The Anomaly in a Mare's World

Chapters

II - The Weird Situation
III - The Weird Ponyville
IV - The Weird Travel
VI - A Taste of the Odd World
VII - Sigma Stallion
VIII - Unofficial Announcement
IX - Desire
X - Admiration
XI - Trust
XII - Unpredictable
XIII - Uneasiness
XIV - Thoughts
XV - Stalemate
I - The Weird Encounter
V - The Anomaly

II - The Weird Situation

"If only I could teleport..."

Aero was not having a good day. It started as a good one. Now...it was some sort of weird mess.

The Princesses were not in the castle. He searched every room and hall only to find dust, spider web, rusted weapons, and broken tools. He also searched for any sort of magical item, as there was also a chance that they could have been teleported somewhere when touching or activating one. Sadly, there was no trace of magic anywhere. It took several minutes to search and analyze the entire castle, but at least the guard can move on to the next step.

Contact Princess Twilight Sparkle. If there's somepony that can help him right now, it's her.

He needed to get out of the forest quickly. Sadly, he doesn't know the right path, because the Princesses combined their magic to teleport all three of them to the entrance of the forest, then walked to the castle with their guidance. He can't just teleport without knowing about the place. That's just plain dangerous.

"I guess I have no choice..." said Aero for himself.

He didn't want to, but he needs to speak with Twilight as soon as possible. He also wants to avoid any dangerous creature in the Forest. Not because he can't defeat them, but because he doesn't have time to waste.

Aero focused his sight on the sky, and as soon as he did, the wind somehow started to concentrate around him. After a few seconds, he prepared his legs, as if he was about to jump. He also couldn't help but smile a little.

"(This never gets old.)"

The wind around him was getting stronger, and after a few seconds, he jumped.

Very high.

As proof, he was already above the trees, as if the air gave him a boost of power and speed. He moved so fast, that it raised a bit of dust below him.

Aero activated his unicorn magic, using it on his whole body, as a result, his own magic was around him. This had one single purpose: To keep him floating.

"And now..." Aero started to look around while floating, searching the town of Ponyville. For a few seconds, he admired how big the Everfree Forest was, and how lucky he was to not encounter any creature yet. In one of her meetings with the Princess of Friendship, he learned that there are creatures such as cockatrices, timberwolves, manticores, and even ursas and dragons, but the last two are a very rare sight.

"(There!)"

Aero used his unicorn magic to move his entire body to match the direction where the town is. The wind started to gather around him again. Aero then started to move his body willingly, using his front and rear legs to look like a pegasus while flying. Finally, he used the air around him to 'fly' again, creating some kind of small gust in the place where he was only a second ago.

Wind manipulation.

Such a thing is common in fantasy books or even comics, and the closest thing related to that in Equestria would be the way pegasi control the weather. Aero discovered his unique ability by accident when he was training his magic as a foal. At first, he was very confused. He even talked to his family about it. His parents also wanted an answer, because Aero used his ability without knowing it on a few occasions, causing a few accidents, and luckily, no one outside of his family knew about his strange power. One day, a couple of royal guards arrived at his home, saying that Princess Celestia wanted to meet him and his family. Obviously, she somehow got word about Aero. It was during his first meeting with Princess Celestia, that he found out about his 'unique ability' in more detail.

And that he was not the only one.

"(I better land in the outskirts of the town. I don't want ponies pestering me with questions about flying.)" thought the guard, using his unicorn magic to reduce his speed, and slowly landing in a safe area, just near the entrance to the Forest.

There was a road he could follow to the town. He also saw a small house that one could easily mistake for some kind of giant bush with windows and a door. There was also a small river just in front of the house. The water must be clean because there were some rabbits and birds around.

"Now...I need to reach Twilight Sparkle's castle."

The royal guard followed the road, running as fast as he could. The reason Aero doesn't teleport right away to the castle or the town is that most of his meetings with the Element of Magic were in Canterlot while she was visiting Princess Celestia.

As he was getting closer to the lone house, the door opened, revealing a mare that Aero has seen before: It was one of Twilight Sparkle's friends, and one of the Elements of Harmony.

"(It seems that this is where she lives.)" said the guard to himself. "(It's a bit surprising, considering her shy behavior. To think she lives this close to the Everfree...)"

Aero has spoken only two times with the current Element of Kindness. Both were in the palace gardens. Animals are a topic both Princess Luna and Fluttershy seem to enjoy. This gave him a chance to speak with her. The first time was a bit awkward, as her shyness got in the way. The second time was a bit better, although she was still somewhat nervous and wary around him. She also blushed a lot.

For a moment Aero and Fluttershy made eye contact, but he kept running to the town of Ponyville. He still needs to reach the castle, or if he gets lucky, find her in the town while running there.

"W-wait!"

It was a beautiful day in the magical land of Equestria, and Fluttershy had a good feeling that today would be an amazing day. After all, the animals both inside and outside her cottage were healthy and in great shape. She's also proud of her beloved pet Angel, which was finally getting to know a couple of female partners. She knows he will be thankful later.

Since the defeat of Nightmare Moon, there have been no major incidents in Equestria, and she is absolutely grateful for it. The Ponyville local guard has done a wonderful job too, keeping the town safe. After all, it's a mare's duty to protect, care, and guide stallions. Any foolish mare that dares to hurt them, use them for their own selfish purposes, or abuse them, is a criminal, and Celestia herself will not be merciful if you are found guilty.

"I wonder what can I do today?" the pegasus was saying to herself, as she opened the door of her cottage. "Rarity and Applejack are with-"

She stopped.

For a moment she didn't move. She was trying to process what she was seeing right now.

Could it be? No! It can't be!

Not far from her cottage, somepony was there. They made eye contact for a moment.

This would not be surprising, with Ponyville near...but this was a stallion!

Red coat, with brown mane and tail, and curiously wearing a cape. He was running very fast, and he was bigger than the average pony. Maybe the same size as Big McIntosh? If not a bit higher. He had no wings, so it was not a pegasus. And by Celestia...

He was gorgeous!

And that's the reason this is such a strange sight for her.

Because it's a stallion.

A great stallion.

Alone.

Without a mare.

Without a mare for Celestia's sake! A stallion like him is bound to be in a herd, but he is alone! Why is he alone? How could a mare ignore this big, wonderful stallion? Is he running away from bad mares? Maybe he was deceived, used, then dumped?

Oh, the poor dear! I have to do something! Anything!

"W-wait!"

The stallion stopped and looked back to Fluttershy.

"(Thank goodness he heard me.)" said the pegasus to herself, as she started to fly, going directly to him.

But suddenly, the stallion started to run again! Oh no! Is he scared because I'm flying directly to him? Perhaps he was assaulted by a mean mare before! Or multiple mares! I don't want to hurt him!

"Please! I just want to talk! I'm not going to hurt you!" said Fluttershy while following him, trying to make the stallion stop again. She usually doesn't raise her voice this high, but this is a stallion, and he needs help.

"I'm sorry miss Fluttershy, but this is an emergency. I need to speak with Twilight Sparkle as soon as possible."

...

What?

This stallion just...spoke to her like there was nothing wrong! Even when he's alone! And scared! And...

Actually, he looks very healthy, and his voice was...powerful. Is he actually NOT scared? Why is he not scared? Also...

He knew her, and also seems to know Twilight. When did they meet? She would never forget a stallion like him if they ever met! And knowing Twilight, she would definitely help this stallion if they met before. Sweet Celestia, any of her friends would like to spend some time with him. No, scratch that...any mare in ponyville would like to, given the chance.

Wait. He was going to Ponyville.

Running.

Where was he before?

Applejack's farm? No, it's not possible. The farm is closer to ponyville than her cottage.

But then...

Was he...oh my goodness! Was he in the Everfree Forest!?

"(So many questions! I really need to know his situation. It's the first time I meet a stallion like him.)"

That...and deep inside, her instincts are unconsciously telling her that if she doesn't make a move now...

"(He said he wants to talk with Twilight.)" said the mare to herself. She then realized something...

If he goes alone to Ponyville, the other mares will do anything to get him in their herds! She needs to stop him! Or at least make sure he is seen with a mare.

And with that, the Element of Kindness got an idea. A simple, yet effective plan. It was only to help and protect him, of course. Surely it had nothing to do with being infatuated with him...

"I know where Twilight is!" shouted the mare, and this definitely caught the stallion's attention, because he stopped running, and once again their eyes met.

"You do?" asked the stallion, clearly interested.

Now that he stopped, Fluttershy was able to reach him, landing right next to the big and strong...

"(Unicorn?)" thought Fluttershy, honestly amazed with this fact. "(He's a unicorn! I never knew they could have such strong bodies...)"

"Is something wrong Fluttershy? You are blushing."

The stallion brought back the mare to reality.

"S-sorry. I-I'm just surprised that you have a really...u-um, healthy body for a unicorn."

"I get that a lot." was the male unicorn's answer, smiling a little. Fluttershy had to fight the urge to spread her wings a little. She was melting from that smile alone. "Unicorns tend to have weaker bodies compared to earth ponies and pegasi, but I wanted to be strong in both physical and mental aspects."

"That's wonderful." said the pegasus with sincerity.

"You said you knew where Twilight Sparkle is. Can you tell me?" said the stallion, changing the subject.

"O-oh, yes. I can, um, guide you to her." said the mare, already a little nervous. Not because of fear or anything like that, but because a part of her wanted to hug the stallion and invite him to her cottage. Being the shy one, this is the first time she has felt like this about a stallion, and she's doing her best to not look like a 'desperate mare'.

"Then please, lead the way." said the unicorn.

The answer was a blessing for Fluttershy, and happily started to move. The stallion immediately followed her.

"It's good that now you are a bit more relaxed around me." said the stallion. "The last time you were still a bit shy and wary around me."

Fluttershy was a bit taken by surprise.

"(So we did meet before!)" thought the mare. "(But where? How could I forget about him?)"

"I'm afraid I can't remember you..." said Fluttershy in a very, VERY low voice, almost like a whisper at the end. The stallion stared at her for a second, then let out a sigh.

"I can't blame you. We met only two times in the Canterlot royal gardens. Princess Luna really likes you, by the way. You spoke mostly with her."

...

What?

The royal gardens? Princess Luna? She doesn't remember any of this! When did it happen? Meeting and talking with the Princess of the Night, along with a good looking stallion like him, and in the royal gardens of all places! That's something she would definitely remember.

"Well, maybe you were a bit afraid of me because I'm a royal guard." added the Stallion.

Wait WHAT!?

"You-" Fluttershy wanted to say something, but the stallion immediately interrupted her.

"I'm pretty sure you don't remember my codename. You can call me Aero." said the unicorn, smiling again.

That's not fair! Don't tease a mare like this! I could think that...that...

"Aero..." She will definitely remember him from now on.

"Now then, please let's go see Twilight. There's an emergency and I need to speak with her." said Aero, getting serious.

That's right. He did mention an emergency.

"T-then let's go." was Fluttershy's answer, and now both ponies were running to ponyville.

"(I still don't see the castle. Weird...)"

After failing to spot the castle of Ponyville, he focused his attention on Fluttershy, looking at her curiously. The mare took notice of this and gave him an adorable smile in return. This did surprise him a little, but he made sure to not show it, and keep the thought to himself.

(I wonder what happened to her to change her attitude towards me? Well...whatever it was, I'm not complaining.)"

Aero is glad that the current Element of Kindness is not that afraid of him anymore. He heard from Twilight Sparkle that it takes some time for her to warm up to other ponies, and two meetings are definitely not enough. He also noticed that a few things were different from his last visit.

There are many different buildings now. He knows that there is a spa, the market, and some common shops, but as he follows Fluttershy, he has seen many restaurants, a few jewelry shops, and even coffee shops and a couple of pubs. While it's great that Ponyville has more activity and services both for local ponies and visitors, It's amazing how they built all the extra houses and buildings this fast. His last visit was two weeks ago. Even if it was a brief one, he knows these new buildings were not here before.

Something that also stands out is the number of guards. He knows that as a Princess, Twilight Sparkle needed some sort of royal guard for her castle. Most of them are from Ponyville, with a few from Canterlot, who accepted Princess Celestia's offer and started to live here.

"(There are definitely more guards now.)" thought Aero, still looking around, watching many guards patrolling the streets and the market. "(But...all of them are mares. Where are the stallions? Maybe they are guarding Twilight Sparkle's castle?)"

And speaking of stallions...

Aero looked around one more time just to be sure.

"(This looks...odd.)"

There were many ponies around him, talking with each other, shopping, and simply enjoying the day. This is nothing to worry about, but what's odd for Aero is that most of them are mares. He's seen at least forty mares and only five stallions. He noticed that each stallion was practically surrounded by mares. One of them had six mares around him, while the last one he saw had ten. Most of these stallions were talking with a couple of foals, while the mares were talking among themselves.

"Is something wrong?" asked Fluttershy, who noticed that Aero was too quiet, and maybe a bit worried.

"Is this normal?" asked the unicorn. "I've seen a lot of mares, but just a few stallions. It also looks like each stallion is being surrounded by mares."

"Oh yes it is. This is a normal day in Ponyville." said Fluttershy. "Why do you ask?"

"The last time I was here, the streets didn't look like this. There were more stallions and fewer guards. I don't have anything against mare royal guards. It's just that the lack of stallions and the amount of mares is...an odd sight."

the shy pegasus stopped, clearly surprised by Aero's words.

"Why...do you say that?" asked Fluttershy. Aero knew by the way she asked that she was worried now.

"(Am I...missing something?)"

Aero had more questions, but they'll have to wait.

"Let's focus on finding Twilight Sparkle. I really need to speak to her."

"O-Oh. Ok." was Fluttershy's response. "Can you tell me...what's going on?"

"Not here." said the unicorn. "This is very delicate information, and everyone in Ponyville would panic if they knew."

"Oh my goodness! Why didn't you tell me this from the beginning?" Fluttershy started to move again, faster than before.

"I did say it was an emergency." was Aero's answer. "If you really want to know what's going on, then let's find Twilight."

"W-We're closer to her home." said the shy mare. "Just, um, a few more minutes."

"(But I still don't see the castle. Where is it?)"

Aero kept looking around in hopes of spotting Twilight's castle. It was then, that he realized something: The mares around him were now watching him. They were not trying to hide it either, even when he made eye contact with some of them. Many of them had the audacity to wink at him or look at him with 'bedroom eyes'.

"(In a way I'm flattered, but...that's another one to the list of odd things today.)"

Aero decided to ignore the stares for now. Ponyville keeps getting weirder by the second, but that's nothing compared to an emergency like Princess Celestia and Princess Luna's disappearance.

"Aero!"

The door was immediately opened with a yellow, almost golden magic aura. A second later, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna entered the old throne room, ready to fight whatever made Aero use the magic signal. There was just one problem.

He was not there.

The Princesses were currently the only ones in the room. If Aero was there before, there's nothing that proves it. The Princesses were getting a bit worried.

"But that magical blast...and Aero's signal and message!" said Luna, looking around, feeling like she is definitely missing something important. "There's no mistake. He was here!"

Celestia activated her magic again, and closed her eyes, apparently concentrating on something. She kept using her alicorn magic for a few seconds, to finally open her eyes, and start walking to the area where the Elements of Harmony were previously kept.

"You are right, Luna. Some kind of magic was recently used inside this room. It is also safe to assume that Aero suffered its effects."

"Sister..."

Celestia noticed that Luna was talking with a very low voice.

"He...he must be alive. He's strong. He can't leave us..."

"He IS alive, Luna. I'm sure of it." was her sister's answer. "Aero is an excellent fighter. He has both physical and magical fortitude. To be honest, only a few beings would be able to defeat him, and none of them lives in the Everfree."

Celestia stared at the old stone spheres for a few seconds before continuing.

"This energy...reminds me of a teleport...but it's destination seems unclear, and this confuses me. It's definitely not our pony magic."

"Oh! So you too were also drawn by this energy!"

A new voice took the attention of both Princesses. It was not an enemy. Well, it was a former enemy, but an ally in his recent days.

"I never thought you would be here..." said Luna, with a hint of worry in her voice. "Considering you despised this place in the past."

Celestia was looking at the newcomer with a mixture of worry because of who he is, and relief, because this means that the unknown magic done in this room was within his area of expertise.

"Then what kind of energy is this, Discord?"

The mischievous draconequus smiled while looking at a certain spot in the room.

"The one I like the most: The chaotic kind."

Considering Aero's skills and experience, it's not easy to surprise him. He certainly has fought with far more creatures than Princess Twilight Sparkle and her friends. They may not be an imminent threat to Equestria, but they were dangerous foes that needed to be dealt with.

But even with all that knowledge, the royal guard was indeed surprised right now.

The reason was in front of him.

It was a tree.

Not your everyday tree. This one was special. It was big enough to hold a few rooms and even a living room inside. It has many custom windows, and enough leaves to make a good contrast with the large wood. Aero knows this building. He knows what it represents, and who lives there. There's just one problem...

This tree was destroyed in a certain battle.

Yet there it is.

"(How?)" thought Aero, still trying to figure out how this building is even there.

"Aero?" asked Fluttershy, who was already in front of the door, gently knocking a few times.

What door? The door of Golden Oak Library! Even the sign outside was there!

"(Did they rebuild the library? I know it's possible but...)"

Yes. The library could be rebuilt. There was nothing wrong with that. The reason Aero is suspicious is that no matter how much you try to rebuild something, it can't look exactly like the last time. Even with the help of unicorn magic and Twilight Sparkle's abilities, you still need professional builders for this.

The thing is, she doesn't need to do this at all! She recovered and reobtained all the books that were lost during her battle with Tirek, and is currently using a section of her castle as the new public library. She even has a few guards with the sole purpose of protecting and relocating the books if necessary.

"Did Twilight actually rebuild this place?"

Fluttershy just tilted her head a bit, clearly confused.

"Rebuild? What do you mean?" asked the pegasus.

"(Does she not remember the battle between Tirek and her friend?)" thought the royal guard, quickly starting a little experiment. "Fluttershy. I can believe that you forgot about me because we've meet only two times, but surely you must remember the destruction Tirek caused when he invaded ponyville. Among many other things, he blasted the whole library."

Aero saw that now Fluttershy was really confused, judging by her expression.

"Tirek? Who is that?"

Before Aero was able to say anything in response, the door of the library opened. This got the attention of both the royal guard and the shy mare.

"Fluttershy! Hello there." said a different mare, although Aero recognized her immediately.

"Hello, Twilight. It's good to see you. I hope I'm not interrupting you."

Aero took notice of Fluttershy's boost of confidence while talking with her friend. Even her smile seemed a bit more charming...

"Not at all! I was just-"

Twilight froze.

So did Aero.

Both for different reasons.

Twilight stopped talking the second she saw the big, well-toned stallion behind her friend. Her eyes widened in surprise as she noticed the horn on its head. Fluttershy could not help but stare at her friend, sighing but keeping her smile, because she knew Twilight would have a reaction like this.

Aero though froze for a completely different reason.

"(...What the hell?)"

Aero was still trying to process what was in front of him. The pony that came out of the library was definitely Twilight Sparkle, current Element of Magic. She was not injured, as there were no visible wounds on her body. Her voice was also the same. Her horn was in perfect condition too. Everything was ok...

Except she did not have wings.

There was no way to prevent the shock on the royal guard's face. Fluttershy, seeing that it was very quiet, decided to look at Aero, noticing the stallion's expression.

"Aero? What's wrong?"

There was no answer from the unicorn. His mind, however, was already recovering. At least a little bit.

"(The Princesses are missing, Ponyville is weirder than ever...and Princess Twilight Sparkle lost her wings. This is not good. I need answers, and I need then now!)"

III - The Weird Ponyville

Author's Note

Hope you like it so far. I still want to do more with this scenario, but we will see.
If there's any kind of misspelling, please let me know!

Have a nice day/night!

III - The Weird Ponyville

"How much time do you need, Discord?"

"It may take me a few days if we are lucky."

"A FEW DAYS!? WE DO NOT HAVE DAYS!"

"Luna, please calm down!"

The glorious Canterlot royal castle. Just working there it's enough to boost your status in society and in some cases even bring honor to your family. That said, it's not easy to get accepted. Even the cleaners must perform a unique test to land the job.

Sadly, since Princess Luna's return, the castle staff in charge of hiring new employees always forget to give the applicants a warning about the 'Royal Canterlot voice of old', and how she still uses it from time to time.

Needless to say, every time it happens, nopony is prepared. Not even the guards.

"If your stars hate me, it will take me a few weeks."

"DISCORD!"

"Oh, settle down Luna!" Discord looked at her with a 'are you serious' face. "That aide of yours is a tough cookie. He's going to be alright." the draconequus paused for a couple of seconds. "Probably."

"Discord!" Celestia did a really good job hiding the anger in her voice.

"All right, all right...you girls are no fun."

Discord did a quick teleport, appearing right next to Luna, and now holding a small round glass jar, with a strange mist inside that was slowly but constantly changing colors.

"You know, you are lucky I'm interested in this little bundle of chaos." Discord started to admire the mist inside the jar. "It feels like it's trying to tell me something, but the sample is so small that I don't understand it yet."

"Is there anything you can tell us right now about this strange energy?" asked Celestia.

Discord did a quick teleport again, this time appearing right next to Celestia.

"I still need to check this at home. All I can say now...is that this energy is a mess!" Discord could not hide the joy on his face. "And I love it!"

Celestia was not amused.

One of her most trusty and powerful royal guards is missing. As soon as they heard Aero in the magic signal, they rushed to the one room they didn't want to look at. Even if the place brings out the worst of memories for both sisters, they were not going to abandon him. She was even surprised that it was Luna who acted first when they heard Aero's warning.

There was no sign of him in the castle at all. The only thing they managed to feel with their magic, was the strange energy in the old throne room. Discord's arrival was surprising for both alicorns, but after hearing from the draconequus himself that he was drawn to the place by the same strange energy, they asked for his help.

"You were right about one thing, Celestia." said Discord, taking both sister's attention. "This is not pony magic. In fact, this energy is not equestrian at all!"

"Are you sure about this, Discord?" asked Luna, trying to calm down.

"Of course! Why do you think I'm so interested in this?" he pointed the jar with one of his claws. "This energy contains all sort of things, chaos included."

"If we can find the origin of this energy..." Celestia focused is attention on the little jar.

"As I said, give me a few days with this." said Discord, snapping his fingers and disappearing the jar. "If you want to find him, I need to make sure I can control the chaotic portion of this energy."

Celestia only nodded, knowing Discord is right. Messing with an unknown source of power is the worst thing anypony can do.

"Please...as soon as you find anything that can help us find Aero..."

Discord could almost feel the sadness within Luna. He approached her without teleporting, which was something unusual for him to do.

"Tough cookie. Remember." he put one of his hands in her shoulder. "Also, he mastered quick teleport magic with me. He is not allowed to lose now."

And with that, Discord used his magic to teleport away.

This did not ease Celestia's worries. She knows that Aero can survive on its own. As a member of 'Elemental', he has proven that many times. The problem is what Luna feels right now.

"Sister..."

Celestia used one of her big wings to wrap it around Luna. In a way, she's happy that Aero has been so helpful to her sister when nopony else wanted to be even near her. It took a little while, but she finally accepted his company and friendship. Since then, Luna has been a bit more cheerful during Night Court, and she tends to smile more often.

But now, with the sudden disappearance of her aide, but more importantly, her friend, Luna's confidence might decrease, and get worse if he doesn't return soon. She doesn't want to see her sister so sad. Not after the millennia she had to suffer alone.

"As mischievous as he is, Discord keeps his promises when it comes to chaos. We will find him, Luna." Celestia's words were able to give her sister enough hope to stay strong, and she finally managed to smile a bit.

"Yes sister, we will."

And with this, Celestia's smile returned too.

"And who knows? He might get a promotion once we find him. That's up to you, of course."

"Sister? What do you..."

It took a few seconds, but once the Princess of the night understood what her sister meant...

"T-TIA!"

A mess. That's the best word Aero can think of right now for what's going on. Princess Celestia and Princess Luna are missing, something weird is happening in Ponyville, Golden Oak Library is somehow not destroyed, Ponyville's castle is nowhere to be seen...and now Princess Twilight Sparkle doesn't have her wings.

There's no explanation for everything that has been happening to him since he woke up. If there's one thing Aero hates the most is to be in a situation where he doesn't know what's going on.

He needs to-

"Um...Aero?"

The voice of Fluttershy brought the royal guard back to reality...in front of the two mares.

"Oh...sorry about that. I was just a little surprised." Aero knew it was a white lie, but that was the best he could come up with. "I was looking for you...Twilight Sparkle." He decided to not call her 'Princess' for now, and judge her reaction.

"M-Me!?" She's clearly surprised about something.

"(Okay, I can understand Fluttershy, but Twilight Sparkle too?)" thought the royal guard, trying to keep a normal conversation. "I have some delicate information that I need to discuss with you two."

Information. He needs information.

Technically, there was a chance that Aero was in some kind of dream or nightmare, but if that was the case, then Princess Luna would have appeared a long time ago to help him wake up, so this is definitely real.

There's also the fact that Twilight Sparkle is acting like she doesn't know him. Every time she visited Princess Celestia, he was able to speak with her. It's thanks to her that he knows a bit about Ponyville, the Elements of Harmony, and her friends. If she's acting like it's the first time they meet, then...

"O-Of course! Come on in." Twilight went inside the library, followed by Fluttershy and finally Aero.

The royal guard noticed that Fluttershy was looking around, definitely looking for something, or maybe someone.

"Where is Spike? I thought he was with you."

"(Spike the Great and Glorious...)" thought Aero. Twilight's 'number one assistant' according to her, and savior of the Crystal Empire. Of course, it's only natural for him to live with the Element of Magic.

"He is in Rarity's Boutique." said Twilight, looking at her friend. "Since Rarity and Applejack are on a date with Davenport, Spike offered to be with Sweetie Belle and her friends."

"Are they going to be alright?" It seems Fluttershy was really worried about them.

"Spike is with three energetic fillies. He's going to be alright." was Twilight's answer. "And since Spike can cook, they won't go hungry."

"(Cooking, huh? I focused so much in my job as a royal guard that I never learned a thing about it.)" thought Aero, while looking at the many books inside. He would not be surprised if these books and the ones in the Ponyville castle were the same.

"It's a shame. I've never had a chance to talk to him." said Aero, getting the attention of both mares.

"Wait. Do you know Spike? How? He never leaves Ponyville, and I'm pretty sure you don't live here."

"(She still acts like she doesn't know me. She already knows I live in Canterlot because I told her in one of our many conversations. And what she said about Spike...)"

Aero needed answers. Now. Maybe he just needs to take the direct approach. Just one question.

"Twilight Sparkle. Do you not recognize me?"

For a few seconds, nopony spoke. Fluttershy remembered that Aero already knew her and Twilight. As for the Element of Magic, she was still silent. Aero simply stood there, waiting for an answer.

"I...I..." Twilight finally hung her head, apparently ashamed. "I'm afraid that I don't recognize you...I don't even know who you are. I'm so sorry..."

"..."

Aero closed his eyes for a moment. Twilight and Fluttershy shared worried looks, thinking that maybe they offended him somehow. Finally, and without any warning, the royal guard activated his magic, revealing the silver aura in his horn. In a second, both mares were surrounded by a magic silver barrier.

"W-what's going on?" asked Fluttershy, a bit scared.

Twilight, however, knew immediately.

"A scanning barrier!"

"(She knows the spell, like Twilight should...)" thought Aero, still maintaining the barrier.

Twilight took a quick look at the whole barrier before looking at Aero.

"How can you use this spell? Stallions don't learn advanced spells."

Aero knows that there's something really wrong with that statement, especially because it was Twilight of all ponies who said it, but he didn't lose his focus, and after a few seconds, the magic barriers disappeared.

"I don't get it..."

Aero's words got the attention of Twilight and Fluttershy. The shy mare didn't move from where she was, still a bit scared of what happened, but Twilight was slowly approaching the stallion.

"Who was the irresponsible mare that taught you this spell?"

Aero could have said that it was a spell almost everypony in the royal guard had to learn after Queen Chrysalis' failed invasion, but at this point, he's pretty sure 'this' Twilight Sparkle has no idea about her or the invasion.

"I just confirmed that you two aren't changelings, or any kind of shapeshifter." said Aero, ignoring the last question.

"And why would you do that?" asked Twilight, a bit upset now. "Of course we are not changelings! They live peacefully in their haven. Why would they come here and disguise as a pony when they can freely walk undisguised as citizens of Equestria."

"Because it doesn't make sense!"

"W-what?"

"You act like Twilight Sparkle, and you seem to have the same knowledge as her...but you are not the Twilight Sparkle I know." Aero then looked at Fluttershy. "This may include you, Fluttershy. Maybe that's why you don't remember me."

"Aero...I-I think I don't understand." managed to say Fluttershy.

"Me neither. What do you mean by that?" added Twilight, clearly confused about the stallion's behavior.

"While it looks like nothing has changed, many things are different since I woke up in that old castle in the Everfree Forest." said the royal guard. "Ever since that cr-"

"The Everfree Forest!?"

The dual scream caught him off guard. Both mares immediately rushed to Aero, with a mix of shock and fear on their faces.

"Are you crazy? It's too dangerous for a stallion to be there!" said a now very worried Element of Magic.

"You poor little thing! So you were scared after all!" Fluttershy was gently caressing the stallion's mane.

Aero immediately did a quick teleport, appearing on the other side of the room near a desk and a few bookshelves filled with books.

"For Luna's sake! You don't even remember that I'm a royal guard!" exclaimed Aero, a bit more upset than before. "Stop treating me like some defenseless foal. That goes for you too, Fluttershy."

While Fluttershy was surprised to see Aero a bit angry, Twilight just stared at him for a few seconds, before looking at her friend.

"Did he just say what I think he said?"

Aero rolled his eyes, still not believing those words were coming from one of the smartest mares in Ponyville, and possibly Equestria.

Fluttershy took a few seconds to answer that, looking at Aero, then at Twilight.

"Y-Yes. He told me that, um, he...is a royal guard."

"He's a stallion! He can't be a royal guard! Forget about getting hurt, he could die! I don't believe him."

"(It's no use...)" thought the stallion, getting more frustrated. "(They don't remember me at all, and they're also acting really, really weird. At this rate, I'll never find the Prin...)"

It was then, that Aero noticed a certain parchment in the desk near him. A parchment that was actually a letter, but that's not the reason Aero was interested in it. He got curious because he recognized the writing on it.

He knows who wrote it.

Aero immediately took the letter with his magic. The girls noticed this, and Twilight got a little nervous when she saw that parchment.

"Twilight, my faithful student. I wish this letter was about a possible visit to the town of Ponyville, or an invitation for you and your friends to a party in Canterlot, but I'm afraid there is a matter that requires your attention. A few hours ago-"

That's all Aero managed to read because the parchment disappeared, and now it was floating next to Twilight.

"That's private." said Twilight, not happy with what the stallion did.

"When did you receive this letter?" asked Aero, catching Twilight off guard.

"The letter? Why?"

"Look. I don't care about what's written in there. I care about the letter itself because that's Princess Celestia's writing. Did you receive this letter recently?" Even as Princess Luna's aide, Aero has to report to Princess Celestia. She just wants her sister to be happy, and if there's something wrong, she will do anything in her power to fix it.

In short: Aero has been with Princess Celestia long enough to recognize her writing with magic.

"...Yes. A few hours ago, before Spike went to Rarity's Boutique." was her answer. Aero noticed that once again, Twilight seemed confused.

"And... is she in Canterlot right now?" The final question. With everything he has seen since he woke up in the old castle up to this point, Aero started to suspect that maybe, just maybe, it's not that something happened to the Princesses.

Maybe something happened to him.

"Yes. She is in Canterlot right now," said Twilight. "And Princess Luna is also there if you are wondering about her too. Why are you so interested in them?" Aero was sure that the last question was not just curiosity. She was worried.

"I only care about their safety." Aero sighed slowly. "But now...I have no idea what's going on anymore."

"Um...maybe you could..." Fluttershy, feeling a bit better, started to walk towards Aero. "Tell us what happened. You still don't tell us about that 'delicate information'."

"The emergency was that the Princesses were missing...al least that's what I thought at first."

"Well...if the Princesses were missing right now, there would be an uproar in Canterlot, and as her student, I would be one of the first ponies to know about it."

Aero closed his eyes, trying to think of some kind of explanation.

"(There must be an explanation for this. I already discarded the dream theory. I don't think this is Discord's doing because he would never involve Fluttershy with the use of his chaos magic, as he respects her too much. Twilight Sparkle doesn't have her wings and in that letter from Princess Celestia, she refers to her as 'Faithful Student'. That was before Twilight became a Princess. For a moment, just a moment, I thought this could be some weird time travel incident.)

"(Twilight Sparkle did tell me about that one-time use time travel spell she used, but... this doesn't explain Ponyville's odd behavior, and even in the past, back to Princess Luna's first days after her return I was not her aide yet, but a few days later Twilight met me for the first time).

"(She should at least remember me...)"

"Aero?"

the stallion snapped his eyes open, noticing both mares once again were close to him, with a mixture of worry and sadness.

"It's clear that something is happening to you, but we still don't understand." said Twilight.

"You could...tell us from the beginning, um, if you want to." added Fluttershy.

Aero was a bit conflicted. At least that's what the girls thought when they saw his face. He took a few seconds before giving his answer.

"All right, but don't interrupt me until I finish."

"Tell me your secrets...you have to tell me..."

Discord was very comfy on his only sofa on the floor. Everything around him was exactly like he wanted. It was his home, after all: The blue-origami birds, foxes, and fishes along with the kettle with wings flying around, the totally not ominous portal in the floor of the living room, the very small volcano in the ceiling, and the living pony piñata, just to name a few.

Yes. Everything was a perfect mess.

And now, a round glass jar was floating in front of him. The small multicolor mist inside was all the residual energy they could collect from the old castle in the Everfree. A non-equestrian energy with chaos in it! It has been centuries since the last time he encountered one.

"I know you are trying!" Discord was now very close to the jar, his face almost sad. "I can feel it. You want to go back to your owner, don't you? Yes, you do! I can help you, but only if you allow me..."

Suddenly, the mist inside started to change color much faster than before.

"Oh? Do you finally trust me a little?" asked the draconequus focusing on the mist, which started to become transparent. "You really are unpredictable, little bundle of chaos. Surprise me!"

The mist somehow started to show a certain place inside the jar.

It was Ponyville's library! But how? That tree was destroyed when Twilight Sparkle fought Tirek. Why is the mist showing him this?

"...Oooooh. I see..."

Discord got his answer very fast because now three ponies appeared. One of them was Twilight Sparkle, but...

"Her wings! They are gone! Is this possible? Can Celestia do that? Really?"

The other pony was her good friend Fluttershy! It seems both mares were having a discussion with-

"Aha!" DIscord's eyes widened when he saw the third pony.

It was Aero, the tough cookie!

"There you are, you big sneaky champ! You know, that Luna is very, and I mean, very worried about you. So if this is where you are..."

Discord was trying to understand the situation. The library was destroyed, but Aero is there. So is Twilight Sparkle and Fluttershy, and Twilight has no wings! Most intriguing. Is he seeing the past?

Or maybe...

Suddenly, the view of Golden Oak Library slowly vanished and the mist returned to its previous state, slowly but constantly changing colors.

"I wonder..."

Discord did a quick teleport, and now he was in Twilight's Castle.

In the throne room, on top of the Cutie Map.

And how lucky he was! Twilight and her friends were there. Each one in her respective throne. Oh, and Spike too. Cool dragon. It seems that 'Starlight' pony is not there though.

"Woah, Nelly!" Applejack had the fastest reaction, almost falling off her throne.

"Discord!" Twilight was already a bit upset. "Don't scare us like that!"

"Not cool Discord." added Rainbow Dash. "That was a straight jumpscare."

"As much as I loathe such behavior," said Rarity, more curious than annoyed. "I don't remember you suddenly scaring ponies just for the love of it."

"Yeah! You're all about chaos, not fear." Pinkie somehow appeared instantly right next to discord. Not that he minds though. Pinkie being Pinkie is one of the things he loves about her.

"Discord? Is everything ok?" asked Fluttershy. Ah, never change, dear.

"Well, maybe. Maybe not." was his answer, this of course got the attention of everyone in the room.

"Next time, try to choose your words a bit better Discord." said Spike, while looking at his friends.

"Duly noted." said the draconequus, clearly not really meaning it. He then focused his attention on Twilight.

"So, Twilight. A simple question for you." Discord slowly walked towards the alicorn's throne, abandoning the cutie map, and literally walking the last few steps in the air. "Aero."

"Oh. Princess Luna's aide?" said Twilight, now slightly worried. "Did something happen to him?"

"Aide?" Rainbow Dash raised one of her eyebrows. "Didn't know that Princess Luna had one." the other mares and Spike were also a bit confused, except for Twilight and Fluttershy.

"Well, he rarely comes to Ponyville." explained the alicorn. "Sometimes he helps Princess Celestia, but most of the time he helps Princess Luna in her everyday life."

"So he helps both Princess Celestia and Princess Luna? Does this fella even sleep?" asked Applejack, trying to figure out her own question.

"Now that you mention it...I've never seen him tired." Twilight got curious about this too.

"Oh, trust me. He found a way to be at his best almost all the time." said Discord. "I swear he's either a workaholic, or he likes being near Luna."

"Anyways..." Twilight was now a bit more interested in Discord's visit. "Why do you mention him?"

"I was wondering..." Discord needed to know something before getting his own conclusion. "Did he visit you before your library got destroyed?"

Twilight took a few seconds before giving her answer, trying to remember if there was such a moment.

"I don't think so. He only started to visit Ponyville after Tirek's defeat."

"Interesting..." Discord now focused on her pegasus friend. "Fluttershy. When was the first time you met him?"

"Wait. You know him too, Fluttershy?" Rainbow was not the only one to hear this bit of info as news. Everyone, including Twilight Sparkle was caught off guard.

"I didn't know!" said the Element of Magic, with a mix of surprise and curiosity. "How did you meet him?"

"Oh, um..." Fluttershy was a bit nervous now that all the attention was on her. "Princess Luna invited me to the royal gardens, um, sometime after the Grand Galloping Gala. It's thanks to her that the animals are not scared of me anymore. It turns out that she likes animals too." Fluttershy could not help but smile, remembering how much she enjoyed that day. "That's when I met Aero for the first time. Although... I spoke mostly with the Princess."

"..." Discord closed his eyes, more serious than ever.

"But I met him again! And this time..."

Fluttershy stopped, and the girls were about to ask her why. They noticed how she was looking at Discord, and when they saw the draconequus, they started to worry as much as Fluttershy.

"Discord?" Fluttershy got up from her throne and started walking towards her friend.

Suddenly, he opened his eyes, looking very surprised, as if he just realized something.

"Oh boy."

That was all he said, before teleporting away, leaving all the mares in the room with more questions.

"Did you see Discord's face? Should we be scared?" asked the little dragon.

"I don't know Spike, but maybe I can ask Princess Celestia about it." was the alicorn's answer.

"And after that, I was on my way to Ponyville. That's when Fluttershy saw me."

Twilight and Fluttershy were true to their word. They didn't interrupt his story... but this was definitely not what they expected to hear.

"As I said before, although it seems that everything is normal... there are many things that don't make sense to me." said the stallion. It seems that he was finally done.

There was a very awkward silence. Aero was waiting for them to say something. Anything.

When Fluttershy came with a stallion, Twilight was sure it was to give her the news that she would start a herd, and maybe even ask her to be part of it.

Twilight knows very well the situation of stallions in Equestria. There is a reason Princess Celestia decreed so many years ago that every stallion must be protected from all danger, and why mares have the current role they have in society. It is also the reason why herds became a fundamental pillar in society. As the years went by, this became the norm, and no one disagreed or questioned it. The mares began to take care of the complicated and most dangerous jobs, while the stallions were protected since their lives were very valuable. Now the duty of a stallion was to provide foals for future generations and raise them to grow up healthy and strong, in hopes of giving birth to more male ponies.

As a result, stallions tend to be docile, calm, even pacifistic. They have no problem leaving decision-making to the mares of their herd. Despite this, they are phenomenal at understanding and raising their foals.

Centuries of history, customs, traditions, and knowledge...

Aero stomped on all of it, and it took him only a few minutes!

"Let me guess: you think I'm lying." said Aero unenthusiastic.

"Um, it's not that we think you are lying." managed to say Fluttershy, hiding a bit of her face behind her mane. "I-It's just that...I...we..."

"Take your time." said the stallion, in an attempt to relax the pegasus.

"We, um... have never met a stallion like you."

Twilight realized something: Fluttershy was smiling a bit when she said that. Her shy friend was interested in him. Even when she heard all that possible nonsense, she is still interested in him.

