The four humans and the ponies walked through the snow, the bright sun shining down upon the group as they walked. The soft snow crunched under the hooves and boots of the group, the four humans leading the way to the train platform. Although the sky shone brightly, and the atmosphere was peaceful, no wind was present, the group's air was tense. The ponies whispered with each other, conversing about what to do when they get back to Canterlot. Cadence and Shining trailed behind, watching the groups with worry. The ponies continued to converse, but the humans were the most unnerving. The four stood in a diamond shape, but they were not talking at all. Kevin lead the group with Alex in the back, Cody on his left while Zack walked on the right. Cody seemed to be staring straight, refusing to look at anyone as they walked. Zack was dragging his feet. Alex and Kevin seemed to be the only ones that were keeping their composure.

" Do you think they're okay?" Rainbow asked her friends, everypony shrugging in response.

" It seems like something happened between them." Applejack said. Rarity raised a brow.

" Are you telling me there is tension between them? But why?" She said, looking to Twilight.

" I don't know, maybe they're just a little on edge from the fight with Sombra. Especially with what happened to Kevin and... Zack." Twilight thought of the scene. The amount of blood that leaked onto the crystal floor. So, much, blood.

" Alright, let's get back to Canterlot everyone. Shining, Cadence, may we meet on less dire terms someday." Kevin said, making everypony look up at the humans. Zack, Cody and Alex entered the train cart as Kevin waited for the rest of the group. Twilight turned around to give her brother a quick hug, doing the same to Cadence with a smile.

" Take care Twily, we love you." Shining said, Twilight giggling.

" Love you too B.B.B.F.F." Twilight said, before walking back to her friends as they boarded the train. Kevin waved goodbye to the couple before stepping in, the train doors closing behind him. The loud whistle could be heard from the inside of the train as the group took their seats, as the gears of the wheels began to turn. Kevin took a seat on the far side of the cart, resting his gun against the cushioned seat as he sighed. Kevin removed his helmet, placing it next to him as he looked out the window. The grinding of the wheels brought a peaceful white noise to his ears, and for the first time in a while in this universe, he was tired. So, very, tired. Kevin didn't fight it anymore, completely welcoming the darkness as the wheels echoed in his mind.

**********

" Kevin... Hey, Kevin...?" Something lightly nudged the man's shoulder, his eyes slowly opening to the sound of the person's voice. Kevin groaned as he looked up, Cody standing in front of him. Cody had his armor off, the only sign of a weapon was the magnum that was snug at his side. Kevin sat up, raising a brow as he brought down the bandana covering his mouth.

" Cody? Hey uh... what is it?" Kevin asked, noticing the cart was unusually dark. He looked around, his eyes finally adjusting. The calming blue hue filling the cart through the windows. The light would shimmer from a tree or another object as the train sped on by. Kevin yawned, before looking back at Cody, who continued to stand in place. " Um... Where is everybody?"

" The girls went to the sleeping carts, you seemed comfortable enough that no one decided to disturb you." He replied. Kevin nodded his head, getting up from his seat as he grabbed his equipment. He gave Cody a smile.

" Well, then I guess I better join them." He said, as he began to walk down the cart.

" I don't think so Kevin." Cody said, Kevin stopping in his retreat. Kevin sighed, looking towards the ground of the cart.

" Guess he just couldn't wait until we arrived huh?" Kevin said to himself, before putting his stuff down. He turned around to face his friend, taking a seat on one of the cushions. Cody prompted to lean against the wall, the sound of the trains wheels the only noise that filled the air. Kevin rested his elbows on his knees as he interlocked his fingers. Leaning forward, he looked up to Cody with a neutral mask. " You said we needed to talk. It seems like you need to say it now." Kevin hesitated, trying to choose his words carefully. " Well then, what is it that has you troubled Cody?" Kevin asked. Cody's eyes seemed to intensify under the gentle hue of the night. His reply made Kevin's hair raise.

" You." Cody said, before breaking eye contact, and instead focused on the passing landscape. Kevin took his que to say something.

" Me? Why me?" Kevin said.

" Because you don't seem to understand what type of situation we're in, do you?" He said. Kevin exhaled, looking up to Cody.

" Of course I do. We need to get home and we're gonna do that. I know the risk that we have to take in order to get there, and sometimes we have to take risks." Kevin said. Cody turned to him, now glaring into Kevin's eyes.

