The Rise and Fall

Again I'm not able to sleep tonight. It's just been a few days after I saw my mothers on screen interview with the news team who had visited to ask about our relation. I didnt know if mom wanted me to confirm or deny it myself but with the paperwork being shown on screen its believable. Its about midnight... Mac was snoring in his room and he's been having problems as of late with that. Says apparently its bugging Winona if she's in there and it scares Scootaloo if she sleeps with her door open. Neither me or AJ even wake up if he does start snoring this bad. But that's not what was keeping me up. It wasnt another existential crisis, it wasnt an attempt at a bet Dash wanted to dish out because she was bored (yes she actually bet which one of us would stay up the longest and I didnt even agree on it yet she said she won because I fell asleep at the same time I always do and just to shut her up I made a bet she couldnt take apart her vacuum cleaner and put it back together. She started crying when she thought she broke it and I wouldnt help fix it. But I did and told her not to make stupid bets with me.) and it certainly wasnt the feeling of someone watching me. That feeling has since then died down and if anyone is watching me I hope they like me with my pants around my ankles and a hand on my dick while I watch porn. And that wasnt keeping me up either. I was feeling like I was forgetting something. Almost like I had started a puzzle but when I wanted to finish it my body basically said 'go play video games and piss your pants while doing so' and I did and forgot everything. Like where I put that puzzle. I had my phone with me texting Gilda. 'Are you sure theres nothing wrong? You seemed kinda bugged by something earlier.' I said.

I waited a moment staring at her picture. It was safe just in case Scootaloo ever got to my phone but it was a snapshot of a video she sent me. She's wearing a short dress, very her style. Short, black, some spikes here and there with skulls and fishnets. Yeah she doesnt normally wear dresses but since its getting hotter and stallions cant keep it in their pants at times she's resorting to wearing dresses. Meaning she flashes someone before punching their lights out and nobody gets in trouble. Well... Everyone gets smacked but me. And in this video? She was at a park showing there were ponies around but none close to her. She lifted up her dress, flicked the bean a bit and just had a walk to a nearby baseball diamond and just finished her business. Pissed, came and cleaned up. Also I got that while we were at Sugarcube corner. Pinkie next to me and AJ across the table... And Nobody else in there.... Not even the cakes. Pinkie even saw my phone and well.... Lets just say she had a glazed donut but not glazed with frosting... nor was it her ass I glazed. She literally glazed a donut with my spunk. AND ATE IT! Applejack just watched the whole time. Kinky Pinkie... Anyways Gilda texted back. 'I said I'm fine dude. Just because I didnt wanna talk to you earlier doesnt mean I'm pissed at you or anything. I was busy with Dash!' She replied. I sighed.

'Gil... I asked Dash earlier what was going on with you and she tells me you were mopey... Is something going on that I dont know about? C'mon I dont wanna have to talk you down from a deadly situation again.' Again I waited a moment this time going through my pictures. Some of Gilda being a tease, others of the family being awesome, even Scootaloo and mom hanging out and even cuddling during a nap while we were stuck inside the Princess' castle when that blizzard hit. My phone vibrated as another notification from Gilda showed on screen.

'....Why are you so persistent...? FINE! You know what's been bugging me? My mom! She's bugging me about why I never call, never let her know what I've been up to and shit like that... She's even been bugging me about my sexuality and shit AND SHE KNOWS I LIKE GIRLS TOO!'

'Your mom sounds so fucking annoying... if she's asking if you're ever having a kid just tell her it all depends if she's gonna be like that with them. If we ever go to Griffonstone together we're staying in a hotel rather than in your mothers home... and thats if someone pays me to go on a long ass flight there.' Not even a moment later Gilda texted back. Didnt even give me time to look at a lewd picture Fluttershy sent me let alone even touch myself to.

'Got it. No going back to Griffonstone. If my mom wants to see me and such she's gonna have to come out here. You good as well? Need to chat a bit? Video call maybe?'

'No call... But... I just cant sleep... Not freaking out, not having an anxiety attack... Not even a nightmare keeping me up... I just feel like there's something I'm forgetting... It's bugging the crap out of me...' This time the silence rang loud and proud. I lied down on the couch and just started scrolling through pictures again. Some of it may have been lewd pics of the wife being naughty out in the orchard, some of Gilda being lewd both with toys, with Dash eating her out and even her with pissy pants and a few knuckles deep up on a cloud and she even sent me a picture of her blowing her male counterpart. Snagged that real quick while we were crossing over a bit. They're pretty much both teases. MAJOR teases. Like seriously Rylee told me through a book both Twilight and Dusk enchanted that she got a pic of Gil eating Gilda out. My phone flashed a bit as I spaced out at some of the pictures.