"Fluttershy is right." added Twilight. "It's the first time we meet a stallion like you. You look...capable. Like you don't need a mare to protect and love you."

Aero had a noticeable change of expression on his face. Twilight knows she said something that he didn't like, but she can't help it! This stallion is not acting as a stallion should!

"Are you sure you heard me? What part of 'I am a royal guard' did you not understand?" Twilight needed to salvage the situation quickly.

"I'm sorry! But it's what mares do! It's our duty to protect and care about stallions."

"Twilight. I'm bigger and stronger than both of you." Aero put one of his front hooves in his chest. "If anything, it's my duty as a royal guard to protect you in case your life is at risk."

Aero let out a long sigh.

"Ok, let's just...stop for a moment. We are getting nowhere. You think I'm acting weird, and I think both of you are acting weird too."

"But we want to help you..." It was obvious to Twilight that her friend was doing her best to look brave.

"If you really want to help me, there is only one thing we can do." said the stallion. "I need to speak with the Princesses."

"You want to speak with Princess Celestia?"

"Yes, Twilight. And also with Princess Luna." was the royal guard's answer. "I could not find them when I woke up in that old castle, so I thought they were missing. If what you told me about the letter is true, then I just have to speak with them in Canterlot. I'm sure they can explain to me what's going on."

"I...think it's a good idea." added Fluttershy. "Maybe the Princesses can tell us what is happening to Aero."

As much as she wanted to protest, Twilight knew they were right. The Princesses are their best option.

"All right. We'll help you." Twilight walked towards Aero, looking at him with a very serious expression. "But you will be by our side at all times. You are the weirdest stallion I've ever met. Plus, I don't want to see you getting harassed by mares at every second."

"Don't worry. I won't go anywhere." said Aero. "I just want answers."

"I'll get the bits for the tickets." Twilight went upstairs and was heading to her room. "Then we'll go to the Train Station."

"(We could fly...if you had your wings.)" thought the royal guard. "(If I was alone I could also teleport there, but I'm sure they will freak out.)"

"What about Spike and the others?" asked Fluttershy. Twilight was about to answer that, but...

"Twilight can leave Spike a note." said Aero. "And you don't need all of your friends to go to Canterlot, even if they are the Elements of Harmony."

"But-"

"Are they also going to act weird like you two?" asked Aero, interrupting the shy mare.

"I think Aero has a point." said Twilight, now walking downstairs. "It's better if it's just us. We don't want any interruptions, especially with how flirty our friends can be."

"Flirty?" Aero was a bit surprised. "Although, considering how the mares were looking at me when we were outside a while ago..."

"Yes. They would definitely flirt with you. And not just my friends," said the unicorn while writting the message for Spike in a parchment. "I'm pretty sure the reason you were able to walk in Ponyville safely was that Fluttershy was with you."

Twilight left the message in the desk near the bookshelves. "There! Now we can go."

"Wait. Quick question: What if Fluttershy hadn't been with me?"

"Well... maybe they would have tried to invite you to their herds." said Fluttershy. "In a, um, very aggressive way."

Once again, everything was quiet for a few seconds.

"I'll stop my questions," said Aero, suddenly feeling lucky that he brought Fluttershy with him. "Ponyville is a lot crazier than I thought..."

Technically, herds are not illegal, but throughout his life in Canterlot and the many travels he has done, the number of herds he saw did not exceed a two-digit number.

"I just hope there are no more distractions." Aero reached the door of the library and opened it just a little, waiting for Twilight and Fluttershy to come too. When the three ponies left, they were met by the gazes of several mares. Only mares and no stallions at all. Almost as if they had been surrounding the place, waiting nearby for somepony to come out.

Twilight and Fluttershy were really surprised. It was obvious that the other mares were waiting for Aero to come out. Many of them were blushing, and a few of them were annoyed that he was already with a mare on each side.

"(And now they are stalkers... I don't think I'll visit this town ever again.)" thought the stallion, trying to stay calm. "Let's just get this over with."

IV - The Weird Travel

"Oh, Luna..."

The night has arrived in Equestria. At first glance, nopony would notice anything in particular about this night, but if you had a keen eye, you would see that the stars are not so bright this time. You would notice that this night is darker than usual.

There is a secret that only a few ponies knew once. Now, only one of them remains alive. Only those few ponies knew it was a fact, but most of pony society thought it was just a lie or part of a story involving the night.

The truth is that once night settles in...the night itself is aware of Princess Luna's emotional state. If she's happy, the nights are brighter and beautiful. If she's sad, then the stars will glow way less than normal.

Celestia was looking for her sister. She is still in Canterlot, just above her castle. It is not very common, but both sisters use the high clouds to have a few minutes in which they can be alone and appreciate the world, as well as think and also calm down in some cases.

Celestia knows that Luna doesn't like to show her emotions to just anypony, so she kept looking for her.

A thousand years ago, there were two sisters who ruled together and created harmony for all the land. The eldest used her unicorn powers to raise the sun at dawn, while the younger brought out the moon to begin the night. But as time went on, the younger sister became resentful. The ponies relished and played in the day her elder sister brought forth, but shunned and slept through her beautiful night. One fateful day, the younger unicorn refused to lower the moon to make way for the dawn. The elder sister tried to reason with her.

But it was too late.

Her younger sister was already corrupted, transforming into a wicked mare of darkness.

What ponies don't know, is that the birth of Nightmare Moon could have been avoided. The use of the Elements of Harmony to banish her could have been avoided. Her sister's resentment could have been avoided. The sadness and loneliness could have been avoided. Luna just needed her sister's love and care.

And in her most vulnerable moment... Celestia failed her.

And thus, the mare on the moon was born.

One thousand years.

One thousand years alone in the moon.

Is that not enough? Why does she have to suffer even more? Even to this day, with the exception of Ponyville, the ponies of Equestria still fear her, and they only give her a chance when she appears in their nightmares to help them. Celestia knows very well that what Luna did in the past will never be forgotten...

She only wishes her subjects to give her sister a chance.

Discord proved himself more than once, and now he is one of Fluttershy's closest friends. And a bit of a prankster.

Starlight Glimmer did the unthinkable, going so far as to threaten time itself, creating multiple timelines and she still was given a chance by her former student. Now she's Twilight's student and a talented unicorn.

Thorax the changeling was an outcast for not following the teachings of Queen Chrysalis' hive, and was shunned and even hunted by ponies out of fear of another invasion. Spike, who Celestia considers a son of her own, gave him a chance, and now Thorax is the living proof that changelings can be good.

So why?

...

Why not Luna? Why are they not giving her a chance?

...

And then...

"Princess Luna... looks lonely."

It was just pure luck.

Just an observation.

But when Aero said those words... Celestia saw a spark of hope in him.

She tried to ask for help from other ponies and members of the royal guard before, and all of them declined, mostly out of fear, but even so, she had to try one more time. Aero was one of her personal royal guards and just happened to see Luna going to her bedroom. It was a risky bet, but if he could do it...if he could see past her mistakes, then...

"(I'm so glad you spoke sincerely that day, Aero.)" Celestia finally managed to spot Luna's night mane, and it took a few seconds to reach her. By the looks of it, she was still sad. The night itself was proof of it.

Celestia gracefully landed in the big cloud. Her sister obviously noticed her but didn't move her head. She was currently looking at the moon.

"Your nights are beautiful as ever." Celestia sat next to her sister. "It's a pity that it's not in its maximum splendor."

For a moment, Luna didn't say anything. Celestia decided to try something else.

"Do I need to remind you that he is one of our strongest guards?" Now this got her sister's attention.

"It's not that, sister..." Celestia was actually surprised that Luna did not sound sad. More like annoyed. "I just think we should have demolished that old castle long ago. With or without artifacts inside."

Oh, Celestia definitely agrees. She may hide it better than her sister, but she is angry about Aero's disappearance.

"It was a mistake going there. I should have known!"

"We can worry about destroying our old castle in the future," said Celestia. "For now, we must trust that Aero can manage alone."

Just then, Discord appeared a few meters in front of them. The sister's reaction was way better than Twilight Sparkle and her friends. Obviously, you need way more than a quick teleport to surprise the Princesses.

"Trust me. He's doing fine." said the draconequus. Celestia noticed Discord's somewhat serious expression.

Luna's attitude changed immediately. At the same time, the moon and stars began to shine brighter. Her big sister felt a bit of relief when she saw this.

"Did you find Aero?"

"Uhh...kinda." said Discord, confusing both sisters. "I know what happened to him... you're not gonna like it."

"Let's just get this over with."

As soon as the trio started walking, Aero noticed that all the mares were following him with their eyes. Some even looked more excited than before. There were a few mare guards looking at him, too. Twilight and Fluttershy knew very well what was happening.

They were waiting for a chance. All of them.

"(It's no use to keep wondering what's going on.)" thought the royal guard. "(I'll leave all my questions to the Princesses.)"

Suddenly, Aero felt a soft touch on each side. Twilight and Fluttershy made sure to get the closest possible to the stallion.

"So, Aero..." Twilight made her smile as charming as possible. "You said you need to see Canterlot, and we'll gladly take you there."

Before Aero could say something, Twilight winked at him. Fluttershy saw this too, quickly understanding Twilight's idea.

"We'll take you everywhere you want to go." added the Element of Kindness. "Um, only if you want to."

"(I see...)" just a few minutes ago, Aero was told the reason mares didn't hog him before reaching the library. Both Twilight and Fluttershy decided to act like this to make sure all the mares around them get the message.

He's with us.

"(Seems like it's working...)" thought the royal guard, seeing that now the mares around them had changed their behavior. There were many whispers but he managed to hear some of them.

"The one time Sparkle cares about herds..."

"How did Fluttershy of all ponies befriend such a big stallion?"

"Who's the alpha mare?"

"Are we too late? Can we still invite him?"

"Lucky mares..."

"He must be one of those studs from Playfilly with a body like that..."

"Just imagine those muscles in bed~"

"Wow...totally not creepy at all." whispered Aero, surprised by the...honesty of the mares, especially about that 'Playfilly' thing, whatever that is.

"Sorry about that." Twilight was a little ashamed by the town's display. "It's not always like this. It's just that a stallion like you is a very rare sight."

"Let's just go to the station. I just want to get out of here." Twilight and Fluttershy were a bit sad because they knew by the way Aero said it, that he was now uncomfortable.

As the trio was walking to Ponyville Train Station, many mares were still following them, and once again, Aero didn't see any stallion around. Not even the ones he saw a while ago.

"(Weird and pervert mares, lack of stallions, different buildings, and even different events... Did the Princesses really disappear? If they really are in Canterlot...)"

"Um, Aero?" Fluttershy was looking at the stallion's horn, noticing a small detail. "Is your horn ok? It creates a very faint glow sometimes."

After hearing this, Twilight also looked at Aero's horn. It was true. The horn was creating a faint glow from time to time. If he's by any chance using a spell willingly, she doesn't know which one.

"You have a good eye for detail, Fluttershy." Aero showed a small but genuine smile. This made Fluttershy blush a little but she smiled as well. "This is actually-"

"Whoa!"

A voice unknown to Aero, but very familiar to the two mares with him came from above. The three ponies noticed that a certain cloud above them was having unusual movement, and then a rainbow trail came down, finally showing the pony that was up there seconds ago.

"Rainbow Dash! I thought you were in Cloudsdale." Twilight was honestly surprised to see her.

"(The Element of Loyalty.)" thought the royal guard. He had a basic idea of her thanks to Twilight...at least the Twilight he remembers.

"Did something happen with captain Spitfire?" asked Fluttershy, more confused than worried.

"Nah. She wanted to spend more time with Soarin today. Nothing to worry about." said the rainbow pegasus, who now focused on Aero. Her smile widened a bit, with her eyes half-lidded.

"Sup, big colt. I'm Rainbow Dash. The fastest flyer in Equestria." the multi-colored mare put a hoof on her chest, proud with her own introduction.

"And current Element of Loyalty." added the stallion, although he was also wondering about that 'big colt' nickname. "You can call me 'Aero'.

"Aero, huh?" the royal guard saw how Rainbow Dash was clearly inspecting his body. "Never seen you around here, hot stuff."

Aero couldn't see it, but Twilight and Fluttershy seemed somewhat annoyed with their friend's obvious advances. As for him, he just wanted to end the conversation and go to the train station.

"That's because I live in Canterlot." was his answer. "Which is where we are going right now."

"I see..." Rainbow Dash looked at her friends with a mischievous smile. "You three going on a fancy date or something?"

Both Twilight and Fluttershy had a blush on their faces, and Aero was internally cursing his luck because they were still wasting time.

"We are going to Canterlot castle. There is something I need to speak with the Princesses." was the stallion's answer. "It was a pleasure meeting you, miss Dash, but we must get going."

Twilight and Fluttershy felt the movement of the stallion and took this as a signal to advance with him. Rainbow Dash stared at them for a few seconds before chuckling.

"C'mon, girls. You don't have to hide it. I have my herd already so I'm not taking him away...sadly."

This made Twilight and Fluttershy blush even more, and both were about to say something...but then they looked at Aero, who was already losing his patience.

"You should watch out for Pinkie though-"

"Miss Rainbow Dash."

Aero's tone of voice changed, and the three friends weren't the only ones to notice. All the mares around that could hear the group also noticed it.

"I am in no position to meddle in matters concerning your friendship with miss Fluttershy and miss Twilight Sparkle, but..." he turned around to see the Element of Loyalty. His expression was certainly serious... but this time there was something different. Something in his eyes that made Rainbow Dash a little scared when she saw it, to the point that she recoiled a bit in reflex. The other mares who were not able to see his face, including Twilight and Fluttershy, were a bit confused about her reaction.

"This is neither the time nor the place to discuss this. You should have a little more consideration for your friends."

"R-right! Sorry..."

For a few seconds, nopony spoke. The mares around were still a bit confused, but Twilight and Fluttershy were shocked. Rainbow Dash herself was also shocked.

"(Wow...I've never seen Rainbow Dash apologize to Soarin before, let alone any other stallion!)" Twilight already acknowledged Aero as an odd stallion, but this was still surprising.

"(What...did he do?)" the rainbow-colored mare was still trying to understand what happened. "(For a second there I was really scared of him. How did he do that? He's just a stallion for Celestia's sake!)"

"Let's not waste more time then." Aero turned around again to get back on his way.

"W-we'll talk later, Rainbow." said Fluttershy, following the stallion.

"Unless...you want to come with us?" offered Twilight. This made both Fluttershy and Aero stop again.

"We are going to board a train. Did you bring enough money for her ticket?" asked Aero, who just wants to get to Canterlot as soon as possible.

"Actually...Yeah." was her answer, showing the gold coins with her magic. "I thought I'd bring enough bits in case we ran into Rarity, Applejack, and Pinkie Pie."

"I can look for them! Just give me a few minutes." Rainbow Dash was about to fly, but something caught her attention. That 'something' being Aero, who did a quick teleport, appearing in front of her.

"Don't. There's no need to."

"Wha-but why?"

"Two of your three friends are on a date right now," said Aero, still looking straight at Rainbow. "And we don't need the third one. If you want to come with us, it's now, and only you."

"Aero was not lying, Rainbow. He really needs to speak with Princess Celestia and Princess Luna." Fluttershy approached her pegasus friend. "We offered to accompany him."

"We know very well that he is not only a stallion, but also a very attractive one," added Twilight. "We offered to accompany him so other mares don't take advantage of him."

"(It's good to know they think I'm handsome, but...I still have no idea what's going on here.)" thought Aero. "(I'm still trying to understand, even a little, what's the deal with the mares of Ponyville, as well as the lack of stallions.)"

Rainbow Dash kept looking at the stallion for a few seconds, before giving him a weird look.

"You're weird...and hot. That's a dangerous combo." she then started to walk towards Twilight. "All right. I'll go with you guys. Hope I'm not spoiling your secret fancy date."

"Why you..." Aero sighed with a strange feeling of exhaustion. "Let's just...go to the station, please. I'm not in the mood to keep arguing."

Unfortunately for Aero, it got worse when they continued their walk to the station.

Thanks to Rainbow Dash's interruption, the mares of Ponyville decided to approach him in a more friendly way, in hopes of getting as much info as they could get about the big and muscular stallion. Although Aero didn't want to, he had to answer some of their questions, or they wouldn't leave him alone.

His answers were short, but even so, the mares took more interest in him, much to his bad luck.

He did notice something curious during these short talks.

Before asking him anything, each and every one of them asked Twilight and Fluttershy for permission. Both friends agreed with the condition of giving them some space, and do not interrupt their trip. Rainbow Dash was watching everything with a smile on her face, proud that both of her friends are 'supervising' their stallion.

When they finally got to the station, even the ticket seller was a mare, and she even assumed that Aero, Twilight, and her two friends were part of a herd. The royal guard didn't deny anything just because if he said anything now, they would waste more time with unnecessary talk.

Now on the train to Canterlot, he was able to relax a bit.

And his method of relaxation is to work properly like the royal guard that he is. While Twilight and her friends were comfy in their seats, Aero was right next to them, positioned just as a royal guard would be at the entrance to Canterlot Castle, ready to act in case of any emergency.

Surprisingly, The wagon they were in was empty, so there were no mares to annoy him. Maybe they get special treatment since he is with the Elements of Harmony.

Even if Twilight Sparkle and her two friends were constantly watching him, he was relaxed. At least they would not try anything weird.

"(Wow... he does have the posture of a royal guard.)" thought Twilight, while watching Aero. She has seen many mare royal guards while visiting Princess Celestia, and if Aero had the same armor right now...he would look imposing.

"(I still can't believe he's a unicorn...)" Fluttershy was actually admiring him. She has seen many unicorns in her life, and it is known that a unicorn's body is the weakest among ponies, which is generally compensated with their ability to use magic. Shining Armor, Twilight's older brother and current Prince of the Crystal Empire was the largest unicorn she knew before.

But Aero was something else. Not only he has a very well-built body that rivals Applejack's brother, but he also seems to control his magic very well. He teleports as fast as Twilight.

It's no wonder he is a mare magnet, and it's such a blessing that she found him first.

"Wow. You really are into him, Flutters."

The Element of Kindness blushed instantly, looking away from Aero and hiding part of her face in her mane while her rainbow-colored friend was looking at her like she was saying 'way to go, girl!'.

"Please tell me you are not going to behave like those obnoxious mares from earlier." said Aero, getting the attention of the three mares. "It was like a show of pervert and horny mares."

"I'm really sorry Aero. Even if you are a stallion, the mares of Ponyville should know better." said Twilight in an apologizing tone.

"What did you expect, big colt?" said Rainbow Dash in a mocking tone. "You're quite the catch after all."

"Even if you are an Element of Harmony, you should watch what you say. I'm not sure if you are joking with the obvious flirting or just being a creep." said Aero in response.

The mares looked at each other for a moment. Twilight and Fluttershy already know there must be a reason for Aero to be so different from most stallions. Rainbow Dash, however, just met him.

"You really are an odd one. Every stallion would love this kind of attention."

"As far as I'm concerned, it's all of you who are acting strange. It's one of the many reasons why I am going to see the Princesses."

"Wait, so it was true?" Rainbow Dash then looked at her friends, a bit disappointed. "And here I was hoping for a fancy meal."

"Rainbow Dash..." Twilight didn't sound surprised, making Aero wonder if this is common for her. "We were telling the truth the whole time."

"We needed to make sure that no other mare got near Aero," added Fluttershy. "He really needs to speak with the Princesses."

"That sounds fishy...and I wanna know!"

"Rainbow, I don't think..."

The three Elements of Harmony started to discuss the recent events, but the stallion didn't focus on what they were saying. Aero was actually thinking about the Princesses.

"(Miss Twilight, miss Fluttershy, and now Miss Rainbow Dash...)" Aero let out a subtle sigh. "(And most, if not every mare in Ponyville. What if the Princesses have this same odd behavior? And if they are not missing... why would they leave me in the Everfree? There's no way they would do that willingly. I'd be easier if this was the dream or nightmare scenario...)"

"So who's the alpha mare?"

That particular question from Rainbow Dash was enough to get Aero's attention.

"You still don't get it, do you?" said the stallion, who now focused on Rainbow Dash. "We are not a herd. They wanted to come with me because they want answers too."

For a second, the Element of Loyalty didn't react, but then she got up from her seat and reached her two friends.

"Once again, he's telling the truth, Rainbow." said Twilight, although Dash saw the hint of sadness when she said that.

"Then you had no right to stop those mares before!" for some reason Rainbow was a bit angry. Aero decided to see if he could get some information out of her.

"Excuse me. Are you saying that it's ok for mares to be stalkers around me?"

"They just wanted to know a bit more about you, big colt."

"They were outside the library, waiting for us to come out. Twilight Sparkle and Fluttershy had to stick close to me so nothing serious would happen."

"Wait. Really?"

"Um, Aero..." Fluttershy focused on the stallion, and she was not that happy now. "They were waiting for you to come out."

"By Luna..." Aero just had more questions now, still a bit curious about everypony's behavior. "I'm never visiting Ponyville again."

"You exaggerate too much." Rainbow was apparently calm about all of this, much to Aero's surprise. "They just want the best for you. It's a mare's duty to-"

"Mare's duty?" Aero interrupted her. "Twilight said something similar before. Some nonsense about mares protecting and taking care of stallions."

"Nonsense? It's how life works, big colt!" now Rainbow was sure that something else is going on. "I still can't believe you're not in a herd. You don't even have any scent on you!"

"So you are telling me that mares suddenly decided to believe themselves to be guards and protectors? Do you really expect me to believe that?"

"I don't know if you have been living under a rock or something like that, but... this is a mare's world, big colt."

Aero just stared at her, trying to understand in any possible way what she meant by that. There were several seconds in which nopony said or did anything. Twilight and Fluttershy were starting to worry, but before they could even move, Aero slowly moved towards the Element of Loyalty.

This time, however, both friends were able to see the same eyes Rainbow Dash saw when she got scared. Fluttershy was frozen. Twilight was shaking a little. She was also wondering how Aero could achieve that just by looking at them.

"You see... this is the reason I want to speak with the Princesses. It's because everything you've been saying is just gibberish to me. Something really, really strange is going on, and you, your friends, and maybe every mare right now have been affected. And believe me, this is not just about the mares."

Aero calmly returned to his previous place, although his horn was still performing the same magic pattern that Fluttershy noticed earlier. He noticed that Rainbow Dash was not moving.

"You should go back to your seat, Rainbow Dash. We haven't reached Canterlot yet."

After Rainbow Dash returned to her seat, The rest of the trip was in a peaceful, yet uncomfortable silence. At least to the Elements, because all three mares had questions of their own about Aero. As for him, he enjoyed the peace that he desired since the beginning of the day.

Of course, such peace didn't last forever.

"My! Just look at that gorgeous stallion!"

"He's so cute!"

"There's a line between cute and handsome, dearie...and trust me, he is handsome."

"Is that Twilight Sparkle?"

"Oh my gosh, don't tell me that stud is her stallion."

"Well, she and her pegasus partners seem to have a wonderful taste in stallions."

"(At least in Ponyville they whispered...)" thought Aero, making sure to keep his neutral expression. "(Here they have the nerve to speak as if I didn't listen to them.)"

But sadly, this also meant that the mares' odd attitude wasn't just a Ponyville issue. If Canterlot had the same problem... then it was no exaggeration to think that the same was happening throughout Equestria. The closer he is to speak with the Princesses, the more questions he has.

To Aero's surprise, he also managed to see some stallions. They were still few, but they were definitely more than what he saw in Ponyville. A few of them were surrounded by both mares and foals, like in Ponyville. Others were together in a small group, constantly whispering to one another, and...

Aero stopped. This made Twilight and her friends stop too.

"Aero? Is everything ok?" asked Twilight.

"Is...is that stallion wearing a dress?" Aero could not believe what he was seeing right now.

"Uhh... yeah. It's pretty common for stallions to use fancy dresses if they feel like it." Rainbow raised one of her eyebrows. "Give it a few hours and you'll see more stallions dressed around."

Aero just continued walking, trying to get out of his head what he just saw. He never saw a stallion in a dress before, and he certainly didn't expect to see one in Canterlot of all places.

As they made their way to the castle, Aero saw the same patterns he saw in Ponyville: A few stallions, all of them surrounded by mares. Some of them were clearly their marefriends and probably part of a herd. More stallions talking to one another, and a few more with dresses.

Aero kept quiet the whole time after they saw the first stallion with a dress. Twilight and Fluttershy knew Aero was probably not comfortable, while Rainbow was just overall confused about his behavior.

Finally, they reached the main gates of the castle, with two royal guards guarding the area. Of course, the two guards were mares and they immediately focused their eyes on Aero.

"Twilight Sparkle. Welcome to Canterlot castle." said one of the guards. "What is the purpose of your visit?"

"Perhaps you want to entrust this stallion to us so he can find a mare?" said the other guard with a bit of excitement.

"Whatever you may be saying, you are wrong," said Aero, drawing the attention of both guards. "We are here to speak with Princess Celestia and Princess Luna."

Both guards stared at the stallion for a few seconds before changing their focus to Twilight.

"If he is your stallion, you should probably mark him or leave your scent on him before any other mare tries to take him away." said one of the guards.

"Yeah, we thought he was a mareless stallion." added the other.

Twilight needed to say something quickly. Now that he knows Aero a bit, she knows he is probably not happy with what they said.

"Look, we are here to-"

"Are you two deaf?"

Too late.

Both guards saw Aero, who was now a bit more serious and obviously annoyed.

"Sweetheart, this is between miss Sparkle and us." said one of the guard.

"Be a good stallion and wait." said the other.

"(Oh...so it's going to be like that, huh?)" Aero discarded any friendly intentions now. This needed a better approach.

"Are you two actually guards?"

This not only caught the attention of the guards but also some ponies around the entrance.

"Excuse me?" one of the guards got a bit angry with what he said. "Of course we are!"

"Mares don't like disrespectful stallions, you know?" said the other guard.

"I still don't believe it. You look like two ponies pretending to be guards to me." Aero was calm. Way too calm. Twilight immediately identified this as a bad signal. Something was about to happen.

Suddenly, Aero disappeared.

Then, for just a moment, Twilight, Fluttershy and Rainbow saw that Aero was now between both guards.

Before anypony would say or even do something, Aero used one of his front hooves, and one of the guards was forcefully moved to the side, colliding with the nearby wall. Just when her partner realized what happened, Aero used his magic to fire a silver beam from his horn. This of course hit the other guard, sending her to the other wall.

Now both mares were on the ground and trying to get up. It was obvious to anypony who watched the whole thing that the guards were easily defeated.

And by a stallion, no less.

"As I said, you don't look like royal guards to me." said Aero, now with a more commanding tone. "A royal guard always has to stay alert. Otherwise, you might be an easy target of a surprise attack."

"Whoa..." Rainbow was still trying to process what happened. Fluttershy was in the same boat, but it's a good thing that nopony noticed the way her wings were slightly up.

"Aero! What did you do?" Twilight knew he would do something, but not this!

"Teaching them a lesson." was his answer, to everypony's surprise. "I came here to speak with the Princesses, not to be treated like a foal."

The three Elements had no other choice but to follow him as he entered the castle. The other mares around went to help the defeated guards, but they were also really confused about what happened.

"(He teleported too fast!)" Twilight, surprised as she may be, was now analyzing everything she saw. "(Faster than when he did it in the library. And the way he moved...he attacked with his hoof, then charged a magic laser. His magic activation speed is amazing! His speed overall is amazing! How does he do that with such a big body?)"

"Miss Rainbow Dash."

Aero stopped, then looked at the Element of Loyalty.

"What?" Rainbow was still a bit surprised but still managed to speak.

For a moment he said nothing, but then he smiled. Twilight and Rainbow now understand why Fluttershy likes it when he smiles.

"A mare's world, huh?"

For some reason, this made all three mares blush moderately.

"(I didn't even have to use my ability. Either they were rookies or the royal guard is on the decline and I didn't notice.)" And with that, Aero resumed his walk to the castle.

"Thank you very much, Princess Celestia! We will follow your advice. Right, dear?"

"Of course! As always!"

"Then I wish you good luck in your future, my little ponies."

Princess Celestia calmly watched as the couple left the throne room. The mare opened the door for her stallion to leave first. She also heard the voices of approval from the other side once the door closed. It seems that the mare was the alpha of the herd and the others were waiting for them.

This is not the first, and it will definitely not be the last time that she will receive this type of inquiry. Over the years, Day Court has dealt more and more with love affairs rather than political issues.

Up to this day, the Princess of the day doesn't know if that is a good thing or not.

Since the defeat of Nightmare Moon, along with the return of her sister Luna, there have been no incidents or attacks in Equestria.

The changelings, under the reign of Chrysalis, have proven to be not only pacifistic but extremely shy and insecure without the guidance of their Queen, which has led to a peaceful relationship with the ponies, even if they do not visit their territory much.

Female dragons have a more 'aggressive' society, but also decided to have a good relationship with Equestria.

The griffins have not made any official announcements, but whenever one visits Equestria, they've had an acceptable behavior, and there have been even cases where some females take an interest in stallions... leading to them fighting other mares for them.

And while diamond dogs and minotaurs have long been neutral, there have been no incidents in recent years.

It's a beautiful peace.

She should be happy. She knows it very well.

However...

"Princess Celestia!"

The door was gently opened, revealing a mare royal guard.

"Yes? What is it?" asked the Princess.

"There is a pony who has requested an audience with you and Princess Luna."

This got Celestia's attention. Not only because this pony wishes to see both her and her sister, but because Luna has her own Night Court, which sadly is not very popular.

Also...the guard said that a 'pony' wishes to see them.

"Is this pony a mare?"

Celestia's question was met with an odd silence that lasted just a second. She saw how the guard was also a bit flustered, and she was also...blushing?

"N-no, Princess. It's a stallion."

Every mare royal guard that was in the throne room got a reaction. Celestia was also surprised because, after the 'incident', fewer stallions came to Day Court, until one day, they stopped coming.

"This stallion is accompanied by three of the Elements of Harmony: Twilight Sparkle, Fluttershy, and Rainbow Dash."

Her faithful student and two of her friends are with him? Worry began to form in the Princess's mind. Does it have something to do with what happened recently in the Everfree Forest?

"Did this stallion identify himself?"

"Y-yes, Princess." was the guard's answer. "He identified himself as 'Aero'."

Author's Note

I really wanted Aero to understand what's going on, but it seems I'll have to do that in the next chapter.

VI - A Taste of the Odd World

"I'll repeat it just in case: Don't bother the guest. He is a VIP, and should be treated as such."

"Understood, Miss Shimmer."

"We will treat him with the utmost respect."

Until yesterday, Sunset Shimmer's routine consisted of practicing and improving her magic, advising the royal guard from time to time on magic, and assisting the castle staff when possible.

After all, Princess Celestia recognized her talent and personally asked her to be an official member of the castle's royal mages at her young age. Not only that, but she also had the honor of sharing an everlasting magic signal to contact Princess Celestia anytime. Of course, the same applies to the Princess.

When she met Twilight Sparkle, they became friends immediately, and the Princess was glad that two of the smartest fillies in Canterlot were getting along.

Even if they were both geniuses, they took different paths in the art of magic. Twilight chose knowledge as her focus, whereas Sunset chose experience.

And she doesn't regret that decision.

Her focus led her to be a bit more involved in the royal guard and helping in the quality of life in the Castle.

Of course, this also included helping stallions.

While peace is something that everyone enjoys, evil remains. In small but harmful portions.

Even when every mare in Equestria knows they have a duty decreed by Princess Celestia, some of them treat their stallions very badly, and the poor males can't do anything about it, being the fragile and delicate beings they are.

It's cruel, but it happens. Mares of high status abuse their power to take advantage of stallions both physically and emotionally.

This made Sunset acquire a strong sense of justice, and it's one of the reasons she is a gentlemare with every stallion she meets. She does flirt sometimes, but it's harmless compared to what other mares do to shy and scared stallions that they meet. She does it so that the stallions have a little more confidence in themselves.

It's also one of the reasons you don't mess with her because, with everything she has learned so far, many mares in the royal guard and the castle staff respect her, to the point of considering her a captain, even when technically she isn't.

But yesterday... she met an enigma.

No.

The enigma.

And his name is Aero.

Sunset heard the voice of Princess Celestia thanks to her magic signal. She was ordered to go to the throne room, and escort a stallion named Aero to one of the VIP rooms on the highest floor of the castle. It was her first time hearing about a VIP stallion.

Then, something unexpected happened. She heard Princess Luna's voice too!

She ordered that Aero was to stay in the VIP guest room right next to her bedroom. Celestia had no complaints about this and agreed to the suggestion.

Sunset knows that Princess Celestia cares about stallions the same way a mother would care about her foals, and Princess Luna is not very happy about how stallions behave nowadays.

But somehow this stallion became a VIP and has the sympathy of both Princesses.

However, all her doubts disappeared when she could finally see and talk to him.

Afraid? Frail? Not at all. His self-confidence was admirable. His personality also showed that he is not the type of pony who takes orders from just anypony.

As they headed to the top floor of the castle, Sunset was able to talk to him a bit.

At the same time, she received more info about him thanks to her magic signal with Princess Celestia, including how he is more than capable of defending himself, considering the fact that he easily subdued two royal guards.

And the most incredible thing of all is that despite being tremendously attractive, even among the lack of stallions...

He is not in a herd.

How?

Seriously. How?

This stallion came out of nowhere and is the living antithesis of today's mare society.

And she can't get enough of him.

Today, she volunteered to go and wake him up, so she can talk to him some more during a very pleasant breakfast, then go to the throne room because the Princesses have a private reunion involving him and the Elements of Harmony. At least she'll be able to say hi to Twilight and catch up.

She also brought two of the castle maid so they can quickly clean his room. Contrary to popular belief, maids are instructed, though not as much as royal guards, how to defend themselves.

"I heard from some royal guards and some butlers that he was tall and handsome." said one of the maids, with slight interest. "That is a rare combination nowadays."

"I heard he fought two royal guards and won!" said the other, with a mix of surprise and emotion.

"Ladies..." Sunset said in a tone of minimal warning to get their attention. "Remember what I just said. This is very important. I hope you can keep your hormones in check."

"We'll do, miss Shimmer." was the answer of both maids.

As they were reaching Aero's room, Sunset couldn't help but wonder...

"(If I'm lucky... will I be able to see his sleeping face? That would be nice.)"

Sunset used her magic to gently open the door. When she and both maids had a complete vision of the place...

The maids gasped loudly. Sunset was able to contain her voice and remain calm. It's good that she has faced a crisis before. Otherwise, she would have panicked by now.

There was nothing wrong in the room. Everything was in its place. Even the bed was nicely made.

Everything was ok.

Except that Aero was not there, and the large windows were fully opened.

"Tell the rest of the staff and any guard you find on your way back that the VIP Aero has disappeared!" exclaimed Sunset. "I'll inform Princess Celestia."

The maids moved immediately. Sunset didn't waste a second and contacted her Princess.

~(Princess Celestia! Aero has disappeared!)~

"Well... that should do it."

Aero was satisfied. Truly a good way to start his day and relax for a bit, considering his unique situation.

He was a bit sweaty but was already controlling his breathing to recover optimally.

He's really glad that the royal guards' training ground is also in the same location as in his Equestria. And what's more, it seems that the instruments and tools for practicing melee and ranged combat seem to be the same. Even the large square combat zone for one-on-one duels was there.

Aero woke up at the time he is always used to. Being the same style of guest room that he remembers from his Equestria, he proceeded to use the shower in his room, made his bed, and left the room through the large windows. Even with the support of the Princesses and the help of Sunset, any of the mares in the castle could do something stupid when they came to wake him up.

At the moment, he only trusts Princesses Celestia and Luna, Twilight, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash although to a lesser extent, and Sunset Shimmer.

He knows about the private meeting he will have shortly. It is clear that it will be to discuss what to do with his situation. Maybe Twilight and her friends will be there too. The Princess Twilight from his Equestria told him that she and her friends are usually called when something unexpected occurs.

With that in mind, the best thing to do to pass the time was to do his daily training. He never misses it. Always having an exercise routine before breakfast was his way of starting every day in high spirits.

It seems that getting up early is something difficult for the royal guards of both Equestrias. Aero was glad there weren't any mares bothering him. Fortunately, he has finished all his magical and physical activity exercises.

"(Should I also train my ability?)" thought the stallion.

The only time he used his wind manipulation in this Equestria was when he flew over the Everfree Forest. Since then, he has made sure not to use his ability again unless it is really necessary, or if the situation forces him to use it. So far, the only ponies who know about his ability are the Princesses, and only because they saw his memories.

! ! ! !

His area-scan spell reacted. He felt two presences approaching. The first one was up in the corridor of a section of the castle, next to the training ground. The other was getting closer to the training ground's entrance.

"(Wait. That's where she goes when...)" Aero already had an idea of who was up there, especially since the presence stopped moving. He already knew that the reason was that whoever was there was observing the guards' training place.

To see him.

The other presence kept closing in, so Aero focused his gaze on the entrance.

After a few seconds, he saw that it was a unicorn mare. She seemed to be a bit taller than normal compared to mares in general. What struck him the most... was that everything about her was familiar to him. From her colors to her cutie mark.

Especially the cutie mark.

Princess Luna was tired, but not that much compared to previous days. There was no doubt that she was in a better mood overall thanks to Aero.

As much as she wants to see the stallion, she must go to rest, at least a little. She spent the whole night doing her royal duties. Sadly, her night court was a failure and pretty much a waste of a few hours of her night.

As she made her way to her room, she managed to see something that caught her eye.

It was Aero!

"He is in the training grounds." Luna managed to see that most of the tools and objects used there were a little worn out. There was no doubt that Aero was training, and that he must have been there for quite a while.

And now his gaze was fixed on the entrance. Is he waiting for somepony?

Then, Luna managed to see that another pony arrived at the place.

"Ah... she was not in the castle yesterday." Luna couldn't help but smirk. "Let us see how you handle this situation, Aero."

Luna activated her magic and her horn glowed with a dark blue aura for a moment. After a few seconds, the spell was ready and now she could hear the two ponies below despite the distance.

"Excuse me. Are you lost?" the mare asked directly but with a bit of softness in her voice.

"(Her mane and tail, her body, and her cutie mark... how is it possible?)" Aero was calm on the outside, but he was wondering about the mare's appearance in his mind. "(The resemblance is both astounding... and creepy.)"

"Are you related to Twilight Sparkle's family?"

The question surprised both the mare and Princess Luna.

"You seem to know my sister." said the mare, her voice remaining calm.

"(Excuse me, what?)" Aero couldn't help but show the surprise in his eyes for a moment. "(Twilight has a sister in this Equestria? Well... considering the fact that Twilight is not an alicorn, a sister instead of a brother is not out of the question, but...)"

Aero knows Shining Armor better than he knows Twilight. It was unfortunate that by the time of the royal wedding in Canterlot, he was out on an official 'Elemental' mission. In the past, Aero was the superior of Shining Armor. Specifically, his captain. When he was promoted to be one of Princess Celestia's private guards, he didn't hesitate to recommend Shining Armor to be the new captain.

"(This mare... is literally a female Shining Armor. It's a bit unsettling.)"

"Yes. I know Twilight Sparkle, and some of her friends." said Aero. "As for your question, no. I'm not lost. I've been here for almost an hour."

The mare noticed that he was sweating a bit. She also noticed that many of the tools and objects used for training were showing signs of being recently used.

"If you are not lost, then where is your mare?"

Aero's expression changed immediately, and he let out a sigh showing his annoyance.

"(Here we go again...)" thought the stallion, preparing himself for another dose of 'mares are weird here'. "Sorry. Did you come here to train or to interrupt me?"

The mare was momentarily surprised by the response she received but quickly returned to normal.

"I am captain Gleaming Shield of the royal guard. Please, if your mare left you, then you can tell me. You have my word that she will receive a dire punishment for her actions." she put one of her hooves on her chest, trying to show Aero that she was really serious about this.

"There is no mare, captain Gleaming Shield." said Aero, somewhat annoyed by her insistence. "Now, I ask you to let me train in peace."

"I'm sorry, but I won't. You must come with me." said Gleaming, who started to walk towards Aero. "It's hard for a stallion to admit abandonment, but don't worry. We'll find you a mare to protect you and-"

Aero suddenly vanished, surprising the captain, but only for a moment, because he reappeared in front of her.

"Listen to me well because I won't repeat it again." Aero made sure to stare at Gleaming Shield. "I don't need a full-time babysitter watching over me. I am not in a herd nor am I interested in being in one. I have more important things to worry about."

Aero teleported back to his previous position.

"Last warning. Let me train in peace... or I'll take you out by force. "

For a few moments, there was no sound at all.

