Author's Note

Hi everyone! A new chapter out and this time no fight and more character development. Don't hesitate to tell me what can be improved or change. Hope you enjoy it! See you later!

CH 10: The Meaning of Friendship and Preparations

1 week after the attack, Third POV.

Since the attack on the prison, Equestria is on high alert. With the loss of an entire army of 50000 soldiers and one of the most powerful threats of Equestria in liberty, all the ponies are scared to join the army to just die as if they were insects. What shocks all of Equestria and even the world is the image of this human. Mandalore of course but he has a specific name in each country or culture. A human with powers no one in the world thought it was possible. The only beings who can use magic are the alicorns, the unicorns, and some caribou. For now, they think they are safe from the wrath of the Liberator like a lot of humans call him. But what they don't know is no one can escape the vengeance he brings with him and his powers. If you want to know how the news spread so rapidly, well... the Princesses send a letter to every leader of the world and tell them about Mike and to meet them at Canterlot. In the beginning, no one trusted them but when they showed them what happened at the prison, all of them started to freak out even the dragonlord. Equus will saw something it doesn't saw for at least thousands of years: war.

For now, it was not in Mike's plans to go to war against the entire world like that. Well, now we talk about him let's go see what's going on for him.

Mike POV.

My eyes start to open. From what I could see I was in the medical wing of the base but I'm not sure since my vision is blurry. I can hear perfectly and move without difficulty which is good so I try to stand up and wait for my vision to be clear again. When I could see properly again, I look around me and confirm it was indeed the medical wing of my base, one of the many rooms more precisely. A medical droid walks toward me.

"Hello, sir. I'm happy to see you awake." Since we have droids, I made sure we have medical but also astromech or KX-series security droids for example.

"I can also say that. I don't like to blackout when we fight against a powerful enemy."

"Indeed sir. But before you can do anything, I need to do more tests to see if you are in perfect health." I nod and let the droid do its duty. I saw my stuff on a table nearby and decided to use the Force and take my commlink.

"Proto are you here?"

"Yes sir it's good to hear your voice. Do you want anything?"

"Can you come to my medical room? I will wait for you and the other droids here."

"Roger roger."

I wait for at least five minutes before Proto and all my droids arrived in my room some of them waiting outside. The doctor finished the test at the same time so I take all my gear and put on my armor. I go outside of the room followed by my droids and saw Alpha, one of the two super tactical droids walking toward me.

"It's good to see you are awake sir."

"Indeed. So, how long I was asleep?"

"A whole week sir."

"A... whole WEEK?! What happened during this week?!" Everyone around me looks at me. I'm pretty sure a lot of people heard me right now.

"Nothing sir, don't worry. The only big thing that happened is General Solar's entire group who arrived 4 days ago." Okay, Mike. Calm down it's just a week, not an entire month or year. So the General's group has arrived. I think I'll talk to him. Right now, time to see what has changed in the base.

Little timeskip.

Well, some things have changed like more factories and soldiers since my companions take the lead when I was unconscious. I decided to make my 3 commando droids as an elite squad of infiltrators. From what I've heard we have now started the production of the shield the droids had in the clone wars series some times and also all the Mandalorians have now the shield gauntlet you can see in the clone wars series as well.

I decided to make 3 more commando droids for the elite squad I just created. I give all of them a vibrosword so they can defend themselves in melee. I also make 4 special droids: 4 elite droideka. The differences? The blaster cannon is slightly larger than the original one, the shield is more powerful and resistant, and they are faster than the normals one. I add the white color I used to mark all my special droids.