'If you have some milk, warm it up and drink it. Best advice I can give ya without getting stains over anything that isnt your wifes coat. Or be using the toilet for something other than what it should be used for unless you wanna go use your pants outside. Just relax dude. You'll figure it out sooner or later like I do when I go into the fridge for some food but forget and grab something else instead. Breathe, piss your pants, drink warm milk DO SOMETHING MAN!' I waited another moment. 'I'm gonna hit the hay now. Less sleep I have the less you'll see later...' I gave a huff getting up from the couch.

'Alright. Sleep well Gil... Take pictures if you wet the bed.' She wasnt gonna answer after that. I did as she said and went to the kitchen and poured myself a glass of milk to warm up in the microwave. Ten seconds did it. Powerful microwave. Drank it and went back up stairs just to cuddle up to Applejack and pass out.

I soon found myself in a dreamscape that looked like my old home. It's been so long since it burned down but I still remember it. I was sat down on the couch in front of the TV, the kitchen off to my right, stairs going up to the left and my room at the top of the stairs, Scoots next to mine and our parents at the end of the hall. I heard a sigh come from the kitchen just before seeing Luna step out. She had a tank top and sweat pants on as well with bunny slippers. "Sorry to bring you back here General but... I think we needed a bit of a kick in the pants for nostalgia..." She said. "I remember the last time I was here... Scootaloo's birthday during your time in the war.... She had a nightmare about you and your parents... Except it was a role swap... Had her so scared she wet the bed and I had to bring her down here to have her sleep peacefully... In my worrying haste I had forgotten to let my sister know as well as didnt notify Shining of mine and Scootaloo's werabouts. Sweetie Belle thought she had lost her friend to a kidnapper. It was something that I needed to rectify... That night was special for her since she met Gems and got to see you, tired out of your mind yes but willing to stay up just for her..."

I huffed. "I still cant forget it... Two cameras on my computer. One of Gems feeding me the excited energy to stay awake longer and just seeing the look on my sisters and friends faces when I was on screen..." I said. "Hell... Sending Gems out I almost started crying because I saw Scootaloo freak out and start crying... What I would've done to be there to hug her...." She came over and sat on the couch, resting a hand on my shoulder.

"If you had asked, I would've done those things for you... She'd get that hug, a kiss on the cheek and more time if you hadnt gone and passed out after that concert... I feel like if you had gotten sent off to war earlier you probably would've made a great surprise birthday present for your sister... Tell me... What was the plan you had to surprise her again if your plane didnt go down?" I had to think on this... What was it again? It's been a while and I've had other things on my mind. That's when the TV turned on.

"Well..." I started as the static on it flared to life. "My plane would've landed outside of Fillydelphia and on the way back home I would've been riding with... someone... who was bound for Ponyville only to have them drop me at the school..." Luna watched as the images in my head played on the screen. "...I'd've had the office call Cheerilee and tell her I'd be coming in but to not tell Scootaloo. I'd like to think she could've been at her desk, drawing or something and when I drop my stuff at the door she just rushes me, hugging me and crying... maybe jerking a few tears from her classmates as well... Not sure what i'd've done after that... maybe tell her i'd pick her up later once she had calmed down and see Applejack... I dont think i'd need to tell you what was going to happen there..." And just like that the TV turned off just as it showed Applejack and I getting a bit intimate... nothing showing yet but there was a lot of tongue involved.

"I'm sure Celestia would've greeted you after that, pants or not just to have a tearful farewell to her favorite filly who taught her many things as well as I. It doesnt matter how old one is to have such wisdom and love... nor to have fears and desires... Yes we spoiled her near rotten but it was to get her mind off you while you were away... Celestia told me that night after we had gotten her that she cried and screamed for you the whole morning and through dinner at times... It was heartbreaking, seeing how much you mean to her and having you so far away unable to do anything about it..." I sighed laying down on her lap.

"...If that day had gone something like that I'm wondering... what would've happened to this place...? What would've happened to me?"

"And I've explored those options weeks after you had gotten back... some days after your home was burned down... One... Was grim... If the plane didnt kill you something else did.... The house was alright but... you werent.... Another was both of you being at home and you hurt Scootaloo because she woke you up and accidentally hit her... You were forced to give her over to Rainbow Dash while you went to an asylum where you got help for night terrors... I didnt step in at all because Scootaloo called Celestia and told us what you did... All you did was bruise her and accidentally give her a bloodied nose and a black eye... that was just enough to realize your mistakes and turn yourself over for help. The last one? It was the same thing as the second one except for Applejack... Except this time you werent able to get away without bruising of your own. Big Mac had beaten you so bad you had to be loaded into an ambulance and sent off to heal before going to the asylum. No charges but Applejack didnt trust sleeping next to you at all and broke it off still keeping you at arms length just in case... Your love life was strange after that."