From above, Luna was happy to see how Aero was exceeding all of her expectations.

Seeing that the captain wasn't reacting, Aero took it as a sign that he could continue.

However, for an instant, he managed to see a light blue aura on his body. Aero, now a bit angrier, teleported faster than before, appearing again in front of Gleaming, who deactivated her magic.

"What is your problem?"

"Your behavior is understandable." said Gleaming, sounding a little worried. "Mares that abandon their stallions never think about the consequences. Sometimes they can go into a state of confusion or depression. There are cases like yours, where instead, you fill yourself with hatred towards mares in general, and avoid them, to the point of doing some mare activities, such as practicing combat."

Aero simply watched the captain, unable to understand how she continues with all that stupidity of protecting stallions.

"(By Luna... she really believes that she is in the right.)"

"Captain?"

Two more mare guards who were passing by chance approached upon seeing the two ponies.

"Ah, just in time." said Gleaming, looking at the two guards. "I found this stallion doing dangerous activities. His mare apparently abandoned him. I need help getting him to the stallion-care site."

"Him? Abandoned?" asked one of the guards, who immediately observed Aero, probably liking what she was seeing judging by her smile. "What stupid mare would abandon him? Look at those flanks!"

The other guard eyed Aero curiously, apparently thinking of something.

"(Great... speaking again as if I'm not listening.)" thought Aero, now focusing on the other two guards. "Tell your captain that there is no need to exaggerate things, and to let me continue my training."

"Hey listen..." Gleaming Shield showed a soft smile, surprising Aero a bit. "You don't have to prove anything to anypony, or hide your fear."

Aero... just sighed in defeat, and then focused his gaze on a certain corridor near the training grounds, confusing the captain and the guards a bit.

"Princess Luna. Can you come down and tell this stubborn pony to stop?"

Before the mares could say anything, Luna literally leaped through one of the corridor spaces, gracefully descending near them.

"I am really surprised by the range of your area-scan spell, Aero." said Luna, leaving the three mares frozen as she walked towards Aero.

"(Area-scan spell?)" thought Gleaming with a bit of shock on her face. "(I barely managed to learn it a week ago! And this stallion can use it so easily?)"

Then, Gleaming realized something.

"(Wait... he was already looking at me when I was approaching the training grounds. Did he... sense me with the area-scan spell too?)"

"You will have to excuse captain Gleaming Shield. Yesterday was her day off, otherwise, she would already know about how unusual the last day was."

Luna raised one of her large wings, then hugged Aero with it. This act rendered Gleaming Shield and the two guards speechless for a few seconds. Aero was a bit surprised but appreciated her support in the conversation.

"Captain, let me introduce you to our guest Aero. He is a VIP who has been with us since yesterday." the Princess of the night tightened the embrace of her wing a little.

The change in the captain's behavior was immediate, as she focused on the alicorn and made a little bow.

"My sincerest apologies, Princess Luna! I would never think of offending your guest! It's just that his attitude seemed like a symptom of abandon."

"(This is ridiculous. I swear I'll get answers later.)" thought the stallion for a moment, noticing how Gleaming Shield is apologizing to Luna, but not to him.

"Ah! I remember now!" said the royal guard who previously observed Aero with curiosity, drawing the attention of her companion. "You're the one who defeated Sweet Pearl and Dust Windy! The stallion who requested the audience with both Princesses!"

"Yup. That was me." said Aero, smiling a bit.

Gleaming Shield took another look at Aero, apparently analyzing him in detail. The other two guards now had a small blush on their faces.

It seems that the captain has just realized that Aero is... desirable.

"I must ask... were you really able to defeat two royal guards?" the captain kept looking at him as if she was trying to solve a puzzle.

"So you don't believe it." said Aero, a little disappointed. "May I ask why?"

"Well... you're a stallion, and even with that body..." it seems as if Gleaming was trying to come up with an explanation that would not anger Princess Luna.

"(If only you knew, Gleaming Shield.)" Princess Luna saw the stallion for an instant without anypony noticing. She wasn't surprised at all to see that while his expression seemed serious... his eyes expressed much more.

And he was not happy at all.

Considering what she saw in Aero's memories, it was easy to see why.

The mares were looking down on him.

"I see..." said Aero with a neutral tone. He didn't sound angry, but he wasn't happy either. He waited a moment, then calmly turned his head towards Princess Luna.

"Princess. I request permission for a formal duel against captain Gleaming Shield."

The two guards accompanying the captain gasped in surprise. Gleaming Shield just stood there, wondering if Aero actually said those words. Luna was trying to contain her enthusiasm. She was loving this.

"Are you crazy?" asked one of the guards.

"It may be true that you defeated our comrades, but there is no way you will defeat the captain." said the other.

"Permission granted."

Luna's words made the three mares react immediately. Aero simply smirked in victory.

"Princess Luna!"

"Why do you allow it, Princess!? He is a stallion! A duel is too dangerous for him!"

"Aero was courteous and considerate, and he has earned our respect. If he feels he has what it takes to fight, then I will respect his wish." said Luna, without losing her smile.

"(Fine. I'll play your game, Aero.)" thought Gleaming Shield, who was still silent, but became serious again. "(I'll show you that a mare's job is dangerous, and how precious your life is as a stallion.)"

Aero began to move, heading without hesitation to the combat zone. Gleaming was staring at him the entire time, and there was no trace of fear or weakness in him.

"A few minutes ago you wanted to force me out of here. We would have fought anyway." said Aero, looking at his soon-to-be opponent.

Gleaming Shield stayed where she was for a few moments but eventually moved to the area where Aero was. The other two guards were still not happy with the situation, while Luna approached the two fighters.

After all, somepony had to be the referee.

"I hope you don't regret it later." said the captain, ready to fight.

"Believe me, I won't." replied Aero, also ready.

"Since both fighters are unicorns, we will use the unicorn battle rules." said Princess Luna, drawing the attention of both ponies. "The use of physical weapons is prohibited. You can only attack your opponent by using your own physical strength, or by using your magic. The duel will end if one of you decides to surrender, or if you can no longer continue fighting. Are both fighters ready?"

"I am ready." said Gleaming Shield, without taking his eyes off his opponent.

"Likewise." replied Aero, focusing only on the space that made up the duel zone.

Princess Luna waited for a few seconds, and then...

"BEGIN!"

Twilight was worried

In the morning she, along with Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash, woke up a little earlier to go to the train station and greet the rest of her friends from Ponyville. Since the note from the Princess was sent to Spike, who was yesterday with Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo, the two sisters got the news quickly. Pinkie was informed of the meeting thanks to Spike, who took the time to go to Sugarcube Corner.

When they reached the castle, a butler immediately approached them. He told them that Princess Celestia required everypony's presence in the throne room. Obviously, they headed there right away.

"Princess!" said Twilight after opening the door with her magic, while she came running just like her friends.

The Princess was looking at one of the stained glass windows when she heard her student's voice. When she saw Twilight, she was also able to see the rest of her friends.

"I'm glad everypony was able to come." said Princess Celestia, approaching the group. "I'm afraid something happened while you were not in the castle."

"Did something happen to Aero?" asked Fluttershy, clearly worried, and drawing the attention of everypony.

"Is that the stallion you told us about, Twilight?" asked Applejack.

"Fluttershy! This is the first time you've cared so much about a stallion." Rarity was honestly happy for her shy friend. Of the six, she is the only pony who rarely interacts with them beyond helping them. "He really left an impression on you."

"You should have seen her yesterday." said Rainbow Dash with a smirk. "She really was into him."

"W-well... I-I..." the Element of Kindness hid a bit of her face behind her mane, and with one of her front hooves began to form imaginary circles on the floor.

"Yes. I'm afraid Aero is missing."

Twilight, Fluttershy, and Rainbow gasped since they already know him. Rarity, Applejack, and Pinkie Pie were just confused.

"But Sunset was with him yesterday!" exclaimed Twilight.

"Yes, and when she left, Aero was already entering his designated room." said the Princess. "Sunset along with two maids went to wake him up so that he could be ready for today's meeting, but when they entered the room, he was not there and the windows were open."

"Princess..." Twilight approached the Princess, concern showing on her face. "Is it possible that somepony from the royal guard tried anything during the night?"

Celestia's expression turned somewhat serious, but there was something about it that made the girls a little scared.

"If somepony even tried... they will receive a very severe punishment."

"Excuse me, Princess." Rarity caught Celestia's attention. "Can you tell us a bit about this 'Aero'? I'm assuming we will look for him."

"Yeah. I'm also curious about this fella." added Applejack.

"He missed his 'Welcome to Equestria' party!" said Pinkie, really, really worried about this fact. This confused her friends, but her Princess was surprised.

"(How did she...)" for a moment, Celestia tried to understand how Pinkie knew that detail about Aero, but after remembering her student's words, she decided to leave it as 'Pinkie Pie being Pinkie Pie'. "He... is a unique stallion."

"He is very tall." said Twilight, who then looked at Applejack. "He may be even a bit taller than your brother, Applejack. He's also... well-"

"He's hot." interrupted Rainbow Dash. "Like, super-hot."

"Well, I'll be!" exclaimed the Element of Honesty. "This I have to see it."

"He's also a unicorn! Can you believe it?" said Rainbow Dash, still surprised about this.

"A unicorn? I have to say, If he is as tall or taller than Applejack's brother, then it's a shame that he neglected his unicorn skills in favor of a better body." said Rarity.

"I don't think he has neglected his magic." said Twilight. This got Rarity's attention.

"How so, darling?"

"He can teleport faster than me." said Twilight. "I use my magic every day, and I can safely say that I can't teleport faster than him. I don't know how he does it."

This got Rarity and the others thinking. He can teleport faster than the Element of Magic herself?

"He is very brave." blurted out Fluttershy. Princess Celestia contained her laughter as best she could when she saw the expressions of Twilight's friends. "It makes you feel...safe."

"Oh! Oh! Let me guess!" Pinkie appeared next to Fluttershy instantly. "He can fight! He fights, does he? After all, he went to Ponyville to fight a-"

Pinkie stopped.

"Oh wait. That happens in the next chapter! Silly me!"

"What was that, Pinkie?" Twilight was completely confused. Neither she nor her friends, not even the Princess understood what Pinkie Pie just said.

"Princess!"

Suddenly, the doors of the throne room opened, revealing a pegasus butler. He looked a bit tired.

"There is an emergency!"

"What is happening?" asked the Princess.

"Captain Gleaming Shield and the VIP Aero are fighting in the royal guards' training ground!"

Before Twilight or any of her friends could say anything, Celestia beat them to it.

"Follow me."

Celestia and Twilight could have used their magic to teleport immediately, but with the other Elements of Harmony accompanying them, running to the training grounds was the only option. Fortunately, it only took a few minutes thanks to the Princess's guidance.

When they arrived, there were several royal guards, apparently watching the whole thing. Sunset was also there. It was no wonder that she was already there before the others because Celestia informed her of the situation using their magic signal. Since she was alone and knows the castle, she had no problem arriving right away with a teleport spell.

And up ahead... was a vision that contradicts everything the Princess and the mares, in general, have worked for.

A mare was attacking a stallion.

Gleaming Shield, captain of the royal guard, was firing various magic projectiles.

Her opponent, a unicorn stallion of great size and excellent form, was avoiding them without apparent problem.

"By the stars... Is he Aero?" Rarity couldn't believe it. "Goodness! He is gorgeous! No wonder you fell for him, Fluttershy!"

The shy pegasus was too busy watching Aero to say something to her fashionista friend.

"You're right, Twilight!" said Applejack, without wasting time and watching the stallion from head to hoof. "He looks a bit bigger than mah brother!"

"Wow! He moves like it's the easiest thing in the world!" said Rainbow Dash, watching Aero's movements.

"Hey! It almost looks like he's jumping!" said a very excited Pinkie Pie. "But I need to know what sweets he likes for his party!"

"Can somepony explain to me how my sister ended up fighting him!?" asked a nervous Twilight.

"(The way he moves and evades the magic attacks...)" Celestia was carefully watching the stallion. "(There's no doubt about it. He is a great fighter... and he's holding back.)"

Meanwhile, in the fight, the captain kept throwing magic projectiles, making sure to change positions and not be an easy target. This did not prevent Aero from attacking her, because sometimes when he dodged the projectiles, he would propel himself forward, attacking with one of his front hooves.

Although every time he did, Gleaming Shield created a light blue barrier with her magic, protecting herself from damage, and then teleporting to a safe distance.

Some of the royal guards managed to emerge from the trance of the battle and began to analyze the situation.

"The captain can't hit him?"

"It's a stallion! How come he isn't scared to death in a duel?"

"Even with his size... his movements are fast. How does he do that?"

"Whenever the captain tries to grab him with her magic, he teleports first."

"Just who is this stallion?"

Gleaming Shield had to stop for a moment. For several minutes she was attacking her opponent, while at the same time she was defending herself from his occasional attacks.

She needed to rest for a moment. She even was sweating a bit.

"(How could he dodge all that? Despite his size, he moves very fast.)" the captain was trying to understand how the battle had not ended yet.

"If attacking me with magic alone is your plan, then I advise you to surrender." said Aero. Unlike his opponent, he seemed to be in perfect condition. Apparently dodging all those attacks didn't affect him much. "All you've done is attack me with magic and avoid my few attacks. If you continue with this, you will end up completely exhausted."

Despite his words, the captain apparently does not want to give up, as she is still focused on him, and has not let her guard down. To make things worse, she can clearly see that Aero doesn't look exhausted.

"If you're not going to give up, I'm afraid I have no choice but to defeat you."

When he said that, some of the guards who were watching the fight resisted giggling.

However, there was a very subtle change in Aero's eyes.

It was something that only Celestia, Luna, Sunset, and Gleaming Shield were able to notice.

Aero began to walk slowly, but suddenly, he disappeared.

Before Gleaming Shield could wonder where he went, she felt a heavy blow to her left side. Aero's front hoof had enough force to lift her off the ground and move her a couple of meters. If it weren't for her good balance, the captain would have fallen to the ground.

The pain was immediate, and it was making the captain uncomfortable.

"(How did he-)"

Gleaming couldn't even finish what she was thinking, seeing that Aero was already firing a magic projectile. The instant she saw it, she could tell that it was larger than the ones she shot. Aero didn't want to give her a chance to attack again, while the captain knew she needed a moment to think about her next move.

The projectile was coming fast, so Gleaming had no choice but to force her magic a bit and create a barrier faster. She also made it a bit bigger to have room to move.

Aero's projectile collided with the light blue barrier, and the impact was so strong that it managed to leave a subtle crack. Gleaming noticed it, and she didn't like it at all.

Sadly, that distracted her enough that she didn't notice that Aero disappeared again.

And when she did... it was too late.

Because Aero reappeared right next to her, inside the barrier.

She didn't have enough time to react.

Aero used his body to lunge at her. Gleaming was not only hit by Aero's body but also by her own barrier when she crashed on it. The mixture of both impacts caused the captain to deactivate her magic and fall to the ground, tired and in pain.

Several seconds passed in which silence took over the place, Except for the captain's groans of pain.

Nopony seemed to react. Not the assembled guards, nor the Elements of Harmony or Sunset Shimmer. Nopony could believe it.

Celestia and Luna, on the other hoof, weren't surprised.

They were thrilled.

When was the last time they saw a stallion fight? Show his strength? His skill and tactics? What they were seeing right now is something that has not been seen in centuries.

"Captain Gleaming Shield can no longer continue! The winner is Aero!" declared Princess Luna, and even with her words, not all of the guards reacted.

Hearing that he won, Aero focused on Gleaming Shield, and activated his magic. A silver aura enveloped the captain and gently began to lift her up. Understanding the situation, Gleaming respectfully accepted the help.

"Are you okay?" asked the winner.

"A little sore, but I'll be fine." was the captain's answer. "It was a complete defeat, but I consider it an honor that you took it seriously."

"Even if you are under pressure, try to make your barriers as small as possible." said Aero. "If there is more space inside, any enemy with the ability to teleport will take advantage of that and you will be exposed to a direct attack. Larger barriers are more useful when you want to protect a group, or a building from damage."

"I'll keep that in mind. " said the captain, giving a simple smile.

"Alright, everypony. That's enough."

Princess Celestia's voice caught everypony's attention. some guards hadn't even realized she was there.

"I am sure you have enjoyed this extraordinary event, but I am afraid that you all need to get back to work. After all, the day has just begun."

All the assembled guards began to leave the training ground. But they all left with a slight blush on their faces, as they witnessed something that in today's society is impossible.

A strong and reliable stallion.

"Wow... you are full of surprises, handsome." Sunset Shimmer approached Aero. Even she had a slight blush on her face. Her gaze indicated a mixture of surprise and respect. "This is the first time I've seen a stallion fight a mare. Actually, this is the first time I've seen a stallion fight at all."

"So in this Equestria the stallions are cowards. This just gets better and better..." said Aero, clearly disheartened upon hearing Sunset's information.

Aero's words caught everypony in the place off-guard. Even Gleaming Shield, who was still there was surprised to hear it.

"Aero. Luna. Both of you owe me an explanation." said the Princess of the day, although she was not angry. "Especially you, Aero. When Sunset told us that you weren't in your room, we thought you had disappeared. All the castle staff was looking for you."

"I just came here to train before the reunion. I didn't know that everypony would panic." said Aero. "I was here for over an hour. Then Gleaming Shield came along. We argued, then Princess Luna appeared and I asked her permission to have a duel."

This surprised the captain again. How could she forget that? Even Aero told her! That means Aero fought with a slight disadvantage!

"And why did you want to fight my sister?" asked Twilight, a bit angry. The other Elements were still a bit shocked.

"She was the one who didn't leave me alone. I tried to talk to her, but she insisted with that nonsense about me needing a mare to babysit me." answered the stallion, somewhat irritated.

"I have a proposition." said Princess Celestia. "I know you all have questions, but Aero has yet to eat breakfast. Once he's done, we'll head to the throne room. After all, the reason for this meeting is to discuss Aero's situation."

With everypony agreeing, the group consisting of the Princesses, the Elements of Harmony, Sunset Shimmer, Gleaming Shield, and Aero left the place.

Author's Note

Now I feel this chapter was slow. At least this motivates me to write more chapters and avoid being part of all the '2-3 chapters' forgotten RGRE stories.

I want to thank you all for enjoying the story so far. Any typos that need fixing, don't hesitate to tell me (I can't stress this enough: My English is far from perfect).

I have a cover now! :raritystarry:

VII - Sigma Stallion

"This way, handsome."

"Sunset! Aero is a VIP guest. Please behave."

"Says the mare who mistook him for an abandoned colt."

"Hey!"

"Sounds like the two of you are good friends."

Aero was being escorted to the throne room by Sunset Shimmer and Gleaming Shield. After the duel against the captain, Sunset offered to accompany him and thus keep him company in the Princesses' private dining room. Gleaming would wait for them outside so that both mares would then take Aero to Princess Celestia and the Elements of Harmony.

To Aero's surprise, breakfast was uneventful, and he finally saw more stallions, who were butlers and chefs.

However, there was a subtle change in the attitude of the royal guards.

They kept looking at him like they did yesterday, but now some of them avoided eye contact when he looked at them. They were also blushing. The intensity varied on each one. Sunset couldn't help but giggle when she noticed it.

The stares weren't a problem for him, compared to everything that happened yesterday. He ordered a vanilla coffee with a lemon pie and ate without problems.

All the mares made sure to see how he ate. Even Sunset.

Since she had to eat breakfast too, the two of them had a nice conversation.

Sunset wanted to know more about Aero, so he told her that he was born and still lives in Canterlot, but if she wanted more answers then she should go to today's meeting.

Aero also received new information. He discovered that the Twilight Sparkle of this Equestria has two siblings. It turns out that Gleaming Shield has a twin brother.

Shining Armor.

Aero... doesn't really want to meet him. The last thing he needs is to have memories of a frail Shining Armor or worse, wearing a dress.

Sunset also told him about her position in the castle's royal mages.

As their leader.

When they finished their breakfasts, they met again with Gleaming Shield, which brings them to the current situation: walking to the throne room.

And once again Aero was the center of attention.

"(With the audience and the recent duel I almost forgot...)" Aero began to remember everything 'unusual' he has seen so far in this Equestria. "(Lack of stallions, overprotective and perverted mares, different events and different history... It's time to get some answers.)"

Leaving aside the glances of the guards and some maids who passed through the corridors, the walk was uneventful. When they reached the throne room, a pair of guards opened the big door. Once everypony had entered, the same guards closed the doors.

Aero could see Princess Celestia. Twilight and the rest of the Elements of Harmony were there too. Unfortunately, Princess Luna could not accompany them as she had to rest.

"I hope both of you had a delicious breakfast." Princess Celestia focused her attention on Aero and Sunset. "I am rather proud of our kitchen staff."

"I have to admit, that lemon pie was delicious." said Aero. Pinkie Pie pulled a small notebook out of her mane and started writing immediately. "And that vanilla coffee was refreshing."

"You know, the mares in the room enjoyed watching you eat." added Sunset, chuckling at the end.

Aero noticed that both the Princess and the Elements of Harmony were getting closer.

"Normally I would say that it is an offense that as mares they do not have the decency to behave, but..." Rarity's eyes did a quick scan of Aero's body. "I really can't blame them. It is very difficult to not observe you, darling."

"Yes. I realized that yesterday." answered Aero. Fluttershy and Twilight witnessed it.

"It seems that you already know the Elements of Harmony." said Celestia.

"I know them only by name." Aero looked at the group of friends. "Although yesterday I did get the chance to talk to Fluttershy, Twilight, and Rainbow Dash."

"Then it's a good thing we are here now, pal." Applejack was the first to approach him. "As you already know, I'm Applejack. I have a farm with my family near Ponyville."

"Sweet Apple Acres. Right?" Aero surprised Applejack with his words. "A friend of mine loves your apple products."

The Element of Honesty looked into Aero's eyes for a moment. There was no doubt...

He was telling the truth.

Aero is one of the four members that make up the elite group 'Elemental'. Within the small group, there is a pony who really loves the food that Applejack's farm produces, to the point of buying their products whenever she can.

Royal guard codename 'Ignite'.

A very nice and somewhat competitive pegasus, ready for any challenge. Despite being the smallest of the four, she is a fearsome fighter, and her ability is both powerful and destructive.

"Rarity Belle, dear. Although you already know my name, manners make the mare." the Element of Generosity turned her head a little to move her mane in a conspicuous way. "Very pleased to meet you."

"I hope your date with Davenport was a pleasant one." said Aero, getting the attention of Rarity and Applejack.

"Thank you, darling." apparently, they were not expecting to hear anything on the subject. At least Applejack. Rarity didn't seem fazed by this. "Davenport was such a dear, and I'm glad he's going to consider our offer."

"Oh, I'm next! I'm next!" now it was Pinkie Pie's turn to approach the stallion. However, unlike her usual demeanor, Pinkie Pie just walked up to Aero. This was enough to surprise her friends a bit.

"Pinkamena Diane Pie! A-super-duper pleasure to meet you! I like to party and laugh a lot, but I'm sure you already know that!" Pinkie leaned in until she was as close to Aero's face as she could.

"You're so tall! And strong! How can you be so strong if you are a stallion, though? You even defeated Twilight's sister! What's your secret, big colt? Also, you have to tell me what sweets and candies you like. I need that precious information so I can bake you the best cake in the world!"

Twilight and her friends know that Pinkie talks a lot. This makes almost everypony who meets her for the first time feel somewhat uncomfortable.

But at this moment, there were two details that caught the attention of the group.

One: Aero didn't look uncomfortable with Pinkie's closeness, although he did look slightly surprised.

Two: Among everything she's said, Pinkie didn't ask the one question she always asks when she meets a new pony.

She hasn't asked him if they can be friends.

"Well, you aren't shy, are you?" said Aero, who then chuckled for a moment, getting the attention of everypony, including Princess Celestia. "I trained a lot and for many years to be strong despite being a unicorn. I'm not sure if that can be considered a secret. Lemon pie is one of my favorite desserts. I also like pineapple flavored sweets."

Pinkie was already writing in her little notebook.

"It seems that now we can begin."

For some reason, even when the words of the Princess were soft, to everypony else it sounded more like a command. Nothing wrong with that. After all, they were there to discuss something.

"Aero. Do you want to be the one to say it, or do you want me to?" asked Celestia.

"I'll do it, Princess." Aero moved to stand next to Celestia, in order to observe everypony else. "Yesterday, I requested an audience with both Princesses. To be honest, I only wanted to confirm that they were here. Combining all the information I had at the time, plus what I acquired from the Princesses, I realized what was going on."

Aero took a few seconds before giving his answer.

"Somehow, I was sent to another Equestria. This Equestria."

For a few moments, the group of mares just looked at each other, confused by Aero's words. The seconds began to lengthen, and when they looked at Aero, they still didn't seem convinced. Well, Pinkie Pie was more surprised than doubtful.

"That sounds a bit too crazy, don't you think?" said Rainbow Dash. "I get that you are different but..."

"I also find it very difficult to accept, darling." added Rarity.

"You told me that you were born here, in Canterlot." said Sunset, getting the attention of the group. "There is no doubt that during the years you were growing up, the mares would have approached you. Just the fact that you are a stallion would have been enough to draw attention."

"And no mare in her sane judgment would've allowed you to do anything dangerous, such as combat training." added Gleaming Shield. "And let's not talk about herds..."

"You look like a hard worker to me." said Applejack. "You must have done some heavy work somewhere without a mare's supervision."

Fluttershy, Twilight, and Pinkie Pie opted to remain quiet.

"I bet if you heard it from the Princess then you wouldn't have doubted."

Twilight, her friends, and her sister immediately looked at the stallion with a mixture of surprise and regret. It didn't take a genius to understand that he was upset by their negative reaction. Celestia felt bad too, mainly because Aero was right.

"Well then... How about a trade?"

"A trade? What do you mean?" Gleaming Shield didn't seem to get the idea. Twilight's friends also didn't know what he was talking about.

However Twilight, Sunset and Princess Celestia got it.

"Information!" exclaimed Celestia's student. "Of course!"

"Yes. This meeting is about my current situation, so in order for you to fully understand it, I need to tell you about my Equestria." Aero then focused on Celestia. "But first, you need to give me a summary of the events of this Equestria."

Aero moved again, so he could see everypony.

"Why are there so few stallions? Why are there so many mares and why did herds become a pillar of this society? And by Luna, why does every mare think I'm weak as a foal?"

Luna was angry but at the same time, she felt useless.

After receiving the news from Discord about Aero's whereabouts, she teleported to her room so fast that her sister was unable to stop her.

Even she herself didn't realize what she did until she collapsed on her bed.

Another Equestria.

Aero was in another Equestria. This was no longer just a disappearance.

It was something much worse.

How are they going to find him? Is it even possible to find him? Anything that involves Discord is either a disaster or not something they can manage due to the poor compatibility between unicorn magic and chaotic magic.

Still, Luna searched tirelessly for Aero's subconscious... but couldn't find it. As much as she searched, there was no trace of her aide.

She felt terrible all night. This did not stop her from performing her duties as a dream guardian, but the feeling of not being able to do anything to help Aero was driving her crazy.

And this feeling remained... until her sister suddenly appeared thanks to a teleport spell. Normally something like this would have put Luna on guard, but even in her sleep, she can identify Celestia's magical aura, so she only woke up somewhat sleepy.

"We found Aero."

Oh, blessed words.

Both sisters teleported to Celestia's room, which is where Twilight and Discord have been working.

"Princess Luna!" Twilight welcomed Celestia's sister.

"Ah, you're finally awake!" Discord also saluted. In his own way.

"Twilight Sparkle. Discord. Once again I thank you for helping us." Luna respectfully greeted both of them, then turned her attention to the room.

It had no noticeable changes, but space was made in one of the corners. That's where all the 'different' is.

An assortment of 'unique' tools and items. Several have transparent tubes attached and some of them have magic traveling from one point to another. In the center is a round glass container, and inside, the only clue they managed to obtain about Aero's disappearance.

The mysterious color-changing mist.

And right next to the container, is a rather peculiar object. A TV to be precise.

It resembles a generic model sold in Manehattan, but this one was bigger. This television had several tubes attached, including one that connected it to the container.

"Is it true that you found Aero?"

"Yes! We definitely saw him!" Twilight approached both Princesses. "This is going better than I expected. I thought it would take days for us to get our first clue."

Celestia looked at Discord for a moment.

"(So he hasn't told her about the other Twilight and Fluttershy he saw.)"

"Never thought Sparkle would understand the basics of chaos." Discord admitted.

"Just because I can't use chaos magic doesn't mean I can't understand it." said Twilight, looking at Discord with a smug. "I'm glad that while our magics aren't very compatible, they can coexist to a certain level."

"I'm pretty sure this bundle of chaos wants to go back where it belongs." said Discord, looking at the mist inside the container. "But it lacks the power to do so. We need to keep it healthy and-"

The fog began to react, and the machinery around it as well. Twilight and Discord moved immediately.

"Discord! This time we must keep it stable!" Twilight activated her magic.

"A little more help would be nice." said Discord, who was transferring his own magic with his hand.

Celestia and Luna used their magic to support Twilight. Discord adjusted his magic now that the amount of the other increased.

The mist started to move a bit more violently but never made any attempts to try and break free. Both unicorn and chaotic magic were building up in the machine, and little by little, the mist began to subside.

When the fog returned to normal, the television next to it began to react.

And finally...

"Aero!"

Thanks to everypony's magic mix, there was now an image, as if It was a recording, and it was a view from above. Aero was the first to be seen in the image. The surprise came when they could see who were the others who were next to him. Even if there was no audio, at least they recognized the throne room.

"Sister... it's you!"

"Yes. It seems that Aero managed to befriend the me from that Equestria."

"That's... that's me! My friends are also there! And I'm still a unicorn! This is-wait. Is that Sunset?"

"There's also a mare that looks a lot like Shining Armor. Even the cutie mark is almost identical."

"That's literally a female Shining Armor! This is a nice one for the 'might have beens', Sparkle."

"What!?"

Aero was speaking, and all the mares around him were paying attention to his words. Twilight and Celestia were the ones who were the most surprised with the view. Twilight for seeing another version of herself that is still a unicorn, and also for the 'female Shining Armor'.

Celestia was watching with a smile seeing that the Sunset of that Equestria was still in Canterlot. It seems that the other Celestia didn't show her the crystal mirror. Thank goodness for that.

As the seconds passed, the group began to calm down and focus on the mist.

"Now that it's balanced, we can focus on searching for this specific Equestria." said Discord, now looking at Princess Luna. "I can't give you an estimate, Luna. We may find him in five minutes, or in one month. It's all up to lady luck at this point."

It's not exactly what Luna wanted to hear, but at least they have proof that Aero is okay for now.

And a goal.

"Aero looks calm, and the fact that he's in Canterlot with my sister and the Elements of Harmony means he's looking for a way to get back to us too."

Luna realized something.
She underestimated her feelings for Aero. Besides being her assistant, he is her best friend and appreciates his company.

"Please wait for us, Aero..."

"Do you know anything about the corrupted mare 'Astarte'? Or is there any mention of her in the history of your Equestria?"

"Astarte? Never heard of her. Judging by that nickname, she must have been an enemy of this Equestria."

"Indeed. She is the origin of all the changes in our society and our biggest problem."

Celestia could only sigh as she began to remember everything in her mind.

"To this day we don't know her origins. She claimed to come from the stars, but maybe we'll never know. Her nickname is due to her having a tendency to seduce males, and she bragged about sleeping with them and turning them into devoted slaves. Sadly, this ended up being true. Before long, she had what you might call a slave harem. Not just ponies. Before she was a danger to Equestria, she traveled through various territories, her followers included zebras, minotaurs, and even some yaks and diamond dogs."

"In history books it is described that she had exhibitionist habits and..." Twilight wanted to finish what she was saying, but she started to blush a lot. "Well, you know..."

"Quite the lustful mare." said Aero, trying not to imagine anything. He has enough to deal with for now. "Did she have some kind of unique ability or power?"

"Unfortunately, her harem wasn't just for carnal whims." said Celestia. "Lust and devotion were the source of her powers. The more she had, the more powerful she was. To say she was a headache would be an understatement. Despite her disregard for morals, she was a formidable warrior, to the point that several royal guards lost against her and were seduced. Entire families were destroyed. I have to say, Luna would have loved to fight against her."

"Astarte appeared after the birth of Nightmare Moon?"

"Yes. If Luna had been there, fighting her wouldn't have been so complicated. Astarte really played her cards right."

Celestia shifted her gaze to one of the many stained glass windows in the room. That one in particular showed several ponies, one of them being Celestia, armed and surrounding a pony that was almost the size of the Princess. This pony had a unique feature: on her head she had not one, but two horns. Both curved and in opposite directions.

"Fortunately, after several attempts, we managed to corner her, and after a fight that lasted half a day, she was defeated."

"Excuse me Princess Celestia, but while I understand how dangerous Astarte was, that doesn't explain the behavior of the mares I've seen so far." said Aero. He found Astarte's story a bit interesting, minus the lust behavior.

"In order to answer your question, it was necessary to tell you about Astarte, because although we were able to defeat her... she left us a parting gift." Celestia's gaze at that moment showed a hint of anger. "Before dying, Astarte declared with a cry of agony that if she couldn't have her males around, then no one would. She used her magic, in what we believe was a ritual, and no one could approach her, as she blocked our way. There was an explosion, and we had to back off so nopony would get hurt."

"That sounds like a last resort attack."

Celestia activated her magic, and a piece of paper appeared next to her. Said paper had a drawing.

A star within a circle.

"There was no trace of Astarte's body after the explosion, and much of the ground within the explosion's range was destroyed. However, in the area where Astarte was last seen, there was a drawing on the ground, reinforced with magic that we were never able to destroy."

"I assume it's that drawing." said Aero, looking at the piece of paper. Celestia nodded.

"We tried by all means to destroy the magic symbol, but nothing helped. The only thing we were able to do in the end was seal the area so nopony would come near." continued the Princess. "Days passed, everyone who was previously seduced was freed from Astarte's influence, and slowly everything returned to normal... or so we thought."

Aero thought of a possibility. That circle could be...

"A curse." Aero caught the attention of everypony in the room. "Did the circle end up being a curse?" he knows about King Sombra's previous curse that affected the Crystal Empire.

"Although we do not have the concrete answer... it is what we all believe." was Celestia's answer. "The changes were so subtle that by the time we noticed it it was too late to fix it."

And that's when Aero had a hunch. If this curse started long ago...

"When did you defeat Astarte? How many years have passed since then?"

"Astarte appeared two hundred years after... Nightmare Moon." Celestia said, a little sad at the end. "And eight hundred years have passed since then."

"And I assume this curse involves stallions."

"That was our conclusion once we realized what was going on." Celestia replied with a bitter tone. "As I said before, the changes were so subtle that it took us a while to know what was going on. In fact, it took several years before the first changes began to be noticed, but it was a fact: The number of stallions, in general, was beginning to decline. Over the years, the situation only got worse. Slowly but continuously, to the point that a clear lack of stallions was reported in several towns and cities."

"History books indicate that the Princess had to enlist the help of all the mayors and leaders of the towns, cities, and villages throughout the Equestrian territory to gather information regarding the lack of stallions." said Twilight. "It was thanks to these efforts that a clue of what was going on was obtained."

"The reports were almost the same everywhere." The Princess remembered again the anger and regret of not having noticed it before. "At first we believed that stallions were dying abruptly, but the answer turned out to be different: Over the years, almost all newborns turned out to be fillies."

With that last information, Aero could already get an idea of what was happening but decided not to interrupt the Princess.

"As soon as we got this information, I knew this was Astarte's parting gift. Her curse. Slowly, the curse was getting rid of all male ponies. The stallions alive would become older, and would naturally die, while the newborns would only be fillies. Understanding the consequences if I didn't act immediately, I had to take the necessary measures, one of them being the herd system... and while it didn't work the way I'd liked, some colts were born among the many fillies."

"Eight hundred years using the same system and with the same results..." Aero didn't have to think long to understand. This was the main reason why he has seen very few stallions and so many mares.

It seems that due to Astarte's curse, stallions became a rarity in Equestria. No wonder the mares are so overprotective of them.

"What is the current gender ratio in Equestria?"

"The last study that was done about two months ago revealed that the ratio is close to one stallion for every nine mares." Twilight didn't hesitate to answer, just as if she was a student responding to her teacher.

"I think it is necessary to add that this phenomenon occurred with all species. Not just ponies." added Sunset.

"(By Luna, that's discouraging.)" thought the stallion.

"This is why it is our duty as mares to protect and take care of stallions, handsome. While a stallion's duty is to provide as many foals as possible, in hopes of giving birth to more males."

Aero didn't like anything he heard, but this is not his Equestria.

"That does explain why I've seen so few stallions, but there's something that's still bugging me."

In an instant he did a quick teleport, reappearing behind them.

"Yesterday when we were walking to the train station, all the mares asked Twilight and Fluttershy for permission to ask me questions. When I met Rainbow Dash she told me in a mocking tone that this was a 'mare's world'. When I fought yesterday with those two guards at the entrance of the castle, I did so because they did not respect my presence. They treated me like the 'stallion of Twilight Sparkle', and even cut me out of the conversation saying I should be a 'good stallion' and wait."

Aero let out a sigh, somewhat annoyed.

"Not to mention that almost all of you doubted my strength, even though I am bigger and stronger than you, and even treat me like a sick foal, trying to limit my movements, and I really have to ask: Why?"

"The curse turned out to be more complicated than we thought." the answer came from the Princess. "It was already a serious problem that so few colts were born, but when they grew up, a new problem arose: They were weaker. The strength they possessed was limited, even when they trained their bodies. Their magical ability was much lower, and even Pegasi had some trouble flying."

"So this curse not only limited the number of males being born but also made them naturally weaker?"

"The anger and frustration they felt when we reported this to them..." Celestia had a faint memory of stallions yelling, arguing, and crying over their limitations. "I don't want to bother you with all the details, but I can tell you this: Over the years, mares took on the jobs and activities that the stallions usually did, while they began to get used to their new condition. It was because of this that stallions began to have changes in their personalities and attitude. Already aware of their weakness, they began to leave the mares in charge of the complicated tasks and important decisions. In response, they began to be excellent parents, as well as trying calmer activities such as gardening or cooking."

"..."

All the mares in the room noticed. They could see from Aero's expression that he felt sorry for the stallions of this Equestria.

"(This is basically a really long fight...)" thought Aero. "(And this Equestria is slowly losing it.)"

"But hey! Stallions are really ok with this, you know?" said Rainbow Dash, trying to change the mood in the room. "We have made an effort to give them everything they need and require, in addition to accompanying them-"

"Is that really necessary?" interrupted the stallion. "Do they really need a mare with them to move anywhere?"

"Well of course!" Applejack was the one to answer. "The poor fellas are so afraid of being alone! Having a mare or multiple mares to watch over them is only natural."

"You have to understand, darling. In all these years, stallions have been afraid of their extinction, and nothing calms them more than the company of a mare or his herd." added Rarity.

"We love to keep them company and help them in their everyday lives!" said Pinkie Pie. "Their smiles mean everything to us!"

"I just hope that with this you can understand why mares and stallions behave this way." Celestia said, with a bitter smile. "This must sound pretty crazy to you anyway."

"And you are right, Princess." admitted the stallion. "I feel sorry for the stallions of this Equestria... But this is not my Equestria. I'm not in a position to say what is wrong or right for them."

Aero walked until he was once again next to Celestia. He turned around calmly, and adopted a more serious expression than usual.

"I guess it's my turn. Ask anything you want to know."

"Can you introduce yourself again?" asked Celestia, a bit curious.

"Of course." was Aero's answer, But the next thing he did surprised everypony.

He activated his magic, revealing his silver aura. Then, an entirely silver sword appeared at his side. The sword took a couple of lateral turns, then lowered until it almost touched the ground with the tip.

"A magic sword!?" Both Twilight and Sunset were impressed the most.

"It's not that different from a magic barrier. They just work differently." said Aero. "Now, I am royal guard codename 'Aero'. Princess Luna's Aide, and member of 'Elemental'."

"Wait, so your name is not Aero?" asked Rainbow Dash.

"No. It's my codename from 'Elemental', but I've been using it for so long that I tend to use it as my name." answered Aero.

"What is 'Elemental'?" asked Gleaming Shield.

"A special group of royal guards. There are only four members. All of us are skilled fighters, and have a unique fighting style."

"And what's yer real name, then?" asked Applejack.

"I'm keeping that one a secret." was his answer. "Very few ponies know my real name."

"So, what can you tell us about your Equestria, darling? I'm sure there must be some big differences if there are stallions like you around." Rarity made sure to use a somewhat flirty tone at the end.