(Link of the artist if you want to check out: https://www.artstation.com/michaelrafanan)

Alpha guides me toward the main hall. From what I've understood, some peoples wanted to see me. I talk with Alpha about all the new projects waiting for approbation, I will go see that after my talk with these peoples. The door opens and lets us see everyone looking at a debate between the leaders of each armies' group. The alicorns and the changelings' queens were not too far away interested to see what's going to happen. Since nobody saw me I decided to sit on a chair and I listen. After the events with my demon, I train myself hard in my powers. So now I can read minds or try to hear someone who talks even if said person is far away from me. I'm surprised you can even do this with the Force... hehe, you can't hide anything from me anymore! Well, I will don't used it on my allies, more against my enemies. Anyway, what are they talking about?

"No, no, and no! We can't do that! What Mandalore would say if he learned after he wakes up that we are trying to attack two other nations at the same time?! We already have Equestria to defeat but if we also attack the griffons and dragons... *sigh* I don't know what will happen." Well, Aaron has a good point. Equestria is already a big deal even with a powerful technology but if you add the armies of the second strongest nation of the world and the big lizards who are hard to kill because they are big and have scales so it takes more firepower to kill one than a pony then it will be harder to win against Equestria.

"Do you forget we have the droids, the AT-STs, the AT-DPs, the droids fighters, and our allies? We can try... no, we must do something if we want to help our brothers and sisters in other countries. The more we wait, the more they will suffer. We have an advantage with the technology we have! We must use it." Sophia has also a point. We have a pretty big advantage, and since I'm sure the Princesses know about us because of the prison's attack, the other countries can try to slow down our advance so it's not stupid to get rid of them.

I saw Connor and Shaun looking at them. Their groups are not like the other if I can say that. Compared to the others, the Red Guard and the White Watchers don't try to pick a fight against each other. It's maybe the bond of friendship Connor and Shaun developed after Connor created his squad. Shaun was here to help him so they are more like friends than rivals but sometimes they can have different opinions on how things need to be done. The debate continued for some time but at a point, it was more 'insults' than something else.

"Now I think about it. You Mandalorians say that you are warriors well, I think you are more cowards than the so-called warriors you are." Wow. Jason just hit a sensible point here. I want to see what's going to happen before I intervene.

"You bast- you want to go there, aren't you? Well, at least I'm not the one in the part of the army who hides behind vehicles when they do all the works for you. Your family is probably disgusted by YOUR cowardness." That what I think after Astrid says that:

Astrid is the type of woman who won't let others insult her or her friends. I like that character but to talk about the family of someone, and maybe a dead family is not cool. I look Jason and I know what he was going to do. He takes his blaster and points it toward Astrid. She did the same thing and it starts a chain reaction. Everyone starts pointing their blasters toward their rival groups. I can see that the alicorns and changeling queens tensed up, they even make a shield appeared before them. Okay, now I need to intervene.

I use the Force to levitate their weapons on the ceiling. They all look up and try to figure out what was that. The ponies and changelings were also surprised, it takes time but Chrysalis finally saw me and gasp. Everyone looks at her and follows the direction where her eyes looking and everybody saw me.

"You know, it's not good to point a blaster to a comrade don't you think?" I walk toward the ones who start all of this. I make the blasters fall to the ground at the same time.

"M-Mandalore w-we're sorry we-"

"You don't need to ask me for forgiveness." All the soldiers look at me, I know what I just said certainly shocks them.

"But Emperor, we practically just kill ourselves!" I turn my look to Sophia.

"Do you think I didn't think about that when I created the Imperial Order?" Everyone in the room starts to whispers among themselves. I look at the groups' leaders.

"Anyway, everyone keeps going what you were doing but stop this debate. I will think about it alone, for now, do what you want to do."

I start to leave when a magical barrier appeared before the door. I turn around to see Miasma's horn with a magical aura around it. The alicorns and queens start to walk toward me, I guess they are the ones who wanted to talk to me after I woke up but it seems they didn't know, not surprised after all I woke up since 5 minutes. I could see smiles on their faces, I think they missed me, well after all we became good friends for Daybreaker I don't know why. Maybe because I liberate her, anyway what do they want?