"Didnt find anyone did I?"

"You did but... lets just say it was due to your cranial trauma and your mental issues that you couldnt exactly go near the school... Or Rarity..." I cringed at what I heard. Not explaining it.... Too horrifying to know and so obvious on what i did... "Now that isnt why I came here... I came to ask if you wish to finish things off with a certain scenario you had started while you were at war. The scenario being if I hadnt turned to Nightmare moon thus creating two separate empires ruled over by me and my sister. If you remember you werent a pegasus and you were running through the shadows for a life of crime, your sister adopted by mine and such."

"Do you remember what I was wearing? I certainly dont." Luna started to think as I sat up.

"I think it was something like this..." She snapped her fingers and my outfit was instantly changed. Gems long sleeve, jeans and high top sneakers. I looked myself up and down and gave a whistle.

"Yeah... Definitely something I wear... Feels right..." I looked to her. "Now what? Where were we with the placement of us?" I could see her type on a mystical invisible calculator.

"I remember you being in a bathroom... and me....? A hidden safe room?" I hummed thinking.

"Oh yeah... I remember now... You got tired going through hat scenario last time and you had to go in there to take a quick nap and I ended up having a bit of a mental breakdown under the circumstances. Ended up hiding in a bathroom when I started talking about AJ and Scoot.... Being so far away from em definitely brought on a lot of issues there.... Think I was talking with Shining Armor in there before I basically shoved him and closed myself in to the bathroom to get the fuck out of there... I should be much more mentally stable now that I'm home in their arms..." Luna hummed creating the bathroom in the dreamscape around us. More or less what I remember.

"There. Now if I'm correct we're a few minutes in to when you came in here. Pretend you were crying or something to make it believable."

"Okay. Just remember when you go back to the room nobody is to come in and to not speak to them. At. All. You're supposed to be silent if I'm remembering correctly." She was about to speak but stopped herself giving a nod. I watched as she just teleported away. Knocking at the door started. I quickly splashed water on my face and just made myself a bit red in the face... or at least I was trying to.

I dabbed some soap onto my fingers and touched my eyes and oh my god they stung... I know I was asleep but this felt real as hell. I held it together long enough to get some water into my hands and quickly washing the soap out of my eyes. "Mr. Wrench? Is everything okay in there?" I hear Shining ask. That's right... I was with Shining armor before I freaked out about Scoot and AJ and locked myself in here. I had to think of something.

"Wh-Who are you? What do you want?" I'm not supposed to do this but it's a tactic that could get me in MAJOR trouble if used in the wrong area. I fake memory loss and make it convincing.

"Mr. Wrench its me! Shining Armor. Did you forget me already? Can I come in? Please?"

"Just... K-keep your hands where I can see them!" I opened the door slightly and backed up to the furthest point I could from the door as it opened. When Shining stepped in I saw him wearing black dress pants, shoes and a white dress shirt with a blue vest. He had his hands up out in front of him.

"Easy... I'm a friendly.... Do you remember who I am? Can I check you for injuries?" I hesitantly nodded as I stepped closer to him. My hands stayed where they were where he could see them. He took me by the wrist and sat me down on the toilet before running a hand over my head, pressing my temples, the top of my head, around the neck and stuff. "Okay... No injuries... no blood, no cranial head trauma.... Must be an internal thing.... Is there a history of brain damage with you?"

"...I.... I do suffer from slight memory loss.... It gets bad at times and I could lose days or at the least a few minutes or hours...."

"What's the last thing you remember?"

"I remember.... arriving and talking with Celestia... but...." I gasped. "Miss X! Where is she?!" I pushed him away looking around frantically before going out into the hall. He came after me, grabbing my shoulders and putting me against the wall.

"Woah woah! Breathe.... Breathe.... She's alright.... I guarantee she is. You asked to put her in a safe room so she could take a nap..."

"How do I know this? F-For all I know you could've hurt her! You could just be hiding it!" He sighed taking my hand.

"Come on now... I'll show you where she is and I'll explain what was happening before all this.... okay?" I hesitantly nodded. "Breathe deep... I dont wanna lug around a stallion over my shoulder unless it's absolutely necessary okay?" I started breathing deep as per instruction. "There... After you arrived Celestia had you speak with a little filly she had adopted. Poor thing had her mother murdered and you basically put a good thought in her head that she's got family elsewhere. After that you brought Miss X to the saferoom for a nap and that we'd go to talk but you ended up having a slight mental breakdown about your own wife and sister whom you havent seen for a while... Tell me... How long has it been since you've seen them?" I thought for a moment.