"I can tell you that there was no Astarte." answered Aero, who then focused his eyes on Twilight. "But perhaps I can start by saying that Twilight Sparkle is an alicorn."

...
...
...

After what appeared to be an eternal silence, there was a heavy thump on the ground.

And Twilight passed out.

"I wish that stud was here today. That would wake me up because this is really boring."

"We saw him go to the train station yesterday, now stop whining."

"Oh c'mon! Can you blame me? He's the hottest stallion I've ever seen!"

"I don't question that. I'm questioning your professionalism. You could have approached him and ask him where he lives."

Ponyville was having a quiet day. That's good. Most days are quiet, but sometimes something unusual can happen. They already had problems with some small creatures that ate part of the houses. They also had problems with an Ursa minor, and if it hadn't been for the help of Twilight Sparkle, Princess Celestia's student, Ponyville would probably have suffered serious damage.

Even in a town like Ponyville you need the help of guards. The danger is one thing, but there is also a universal duty to help stallions in their day-to-day life. Sure, mares, in general, have this duty, but royal guards can help in special cases, such as lost and abandoned stallions. It's a shame considering the small number of stallions, but it happens.

"This is the area near the Everfree Forest." said one of the two royal guards. "Nothing happens here!"

"You can ask for a reassignment anytime, dear." said her partner, mildly annoyed. "Our superior is always looking for active mares to watch the more crowded places."

"She only does it so that we can give her information of any stallion that may be available. I swear she thinks she's all mighty but there's no doubt she just wants to have her way with stallions."

"I must remember not to tell you any secrets. I swear, one of these days you-"

The guard stopped speaking when something caught her attention. Her partner was curious and looked in the same direction.

At the entrance to the Everfree Forest.

At that moment, there was a sudden change of attitude in both of them.

"What!? B-but why?" asked one the guards, incredulous of what was going on. "It doesn't make sense!"

"I don't know dear, but we have to inform Mayor mare and our superior now!" said the other. "We are going to need help from Canterlot as well!"

Aero had to admit it.

He was having a bit of fun.

Everypony's reactions were something to see. When he mentioned that the Twilight from his Equestria was an alicorn, this Equestria's Twilight fainted, and when she woke up minutes later, she asked for the details right away. Sadly for her, Aero didn't know everything. Only that involved an incomplete spell of Star Swirl the Bearded. He then talked about Queen Chrysalis, the Crystal Empire, King Sombra, Discord, and the information that got their attention the most: The alicorn baby Flurry Heart.

Something that caught Aero's attention is that some 'villains' in his Equestria are completely different in this one.

They don't know any draconequus named Discord. However, they do know about 'Eris, the Lady of Chaos'. The same goes for King Sombra. There was no tyrant king in the Crystal Empire, but rather, a Queen, by the name of Umbra. What's more, when both Princesses defeated her, she didn't curse the Crystal Empire. Aero should feel happy about that, but sadly, it means that the 'stallion curse' happened there too.

Queen Chrysalis was also a surprise. She never invaded Canterlot, so Shining Armor and Cadance's wedding was a huge success. Changelings are peaceful here. They were hidden from the world until the Queen herself contacted Princess Celestia. Needless to say, she gladly agreed to have friendly relationships with changelings, although even so, they are very shy, and do not often leave their home.

The world seemed to look the same as his, but this Equestria still has so many differences that he can't let his guard down, especially now that he understands why all the mares have looked at him in these two days.

To their eyes, he's either a walking trophy or a poor, fragile and delicate stallion that 'needs to fulfill his duty' and enter a herd.

"I can't believe my brother is a father in your Equestria!" said Gleaming Shield excitedly. "And you say that her daughter's wings are bigger than normal? By Celestia, I'd love to see her."

"And are you really sure that her magic is that powerful?" asked an incredulous Twilight.

"From what I heard from you, Shining and Cadence? Absolutely." answered Aero.

An unusual sound caught the attention of Aero and the Princess. A few seconds later, the rest heard it too.

It was smoke. Both the Princess and Twilight recognized this smoke, which seemed to move as if it had a will of its own. The smoke moved until it reached Princess Celestia, the smoke then began to change shape, until, in an instant, it transformed into an object.

A scroll.

"A letter from spike?" the Princess was a bit confused.

"But he is with Mayor Mare. He offered to help her while we were here." said Twilight. "Did something happen?"

Celestia opened the scroll with her magic, and within seconds of reading it...

"Ponyville is under attack!"

Normally, the first to react would have been Twilight, then her friends. They all have family and friends who don't want to see hurt.

But this time, somepony beat them to it.

"What's the situation?" Aero was the first to speak. Celestia was grateful that he was ready for these kinds of situations.

"For unknown reasons, many creatures from the Everfree Forest got out and headed straight for Ponyville." Celestia knew there was something weird in the forest. If it's related to Aero's arrival, she doesn't know. "The local guard is dealing with them as we speak, but they need reinforcements. At the moment they've seen timberwolves and a few manticores."

"Sunset. Gleaming Shield." Aero's attitude had changed. He seemed calm, but you could tell that there was a certain authority in his voice. "You need to prepare the reinforcements. When you're ready, ask Princess Celestia to teleport you to Ponyville. It will be faster this way."

Everypony in the room was sure of it.

Aero was not joking. He was giving orders. Appropriate orders.

They were about to ask him what he was doing, but now that they knew that he is not a stallion of this Equestria and that he is also a high-ranking royal guard of his Equestria...

Both Sunset and Twilight's sister nodded in approval and moved immediately. Aero looked back at Celestia.

"Princess. I suggest sending scouts to the Everfree Forest to check the surroundings once the situation is under control. There has to be a reason why this is happening."

Despite the situation, Celestia couldn't help but get excited. After all, it's been so many years since she last saw a stallion make military decisions.

"I'll follow your suggestion, Aero."

Finally, Aero looked at the Elements of Harmony.

"The Twilight of my Equestria told me that you usually attracted problems and at the same time tried to solve them. I'm sure you want to go to Ponyville to help."

"Damn straight!" exclaimed Applejack, ready for some action.

"But please, wait for Sunset and Gleaming Shield's group before going."

"What? Why!? It's Ponyville! We have to go!" Rainbow Dash wasn't happy about this. "And why are you giving us orders? We are-"

"The Elements of Harmony." Aero had no problem interrupting her. "And I hope you know what that entails."

This caught the attention of Twilight and the rest. When they saw Aero's eyes, something inside told them that they should listen to him. Rainbow Dash keeps wondering how he does it.

"If something happens to you, or even if something happens to just one of you, Equestria would be left without its best weapon and at the mercy of anyone who takes advantage of this. You must also consider that regardless of your good intentions, you are not fighters. You may be able to fight under certain conditions, but that won't always work for you. Value your lives and be cautious."

The girls calmed down a bit, reflecting on Aero's words.

Truth be told, this is the first time they have been spoken to in this way. Being mares they are expected to show courage in front of stallions, and here they have one who is genuinely concerned about them.

It was a strange sensation, but little by little they began to like it.

"If you think that's the best... then we'll wait for Sunset and my sister." said Twilight in an understanding tone.

Aero knows very well that they can defend themselves to some extent, but it also bothers him that they risk their lives in the process. Now that everything is ready, he looked at Celestia to ask for one more thing.

"Send me to Ponyville."

Normally everypony except the Princess would have screamed in horror at the suggestion of sending a stallion out to fight. It would be foolish to risk the life of a precious male.

But Aero is different for more than valid reasons. They also know what he can do in combat.

And Celestia knows it. It was obvious that her sister would also agree.

And so she allowed himself a little whim.

She gently approached Aero and gave him a peck on his forehead.

This act didn't go unnoticed. Twilight and her friends couldn't believe it. The Princess has always treated stallions as a mother would treat her foals. Always guiding them, but never getting that close to them.

"Please be careful." said Celestia, with a warm smile.

Aero was surprised for a moment but didn't let it get to his head.

"(A token of good luck, perhaps.)" thought the stallion, preparing for the possible fight. "I'll try not to worry you too much."

And with a quick activation of her magic, Celestia sent Aero to Ponyville. She made sure to send him close to the town hall so he can gather more information.

Now that Aero was not there, Twilight wanted to know something.

"Pinkie. Why didn't you ask Aero if he could be your friend?"

"Silly Twilight, it's because I don't want to be friends with him."

...

Did Pinkie just-

"I want to be more than friends with him!"

Oh.

"Stay behind us! We don't know how many are out there!"

Major Mare was scared. Why would the creatures that live in the Everfree Forest leave their natural habitat? Even dangerous creatures avoid leaving the forest for various reasons. Despite being feral, the experience made them understand that going out and attacking the town is not a good option.

Years ago this problem was more common, but every time it happened, the local guards and the Canterlot royal guards took care of them.

But now? It seemed as if the instincts that held them back from attacking Ponyville were gone!

"How did this happen?" the mayor asked herself.

"We really don't know." said one of the guards that was with her inside the town hall. "All I know is that we got lucky when we spotted the first creatures leave the Everfree Forest. It gave us enough time to warn the town. At least everypony is safe in their houses."

"Leave the creatures to us." said the other guard who was with them. "The more experienced ones are fighting, and some of us were tasked with watching over you and other ponies in case some of the creatures try to attack the houses."

"I just hope nopony gets hurt." whispered the mayor. It may be a naive thought, but she still wants to believe that it's possible.

As the seconds passed, they noticed that the noise outside the town hall slowly diminished. this continued for several seconds, and then...

Quiet. Almost peaceful.

Curious about what was happening outside, the two guards slowly opened the door, ready to fight if necessary. What they saw really surprised them. Major Mare also managed to see what was happening as her curiosity defeated her.

Although there were some houses with notorious dents and signs of scratches on the walls, what stood out the most was the amount of wood on the floor.

Wood that belonged to the timberwolves that were attacking the village a few moments ago. There were also traces of broken stone and leaves.

The guards who were fighting outside had an expression of not understanding what happened. Also, an unknown pony was apparently talking to another guard in the distance.

"I'm glad that you managed to defeat them, but..." Mayor Mare was actually confused. "How did you defeat them so quickly?"

"It was... him."

One of the guards outside said something that caught the attention of the mayor and the two guards with her. Did this mare just say 'him'? As in a male? A stallion?

"Hey! What do you mean 'him'?" asked one of the two guards.

"It means exactly that!" said her partner outside. "We saw the whole thing! He just appeared out of nowhere and... by Celestia, he is strong!"

"And fast!" said another one.

Meanwhile, Aero was trying to get information on what was going on with one of the guards who was fighting before.

"Near the Everfree Forest? Are you sure?"

"Y-yes!" said the blushing mare with difficulty and her wings slightly raised. "The creatures here are j-just part of the ones they couldn't stop there!"

"I see. Thank you." said Aero respectfully. "Don't let your guard down. Make sure there are no more creatures nearby."

Before the mare could say anything, Aero activated his magic and teleported away.

The guard just stood there, unable to understand how that tall and handsome stallion managed to destroy the timberwolves with only his hooves. How is he so strong and fast? Every stallion she has met is weaker than even the average mare. It is basic knowledge that despite their musculature, stallions have limited strength compared to a mare.

And his strength aside, his attitude is something she had never seen! He was daring, serious, and self-assured.

Just who is his mare? She has to know!

"We must hurry! The local guard said that most of the creatures were near the entrance to the Everfree Forest. I want all of you to be ready for anything! We must fight these creatures and make sure to defend the Elements of Harmony!"

"Yes, captain!"

"I want to see your best, royal mages!"

"Yes, Miss Shimmer!"

Gleaming and Sunset tried to be as quick as possible looking for the necessary reinforcements to help out in Ponyville and prepare for battle. They were surprised to see that Twilight and the rest of the Elements of Harmony were still in the throne room. Even more so when they found out that they waited for them at Aero's request.

Now with a proper group of guards with them, Celestia teleported them to the same place Aero was sent to several minutes ago.

The atmosphere... was better than they expected.

They expected to find guards fighting timberwolves and even having trouble with a manticore, but instead, the guards were helping with some repairs along with some of Ponyville's residents. Obviously, other guards kept watching in case of emergency.

When they asked about the situation, the answer gave them a mixture of surprise and joy.

Turns out that upon arrival, Aero immediately began fighting the timberwolves, and from what the local guards saw, his strength was something they had never seen before. He managed to stomp on their heads and bodies like it wasn't a big deal, and he demonstrated superb use of his magic, constantly teleporting and firing magic projectiles. They have no idea how the wood didn't hurt him on each impact.

They also expressed a strong desire to know if he is in a herd.

When they were speaking about him, One of the guards approached them, happy to finally know the name of the tall and handsome stallion that helped them. She told them that Aero spoke to her to find out more about the current situation and that she told him about what was happening near the entrance to the Everfree Forest.

Now that they knew where to go, they went in a hurry. On the way, they ran into a few timberwolves, but they were quickly taken care of.

When they were reaching the outskirts of the town that leads to the Forest...

"Spike!"

Although there were also a lot of guards in the distance, the first thing Twilight saw was her little assistant who was with them. He, like all the guards gathered at the scene, seemed to be looking at something, and judging from the way their mouths were open, it must be something impressive.

"Huh? Twilight?" Spike started looking around. It seems that he managed to hear her but has not seen her yet. That was quickly corrected when he saw the group of royal guards coming towards him. "The reinforcements!"

This caught the attention of the other guards who were with Spike.

"Spike! What are you doing here? I thought you were with Mayor Mare!"

"I was with her." answered the little dragon. "But the local guard's leader came for me! She told me I needed to be close to her so I can update the Princess on anything important regarding this attack."

Now that they knew why Spike was there, the group focused on what the other guards were looking at.

"(Ignite would love to be in my hooves if she knew about this.)"

When Aero arrived at the town hall, he immediately noticed the fighting around him.

The first thing he did was do a quick teleport to appear higher up and thus know the location of nearby creatures, staying in the air without falling thanks to his magic. He could see that several guards were fighting what appeared to be timberwolves. Some of these looked grayer than normal.

He quickly chose a target, activated a personal spell of his, which made his front hooves emit a very faint silver glow, and teleported back to the ground, appearing next to the chosen timberwolf. Before the creature or the guard could react, Aero used one of his front hooves and struck the wolf, hard enough to crush its face. It fell apart in a matter of seconds.

Aero knows from experience that timberwolves with dark eyes don't have the ability to reassemble themselves because they are not fully adult. Fortunately, none of the ones he saw around had glowing eyes, indicating adulthood.

The reason Aero was unscathed after using his hooves on wood was because of his personal spell. It works similar to a magic barrier but also repels anything that may touch his skin. And so, he alternated between brute force, teleporting, and using magic projectiles to destroy the timberwolves in the area.

He discovered that the gray 'timberwolves' were actually wolves made of rocks! He heard one of the guards call them 'rockwolves'. Simple, but it works. They were sturdier than their wooden counterparts, but magic projectiles turned out to be an effective method to defeat them.

When he made sure there were no more creatures nearby in the area, he obtained information from one of the many guards who still had not come out of the trance of watching a stallion fight.

Since he previously came to Ponyville from the Everfree Forest, teleporting was not a problem.

As in the town hall, he appeared in the middle of a battle. This time there were manticores among the creatures. He managed to see about three, so he wasted no time and focused on them first.

"What the-" the mare didn't understand what happened. One moment she is using her buckler to avoid the tail of the manticore, and the next the creature was hit with what appeared to be a silver magic projectile.

The manticore tried to get up, but Aero came with extraordinary speed and struck its face with one of his front hooves. The manticore was immediately knocked out.

"(How did he move so fast?)" the mare was having trouble even moving. What she saw was impossible. He should not be here! He's in danger!

The other creatures, which include timberwolves, rockwolves, and the other two manticores, stopped attacking the other guards, and they all started heading towards Aero.

"(Looks like they know who they need to take down now.)" thought Aero, charging a magic spell, then teleporting.

Just as Twilight, her friends, and the group of guards arrived, Aero began his attack.

Everypony witnessed how Aero started to destroy all the timberwolves first, avoiding the attacks of the rockwolves and the claws of the manticores. His movements were unreal. He looked like he had wings although he clearly didn't. His speed was even higher than when he fought Gleaming Shield.

When he finished off all the timberwolves, he teleported higher up to check something out.

The creatures stared at him, watching for any possible move he might make, while he maintained his position using his magic.

"(The way all of them are focusing on me... it's not just instinct.)"

Aero also noticed it when he was helping out at the town hall. The timberwolves there stopped attacking the guards and focused only on attacking him.

And right now, the creatures were so focused on Aero, that they forgot the guards they were previously trying to hurt.

And that's something both Captain Gleaming Shield and Sunset took advantage of.

"Now!"

"Take this!"

Gleaming Shield and Sunset were the first to attack. Gleaming with her spear, and Sunset using her magic. Behind them, the Canterlot reinforcements, as well as the Ponyville local guard, came together to clash their weapons with the creatures. Twilight also helped them, shooting magic projectiles from afar to support them.

Two seconds of chaos, and then the timberwolves and rockwolves began to fall.

Aero took advantage of the guard's attack to teleport near the other manticore. He created a magic sword, and at the same time, he propelled himself in the direction of the beast.

The second manticore didn't see it coming.

The magic sword hurt the manticore right in the area of its ribs, wounding it to the point of letting out a cry of pain that could not even finish because almost at the same time Aero used one of his front hooves to hit its head.

Just like the first one, the manticore fell unconscious.

"(Two down, one to-)"

! ! ! !

Aero immediately looked in the direction of the Forest. The area-scan spell activated.

Something was coming...

Something big.

"Gleaming, do it now!"

"Got it!"

Sunset was using her magic to keep the last manticore floating within a light amber aura. Gleaming Shield, using her magic, hit the manticore on its head using the blunt end of the spear. The blow was enough to stun the manticore, and Sunset focused her magic to send the creature flying, hitting a few Timberwolves in the process.

"They did it!" Twilight and her friends watched with joy as the joint effort of both the royal guard and the Ponyville local guard managed to stop most of the creatures. A few managed to understand the futile effort of continuing, and escaped into the forest.

Several guards began to celebrate in victory, while Sunset and Gleaming Shield relaxed a bit as they saw that the situation was improving.

However...

"Sunset. Gleaming Shield."

Aero's voice caught the attention of both mares.

And he didn't sound happy.

"Aero? What's wrong?" asked Sunset, a bit confused. He should be happy with the result. Gleaming Shield, on the other hoof, had a hunch.

"Did you detect something?"

"Keep Twilight Sparkle and her friends safe." was the only answer they got from him.

Before they could even ask what he was talking about, something stopped them.

That something was a sound in the distance that came from the forest. The sound grew louder, and louder as the seconds ticked by. Soon, the ponies in the place began to feel a very slight tremor whenever the noise was heard. Whatever was coming, it advanced without stopping.

Until at last, the source of the noise showed itself, breaking some trees near the entrance.

Everypony froze, except the only stallion in the area. He was looking at the new creature that arrived, amazed by how big it was.

"(By Luna... it is as big as an Ursa Minor.)" thought Aero while looking at the new threat.

Among the many creatures that inhabit the Everfree Forest, some are considered rare because they almost never stray from the area where they live. These creatures are generally the ones that live in the deepest part of the forest. Among them are the hydra, lone dragons, bugbears...

All of them are classified as dangerous.

And this one is no exception, as it is the first time that Aero has seen a cragadile that big.

With a mighty roar, the rock crocodile made sure to intimidate all the ponies.

And it worked, as the guards didn't move, clearly scared. Twilight, her friends, and the group of guards who looked after them were in similar condition. Sunset and Gleaming Shield were desperately trying to find a solution in their minds. How are they going to fight that? Unlike rockwolves, a cragadile's skin is much stronger and tougher, and its whole body is dangerous: The rock claws on its legs, its large fangs, and even the rocks that cover its back and tails can easily hurt somepony.

Despite the situation, Sunset and Gleaming were able to notice something.

The cragadile was looking at Aero.

"(So this one too?)" Aero is sure that there must be a reason for the creatures not only to come out of the forest but to focus so much on him as well.

And so he made a decision.

If the cragadile is coming for him then he has to stop it here, otherwise, Ponyville will surely be destroyed. If it was the usual size, the guards would have a chance to defeat it, but this... is too much for them. They will not be able to lift it with magic because it must be way heavier than an ursa minor, and the weapons will be useless as nothing will get through that rock skin.

He wanted to keep his ability a secret, but even if it's not his Equestria... he has a duty to fulfill.

There is a reason why he is the current leader of 'Elemental'.

Aero began to move slowly, and the cragadile was still watching him. This managed to get Sunset and Gleaming Shield to react.

"Aero! Stop! You can't-"

Sunset fell silent.

She managed to see Aero's eyes for a moment. Compared to when he fought the captain, his gaze was much more intense now. For an moment she felt intimidated, luckily since she knows Aero won't hurt her, she quickly calmed down. Gleaming Shield couldn't see his eyes, but she did notice something odd.

The air began to feel stronger, and it even seemed to move in Aero's direction.

In the distance, Twilight also felt a change in the air and seemed to be heading in the direction of the stallion.

That's when she saw it.

Next to Aero there was something strange, looking somewhat blurry.

Aero continued to walk slowly for a few moments, while the cragadile began to move, opening its mouth and showing its large fangs, in another attempt to intimidate him. Twilight was still watching Aero, trying to understand why he is approaching the giant crocodile.

And then he disappeared.

But this time he didn't teleport. Twilight saw him move so fast that even a pegasus would have a hard time reaching that speed. The instant he moved, the wind went out of control for a moment, and almost instantly a deafening noise was heard.

The entire group of ponies in the area had the privilege of seeing the impossible.

The cragadile was in the air.

Somehow, Aero reached the creature in the blink of an eye, and with one of his front hooves, he managed to hit it on the bottom of its mouth. The cragadile was slowly turning as it was falling, and by the time it hit the ground, it was upside down.

Aero wasted no time and teleported, appearing just above the creature. He kept floating in the air with his magic, and the wind began to gather around him again. The cragadile let out a cry that was impossible for the group to identify if it was of anger or pain.

But now the cragadile was vulnerable, as the lower part of its body is the softest.

Without warning, Aero used both front hooves to hit its body, which again produced a loud noise. There was so much air now that the group felt a bit cold.

The seconds passed, and the situation, despite the fact that they saw it with their own eyes, was unreal.

The cragadile was not moving. The rocks on its back seemed to be partially embedded in the ground due to the force of the second blow, and on top of the giant crocodile... was Aero, who was making sure that the creature was totally unconscious.

Both the royal guard and the local Ponyville guard were speechless. They saw it all, yet still couldn't believe it! They weren't even trying to find any logic to the situation. All they did... was admire him.

Sunset, Gleaming Shield, and the Elements of Harmony already knew that Aero was an excellent fighter after witnessing his skills in the duel a couple of hours ago, but this...

They knew Aero was strong, but they never thought he would be that strong. That kind of strength and guts rivaled that of the Princesses! The worst thing is that they don't even know what exactly he did! Was he hiding his strength the whole time? Is he able to use some sort of unknown magic? Is his body sturdier than it looks? They have no idea at this point.

"Sunset."

"Y-yes?" Sunset barely managed to answer him time. She honestly still couldn't believe what just happened.

"Can you contact Princess Celestia with your magic signal?"

"I-I'm afraid I can't if we are very far away." answered Sunset. If she was in Canterlot, it would be possible, but the distance between Canterlot and Ponyville is too much for the magic signal to work.

Aero nodded in response, then looked at Twilight. He then teleported, appearing right in front of her. As Twilight and her friends were still dumbfounded by what had just happened, the whole group got scared when he appeared.

However, he was actually looking for her assistant.

"Spike. I need to ask a favor."

"Me? Really?" While he was obviously surprised and had many questions in his mind, Spike was very grateful for what he just did. In his young eyes, Aero is a hero.

"I need you to send a message to Princess Celestia. Tell her that the situation is not over yet, but it's being controlled."

"Yes sir!" Spike was carrying a bag with scrolls so he could send information regarding the attack to Princess Celestia.

"I'll go back to Ponyville to make sure there are no creatures hiding." said Aero, who was now looking at Twilight and her friends. "When they have everything under control, tell Sunset and Gleaming Shield that we'll meet at the town hall."

They all nodded in agreement. The reason they didn't answer with words is that they weren't able to say anything at the moment.

"Don't let your guard down." said Aero with a small smile, and then proceeded to teleport. Obviously, he went to Ponyville.

When everypony finally started to calm down, Fluttershy realized something...

Her heart was beating faster than ever.

What she didn't know, is that she was not the only one feeling like this.

Author's Note

~~Thank you for reading a new episode of 'Why are you making each chapter progressively longer ReeeeeEEEEEEEE"~~

Sorry guys. I got inspired(?) It happens.

As always, if there's any typo just let me know. If you do, don't forget to also comment about the chapter :)

The name of this chapter is an allusion to the 'sigma male' which related to this thing called 'Socio sexual hierarchy' (I don't care about it but I thought it was good for a Chapter Title. Also, Aero definitely shares some, and I repeat, some of these traits).

VIII - Unofficial Announcement

Author's Note

Hello there!

I'd like to start with an apology. IRL stuff keeps me very busy during certain months. I still can't tell you guys if I'll be able to update every X days, but rest assured that this story will be finished. Sooner or later. ~~I have two more stories I want to write. One is just an incomplete prologue and the other is not even started yet tho.~~

With that said, I will now apologize in advance if there is any typo. I'll try to fix it ASAP.

Finally, I want to thank all of you, who read this story. It's good to see RGRE still has its fair share of fans, and it would be even better if more stories with this kind of setting appeared in this website. It's a shame that 'The Prince Returns', one of the stories that inspired me to write my own RGRE story, is not available anymore. I don't know why it was deleted, but it hurt a bit when I got the news.

All right. I'll not keep you here any longer. I hope you enjoy this chapter.

VIII - Unofficial Announcement

The protection of Ponyville was a success.

When Aero left the area near the forest, some of the creatures returned. However, the royal guard dealt with them immediately, while the Ponyville local guard regrouped and made sure there were no creatures left around.

Seeing that his help was no longer needed, he simply made his way to the town hall.

When Twilight and the rest of the group arrived, they obviously had a few questions for him, the most important being: What the heck happened a little while ago?

Aero just said 'We'll talk about it later'.

The girls noticed that he seemed to be a bit upset. He was not the only one, as Sunset and Gleaming Shield were also upset about something, and were doing their best not to show it.

"Aero." Twilight approached the stallion. "Would you mind waiting a little longer? The Princess is on her way."

This piqued Aero's curiosity. The Princess can easily come to Ponyville by teleporting. If she's not here already, then that means...

"I asked Spike to add some details to the scroll you asked him to send."

"(So it's about 'that'.)" thought Aero, getting a little angrier. He knew exactly what Twilight was referring to.

"Considering the distance between Canterlot and Ponyville, it was obvious that she would make an official visit after the attack." said Sunset.

"I'm sure she already sent the scouts to investigate the Everfree Forest." added Gleaming Shield.

And so they waited. Some of the guards who were there when the cragadile appeared were watching Aero, still trying to understand what happened. Many wanted to approach him but did not because he already had the company of the Elements of Harmony, in addition to two important ponies of Canterlot.

Eventually, several voices were heard outside.

They were greeting Princess Celestia.

And a few seconds later, the Princess of the day entered the town hall. Everypony bowed.

"Please, there is no need to be so formal. There are more important matters to deal with." The Princess looked at the mayor for a moment. "Mayor. I'll speak to the citizens of Ponyville shortly. I would appreciate it if you could gather them outside of the city hall. I'll have the royal guard help you."

"Of course, Princess!" was Major Mare's cheery reply. A few seconds later, she left the building.

"Well then..." Celestia directed her attention to a certain group of ponies, and to a certain stallion.

"I need you to come with me."

Celestia teleported everypony to the Golden Oak Library. She activated her magic, and in an instant, everypony was inside a golden and slightly transparent barrier. A few of them noticed that it was a soundproof barrier.

"The scouts are already observing the surroundings of the Everfree Forest. Strangely, they have failed to see any dangerous creatures so far." said the Princess. "Nevertheless, I have to thank all of you for protecting Ponyville."

"Well, we didn't do much." admitted Twilight. "The Ponyville local guard did a great job keeping the townsponies safe."

"Yeah, we just kicked a few timberwolves while looking for Aero." added Rainbow. Fluttershy nodded a few times.

"And let's not forget that he also contributed. A lot." said Rarity, looking at the otherwordly stallion.

"Yes. Twilight's description was very detailed." said Celestia. Aero looked at Twilight for a moment, and she got a little nervous in response. "And obviously, I need an answer for what she claims to have seen."

"Very well. Let's get this over with."

As soon as he finished his words, Aero approached the Princess but kept a decent distance.

"It no longer makes sense to hide it. You even saw it when you looked at my memories."

At that moment, everypony in the place felt something...

Wind.

And somehow, it was moving in a certain direction...

Around Aero.

"As I said before, 'Elemental' is a special group of royal guards. However, all of us share a similar trait."

The wind began to grow stronger, and Twilight's group, while still confused, obviously noticed it. Celestia however, had a theory, and all the recent events pointed to what she was thinking.

"We possess what you may call 'special abilities'." said the Stallion. "Each member has a different ability. In my case, it's 'Wind Manipulation'."

The wind concentrated right next to Aero. Twilight and the others couldn't believe it. It was like they could almost see the wind, like some kind of transparent manifestation, and it was forming the shape of a sphere.

"With the right conditions, I don't even need to move my hooves to manipulate it." added the stallion. "I tend to use that to my advantage."

Nopony spoke for several seconds. Every mare in the room was watching the wind sphere. Twilight and the rest of the group got closer to Aero to have a better view of it. Princess Celestia remained calm on the outside, but inside...

"(I knew he was a strong warrior when he fought Gleaming Shield... but I'm afraid I've underestimated him.)" normally Celestia wouldn't be surprised by this sort of thing, considering that magical forces like the Elements of Harmony exist, or that various Equestrian enemies possessed unique powers, like the Corrupted Mare Astarte.

But Aero was the exception.

Even considering the fact that he is from another Equestria, he is the living proof of something that was lost for so many years.

A stallion of old.

"Whoa..." Rainbow Dash was the first to speak. Barely.

"Can I touch it?" asked a very curious Pinkie Pie, slowly moving one of her front hooves.

"Pinkie! Don't!" Twilight stopped her friend. "You may get hurt!"

"It doesn't look harmful, though." said Spike, admiring the sphere.

"Don't worry. It's the same as feeling a light breeze." said Aero, getting the mare's attention. "Although, I can make it strong enough to hurt somepony if necessary. It was a wise choice to warn her."

"Wow, he is right!" Pinkie used one of her hooves to feel the wind gathered in the sphere. It was almost relaxing. The rest of the group also felt the wind for a few seconds.

"I used my ability to fight the cragadile." said the stallion, getting everypony's attention, including the Princess.

"May I ask how did you defeat it?" asked Celestia, getting a little curious.

"I'm pretty sure that for Twilight and the rest of the group, it must have looked like I punched the cragadile."

"Yeah! It was so cool!" said Rainbow dash, mimicking a jab with one of her hooves.

"However, what actually happened is that I concentrated the wind around my front hooves, and then I released most of it right under its mouth."

"Well, I do remember a very loud sound and a very strong wind." said Rarity.

"Dude that's awesome!" exclaimed the little dragon.

"Wait. If that's what you did, then the force of the wind must have affected you too, being so close to the cragadile." said Sunset, trying to understand the situation.

"I did say I released most of the wind." answered Aero. "I used a small amount to keep me in place."

"Are you telling me you calculated how much wind you needed to stay unaffected by your attack?" asked Twilight, obviously surprised by this bit of information.

"I've been training my ability for years, Twilight. At this point it almost feels natural." was his answer. He then looked at Gleaming Shield. "I can also use my ability to move faster. You may have noticed when we fought, but that's part of the reason It was easy for me to avoid your magic attacks."

"Now that you mention it, it does make sense, considering your size." said the captain, remembering the fight.

"And the second time you hit the cragadile..."

"Same method." said Aero, completing what Twilight wanted to say, and dispersing the wind sphere.

"Something tells me that I'll have to get used to your abilities, Aero." said Celestia, smiling a bit and getting Aero's attention.

"You weren't supposed to. I'm afraid it wasn't the best decision." was his answer. "I should have waited a bit more. I'm sure Sunset's mages and the royal guard could have done something to deal with it, but I thought the cragadile would attack Ponyville if I didn't stop it right there. And even then, I could have used another tactic instead of showing that."

"But you prioritized the safety of Ponyville, and I am truly grateful for it." said the Princess.

"The Princess is right, sugarcube. Who knows what could've happened if that giant monster approached Ponyville?" added Applejack. "Many of us have family here."

"Still, it was reckless." said Aero. "And now I made a scene in a world where stallions can't even defend themselves."

"Yes. We have to think of some kind of explanation. The guards and even the citizens of Ponyville will want some answers, as I'm sure mayor mare saw your fight outside of the Town Hall during the attack." said Celestia.

"It's our fault, too."

Aero turned around to see Sunset Shimmer, who was looking a bit sad. Gleaming Shield was in a similar condition.

"After hearing the cragadile's roar... I don't know how to properly explain it. I was thinking about how to stop it before reaching Ponyville, but I was panicking, and that's a rookie mistake." Sunset lowered her head, angry with herself. "There's no excuse."

"I also wanted to move and do something." added the captain. "I even wanted to warn everypony to back down, but..."

"I think that roar did something to us." said Twilight. "You guys were lucky to still think of doing something. I didn't even breathe for a few seconds."

"Hold on." Aero focused on Twilight's group. "You weren't able to move even if you wanted to?"

"That roar... it was too loud. And too frightening." said Fluttershy, shaking a little just by remembering it.

"I'm surprised you managed to move, darling." added Rarity.

"It was like the thing you do with your eyes, but worse." said Rainbow Dash. "It was totally not cool."

"Not fun at all! I wanted to scream!" said Pinkie Pie, slightly annoyed.

"And I... kinda wanted to run." added Spike, a bit embarrassed.

Aero looked at Celestia, a worried look on his face. It seems they both thought the same, because the Princess was also a bit worried.

"While a giant cragadile is indeed a very rare monster, there is no record that its roar can paralyze. We will have to do more research on this." said the Princess, who then focused on everypony. "But for now, I think we need to discuss Aero's current situation."

"With so many guards both from Ponyville and Canterlot, and even us, there's no doubt that everypony's attention will be on him." said Twilight. "And with how stallions tend to gossip among themselves, we need to think of a proper explanation before they start to spread some weird rumors."

"(Huh. Stallions gossiping. Guess I'll have to be careful around them.)" thought Aero, a bit surprised.

"If any of you has a plan, I'll gladly follow it." Aero started to relax. He knew there would be consequences for acting recklessly, and he has to take responsibility for this. Also, the last thing he wants is to get annoyed by mares exclaiming he can do 'impossible things for a colt'.

For several seconds, Nopony spoke. They were all trying to find a favorable solution.

"I... may have one." it was Sunset Shimmer who spoke. "But I don't know if you'll like it, handsome. You will inevitably be in the spotlight for a while, but at least we can keep it to a minimum with the help of the Princess."

"I need to take responsibility for this. If you think your idea is a good solution, I'll have no trouble following it." was his answer. "It's not like I'll be in this Equestria forever."

Just for a moment... all the mares in the room, including Princess Celestia, felt a little worried.

"Let us hear your idea, Sunset." said Celestia.

"The Princess will be here soon. Please be patient."

The citizens of Ponyville were outside of the City Hall, obviously waiting for Princess Celestia to show up. As always, the number of mares greatly outnumbered the number of stallions, and many fillies and colts were in the area too. There was a big number of guards, too. Both from the town's local guard and Canterlot's royal guard, making sure that everything is in order.

But then, there was a sudden flash, and everypony was taken by surprise, as Princess Celestia herself appeared, along with the Elements of Harmony, Spike, Sunset Shimmer, Gleaming Shield, and...

"It's the Princess!"

"Twilight and the others!"

"But why are they-"

"Look, there he is!"

Some mares recognized the stallion that was with the Princess. While in their houses, many townsponies saw Aero helping the guards in the fight against the timberwolves. Honestly, seeing a stallion fighting out there was enough to surprise them. Even the few stallions of Ponyville were surprised to see him.

"Oh my gosh! He's so cute!"

"Cute? Colts are cute. He is a stallion."

"Wait. Is that the stallion from yesterday?"

"Oh yeah! The one that was with Sparkle and Fluttershy."

"With all the ponies here I don't know if he has any scent on him..."

"By Celestia he's hot."

"I still think he works at Playfilly. Just look at him!"

"We'd do wonders in my bed~"

"By Luna..." muttered a disappointed Aero. Twilight and Fluttershy, who were the closest to him, managed to hear him. "These mares have no respect whatsoever. At least they should speak like that when I'm not around."

Both mares felt a bit sad because Aero is still uncomfortable in Ponyville.

He has valid reasons, though. The mares of Ponyville should know better.

"Citizens of Ponyville." As soon as Celestia began to speak, all the ponies in the area focused their attention on her. "It is truly regretful that you had to suffer such an unexpected attack from the creatures of the Everfree Forest. The royal guard is investigating the forest as we speak, and while the investigation is ongoing, there will be additional security in the town."

The Princess then opened her wings with grace and assertiveness.

"But for now, rest assured that the town is safe. Thanks to the efforts of the Ponyville local guard, the Canterlot royal guard, and also... the help from a very special pony."

That was Aero's cue, so he started to move towards the Princess.

"I believe some of you saw him yesterday. This brave stallion not only fought alongside the guards, defeating a surprising amount of both timberwolves and rockwolves, but also managed to defeat two manticores and even a creature that is classified as one of the rarest inside the Everfree Forest: A cragadile."

Everypony gasped with marvelous synchrony.

"What!?"

"A cragadile? That rock-crocodile thing?"

"And that stallion defeated it?"

"I know I saw him fight but that last thing must be a lie!"

"(I have to admit it. That does sound like a lie. Not many ponies would fight a cragadile alone and win.)" thought Aero. "(Actually, besides the Princesses, I can't think of anypony else. Maybe Twilight and Sunset if they get really lucky.)"

"Excuse me." exclaimed Sunset Shimmer, who was near Celestia. She managed to get the public's attention, and she didn't look happy. "Are you suggesting that Princess Celestia is a liar?"

"N-no! I would never! But-"

"Then let me tell you something." Sunset didn't care about interrupting the pony speaking. "I saw him fight the cragadile, and I was not the only one there when it happened."

"Sunset is right. I was there too." added Twilight, looking at her friends for a moment. "All of us."

"Yeah! Me too!" added Spike, looking at Aero as if he was a hero.

"I was also there." said Gleaming Shield, looking at Aero. "The Princess is right. He defeated the cragadile."

"And if that is not enough proof for you, then you should know that many members of the royal guard saw him defeat it." said one of the royal guards that were around the crowd.

"Yes! It was amazing!"

"A part of me still can't believe it, but it's true."

"He was so fast!"

"And strong! Very strong!"

More and more royal guards started to talk about that moment, surprising the citizens of Ponyville even more.

"I can understand your confusion, but the circumstances are... unique. As you know, centuries have passed since Astarte's defeat and the consequences of her curse. Centuries in which we swore an oath to protect the stallions of Equestria who have suffered the most. The changes in our society were huge, and it took many years to make a proper adjustment. However... today we are witnesses of a miracle."

As soon as Aero reached the Princess, she used one of her wings to wrap it around him. Just like when Princess Luna did it, this surprised everypony around. Even Twilight and her friends didn't expect that. As for Aero, he just thought it was rather curious that both Princesses like to show how much they trust him.

"What I'm going to say is considered an important secret, and as such, I expect you, citizens of Ponyville, to keep it that way. I hope you understand."

Celestia's last words had the effect she expected on her subjects. That was not an indication.

It was a warning.

"This goes for those of the royal guard who are gathered here, too. Myself included." added Gleaming Shield. "If anything of what Princess Celestia reveals now gets leaked outside of Ponyville, there will be an investigation and a severe punishment for everypony involved."

The silence was absolute.

"If everypony understood, then I believe it's safe to continue." Celestia looked at Aero with a very gentle smile. "This brave stallion is named Aero... and he is the first uncursed stallion in the land of Equestria."

The silence was immediately replaced by a mixture of gasps and ponies trying to understand what her Princess just said. The guards were also unable to remain calm, and some of them even started to talk to one another, having their own thoughts on the matter.

"Alright then..." Aero started to slowly walk towards the crowd. This was enough to get their attention, and in a few seconds, they went silent again. "I'm sure you have some questions for me, and I don't want to waste Princess Celestia's time just for a Q&A session, so-"

"Oh. I don't mind." interrupted Celestia. "This is the perfect occasion for the mares and stallions of Ponyville to know how different an uncursed stallion can be."

