The Blurring of Realities (OLD)

The wash of cool night ocean air washed over him. He couldn’t sleep no matter how many sleep tonics he had used. So he figured a bit of night walking might get him to the point where he could actually fall asleep. He sighed and leaned against the rail looking down at the unobstructed view of the ocean before him. Well, the good news was he had gotten over his air sickness.

Departure had sadly, not been as quick as Orion had wanted. Unfortunately for him, the Grendamares were apparently not pleased with the fact that two colts had basically done their jobs for them. Though they didn’t say that. No.

A Captain, whom Orion never even paid attention to their name because he honestly couldn’t bring himself to care, went on and on about how the whole affair had nearly become an international incident. Honesty, he wasn’t paying attention to that either. Though he did however, notice they never yelled at Fancy or Shining for their involvement in the event. Just him.

Though to be fair, he did kill most of the pirates, scorched their leader to near death, and tossed two of them through the eighth floor dining hall window to land in the public square outside, possibly causing a panic. That was likely the reason for it. Of the thirty-two pirates, twenty-seven were killed. The captain and four others were severely wounded.

If he was being honest with himself, just thinking of what he did made him want to hurl every last meal he had ever eaten. He had never killed before. Not back on earth despite what was said about him. Not a thinking, feeling person. Now he had ended the lives of nineteen. He cooked that griffon female inside her own armor in his anger. If not for Fancy, he would have likely reduced her to ash.

If that would have been it, things would have been gravy. He was being banned from Prance for ten years, though no court was being held to make that decision by a jury of his peers. Nope instead they just told him once he left he wasn’t allowed back. They got offended when he started to giggle. Like he wanted to come back to this mess of a nation.

If that would have been all then it would have ended there, the class could have left three days ago. But another complication reared its ugly little head. Miss Iridescent Shadow was missing. No one knew where she was and because he had been the last to have a, combative, altercation with her, he was suspect number one. Apparently Iris Petal, the head of education and a Comtesse, had gone missing and Queen Amethyst Aura had decided to abdicate the throne of Prance entirely. Overnight. He was being questioned for that as well.

That was highly suspect, even to him and he didn’t even care that much. Belle Cherie had been questioned, but as she had spent the last few days in the hospital, both arms of which were broken from his ‘love tap’. She had no idea where her own mother might be, and was rather distraught all things told.

In the end, he was cleared of all suspicions when everything came out in the wash about where he had been in the last twenty-four hours. Just a ten year banishment that he didn’t care if it lasted a lifetime. Though to say he got off scott free would be a lie. His teachers, well of the five chaperones that had gone with them, three were highly pissed off at him. And scared if they were honest with themselves, their body language was more than a indication when he came near. Shining and Mrs Ivy Dream had his back though, and when it was later learned that the Grendamares were doing absolutely nothing to alleviate the situation, the other three were mollified.

Instead of anger, it was just subdued terror. He could not imagine the reception he was going to get when they all got home.

Celestia was likely to be more than a little pissed. Another month or two spent with a fuckin’ null ring on his horn was likely the tip of the iceberg. Then of course, public opinion was always a gambit. You never quite knew where the public stood when it came to acts of violence. With the timber wolves, he had been praised as a hero colt.

With the schoolyard brawl, he was named a menace, one not fit for pony society. It was really up in the air. Considering he had killed sapient life this time, the thought again made his stomach roll, he was guessing it would be toward the later. He could only hope no one would hear about it, but he had performed an act of extreme violence in front of students at his school. Noble students, they may like him now but it was the parents that would tell their story.

As he continued to stare at the water, the leather bracelet alerted him to someone approaching. Judging by the heavy footfalls it wasn’t Shining Armor. He needed to figure out a way to update the thing to let him know at least the species, but he had no idea how to program that level of sophistication into an enchantment.

Cocking his head back he saw it was the captain of the ‘Sun’s Grace’. The stallion was still dressed formally. They had departed with cameras flashing, so he had decided he and the crew needed to wear their old dress uniforms for a sense of unity or some shit.

Captain Windy Skies was thick for a pegasus. The stallion had seen the better part of a buffet table for at least ten years. Not that it seemed to bother him on his hooves or by air as he still stormed about most days, cracking down on his deckhands. He had retired with the ship itself, being a hundred and forty-four he was enjoying his autumn years as being a casual captain of one of the few air vessels outside the military.

Equestria’s air fleet only consisted of personnel carriers. Mostly converted ships no longer good for the sea but still serviceable in the air, they acted as fast deployment ships to get a moderate amount of troops on the ground at any time. Not that they had reason to deploy, there hadn’t been a skirmish in fifty or so years with anyone on the borders. That being the case it was a good time for him to retire and try his hand at ushering kids around.