"I... I'm not sure now.... For all I know... I could've been away for years.... Months.... Little contact because Miss X only allows me so much time for contact with loved ones... I dont like it but... I understand the reasoning behind it..."

"That paranoid about the situation she's in she trusts nobody but yourself and allows little time to talk to family... I'd say it sounds horrible but... Its kinda seen there.... Take too long, think you're starting to conspire... Celestia was like that at one point but that was years and years ago. Now? If she ever gets paranoid its because something happened and she doesnt want it to get worse... She actually tried baking a cake once for my sisters birthday and almost burnt it. She saved it from crisping but when she started frosting it somehow it broke apart, and caught fire.... She got it before the flames tipped off the fire alarm but when she bakes its usually with some help and a few timers." I sighed.

"Sounds like me the first time I started cooking... used too much oil in my stir fry and there's a ball of fire in the wok and my dad thought I was gonna burn the house down..."

"My dad did apparently burn down his first apartment. Same thing. Cooking something, too much oil, flame ignited it and the fireball snagged some nearby towels and the rest is history... But that's when he met my mom and things went on from there." We turned a few corners until we came to a book case. "All right. Here we are. This is where we're keeping Miss X. Maybe you can go in, have a little rest yourself? It's easier to open from the inside than the out but let me show you the combination just in case alright?" I nodded. I watched him as he started pulling some books which I totally read like... uh... That one with... a mare and a stallion... and a thing.... Dont tell Twilight.... After about four books were pulled out one more book slid out revealing it was a handle. Shining grabbed it and opened up the book case revealing the room behind it. There inside the room was Luna, face still hidden by her mask and hood laying on her side tucked under the covers. "There. See? She's alright." He nudged me inside. "Go on and have a lie down. I'm sure she'll appreciate the company." I nodded hesitantly stepping inside, acting as if I was nervous walking into a trap or something. I waited until the door finally closed before sitting on the foot of the bed.

Luna gave it a moment before sitting up. "There you are! Is everything alright?" She asked throwing the covers off and sitting at my side. I nodded. "What happened?"

I huffed. "Well," I started. "I found out more things. Just to remind myself for things yknow? We're here to see if we cant reunite Scootaloo with myself but... Now that I say that aloud there's a big problem there..." She removed her mask giving me a confused look.

"What's the issue? Is it how you got that information or is it something else?"

"Well its fine on how I got it- if you can look past the one card I didnt wanna pull being the 'memory lapse' card but it was an ace I needed. Though... the issue is... Dont you remember what happened after we started this?"

"This happened when you were bedridden from a gunshot injury before this... and then there was the plane crash..." I could start to see the numbers fly around in her head as she was putting the numbers together. She stayed silent and confused for a good few minutes. I sighed.

"Luna... The dinner? With my parents?" And just like that 2 and 2 clicked making 4.

"Oh sweet sister of mine.... You're right! If this dream didnt tip us off to what your bloodline wasnt that surely sealed it! You're gonna have to think of something when the time comes for the big reveal... Especially to your sister when she finds out.... She's going to scream and cry like she did during that dinner..." She rested a wing on my shoulder. "...I can tell you while she was getting changed she could not stop crying.... Her screams even attracted the attention of guards I'm told." I sighed.

"...We gotta think of a contingency for when she does get that bloodwork back and it reveals no siblings but-"

"But it will reveal the other parent and anyone else in their bloodline as well. Perhaps your father could still be alive in this universe, possibly with another kid."

"...I swear I'm not all there at times..." I replied blushing. She chuckled slightly.

"And that's why I'm here to help." She hugged me nice and tight. "Do you want me to skip around in time a couple hours so we can act like we did take a nap? Dont know if someone will check on us in that time but if they do I'll stop it and we can just act as if we were still asleep and/or just waking up." I nodded. "Alright... Bear with me for a second so...." I watched as she pulled back her hood slightly to reveal her horn. It glowed for a moment and I swear I heard the stereotypical sound of a fast forwarding video. Even if it was just slightly there. As it slowed down to normal... Not much change in the room but I can only assume it was normal for the moment, Luna hid her horn again. "There. If I'm correct and it should be a few hours later. Do you want to step out alone or do you wish for me to come with you again?"

"Well... I think you should come with me just in case someone starts questioning things.... Mostly about your wherabouts and such... Maybe Shining to see how I'm feeling with the memory lapse."