"Are you sure Princess?"

With a nod from Celestia as confirmation, he then proceeded to look at the ponies of Ponyville.

"So... what do you want to know?"

"Where were you born?" asked one of the mares in the crowd.

"I've been told that I was born in Canterlot, but just a few weeks after that, my parents took me to a far distant village. All I know is that it was a very peaceful place." answered Aero. It was not the complete truth, but he had to follow Sunset's plan.

"How can you fight so well? You make it look like it's easy." asked another mare.

"My mother was a royal guard, and my father often asked her for advice. For several years, I received training from both. At the time I didn't know why they left Canterlot. I guess I do now." answered Aero, smiling a bit at the end. He noticed that a good amount of mares were blushing a bit now.

"(I do have confidence in my appearance, but am I really that handsome for them?)" thought Aero for a moment, still curious about these reactions.

"Are you... in a herd?" asked another mare in the crowd. A bit shy at the end. Obviously, this question got everypony's attention.

"Oh right... you have this weird 'herd system', do you?" said Aero, getting many gasps and whispers from the crowd in response. "The village where I was living didn't work like that. All families are monogamous there."

"What!?"

"Unbelievable!"

"But why?"

"Those poor stallions!"

"Oh. Don't get me wrong." added Aero. "In my village, everypony is treated equally. Mares and stallions have the same jobs and duties, and everypony respects one another."

"Aero's village decided to keep the old system, and I respect their choice." said Celestia.

"I was told in my home that outside of the village, things would be... different." continued Aero. "But even then, when I was in Ponyville, I still think some of you were acting a bit creepy, trying to find a chance to ask me anything or even trying to take me somewhere."

Some of the mares in the crowd actually felt ashamed, while others were just confused. After all, trying to woo a stallion and forming herds it's how this society works, and seeing a stallion that defies all of that is a first. Of course, this would not stop them to keep trying.

"To answer your question, I don't have a herd nor do I have plans to be in one for now."

The crowd started to whisper again.

"While it's true that we encourage stallions to join a herd, and most of the time they do it willingly, Aero is a special case." said Celestia in a neutral tone. "And as such, he earned the right to refuse proposals of joining a herd."

Aero could see it in the faces of every mare: This was a huge reveal for them.

When Sunset explained her plan, Aero felt a bit curious about the herd system, so he asked Celestia about it. Stallions need to be in a herd. It's not an option. Legally, if there is a 'mareless stallion' and one or more herds notice it, they have the duty to encourage him to join them, and, if one week has passed and said stallion is still without a mare to take care of him, a herd can request the help of the local authorities, or even reach to the Princesses if necessary. There is a very rare exception which is when a stallion is homosexual.

Considering this information, he is glad that Fluttershy decided to accompany him yesterday when he got out of the Everfree Forest.

"Excuse me. I do have a question." This time, it was Mayor Mare who spoke. "While I was not a witness, I'm curious as to how did you manage to defeat a Cragadile. Their size and strength make it a fearsome creature."

The whispers started once again. Fortunately, Aero had the perfect answer.

"That is true, but there were two things that made me win." said Aero. "The first one is that the cragadile was a male."

Of course, Aero didn't really know if the cragadile was male or female, but Astarte's curse was the perfect excuse to explain how he managed to defeat it without raising suspicion. Just as Sunset said when she was explaining her plan: The curse would be a better excuse than anything else.

And judging by the faces of the crowd, it worked perfectly, because they seemed like they understood.

"Of course, even with that, it's still a cragadile. Bigger and stronger than a pony. That's where the second thing comes in." said Aero, and then he looked at the Princess.

"When we received the news of the attack, Aero volunteered to help without hesitation. Even after I knew about him and his combat experience, I was still afraid that something would happen to him, so I gave him a magic blessing." said Celestia.

"Magic blessing?"

"What is that?"

"Never heard of it."

"Sounds cool, though."

"An advanced spell maybe?"

"I'm afraid I can't say any more about it, as this, too, is considered sensitive information." Celestia was smiling now. She knew nopony would ask further questions about it.

And so, Aero continued to answer the questions of the ponies of Ponyville. Some of them asked about his village. Others about how he came to Ponyville considering he was living far away. Others were more daring and asked about his preferences.

But Aero was glad that he got out of a tricky situation.

With Celestia's warning, Ponyville and the royal guard will never spread the news about his 'uncursed' condition.

"I thank you all for coming today. You may return to your homes and activities now."

And with Celestia's best wishes, the meeting ended.

"What would you like to do, Aero?" asked Celestia. This caught his attention. "Would you like to continue our discussion about your other situation?"

"As much as I'd like to, I think we can leave that for tomorrow." was his answer. "The safety of your subjects comes first, and a sudden attack from creatures of the Everfree deserves a proper investigation."

"(Even in your predicament, you still think of others before yourself...)" Celestia couldn't help but feel admiration for the stallion. His current situation was no joke, yet he remains calm and with a powerful will to keep moving forward.

"You could stay in Ponyville today."

Twilight's words got his attention. She and her friends walked towards Celestia and Aero.

"Yesterday you said that this Ponyville is slightly different from the one in your Equestria."

"To be honest Twilight, I don't know that much of the Ponyville from my Equestria. " said Aero. "Most of my time I was either in Canterlot, or doing missions somewhere else."

"Then why don't you take this opportunity to explore it?" asked Twilight. "That way you can relax for a while, and we can show you our homes and interesting spots. The library, Sugarcube Corner, Applejack's farm, and many more."

"You have no idea how much I've been waiting for a stallion that's not scared of his own shadow." added Spike. "I bet we could talk about a lot of things."

"And now that Ponyville knows of your 'uncursed' status, you should be able to move freely now." added Rarity. "I would love for you to visit my Boutique today."

"Y-you can visit my cottage, too... if you don't mind." said Fluttershy, blushing a tiny bit, but smiling anyway. "I could show you all my animal friends, and tell you everything I know about them."

"You MUST come to Sugarcube Corner!" Pinkie Pie started to make small quick jumps of joy. "I'll make sure to make you the best lemon pie! And we have a lot of sweets to sell!"

"If you go to Sweet Apple Acres, mah family will show you how much we know about apples." said Applejack, pride showing on her face. "There must be a reason yer friend likes our products."

"I want to see more of your abilities!" Rainbow dash was very interested in the way Aero can manipulate the wind. It totally was not also because he was good-looking. "That was super cool!"

"As much as we'd love to spend more time with you, they have point, handsome." said Sunset, joining the conversation. "Gleaming and I will be a tad busy with the investigation."

"Since there will be more guards for a while, Ponyville will be safe." added Gleaming Shield, also joining. "But I bet they'll feel even safer with you here."

Gleaming had a point. If there is another attack, Aero could act immediately if he stays in Ponyville. Twilight's idea was also a good one. He needs to relax after that battle, and getting to know the Elements of Harmony can be a good opportunity to expand his knowledge, even if they are not from his Equestria.

"All right. You win." Aero said, who then looked at Twilight. "And I'll start with the Library. I want to see how much of the history of this Equestria is different from mine."

"Of course! follow me, then." said a very happy Twilight.

...

"Who was that?"

...

"That stallion..."

...

"The fear charm had no effect on him..."

...

"Why?"

...

"That stallion is interesting..."

...

"That stallion is desirable..."

...

"I want him."

...

"You have something I want..."

...

"Something I need in order to be whole..."

...

"I'll make you mine. I'll patiently wait for my chance."

IX - Desire

Author's Note

Hello, fellow readers and/or writers!

It's been a while. I honestly hate when the more chapters you make, the longer it takes to finish them. Sadly, it's not because I'm lazy. It's literally because my 'free time' is short. There's a lot of stuff to do IRL. I'm pretty sure some of you may be even busier than me.

Enough about that. I just want to say: Here's the next chapter!

I hope you enjoy it. I also want to thank all of you. Those who follow my story, those that just found out about it and are giving it a try, and even those who maybe don't read it anymore for whatever reason.

Just the fact that you took a bit of your own time to read this is enough for me to be proud of.

Like always, I apologize if something is not written correctly. A slight disadvantage for not being a native English speaker.

IX - Desire

"There are more?"

"Yes. There are many dragon tribes. The one in the Dragon Lands is one of the strongest tribes, but not the only one."

"Have you encountered them during your missions?"

"Yes, but only a few of them. Do you know about the wyvern tribe?"

"Wyvern tribe? Never heard of them."

"It's not surprising, considering that most ponies don't know about dragons in general. With two legs and big wings, they excel at flying, and they are undoubtedly one of the fastest dragon tribes."

"What other dragon tribes do you know?"

"Well, I remember that..."

Spike was very happy right now.

Since his arrival at Ponyville with Twilight, he has been surrounded by mares. There are very few stallions, and every time he tried to speak with them, they didn't want to. The only ponies he has been able to speak and talk to were Twilight and her friends because most mares of Ponyville refuse to talk to him or straight out ignore him.

At some point, Spike just gave up. Aside from attending some of Twilight and her friends' activities, he stays in the library helping in any way he can. The only other ponies he is on good terms with are the self-proclaimed 'Cutie Mark Cursaders'.

And now he finally has a chance to talk with somepony else.

And not just anypony, for he is a hero in his eyes.

For him, it came as a big surprise when Aero appeared near the Everfree Forest to fight the manticores. He never saw a stallion do activities that required a certain amount of physical strength. Twilight told him that the main activities of the stallions in Ponyville are raising their foals, and taking care of their homes.

"Frost dragon tribe? They really breathe ice?"

"And that's just the beginning. Adult frost dragons can shape the form of the ice they create with their breath. If a frost dragon is fighting during a hail or a blizzard, they become invincible."

Twilight was in awe.

While Spike and Aero were talking at the table near the bookshelves she was organizing, It began to dawn on her that she underestimated him. She thought that his knowledge would not be so different from a stallion working in Canterlot. After all, their Equestrias couldn't be that different. She thought the main differences would only be about the mares, stallions, and their current society.

She was wrong.

Even with all the books she has, both in Canterlot and Ponyville (A few of them being a generous gift from Princess Celestia), her knowledge about dragons is very limited, if near-inexistent. She always felt bad when Spike asked her about the topic and she couldn't give him a proper answer.

But Aero? In just a few minutes he was able to provide such answers. Even if it's information of another Equestria, the fact that Spike is enjoying the conversation is enough to prove that he succeeded where she failed.

But she's not jealous. Far from it, actually.

After all, she is also learning.

She originally wanted to talk with Aero about his life in his Equestria, but Spike beat her to it. In fact... Spike looks happier than ever, and she can't blame him. None of the stallions in Ponyville want to speak or even be with him. He lacks male friends.

But... the more she looks at them, the more she thinks Spike considers Aero a role model.

"I can't believe there are so many different tribes in your Equestria!" Spike was so into the conversation that he didn't notice the two mares that entered the library, and Twilight getting slightly annoyed by their timing. She is the owner after all. "I've never seen another dragon. Not even in pictures!"

"They're not very friendly overall." said Aero. "But there are a few worthy of mention. One of them would be Ember. She lives in the Dragon Lands, and she's the daughter of the Dragon Lord."

"Hello! Are you looking for a certain..."

Twilight stopped talking because the two mares ignored her and went directly to the male duo. Needless to say, this made her a little angry because she knows what's going to happen. She expected this to happen sooner or later.

"Hello Aero!" Both the stallion and dragon heard one of the two mares "We were wondering if you would like to accompany us to the park. We want to know a bit more about you."

"(Just like that? Not even an introduction?)" Aero was a bit worried. Twilight told him that this would happen at some point since the library is open to everypony, but this was too soon. Not even half an hour since they arrived after the Princess' announcement.

"I appreciate the offer, but I'm afraid I have plans for today. I'll be quite busy." Aero's answer was both neutral and respectful.

"But... you aren't doing anything." said the other mare, trying to remain cordial. Aero saw her annoyed expression for just a moment before smiling again. "Surely you have better things to do than stay in a library and read books?"

"Believe me when I say that I have my reasons for staying here. I am not wasting my time if that is what you imply."

It is true. There's a reason he chose Twilight and her library as his first visit.

And that reason is knowledge. Information about this Equestria's current traditions and customs. It's not that he's interested in knowing about it, but Princess Celestia advised him to at least know the basics, in order to avoid misunderstandings that can be prevented.

"C'mon! It's a beautiful day outside and-"

"I don't mean to intrude, but... He already said that he'll be busy today." the mare was interrupted by Spike, who tried to be respectful. "You can't just force him to go with you."

"No one is talking to you, little dragon."

! ! !

This took Aero by surprise. That was borderline rude. Especially considering that Twilight is there too.

"Hey! That was totally unnecessary." Of course, Twilight wouldn't stay silent after that. "If you didn't come here looking for a book, then I must ask you to leave."

"Can you bring us 'Your Colt and You' by Calm Joy the White?"

Twilight knows they are just buying time, but as long as they ask for a book, she has a job to do. She started looking for it, without losing sight of them.

"You know, I was talking with Spike until you two interrupted us." This time, Aero's voice came with a hint of anger. "The answer is still no."

"Here is your book."

Using her magic, Twilight offered the book to the mares. She didn't care about the stern glare she was giving to them. Spike opted to remain quiet.

"Come on Sparkle! Can't you lend him to us for a bit?" asked the mare that received the book. "We promise to take good care of him."

"(So they try with Twilight now. How pathetic, and even worse is the fact that they think they need Twilight's 'approval' first.)"

"So now I'm an object..." This time, Aero's voice was calm. way too calm. Twilight had a slight deja vu from yesterday. "This is the last time I say it: No."

"You heard Princess Celestia during the announcement." Twilight got next to Aero, managing to gently touch his fur. "You can't force him to join a herd."

"It's such a waste if you ask me..." said the other mare. "Just look at him! He's perfect. Can you imagine those strong hooves-"

"Then it's a good thing nopony asked you." Aero's voice was still 'calm'. "And if there are more mares outside with the same idea as you, tell them to give up."

"Tch!"

Without wasting any second, the female duo abandoned the library. Seconds later, a series of groans were heard outside. Mostly mares. Aero then looked at Twilight.

"I'm sorry about this, Twilight. If I had known they would be like that in front of Spike..."

"It's not your fault, Aero." Twilight answered almost immediately. "Mares tend to be pushy when it comes to stallions."

"These two days have been proof enough." said Aero, who then looked at the young dragon. "I'll take a guess and say that was because you are a dragon and not a pony."

"Probably." said Spike nonchalantly. "Don't worry about it. I've seen mares doing way more stupid things when it comes to 'catch a stallion'."

"I'm starting to believe that they are capable of kidnapping a stallion. How do they deal with this?"

"Well, they generally accept invitations, since they like to be around mares." Twilight explained with a smile on her face. "As you have experienced just now, mares tend to be very assertive, and stallions tend to be quiet and a bit shy, so they are a bit hesitant at first but after a few dates they relax and long for the company of a mare. At this point, the alpha-mare may ask the stallion to join their herd."

"Not to mention that you look like the ultimate catch, dude." added Spike. "Applejack always has a hard time dealing with the mares trying to invite his brother Big Mac to their herds. He may be a stallion of few words, but he looks strong like you."

"But he's cursed, right?" said Aero. "So rather than being strong, it's more about attractiveness."

"W-well..."

Twilight felt a little bad because she couldn't deny that. It may be a mare's duty to protect and care about stallions, but... the more desirable a stallion is, the more the mares will try to make them join their herds. Especially in a place like Ponyville.

"Alright. Enough about that. I suppose you want to know a bit more about me?"

"I do! But you are talking with Spike now..."

Aero was aware that Twilight was listening to everything earlier, and it was obvious that she had many questions and would not waste her chance.

"That doesn't mean I can't speak with both of you at the same time."

"O-oh! Are you sure? I think Spike wants to know more about dragons." For a moment, Twilight focused on her little assistant.

"Nah, it's ok Twilight." Spike reassured her immediately. "Come here and join us!"

"Well, thank you." Now it was Twilight's turn to approach the table and sit with them. "I hope you don't mind Aero, but I have a list with all the questions I want you to answer." she activated her magic, and true to her word, a scroll appeared at her side.

"Feels more like an interview, so it's ok. You can help me later with this Equestria's basic customs when it comes to mares and stallions." was the stallion's answer. "So... What do you want to know?"

"I couldn't see him this close before..."

"Gorgeous."

"I would invite him, but he would say no right away."

"We need to be patient. Do you know anything about him?"

"I wonder if he likes homemade cooking..."

"Amber and Fresh weren't able to convince him..."

"There's a rumor that he's a senior worker at Playfilly..."

"It's really hard to concentrate with him around..."

"Maybe if we pay him enough bits? You know..."

"Ugh. If only he was alone..."

...

"Wow. Twilight was not lying when she said the stares would be intense." Spike was looking around. There were many mares looking at them. Thanks to Twilight's guidance, he knows that most of them have the 'bedroom' eyes.

"Sadly, it's true." said Aero. Not surprised at all, considering this sight is not new to him.

"They like to whisper a lot, too..." said the little dragon. "It's honestly a bit creepy."

"You don't have to think too much to know what they're talking about." Aero knew all too well.

"You know, this is kinda weird. You are like a famous pony now. Like, every mare wants to talk to you and be with you, but you are not comfortable with it. I don't blame you, though."

It's been a bit of a busy day for Aero. He had a duel with Gleaming Shield first thing in the morning, and later he is teleported to Ponyville so he can help with the sudden invasion of the wild creatures of the Everfree Forest. He was honest when he said he wanted to know more about Twilight and her friends. Sadly, the attitude of the mares of Ponyville is making this a bit harder. In fact, it's worse than yesterday. Now it looks like they could pounce on him at any moment.

After a rather relaxing talk with Twilight, Aero decided to visit Rarity next. He's glad that he asked Spike to come with him. It's not that he can't deal with the mares alone, but with Spike accompanying him, at least they are behaving.

"Anyways, don't focus on them. Can you tell me a bit more about Rarity's work?" Twilight asked him a lot of questions regarding his Equestria, so he didn't have any time to ask about her friends.

"Oh, that right! She didn't tell you." Spike came back to his cheerful self. "She makes very beautiful clothes! She's a fahion... something."

"Fashionista?"

"Yeah, that. And she's very good. She has made a lot of dresses for Twilight and the others."

"(Twilight did mention 'Rarity's Boutique' a couple of times before meeting the Princesses.)" thought Aero. "(She must be the owner. I haven't seen any other clothing store so far, so her business must be going very well.)"

"There! You can see it, can you?." Spike was now pointing at a very particular building. Since he was in a hurry last time, Aero didn't see it, but it was a rather big building.

As they were getting closer to Rarity's workplace, Aero noticed a poster in the outer wall of one of the houses near him. It was a very simple poster: Some words and the picture of a stallion winking. However, what was written on it made him stop for a moment.

[ Don't ask me, I'm just a Stallion! ]

The weird thing is, the 'o' in 'stallion' was replaced with a male symbol, but the symbol was upside down.

"What? They put this again?" Spike grabbed the left side of the poster and tore it off in one swift move. "Twilight says this poster is kinda offensive to stallions, and this is the third time I see it."

"It's a not-so-subtle way to say that stallions are dumb." said Aero. "If this poster keeps appearing in Ponyville, you should tell Twilight to speak with Mayor Mare."

"Yeah. Will do." said Spike, crumpling up the poster and tossing it to a nearby trash can. "You know, I've been trying to speak with other stallions. Needless to say, they don't want to."

"And the mares?"

"They kinda ignore me too. Not surprising considering what happened in the library."

"(So Spike speaks only with Twilight and her friends? No male friendships? Poor guy.)" thought Aero, who now smiled at the little dragon. "You're doing great, Spike. Stand strong and don't let these mares bother you."

"Thanks for your kindness, Aero." said Spike in response, giving an honest smile. "Not only you are the first stallion to talk to me, but also a great pony overall. Stay awesome."

After a few minutes, they finally arrived at Rarity's place. Aero saw the big sign right next to the building:

[Carousel Boutique: Where every garment is chic, unique and magnifique.]

"For a clothing shop, this is rather impressive." said Aero. "It feels like it was taken directly from Canterlot."

"I know, right? That's Rarity for you. She likes to bring the 'noble feeling of Canterlot' all around her, and she does a good job at it.'"

"It helps that the building looks like a real carousel." Aero added. "The decor is on point. Bright colors that stand out from the general green colors around."

Both males didn't waste any second and went inside. The bell above the door rang immediately, but they were more focused on the fact that the they could rest from stares.

"Coming~"

Rarity's voice was heard from a small distance. Possibly one of the many rooms inside. While waiting for her, Aero looked around: There were dresses everywhere. In the walls, the many, many displays, and the many tables distributed in the main room. There were also many pony mannequins using different clothes, and a good amount of mirrors in the walls. He noticed that most of the clothes were dresses, and only very few were some kind of stallion formal clothing, like the ones used by butlers.

"Aero! It is a pleasure to have you in my boutique!" the Element of Generosity came from one of the other rooms, and happily approached him. "And hello to you too, Spike."

"Hello miss Rarity."

"Hi there!"

"Did you have any problems on the way?" Rarity showed her concern for a moment. "Don't hesitate to tell us about it, darling."

"Well, it's not like I can avoid the stares, but it's really bothersome when mares talk about me like I'm not hearing them." said Aero, feeling a bit annoyed. "It's really... worrying to hear some of their thoughts."

"My word! Has it really been like this since your arrival?" Aero was a bit surprised to see the concern on Rarity's face. "I know it's our duty, but there's a time and place to approach stallions."

"I kid you not Rarity. Every mare outside was giving Aero the 'bedroom' eyes." said Spike, getting the fashionista's attention. "It was really weird."

"That is also unacceptable!" At the moment, Aero is placing Rarity in the 'mares to trust' list. "I cannot deny that we like to show our trust and wishes to the stallions, but the whole point of it is to show them that we can protect them so they can be happy."

"Well, it seems they are more interested in what I can do in bed." Aero then looked at Spike. "I'm sorry you have to hear stuff like this, little buddy."

"Don't sweat it. This kind of... thing, is not anything that Twilight hasn't taught me already." Spike was rather calm about it. "I've seen a lot since coming to Ponyville. Besides, it doesn't really distract me or anything. I just find it gross."

"(This world is crazy enough that Twilight has to teach Spike about the basics of sexuality...)" Once again, Aero is conflicted about this world. He is still not sure to consider this Equestria 'safe' yet.

"Well, now you are here darling." Rarity reassured both. "And what perfect timing! I was wondering if you could help me with a little idea that I got when I met you in Canterlot."

"Aww... I wanted to see him again."

"Wait. He's not in the castle anymore?"

"It's a shame. Seeing him in the morning was such a treat!"

"It's confusing, though. He acts like a mare. He is also stronger than any other stallion..."

"Yeah. It's hard to guess how should we approach him."

"Not only that, he gives this feeling... I can't really explain it..."

"He makes me flustered just by looking at him!"

"Yeah! Like that! It's like he has the presence of a mare and I feel... like a stallion."

"No way!"

"Actually... I feel that too."

"It's like I feel vulnerable! It's so weird!"

"But it's not a bad feeling, you know?"

"W-what are you saying? We are mares! Strong and reliable mares!"

"But have you ever wondered how a stallion feels when we approach them? I think I sorta feel like that when I see him."

"Snap out of it! There's no way that's possible."

"Are you sure about that? I know it's weird but..."

The actions of Aero left an impression on the royal guard, to the point that even his absence is noticed and discussed. What's more, an entire unexpected topic arose. Something no mare dared to talk about in centuries.

And Celestia, who was on her way to the throne room, was loving every second of it.

"It comes as a surprise to hear all this talk about Aero. As time went on, the mares forgot about their old feelings and attitude. Becoming the pillars of society led them to forget certain things about the stallions of old. Truly a shame." the Princess was looking around, hearing the gossip of her guards and butlers. "What do you think, Gleaming?"

"Even after meeting him... I'm not sure of what to say, Princess." was the captain's answer. "Not to mention that this has been a very busy day."

"How was it?" asked Celestia, feeling a bit curious. "Fighting an uncursed stallion from another Equestria?"

"To be completely honest Princess... It was amazing."

This answer managed to stop Celestia for a second.

"Oh? It seems I was wrong. I thought you would feel a bit ashamed of losing to a stallion."

"But he is not your everyday stallion, Princess. He is not helpless. He is not frail. As far as I know, he has no fear when he fights." said Gleaming Shield. Celestia could hear the anticipation in the captain's voice. "He taught me so much in that duel: To not waste my magic energy if it's not going to work. To think on the best move and adapt to the enemy. How to properly use my barrier, and I could go on, but the point is that he has been my biggest challenge yet. And of course, I failed miserably because I was not prepared."

"With the exception of Nightmare Moon, Equestria has been a peaceful land for many years." said the Princess. "Once I knew about Aero's origin, I was sure that most mares would not be a challenge for him if it comes down to a fight, but now it's clear that even in his Equestria, he is a fearsome opponent."

"He did imply that his teammates have special abilities, too. I wonder if they are as strong as him..." said Gleaming, now being her turn to get curious about the other members of 'Elemental'.

"I'm sure they are strong, but something tells me Aero is the strongest." answered Celestia. "Everything I have seen so far is proof enough. Maybe the other members have more dangerous abilities, but Aero has shown complete control over his, and if you add both his physical and magical strength, along with his combat experience..."

That's when Gleaming noticed it.

Princess Celestia was smiling.

But...

It was not the same motherly kind of smile she shows everypony during day court and when traveling to other places of Equestria. This was different. Her whole face was showing something else.

Excitement. It looked like she was enjoying herself.

"Ah... this may be a bit troublesome." said Celestia, although it was almost like a whisper.

"Princess? What do you mean with-"

Gleaming Shield didn't finish her question, because she saw something else. Something far more intriguing.

Princess Celestia. The all-mighty 'Mare of the Sun', and undoubtedly one of the most powerful mares of Equestria along with her sister... was blushing, and her wings were slightly up.

"I have never been so interested in a stallion as I am now."

! ! !

Gleaming Shield, along with the very few mares that managed to hear what the Princess just said, were astonished. It is well known by the castle staff that both Princesses have never shown any sign of being interested in starting a herd with a stallion. Both of them have their own reasons: Princess Celestia is a caring mare that always supports other herds and never pursues a relationship because if she were to pick a stallion, he would need to adapt to politics, public opinion, and a ton of other important roles. With the current condition of stallions, it is impossible for one to even survive this kind of life. As for Princess Luna, once she saw with her own eyes the current behavior of stallions in general, she felt pity for them, and a bit of anger because, in her own words, 'stallions have changed for the worse'.

The area in which Princess Celestia and Gleaming Shield were speaking, became silent for many seconds.

"(I can't believe it...)" Gleaming Shield did her best to not show any more surprise on her face. "(Is this really happening?)"

The other mares slowly returned to their duties, doing their best to not look surprised or nervous. This was a huge reveal. Princess Celestia for the first time in centuries, or maybe even more, has shown interest in a stallion.

"Princess... What you are suggesting is-"

"I know." Celestia interrupted the captain. "But I think that doesn't stop me from expressing myself. There is nothing wrong with that."

"We promised to help him." said Gleaming, more serious than ever. "We can't just break his trust."

"Gleaming Shield." Celestia's voice was calm, but the captain knew that what she said just now, she could have said it in a better way. "We will help him. Considering his situation, I admire his will and resolution. He also decided to help us despite the mare's treatment since his arrival."

Celestia began to walk again, and Gleaming Shield immediately followed.

"But Princess... What are you going to do?"

It took a few seconds before the captain got her answer.

"A meeting."

"My measures?" said Aero, who then put two and two together. "You want to make clothes based on my size?"

"Yes, darling. This may be my only chance to make stallion clothing of your... size." that last remark from Rarity was said in an almost soothing voice. "I can't miss this opportunity."

"Yeah. You are huge!" added Spike, raising his hands. "You're as tall as Princess Celestia. I'm pretty sure it's hard to find clothes of your size."

"Well..." Aero never gave it much thought. He does have one or two pieces of clothing for special occasions, but that's it.

"Please darling, give me a chance. You are already gorgeous, but think about what you could do with the right clothes!"

"If it helps you acquire experience... Very well, I'll let you take my measures. Let me think about the payment since I didn't bring any bits with me."

"Oh please! There's no need for any sort of payment." Rarity immediately refused. "But, if you really want to pay... then maybe you could let me examine your cape? It may look simple, but you can't fool me! I know that cape has something special. I can feel it!"

"(Did she... see it?)" wondered Aero, who then smiled. "You guessed it. There is something special in this cape. Since you were able to notice it, I'll lend you my cape for a while."

"Rarity. Is Sweetie Belle here?" asked Spike. "I've seen you take measures a few times and well... it's kinda boring for me to watch."

"I'm sorry Spike. I tend to forget that you aren't exactly a fan of staying still." apologized Rarity, then she looked at the stairs leading to the upper floor. "I believe Sweetie Belle mentioned something about making a list of activities to do in order to obtain her cutie mark. She is in her room right now. Why don't you pay her a visit? I'm sure she will be happy to see you."

"Got it." the little dragon started to walk to the stairs. "See you later, Aero!"

"See you later, brave little dragon."

And with that, Spike went upstairs to Sweetie Belle's room.

Rarity was about to speak and invite Aero to another room to take his measures, but she stopped when she saw him looking in the same direction that Spike went. His smile was gone.

"Is there something wrong, darling?"

"Spike... is a dragon with a strong will." said Aero, but with a bit of melancholy. "Did you know that none of the stallions in Ponyville have spoken to him? Not even a hello?"

"I've ... heard a bit about it from Twilight." said Rarity, obviously not happy about that.

"That also applies to the other mares of this town." added Aero. "To be able to keep moving forward as a baby dragon in a place full of ponies that deliberately avoid him..."

"I'm glad that somepony else cares about little Spikey." said Rarity, although in a low voice, with a particular mixture of both sadness and hope. "Despite your serious nature, your concern for the welfare of others is worthy of admiration."

"I know it should not be necessary to say this, but just in case..." Aero started to smile again. Rarity got drawn to that smile of his for a second. "Spike possesses an outstanding potential. Most ponies can't see it now because he is a baby dragon, but give him a couple of decades, and I assure you that he will be directly assisting the Princesses in Canterlot."

"Oh, I know he has a bright future, darling."

"But he is still a diamond in the rough. His future still depends on what kind of education you give him now as a baby dragon." said Aero, looking at Rarity. "The Spike from my Equestria is doing great, but I worry for the Spike of this one."

Rarity put one of her front hooves on her chest, looking at the stallion with eyes that showed determination.

"I'll let Twilight know you said that, darling. I'm sure she will be delighted. I also promise to let the girls know how important Spike will be for our future."

"It's good to know that even in this weird Equestria the Elements of Harmony remain true." said Aero, who then started to walk. "Now, I assume you have a room where you take measures?"

"That would be correct, darling." now it was Rarity's turn to start walking, getting ahead of Aero. "Follow me."

Aero started following Rarity to the same room where she was before he and Spike arrived. Just when they were getting near the door, Aero passed right next to one of the mirrors in the wall.

That's when he saw it.

! ! !

It took his attention immediately.

There was something just above him like it was floating.

It was purple, with an oval shape and four small tentacles, with round yellow eyes and an almost cartoonish yellow smile, like if it was drawn.

And... it was waving with one of the small tentacles.

"It's you!"

X - Admiration

Author's Note

Hello, once more! It's been a while.

I hope everyone is ok :twilightsmile:

The two stories that were published (Gielinor's Visitor and Conversion Bureau: El Único) will not be updated until this story (The Anomaly in a Mare's World) is complete. I may update before that if they receive enough attention.

I really have nothing else to say. Any typos will be fixed ASAP and well, I wish all of you a good day/afternoon/night.

X - Admiration

"Darling? What is it?" Rarity tried to get Aero's attention, but...

*Mister! You can finally see me!*

"I can also hear you." added Aero, totally focused on the small being. "We finally meet again."

"Aero? Who are you talking to?" asked Rarity, clearly confused. "And why are you looking at the ceiling?"

"It's a bit of a long story. The Princesses know about this." answered Aero, who now looks at Rarity. "But just to be sure... You don't see anything floating near me, do you?"

"I'm afraid not, darling." was her answer. "Do you see something?"

*Yes! Me!*

"(The same foal voice I heard during the memory-scan spell. Sounds like a 'he'.)" thought Aero while answering Rarity's question. "Yes. But it seems that only I can see and hear it."

"I'm not really sure of what is going on..." said Rarity, a bit confused.

"If this was not so sudden, I would explain it. What matters right now is only one thing." said Aero, looking back to the strange being. "Do you want to harm us in any way?"

*What? No! I would never do that!*

"I have many questions to ask you, but if you are harmless, then do you mind following us?" asked the stallion, who then realized something. "Now that I think about it... have you been following me since yesterday?"

*I've been with you since the beginning! And I can't get too far from you!*

"(Can't get too far from me? Why?)" thought Aero while focusing on Rarity. "Sorry for that. It must be very weird to see me talking to something you can't see."

"While I think it is weird, I believe you are telling me the truth, darling. You come from another Equestria after all." was her answer. "And from what I have seen so far, you are not one to lie."

"I appreciate your trust." said Aero. "Now let's keep going. I will inform Twilight and the others about this later."

"If you say so, darling. Just make sure to tell us if something else happens." said Rarity, happy to resume their walking to the 'inspiration room'. "Now, once I get your measures, I'll make you clothes worthy of royalty!"

"I'm glad you are motivated. Just don't make a dress."

"Not to worry. I know for a fact that a dress would just ruin your looks. Don't forget your part of the deal, Darling!"

"Yes. You may examine my cape as much as you need."

*What's a 'measure'?*

"Ah, dear Sunset. It's good to see you."

"Likewise, Princess. I am here to let you know that an official response has arrived from the north."

Sunset Shimmer, who entered the throne room, noticed that there were no other ponies to be found aside from the royal guards. That means Princess Celestia put Day Court on hold.

"Oh! That was rather fast. Do you have the scroll with you?"

"Of course. The message arrived in the middle of our discussion about today's events."

"How's the investigation going?"

"Not much progress has been made, I'm afraid. We gathered all the info we could get from our scouts and mages analyzing for any kind of magic used inside the forest. There's only one thing we can say for certain: The creatures in the deep parts of the forest are moving more than usual."

"Even if it's that little information, it's useful."

"We'll keep an eye on the forest. The best scenario would be to avoid another sudden attack."

"We'll discuss it later. For now... I need to see their answer."

"Of course, Princess." using her magic, Sunset handed the scroll she had with her to Princess Celestia. "May I ask what is this about? This was very sudden."

"You will know very soon." said Celestia, who was now reading the scroll. After a few seconds, a smile was seen on the Princess' face. "And it seems they accepted my invitation."

"(Invitation? Maybe a meeting of some sort? But why them?)" thought Sunset, looking for a possible answer with the information she had. Of course, she made sure to not show this thought to Celestia.

"Please tell the maids and butlers that we need to prepare two rooms on the top floor in the next two hours." said Celestia, in a commanding voice. "It is of utmost importance that those rooms need to be ready as soon as possible."

"Very well, Princess." said Sunset in a respectful manner.

"Once our guests arrive, I'll need you with me at all times. That is all for now, dear Sunset."

Sunset did a short but respectful bow, and then left the throne room.

"Now then..."

Celestia activated her magic, showing her yellow aura. The smile she had earlier was now a bit wider.

"I can't wait to see Luna's reaction."

"This tranquility..."

Aero took a deep breath...

Peace and quiet.

"So relaxing..." he was honestly enjoying this brief moment of freedom. "I may consider living in the outskirts of Ponyville once I get back to my Equestria."

And that's where he was: The outskirts of Ponyville, near the entrance to the Everfree Forest.

*Why did you teleport?*

"Because Spike decided to stay with miss Rarity's little sister, and I don't want to deal with the mares of Ponyville. This is also a shortcut to the next pony I want to see."

Since Aero already knows this area, he can safely use his magic to teleport. Luckily the distance was not that much. Even with all his training and experience in battles, he can't cover big distances like the Princesses or Twilight. In fact, this last teleportation may be his limit when it comes to distance.

Rarity promised to have his clothes ready in a few hours. Aero reassured her that it wasn't necessary to give his clothes a higher priority, but she insisted. He also decided to leave the cape with her. Something she appreciated a lot. It was the happiest he has seen her yet.

*The kind pony lives around here!*

"Yes, little one." answered Aero, chuckling a bit at the small being's cheerful attitude. "It seems that you do remember her."

*Of course! She cares a lot about you!*

"(Well, that came out of nowhere.)" thought Aero, a bit curious about the particular choice of words from the being. "There is one more reason to teleport here: While we walk to Fluttershy's home, you can answer some of my questions."

*Okay!*

Without wasting any time, Aero followed the road to Fluttershy's Cottage. He still finds it a bit weird that this little being is so friendly and positive, considering what happened yesterday.

"Do you have a name?"

*Yes! My name is Themis, but mom likes to call me cinnamon roll!*

"(Somehow... I can understand why.)" thought Aero, giving a simple and honest smile.

*You do? Tell me!*

This made the stallion stop for a moment. He didn't say anything. He didn't use his voice. He was thinking. If that's the case...

"(So you can hear my thoughts.)"

*Yes! Loud and clear!*

"(I didn't know that. This makes things easier. From now on, let's talk like this. I will also start referring to you as a male, considering your voice.)"

*Okay~*

"(Tell me Themis: What are you? You're definitely not one of the creatures that lives in the Everfree Forest.)"

*I'm not really sure. Mom told me once, but I forgot. Sorry...*

"(Ok. Don't be sad about it. Maybe you'll remember later. How old are you?)"

*I'm nine years old!*

"(So you're still very young. And where are you from?)"

*Well, our home is here! But higher!* Themis looked up, and the tiny tentacle in the upper part of its body was moving a little.

"(You mean the sky?)"

*Way higher!*

"(Way... higher?)"

Aero focused his gaze on the sky. However, he understood the words of little Themis. Not many ponies know about it, but it's a subject that grew in popularity since Luna's return. At least in his Equestria. The Princess of the Night herself offered a detailed description of the Moon that's near the planet. This was very valuable information from a place that no race in Equestria has managed to even explore yet.

And it didn't mean just the moon.

"(You live... in the Cosmic Realm?)"

That is how Princess Luna decided to name it. That immense area up there, way beyond the sky. It may be as big as an entire continent, or even more...

Way more.

Themis tilted his head a little to the side, and for the first time, his expression was showing confusion.

*The what?*

"(How to explain it... Do you live among the stars up there? We ponies can't explore that far yet.)"

*Oh! The shiny things! Yes!*

"(Shiny things you say...)" while he said that in his mind, on the outside he once again chuckled. "(So you do live there. How is it?)"

*It's very quiet sometimes, but the view is amazing! There are lots and lots of shiny things! There are also things that I don't know at all! Both big and small!*

"(Well, considering your young age, I'm sure you will learn about them in the future. Now, I have many more questions about you, but now I need an answer to the most important ones, ok?)"

*Sure! I like talking with you!*

"(As you may know, this is not my Equestria. Since I woke up in the castle inside the Everfree Forest, something was different. Now... Did you bring me to this Equestria?)"

*I... I did*

"(You sound sad again. Sorry for that, but you have to understand. You put me in quite the situation. Why did you bring me here, to this alternate Equestria?)"

*Because... I need help. My sister... my sister is lost*

"(Oh, that's right. You said something about your sister when I lost consciousness. So she is lost. I assume that since you brought me here, you want me to help you find her?)"

*Yes*

"(Why me? It's because I found you? Or is there another reason?)"

Suddenly, Themis started to smile, his confidence returning again.

*My dad told me to find you! He told me you would be in that castle that day!*

"(That day? How did your father know about the Princesses' plans?)"

*That's because dad likes to watch the future! I don't know what that means, but that's how he knew you would be in that old place!*

"(T-the future? How does he-)"

*Is that the house? There are lots of animals!*

"(You are right. It seems that we'll have to continue this later.)"

*Okay~*

While the timing was not the best, Aero couldn't deny the words of his little companion. They were just arriving at Fluttershy's Cottage.

"I didn't realize it the first time because I was in a hurry..." as he approached the wooden door of Fluttershy's home, he observed everything around him: the number of flowers, trees, and bushes with small fruits in them, the unique small river near the cottage, and the surprising amount of animals gathering around the area.

Most of the animals consisted of birds of different colors, rabbits, and squirrels. There were a lot of birdhouses in the trees. These trees also had certain holes for the squirrels. On the ground, there were certain spots for the rabbits to use.

"I tend to forget that Fluttershy treats her house as a sanctuary of sorts for wild animals." Aero couldn't help but smile. "I have to say, it's a beautiful sight."

And that's when he felt something in one of his front hooves.