Windy was looking out to sea, just as he had been doing early. Not much was said between the two as the older stallion leaned up against the rail and sighed. Turning to look back, Orion did his own sighing, it was really peaceful, and it allowed his mind to let go of so much. But the one thing that stayed was the thing that kept him awake. He had, for the first time in his strange life, had taken the life of another.

It made him nauseous, and the ship’s gentle rocking in the wind had nothing to do with it. It frightened him how easily he had done it. At the time he had tried to convince himself that he did what he had to. That it was necessary. But the moment it was over, he couldn’t contain his own fear and disgust anymore. Fear that it could have very well been him who got carried out, a sheet over his face. Or Fancy. Or any of the students had he failed.

What was worse, was the feeling he had that eventually, he would do it again. Not because he wanted to, the idea of getting comfortable with killing people made the nausea double. No, it was the fact that his life seemed to take him to more and more violent conclusions to situations he didn’t see a solution to. That angered him. He was far smarter than the average horse. Yet he could not think of a better solution to that hostage situation. Even now he wracked his brain for another solution.

He was gonna be sick again.

“No use dwelling on what ifs, son.” Windy Skies must have been watching him, and he must have been telegraphing his emotions on his face. “What is done is done. Yes, you had to kill. I understand that better than many I think. This feeling isn’t just gonna go away either. It's going to linger on for the rest of your days. It has for me, and many of my stallions under me.”

Orion looked up at him, the wind ruffled both of their manes, as the stallion looked back at him. Gray eyes met gray eyes. He knew what this feeling felt like. He knew the inner turmoil that he was going through. Knew the price of the choice.

“You had the courage to act where others sat and did nothing. You did it for the right reasons, even if malice was carried in your heart that weighed the scales in that direction. You did do it for the right reasons. You did not seek glory, or accolades. Tartarus, they way I have read it, every action you have taken has never been for your own personal gain.”

At this point both stallions had turned fully to each other, one listening for some vestige of hope, the other in understanding of what was plaguing their mind. That still plagued their own mind. The sea had long been forgotten by both.

“The decision might not get the reception it should, rarely does. But those foals down in the belly of my ship are going home to their families. They have a life ahead of them because you made a choice to act in their defense. That means something. You could have waited like all the rest, stayed hidden on the sidelines. And if it is never said to you, I thank you on behalf of Princess Celestia. On behalf of the fathers and mothers who’s foals they will be able to hug once again.”

He hadn’t realized he was crying till his vision had blurred. “God fucking damnit you stupid sonbvabitch. You’re not a fucking kid. What the hell is wrong with you!? You’re a grown ass man. You don’t need this old fuck telling you what you already know!”

But he did. Somewhere deep down inside him he knew that he needed someone, anyone to understand. That gnawing fear that it could have been him burst forth and he did everything he could to stifle the sob that threatened to tear his soul apart. He had not realized he had been wrapped up into a hug. For the second time in his weird, strange, fucked up life he openly cried. Not the cries of a man, but of a child. Ugly sobs that threaten to tear the world of bravado and self confidence he had built right out from under him.

The supposed self confidence he had built up around him crumbled as he wept into the shoulder of a complete stranger.

Shining Armor sat in his private room, his half written report still sitting in front of him. The ink on the parchment had long since dried. He had been staring at nothing for the last half an hour. His own thoughts a jumble. Just how did one write out the justified the death of twenty-seven souls to a monarch that preached for love and compassion?

The events kept replaying in his mind. The shock of the killing wasn’t what bothered him. He had been on bandit duty, he knew what it meant and felt and had dealt with the fact that he would likely one day have to do it again. It was the fact that two fifteen year old colts had done the deed. While the supposed military leader did nothing but shield the students from stray battle. He had long accepted his role in the short and most one sided conflict.

What he could not accept was being duped into playing tank while two, admittedly dangerous, foals did the work of dispatching the opposition. How does one justify allowing foals to fight for him.

The situation was an extraordinary event, and some could even recognize the actions as solid teamwork in a crisis situation. But that would not be how his superiors would view it. They would see it as a complete failure of his primary mission. Which was to keep Orion Falls out of trouble. Not only did he fail at that. But he did it in spectacular fashion. There was no doubt that he could kiss the early promotion goodbye for Captaincy.

He knew he was advancing quickly, and in the back of his mind he knew why. Candace had taken an interest in him, thus he had to at least be of sufficient rank in order to really be considered worthy of her time. Even if neither of them cared.