"Well lead on then." I gave a nod and we both went to the door. I motioned for her to stay back as I turned the handle. This was just in case someone was there and ready to pounce. I was thinking someone would be suspicious here because of Luna's dark clothing if I remember that she's a dictator in this universe. We went out into the room since nobody was there. I closed the book case back up hearing locks click and seeing some books pop out for a moment and pop back in. Totally read those books... yep... totally did... Dont tell Twilight otherwise she WILL make me read these books and make me do a book report on them... I always hated book reports in school. I looked to Luna as she checked around the room humming slightly.

"Alright. Should be good now. Lets move out!" She gave me a thumbs up before we both walked out into the hall only to see Shining Armor coming our way with Celestia at her side.

Shining smiled as he noticed us. Luna grabbed onto my arm and hid behind me a bit. "There we are! All good there Mr. Wrench?" He asked. I nodded.

"Yeah...Guess all I needed was a nap... Feeling right as rain here."

"That's wonderful. Celestia wanted to come see if you were okay after that little episode. I had to tell her just because... Well it seemed like a security risk if you forget that much of a day after a mental breakdown like that... I just want everyone to be safe here... Guests as well as those living here."

Celestia huffed. "He is right." She said. "I'd rather not have to have guards frighten a guest when he has mental instability when it comes to certain situations. Nor would I like to have anyone here be frightened because of that same thing. I'm just glad Scootaloo is with her tutor now for an extra hand with homework before the tests. I told her how we'd have to do it and how long we'd have to wait for the test results. Two, three days tops for the results." I huffed.

"I understand that Celestia... But... I did realize after my episode I did tell that filly- Scootaloo- that she could have a father and possible siblings.... Now I'm not sure but... I just hope I'm not wrong with this... Dont want her going on a tirade just because I was wrong about this...."

"I assure you even if you are wrong about the siblings she could be a bit down but the father.... its gonna be hard to calm her down if its anything like her mother.... She still has nightmares about seeing her mothers dead body... even worse ones about if the killer was still in the house... what they could've done to her... Therapy seems to have cut down on the bed wettings but with her nightmares it seems almost endless... There have been nights where I'd ask her teacher to give us what lesson it was she taught that day because Scootaloo was up half the night in her room just because of the nightmares." I've seen that ONE time... Dash's place after the murders. Dash and I were up for a bit talking about what happened... the jail, where I was... Everything. Scootaloo woke up from a nightmare and didnt make a sound. Problem was when Dash and I both went to sleep- me on the couch and Dash in her room- neither of us went to check on Scootaloo. When I went to wake her for breakfast I saw her cuddling a pillow in the corner, TV on, and her just freaking out. I had to sit down with Dash, talk with her about who'd be staying with her for the next few nights until we got the house back. But even then it took a week more and we stayed at Dash's longer. So she took a few days, i took a few days and one of those we each woke up with a crying wet filly who had a nightmare....

"I assure you Mr. Wrench its going to be fine. Its going to be nobodies fault if things dont pan out and it is understood.... I assume its how your family works correct? If things go wrong somehow its your fault?" I nodded.

"Yes... my wife or uh... marefriend... she gives me issues when I say something but something else pops up making things change. Work comes first here and she doesnt understand that. If she knew what was at stake- and if I could tell her- she'd understand but... I'm under a mostly strict NDA to not say anything too revealing about the job."

"She needs to see the importance in work to protect someones life. Shining here understands and so does his marefriend. He doesnt see her a lot but he protects her and I alike. You do the same I assume." I nodded. "Good. Now why dont you and Miss X come with us? It's just about time for dinner and I'm sure you're famished!" I looked to Luna a bit worried. She grasped onto me, her grip tightening on my shoulder really quick. I looked back to Celestia.

"We're fine. Meals for Miss X and I are not needed. We limit ourselves to one big meal every morning to keep ourselves fed throughout the day just in case someone were to poison the food so I must respectfully decline the meal offer."

"I understand. As for now go where you please just please stay out of any areas that I have guards posted at. I have an entertainment room upstairs, you can have a walk in the back courtyard if you want and theres always a time to join us for a little chat while we eat." I glanced at Luna for a second. I looked back at Celestia sighing.

"I think a walk in the courtyard is just what we need. Fresh air but uh... Your guards... I might need them sticking to a perimeter and to listen to my commands while we're out there. Is there a way you could do that?" She looked me up and down, humming a bit.

"I suppose. But with the orders its going to be nothing too harsh or to leave their post. If you wish to move their post I shall allow it but they will alert if any danger is nearby so keep an eye out and an ear handy." I gave a nod.

"Understood Celestia. Now... An escort to the courtyard if you can?"