A rabbit.

After getting Aero's attention, the rabbit did a quick back jump. Then for a few seconds, the small fluffy rabbit just stared at him, like waiting for some sort of reaction.

"I wonder... Can you understand me?" asked Aero. "Considering her love for animals, I'm sure that Fluttershy would teach all of you to behave and to try to understand other ponies."

The rabbit seemed to understand, because he smiled a little, and did a quick nod.

"I've come to visit your caretaker, and Element of Kindness, Fluttershy. Is she home?"

Once again, the rabbit did a quick nod, and proceeded to go into one of the many holes around.

"I remember that Twilight once told me about Fluttershy's ability to understand animals. Maybe she can directly speak to them?" wondered the stallion while gently knocking at the door a few times.

After a few seconds, he got a response.

"H-hello? Who's there?"

"Hello Fluttershy. It's Aero. I was wondering if you-"

The door suddenly opened, revealing a slightly flustered Fluttershy. This lasted just for a moment, because as soon as she saw him, her surprise was replaced with a smile of happiness.

"Aero! You came to see me?" asked Fluttershy.

*Yes! He did!*

"I did promise you girls to see each one of you. I already spent some time with Twilight, and Rarity is now busy making me some clothes."

"Oh, that sounds wonderful. Did you have any problems on your way here?"

"Spike accompanied me when I went to see Rarity, and from there I teleported near your home." said Aero. "Honestly, you chose a very good place to live, Fluttershy."

"I'm glad you like the peace and quiet around here." was her gentle response. "Would you like to come in? There's so much I want to show you!"

"Sure. I'll be in your care." said Aero, with an honest smile. He is glad that he can actually 'lower his guard' when he is with Fluttershy.

As for the Element of Kindness...

"(Oh my goodness... I can't get enough of that smile!)"

While both ponies went inside the cottage, the same rabbit that was with Aero earlier, whose name is 'Angel', watched with a smile on his face. After all, seeing her caretaker happy makes him happy.

"I... I knew he was strong, but I didn't expect this!"

"Your reaction is understandable, Twilight Sparkle. However, it is the truth."

"For a moment I wondered why you told me all this, but now..."

Celestia, Luna, Discord, and Twilight Sparkle were taking a break from the investigation. Ever since they managed to make a link to the other Equestria, albeit a very weak one, they have been studying and analyzing it in order to stabilize it. Once they can do that, they will be able to create a 'door', but that alone will require a lot of magical energy.

And right now, Princess Luna requested Twilight's presence in a private room to discuss a certain topic.

"I've always wondered why there weren't any major problems outside of Equestria that required our attention." said Twilight, smiling a little. "His group was protecting us all this time."

"If the Elements of Harmony are a powerful defense against threats inside Equestria, 'Elemental' is our defense from outside threats." said Luna. "They are also our trump card, should the Elements of Harmony fail someday, or if they are stolen."

"But... These 'abilities' you mention. If this is also true, then why haven't they received any kind of recognition? They deserve it."

"For the same reason they do not use them within Equestria." answered Luna. "If their abilities were known, their everyday lives would be at risk. Not only that, but their acquaintances, friends, and families would be in danger as well."

"I didn't think about that..."

"The only exception where they can use their powers in our territory is when there is no other choice." continued the Princess. "When doing missions outside of Equestria, they use special equipment so others don't recognize them."

"But now Aero is stuck in that other Equestria..." Twilight now understand how dire the situation is.

"Without its leader, Elemental is in a very delicate position." most of the time, Princess Luna has a serious attitude, but right now, she's worried, and Twilight noticed it. "I have no doubt about the experience and abilities of the other members, but without their leader here, they can't show their full potential."

With everything she has been told, Twilight knows that Princess Luna wants to ask for a favor involving Aero. She's glad that the Princess of the Night trusts her enough to tell her this sensible information.

"Twilight Sparkle. The reason I told you all this information is that I want you to be part of my rescue team."

"Rescue team? You mean after we manage to create a stable door?"

"Indeed. I have already discussed this with my sister. It is obvious that she cannot come with us. After all, even with Aero's disappearance, our Equestria continues its everyday. She is and will always be needed here."

"With us? You want to travel to the other Equestria, Princess?"

"But of course!" At this point, Twilight is sure that when it comes to Aero, Princess Luna shows her emotions more strongly. "He is my aide, and it's our fault that he ended up disappearing."

"And... who else is coming?"

Just then, there were a few knocks on the other side of the door.

"I do believe they arrived just in time to answer your question."

"Huh. I never thought I would see a friendly bear."

"His name is Harry. Say hello, Harry."

"Wow. He really is bowing. Nice to meet you, Harry. I'm sure you have done your best to keep Fluttershy safe."

Aero is honestly astonished by the number of animals that are both outside and inside Fluttershy's home. He has seen his fair share of animals during his missions outside Equestria, although, rather than common animals, he tends to encounter more dangerous creatures: Bite-acudas in unknown rivers, Bufogrens in forests and swamps, although those are friendly if you take the right approach. He also had to deal with some wild cockatrices, which are extremely dangerous if they ambush you. Now the recent Cragadile is the latest addition to his list.

This time, the number of peaceful animals gathered in one place was enough to make him both surprised and relaxed: Rabbits, squirrels, rats, Harry the bear, many birds, flamencos, ferrets, and there are even fishes in her yard in a somewhat big pond.

"They are all my dear friends." Fluttershy sat on the rug in the center of the living room. "Every time they are hurt, sick, or just want to spend time with others, they come here."

*It's amazing! Every animal here trusts her and even wishes to protect her!*

"(Literally.)" thought Aero, as he watched how a good portion of the animals gathered around her, and a couple of birds landed on her back. Larry was not there, but he was watching her.

"Aero... Can I ask you something?" Fluttershy focused her gaze on the stallion, and so did the animals around her. He nodded quickly, motioning for her to continue. "Am I... a weird mare?"

This did surprise Aero a bit.

"(That's the second thing I hear today that came out of nowhere.)" thought Aero while answering Fluttershy. "I'm afraid you'll have to elaborate a bit more on that."

"Mares need to be strong, reliable and be prepared to do anything for the sake of the stallions. That is what I've been told all the time since I was a little filly." said Fluttershy. "Over the years, I tried to be like that. I always try to help them when they are scared or don't know what to do, but beyond that..."

The shy mare let out a rather loud sigh.

"I've seen mares taking advantage of stallions and ordering them around, make fun of them for how frail they are, or they simply question their intelligence. Sometimes I feel that if I get involved with the stallions too much... I may become just like those mares."

"Sounds to me that you're not satisfied with how things are right now." said Aero. "While I still need to talk to some stallions to get an idea of how they feel, I already have an idea about mares."

The stallion approached Fluttershy.

"We didn't talk too much in my Equestria, but I can tell that both of you aren't different. You are still true to your kind nature." Aero looked at the animals near Fluttershy. "Can I sit down here? It looks comfy."

Fluttershy did a gentle nod and the animals gave him space, allowing him to sit right next to her.

"You are not weird, Fluttershy. I have no right to interfere with how you and everypony else in this Equestria lives, but it's clear that this is not just about 'protecting' stallions. At least not anymore. All the mares around talk about me like some walking trophy..." this time, it was Aero who left out a sigh. "Or a possible source for sexual relief."

"W-w-wha-what?" Fluttershy's face became an instant tomato-red, to the point that Aero got surprised again.

"Sorry. It's not a topic to discuss just like that, but... That's how it feels like. They seem to think that they have this power and authority because they've had special responsibilities for centuries. The stallions take care of the foals, and can only do certain activities and hobbies considered 'safe' because of the curse. Honestly, it feels like a 'master-servant' relationship disguised as a herd, but if the stallions are happy..."

"I'm sorry."

As soon as Aero finished talking, Fluttershy got closer to him, as if she was cuddling him. Aero was aware of this but he knows she means well, so he didn't mind. He also saw her face for just a moment. She looked a bit sad.

"I'm sorry that our society has changed to the point you feel like this. It's not fair for you to be trapped in here. To deal with our society and how they view stallions. You are a wonderful pony, and they don't see it."

*See? She really cares about you!*

"(I... guess you were right.)" thought Aero, who noticed something.

Out of all the mares in this Equestria, only three have been this close to him. The first one is Princess Celestia. The second is Princess Luna. Both alicorns used their wings to hug him and show others that they trust him. Now the third one would be Fluttershy. He could stand up at any moment... but there's a reason he's not doing it.

He is, in every sense of the word, comfy.

He is relaxed. Having Fluttershy so close doesn't make him feel nervous or uncomfortable. He actually likes her warmth, and the animals around her are harmless. However, the most important detail is that Fluttershy is one of the very few ponies of this Equestria that treats him well. The others are the Princesses and Sunset Shimmer, and to a minor degree, the rest of the Elements of Harmony.

"What about me?" asked Aero, getting Fluttershy's attention. "Am I a weird stallion to you?"

"Oh my goodness, not at all!" Fluttershy's answer was quick. "On the contrary... I admire you."

*So do I!*

"It's an honor to be praised by the Element of Kindness herself." said Aero respectfully. "(And also to hear it from you, Themis.)"

"When I first met you and saw you running, I thought you were running away from danger." Fluttershy chuckled for a moment. "How wrong I was."

"We were both confused." admitted Aero. "I'm glad that you stopped me yesterday. At that moment I didn't know I was in another Equestria. If I had gone to Ponyville alone, it would have been a very awkward experience. And a very annoying one."

"And when you told me that you were looking for Twilight, I was afraid that other mares in Ponyville would take advantage of you if they saw you alone."

"While that would be nothing dangerous for me, I'm glad you were with me at that moment." said Aero. "These mares really test my patience."

"It never ceases to amaze me." continued Fluttershy. "You have such a strong body, an amazing magic ability, and you are a royal guard! You are smart, charming, reliable, and despite your serious nature, you care about others."

Aero slowly smiled.

He's not oblivious to the fact that Fluttershy is interested in him. At this point, he has no doubt that all the mares will be interested in him if they ever meet him. The thing is, Fluttershy is being gentle about it. Not overly obsessive like almost all the mares he has seen.

"Aero?" this time Fluttershy's voice was very soft. "Is there a... mare waiting for you? In your Equestria?"

"(How about that? This is the first time a pony from this Equestria ask me this...)"

Fluttershy waited for a few seconds, but no answer came out. She was beginning to worry that maybe it was a sensitive topic for him.

"If you don't wish to talk about it, then it's alright."

"Oh, sorry. I was just thinking that you are the first to ask me about this." replied Aero. "Since you asked so nicely, I'll tell you."

Fluttershy gulped, but nonetheless, she was waiting for the answer.

"There was a mare."

There was a small, almost unnoticeable reaction from Fluttershy's body, and Aero felt it. If it was worry, pity, or joy, he'll never know.

"May I ask what happened to... her?"

"She's not dead, nor injured, if that's what you think." was Aero's answer. "We broke up. Well, I broke up with her."

Fluttershy didn't show it, but she was astonished to hear that. She was sure of one thing, though: Whoever this mare was, she is utterly stupid.

"It happened a few years ago. I was still just a royal guard back then." Aero slowly closed his eyes. "I was very busy, both with my job as a guard, and as a member of Elemental. We met in the castle, as she was there to seek guidance from Princess Celestia. We spoke for a bit, and that evolved to a few dates, and that led to being together for a while. I did my best to understand her and be with her, but my two jobs were a priority too. In the end, she got tired of me because I was a 'workaholic', and started meeting with somepony else. Somepony with more free time, and apparently, more bits on his pocket. The icing on the cake? She never told me. I discovered it on my own. As you may imagine... that was not a good day."

"(By Celestia... that's horrible.)" thought the Element of Kindness. If this mare had issues with him working too much, she could have told him about it! Being with somepony else is all about understanding and accepting each other. If you can't even express yourself in front of the pony you love...

Then it's not a true bond.

"...Her loss."

...

Aero managed to hear that, and really, really wanted to laugh, but the relaxation was too good to interrupt the moment. This is by far the most relaxed he has been since arriving to this Equestria.

"Yeah. Definitely."

Once again, Fluttershy was red as a tomato.

*Oh! You want to sleep? I'll wake you up if anything happens!*

"(That... sound good, actually.)"

"You know... I want to be happy for him, but I can't. Of all the mares, it had to be Fluttershy?"

"It is rare to see you even a bit upset, Discord. Please, keep it up."

The Lord of Chaos Discord, and the Princess of the day Celestia were looking at a very particular scene. This was possible because they were making progress in trying to stabilize the unknown source, and the only link to the other Equestria where Aero was transported.

"It still bothers me that we can't hear anything from the other side." said Discord, with the fingers of his left hand on his chin. "And I want to know what happened before this."

"I have to admit that I'm a bit curious as to what happened earlier that led to this... situation." said Celestia, now focusing on the vision of Aero and that Equestria's Fluttershy. It seems that Luna's aide was in Fluttershy's home, and they were both sitting on the central rug. There were many animals observing them, and by the looks of it, they were discussing in their own language, too.

But the most important detail is that both Aero and Fluttershy were very close, almost as if they were cuddling. Well, it looks more like it's Fluttershy who's trying to make contact with Aero, who is just relaxed, while the shy pegasus is blushing a bit.

"I'm glad Luna is not here to see this." admitted Celestia. "Otherwise, she would be having a tantrum."

"Can't Luna just, I don't know, order him to be her husband or something?" asked the Draconequus. "I'm sure he would accept. Seriously, he has both the power and prestige for it."

"It doesn't work like that, Discord." answered Celestia, who then left out a sigh. "Besides, it's good that Aero is finally getting out of his comfort zone since that incident. At least one step at a time."

"Ah, you mean the thing with his 'ex' who left with that movie actor from Las Pegasus?"

This caught Celestia off-guard.

"How do you know about it?"

"I have my sources~" was his answer. "But you can't deny me that in the end, it was for the best."

He's right. Celestia can't deny that. It's a good thing that she was able to tell that mare a piece of her mind. That was a night to remember.

"You are right. The circumstances were not the best but in the end..."

Celestia focused her gaze on Aero, with a gentle smile on her face.

"It's her loss."

"Don't give your opponent an opening! You already saw what happened to me because I underestimated mine, so you have to be better!"

"Yes ma'am!"

Gleaming Shield, captain of Canterlot's royal guard, was watching one of the many mock battles between the squads and castle staff in the training grounds. Sunset is also there, with a portion of the royal mages, although their training is different, as their focus is on magic.

"Did you notice?" Sunset approached the captain. "Your soldiers are putting an extra-effort. The same is happening with my mage pals."

"Yeah. They are giving their all, and a bit more." was Gleaming's answer, who then smiled. "I wonder what stallion is responsible for this?"

"It was quite the revelation for them. Heck, even for us!" Sunset let out a short sigh. "Just a few hours and I miss him already."

"So do I." admitted Gleaming. "Aside from the fight, we really didn't talk too much. I want to know more about him. He told us a bit about his Equestria, but almost nothing about him."

"Sadly, it will have to wait until we complete the investigation about whatever made that cragadile and the other creatures leave the Everfree Forest." Sunset's expression changed to a neutral one. "I really hope it's nothing..."

Gleaming was about to say something, but she stopped, because something took her attention.

"Gleaming?" Sunset noticed the surprise on her friend's face. As for the captain, she used the magic to take something that was hidden in her armor, and around her neck, tied with a fine blue thread.

A small amulet, that resembles a shield.

A blue shield. The amulet also had a faint glow of the same color.

"Oh! That's a dual amulet!" exclaimed Sunset. "It's not easy to get a pair of those. Especially the sapphire thread. Very hard to craft and enchant."

"Yeah. Twilight helped me big time enchanting both." said Gleaming.

"And since it's glowing, it means that whoever has the other one is getting closer, and its glow will get stronger." said Sunset. "Who has the other one?"

Gleaming stared at the amulet for a few seconds before giving her answer.

"My brother."

XI - Trust

Author's Note

Oh boy, it's been a while.

Hello! Glad to see you guys made it this far, even if it's not over yet. :trollestia:

I wanted to publish this on Christmas, but oh well... Hope you guys had a wonderful Christmas.

As always, any typo will be fixed ASAP (no matter how many times I read the chapters, there's always one or more things that escape my vision somehow)

Have fun, and enjoy!

XI - Trust

"So, um... Where are you going now? We are in the outskirts of Ponyville, after all."

"I think I'm going to visit Applejack. Remember when I spoke about my friend who loves her apple products? Now it's a good time to find out what makes them so special, and it seems that the farm is not far from here, considering that I can see it in the distance."

*Hey! What's a 'farm'?*

"(I'll tell you while we go there.)"

"I'm sure she will be delighted with your visit. Maybe you can talk with her brother and know a bit more about the stallions of our Equestria."

"That is a good idea. I'll make sure to talk to him before leaving the farm."

Aero felt refreshed.

He feels way better than his stay in the castle, even when he slept for about 2 hours. Of course, the castle had a lot of luxuries, but even there the gazes of the mares were something Aero was starting to hate. Fortunately, after his fight with captain Gleaming Shield, those gazes were greatly reduced. He remembers that some of them were acting shy rather than flirty, avoiding eye contact with him and blushing every time he saw them.

The visit to Fluttershy's home was everything he needed and more. This is the only place where he felt like he returned to his Equestria. He was seriously considering living in this area once he actually returns. He is happy that Fluttershy is a nice pony even in this weird, mare-dominant Equestria.

"I'll be going, then. Please take care Fluttershy. Keep being the kind and lovely pony you are." said Aero, doing a small nod while smiling.

"You too. Please keep being the wonderful pony you are." said Fluttershy in response.

Aero began to walk the dirt road and towards the-

"A-Aero!"

The stallion stopped and turned around to see Fluttershy, who got closer to him.

"Before you go... Can I ask you one last thing?"

"Sure. What is it?"

"If..." she lowered her gaze, and hid a portion of her face with her mane. "If our circumstances were different..." she started to draw imaginary circles on the ground. "Do you think... that maybe you and I could be...?"

"..."

That is definitely not a question to be taken lightly. He took a few seconds where he closed his eyes, deep in thought. A serious question deserves a serious answer.

"At the moment, I'm unable to answer with a 'yes' or 'no'." said Aero, giving all of his attention to Fluttershy. "But... If our circumstances were different, I think I would not be against the idea of trying."

Overall, it was a positive answer. He doesn't know if the Fluttershy from his Equestria would act the exact same as the Fluttershy from this one. What he knows is that this Fluttershy, along with the other Elements of Harmony, and ponies like Sunset Shimmer, Gleaming Shield, and the Princesses are the mares that, at the moment, are in his list of 'safe' ponies.

*Oh! She's super happy!*

Themis was right. Fluttershy was still hiding a part of her face with her mane, but now she was smiling, and she was also blushing.

"(She does look beautiful like that.)" said Aero, as he resumed his walk. "I hope I can visit your cottage again."

*Take care, Fluttershy!*

"Y-yes! You can come again anytime." said Fluttershy, a little flustered, but waving with one of her front hooves.

*Apples!*

"(Well, yes. Lots of apples.)"

Sweet Apple Acres.

The only reason Aero knows this name is because of her friend and comrade, codename 'Ignite'. It's thanks to her that he knows some interesting information about Applejack's family.

The Apple family played a very important role in the foundation of Ponyville. Their farm is practically the reason Ponyville exists. It was Princess Celestia herself who gave them a portion of these lands, so in theory, Applejack's family became the very first residents of the soon-to-be Ponyville.

The Apple family is also the sole owner of the famous 'Zap-apple' recipe. A special, and very rare apple product. Nopony other than the Apple family members know how they are made, or how to process them. It's one of their exclusive products and one of the main reasons they are widely known across Equestria.

The other reason, at least according to her friend, is that every other apple product they make is also a work of art.

And now, Aero and Themis were walking near the farm, admiring the apple trees.

"(Just how many apple trees do they have?)" if Aero was previously impressed by Fluttershy's animal sanctuary, now he is impressed by the endless amount of apple trees that are both near, and in the distance. "(No wonder they can keep up with the demand of food. Oh? There's a pear tree there. A bit hidden but-)"

*The honest pony lives here?*

This took Aero's attention.

"(Again...)"

*What?*

"(That's a very particular way to describe Applejack. You did the same thing with Fluttershy. Do you also remember the rest of the Elements of Harmony like that?)"

*Yeah!* Fluttershy is the kind pony! Her friends are the honest pony, the generous pony, the happy pony, the loyal pony, and the magical pony!*

Aero quickly noticed that Themis described Twilight and the others according to the element they represent.

*I also remember the sun and moon ponies! There's also the wise pony and the shield mare!*

There was no doubt the small being was now referring to the Princesses, Sunset Shimmer, and Gleaming Shield. He finds it a bit weird how the captain of the royal guard is the only one described specifically as 'mare' instead of 'pony'.

As they kept walking, he managed to see a small filly from the other side of the fence that separates the farm from the outside territory. The filly was coming from the orchard they had, which was big, but it's obvious that it's just a secondary source of income. As for the filly, she had a mane with a mix of red and purple, with a cute bow of almost crimson coloring. Something about her mane strangely reminded him of Applejack.

"Mister!" Aero heard the young filly's voice.

"I guess that would be me." said Aero in response. "Is there anything I can help you with, young filly?"

"Woah..." once the filly reached him, from her side of the fence, of course, she stared at Aero for a couple of seconds. "You are very tall, mister! I think you are bigger than mah brother!"

"I'll take that as a compliment. Your brother must be really tall, too."

"Yeah. He's tall. The mares like to bother him when he's working, though." said the filly with a hint of annoyance in her voice.

"Oh. Then you must be part of the Apple family." said Aero. "I came to visit Applejack, but to be honest, I don't know if she's here."

"You came to visit my sister? Alone?" asked the filly, a bit confused. Aero knows why she asks this.

"Yes. There's not a mare with me. I'm not in a herd. I don't know if you were there during Princess Celestia's speech."

"Wait! I was there, and I remember you now!" the filly finally reacted. "You are the stallion that protected Ponyville from the timberwolves!"

"You are right. My name is Aero. Nice to meet you."

"I am Apple Bloom! Applejack is mah sister. Did she... invite you?" Aero had to recognize it. She was smart. She's already suspicious that her sister invited him for a 'certain' reason.

"Just a friendly visit." was Aero's answer. "Twilight and all her friends told me to visit them when I had the chance, and I've already been in Twilight, Rarity, and Fluttershy's houses. Your sister promised to show me her family's farm, and since I was close..."

"Well... I could show you around." offered Apple Bloom. "Mah sis is working right now, so we'll see her sooner or later."

"That's not a bad idea. Alright." Aero did a quick teleport, appearing on the other side of the fence, and at a moderate distance from the filly. "We can chat while we move. If you have any questions, I'll do my best to answer them."

"Yes! Finally!"

"Well done, Sparkle. With this... now we have ears on the other side."

Discord the draconequus and Twilight Sparkle the Princess of Friendship were in Princess Celestia's room, continuing their efforts to stabilize the mysterious energy. So far, they have managed to get a constant visual of the other side, but now, they achieved sound. Although they still can't figure why this 'Point of view' moves sometimes, at least now they can hear everything around Aero.

"Gotta hand it to you, Sparkle. You work diligently." said the lord of chaos, who was wearing a white coat and transparent glasses. "We are making quite the progress."

"Yesterday I had a conversation with Princess Luna." said Twilight, who was examining a bunch of colored chemicals. "As much as I love experimenting with chaos, we need to bring Aero back as soon as possible."

Discord saw how serious the alicorn was, and then understood the meaning behind her words.

"Ah, so Luna told you about his neat tricks."

"You knew about this!?" Twilight changed her focus to Discord almost instantly.

"For your information, I trained him in the art of quick teleportation. I taught him a very cool trick, you know? It's obvious that he would show me his abilities." said a very proud Discord. "Why, he's basically my padawan now."

"Your what?"

"Ask Pinkie Pie~"

[Did you really defeat those timberwolves and manticores, mister?]

[It may be hard to believe, Apple Bloom, but I did. There are some... special circumstances in my case.]

"What? Timberwolves and manticores?" Twilight was surprised and looked at Discord, who understood that the alicorn was looking for answers.

"Oh, right. You were not here when it happened. You and Celestia went to rest." said the Draconequss. "At the time, I was watching with Luna. Our tough cookie here fought a bunch of timberwolves, and some of them were made of stone!"

"A variant..." said Twilight, more curious than before.

"I don't know the reasons yet since we weren't able to hear them, but I assume the creatures were from the Everfree Forest." continued the draconequus. "Seriously, it was an easy fight for him. The interesting part came later, when he fought some manticores, and lastly, a Cragadile that had the size of an ursa minor. You should have seen Luna. She was full fanfilly mode."

"W-what!?" Twilight was so surprised by this information that she teleported right in front of Discord. "How can you say that like it was nothing? Just a cragadile alone is a dangerous creature! And he had to fight a bigger one?"

Discord simply smiled, as if he knew better than her.

"You are just reacting like this because you haven't seen him fight."

"Well..." As much as it frustrates Twilight, she knows Discord is right. She had the opportunity to talk with Aero a couple of times, and both Princess Celestia and Princess Luna have told her about how reliable he is, but aside from that...

"Let's put it this way: If I had to choose a word that describes you overall... it would be 'magic'. You know, being the Element of Magic and all that." said Discord, creating an image of Twilight's cutie mark right next to him.

"Thanks for the... compliment?" said a slightly confused Twilight.

"But, if I had to do the same in the case of Aero, then the word would definitely be 'combat'. I'm sure that there are a lot of spells that you can do, and he can't." Discord changed the image to Aero's cutie mark. "But I assure you, that when it comes to everything related to combat, including spells, he will surpass you. And this is without considering his own tricks."

"..." it's very, very rare to hear praises by Discord. This alone means that he is not lying.

[Hey sis!]

[She is... kicking an apple tree.]

"Let's keep monitoring him." said Twilight, returning to her place.

The apples fell off the tree, courtesy of Applejack's mighty kick. Not only it shows the physical strength that the Element of Honesty possesses, but also how sturdy and well-nurtured their apple trees are.

There were many baskets in the ground just below that tree, and in just a few seconds, all the apples that fell of the tree landed inside them. Not a single one fell to the ground.

"Howdy Aero!" Applejack noticed Aero and her sister were watching her work and decided to stop for a moment. "Ah see you met my sister Apple Bloom."

"She was kind enough to show me the farm and the surroundings." said Aero. "And I have to say, what you did just now was impressive."

*She's very strong!*

"Aw, shucks. That's nothing, really." said Applejack, although it was obvious that she was happy with his words. "It's just mah work."

"Nonsense." continued Aero. "Your kicks make all the apples fall, and all of them end up inside the baskets. That is a display of both strength and precision."

"Yeah sis!" added Apple Bloom. "You make it look like it's so easy!"

"Say... Why don't you give it a try?" asked Applejack, focusing on Aero. "Ah wanna see how strong those hooves of yours are."

To Applejack's delight, Aero smirked.

"That's a rather interesting choice of words."

*Oh! She cares about you, too!*

"Sorry. Ah couldn't resist." said Applejack, chuckling a bit.

"What? What is it?" asked Apple Bloom, a bit confused.

"Nothing to worry about." replied Aero. "Now then..."

Aero approached a nearby apple tree with the baskets ready. He saw how Applejack kicked the other tree, so he has a general idea. He took a few seconds to prepare.

"Are you sure he can kick the tree?" asked Apple Bloom.

"Oh, he will. Trust me." answered Applejack, who now had the opportunity to watch Aero's body without looking like a pervert.

A few seconds later, Aero did a strong, and very fast kick with both of his hind legs. The speed of his kick surprised both siblings.

Aero successfully hit the tree and managed to move its branches long enough to knock all the apples down. However, some of them were falling outside the basket.

He quickly activated his magic, and both his horn and a few apples that were about to crash into the ground were surrounded by a silver aura. He carefully placed the floating apples into the baskets.

"Woah..." once again, Apple Bloom was in awe.

"Told ya." added Applejack, who then approached Aero. "That was a mighty fine kick for a first time."

"It seems like I have the strength, but I lack technique." said Aero, still looking at the tree.

"Nah. You just lack experience." said Applejack.

"Maybe adding extra speed was a bad move."

"Look, I know you must be an elite soldier and all that, but let the farming stuff to the experts." said Applejack, doing a quick wink.

"Alright, alright..." said Aero. "Quite the impressive farm you have here."

"It's the Apple family's pride and joy." said Applejack. "Since Apple Bloom was your guide, I guess it's my turn to keep mah promise to you, and for that, Ah need the rest of my family!"

Apple Bloom gasped, taking Aero's attention.

"Are we going to make an Apple Trial?" asked the filly.

"Right you are, little sis!" said Applejack.

"Apple Trial?" Aero was a bit confused.

"I hope you're hungry, cause you're gonna taste the best of our apples." said the honest mare. "Follow us."

And with that, both Apple sisters, along with Aero, started to make their way to the main house.

"(Once again, interesting choice of words...)"

*Why?*

"I'm sorry. Did I just hear Applejack, Element of Honesty, say an innuendo not once, but twice?" asked Discord, only to start laughing. "Seems like our tough cookie is not wasting time!"

"Can we please not talk about it?" said Twilight, obviously uncomfortable with that.

"I have to say it's a bit surprising. I wonder if the same could happen if Aero had a few encounters with the Applejack we know..." said Princess Celestia, genuinely curious. Both she and her sister just arrived in time to hear the interaction between Luna's aide and the Element of Honesty from the other Equestria.

Princess Luna didn't say anything, but by the look on her face, she was not enjoying it.

"While I'm happy that now we can hear Aero and those around him, I have to ask: Is there any progress since yesterday?" asked Celestia.

"Not much I'm afraid." was Discord's answer. "Since this is not pure chaotic energy, I'm still struggling to find the source."

"And unicorn magic is not helping that much." added Twilight. "As you can see, we have been able to make some progress, but I wish we had more."

"We are getting close, Twilight." said Celestia. "This is thanks to everyone's efforts. Don't forget this."

"Sister. There is something that has been bothering me for a while now."

Princess Luna's words caught the attention of everyone in the room.

"What is it, Luna?"

"Since we started investigating this mysterious energy, all of us in this room had a chance to see glimpses of Aero's experiences in the other Equestria. Am I wrong?"

"That is correct." said Celestia. "Even if we can't be here all the time, the four of us have seen Aero in different situations."

"Which leads to my question: Where are the stallions?"

The question caught all of them off-guard, but Luna got closer to the vision of the other Equestria, where Aero was walking alongside Applejack and her little sister.

"Since we started monitoring the other Equestria, we have seen Aero with a fair share of mares, including the other Elements of Harmony, you, and even me. During all this time until now... Have we seen any other stallion? Can any of you recall seeing one?"

"Now that you mention it..." Twilight also got closer to the vision. "I haven't. I've seen royal guards, citizens of Ponyville, and even castle staff... but all of them were mares."

"I haven't seen any other stallion either." added Princess Celestia. "I was so focused on Aero that I didn't notice it."

"It is a bit weird, but what about it?" asked Discord. "Maybe he hasn't seen any stallion yet, and I'm pretty sure that I saw a few butlers in the castle."

"I don't think it's just that. Maybe there's something else going on involving them." said Twilight, thinking about this curious information. "It is another Equestria, after all."

"We cannot rule out that possibility." said Celestia. "Let's hope that Aero's future conversations reveal a bit more about that Equestria."

[So it's like a course meal?]

[That's right! A sample of many apple dishes, made by mah family.]

[I helped too!]

[We all have our tricks and secrets when it comes to apples.]

[Then I'm looking forward to it.]

[By the time you taste all of it, you may like apple pie more than lemon pie.]

[It's good to have confidence, but don't overdo it.]

[I'll let you know that every Apple family member of Sweet Apple Acres has a specialty. Applebloom, my brother, my parents, and of course: Me!]

There was a sudden silence. Both from the room and the other Equestria.

"What did she say?" - [What did you say?]

Twilight and Aero spoke at the same time.

"Well, Ah just mentioned my family." said Applejack, a bit confused.

Aero stayed quiet for a few seconds, like he was trying to understand something. Then he finally focused on Applejack again.

"Sorry, I was just thinking about something. Let's keep going." said the stallion.

Both sisters looked at each other for a moment but decided to continue anyway. It only took a few minutes for the three ponies to reach the main building which acts as the Apple family's house. They didn't see anypony else from the family on their way, so that means the rest must be inside the house, or in the barn. Considering that Applejack has not said anything about the barn, then they must be inside the house.

Once inside, Applejack told Aero to wait in the living room for a while to gather the other family members. Apple Bloom accompanied her sister.

"(Looks cozy.)" thought Aero while looking around.

*You got surprised by something earlier. What was it?*

"(Once I see the Apple family, I'll get my answer.)"

For a few moments, the only sound Aero could hear was that of the birds outside. However, he felt something with his area-scan spell. It seems that two ponies were approaching.

"Oh? Didn't know we had guests!" said one of the two ponies, who was an earth pony stallion. His mane had the exact same color as Apple Bloom's. He was a bit more muscular than the average stallion.

"Then I guess Applejack has not told you yet." said Aero. "She must be looking for you right now."

"Our dear Applejack brought a stallion? Now ain't that unusual!" said the other pony, who was an earth pony mare. Her face was similar to Applejack.

"(I wonder...)" thought Aero while talking to the two ponies. "This is just a friendly visit. You can call me Aero. Applejack invited me a few hours ago, and here I am. I assume you two must be part of the Apple family."

"You bet we are!" said the stallion. "Mah name is Bright Macintosh. A pleasure to meet ya."

"(By Luna... there's no doubt about it.)"

*What? Is it about the ponies in front of you?*

"(Yes. These two...)"

Bright Macintosh looked at the mare right next to him with an obvious amount of happiness.

"And this lovely mare is-"

"Pear Butter."

Aero spoke before Bright Macintosh was able to finish. This of course surprised both earth ponies, but before they were able to say anything...

"You are... Applejack's parents."

"And also the proud parents of Big Macintosh and Apple Bloom." said Pear Butter with a smile.

"We actually know a few good pear recipes thanks to mah lovely wife." added Bright Macintosh. "So you did know us."

"Only by name." said Aero, while doing a small bow. "It is an honor to meet the mother and father of the Element of Honesty."

"I'm afraid I cannot let you do that, Twilight."

"But why not? This might be the only chance!"

"My sister is right. Despite what you might think, bringing the Apple family here, or even just Applejack, is not recommended."

Discord was taking a break, but the three Princesses stayed to keep observing Aero's current situation.

He was eating.

The other Applejack got surprised a bit when she found her parents talking with him, and then they started to tease her about 'finally bringing a stallion worthy of her'. She had to explain to her family about him. She mentioned something about him being 'uncursed', which confused the three alicorns, but since they lack information, they can't say anything about it.

It seems that Applejack's parents and Granny Smith stayed home during Ponyville's situation, meaning that they didn't know about the other Princess Celestia's announcement. This was something they were able to see, but not hear, so they don't know what she said.

After that, Applejack told them about that 'Apple Trial', and that led to Aero tasting a bunch of Apple-themed food, including food with zap-apple as the main ingredient.

But right now, the focus was on Applejack's parents.

"Listen to me Twilight. I know your intentions are good, but this is not the way to do it." said Princess Celestia.

"But... Applejack would be happy to see her parents." said Twilight.

"She may be happy to see her parents again, but in the end, she will see a life she doesn't have. A life she was denied. Do you really want Applejack to see this? To feel like this in the future?"

This made Twilight stop. Princess Luna was right. Even if Applejack gets happy to see her parents, it would be only once. A glimpse. A taste.

And then...

"I... I understand." said the Princess of Friendship. "What I don't understand is how Aero knew about them."

"Aero has been in Vanhoover many times." said Princess Celestia. "Pear butter is the daughter of Grand Pear, who has a very well-known pear jam business there. If I had to take a guess, I would say that Aero met him somehow."

"B-but what are the chances?" asked an incredulous Twilight.

"You may not know this Twilight, but while Grand Pear's business is quite famous in Vanhoover, he also has his fair share of fans in Ponyville. It's where he was born, after all." answered Princess Celestia. "And he is one of the very few ponies that know about the feud between the apples and pears many years ago. Not even Applejack and her siblings know about this. At least not yet."

"It's the first time I hear about this 'feud', too." admitted Twilight.

"The only way for Aero to know about Pear Butter, and Bright Macintosh, is that he spoke with Grand Pear." continued Celestia. "He doesn't know any other Apple family member other than Applejack and that's only because she's the Element of Honesty. Grand Pear is the only pony who knows about this that lives in Vanhoover."

"But still, for the father of Pear Butter to tell him about that... why would he do that?" asked a still confused Twilight.

"Who knows?" was the simple answer from Princess Luna. "We will have to ask Aero about it once we get him back."

Before Twilight was able to say something...

[So... What's the score, judge?]

[Now I understand why Ignite has so much respect for this farm. All of you pass with flying colors.]

[Did you hear that? He loved it!]

[Of course he would love it! We make the best with our apples! It's even in our name!]

[Ah may be old, but I'm a mare who still knows her tricks!]

[Eeyup! We are good.]

[Applejack, dear. Can I ask you something?]

[What is it, ma?]

[Is this really just a friendly visit from him? I'm not gonna lie, and you know I never do: I wouldn't mind him joining the family.]

[Ma! What are you saying?]

[I have to agree, AJ. He looks like a good partner, if not the best partner at the moment for you.]

[Pa!]

[Well, he is tall and cool like mah brother. It would be nice to have two cool brothers!]

[Applebloom, you can't just say that!]

"Wow... they really want him to be an Apple." said Twilight, honestly surprised with the situation.

"It's not the first time." said Celestia, who was a bit serious. "Most mares we have seen with him so far treat him with a lot of respect and try to approach him."

"I'm just glad that my aide has not forgotten his duty." said Luna, in a very, very neutral tone. Both Twilight and Celestia noticed it and decided that it would be wise to not ask about it.

[Applejack... Do you trust your family?]

[With all my heart!]

[I want to tell them about my situation. Maybe then they will understand why we can't be a couple.]

[Oh! Um... Ah promise my family won't tell anything about you to other ponies.]

[All right, then. I'll believe you.]

[That sounds mysterious indeed. What do you want to share with us, big colt?]

[This involves Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, so I should warn you that if anything about what I'm going to say gets leaked, there will be a severe punishment for everypony involved.]

[We won't tell a soul. Apple's honor.]

[Princess Celestia mentioned that I'm an uncursed stallion, but that is because this is not my Equestria.]

[Wha?]

[You see...]

"Is it ok for him to tell them about it?" asked a curious Twilight.

"If the Apple family from this other Equestria act in the same way as the Apple family from ours, then there is no problem." answered Princess Celestia. "If you are honest with them, they will be honest with you."

"Needless to say, Aero has good judgment when it comes to trusting others with certain information." added Princess Luna.

"Oh. Ok then" was the only thing Twilight said.

"Looks like you're in quite the pickle, huh?"

"You say it like it's a good thing."

Aero explained most of his situation to the Apple family. The only thing he didn't mention was the information related to Themis. They took it rather well. Aero thought there would be at least a bit of skepticism, but Bright Macintosh said that in Equestria anything can be possible if there's magic or hope involved. Granny Smith even said that it was a wise choice to keep this information from the rest of Ponyville. There's no way to know what a desperate mare could do if they knew about him.

Right now, Aero was accompanied by Applejack's parents just outside of their house. Granny Smith, Applejack, Big Macintosh, and Apple Bloom decided to do an inspection of the tools they use, and each of them is in a different area of the farm now.

"Can I ask both of you a few questions?"

"Sure! What is it, big colt?" said Bright Macintosh.

"We'll help in any way we can." added Pear Butter.

"Since I was sent to this Equestria, I haven't spoken with any stallion at all. I keep hearing that stallions like to keep to themselves. That they are very shy and delicate. Not to mention that they have to be kinda fragile considering the curse. Why don't you, and from what I see, Big Macintosh, behave like this? You almost act like the stallions from my Equestria."

"Ah! We look though, don't we?" said Applejack's father. "You can thank our active farming life for that. Sure, we are still weaker than the mares, but we like to do our share of the job, too."

"I'm also surprised that there are no other mares hogging you, considering this whole 'herd system' this Equestria has." said Aero.

"Oh! That's because of me." the answer came from Pear Butter. "Let's just say that I'm really... protective of my sweet apple hun."

There was a smile on her face. One that Aero has seen before. It's the kind of smile that says 'I took care of it'. Aero has been told that the mares of this Equestria can be fierce when it comes to their 'stallions', so it's only natural.

"Huh... a single partner." said Aero, smiling a bit. "Glad to see that monogamy is not extinct."

"I guess you would feel awkward if you are not used to mares chasing you." said Bright Macintosh, laughing in a friendly manner. "But I understand. You have a home to return to."