In truth he wanted to be a train conductor. The idea of traveling the rails seeing new things, talking to new ponies, and all the stories he could bring home to his little sister. The walking sponge would likely absorb all he learned and wanted more. With a detailed explanation as to the reason why things happened as they did.

But when Candace has started making advances on him, something he had not dreamed of in high school, though everypony he knew drooled over the absolutely gorgeous alicorn, he had been immediately approached by not just officers, but Princess Celestia herself who had told him in no uncertain terms that if he wanted an actual chance at her niece, that he would have to get a commission.

He had not wanted a commission. He wanted the safe and easy job. His fiance convinced him otherwise, in a very teasing and lust filled manner. Before he knew what had happened he was on a train bound for boot. Bad enough he has still yet to sleep with her in any manner. Unless you got the very quick handy she had given him in order to get him to sign up. Her hands were very very skilled.

He shook his head, mane smacking against his chin. He fingered the mane realizing he needed a manecut the moment they touched down in Canterlot. There was no way he was going to get berated out of regs. He looked to the still unfinished after action report. The best thing was to tell the truth. Even if it made you look like the biggest fool. And here he was hoping to be married before Twilight graduated.

Celestia had read the report from her spies on the events that transpired in Paris. Not that she really needed to.

Her involvement had been more than a little personal. She had warned the tart, Amethyst, that nothing like the events of ten years ago would be tolerated again. She was still dealing with the headache of that fallout.

As to going there herself, she couldn’t quite remember what prompted her to draw such a large portion of magic to her in order to make the trip instant. After hearing of the situation all she could think of was the audacity they had to try this again. Even worse fail, and become more brazen in their attempt to kidnap Fancy Pants.

That must have been it. They dared to ignore her edicts, and the agreement that they begged for, just to net one they figured would be a huge pawn in her own courts. Foolish little ponies.

Her arrival there had been just before Orion, Shining, and to her surprise, Fancy led the charge to save the students from a rather tentative and dangerous situation. She wondered whose idea it was, though if she were a betting mare she would wager the entire royal purse on Orion being the culprit for that ambitious gamble.

Seeing the two colts in action reminded her much of the days when she and her sister Luna engaged in contests of death with bandits and monsters so long ago. Fancy’s sword work was very reminiscent of her sisters. Though the lunar princess was much more graceful, and accurate. Still he had for that moment reminded her of battles of old, and that stirred her blood.

What sent it near to boiling was Orion. She almost wondered if she somehow had a foal and not known of it. Give him a halberd, and he would have been the spitting image of her in her heyday. To say he was savage was an understatement. He had been all over the place in that dining hall. In the excitement of the melee she almost overlooked the fact that as he pulled more magic in his mane had taken on a noticeable fiery look.

It had stunned her to see. She had never seen a unicorn even come close to the outpouring of mana as he had. Except, Twilight. Who had done something similar in her more formative years. His potential was astounding in her eyes.

The short lived battle did however, affect her next course of decisions. That foolish mare in the alleyway below her had been too loud, but it might have been fate. The crushing of that crystal didn’t come soon enough for Celestia to track the link back to the one inside the eighth floor. So she decided to investigate in a way she often wanted to do on the daily in her own court.

She didn’t even feel terrible about the hole she had put into the little pony’s chest. As she dug into her victim's mind, her anger leapt to the forefront of her own. Here was the organizer of the whole kidnapping. Under orders from both the Comtesse and Queen Aura, she had been tasked with giving an opportunity to Belle Cherie to pressure Fancy Pants into an arranged marriage.

When that had not worked, Iris Petal had ordered the kidnapping. Amethyst was surprisingly against the idea, which is why she had only been forced to stand down from power. Celestia had already picked the replacement, and they knew their place.

She was never this comfortable with manipulation from behind the scenes. Always before she had attempted to have an open and honest relationship with the other rulers of the world. But over the last near thousand years she had learned that none of them had any real long term goals. So she took steps to insure they remained no real threat.

Ruling Prance from behind the shadows of the throne was not to her liking, but there were advantages in letting the ponies believe themselves their own mistresses. What she did not like is when carefully laid plans go awry.

She had not nominated or even given her support to Amethyst Aura. Hers had been behind Pond Lily Rose. When she had been trounced it left a sour taste on her tongue. And fury in her heart. But it was corrected now, and Lily Rose’s daughter Snow Flower would be the one to take the throne, and start pushing Celestia’s agenda. Which meant cheaper taxes on transports.

Going back to the notes, she was reminded of what she had done to Iridescent. Burning her from the inside out, while pumping enough magical energy to keep her alive through most of it had been a split second decision. At the time she had been pleased with herself. Very pleased.