"But of course! I forget you're still new to the area but... I feel as if I've known you for a while...." My heart sunk a bit hoping it wasnt because I'm an asshole in this universe. She looked to Shining. "Bring them to the court yard out back. As for Mr. Wrench's orders giving him clearance for sergeant."

Shining nodded and saluted. "Yes Ma'am! I'll tell the guards once we're outside and go from there!" He said. He looked to me and Luna. "If you two will follow me I'll lead you out." I nodded and followed him close with Luna holding my hand staying back a bit. Shining looked back at us. "I do apologize for Celestia's uneasiness about the guard orders thing. She's weary of guests even when they assert themselves like that but since you are to be trusted, she's allowing it. If that was asked of me I admit I'd be hesitant... You do have a good head on your shoulders but even so my choice would've been to deny said request but to have all orders done through me."

I huffed a bit. "My apologies. Miss X only goes so far with the trust of guards and always urges me to get some sort of control even if its just asking for privacy somewhere." I replied. "You never know what a guard is capable of... or if they're really even a guard."

"Sounds to me like something happened with a supposed guard... Any information I should know?"

"Well first off the guy is long dead. I made sure of it. He attacked my family and made it seem like he was 'protecting' himself. What can you do to protect yourself from a little filly who you had your hand around their neck? Apparently he uh... touched fillies... And he thought she was alone and when my sister started to fight back he nearly got to her... I didnt want him anywhere near other fillies again... I feel sorry for my sister who had to see the whole thing after the fact... The blood just..."

"I get it. Swiss cheese out of a filly fooler... I'd've done the same thing if anyone tried to get at my sister like that... Wouldnt care how much blood I had on me... bet you didnt either."

"Didnt really but I had to wash it off just to make sure my sister was okay..."

"How old is your sister?"

"Just about Scootaloo's age more or less... Been so long since I've seen her I've forgotten..." I glanced at Luna behind me. "Miss X... If it isnt too much trouble I'd like to contact my family after a bit..." She rested a hand on my shoulder, not even saying a word.

"I think she's.... Allowing it?" Shining replied glancing back at us. "I assume this is why you want the space you do?" I nodded. "Say no more. Just for this, perimeter patrols only, command level for you set to Master Sergeant just for a little more control."

"Thank you sir... I just... Hopefully you wont get in trouble with Celestia for this... its just a bit much you know?"

"It's nothing. You're a family man. I feel that. The way you've been reminds me of myself... caring about the ones I love and always wanting to be with them every moment of the day... I have my sister here sure but... my mother and father? They're vacationing in Griffonstone. Great mountains to relax in especially around this time of year." Griffonstone must be different here. Gilda says its 'nicer' this time of year... Snow in patches, some griffons are almost frozen and take bits to even survive to get through the winter. Yeah. They take bits from others just to get blankets and such because they're that greedy. Well... I'm not sure the griffons in this universe do that but I know ours do.

After a while we reached the courtyard. It was beautiful. A cobblestone path, wrapping in and out of beds of flowers, a little play area still under construction for Scootaloo, a statue of Discord... or that actually IS Discord from what I remember. He was turned to stone by Celestia and Luna long ago before shit hit the fan with Nightmare Moon. But now that Nightmare Moon never existed he stayed that way. Keep your enemies close I guess. There were benches sat in front of the Discord statue and I saw Shining ordering guards at a forty foot perimeter. Luna looked to me as Shining started to go back towards the large chateau behind us. "...Discord's statue... Unsettling if she's keeping him nearby..." She said. "What's stopping him if something brings him out again...? It took both me and my sisters power to seal him in that anyways and with the way things are if something releases him we might be screwed...."

I hummed looking at the statue. "Well... The elements of harmony must still exist somehow..." I replied. "I know Nightmare Moon was sealed away using them but with Discord? I think it was the same with him wasnt it?"

"...I honestly dont wish to think about this more Ryder... We should think of what to do now... Perhaps we fast forward into the night and possibly try to find our way to the other side of the wall..." She grabbed my arm looking at the guards as they kinda stared at us. "...Those guards... I dont wish to know what they'd do if they found out I was the leader of the opposite kingdom all along... I suspect my sister knows because when she was talking with us before this she gave me a look that.... Well... she gave me a look I didnt like at all..."

"I didnt notice but I'm sure things will be fine... I mean... if she suspected anything I'm pretty sure she'd've brought her guards down upon us... Just breathe..." Not gonna lie... That kinda made my anxiety spike a bit. I didnt like the sound of it.... "...What say we find our way somewhere and fast forward another hour? Make it dark so we can see what's going on with the other side.... Kinda feeling like I'm getting into some debauchery that I dont think is gonna go well...."