" Does that include almost getting us killed?" His words stabbed through Kevin's defense like paper. Kevin opened his mouth, but found his words to be stuck in his mouth. " Do you remember what happened in the fucking square? Do you know what happened when we found you? Found... Zack." Cody stepped closer, making Kevin sit up straight as he did. He was about to say, but he remembered. He was knocked out from the fight.

" No. I was knocked out from the fight." He said.

" Zack was laying on the ground in his own blood, half dead from the injuries that were given to him when you both fought Sombra." He said. Kevin's eyes widened at this news.

" And then you guys saved him. By using my medical supplies." Kevin said, Cody nodding.

" Let's get back to you. What would have happened had you said no?" Cody's voice rang in Kevin's ears. " What would have happened if you instead decided to stay and focus on a way of getting home, rather than helping these ponies with what has happened in their Empire? Do you think maybe then Zack wouldn't have been so close to..." Cody sighed, raising a hand to his face as he pinched the bridge of his nose. " Kevin, you're one of my best friends, ever since preschool. We've known each other for a while, and you know that no matter what we say to each other, we're still friends." Cody said, Kevin simply nodding in understanding.

" Th-that's right. We're still friends." Kevin repeated.

" We chose you to make the group decisions, mostly because, well, you keep us together." Cody started off, his face showing a small smirk. That faint smirk quickly vanished into a frown. " But that does not mean we will blindly follow rash decisions. I'm not afraid to be in charge if I have to." Cody said. Kevin's mind was processing his friends words.

" I understand why you are upset Cody. I chose for us to go because..." Kevin sighed. " We need those girls Cody. We need them to get home. We need them to make sure that our families see us again. That we see our world together again." Kevin said, Cody looking at the ground as he listened intently. Kevin continued. " From your perspective I can see my mistake. Zack almost... died. It hurts to say that I was the one responsible for such a risk but I am. We... no I was too reckless to jump to the conclusion that we can help this world. When we, you Zack Alex, me, need far more help than them." Kevin said, closing his eyes as he clenched his hands. Kevin got up, staring Cody in the eyes with a worried look.

" I should have been more careful Cody. We don't belong in this world, and I should have focused more on the safety of us, before the safety of them." Kevin finished, looking at the green carpet, the trains wheels the only noise. Cody walked past Kevin, to the sleeping carts.

" I'm glad you understand Kevin. I knew you would. Just, try not to get us in any situation that would potentially lead to death." Cody said, opening the door as he waited. Kevin smirked, looking up to Cody who smiled, before grabbing his equipment as walking past his friend.

" Sure." He said, Cody closing the door to the cart.

**********

The train hissed to a stop at the Canterlot station, ponies on the platform waiting to head home or to leave. The doors to the passenger cars opened, ponies on the platform waiting for the ponies to leave. What they didn't expect, was a creature as tall as Celestia, covered in clothing and carrying something in its claws, to emerge from the cart, groaning as it stretched its back.

" Ugh! God I did not sleep well in that damn thing. How did you three manage?" It asked, turning to three others that quickly exited the train.

" Just curl up dude. I take lessons from my cat whenever she sleeps." The one with the boonie hat said, slinging what appeared to be a long metal club over its back, the front of it looked like it had teeth. Six ponies stepped out from behind them, the purple one walking up to the first creature. By now ponies have either left the platform in terror or continued to stare.

" Let's head to castle and tell the princesses of the news. I'm sure they'll be glad to know what happened." Twilight said, Kevin nodding in agreement as they started to move.

Through the streets of Canterlot, Kevin watched as some of the ponies were still not used to him or his friends since their arrival, when the changeling invasion happened. Most of the ones that didn't approve of their presence were usually ones that seemed to wear a lot of expensive clothing. Kevin watched, most ponies stopped and stared, neutral looks on their faces as Kevin could only guess what they were thinking. As they continued, Kevin eventually saw the twin doors under the half crest of the steps. Sighing, he turned to Twilight.

" Well, here we are. You go in first, figuring you would like some alone time with the princess." Kevin said. Twilight smiled as she nodded.

" I'll tell her what's happened. I'll also need to make sure that I passed the test or not." She said, sounding worried near the end of her sentence. Kevin raised a brow under his goggles.

" What do you mean? What test?" He asked. Twilight started walking up to the doors, opening one of them. She turned to Kevin, a small smile on her face.

" One of my friends should be able to tell you Kev. Excuse me." She said, walking inside. Kevin sighed, turning to her friends, but noticed them eyeing him with looks he couldn't read.

" What? What is it girls?" He asked. rarity cleared her throat.