But once she had returned home, she felt guilty. Extending her suffering was the last thing she had wanted, or so she told herself now. It almost made her want to let Iris die mercifully. But a voice she couldn’t quite hear, or know, made her change her mind. No, that one would suffer, for she had been one to sign the agreement before ever allowing students of her school to visit. By going against those wishes almost immediately, she had proven herself a liar.

And the one pillar of harmony she liked the most was honesty. How could she let a mare who so flagrantly lie, not suffer her punishment to the fullest. Speaking of the mare, she took one last look at the report then casually burned it to ash, she had to see how she was liking being physically separated and yet still alive. Her sister did always come up with the strangest but most effective forms of torture.

He hadn’t cried like that since the last time on the Apple Family graves, and before then he had barely shed a tear, unless you counted when he was a human child. Though thinking of that seemed frivolous.

He was seated in his own room, he had already packed his things and now sat waiting for the ship to make port. Waiting for the public to either call for his banishment or praise him. The latter was still, in his mind, highly unlikely.

Two wailing blasts of the ship's whistle told him he had another thirty or so minutes before dock. Long enough to review his own feelings.

After Windy Skies had ‘helped’ him with his own fears and self disgust, he hadn’t tried to think about what had happened. Now he couldn’t keep the thoughts from his head.

The idea that something terrible could have happened to him had never occurred to him until after he had seen what he and Fancy had done. The very first thought that made him vomit, was how easily his own life could have been ended as he had done theirs. What kept him going long after was how disgusted he was that he had done it so casually.

What the hell was wrong with him? He went from being a scapegoat for mass murder, to actually performing murder, if not in mass at least in vulgar violence. He had seen the fear in those peoples eyes as he came for them. Would he carry that same terror in his own eyes when it was his time?

That it was his second chance at life just made it worse, instead of playing it smart he was playing fast and loose as if this is some game. He doubted he could get another one up like in some retarded Mario game. He trembled. This was not like with the timberwolves. This callous disregard of his own well-being was going to get him killed, and his destination was not likely to be the verdant fields of Elysium the ponies so claimed to exist.

This was no game, and he was doing the exact opposite of what he had set out to do in Griffonia. He had to do better. There was no choice, one for his sanity as well as his soul. Whether it be immortal or not.

Three more shrill blasts yanked him back from his dark thoughts. They were docking, even as he rose to grab his bag he felt the shuddering of the floor as they made contact with the air pier. Time to face the court of public opinion.

“Okay, this was not what I was expecting. Like not fucking at all. The fuck?”

“Course language aside, I have to agree with you, my friend. I was honestly expecting much worse.”

They stood at the rails side by side, the gangway had yet to be lowered into place. On the pier were tens of hundreds of people. Signs were being hoisted up by several noble families with one recurring theme amongst them all. 'Thank you for bringing our foals home, Lieutenant Shining Armor'.

The subject of the banners himself, was staring gobsmacked at all the signs almost singing his praises. The sea of ponies let out a deafening cry when he had placed hooves on the deck. He had to be dragged to the rail by one of the chaperones which only made the crowd scream all the louder.

The colts and stallion were not the only one to be shocked, the entire two classes that had been part of the incident in the hotel were also bewildered. They knew it wasn’t just Shining that had been there to defend them, but Fancy’s nor Orion’s names were anywhere in evidence.

“You know, this might actually be a good thing. If our fellow ponies believe it was all Shining Armor’s courage and bravery, we might not get in as bad of trouble as I feared. This could be quite the boon if I do say so myself. I will be honest, I was not looking forward to the judgment of my peers when they learned of my involvement. Now it seems to have somehow been taken care of.” Fancy was looking pleased with the idea. Then Orion stabbed holes in everything.

“Yeah except our names and faces were plastered all over Prance news rags. Oh sure it might take a couple of weeks, but everyone here is going to learn rather quickly of what happened. Not to mention one very crucial thing,” he gestured to the rest of the students, “they were all there and you can bet your fluffy ass they will be doing a tell all story of how one student had grace in the defense of his fellow ponies, and the other one went balls to the wall nuts.”

Fancy frowned. He didn’t like the idea of his friend being thrown to the media wolves.

The gangway slammed into position and they all began filling down, a small force of guards were holding back the families from flooding them. The cameras flashed, many at Shining but more than a few were pointed at the two colts doing their best to stay out of most people’s view. A futile attempt it seemed.

Once everyone had gotten off the ship, the floodgates were let loose and families and the media surged as one to surround the Canterlot students. Parents kissing and hugging their kids, more cameras flashing to capture the touching moments as they happened with blinding frequency. Questions from interviewers flew back and forth. In any other situation, this would have been an amazing event of struggles being overcome. Families being reunited.