"If I do... I may have to hide myself again like i did for the nap I had during the last time we touched on this. Anything you need, say it now and we go do it."

"Maybe... Maybe when I'm in position you give me the outfits of the other Ryder perhaps? Its your call but... I feel like I can almost sway my own choices... Almost meaning I'm probably gonna fail doing this shit... Either that or I may be looked at weird..." Luna hummed as we stood up again.

"Perhaps.... Ah yes perhaps I can shrink you down and use a spell that can only make you visible to yourself and me... I've been tweaking with the perception spell to allow certain ponies to know you're there rather than just yourself be there until touched. Would you be alright with that?"

"May I have signals like last time if I've had enough?" She gave a nod as a guard patrolled on the other side of the statue. I watched as he glanced at us going towards the back wall. I looked back to Luna. "Okay. Sign bravo kilo good for this?" Sign Bravo Kilo. Fists together, thumbs up and making a breaking motion. Its a signal all guards know and it can mean many things. Execute or initiate mostly.

"Sounds about right. Lets get this over with.... Starting to hate seeing my sister and I feuding...." I nodded and started leading her back inside. We wandered the halls avoiding guard blocked areas best we could. Had to turn around a few times before stopping to ask where the dining hall was. A hesitant guard led us there. He was hesitant because he was kind of scared of 'Miss X' and her stature. I told him to pay no mind to her because it makes her nervous. We came quickly to the dining hall where we saw Celestia, Shining, Twilight and Scootaloo all eating dinner. Scootaloo was now dressed in a night gown as cute as can be. They all were eating some noodles... Different kinds but all noodles.

Celestia looked up as we took a seat at a far end of the table. "Done with your walk so soon? Is the weather outside alright?" She asked. I sighed.

"Yeah the weather is fine... Guess we're just a bit tired still... Wondering if we are able to stay the night Miss Celestia."

"But of course. I cant allow you to try to find a safer place than this to stay the night. You are guests here and are welcome to stay as long as you like but if you do I do ask you try to be open to helping out around here if you can. You're a guest but I do not run charity here by allowing you to stay for free. Am I understood?" To be honest she sounded a bit... different...

"Understood Celestia. As of tomorrow- if you will allow it - I'll do anything you ask. Anything from cleaning to cooking even. I dont even care if I have to take out the trash! Any task will be done as you request even if I can still aid Miss X here." I could see Celestia hum just staring us down. Either trying to figure out how to lead me away from Luna to attack or just to study me to see what jobs would fit me.

Scootaloo swallowed what bite he had. "Maybe he could watch me while you're busy? I have the day off from school tomorrow and I finished all my homework with Miss Twilight!" She said.

Celestia sighed giving a smile. "I think that will be fine.... Just know we still have that blood test to do tomorrow evening so be a good girl." Celestia replied. She looked back at me. "You better be good with childcare... Because if I hear one bad thing about you while you've been watching Scootaloo you and Miss X will be thrown out whether it be an escort or force..."

"Celestia! Be nice! Shining tells me he had to take care of his sister before he came here!" Scootaloo looked to me. "Was she my age? What's her name? Is she somewhere close enough for you to bring her over?"

I sighed blushing a bit. "Scootaloo honey I can only say so much about my sister at the moment... I dont want to put her in danger... Or you and Celestia for that matter..." I said. "I know you're curious but.... You understand dont you?" She nodded a bit grabbing a glass of water.

"Sorry...."

"You're excited. You want someone your age to play with who isnt gonna be mean to you... She's the same way... She had a bully problem for a while... Only reason that stopped was because one of her closer friends got together with the bully because she found out they liked her. Maybe try to find something you have in common with those bullies if you can. That's what my sister did."

"How did you know I have to deal with bullies?"

"Everyone does deal with em. Even me. Even Miss X... I'm only here because of those bullies. Though these ones cant be reasoned with like that unfortunately... But I think with that its about time me and Miss X turned in. Need to be ready for tomorrow... May we get into that room again Miss Celestia?"

Celestia gave me a smile as if nothing was wrong. "But of course. Shining will escort you once he's done with his meal. As for now just relax." She said. "Perhaps you'd like something to drink?"

"We're fine. Just enjoy your meal. We'll be here." Celestia nodded and kept eating her food. What ever this was it looked good... Looked like alfredo noodles with pesto sauce and I swear I could smell mint... I couldnt help but to take Luna's hand and caress it. She felt nervous. Clammy hands, shaking slightly and her breathing albeit behind a mask I still heard it. "I know what we talked about scared you and I'm sorry... Just take some deep breaths and calm down... Everything is fine..." Luna looked to me starting to breathe deeply. "There we go.... Everything is gonna be okay...." I glanced at Celestia. "If we can hurry this up somehow I think she'd feel a bit better."

