me.”

I couldn’t take it any longer, I was being completely smothered. I took a deep breath and took a step back from the ponies crowding me. My stress level was reaching maximum, and I needed some space, and fast.

“Look guys, I really do appreciate your concern, but there’s quite a bit I have on my mind right now. I really don’t want to sound so rude or anything, but I just need some space.” I sternly opened the door to my apartment, and lowered my head, taking a few deep breaths to try and calm myself.

Everypony in my apartment hushed and shared understanding looks amongst themselves.

Twilight trotted up to me and tilted my head up with a hoof. “I know what this can feel like, Davin. It’s ok. Sorry we barged in here uninvited. I was just really curious to what kind of spell you used last night; I’ve never heard of anypony capable of anything like it before.”

Ok, Twilight, I’m not saying I’m questioning whatever you’ve been through, but you have no idea what I’ve been through these past few days. You have no idea what I’m feeling right now. Thanks for understanding though.

“It’s alright Twilight. Maybe we can talk tomorrow about it after I’m off work.”

Oh that’s right, tomorrow is Monday! Phew... For once, I’m actually looking forward to a Monday,as crazy as it is. It’s about time I get back to work; it will really help get my mind off things.

“Sounds good to me, Davin. See you later.” Twilight nodded and left out the door.

“Yeah, sorry.” Fluttershy agreed, lowering her head, following Twilight out the door.

“It’s alright Fluttershy. We’ll talk soon.” I dismissed the yellow pegasus with a polite wave of a hoof.

Pin Stripe trotted up to me next. “Hey pal, sorry about stressing you out.”

“Don’t blame yourself, buddy. There was already a lot on my mind.” I patted the brown stallion on the shoulder, and he stepped out the door.

I’m forgetting to say something... Hmm... Oh!

“Oh, hey, Pin Stripe?” I called out the door.

“Yeah?” he turned his head back around.

“Even though I’m not exactly sure of all that went down last night, I owe you a thanks. Not just for a good night, but for making sure I made it to the hospital and stuff in time.” I lightly touched the bandages on my head and managed a half-smile, “If you see Big Mac, tell him I said thanks too. I owe both you guys one.”

Pin Stripe smiled and nodded and continued down the corridor out of the apartment complex.

I turned back inside to my apartment to notice two ponies still remaining; Rainbow Dash and Lyra.

Rainbow was whispering something into Lyra’s ear, that is, until she noticed me looking her way. Rainbow snapped to attention and hovered in the air, casually holding her hooves behind her back.

“Ok, well I guess I’ll be going too, then. Catch ya later, Gavin!” Rainbow Dash darted out the door, leaving the trail of a rainbow behind.

I leant out the door to try and correct her on my name yet again, but all I managed was a sigh. I shook my head and leant back into my apartment, only to meet Lyra face to face.

“Rarity, look!” Sweetie Belle squeaked, holding up a newspaper to Rarity’s face, “I told you Davin is a good pony!”

Rarity glanced at the front page for a moment, but returned to hanging her head in sorrow.

“Hey, what’s wrong Rarity?” Sweetie Belle tilted her head in question, lowering the newspaper.

“Oh it’s nothing you should concern yourself over, Sweetie Belle.” Rarity tried to sound more enthusiastic, but she wasn’t fooling anypony.

“Did you and Braeburn get into a fight?” Sweetie raised a brow.

Rarity sighed, “You are too smart for your own good sometimes, Sweetie Belle.”

The little filly took a seat on her flank next to Rarity, “What happened? You might feel better if you tell somepony about it.”

Rarity smiled weakly to her little sister, “It’s alright, Sweetie Belle. I do appreciate your offer though, thank you.”

Sweetie belle lowered her head and sighed, “Alright Rarity. I’m just trying to be helpful.”

“I know you are. Thank you Sweetie Belle.” Rarity smiled down, “Say, how about we go get ourselves a treat from Sugarcube Corner? I’m sure that will cheer us up, no?”

“Ok!” Sweetie Belle hopped in excitement towards the door, swinging it open with her magic. Her excitement came to an abrupt stop as the sight of a tan earth pony with a cowboy hat stood in her path through the doorway.

Rarity was just as surprised as Sweetie Belle, her mouth fell open and her eyes were wide. “B-Braeburn?”

“Rarity, we really need’a talk.”