Orion just wanted to get the hell out of there. Then he smacked himself.

“I am a fucking idiot, hey Fancy?” He caught his friend’s attention. “I can friggin’ teleport. Wanna blow this joint and get some sleep?” The sheer relief on the colt’s face told him all he needed to know. “Okay let's get some space, don’t want to drag anyone with us by accident. No telling what that could do to some poor bastard unprepared for it.” Then he stopped, it had gotten quiet except for some shouting at the front of the group.

“NO NO NO! Shining did not single handedly save us! It was through the teamwork of-” The buzz in Orion’s head drowned out what he already knew she was saying. Fancy Breeze was an ignorant stupid little bitch.

“No shut up you little fuckin’ idiot!” It was too late.

As one the crowd parted and both of them stared in horror at the families that now looked back at them. Had he taken more time to really look he might have noticed the still happy looks on many of the faces of nobles and the well to do. In his own mind he saw torches and pitchforks being raised.

That was enough for him, he grabbed Fancy and teleported.

Celestia had remained hidden in the crowd. She had, for once, not wanted to take away from the tearful and heartfelt homecoming of the students. She also had wanted to gauge the reactions of her ponies when they learned the truth. For the truth would be learned despite the efforts of the ruling class she should have taken hold of in her firm control long ago.

She had been angry when she found out that her advisors had instructed the heads of her military to lie about the two colts' involvement. She knew that it was to cast the military, and thus the government and nation, in a good light for their forward thinking. But they were being short sighted. It would not be long before the real news would make its way across the seas into every pony ear. They would be made a laughing stock and the credibility of her nation’s information network would take a hit. That would actually be a good thing if it did if she was honest. However, she still didn't like it.

Had she known two days ago she might have been able to stop it.

But she had not known. Not until early this morning that is, by then it was too late with the pier already beginning to swell with families and the general populace of Canterlot. Another reason for her not to have a public appearance. She would not allow this farce to have her name attached to it in any way.

As she watched the foals and their chaperones descend to the pier, she noted many of the faces were tired and worn. Mostly the chaperones themselves, but Orion too looked like he had spent too many nights awake. She wondered if he was suffering shell shock from the killing he did. She would be surprised if he didn’t.

Fancy himself was a little more tired then she had last seen him, though he carried himself the same way his father had. Lord Striking Pleats would have been proud of his son, and often she found regret for what had happened to the noble and his wife. But looking at their son she knew they would have been very pleased ponies.

The last one she individually sought out was Shining Armor. The guardstallion was looking confused and more than a little unsure. She snorted. They hadn’t even thought ahead to inform him of the original plan. Did she have nothing but imbeciles in her council chambers. The more events played out the more she was beginning to think a complete overhaul and subsequent firings would have to be done. This kind of idiocy had no place in her court.

She watched, content, as families rushed to each other hugging and happy with the tearful reunions. It made her feel good to have a mostly happy ending. She almost busted out laughing as she watched the two colts shuffle to the rear. She may not be able to hear but Orion was berating himself for forgetting he could teleport. It seemed they were going to escape the crowd early.

Shouting from the front drew her attention. Fancy Breeze was arguing with her parents and as the voices quieted down around them all, she heard the argument as plain as day.

“NO NO NO! Shining did not single handedly save us! It was through the teamwork of him, Orion, and Fancy Pants that saved our lives. Shining shielded us while those two,” she gestured wildly at the now panicking colts, “fought the kidnappers. They were forced to kill but I am here, alive because of them!”

Support from one, Miss Breeze, was high praise indeed. Considering her family's herd had a hand in many of the businesses in the city they had a large influence on what was believed and what was not.

Celestia was curious to see how the colts would react. Panic and fear warred for equal hoofing on Orion’s face. She did not get to take a measure of Fancy’s own reaction as they both teleported away in a violent flash of light. She bit back a chuckle.

“Ahhh poor poor, Orion. I fear you will not avoid the media storm forever. Seeing as I have forbidden you from leaving without my permission you are rather trapped with them.” She giggled as she made her way out of the crowd, now coming out of their own shock and demanding answers. A glance toward her commanders almost made her burst out laughing, they had been caught red handed in their lie.

She made her way down an alley left of the pier and teleported back to her private rooms. “ You know, I won’t even call either of the two forth to answer for their actions. Let’s see you squirm Orion.”

To date, Orion had broken seven cameras and five noses. He had avoided legal trouble on the grounds he was a minor and they were harassing him. But he may, just may get in trouble for this one.