"You take your time to wake up didn't you?" I was going to answer but Chrysalis didn't let me the time as she hugs me, I hug back and after sometimes we broke it.

"Well, with the fight against Daybreaker it's sure it would have taken some time for me to recover." I don't tell them about you know who. It's not a thing I want to talk about.

"You should have seen Chrysalis when you didn't wake up after 3 days. She couldn't do a thing without been worried about you." I look at Chrysalis and see her blush. I place a hand on her left shoulder.

"Thanks to having been worried about me but you shouldn't have it was not a big deal." Again I lied.

"I shouldn't have?! Did you forget we are friends? You are the first friend I made and you say I shouldn't be worried about you?!" Some tears start to form in her eyes. Good job Mike, you're an imbecile sometimes.

"Hey, I'm sorry, I should have known about that. I'm really stupid when I say some things." She smiles at me and wipes her tears.

"It's fine, it's just you were the first non-changeling to see me has a friend and not has a disgusting monster and to see me for who I am and not what I am."

After that, I look at the two sisters and I can see they not believe everything of what I said. They know there is something I don't talk about, something I hide from them. If only all of this never happened in the past. Anyway, I think they also want to speak to me.

"So Daybreaker. How have you been since our encounter?"

"Good. My wounds healed fast but I can't say the same thing for you." Don't start trying to know what I hide...

"What are you talking about? The wounds you did to me are healed." Her eyes looked deep inside mine even if I have my helmet.

"You know I don't talk about these types of wounds." Except for Nightmare Moon, this takes the queens' attention.

"Mike... there is something you hide from us?" I start to become a little pissed... and cold. I open the door since Miasma stopped using her magic to block me and leave the room. My droids know about it and keep the secrets I have so they block the mares way and I walk toward my room.

"Mike! What's wrong? There is something you keep hiding from us?" I stop walking but I didn't turn around, I keep looking before me.

"Some things need to be kept hiding." After I say that, I move again, go inside my room and lock the door with the password. Yeah... I decided to add a password, my choice. Even with the door locked, I hear the mares calling me to go out. I use the Force to block any type of teleportation since I can stop Luna to come into my dreams if I want to. All I need right now is some meditation, it will do some good to me.

At the same time, Chrysalis POV.

I'm worried about Mike, there is something he hides from us. I didn't know until Daybreaker talks about that, and Mike's reaction only approved what the alicorn suspected. I was also scared, I sense his emotions when Daybreaker said 'You know of what I talk about'. His emotions were... cold, there was only anger, pain, sadness, fear, and sorrow.

"Chrysalis are you alright?" I look at Myxine with a sad expression.

"You felt it too? His emotions..."

"Yes, in no time he went from happiness and kindness to angry, scared, hurt, and sad. The thing he's hiding is not black and white." Calliphora turns to talk with the alicorns.

"How did you know he hides something?"

"An instinct at the beginning but when we look in his eyes there was something else in his look, like an internal scar. Now, he just shows us we were right but from what you say it's not a thing you can play with and take the risk to make him very mad." Said, Nightmare Moon. Daybreaker nods and decided to do some training in the room Mike created for the sisters to train when they want. The rest of us go to sleep or do other things.

The next day, Mike POV

I didn't sleep last night, all I did was meditated and reflect on what happened yesterday with the little debate between the groups' leaders and the events with the alicorns and queens. I prefer to not think about it, only the thought of this angers me.

Anyway, the opinions of the debate yesterday made me reflect on what we can do. The two opinions aren't stupid, it can be dangerous if we attack the dragons and griffons for now but the more we wait, the more humans will suffer, so I decided to make a compromise. I tell the super tactical droids, my companions, and my allies to meet me in the war room. I already know that the ponies and changelings will try to know what I hide.

I was looking at the map thanks to the holoprojector when everyone arrived in the room. Thorax, Rose, General Solar, and Star whirl were also here. Star whirl became the cult's new leader since the old one passed away from old age. It takes time for her to pass through this challenge since he was like a father to her.