" Did you not just see what happened darling? Twilight just pet named you." She said. Kevin replayed the recent event in his head. She did call him Kev before entering the building. Um... okay. Kevin shrugged.

" Your point?" He asked. The girls looked at him in shock.

" What do you mean 'your point'? I've never heard her use it before." Rarity said.

" I'm with Rares on this one. She ain't never pet named anyone 'cept for her brother." Applejack said. Kevin didn't understand what they were so freaked out about, looking to his friends with a raised hand, a gesture known as 'wtf are they talking about?'.

" Don't look at me man I don't know why their all surprised. Maybe she's comfortable enough to become friends with us? I mean we call you by that all the time." Alex reasoned, Cody stepping in as well.

" not to mention it's kinda hard to get adjusted in this society." He said. Kevin looked back to the girls.

" Cody is right, I mean it's been kinda hard for us. Maybe she is trying to make us feel more comfortable." He said. " Wait, I don't even know why were even going into depth about this, it's not a big deal." Kevin reasoned. Rarity gasped, raising a hoof to her head. She was about to say something but Applejack beat her to it.

" Aw shucks, maybe he's right. Sorry fer making it a huge deal Kevin. just we ain't never heard her use a nickname at all except for her brother like I said. Maybe she just feels more comfortable around you I guess." She said, before walking back to her friends as they conversed, waiting for Twilight to finish her talk with Celestia. Rarity decided to join Applejack, whispering in her ear with a furrowed brow. Kevin walked over to his friends, as they began to sit down on the grass, Cody taking his helmet off as Zack tucked his glasses onto the collar of his shirt.

" What do you think is gonna happen?" Zack asked.

" I don't know. I don't even know what this 'test' was that Twilight was talking about." He said. Alex sighed as he fell back, resting his head on his arms behind his back as he stared into the blue sky.

" Well, whatever happens, I hope we don't have to fight something menacing anytime soon." He said, quickly covering a yawn with his hand.

" You look tired man." Zack said, earning a chuckle from Alex.

" Fucking feel tired. I AM tired. Still shit faced from the fight." He said. Kevin's mood darkened, the discussion on the train coming back to him. He couldn't see it, but he knew Cody glanced at him, the same thing coming into his mind. Kevin quickly dispersed those thoughts. No, we're here now, be glad about that. Kevin smiled to Alex.

" I'm sure we'll be able to get enough rest when the Twilight finishes her conversation with the Princess." As Kevin said this, the doors opened for the second time, Twilight walking out with her bangs covering her eyes. Kevin watched as her friends crowded her, looks of worry on their faces.

" I... passed!" She screamed with joy, her friends hugging her in celebration. Kevin smiled, his friends getting up from their positions as they walked up to her as well.

" Congratulations Twilight for... whatever the hell you did." Zack said, smiling as knelt down to her level. Twilight smiled to Zack, raising her hoof. Zack fist bumped it, Alex walking up to her as well.

" I don't know what she said you passed on, but seeing how stressed you were, I'm glad she gave you a pass. Congrats Twilight." Alex said, Kevin walking up. Twilight smiled as she looked up at him. Kevin chuckled as he knelt down.

" Good job Twilight. Haven't seen you that happy at all. Whatever it was, I'm sure it was a huge wait that was lifted off your chest." He said. Twilight smiled as she placed a hoof on his knee. He looked at the hoof before looking back up at her. She gave him a smirk.

" I requested to Celestia that she talks to you and your friends about your living arrangements." She said. Kevin raised a brow.

" Wait, what do you mean? Like where we get to sleep and everything? Don't we-" He was cut off by Twilight, who shook her head.

" Nope, those are the guest rooms, and sadly aren't a permanent living space. I gave her a suggestion that you and your friends may like, but that's for her to say not me." She giggled, before she started to walk away. Kevin smiled, surprised that she and her friends have still shown so much hospitality to him and his friends. He placed a hand on her withers, making her stop in place. She turned to Kevin, her eyes a little wide, her mouth slightly open in stunned silence. He turned to her, his hidden smile growing under his mask.

" Thanks Twilight. I mean it. You and your friends, as well as the princesses have done so much for us, and we honestly couldn't thank you more for being so generous. We'll find a way to repay you somehow, but in the meantime, the only thing I... we can say, is thank you." Kevin said, raising his hand to her head. With a quick back and forth motion, Kevin ruffled her mane in a playful manner. He didn't see it, but Twilight's face flushed a barely visible pink, lowering her head as sputtered under her breath. Her friends smiled, Rainbow snickering as they watched their friend. Kevin released his hold, Twilight back stepping to her friends. She continued to look at the ground, her mouth trying to form words.