"I'm glad that Applejack has such wise ponies as her parents." admitted Aero, looking at the sky. "Then again, there is a reason the Element of Honesty chose your daughter."

After that, the three of them decided to watch Applejack, as she was in the nearby orchard, inspecting it and also checking on the tools. A few minutes passed, and then Aero noticed that both parents were watching him.

"Is there something wrong?"

"Say... is there a mare in your Equestria waiting for you?" asked the father.

"There was one." was Aero's reply. "Didn't work in the end. Why do you ask?"

"In the time you've been here... did any mare catch your eye?"

It was then, that both apples felt something. Especially Pear Butter. Something changed.

"With all due respect: Could you two please get to the point?"

They saw his eyes. He was calm. Way too calm. Both Apple ponies thought at exactly the same time that Aero is capable of creating a tremendous pressure with only his gaze. So much that Applejack, and even Big Mac would not be able to be at ease. Right now they remain calm because they have dealt with pressure in the past, and because they know that Aero wouldn't hurt them.

"You know what's going on in our Equestria." said Bright Macintosh. "That curse thingie?"

"The curse of Astarte. Due to this, the birth rate of male ponies was greatly reduced. To make it worse, if by some miracle a male is born, they will be naturally weaker."

"You come from another Equestria. You are not cursed. You are stronger, and with a different mindset." said Pear Butter. "Not only that. By the looks of it, you are one of the best stallions I've ever seen! You even help the Princesses from your own Equestria!"

"And?" Aero had a hunch about what they are going to say. He really hopes he is wrong about it.

"I guess what we want to say is that we wouldn't mind if you had sex with our daughter."

*What's a sex?*

Aero had to use a lot of willpower to remain stoic. Not because of what Applejack's parents said, but because of the sudden question of Themis right after. It's not like the topic of sex will affect him, but as far he knows, Themis is still very young.

"(Don't worry about that. It's not something you need to learn yet. Trust me.)"

*Ok!*

"Please do not joke like that." said Aero.

"I'm not joking." replied Pear Butter. "Applejack is not the only one who's picky about her potential partners, and I saw how she was looking at you while you were eating."

"It would actually be an honor." added Bright Mac. "I'm sure every mare in Ponyville that has seen you actually wants a piece of you. Or all of it. Wouldn't be surprising."

"Do you realize what are you even saying?" asked Aero, a bit angry.

"Yes we are!" replied both at the same time.

Aero just let out a sigh.

"By Luna... this is why I just want to return to my Equestria. This whole world is messed up... and I know what you are trying to do."

"Oh? And what would that be?" asked Butter Pear, in a rather innocent way.

"You think I'll be stuck in this Equestria. You want me to accept this world as my new home."

The answer caught both parents off guard. Aero took their surprise as a sign to continue.

"You think that maybe I'll have to stay more days in this Equestria. Maybe longer. You are not ruling out the possibility that maybe I'll never be able to go back."

"We didn't mean-"

"I know very well what you meant." Aero didn't care about interrupting Bright Macintosh. "That as the days go by, at one point I may give in to lust, because I'm a stallion, and like an adult, I have 'needs'. Especially in a world were mares are looking for stallions in hopes of giving birth to male offspring."

*What's a lust?*

"(Another term you don't have to worry about for now.)"

*Ok!*

"Perhaps we didn't say it in a more appropiate way, but yes." said Bright Macintosh. "I mean, I'm still an active stallion, and while the others are kinda delicate, you can certainly bet that we give it our all in bed. It also helps that mares are eager."

"He is not lying, you know?" added Pear Butter, letting out an almost childish laugh.

"Well, thanks but no thanks." said Aero.

"You are a royal guard, Aero." said Applejack's father. "I know you have a more mature way of thinking that the other stallions, and I know you must have thought of an emergency plan. Something in case the days and weeks go by and you are still here."

"Actually, I haven't." admitted Aero. "And I have a reason for it."

"What reason could that be?" asked Pear Butter, honestly curious.

"Trust." Aero gave them a genuine smile. "Trust in my Princess Celestia and my Princess Luna. Especially Princess Luna."

"Well... considering your position in the royal guard, I think I can understand that." said Bright Macintosh.

"Of course. When I was sent to this Equestria, the Princesses were coming to the room where I previously was because I warned them about something."

*Me!*

"I would never abandon them. I know that by now they must have figured out that I didn't simply disappear, and are looking for a way to bring me back."

"Huh... I can't say anything against that." said Bright Mac, as if he was defeated. "Not when there's such level of trust involved."

"I know it's because of your job that you care about the Princesses more than most ponies in your Equestria, but it seems that you have a preference for Princess Luna." said Pear Butter, showing her interest.

"You are not wrong." said Aero. "Of course, I care about both Princesses, but since I'm Princess Luna's aide, I've been with her the most."

"But it's more than that, isn't it?" continued Pear Butter. "She is a very mysterious mare. She's stoic most of the time."

"No. It's not that." said Aero, getting a bit more serious. "She is afraid."

The apple couple looked at each other for a moment, clearly not believing that. How could the sister of Princess Celestia be afraid? Afraid of what?

"Everypony believes that Princess Celestia and Princess Luna have perfect lives because they are the rulers of Equestria and live in a castle, but they are still mares. Their results are not because they are 'perfect', but because they have more than a thousand years worth of wisdom. However, said wisdom is different for each sister."

"Different wisdom? What do you mean?" asked Bright Macintosh, clearly confused. Her wife was in the same condition.

"Are you forgetting the Nightmare Moon incident?" asked Aero, getting both ponies' attention again. "All of Equestria knows the story of how Princess Celestia defeated her using the Elements of Harmony in the past. However... it's a whole different tale when you hear it from their perspective."

"They told you about that day?" asked Pear Butter.

"Yes. It's not a tale of heroism, but a dark day that only reminds them of how foolish they were." continued Aero. "From Princess Celestia, I learned that she could have prevented her sister's despair, but she focused so much on pleasing her subjects that she never saw the signs of Luna's jealousy. She didn't just 'defeat' Nightmare Moon. She had no choice but to fight her own sister who fell to the powers of corruption and hatred. She tried to speak with her, but it was too late. There was only one way to avoid killing her: Banishment."

Both of Applejack's parents looked at each other for a moment, pondering about this new information. Sure, it may not be the same Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, but it seems that the Nightmare Moon incident happened in both Equestrias. This means that Aero is right. It's one thing to acknowledge what history books says as true, but according to what Aero is telling them, it's a completely different story.

"And from Princess Luna... I learned just a glimpse of what it must feel to be alone for one thousand years. It's a simple statement, and yet... could you withstand that? Nopony to talk to. No friends. No family. To not hear the voice of anypony else... for one thousand years. I don't even know if she was able to move during all that time. Was she somewhere safe? Was there light? Or was it just darkness? I don't even know if she had any sort of physical body when she was there. Did she have to share some sort of connection with Nightmare Moon during all of this? I still don't know the answer to these questions, and I presume that Princess Luna refuses to tell me because she decided to bear this painful experience alone."

"..."

There was no way to answer that. Both Apples knew that. They couldn't survive even a fraction of everything that Aero just said. Aero is right. Ponies just accept that the Princesses can do everything without effort. But the truth is that they make efforts just like everypony else, and they have done it far longer than any living being in Equestria.

"Not to mention how Princess Celestia felt during all of this. I'm sure she must remember every single day without her sister. That loneliness was on both sides."

"Damn..." Bright Mac was almost sad just by hearing this. Her wife was in a similar state.

"The fact that both of them told me about their experiences means a lot to me. It means I'm a pony they can rely on. Most of the time Princess Celestia has somepony to speak with: guards, nobles, her own sister, and even me. But Princess Luna..."

Aero's expression changed. For the first time, Bright Macintosh and Pear Butter saw a hint of sadness.

"When they see her... they still see Nightmare Moon. I've seen it many times. They still fear her. If possible, they try to not approach her, and even if the night guard is loyal to her, they are more of a secret service and they will say yes to everything she says."

"And what about you?" asked Pear Butter. A few seconds later, Aero smiled again.

"On a certain day, I saw Princess Luna going to her bedroom, and I thought she was lonely. Princess Celestia encouraged me to be with her sister at all times. That's how I became her aide. The days passed, and I was able to see everything that the rest of Equestria doesn't: Her everyday life. I had to adapt to a unique spell developed by the Princesses that alters my sleep cycle. Because of this I have a unique schedule where I help Princess Celestia during the day and Princess Luna during the night. I could tell you many things about Princess Luna that I'm sure the rest of Equestria doesn't know, but... She is still afraid. Not as much as before, but still afraid nonetheless... afraid that Equestria will never forgive her."

At first they were going to talk about this 'Astarte's curse' because they heard some really important information, but that could wait. The current conversation in the other Equestria was far more important right now.

Princess Luna just stood there. Seeing Aero talking with Applejack's parents.

Talking about her.

Princess Celestia and Twilight Sparkle were still in the room. Twilight was amazed by how much Aero cares for Luna, to the point that he understands her predicament. Celestia on the other hoof was happy. She remembers that day when she spoke to Aero about being Luna's aide. It was a desperate gamble, because the royal guard in general still felt insecure about her, and the other members of Elemental were often out of Canterlot.

She is happy that Aero became Luna's hope, and if she's right, then maybe even something more.

Twilight noticed that Princess Luna was very quiet, and when she looked at her, she almost gasps.

Princess Luna had a smile of true happiness. The kind of smile you use when you look at somepony you admire and care about.

[You really do care about her, do you?]

[Caring about her would be an understatement.]

[Oh?]

[She is a mare that still believes that she is in the wrong, even when Princess Celestia admitted that she is also to blame. She lives in a world that even a thousand years later still blames her for something she already paid for. That's why I made my choice: I'll be there for her. I don't care if the entirety of Equestria turns against her... I'll be right next to her. To support her, and tell her that she's not alone. This is why I must return.]

Princess Luna felt something on her face, and that's when she realized she was crying. Nothing serious. Just a few quiet tears. Her smile though was still there.

[Oh my! I get it now.]

[Yes. It's all clear now.]

[What? What is it?]

[You love her, do you?]

[...]

The focus of the three alicorns went immediately to the vision. It was something akin to a crucial moment in one of those 'tv shows' of Manehattan. Luna felt that her heart was about to burst out. It was so sudden that for a moment she forgot to breathe.

But now she was interested in something else. She wanted to hear.

She wanted to hear his answer.

[We were foolish. You have a really good reason to return to your Equestria.]

[Look! He's blushing! We hit the nail, did we?]

[I... cannot deny that she's incredibly beautiful. Many guards think the same and are clever enough to keep their mouths shut and not stare at her too much.]

"They do?" asked Luna, surprised by this piece of information.

"I believe they do." answered Celestia. "After all, some of the guards do stare at me thinking I didn't see them."

"I mean, you are the Princesses of Equestria." added Twilight. "I have heard some stallions refer to both of you as the 'eternal beauties'."

Luna was not aware of this. She still needs to know more about the current Equestria.

[But sometimes I get angry for that.]

Now this got Luna's attention again.

[They praise her body so much, yet they can't muster up the courage to even approach her. Sometimes I have this urge to hit them in the face, but...]

And that's when both Twilight and Luna heard Princess Celestia.

Laughing.

"S-sister?" asked Luna. Genuinely confused.

"Princess?" Twilight was actually a bit worried because she has never heard Princess Celestia laugh like that.

"Oh, I'm sorry. It's just..." after a few seconds, Celestia calmed down. "I'm glad Aero has both patience and diligence. Otherwise we would be short on guards."

Twilight and Luna looked at each other, only to start laughing too.

[Maybe you are right.]

The laughs stopped.

[Maybe I love... Luna. What I know for certain is that I want to protect her. I want her to rely more on me. I want her to be happy. She deserves it. Also...]

[Also what?]

[I have this... selfish thought. Deep inside my mind.]

[Why you think it's selfish?]

[Since becoming Luna's aide, I waited for somepony. Anypony aside from Princess Celestia and the Elements of Harmony to... speak with her. Worry about her. Nopony did. They all kept their distance. Even the stallions that enjoy looking at her didn't do anything. That's why I've decided that I will make her happy. I gave the rest of the world a chance, and they didn't care. Is it bad to think like this?]

[Not at all, dear. Especially considering how much you care for her.]

The three alicorns were speechless.

Once again, Luna forgot to breathe. Twilight and Celestia slowly focused on Luna, thinking just how lucky she is.

And that's when they noticed...

"Oh my~ It seems like you agree wholeheartedly, Luna." said a very amused Celestia.

"P-Princess Luna!" exclaimed Twilight.

Luna was brought back to reality, not really sure why her sister and the Princess of Friendship had such diverse reactions upon seeing her.

And that's when she noticed it.

Her wings were up, and not just slightly. This took her by surprise because she doesn't remember feeling the movement of her wings at all.

"Luna." Celestia's voice was calm and soothing.

"Yes, sister?"

"Once all of this is over. Once Aero is back... please, don't waste a single second. You know what I'm talking about, right? If you wait too much..."

"T-TIA!"

That's the last thing Princess Luna said before quickly teleporting out. Celestia was enjoying every second of this weird, yet pleasant and important moment.

"She even used her royal Canterlot voice." said Celestia, getting closer to Twilight. "It's a good thing we have a sound-proof spell active."

As for Twilight...

"Oh my gosh... Equestria will have a new Prince!"

Yes. Celestia was definitely enjoying this moment.

[I think it's time for me to go. But first, I'd like to ask you two a favor.]

[Sure thing! What is it?]

[It's about Applejack. The one from my Equestria.]

XII - Unpredictable

"Oh? You're coming with me?"

"Eeyup! I finished my job today so ah was thinking of going with you. You're going to see Pinkie, right?"

Aero and Applejack were at the main entrance of Sweet Apple Acres. He already said goodbye to Applejack's parents and the rest of the family. Applejack insisted on escorting him to the entrance. Obviously, it was because she planned on being with him for a while longer.

"And what were you talking about with mah parents?"

"So you wish to know?"

"It's about Applejack. The one from my Equestria."

For a moment, both parents got worried because Aero was serious.

"Did something happen to her?" asked Pear Butter a bit concerned.

"No. Worry not. The Applejack from my Equestria is doing great. Working on the farm with her family and sometimes having adventures with her friends."

"That sounds wonderful!" said Bright Macintosh.

"Yes. She's a strong mare." said Aero, who didn't say anything else for a few seconds. Then...

"I'll get straight to the point: In my Equestria, you two are dead."

Aero waited a few seconds to hear their reactions. Surprisingly, both Bright Macintosh and Pear Butter didn't say anything, so he decided to continue.

"The reason I knew Pear Butter's name beforehand is because somepony else told me. That 'somepony' goes by the name of 'Grand Pear'."

"M-my father? He's... alive?"

"(So in this Equestria... Grand Pear is the one dead.)" thought Aero while continuing. "It was just a coincidence that we met. I was in Vanhoover due to my job, and I found him while taking a small break. He was impressed with how strong I looked despite being a unicorn and asked as a joke if I had been working with the Apple family. That's how we had a little chat, leading to him telling me about a feud between the Apples and the Pears."

"Feud? Never heard of that." said Bright Macintosh. "Both families were on good terms with each other, and then the Pears decided to expand their business in Vanhoover."

"I stayed because I decided to spend my life with my hun." added Pear Butter.

"Not surprising. Different Equestrias, different events." said Aero. "Well, thanks to that conversation, I heard your name and your husband's name. He even knew about Applejack."

"He was always caring, despite his serious nature." said Pear Butter with a very gentle tone.

"So... Did the Applejack from your Equestria grow up without us?" asked a very serious Bright Macintosh.

"Honestly, I don't know. Grand Pear had pictures of a filly that now I know it's Applejack. I assume you were a few years with her, and her siblings."

"Big Mac... Apple Bloom..." both parents didn't hide their sadness. Even if they were from another Equestria, it was their family.

"Which leads to this favor I want to ask." said Luna's aide. "Normally, this wouldn't be possible, but since this whole 'other Equestria' event happened, maybe I can take a bit of advantage of it."

"Let's hear it." said Butter Pear, getting interested in what the unicorn has planned.

"Well then, I was thinking of..."

Aero focused on Applejack.

"We were talking about you. They tried to convince me of something but I refused." said Aero with a smirk. Technically it was not a lie.

"Ah know what you're talking about. Sorry about that." said Applejack, a bit flustered. "They mean well, but even if you are a good partner..."

"(So she can blush like that.)" thought Aero.

*Of course! She also cares about you!*

"Don't worry about it, Applejack. They understand now. Trust me." said Aero. "And please, let me be honest here: There is no doubt that you and your friends are beautiful. Each one of you has its own charm. However... I'm sure there are ponies worried about me back in my Equestria. That's not going to change, no matter how much time I stay here."

"Ah know..." said the Element of Honesty. "We're being selfish, but at least we can enjoy your company while you're here, right?"

"As long as you girls don't do anything crazy, I'm not against that." was Aero's answer.

"That was a bad choice of words, sugarcube. Especially if we're going to see Pinkie." said Applejack, getting Aero's attention. "The best word to describe her is 'random'. Seriously, I'm not joking."

"I see. Then it's going to be randomness versus might." replied Aero, who started to walk.

"Now this is something I have to see." said Applejack, following him towards Ponyville.

"Oh my! He's here!"

"Ugghh... now Applejack is with him..."

"What if she... you know?"

"She did it?"

"Nah. I don't smell her scent on him."

"So he hasn't been claimed yet."

"I don't get it. Many of us want to be with him. He would be so happy and his life would be easier and safer."

"Not to mention we would take care of his needs anytime he asks for it. It's a total win for him."

"Wow... they really don't have a filter today." said a disappointed Aero. "Let's just hope they behave."

"Ah have to say... even I'm surprised." admitted Applejack. "It's the first time they are so... blunt about it."

But this time, it was not just the mares talking around them. Among the many females, Aero managed to see a few stallions who were talking too. This was new.

"So he is the one..."

"He looks strong and tough..."

"No wonder the mares are glorifying him."

"But is that necessary? To try and get the attention of all the mares?"

"So true. He is acting like an attention whorse with all that seriousness and rejecting every mare."

"What if he works at Playfilly and knows how to get rid of scents? He is a unicorn after all."

"(Are they... jealous of me? Seriously? And I keep hearing this 'Playfilly' thing...)"

*They really are jealous! They are also being mean, though*

"(Let them be. My conversation with Applejack's parents was enough. I don't think I will achieve much talking to other stallions now.)"

"Sounds like the stallions are not happy." said Applejack in a teasing tone, noticing the not-so-happy faces. "You have the mares dancing around you, sugarcube."

"I'm just... walking." said Aero, who by now is a bit more used to the stares, but it still annoys him. "Even when they were told about me, they still have those eyes like they are looking at their prey..."

"Can't blame them though." said Applejack. "A stallion of your caliber is something we've never seen before."

Aero can't deny that his body is quite unusual, considering that he is a unicorn. It's the result of many years of physical training. When he just started, he felt the difference in stamina between unicorns and the rest of ponies. Thanks to his father's encouragement and his own efforts, he managed to adapt, and even improve.

"Still... it would be nice if the mares were not thinking about sex the whole day."

Aero kept walking, but then he noticed that Applejack was not following him. When he looked at her, he noticed that she, along with many mares around her were surprised. Probably by what he said.

"Applejack?"

"Is that... what you think of us?" asked a still very surprised Applejack.

"Not from you, nor your friends if that's what you are worried about." said Aero. "Of course, this also includes Sunset Shimmer, Gleaming Shield and the Princesses. The rest though..."

He took a second before continuing.

"They talk about me as if I can't listen. Everything they talk about me has to do with my body, how they would like me in their beds, and always trying to know if a mare has 'claimed' me. Is that what it means to be in a herd?"

"N-no! Of course not!" exclaimed Applejack. The other mares were blushing but their faces were also showing a mix of surprise and nervousness.

"Are you sure? Because that's how it feels to me." said Aero nonchalantly. "Find a stallion, try to get his attention with flirting and inviting him to a herd, and if he accepts..."

"So what? Flirting and proving our worth to a stallion is our duty now."

The voice came from a mare that was near them, and obviously got their attention.

"Aero, right?" asked the mare. "Don't you think you are being selfish?"

"Let me guess: Because I'm not choosing a mare or a number of mares to form a herd."

"It's clear that the Elements of Harmony did something because they have been hogging you all this time, and you seem to like them." said the mare.

"Hey! We haven't done anything to him." said Applejack, a bit angry by that accusation.

"Applejack and her friends tried to help me when I first arrived here." added Aero. "Even if they also had thoughts like yours, at least they were respectful enough to prioritize helping me."

"We could have helped you too!" exclaimed the mare.

"Oh, really? Help me how, exactly?" asked Aero, smiling a bit. "To safely walk slower so I don't trip? To feel safe with your presence because I'm scared of everything outside of my house? To follow your advice because for some reason mares are always right?"

"Wh-" the mare wanted to say something, but Aero interrupted her.

"And let's not forget that at the time, none of you knew that I was an 'uncursed'. Even with my size, I'm pretty sure most of you thought of me as a 'weak and scared' stallion that should be protected, pampered and integrated to a herd."

For a few seconds, nopony spoke. Some of them wanted to, but felt that their voices were not coming out. Needless to say, Applejack and everypony around knew there was tension in the air.

Finally, the mare slowly advanced towards Aero and Applejack.

"That's because we know what's best for you."

Aero stopped smiling, and also approached the mare until he was in front of her.

"Nah. I think you just like to be in charge a bit too much."

Absolute silence.

Even some of the guards who were patrolling stopped walking. This was a situation nopony would have predicted. In fact, this is probably the first time that something like this ever happens.

"(Ah can't believe it!)" thought Applejack. While the rest was speechless, she was fascinated. As expected of a royal guard. He doesn't fool around. For her, it's so refreshing to see a stallion that can challenge a mare.

A stallion without fear.

"I've earned the right to refuse invitations to join herds." said Aero. "I was raised in a place where both mares and stallions pull their weight."

"But you are not there. You are in Ponyville now." said the mare, smiling a bit. "Just like we mares have a duty, you stallions need to do your part. Remember that this is for the sake of Equestria. It's in the law."

"You know it was Princess Celestia who gave me the privilege of declining the invitations... Right?"

"Yes, but... What if we request an audience? Explain to the Princess that for the sake of Ponyville, you should join a herd and behave like a stallion should."

The other mares were quick to react.

"Yes! We can do that!"

"If it's for the sake of Ponyville..."

"She knows what's best for everypony."

"Let's go to Twilight's library! She can send a letter to the Princess!"

"Aero! You don't have to listen to these fools." said Applejack, approaching the stallion. She was actually a bit worried for him. If this escalates further...

But then she noticed his expression.

He was calm.

"Go ahead. Try it. I'm sure that Twilight won't do it. Even if you go to Mayor Mare to create a formal request, she won't do it."

"Why are you so sure?" asked the mare who was talking with Aero.

"Because both are smart enough to avoid the embarrassment." answered Aero. "Or did you forget Princess Celestia's warning? If they send the audience request, everypony who has access to the letter will know that I'm an 'uncursed', and this information will spread fast. Princess Celestia wants to avoid this at all cost."

Again.

Silence.

"Oh, and by the way..."

And that's when the mare in front of Aero, as well as the other mares around, including Applejack, felt something.

Like the air itself was a bit heavier.

"This whole thing just now... Should I consider it a threat?"

And heavier...

"W-what?" the mare almost didn't respond.

"You heard me." continued Aero.

An invisible pressure.

"A simple 'yes' or 'no' will do, you know?"

"N-no..."

And just like that, the pressure vanished.

"Good to know. It would have been very bad if it really was a threat." said Aero, as if nothing serious happened earlier. In fact, he resumed his walking.

"Applejack. Let's go." said the stallion, looking back to the Apple mare.

She didn't respond and instead moved to reach him.

"(What was that?)" thought Applejack. "(It was almost as if it was hard to breathe! How does he do that everytime he looks that serious?)"

Suddenly, Applejack had a new question.

"(What if it's not only the eyes? What if he does something else?)"

While she was pondering these questions, Aero had thoughts of his own.

"(I wonder if Applejack figured it out?)"

*About what?*

"(I'm sure many felt really uncomfortable for a moment back there. Including her.)"

*You mean the thing you did with your power?*

"(So you figured it out, huh?)"

It has happened many times. Ponies would feel uncomfortable or even weak when Aero focuses on them, but the truth is that Aero's 'pressure' is not something he does with his eyes. It's actually thanks to his 'ability' that he can do that. Something he figured out after being in the royal guard for a year. Thanks to his daily training, both physical and magical, he started to understand his wind manipulation, one step at a time. That's how he discovered he could alter the 'air' around him in a unique way. He doesn't move it. Instead, he 'removes' a portion of it.

The more he practiced, the more he mastered this particular aspect of his ability. Now, he can remove the air in specific areas at will, while being cautious so he doesn't suffer the effects too.

Princess Luna, who was curious about this, explained to him that depending on the amount of air removed, he could make others feel something akin to standing at the top of a mountain, where the air has the same effect. The higher you go, the harder it is to breathe.

*It's super cool!*

"(Thank you. It took me a while to learn and master it.)"

*Hey! The happy pony lives in that house made of candy?*

Aero can't blame him. Even from afar, Sugarcube Corner looks like a house made of candy. It must be quite the experience for all the young fillies and colts the first time they see it. Probably for the adults too.

"(Indeed. Let's just hope for a peaceful visit like the others.)"

While Aero and Applejack were heading to Sugarcube Corner, at the distance, not far from there, a unicorn mare who was wearing a formal suit, and was eating at a restaurant, managed to get a glimpse of the tall stallion.

She smiled.

"I found one."

"Oh my gosh it's him!"

"He is so tall and muscular! I wish I could touch him..."

"I wish he could touch me. I wouldn't mind at all."

"He can explore my body any day~"

"Careful, now. You have a stallion of your own."

"Still no scent..."

"No gifts either..."

"I thought Applejack could get him but..."

"I've been wondering... What if he is, you know... Inexperienced?"

"You mean..."

Maybe if we were to show him..."

Aero was not surprised anymore. It did happen outside, so it was obvious that it would happen again inside Ponyville's bakery.

"These mares have quite the imagination." said Aero, not amused at all.

"They are... quite intense today." added Applejack, who was a bit on the defensive because it's true. It's not uncommon that when certain mares fancy the same stallion, they can go a bit overboard on the methods to 'woo' him.

For a moment, they remained in silence, until Aero started to look around.

"I assume you didn't know about this, either." said the stallion.

"Nope. Ah knew about reservations, but this is a first."

They were in Sugarcube Corner, a Bakery that also worked as a place for private parties and social events. This time, Pinkie Pie's home and workplace is bursting with clients, mostly because of Aero.

And he, along with Applejack were in a rather big round table in one of the corners. A bit away from the other tables and with a lot of space around. The table itself was of better quality compared to the rest in the place, and there were even curtains for privacy. Sadly, Aero could still hear the mare's gossip even when he was not visible.

"So... A VIP table." said Aero. "There are pineapple-flavored candies and pineapple juice, too. I have to admit that she is dedicated."

"Yeah. Ah remember how she was writing about your favorite sweet flavors." added Applejack. "When it comes to parties and sweets, she is really good."

"Aero! Applejack!"

The curtains were moved for a moment, and Pinkie Pie entered the 'VIP area'. She didn't enter alone, because some trays that contained food and sweets were floating with magic.

A purple aura.

"Thanks for helping me, Twilight!" said Pinkie, looking back at her friend. "I'm so happy that you accepted my invitation!"

"And miss this little party? No way!" replied a cheerful Twilight.

"Little party?" asked Applejack, raising one of her eyebrows.

"I was wondering why there were more seats." added Aero, looking at the empty chairs.

"That's right!" said Pinkie Pie, suddenly appearing right next to Aero. "At first I wanted to make you a 'Welcome to Equestria' party with everypony in ponyville invited, and I wanted to invite my friends first, but when I told Twilight about this, she said that the mares of Ponyville have been mean to you and that you wouldn't enjoy a party with them around."

"Yes. That is true." said Aero. "I still don't trust them."

"Which is why I decided to change the big party into a private reunion only for those who really know you!"

The list was not large, so...

"Does that mean Spike, Rarity, Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash are coming?"

"Everypony is on their way here." replied Twilight, putting the trays in the table. "I wanted Sunset Shimmer and my sister to be here too, but they are busy in Canterlot."

"They are still investigating the Everfree Forest..." said Aero to himself. "I should let them know that I'm willing to help them if they require a pair of extra hooves."

"I can send a letter to the Princess if you want." said Twilight.

"I would appreciate it." said the stallion.

"Aeroooo~"

That was definitely Rarity's voice, and it came from the other side of the curtains. Soon enough, she passed through them. She was holding a purple box with her magic.

"Rarity! Just in time." said Pinkie, who was already right next to her. While this is normal for Twilight and her friends, Aero had different thoughts...

"(How did she do that? My area-scan spell didn't detect her moving at all! And she was right next to me!)"

*Why are you so surprised? Is it very hard to do that?*

"(If she was a talented soldier and a unicorn it would not be that surprising, but she is an earth pony, and as far as I know she doesn't have any combat experience or even training.)"

*Oh*

"Hey Aero!"

Another figure passed through the curtains, revealing to be Spike. Aero managed to see a couple of mare guards on the other side. It seems that they were 'protecting' him from the other mares in the building. He's actually grateful for this.

"I didn't notice the guards." said Aero. He felt their presences but he thought they were mares trying to peek.

"They were waiting for you!" said Pinkie. "And now that you are here, they'll make sure that only those invited may pass."

"For a moment I thought they wouldn't let me in." said a relieved Spike, who then focused on Aero. "On the way here we heard that something big happened and unsurprisingly, it was about you."

"It's probably about what happened on our way here." said Applejack. "A mare stopped Aero and tried to convince him to 'fulfill his duties as a stallion'."

"Needless to say, she failed." added Aero.

"Well, forget about that, darling." said Rarity while getting close to Aero. "Now, I have something for you."

This took everyone's attention.

"Princess!"

The doors of the throne room opened rather quickly, having an aura of magic around it. Less than a second later, a certain mare entered to room, running as fast as possible. This, of course, alerted Princess Celestia, who was simply relaxing, waiting for the guests to arrive.

"Captain Gleaming? What is it?" asked the Princess. Since there were a few guards around her, she had to maintain her 'Princess etiquette'.

"We have a problem." said the captain. "It's about Aero."

The sole mention of his name made the guards around gasp.

"What happened?"

"Is he okay?"

"He is not hurt, isn't he?"

Princess Celestia had to admit that it was cute to see their guards worry so much about him, even when he has proven himself to be capable. In this society, the instinct to protect a stallion is carved in the minds of every mare.

"He's ok, but this problem might expose his 'condition'."

As soon as she finished talking, Gleaming Shield approached the Princess and proceeded to show her glowing amulet. Celestia remained calm.

"Did Sunset tell you about the visit?"

"Only after I told her about my brother's link with the other amulet." replied Gleaming.

"You don't have to worry." said Celestia. "I'm glad Aero is in Ponyville, because he is one of the topics to discuss in this next meeting, and-"

"But that's the thing!" said Gleaming, interrupting her Princess. "My brother just sent me a magic message through the amulet. He told me they are stopping at Ponyville for a surprise visit because they want to see Twilight, and that they were reaching the station!"

Now this got her attention.

"Guards." Celestia started to move towards Gleaming Shield. "Tell everypony in the castle that there is an emergency and I'm needed in Ponyville. Day Court is closed until I return."

All the guards nodded, and proceeded to leave the throne room. When the two mares were alone, Celestia's expression changed, and didn't hesitate to show her concern.

"This was obviously Cadance's idea. Twilight and Shining Armor don't see each other regularly, so I don't blame her for doing this... but to do it today..."

Celestia activated her magic, her horn already glowing.

"We'll go to Ponyville."

"Heya guys! Sorry we're late but... wait, what's going on?"

"Umm... Girls? Did something happen while we were not here?"

Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy were the last two ponies to arrive at Sugarcube Corner. What was waiting for them upon entering the building was not exactly what they expected.

Pinkie Pie told them about the 'VIP table' and the curtains that were going to separate them from the rest of the mares inside, so it really was an odd sight when they saw her friends outside the 'VIP zone'. The other mares were looking at the curtains, but it was obvious that they were interested in Aero, who was on the other side.

"Rainbow! Fluttershy! You made it!" was Pinkie's happy reply.

"Yeah, but I'm still a bit confused as to what's going on..." said Rainbow Dash.

"There is nothing to worry about, darling." said Rarity. "We are just giving Aero some privacy."

"Umm... Why?" asked a very confused Fluttershy.

But before anypony was able to give an answer to her question, the curtains were moved with a silver magic aura.

"I can't believe you managed to work with enchanted materials, Rarity. Not every unicorn can do it."

Normally, Rarity would accept Aero's praise and feel proud about it, and even tell him that it was a pleasure to work for him.

But right now she was speechless.

All the elements were speechless, and Spike whistled in admiration. Even the guards and the nearby mares stopped talking and were now looking at the stallion.

"I guess I have to ask: How do I look?"

Aero knew there was no need to ask that question. He was just having a bit of fun. Every mare that was able to see him had her mouth slightly open, and all of them had a very noticeable blush decorating their faces.

Even the mare wearing the business suit, who just entered Sugarcube Corner, was unable to hide her blush. She was, however, more composed than the rest.

"(By Celestia... 'beautiful' would be an understatement.)" thought Rarity, still amazed. "(At the very least, 'alluring' would be a good word to start with.)"

For a moment, Aero wondered if it really was that much of a change. Instead of his usual cape, he was wearing two new clothes, courtesy of Rarity: A custom red t-shirt, since clothes of his size are not sold in Ponyville, and a rather stylish jacket that looks both comfy and of high quality. The neck area is the only part where the color is a mix of black and grey, while the rest is red. While he is grateful for these two gifts, he still doesn't understand how these clothes are enough to surprise the mares even more.

But it was Rarity who made those. A mare whose career revolves around fashion.

"Oh là là~" Pinkie was the first one to react, getting near Aero. "Is stealing hearts your second job, Aero?"

"No kidding..." Rainbow was trying to finish her sentence, but she was having trouble. "He looks like... one of those models from Rarity's magazines. Heck, he looks better!"

"I... I have to admit, those clothes suit you." said Twilight, trying her best to not look flustered. "A lot."

"Well of course, darling!" said Rarity, happy with the result and proud of her work. "A custom crimson t-shirt, and a jacket worthy of a noble of Canterlot. I decided to mix two shades of red on it: 'Merlot' and 'Sangria'. I dare say this is my 'Magnum Opus'!"

"Gotta agree with Rarity this time. She really outdid herself." said Applejack, while inspecting Aero from head to hoof.

Aero noticed that Fluttershy was simply looking at him, surprised as everypony else. However, she was blushing way more compared to the rest of the mares in the place.

And speaking of the other mares...

"Oh gosh he looks so hot!"

"Did rarity make those? That jacket looks like a 'Pegaso' limited!"

"Could it be? Is he a model, too?"

"Maybe that's why he keeps his distance..."

"We need to be worthy? Models are very picky when it comes to mares."

"No wonder he spends his time with Twilight and her friends..."

"It hurts me to not be able to be with him..."

"He sure has the looks, but by Celestia, I wish he had more clothes to wear..."

"He can fill an entire photo calendar by himself~"

"I bet you that if Photo Finish knew this stallion, she wouldn't waste a second and get those pictures."

"Oh my! Imagine the possibilities..."

"I don't care how long it takes, I'm not giving up on him."

"And what will you achieve by stalking? You need to wait for the right moment. He can't be with the elements forever... Right?"

"Just the thought of him in front of me gets me a bit excited. That size difference is just... divine."

"(Nope. Not surprised anymore.)" thought Aero, but the disappointment was still there.

*The things they say are really weird!*

"(Don't try to understand them. It's not worth it.)"

*Ok~*

"Let's get back to our table." said Aero, opening the curtains again with his magic and smiling a bit. "There can't be a celebration if we don't even start it."

"Now that's more like it!" said Pinkie, and the group returned to the VIP table.

As soon as the curtains closed...

"I'm curious about what you said earlier." Twilight got near the stallion and activated her magic. "There is indeed magic in the jacket, but... How? Enchantments are rare in Equestria."

"As I said before, I'm impressed that Rarity was able to do it." said Aero, looking at the Element of Generosity. "Even if I gave her the right material to work with."

"What did you give her?"

"His cape." the answer came from Rarity, getting the attention from Twilight.

"I assume you had to use all of it?" asked Aero.

"I'm afraid so, darling." was Rarity's answer. "But I believe you knew that already, don't you?"

"Considering the t-shirt and the jacket, it was worth it." Aero then focused on Twilight. "My cape had a special material on it: Dragonstone dust."

"Dragonstone dust?" Twilight tilted her head for a moment. "It's the first time I hear about it."

"Me too." added Spike. "And judging by the name, it sounds like a gemstone!"

"That's because dragonstone is a gemstone." continued the stallion. "And it's only found in the Dragon Lands. That alone makes it a rare gemstone in Equestria."

"Well that explains why I haven't heard of it." said Twilight. "Our knowledge about dragons is very limited."

"And I've never been there." said Spike.

"Dragonstone is one of the few gemstones that are compatible with our magic." said Rarity, getting the attention of her friends. "And is very expensive, not to mention that dragonstone needs to be transformed into dust in order to use it to enchant clothes, and that is no easy task."

"Wait. How do you know? Did Aero tell you?" asked Twilight. The rest of the group didn't understand much, but it was an interesting topic.

"There was no need for Aero's knowledge, darling. A few months ago, I had the honor of working for Fleur de Lis. One of Canterlot's true nobles. She brought me a lovely dress and a very small box containing dragonstone dust. Everything I know about it is because of her. She wanted to surprise her stallion."

"And what kind of spell did she ask for?" asked a curious Aero.

"The kind of spell I can't mention here." said Rarity with a smirk.

"Oooooh~ Spicy!" said Pinkie, starting to giggle. The rest of her friends blushed again, and Aero sighed in disappointment.

"Wait. What happened to the magic in the cape? It disappeared?" asked Spike, and the rest of the group was still curious.

"Normally, that is the case." answered Rarity. "When an enchanted material gets detached, the spell on it disappears." she then looked at Aero. "But this time... nothing happened. The magic remained there. Honestly, I was ready to contact Aero and talk about enchanting the dust again, but..."

"I'm not surprised." said Aero with a smile. "It was Princess Luna who enchanted the cape, and she did a wonderful job."

"My goodness! It is already difficult to find a unicorn willing to do the process of enchanting an object or clothes." said Rarity, very surprised. "If Princess Luna imbued the dragonstone dust, then it's no wonder the magic is still there! It is alicorn magic after all."

"So what spell was in your cape?" asked Rainbow Dash, a bit eager to know. "A combat spell? An emergency shield? Tell us!"

"Actually, there are three spells." said Aero, and that was something that took everyone by surprise. "An 'eternal clean' spell, a 'locator' spell, and a 'crisis teleport' spell."

"So... the first spell will keep the jacket clean forever, right?" asked Spike. "That's kinda amazing!"

"And the locator spell emits a magical signal that will let a pony, or a group of ponies find where the jacket is, but this only works if the owner activates the spell first." added Twilight. "The other ponies also need an object to receive the magic signal so they can trace it."

"The crisis teleport spell is a bit special. Princess Luna created it." said Aero. "If for any reason I pass out due to exhaustion or because of a wound, the spell will immediately teleport me back to Canterlot. Princess Luna will know when the spell is used."

"All of that sounds amazing!" said Applejack. "Didn't even know you could put magic in clothes!"

"Enchantments are rare." said Twilight. "The only places where you could ask a unicorn for this service, are manehattan and Canterlot. Most of the time it's for enchanting clothes, but the royal guard may create magic tools or weapons from time to time. It's just that the process itself is very tiring, so they don't do it often. Also, like Rarity said about the dragonstone dust, it's a very expensive service."

"And not every material is as good as the dragonstone dust." added Rarity. "To be honest, I was a bit nervous at first. It felt like I was making a new tiara for Princess Celestia!"

"And that's why I'll say it once again: You did a wonderful job, Rarity." said Aero, giving the mare a good and honest smile. "Part of the reason that the magic didn't disappear is that you did a proper extraction of the dust. Thank you very much."

"Oh, darling believe me. The pleasure was mine." answered Rarity with a flirtatious smile. "And let me tell you, seeing you wear my creations fills me with joy."

"All right, enough about the clothes. I'm starting to get hungry, and the food on the table looks tasty." said Aero, returning to his seat. The others did the same.

"YES! Finally! I've been waiting for this!" exclaimed Pinkie Pie, showing her excitement both in her voice and in her body, as she was even shaking a bit. "Aero is finally going to taste my sweets!"