"Please take a seat, we will be here for sometimes I think." They all sit on the chairs looking at me with interest.

"I'm sure you ask why I make you come here. After the little misunderstanding yesterday," I look toward Astrid and Jason who tensed up a little, "I thought about all the opinions which were said in your debate and I must say they were all justified and right. I'm proud to see you can try to make decisions without me and this is something I like to see, so don't be ashamed of what happened yesterday. I was sure something like would happen one day."

"Thank you, Mandalore."

"No problem. Anyway, I come to a compromise to settle this problem." That takes everyone's interest.

"And pray to tell what is this compromise?" said Ambrosia.

"Since the griffons have the second strongest army of the world and the dragons have the advantage to be very resistant and to have inhospitable land, the best choice we have is to invade the minotaurs."

"And why them?" asked Nightmare Moon.

"Think about it, the minotaurs have not one of the strongest armies of the world and even if they are resistant the difference is unlike the dragons, they are not united so if we attack one tribe or chiefdom the others will not intervene until they saw they are in great danger and finally unite so for the most of the assault we will have an advantage we need to use."

Daybreaker was looking at me with a big smile on her face. It seems I do a good impression right now but in reality, it's logic no? I mean, they are not united so we can strike at them simultaneously and they will have never have the time to resist plus the others will not care for a good time since the tribes are rivals.

"Clever and strategist type aren't you?" ask Daybreaker.

"I know a lot about strategy and I was good at school so I let you guess." She chuckled after I say that I don't know why but I start to like her.

"My lord, Alpha and I have maybe a plan to let us attack multiples locations." I look at Spark.

"Go on you take my attention." He uses the holoprojector to show the minotaurs' territory and our borders with them. Something takes my interest, the Changeling Confederation's borders with the minotaurs were bigger than last week.

"There is a lot of towns at the borders so we can launch an airstrike on each one of them. There is also a lot of ways used by convoys so I advise we attack them at the same time the airstrike destroys the towns. And here," He pointed toward a big path between the mountains, "We use it to move our main forces."

"What about the towns? Are we sure there are no humans in it?"

"Yes my lord. The changelings' spies helped us a lot to gather this information."

"Very well."

"Mandalore, can I advise something?"

"What's in your mind, Emma?" She uses the holoprojector to make groups of transport ships appeared.

"The airstrike will certainly take the minotaurs' attention so I think we use the transport ships to infiltrate important groups to attack the most 'hiding' towns at the same time the airforce strikes. It will help us to not be taken by surprise when our main forces march toward the important cities." This is a very good idea. Good job Emma.

"We will do that Emma. Good job." She nods and goes to sit again.

"I think it will be everything for now. We will discuss that tomorrow when we will start the plan." Everyone leaves except for Chrysalis. I know the other queens and the sisters will stay not too far away to listen.

"Mike can I... talk to you?" I start to be a little pissed but I will not be angry at her because I know she wants to know.

"*sigh* I know you want to ask me this question."

"I-I..."

"Don't try to hide it. I know you want to ask that since the meeting has begun."

"You're not making it easy you know?"

"Because you know I can be very mad about that." I guess I can't hide it from them. If only they know, I want to protect them.

"You need to tell her kid." I can't they will hate me and I will hurt them! "My friend you need to know it's what he wants you to believe. The more you try to hide your past the more they will ask you and so the more you will be angry and let your past take control. Everything you're doing is what he wants. At least give it a try." I-I *sigh* okay I give it a try. "Thanks it means a lot for us."

I turn my attention back to Chrysalis.

"Please Mike, tell me what's going on! This thing you hiding hurts you and I hate seeing you like that. Please tell me." I try but I can't. I JUST CAN'T FOR THE LOVE OF GOD!

"I can't okay?!" She was shocked and scared, she starts to step back toward the door.