“So umm...” Lyra shuffled a hoof, looking down at the floor.

“So...” I scratched the side of my head, trying to play it cool.

“Would you like to...maybe...” Lyra bit her bottom lip nervously.

Is she really asking me...

“I don’t know...” She shrugged.

Yup. Yup she definitely is.

“Like, go to dinner with me, or something?” She tilted her head down a bit, managing a nervous half-smile, looking right into my eyes.

Those eyes, damnit. Those big, beautiful, glistening golden eyes are going to be the death of me, I swear. I mean, yeah, she’s gorgeous. But is it wrong for me to think that a pony is attractive? I mean, I’m a pony now too I guess, but... Is it wrong? Great! One more thing to add to the ‘list of things to process’! AHHHHH! TOO MANY CONFLICTING THOUGHTS! SHUT UP, BRAIN!

I really should tell her I just have way too much on my plate to consider any kind of a relationship right now... Ugh... But... HHNNNG I CAN'T EVEN--"

“I’d love to, Lyra.” I returned a half-smile.

She squee’d in delight and giggled, containing her excitement. “Okay. Are you free Wednesday night?”

“Yup I’m free; I don’t plan that far ahead.” I chuckled.

Lyra put a hoof to her mouth and giggled. “Ponyville Café at 7:30 on Wednesday evening then?”

“It’s a date.” I smiled to the giddy green unicorn.

“Alright. I’ll see you there.” Lyra stepped out of the door, but just as I was about to swing it closed, Lyra held the door open with her magic and practically tackled me with another kiss.

I was not expecting that, I was completely caught off guard... Again.

She broke off from the kiss, which was, needless to say, a bit deeper than the last one. She stared me down again with those eyes...

“Uhh-” Lyra hushed me with a hoof.

She hugged me again, whispering softly in my ear. “Thanks again for saving me.”

Lyra, I don’t even remember—ah, forget it.

I just answered her with a smile and a short chuckle.

“You’re probably okay to take those bandages off tomorrow morning. Good luck on your first day at work tomorrow, Davin. See you later.” With that, she waved a hoof goodbye and left my apartment.

Alright, now I have the rest of the night to actually process everything... Gee whiz, what a freakin’ day. Time to take a load off and get to bed. I picked up the newspaper in my teeth and trotted off to bed. First day of work tomorrow, might as well be rested up.

I crawled into bed, and actually read the front page article on the newspaper.

‘Blessing in Disguise’

Written by: Namby-Pamby.

Last night at approximately 2:45 A.M., downtown Ponyville was shaken by the collapse of the late Ponyville Town Hall. The Apple Family reports that the Hall will be rebuilt, with all funds being provided by this year’s Cider Season harvest.

The cause of collapse is still unknown, and undergoing investigation; however, the real story lies just seconds before the collapse of Town Hall.

Lyra Heartstrings, a local to Ponyville, nearly lost her life when a large section of the roof fell onto her, pinning her down. Pin Stripe, and newcomer to Ponyville, Davin, managed to lift the fallen section of roof high enough for Lyra to be freed, but she was in extremely severe critical medical condition. According to the eyewitness reports, Davin constructed a magic spell that completely restored Lyra’s health, which unfortunately for him, consequentially caused loss of his ability to perform magic, and wound him up in critical condition at Ponyville hospital late last night.

Identified eyewitnesses report:

Pin Stripe, manager and owner of Ponyville Hardware, says, “Before the collapse, I saw a friend completely risk his life for another. I didn’t even realize unicorns were capable of such a spell. I still can’t even describe what I saw. It was incredible.”

Big Macintosh, local, and member of the Apple Family, describes; “I’ve never seen somepony take a gamble on their life for somepony like that before. It was just luck we reached the hospital in time.”

Lyra herself also reports. “I’m just so thankful to know there’s somepony out there who’s not afraid to help somepony in need. I owe everything to Davin. He saved my life.”

We are happy to report that Davin is in good caring hooves, and he will be making a full and complete recovery.

Needless to say, I slept like a baby.

Author's Note

Well, I guess for this chapter I decided to really start getting things rolling.
Still no ending in sight for this story, and I hope you guys all continue to enjoy reading it!
I'll be updating as frequently as I possibly can.

As always, feel free to express your feedback. I try my best to consider and apply ideas and/or tips you may have!
Stay awesome you guys!