He had come out of his own private shower, and something blocked his doorway, something larger than the hamper in his room. That was enough of a threat for him. He hadn’t bothered to check who, or what, it was and just used a kinetic bolt of lightning to toss the offending body out his window.

“I am terribly sorry about that Mr Falls!” Now he was being apologized to by an individual he barely remembered. Petal Grace, her sun colored mane now in a disheveled up-do hung to the side as she bowed low.

She had barely managed to get a shield up before he hit her with a blast that sent her flying, and the second impact with the ground had shattered it, giving her a headache.

He honestly felt bad. For a reporter, she wasn’t that bad, and her articles always seemed to be based in facts with very little embellishment, or sensationalism.

After dressing himself he went down and tried to apologize himself to the mare. She was sitting on a patio chair holding her head, chuckling and grimacing at the same time.

“Dude you can’t be going into people's rooms like that. Not this close to season at least. Are you okay?” He summoned a couple of glasses and a pitcher of water he knew Mrs Evergarden kept in the fridge for any occasion, he also summoned his own little headache cure all, a potion with a heal spell bonded to a small amount of magnesium and mixed with butterbur. It helped in the morning after he spent a night cramming in the late evening before.

“It was my fault, I was looking for you and I did not realize you were in the shower.” She looked askance at the thin little tube of green liquid.

“It’s called ‘Morning Migraine Cure’. Yes it works I use it all the damn time for my own head. You have no idea how stressful it is to be a student at that school.

She nodded thoughtfully and gulped it down, making a face she guzzled her freshly poured water and went to pour another glass. “That is terrible tasting!”

“Heh yeah I know, I think the taste is what kills the pain and not the medicine at all. Seriously though, I am thinking of giving it cherry flavoring. Something to knock down that vile taste.” He sipped his own glass.

Petal, now on her third glass, just nodded in agreement. “I will say it works remarkably well. I barely even feel the pain now. What's in it?”

He smirked. “Love and I’m not telling you shit.”

The both chuckled.

“Alright keep your secrets.” She paused and looked at him. “I suppose you know why I am here?” He nodded, allowing his frustrations to be known in the form of a very pointed look. “Yes, I wish to interview you. The events surrounding the hostage situation in the eighth floor dining hall of ‘Le Mareice’ has the whole city talking. But there are too many unknowns. Rumors are flying about but other than Miss Breeze, concrete information is largely hard to come by. I would hope that you, would set the record straight. Five questions is all I am hoping to ask.”

He had to laugh a little, she had remembered. “Oh what’s the harm, at least she will be fucking honest.”

“Alright. If it has to be someone it might as well be you. Hurry up, you got five questions.” He chuckled and waited.

Her smile almost outshone the sun. “Thank you Mr Falls. Thank you very much.” She pulled out a notepad and paper. “This is not my first question, but my husband is in the foyer, still waiting. He has his camera and we would like to get one solid photo of you for the paper. Would that be okay?”

He groaned audibly. Well in for a penny and all that bullshit. “Fine, fine. Just no more. That is the last favor I do for you.”

She smiled that dazzling smile of hers as her horn lit up and a ping sound was heard somewhere inside the orphanage. Soon enough Snap Shot, the earth pony stallion that had been with the mare when last they spoke, came bustling around the corner. All grins.

“I had no idea you two were married. When did that happen?” He was rather surprised, Canterlonian Unicorn mares tended to go for other unicorns.

“Oh we have been married for some time actually, we met back in Manehattan when we were both going through college. He was getting into photography and documentary sciences, and I was of course, going through journalism. Now, enough of us, this is about you Mr Falls. Are you ready?”

“Yeah and please stop calling me Mr, or I am gonna start calling you ancient one for shits and giggles. Just Orion is fine.”

“Thank you for the rare privilege. Okay, M-Orion,” she grinned sheepishly, “it is reported that you were actually the one to come up with the plan for rescuing your fellow students, is that correct?”

“Right to the juicy bits I see. Yes, I did come up with the plan for the rescue. We had watched for the better part of six hours. Six hours as those wannabes trashed our rooms. Six hours in which the Prench Royal Guard did absolutely shit to help us. So after tossing ideas back and forth it was decided that since I could teleport I should drop us in among the group and Shining was going to shield them all. I’ll save you a question by the way. Shining Armor’s skill with shield magic is second to none, or so he claimed to me.” He took a sip of water. Snap had taken at least seventeen pictures since the start.

“Offensively he isn’t much good with combat without a team around him. Not because he lacks magic, but because he specializes in protections. The pirates were too spaced out for him to round them all up. So me and Fancy had to run as combat. I didn’t even know Fancy knew how to use a sword before that day. Judging by his side of the battle, he more than made up for inexperience with skill. I hope that satisfies your question fully.”