"Every time I think about it, it remembers me of the looks of horror on my family's faces when they saw what I did! Every time I look in a mirror I always see the face of a monster, of a killer! E-Every t-time I-I..." I broke into tears. I remember perfectly the looks of horror my mom and dad had when they saw me before the judge and the pictures of what I've done. I failed them, I was a monster.

Chrysalis decided to walk toward. She takes off my helmet and makes me looking up at her. I stare into her green eyes, she smiles and hugs me. I hug back, keeping my head buried in her shoulder and crying."

"Shhhh. It's okay, I'm here, we are all here for you Mike you know that."

"H-How can you be kind with a monster?"

"You're not a monster to me Mike. You are my friend and the first I've ever made. So please, tell me what's going on?" I couldn't take it anymore, I made up my mind and take my courage in my hand.

"All of this happens 10 years ago."

10 years ago, Mike POV.

I was with my little brother, we go back to our home. Everything was good, we stop at a market to take some sweets and we leave. Everything was alright until...

"Well, well, well if it's not Mike and his little brat of a brother."

"Shut up Stan." (Sorry if your name is Stan)

"You're not in the position to give orders." After he says that, two of his friends grab my arms when the third didn't let my brother move. Stan started to beat me, I cough blood and they let me fall to the ground. My little brother who succeeds in freeing himself punches Stan's face. What Stan did after that will haunt me for the rest of my life. He takes a knife and stabbed my brother in the stomach. He fell to the ground, crying and Stan didn't stop to beat him up. I try to stand up but his friends didn't let me. I couldn't do anything, I couldn't...

You want to help your brother and teach these weaklings a lesson? Y-Yes... Then lend me your hand. H-How? I can't see you. Just think about it and let me take control.

I did what he said and after that, I couldn't see or heard anything.

Third POV.

Stan was keeping beating Mike's brother. The little brother begging Stan to stop but he didn't listen. But for Mike, something happened, he tried to stand up so Stan's friends start to make sure to not let him but when one of them tried to punch him, Mike grab his hand and look at them. They were terrified, the look on his face... was the one of a person ready to kill. His eyes were black and red. He stands up and breaks the arm of the one who tried to punch him. The one with now a broken arm scream in agony and was grab by the throat before being smashed against a wall, breaking his nose and few parts of his skull. The other two charge at Mike but he just did one step and was already behind them. He takes a knife from nowhere and starts to stab them and smash them against a wall as well.

Stan who hear that turn around and what he saw scared him. He saw Mike and around him the bleeding corpses of his friends. he tries to run but Mike with his non-human speed appeared before Stan and grab him by the throat.

"So Stan, what does it feel to be the victim hmmm? heheheheheHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Mike make a knife appeared from nowhere and start to stab Stan one time, two times, three times... and do it for two whole minutes. The people who saw that were afraid and call the police. When the police arrived, Mike retakes control of his body and what he saw will also haunt him forever: Stan's dead body and his friends' broken bodies. This is where Mike understands it was him who did that or more precisely him. After that he blackout. (Mike was fifteen years old at the time.)

Present, Mike POV.

"After that, I was sent 10 years in prison and 5 years in a psychological hospital." I finished my story and cry more than before. They will all probably see me as a monster. After some time the rest of the queens and alicorns enter the room with tears in their eyes, even Daybreaker and Nightmare Moon were crying. I know they heard my story but I don't care right now. What they did surprise me: they hugged me.

"W-Why are you not afraid of me? I-'m a-a m-monster."

"No, you're not. All you wanted was to protect your brother but your other half take the opportunity to take control. You're not the one who killed someone Mike, it's your other half."

"Plus you're our friend Mike, we will never let you down. You help us all, now it's our time to help."

And in unison they all said:

"That the Meaning of Friendship."

Third POV.

This was a hard challenge for the human. He finally revealed a dark and bloody past but he is not alone. He has friends and they will help him to fight his other half and help him to be happy again.