" I-um-well-that's." Twilight's mind was working overtime. She'd been pet before, her family did it to her when she was still a foal. But those fingers... hooves were nothing compared to those. Spike's claws were sharp, good for precise scratching, but the dull fingers these humans had, were a firm but smooth to the touch.

" Aw shucks Kevin it was nothin'. Glad we were able to help you through such a hard time." Applejack said with a smile, covering for Twilight. Kevin sighed, standing back up.

" Well, we better get going then. We'll see you girls some other time 'kay?" He said, the groups departing in different directions with the sounds of farewells.

**********

Kevin and his friends stood in front of Celestia, the doors closing behind them as Celestia descended her throne. Celestia looked out one of the massive windows, the lights from the Crystal Empire still shining brightly. She looked back to the four humans, a smile and a few drops of water near the edge of her eyes.

" It's beautiful." She started. " I can't thank you enough for assisting in the help of bringing the Crystal Empire back. I am truly grateful." Celestia said with a bow of her head. Kevin took that as the sign to kneel, his friends joining soon after.

" It was the least we could do, after you and your friends went out of their way to make sure we were comfortable in this world." He said.

" Twilight did raise my attention to where you four are gonna live, since those guest rooms are gonna be used by others such as ambassadors or high class nobles from across the sea." She said. Kevin and his friends stood up as Celestia walked up to him. " While I did find this a little troubling, Twilight brought up an idea that just might work for you and your friends." She said. Kevin smiled, his friends doing the same as they looked to one another.

" And the idea is? I'm interested in hearing what it is." Alex said. Kevin nodded in agreement. Celestia's smile, as well as her features seemed to brighten.

" Twilight suggested that you go with her and her friends, and live with them in Ponyville." She said. Kevin raised a brow.

" Ponyville? Where is that?" He asked.

" Ponyville is at the bottom of the hill, near the Everfree forest, where I believe you said you came from, and decided to climb the hill." She replied. Kevin raised a hand to his chin, nodding as he processed the information. Celestia continued. " She said that you and her have been sending letters to each other. Spike sending you hers and you having one of my guards do the same. She said you and her talked a lot about trying to find ways of making it back home, as well as different types of magic and the culture of us ponies." She said.

" Yeah that's right. I wanted to know about all the possibilities of magic as well as what do to around you ponies, since we are probably gonna be her for a while. The past days have proved that." Kevin said. Celestia nodded.

" True. But seeing as that you want to get home, and that Ponyville is very lacking in the... defense department. You will have a place to stay, while also being able to gain currency. Unless you would want to rely on others to buy things for you." Celestia said with a giggle. Kevin didn't want to have ponies buying him things all the time, it would be a major hit to his pride as well as being a burden to others.

" So we go to Ponyville, live there, help keep it safe since it's right next to the forest that we came out of, and we get paid for protecting it?" Kevin summed up, Celestia nodding. He looked to his friends, each of them giving him their own gestures of ' its your choice'. He looked back to Celestia, the words of Cody's warning on the train lingered. He looked up to Celestia, sighing.

" Your choice?" Celestia said.

" We'll go to Ponyville with the girls, and make sure nothing too bad happens. Or nothing bad at all." He said.

" Excellent." Celestia said, walking over to the throne doors as they opened for her and the four humans. " Now we'll need to get the job descriptions, a couple of bits for each of you, train tickets and you'll be on your way." She said. As they walked, Kevin decided to ask the question anyways.

" Where are we gonna live in the town?" He asked.

" I have assigned you four to be in one of the Element's houses. Zack will be staying with Applejack. Alex I will have you staying with Rarity. Cody you'll be bunking with Pinkie Pie and Kevin-" Celestia opened the twin doors, the sunshine flooding in as they walked outside. Celestia turned around to face Kevin, giggling a little under her breath. " You will be staying with Twilight."

Author's Note

DONE! Hope you all enjoy this chapter! Our four friends have now been officially moved to the one place were everything goes to hell in a hand basket EVERY TIME! Here's to hoping they don't get too much trouble. And can they... WILL they... find a way to return home? Who knows.

Next time on Squad Up: " Welp here we are"- " That's a lot of books"-" What did you say!?"- " Um, hi?"-" Talk about the locals"
" SURPRISE!!!"
Chapter: Newcomers.

Keep on Writing and Keep on Reading!!!