He knew he had given a lot for a simple answer, but he wasn’t about to be misinterpreted.

“Yes it does thank you. Second question: It is also rumored that you killed many of the pirates yourself, is that true?” She looked up, and he could see more than a little worry in her eyes.

No adult liked to know a kid was forced to kill, even if it was necessary.

“Yes.” He was not going to elaborate on it.

“I see.” She grimaced. He supposed she was hoping for a more pleasant answer. “If I may ask this third question, how did you feel after the battle?”

“I vomited the moment it was over. In all honesty, beating people because they deserve it is one thing. Killing someone even if they deserved it, I don’t think the idea will ever be comfortable with me. Life is uncertain, but I learned something of myself that night. I do not like killing people.” He left out the part where he feared, and was more than certain, that it would happen again.

Petal smiled warmly, if a bit sadly. “I understand that Orion, I can’t imagine the weight that might have placed on your consciousness.” She took a long drink of her own. He poured her another glass of which she murmured a thank you.

He glanced at Snap Shot, who had not stopped taking pictures the entire time, a tear was stuck in the corner of his closed eye. “Man, males are big pussies in this world.” He pulled another glass from the kitchen to his hand with a simple thought, and pour a glass for the stallion.

“Next?”

“Oh yes. This is a long shot, but it was reported that Queen Amethyst Aura had suddenly stepped down the same time as the attempted kidnapping. Do you know why that was?”

He thought for a moment. He had not really dwelled on it all that much but he could hazard a guess. It was fairly obvious that she failed on the part of keeping foreigners, minors at that, safe inside her own city.

“I can’t be one hundred on this, but I’d imagine she stepped down due to the failure of keeping what was supposed to be protected foreigners safe from any possible danger, if I had to elaborate it was likely Princess Celestia she feared more. While she was the ruler of her own country and the Princess had no or at least only a little influence there, she likely wanted to make amends for her failure. Heh if you were her, do you think you would want to face the wrath of the mover of the Sun?”

All three got a chuckle out of that. “Very true, I’d just go dig my own grave at that point.” A surprise comment from Snap himself. That got another round of laughter.

“Alright, I have one final question. This has less to do with you, and more to do with Comtesse Iris Petal. The morning after the events of the day before, she was reported to be missing. As in completely gone. No pony saw her leave her home. The last report from her personal maids was that she had gone to bed furious. Though no pony knew what about. In the morning a maid had gone in to wake her, and found her missing from the room. A large search was conducted and she was not found on her manor grounds at all. My question, is did you hear anything before they left? I would have not bothered to ask, but the Prench are playing this one very close and not much information has gotten to us in the last week.”

This was a question he was bothered by himself. During his interrogation, that had been mentioned on a few occasions. He was originally suspect because of the report on his fight with the pirates, the fire that he produced during combat pegged him as a possible assailant. The reason for that was because inside the room were charred marks in the middle of the floor. But he was cleared because the timing was off, he was still being interviewed when she had gone to bed.

Ultimately, he had to sign an NDA, a non-disclosure agreement, before they officially let him go. He could have refused but Shining had pleaded with him to just sign the paperwork. So he did.

“I actually can’t comment much on that one. I had to sign an NDA before I left in regards to any questions and information on that case. I can say I was asked if I knew anything. I don’t. I didn’t even know the Comtesse was the mother of Belle Cherie till that day. So I can’t help you much there.” He shrugged helplessly.

“I completely understand and am more than a little familiar with NDAs. Thank you for taking the time to talk to us today. I’d pay attention to the newsstands tomorrow if I was you. I plan to bust my flanks over this tonight. Again, thank you Orion. I know this was still more than a little raw, and I appreciate the fact that you faced it even if only a little bit.”

Pleasantries were made, glasses washed and put away. He refilled the pitcher and placed it back into the fridge. He sighed in exhaustion, that had taken way more out of him than he realized it would. Time for a nap.

Twilight sat besides Princess Celestia in the Royal Private Dining hall. Having just finished her breakfast, of just toasted and jam. Lots of jam. On the table before her was Saturday morning’s paper. A familiar face was on it next to another. It was Orion.

Before she realized it she had snatched up the paper. It was indeed Orion, next to his picture was Fancy Pants’s own image. They had been interviewed.

She had been worried about them. Mostly the former. Finding out he had been a part of that had left a hole in her stomach. Princess Celestia had assured her he was fine. That no harm had come to him. So she was more than a little shocked to read the headline.

‘Hero Colts Save Classmates from a Dastardly Kidnapping Attempt.’