"Alright. Give us a second. Go wait by the saferoom. I'll send him there within a few." I nodded and took Luna out the door. We walked a ways only having to go by memory to get us back to the room with the bookshelf. Once inside I instructed the guard to wait about thirty steps away from the door and wait for Shining. I had to sit Luna down on the far side of the room away from the door and safe room bookcase door.

"Princess breathe.... I think you're getting yourself panicked enough to get yourself sick..."

Luna gagged slightly during her breathing. "...I... I almost cant do this... you saw the way she looks at me..." She said. "....My sister wanted to hurt me... she's getting more and more suspicious of us.... of me! I want to try to fix this... not start a war...." I huffed.

"Pause this simulation then. We can start this up again another time when you're feeling more confident.... If you want to... I wont make you if you feel against it. Just breathe, relax... End this now, go find your sister and cuddle up with her.... The sister we're seeing here isnt your real sister. Your sister, the REAL Celestia still loves you." I saw her horn glow before things just started disintegrating around us. She whimpered leaning on me. "...I gotcha Princess.... You're gonna be okay... Even if I have to dive in front of something to keep you safe I will... I'd even go as far as ripping apart something just to make barricades and makeshift armor for you... I'm bound by word that I would protect you no matter what and right now it seems like we need protection from what's going on with this dream world..." I got up helping her to her feet. "Just wake me up. Go get in bed with your sister... Contact me again when and if you're ready to try again." She wanted to say something. I could tell. But even when she tried either a sob escaped or a gag. After a few tries she stopped and nodded before using her magic to wake me up.

When I woke up i heard crying from down the hall. It was still dark out and Applejack was sleeping slightly annoyed by the crying. I sighed covering AJ up more and getting out of bed going to check on who ever was crying. I walked out into the hall just to see Big Mac sitting against the wall with Applebloom wrapped in a blanket on his lap. The light on in Applebloom's room was on and the door was shut most of the way. Big Mac noticed me as he was trying to console his little sister. "Hey Ry... didnt wake ya did we?" He asked whispering.

"Nah... Would like to get back to sleep some.... What happened here?" I asked sitting down. He sighed.

"She's thinking Diamond's hating her.... Girl hasnt spoken to her for a few days at school..."

"...You should probably take her down to Diamond's place if you can... Talk with her father, see if theres anything going on with Diamond... Sometimes things happen with that... Applejack and I didnt talk for a bit after a while, i thought she was mad at me and it turns out she was just busy.... Maybe Diamond is going through something... I'll give you a few bits so you can get some flowers for her... Maybe if you wanna do some work around the house I can even give you a bit more for a gift or two.... Just know everything is gonna be fine..." I got up again and took Applebloom from her brothers arms. "Here... Lets get you in bed with AJ... I might just sleep on the couch for a bit... dont wanna wake anyone if I wake up from another nightmare..." Applebloom sniffled and nodded. Big Mac sighed and got up.

"I got the couch here... Bed's all yours if'n you dont end up having another accident..."

"And when was the last time I wet YOUR bed?"

"Couple months back. You got your sorry behind kicked outta bed after watching that horror movie with the girls, I letcha into mine when I had to go make sure Applebloom here was sleeping well considering she was the most scared, next thing I know you're swimmin' in a yellow puddle, crying at the foot of my bed, apologizing like you just broke your mommas new lamp!" I sighed as Applebloom snickered a bit.

"I wasnt scared! Just forgot to use the toilet after drinking that tea! You know what that tea does to me! Now shut up and go to sleep. I'll talk to you later." Big Mac sighed and went back to Applebloom's room just to turn out the light. I walked back to the room just to lay Applebloom on my side of the bed, tuck her in and just sit there for a moment. I sighed. "'Bloom... No matter what happens... Promise me you wont go dwelling on that girl after the fact... Pretty sure you saw what happens before... You know..."

The little messy haired filly sniffled. "...I just.... I just hope we can still be friends if she wants to break it off...." She whispered back.

"If she does... Just know we're here for ya... Pretty sure at least one or two of us know how heartbreak feels... Now get some rest...." I kissed her on the forehead before getting back on my feet, grabbing a blanket from the closet and heading downstairs to sleep on the couch. To be honest... I could feel something was up in that dream scenario. Celestia seemed off... Shining more than usual... maybe my 'illness' tipped them off or something. Well... We're gonna see come next time... whenever that is... Until Next Time