She almost tossed the paper away. Many of the newspapers over the last week had been filled with such nonsense. But curiosity got the better of her. She wished it hadn’t.

As she read more of the article, flipping to page three to finish, she had failed to notice the Princess was carefully watching her.

Celestia herself, had already read that particular piece of news. She was honestly relieved, Orion kept his mouth shut for the most part. All three had. Even during Shining’s almost court martial that she had barely stopped, he had remained quiet on the details. Only admitting to the original plan, and how he had been duped in a stressful situation into thinking he was just going to keep a shield around them till the gardesmares finally got their act together to storm the room.

Now she was watching her student for any sign of an explosion of worry and panic.

Twilight gently placed the paper down, the skin inside her ears slightly pale. “He killed someponies….he killed a lot of someponies.” There was a look of heartbreak on her face. “It hurt him so much to do it, and yet he did it anyway because they were going to hurt everypony if he didn’t. He didn’t like it.”

“That's right, my protege. He didn’t want to kill anypony. But in that situation he saw no other recourse.” She felt it was okay for a little bit of truth to ease her student’s mind. “From my own investigation. It seemed they Prench guard were not going to bother helping until the following day, when the pirates were exhausted from the stand off. Even if they had gone with just waiting for the next day, Shining’s shield would have collapsed from exhaustion. To keep a shield going for longer than twelve hours, he would have needed a focus stone. It would have taken most of the burden of him. But seeing as I have the only one still functioning, I didn’t think to give it to him for his assignment.”

“So Orion and Fancy acted. I hear Fancy has already seen a therapist. He has been to her office three times now. I’m afraid Orion has refused again. Saying his problems are his own. An unnecessary burden he is taking on himself but I cannot force him.” Well she could but she didn’t want Twilight breeding with a vegetable afterwards.

“I understand.” Celestia could tell she did not, but there was no way for her to ease her students heart any further. That damnable colt would have to do so when next she saw him. “Come it is time for today's lesson.” She would have to figure out some way for that colt to get help. He could not possibly continue to carry his burdens alone.

The middle March had brought a bizarre singular event. It was his supposed birthday and while Mrs Evergarden celebrated it every year, it was usually the standard affair. Unfortunately this year there was no cake to be had. The local bakery in which she usually got the cake had burned down the night before. Some idiot had left a candle burning near the flour it had seemed.

So non cake. Or they all thought.

A pounding knock on the door had drawn Mrs Evergarden from the festivities in the library. He had not paid it any mind but when she came back he took note of a very large box in her arms with a letter on top.

“Orion, do you know anyone named Pie?” He looked at her puzzled.

“No I don’t, at least I don’t think so. Why?” He had taken the box from her and set it down on the table. Lifting back the lid he was shocked to find an absolutely immaculate birthday cake inside.

It had a creamy white surface with fruit of various types piled on top toward the sides with a ‘Happy 16th Birthday Orion’ in black cursive. “Where in the fuck did this come from? OW!” He rubbed the back of his head. He deserved it, already several foals were emulating his language and it was causing trouble at their own school.

“Well there is a letter here too. Maybe that will explain who sent the cake. Though it is a blessing that it arrived today of all days.” He only nodded as he opened and read the card.

“Happy 16th Birthday, Orion. I am so sorry that the bakery that had your cake burned down, so I made you this one to replace. To be honest it was going to be too sweet and you would only ever have eaten a slice. This is much more your style. Enjoy! ~Pinkie.” Who in the blue fuck was Pinkie?! How the hell did they know about his cake eating habits!? There was more.

“P.S. Jackie and Rares miss you! You should beg the Princess for you to go see them soon!!!”

His eye twitched. There was still more.

“P.P.S. No silly pony, we have not met yet but we will soon! Watch out for sea monsters!!!”

Sea monsters? What sea monsters? He handed the letter off in a daze to his caretaker. She read it, and reread it.

“How does she know you if you have never met before?” She asked, bewildered.

“I have no freakin’ clue.” He cut a slice from the cake and took a bite. He almost wanted to cry. It had to have been the best cake he had ever had in two worlds.

He ended up eating six slices himself that day.

“Just who in the hell is Pinkie Pie?”

The mare in question was just finishing up her packing. She had a one way ticket to a place called Ponyville. There her life of fun and adventure waited. She knew there would be dark times, but that in the end life was going to be superduperfantabulously amazing!

She smiled to herself. Her very first birthday cake for somepony else other than family, and he loved it. She knew it. Didn’t know how but she did. The twitchiness of her tail and the droopy left ear told her so. She couldn’t wait to meet him!