"(Once again... interesting choice of words.)" thought Aero.

"It will be just a moment. A few minutes at most."

"I'm sorry, but everypony needed is already inside, so you can't go in."

"Could you at least ask the group if they can spare a few minutes of their time to hear me?"

"Well..."

"(Is there a discussion outside?)" Aero knows there are two guards on the other side of the curtains, but his area-scan spell is detecting three beings. Somepony else is definitely talking to them.

"Oh! The Lemon pie must be ready! I'll be here in juuuust a moment~" Pinkie moved almost as if she was dancing, and got out of the VIP zone, going to the kitchen. A few seconds later...

"Excuse me." One of the guards appeared, and the group focused on the mare from the local guard. "There is a mare outside that wishes to speak to all of you. I can at least tell you that she is not a citizen of Ponyville. Not with that suit of hers." added the guard, a bit confused about this fact.

"All of us? Even Aero?" asked Rarity. The guard nodded in response. Before anypony else was able to say anything...

"Did she tell you where she comes from?"

The voice of Aero took everyone's attention, but the guard decided to go back with her partner and the other mare. After a few seconds, she once again approached the group.

"She says she is from Applewood."

"Applewood!?" Rarity was the first to react, but soon, other voices from outside the curtains were heard.

"That's so far away!"

"She comes for him! I'm sure of it!"

"Don't jump to conclusions yet."

"Please, she comes from Applewood. That alone is enough to know what she wants."

"Applewood..." Aero hasn't been there, but he does know that many actors and models live there. It is also one of the few places where he hasn't been before. Every famous pony that has visited the Princesses work there.

"But why all of us?" asked Applejack.

"Doesn't matter." said Aero. "The distance between Ponyville and Applewood is by no means short. I think the least we could do is hear what this mare has to say."

"If you say so..." said Rainbow Dash, a bit worried. "Let's just hope this mare behaves."

"Like you yesterday?" asked Aero in a teasing tone. Twilight and Fluttershy let out a small chuckle.

"T-that doesn't count!" was the quick reply of the Element of loyalty.

Having their approval, the guard returned to her partner, and another mare approached the group. They all noticed that she was a unicorn, and she was indeed wearing a grey business suit. Her brown mane was carefully groomed, and her cream-colored coat was well kept.

Upon seeing her, Twilight and her friends had to admit that the mare had good looks. Enough to charm many stallions. Rarity also knew that her suit was by no means a cheap one.

Aero focused on the mare for a moment. She had a delightful smile that would incite anypony to try to establish a friendly conversation with her. But something about her eyes was different. While most mares in Ponyville and Canterlot look at him with hungry eyes, she gives a different impression. Like she found what she was looking for.

"My apologies for interrupting your reunion. I know this is sudden, but I think this is the only chance I'll have to talk to everypony." said the mare. "My name is Brilliant Orchid."

"Brilliant Orchid!" Rarity was the first one to react. "You are a famous talent scout in Applewood! Many of the precious models and singers from your homeplace and Manehattan were recruited by you."

"Very good. Since you know who I am, I can get straight to the point." said Brilliant Orchid. "To be honest I am not working right now. Until a few days ago I was in Las Pegasus and currently, I'm traveling to Fillydelphia. Ponyville is one of the optional stops for a break, and I arrived just an hour ago to have a nice and delicious lunch in one of the nearby restaurants."

She then focused on Aero.

"And that's when I saw something. Something amazing. Something wonderful. Something that I didn't expect to find in my free time, but a chance like this... It would be a crime to ignore it."

And now she looks at everyone.

"Which is why I want to speak to all of you, his herd mates, regarding the possibility for this wonderful stallion to work as a supermodel."

"What!?"

"It may sound exaggerated, I know, but my instinct has never failed me. He has the potential. To think he was hidden here in Ponyville..."

The Elements of harmony and Spike were shocked to say the least. Aero didn't say anything. Not because he didn't hear it because he did, and finds it ridiculous.

He didn't say anything because something else got his attention.

His area-scan spell gave him new information.

"I know that giving your stallion a bit more 'freedom' might be worrying, but I assure you that the benefits from the job make up for it tenfold, especially in his case. I have no doubt that all the prestigious brands would fight each other for him."

"W-w-wait! I-I know it looks like it, b-but..." Twilight was having a hard time getting her words out. The rest of her friends was also having trouble to even say something. That statement made their imagination run wild for a moment. Spike was surprised because Rarity speaks about models from time to time, and they have pretty much an easy and relaxed lifestyle. They basically live in luxury.

"Twilight, if I may..."

Aero's voice made Twilight react, but so did everyone else, because this time it had a stronger tone.

"My! What a powerful voice." said Brilliant Orchid with interest.

"I'm sorry Aero. I know you don't like this kind of-"

"Something is happening outside."

Aero's interruption made Twilight stop, and the rest of the group got curious. While Brilliant Orchid was talking, Aero's area-scan spell detected a group that was gathering outside Sugarcube Corner. There were at least ten more ponies now, and it was odd that they were moving but not entering the building.

"What do you mean?" asked Rainbow Dash. "You can't just say 'something' is happening and leave it at that!"

"There are many ponies outside Sugarcube Corner." replied Aero. "But I don't know why they don't enter. They have been moving for a few minutes."

"Maybe it's a group of friends?" asked Applejack. "This place gets crowded sometimes."

"It can't be something bad." said Rarity. "The Ponyville local guard constantly patrols this area. If it was something bad, we would already know."

"You do have point." said Aero, thinking about the possibilities. "So why-"

"Huh? More guards? why?"

"Wait. They are not from the Ponyville local guard. Who are these mares?"

"They are all purple and yellow. The armor kinda looks like the guards from Canterlot but..."

"It's a different color... Hey! What's going on?"

"My apologies, citizen of Ponyville. We are just securing the place."

"Why? Who is coming?"

"(It's true. The group is moving.)" thought Aero. "(So they are guards, but not from Ponyville, nor Canterlot. Are they private guards? But who are they guarding?)"

"The area outside is checked, ma'am!"

"The kitchen is also checked. There was a... weird pony there, but she's not a threat."

"And what about over there, past the curtains ma'am?"

"There is no need. The local guard is already there. You don't suggest that they are hiding a suspicious pony there, do you?"

"I don't think so ma'am, but-"

"Then stop worrying over nothing! Now go and tell the main group that it is safe."

"That soldier was in the right saying they should check here too." said Aero, a bit more serious. "It is alright to be cautious when you are protecting somepony."

"All right! I want everypony in position!"

Aero was constantly getting information thanks to the area-scan spell. A second, smaller group was approaching. Three ponies.

"Attention! They're here!"

A few seconds later, a series of gasps were heard, and some ponies moved. Then, it got noisy.

"Did any of you expect a visit from any famous pony or any celebrity?" asked Brilliant Orchid, with a mixture of curiosity and confusion.

"Not...that we know of." said Rarity, confused as the rest of her friends.

"Maybe it is a famous pony that just wants to eat here." said Fluttershy, not sure if it was the case, but it was a possibility. "Maybe it's a pony who really likes sweets and-"

"Announcing the rulers of the Crystal Empire: Princess Mi Amore Cadenza and Prince Shining Armor!"

...

Aero has no way to stop the incoming headache.

"My brother? And Cadance!?" For obvious reasons, Twilight was the first one to react. "I haven't seen them since the wedding!"

"Oh, what a wonderful wedding that was." added Rarity. "It was really a perfect day."

"Prince Shining Armor is your brother?" now it was Brilliant Orchid's turn to be surprised. It took Aero a second to remember that before becoming an alicorn, Twilight was not known outside of Ponyville, Canterlot, and the Crystal Empire.

"We are sorry for interrupting you, but we were told that my sister is here."

"(That is definitely Shining Armor. I can't believe they are here...)" thought Aero, still a bit confused about this.

"Twilight! I've come to say hi~"

"(There's no mistake. That was Princess Cadance.)" Aero is a bit wary now, since he doesn't know how this Cadance will behave.

As soon as she heard her brother and former babysitter, Twilight activated her magic and teleported, reappearing just outside the curtains and between the two guards.

"BBBFF! Cadance!"

"There you are, Twilly." both Shining and Cadance approached her. "You look good, little sis."

Twilight and her brother procedeed to share a happy hug for a few seconds, while the other mares around were surprised to know that Shining Armor and her are family.

"It's good to see you again, big brother." said Twilight with a smile. "How have you been?"

"Believe me, despite his duties as a prince, Shining is having a good time." said Cadance, who then gently touched her husband's muzzle with her own. "I'm making sure of that."

Twilight approached Cadance and started their unique greeting, which of course confused everypony around.

"You know, there's something I've been wondering since we arrived." said Shining with genuine curiosity.

"What is it?" asked her sister.

"Who is this 'Aero' that we keep hearing about?"

"Oh. Right..." it was just now that Twilight's senses fully returned, remembering that Cadance and her brother don't know about Aero, and of course, about his origin.

"I'm really surprised." added Cadance. "When we arrived, many ponies, especially mares, were talking about this 'Aero'. How delightful it was to look at him, how they wanted to be near him and even touch him. Even when our guards made the other ponies gossip, I still heard conversations about him."

Cadance then got closer to Twilight, so other ponies don't hear her.

"I can also feel strong traces of lust and arousal every time this 'Aero' is mentioned. Who is this stallion? It's like almost every mare in Ponyville want a piece of him."

"Well... You may understand once you meet him." replied Twilight. "I mean, There's no denying that he's handsome, and even if my friends may try to hide it, they are interested in him."

Both Cadance and Shining looked at each other for a moment, surprised that Twilight was also showing signs of interest in this stallion.

"And you?" asked Shining, almost in a teasing tone, but while he expected her sister to be a bit flustered and deny it...

"I... well, a bit. Like I said, you will understand once you meet him." was Twilight's answer. She even was blushing a bit.

"Man, now I want to meet him. A stallion capable of making my sis say such things?" said Shining, honestly happy for her sister.

"But I guess that can wait. We came here to see you!" said Cadance. "We were on our way to Canterlot because auntie invited us. It seems that she wants to discuss something with us, but we wanted to stop here first because it's the perfect chance to catch up."

"That's great! But... there's something you should know first." said Twilight, who started to get a little nervous. There is a problem after all. She needs to explain Aero's situation, and this would be easier if-

"It seems that we are still on time."

A new voice was heard. One that everypony in the building knows. Princess Celestia passed through the front door, along with Gleaming Shield, who reacted immediately.

"Shining!"

"Gleaming!"

Both brother and sister hugged with happiness, and the amulets they were both using were glowing with a strong blue light. Gleaming then also hugged Cadance, while Princess Celestia was approaching them. At the same time, everypony, including the guards, bowed without hesitation.

"Auntie!" now it was Cadance's turn to hug Celestia, while Shining did a respectful bow.

"Dear Cadance, I'm glad to see you happy and healthy." Celestia then focused on Twilight's brother. "It has been a while, Shining Armor. It seems that the Empire has made you an even better stallion."

"You honor me with your kind words, Princess." replied Shining. "Please forgive my rudeness, but what are you doing here? We wanted to surprise Twilly. Maybe we had the same idea?"

"Actually, I told the Princess about your surprise visit." said Gleaming. "I'm sorry. I had to."

"Gleaming Shield is right." added Celestia. "Under normal circumstances, there would be no need to come here. However, this time we do have a unique situation." Celestia then looked at her student.

"We heard from a few ponies that Aero is here with you and your friends." this made Cadance and Shining react. "Is that true?"

"Yes, Princess." was Twilight's quick reply. "Pinkie prepared a private reunion for us to celebrate his arrival to Ponyville, and for his help in today's incident."

"Incident? Did something happen?" asked Shining.

"We will explain later." said Celestia, who then focused on the 'VIP zone'. "Is he there?"

"Yes, but there is a... second situation." said Twilight, getting the attention from Celestia, Gleaming Shield, and the rulers of the Crystal Empire. "There's also a mare that wants to recruit Aero to be a... supermodel. Her name is Brilliant Orchid."

"Brilliant Orchid?"

"If I remember correctly, she is a talent scout from Applewood." said Celestia, still a bit surprised by this new information. "What is she doing here?"

"She was on her way to Fillydelphia. She stopped here to take a break and... she saw Aero." Twilight was starting to get a little nervous, but now that Celestia is here, maybe she can fix this. "It would be easier if you follow me."

They quickly followed Twilight to the 'VIP zone', and the guards didn't hesitate to open the curtains. When they entered, they saw a very surprised Brilliant Orchid who then bowed without hesitation, Twilight's friends who were already bowing, and the stallion that caught their interest, Aero.

The first thing Aero did when he saw Celestia's group was a sigh of relief. He was now focusing on Shining Armor.

"Thank Luna. He's not wearing a dress."

"W-what?" Shining Armor was definitely confused right now. Just then, the curtains were opened again.

"And here it is! The ultimate le-hey! It's Princess Celestia! And Princess Cadance! And Twilight's brother!" she said all of this while holding a very big Lemon Pie with only one of her hooves. She was of course wearing a cute glove for hygienic purposes.

She then looked at the mare in the suit.

"And who are you?" Pinkie is still holding the lemon pie.

"Brilliant Orchid. Talent Scout. A pleasure." she didn't hesitate to show her professionalism, even in this situation.

"Pinkamena Diane Pie. Party Planner Extraordinaire. Likewise." Pinkie's voice and attitude changed to mimic Brilliant Orchid. This caught everypony except Princess Celestia off guard. And she was still holding the big lemon pie. It was not even moving.

"(Just how strong is she to keep that perfect balance?)" thought Aero.

*She must be very strong!*

Pinkie then focused on Aero, and her usual smile and attitude returned as if nothing happened.

"Wow! Talk about surprises! Just what happened while I was gone?"

"Well... it seems that randomness won." replied Aero, almost like he was admitting defeat. Applejack couldn't help but chuckle for a moment.

Author's Note

Hey! It's been a while. Hope you guys are ok, wherever you are.

Man, this took quite some time. Mostly because I was playing Leagues III in Oldschool Runescape :rainbowlaugh:

Just to be clear, every time I used 'everyone' instead of 'everypony' is because spike is there, and every time there is a non-pony species along with ponies, I use that.

Also. 'Whorse' I got it from another story that surprisingly it's not related to RGRE.

That being said, I hope you enjoyed this chapter, ~~and I'm sure you guys will still find many typos that somehow I didn't see before~~. Anyways, if you see them, let me know so I can fix them.

I'm also thinking of adding one more chapter to the other two stories (Gielinor's Visitor and TCB: El único), but it's still just a thought.

I wish you the best on your day/night!

XIII - Uneasiness

Author's Note

Hello there!
It's good to be back! :twilightsmile:

And man, it took a while.
I don't think I can apologize enough for this lack of updates. That's life, I guess. (I mean everything that happens IRL and that obviously has higher priority than writing.) I also get conflicted with trying to update as often as possible (you know, so people don't think the story is dead.)

In short, All I can say at this point is that I'll try my best.

~~This chapter has been written over time. Like every day I wrote a little, and even then, I think people will find one or even many typos. I hate when that happens but as always, gonna git gud and fix them asap.~~

I hope you enjoy this chapter. :pinkiehappy:

XIII - Uneasiness

Cadance, Shining and Celestia noticed that Aero was looking at them, then he started to look around. His odd behaviour didn't go unnoticed.

"Is something wrong, Aero?" asked Celestia.

"Seeing the absurdity of this situation, I was checking if Princess Luna would appear as well, but it seems that she is sleeping in Canterlot. That's good."

For at least two seconds, nopony spoke. The only sounds came from the murmurs outside the 'VIP area'. Aero took advantage of this silence and used his magic to help Pinkie with the lemon pie, placing it on the table.

"Thankies~" said the cheery earth pony, and in a very quick move, gave Aero a little peck on his left cheek. This caught everypony off guard. Even Princess Celestia and Aero. Of course, Twilight and the rest of her friends wanted to say something. Actually, they wanted to say many things.

As for Aero, he quickly recovered and then looked at the party mare, smiling a bit.

"Looks like I underestimated you."

Pinkie's answer was just a wink, then she moved to accompany her friends. Aero knew there was no ill intention from that. She just 'seized' the moment.

And that's when Princess Celestia couldn't help but chuckle. Shining Armor, Cadance, and Brilliant Orchid were once again surprised.

After all, Princess Celestia was chuckling at the expense of a stallion.

"There is never a dull moment with you." said Celestia with a warm smile.

"Believe me Princess when I say it's not on purpose." said Aero nonchalantly.

Just by seeing this very short interaction between Celestia and Aero, the three newcomers were able to gather some important information.

The first is that Princess Celestia and Aero already knew each other. The second is that while most stallions would rather avoid eye contact, or even being in the same room with the Princess due to the sheer pressure, Aero is not scared or nervous to look at her. In fact, it almost felt like Celestia was talking to a friend. If that is already surprising, there is also the fact that Aero didn't bow, and yet Princess Celestia was not bothered by it.

"Well, now I can see why the mares of Ponyville have been... agitated." said Cadance, who didn't miss the chance to inspect Aero from head to hoof. "And that jacket? It looks amazing on you."

"If I didn't know you, I would have thought you were a model." added Gleaming. "You look good."

"You can thank Rarity for that." said Twilight, while Rarity did a quick wink.

Aero stood up and approached Celestia's group, getting just in front of Shining Armor and Cadance. It was then that both rulers of the Crystal Empire saw how imposing he was.

"I am Aero, but you already know that. It is nice to meet you." the big stallion did a polite bow before continuing. "I already know why Brilliant Orchid is here, and Princess Celestia can visit Twilight from time to time, but to see the rulers of Crystal Empire here is a surprise."

"This is our first time meeting, Aero. You may already know who we are, but that doesn't mean we have to ignore manners." said Shining's wife. "Princess Cadance of the Crystal Empire. It's a pleasure to meet you."

"I have to say, you give the impression of a responsible pony, Aero. I like that." said Twilight's brother. "Shining Armor. Former captain of the royal guard, and now Prince of the Crystal Empire. Nice to meet you."

Aero then looked at Gleaming Shield, and she smiled at him in return.

"It's been a few hours, captain. If you need any help investigating the Everfree Forest, don't hesitate to ask me."

"Thank you, Aero. I'll let you know if we need an extra pair of hooves."

"Now then." Aero smiled a bit. "What's the occasion?"

"I called them." the answer came from Celestia, who then focused on Cadance and Shining. "But the idea was to reunite in Canterlot. I wanted to avoid any sort of misunderstanding between Aero and you two, but this time the chances played against me."

"Because we wanted to stop and say hi to Twilight." said Cadance. "To be fair, we didn't know about Aero at all."

"We just knew about his existence once we got out of the train." added Shining.

"Now that's interesting." said Aero in a neutral tone, and both Celestia and Cadance noticed this. "Since all of you are here, why don't you join us? It would be nice to have a good meal without having to worry about everypony outside."

Of course, that was partially a lie. Aero still has that area-scan spell active. But more than that, he is trying to see how Cadance and Shining behave around him. Sadly, this is not his Equestria, and those two are not the friends he knows. There is also the fact that Celestia felt the need to come here and explain to Cadance about him to 'avoid misunderstandings'. Why? Twilight should be able to explain to both of them about him.

Maybe Princess Celestia called the two rulers of the Crystal Empire to talk about his real problem.

But why hide it from him?

As for Cadence, she didn't show it in her expression, but she was already investigating Aero. If everypony else was filling the room with surprise, slight arousal, and admiration, then he was a mystery. There are very small traces of doubt coming from him, and something else. Something hidden. They may joke about him being a model, or that he is Playfilly's secret star...

But she knows that he is not just a pretty colt.

"Well, it would be a shame to not spend some time with you now that we are here." was Celestia's answer. "You should join us, Brilliant Orchid, and before you say no out of courtesy, please consider: When are you going to get another chance to accompany a stallion like Aero?"

"..." Orchid wanted to say something, but everypony in the room knew she had no way out of that one.

"Just say yes already!"

"Why are you even hesitating?"

"I'll gladly take your place if you don't want to! He is worth it."

"All of you, be quiet! I can't believe We'll have to prepare a soundproof spell just because you mares lack decency!"

"You are just saying that because you haven't seen him."

"Yeah! I bet you would love his-"

"Alright that's enough."

And then... nothing. Seems like the guards used a soundproof spell.

"Well, I can't say no after that." said Brilliant Orchid, letting out a sigh of defeat.

The entire group had a taste of Pinkie Pie's culinary skills. All of them agreed that she knows how to make a delicious lemon pie. Even Aero had nothing but compliments for her, and she was so happy to hear it that she nearly starts jumping out of pure joy. After that, they decided to chat for a while, and this gave the rulers of the Crystal Empire a chance to talk about their life and their subjects. Now they were talking about a stallion that was mistreated by his mares.

"It took a while, but we finally found a herd that really cares about him." said Cadance in a happy tone. "And those despicable mares from his previous herd? They are getting their punishment as we speak. How could they exploit him like that? He was so heartbroken, Celestia. I'm happy that he is happy now."

"Even to this day, there are still mares who abuse their status and 'duty' to get what they want." said Celestia in a serious tone. "They cannot grasp the situation we have been dealing with for centuries."

"Sometimes it's true love, and sometimes it's just lust and power. Can you believe some mares in our castle still tease me, trying, without results might I add, to get my attention? They really want Cadance to form a herd."

"In their dreams." said Cadance in a playful tone. "There is only one mare that qualifies for that, and it's back home."

"Oh. Are you talking about Pristine Lilly?" asked the Princess of the Sun.

"How is she doing?" asked Gleaming Shield, looking at his brother. "I'm guessing her skills have only improved since she left to be your personal guard."

"Definitely." was Shining's answer. "She is the quiet but kind type of mare when she is not fighting or training. It's quite the surprise for anypony who doesn't know her."

"I'm sure she would be a good rival for you, Aero."

The words of Gleaming Shield didn't go unnoticed by the three newcomers.

"Is her fighting style similar to yours?" asked Aero.

"She is a pegasus, so her fighting style and mine are different." was Gleaming's answer.

"Wait a second." Cadance focused on Aero. "What did you say? You fighting Gleaming Shield?"

"And I'm proud to say that I lost fair and square." added the captain.

"I was going to tell you about this." said Celestia, without losing her beautiful smile. "Aero is, at the moment, one of a kind."

"Indeed. Any clever mare can guess that just by looking at him." said Brilliant Orchid, finally joining the conversation. "It is already difficult to find a stallion brave enough to be alone and without the company of a mare for a while. Finding a stallion with a body that appeals to mares and stands out from the rest is even more difficult. Finding a stallion with both of these qualities is nearly impossible."

Now she focused on Aero.

"It is no exaggeration to say that Aero is without a doubt a miracle among stallions."

"Oh, but it's more than that." said Celestia, who suddenly got serious. "What I'm going to tell you, is considered 'sensitive information', and nopony outside of Ponyville has to know. Do I make myself clear?"

The three of them gently nodded. It's the first time they see Princess Celestia exert such pressure.

"If you understand the consequences of leaking this information, then I can tell you now." said Princess Celestia, with a radiant smile as if nothing happened. "Aero is an uncursed stallion."

...

Several seconds passed, and nopony spoke. Cadance, Shining Armor, and Brilliant Orchid slowly focused on Aero, who was enjoying another bite of lemon pie while Pinkie Pie was watching him, happy that her creation was approved.

"He is not... cursed?" Brilliant Orchid was the first to react. "Is that really true?"

"It's the truth." said Twilight. "We didn't believe it at first, but Aero is without a doubt an uncursed stallion."

"Everypony in Ponyville knows it, too." added Aero, getting the group's attention. "There was an announcement a few hours ago."

"As I said before, he defeated me fair and square." said Gleaming Shield. "Both his physical and magical abilities are worthy of praise."

"Are my sister's words true? Are you able to use the entirety of your physical strength and your magic?" asked Shining, who is now very curious about Aero.

"Indeed. It's not a lie." was Aero's answer.

"Due to the curse, all stallions are born naturally weaker, and they are way more sensitive to pain and injuries." said Cadance. "Are you absolutely sure this doesn't apply to you?"

"Yes. I mean it." said Aero. "Twilight Sparkle and her friends have seen me fight. Princess Celestia and Princess Luna too. Captain Gleaming Shield knows my abilities firsthoof."

"Yeah. He is super strong!" said Pinkie. "It feels a bit weird that he doesn't need a mare's care all the time, but he makes you feel happy and safe!"

"I agree with Pinkie. It is a different experience." added Rarity. "I know that taking care of stallions is our duty, but somehow, being with Aero makes you feel at ease. Definitely a breath of fresh air."

"And he is very knowledgeable." said Twilight. "He has learned way more spells than the average stallion, and he has visited many different places."

"Yeah! He even knows about dragons!" added Spike. "I learned a lot with him."

"He certainly has the spirit of an Apple." said Applejack. "This fella is strong enough to kick an apple tree like one of us!"

"And even when he is so strong, he has a very gentle soul, and a good heart." said Fluttershy, while looking at Aero with a very charming smile.

"I was about to say something about him, but everypony beat me to it." said Rainbow Dash with a cocky smile. "I have nothing but compliments to him, and none of them are exaggerated. He is the complete package. Heck, I think he's the premium one."

There was a brief silence. The kind of silence where you are still processing the words you just heard.

"This... goes way beyond what I was expecting." said Brilliant Orchid, who was still very surprised. "Any mare would be happy to be with him. I dare say that mares would gladly fight each other just for his attention."

"No kidding." said Cadance, who once again was checking on Aero. "I'm sure you already had a bit of trouble not only in Ponyville, but everywhere."

"You have no idea." said Aero nonchalantly.

"(Oh, I think I do.)" thought the Alicorn of love, changing her focus to Twilight and her friends. Something was bothering her since the group gathered. She knows that Aero is the reason there are strong traces of lust all around Ponyville. Even Twilight and her friends have it, but at least their traces are very small compared to the rest.

However, now she can feel something else from the group.

And that includes Princess Celestia.

She already knew of the admiration they feel for Aero, but among all the lust around them, there were small traces of care, concern, uncertainty, interest, hope...

And last but not least...

Love. True, pure love.

Normally, Cadance would know who this trace of love belongs to, but with so much lust around, and with everypony so close to each other, she can't identify it. At least not right now. If they were not in Ponyville...

Suddenly, Shining Armor stood up.

"If it's alright with you, there is a favor I would like to ask you, Aero."

"Shining?" Cadance was the first to react, and Aero noticed the change in her expression. "You want to try it now? Aunty doesn't know about it yet."

"Know about what?" asked a curious Celestia.

"A surprise." was Shining's answer. "But I admit that it would be easier if Aero decides to help us."

"That depends on what I need to do." said Aero.

"I need a training partner." said the brother of Twilight, surprising her sisters and Twilight's friends. "Cadance and I want to test a few things. I just need somepony to help me with my shield spells."

"(How about that?)" thought Aero. "(I didn't expect him to say anything related to combat, considering how this Equestria works.)"

And so, he decided.

"Sure. Why not?"

"Then..." Shining Armor looked at Princess Celestia. "We need to go to Canterlot for this. Doing this in public would freak out the mares."

"That is true." said Princess Celestia, getting curious about Shining's 'test'. "Unfortunately, we cannot simply teleport. Your guards from the Crystal Empire are here, too. We have no choice but to ride a train to Canterlot."

"Do I need to go too?" asked Brilliant Orchid with honest curiosity.

"Yes. There are still some topics we would like to discuss with you, Brilliant Orchid." was Celestia's answer.

"Very well. It's not like my superiors can yell at me for this."

*This is a very interesting group!*

"(Not what I expected to happen while visiting Pinkie Pie, but I'm not complaining.)" thought Aero. "(The lemon pie was delicious, and this is getting interesting.)"

"It's like... I feel bad for him, but I also want to laugh." said the Lord of Chaos. Quite bluntly, and making an effort to not laugh.

"Discord..." Luna was not happy.

"Sorry Luna, but your aide is in... quite the situation, depending on what he thinks of it." said Discord. "I'm surprised he hasn't, you know, taken advantage of this."

"Discord!" Luna was definitely not happy.

"Now, now... I was praising him, you know?" said the draconequus, defending himself.

"I was wondering why every mare tried to be near him, and also about the lack of stallions." said Celestia, deep in thought. "We must hurry."

"You know he can hold his own, right? I'd love to bring him back right now, but this energy hasn't been very cooperative with us." said Discord.

After hearing Aero's wishes and feelings about Luna, the group was once again working in Celestia's room. Twilight is the only one absent. She is currently resting in one of the guest rooms. Celestia noticed that her former student has been pushing herself lately, and while getting Aero back is of utmost importance, she is not going to risk Twilight's health.

Now they have more information thanks to Aero's conversations with Applejack's parents, and his recent experience before, and after visiting Sugarcube Corner.

"So this is what we have so far..." said Discord, with a sudden serious attitude, and wearing glasses that he made appear just to read a piece of paper he was holding. "Aero is in a different Equestria that was cursed by some old enemy. This curse affected the birthrate of males, as well as their physical and magical strength, and as a result, stallions are now very few and very valuable to mares." said Discord, still with a serious tone. "No wonder they want to be closer to him. Even more surprising that they haven't tried to lock him up or something." aaand back to normal.

"It seems that the other Equestria has a herd system. I'm sure that one stallion must be with multiple mares to maximize the possibilities of giving birth to a male foal." added Celestia.

"It is also clear that mares have a bigger role in society compared to stallions." said Luna, who was now looking at the vision of the other Equestria, where Aero and the group were going to Ponyville's train station. "I was also wondering why Aero's expression was uncomfortable most of the time. Now I know."

"Ah yes. Every mare wants to taste him." said Discord jokingly. "If mares have a bigger role, then are the stallions submissive or something? I mean I wouldn't be surprised if that was the case."

"If we take Aero's discussions until now as a reference, then it's very likely." said Celestia. "They are very protective when it comes to stallions, but aside from their 'role in society', it sounds like they are irrelevant for everything else."

"Yes. I am worried about this as well." added Luna. "As if their only purpose is to breed, take care of their foals, and be safe at all times. Nothing else. To think those... harlots look at Aero with such repulsive intentions..."

Both Celestia and Discord were a bit surprised by Luna's choice of words, but then again, it's about Aero, so they let it slide.

"You know, this also raises another question..." said Discord, looking at both sisters with pure curiosity, but his main focus is on Luna. "What if they don't want to give him back?"

Both sisters tensed a little.

"They are dealing with a curse that not only makes stallions weak but also makes it hard for a male to be born." said Discord, getting closer to the sisters. "A curse that has been afflicting their Equestria for centuries. There's no doubt that they are desperate for a solution. Anything. I'm honestly confused as to why the Discord of that Equestria hasn't done anything yet."

"Maybe Aero explained his situation to the other me and the other Luna." said Celestia. "Otherwise, they would not be so friendly and cooperative with him."

"That, or maybe they want to win him over." suggested Discord in a mischievous voice. "We can't rule out the possibility that the sisters from that Equestria are interested in him."

They had no way to deny it.

It is a possibility.

"And considering they are literally you two, I think they would prioritize the future of their land and their subjects over Aero's situation, even if they end up betraying his trust."

"I really hate to say this... but Discord is right." said Celestia, surprising her sister. "It's what I would do. At the very least, I would try to make him understand why we need him. But I worry about Aero's reaction."

"Why?" asked Luna, honestly a bit surprised by her sister's words. "It all depends on their actions. My aide will only resort to violence if he is left with no other choice. They are also aware of his abilities. They are us, sister. They will be careful."

"You are going there once we figure out how to open a 'door' to their world, right?" asked the draconequus, looking at the Princess of the Night. "I'll go too."

"You want to go?" Celestia was surprised.

"Any extra help is appreciated." said Luna. "But I am curious as to why you want to come with me."

"Well, aside from the fact that I have a chance to spread a bit of chaos and not be punished for it... I like that aide of yours. Reminds me that you two keep everything peaceful within Equestria, and his team does the same but outside. Dear Fluttershy can live a happy life because of that."

"I should have known that it was because of your concern regarding the Element of Kindness." said Luna with a smile, happy that Discord is now a force of good.

"Well, it's also because I don't think you'll be able to fight Celestia."

Discord's words caught both sisters off guard.

"I know you could fight the other Luna, but even if the other Celestia is not the one you know and love, I don't think it's a good idea for you to fight her. Bad memories, after all."

"Discord..." Celestia is certainly surprised. It is very, very unusual to see this side of Discord. He is not much of a 'feelings guy' as he says, but to think that he worries about her sister to that extent...

"So... Who else is coming?" asked Discord with a hint of curiosity.

"Twilight Sparkle, the other members of 'Elemental', and myself." was Luna's answer. "Do you... really think the other me and her sister would fight?"

"I don't know, but with how valuable Aero is to them... maybe they'll consider it."

The answer came from Celestia, who was walking towards the vision.

"Aero placed his trust in us. He believes that we will find him, and I will not let him down."

"So you fought my sister here?"

"That's right. We had quite the audience, too."

"I'll have to ask her the details later."

Twice in a row. Seems like Aero's day is still far from over, despite the many hours that have passed since the last time he was in the training grounds inside the great castle of Canterlot. This time, however, it's just a practice session involving unicorn spells. Of course, he took off his new jacket. He can't do proper training with that on. Celestia was kind enough to keep it, or rather, use a very advance 'personal storage' spell to keep it clean until they finish.

"I must admit I'm impressed." said Aero. "Are you sure Cadance is ok with this?"

"It's almost unthinkable for a mare to give her stallion a bit of freedom." said Shining. "However, let's just say that I'm a special case. Not as special as you, though."

"(Just wait until Princess Celestia tells you the other reason I'm considered special.)" thought Aero, who then looked at a certain pony who was with them. "I know this is just a training session, but..."

"Don't worry handsome. I know." was Sunset's answer. "If anything happens, I'll contact Princess Celestia right away."

Sunset was the only mare watching them. Princess Celestia ordered every guard that was using the training grounds to patrol the city, and the guards of the Crystal Empire stayed with Cadance. Sunset herself said that she is the best pony for the job, while Princess Celestia and the rest of the other group enjoy some free time in the castle. Not that she would complain about that. After all, to see Aero is always a treat.

"Can I ask you something?" Aero felt that it was the perfect opportunity to ask. "Am I right to assume that you are cursed?"

"Sadly, you are right."

"And you are a former captain of the royal guard."

"Yes. I'm sure you are wondering how that happened." said Shining, getting Aero's attention. "There is no denying that as a stallion I'm weaker than the average mare. However, that didn't stop me from being interested in combat and defensive spells. My parents were always worried about me, telling me that I should focus on other safer hobbies, but that also didn't stop me. Of course, my sisters helped me a lot, and that's how one day while I was visiting the castle, Gleaming took me to these training grounds. If my strength was not enough, then I had to use my mind as well."

And that's when Aero understood.

"You became an instructor."

"Princess Celestia saw my potential as an instructor. While I was watching the mares practice, she approached me and asked me a few questions regarding the practice itself."

"We used to study together when we had a chance." added Sunset. "Fighting stances, magical precision, survival scenarios, combat instincts... he is the best combat instructor the royal guard has ever had. At first, they thought of him as a fool for doing a mare's job, and I was furious. At least they apologized to him as the weeks went by."

"I'm glad to hear that you followed your ideals and goals." said Aero. "So... how do you want to do this?"

"I'll start with full barrier spell." said Shining. "I want you to strike me your best magical attack."

"Shining wait." said Sunset. Aero noticed that she was genuinely worried. "I know you are able to generate partial barriers, but never a full barrier."

"Hey, it's been months since the last time we saw each other." said the Prince of the Crystal Empire. "I've been practicing, you know?"

Now Shining focused on Aero.

"Don't you dare hold back."

Aero could only smile.

"(I was worried for a moment, but it seems that this Shining armor and the one from my Equestria share the same spirit.)"

"And insult you? Not happening."

"Good. It's nice to see another stallion with guts." said Shining, activating his unicorn magic. "And I'm serious. I've asked several stallions to practice with me, but they start trembling with fear at the implication of getting hurt."

*There is pure energy flowing through his body! I didn't notice it before!*

"(Pure energy? Are you talking about his magic?)" thought Aero.

*This is different! It's mixed with his magical energy! This is very cool!*

"(I guess this has to do with what Shining Armor said earlier about trying something.)"

"First a duel with the captain, and now two stallions practicing combat. I think I've seen it all." said Sunset. "Remember cuties... this is just practice."

"Well, what doesn't kill you..." said Aero, activating his magic and creating a silver sphere of magic on his horn that was slowly getting bigger.

"Makes you stronger!" said Shining, creating a full barrier around his body. Aero noticed that instead of pink, the aura of his magic was light blue.

"By Celestia you weren't kidding." Sunset was surprised by both stallions. Shining Armor must be the first stallion in centuries to perform a full barrier spell, and the ever-growing magic sphere of Aero is now even bigger than the ones he used to strike Gleaming Shield.

"Bring it!" exclaimed the former captain.

"Remember Shining: I'm not holding back." said Aero, and a second later, he shot his magic projectile. He was actually holding back a bit, but he definitely used more magic energy than usual, as he is interested in the abilities of this Shining Armor.

As the silver projectile collided with the light blue barrier, a powerful sound resounded throughout the area. Many birds that were on the roof flew away scared.

"..." Sunset was in awe. No matter how many times she sees it, Aero's magical abilities are a sight to behold, and she never gets tired of it.

However...

"Glad to see you were telling the truth." said Shining.

"Well... this is unexpected." said Aero, with a smile of satisfaction.

"Shining! Your barrier..." Sunset didn't notice at first because she focused on Aero's projectile, but now she saw it.

Shining's barrier was not destroyed. There is no doubt that Aero's magic is powerful enough to partially destroy a barrier. He even left a crack on Gleaming Shield's barrier when they fought.

But Shining's barrier was intact.

Shining Armor. A cursed stallion with limited physical and magical abilities not only managed to create a full barrier, but also managed to maintain it without a single scratch after Aero's powerful attack.

"(I haven't fought with any stallion from this Equestria before, but this definitely proves that Shining Armor did something involving that other energy.)" thought Aero.

*I wonder where he obtained it? It's so pure and positive!*

"All right. Let's keep going." Shining was activating his magic again.

"Are you sure? asked Sunset, worried again. "Both of you did something unbelievable just now. I understand how much of a feat that was, but you must not force yourself."

"I feel great!" said Shining, moving his body a bit to reassure Sunset. Then he looked at Aero. "How about you?"

"I can do this all day." was Aero's answer.

And so they started to practice a bit more. They tried some partial barrier spells and also short-distance teleport. Sunset watched all of this with a smile on her face. Any other mare in her place would be freaking out and interrupting both stallions every five seconds just to check on them.

Of course. She was also communicating with Princess Celestia thanks to their magic signal. While the trio was in the castle's training grounds, Celestia and the rest were in the royal gardens. A few butlers arranged a comfortable spot with chairs and a table for the group to relax and enjoy. The crystal guards were around the garden, looking out for anything suspicious.

~(I see. This is certainly unexpected. Thank you Sunset.)~

"Is everything ok, Princess?" asked Twilight. "I know Sunset is with them, but..."

"How are they doing?" added Gleaming, who was also worried about her brother.

"I just got word from her. Everything is fine. Trust me." said Celestia.

"Did she tell you that Shining is doing cool stuff?" asked Cadance, like she already knew the answer.

"So you know..." said Celestia in response. This got everypony's attention.

"Yeah. We wanted to surprise you." said Cadance. "These last months have been very active, to say the least."

"Cadance? What are you talking about?" asked Twilight.

"Yeah. What do you mean with cool stuff?" added Rainbow Dash. "That's the kind of stuff I'm into."

"Normally, I would not talk about it because it's a secret, known only by Shining, Pristine, and I." said Cadance, getting a bit more serious. "However, since you guys told us about Aero, I believe it's fair that I share our secret as well."

It is not easy to surprise Princess Celestia, but now she is definitely curious.

"Is it ok for me to be here?" asked Brilliant Orchid, who was genuinely worried. "I know I was invited, but to hear such delicate information..."

"If you promise to keep this little chat a secret, then I don't mind." said Cadance. "And I know you are a mare of your word."

"I have a feeling that by this point I know too much, so I have no choice but to stay." said the talent scout, with a small sense of defeat.

"I'm sorry, but we keep it a secret for a reason." said Cadance. "We discovered an interesting situation. It started as a rumor, but once we investigated a bit, we realized that it was true."

"Cadance. You know we can help you anytime. Please don't do anything risky." said Celestia in a worried tone.

"As far as we know, it's not dangerous." replied the Princess of Love. "Rather, I think we may call it a blessing, or even a turning point. We still need more information."

"More information? Are you running some kind of experiment?" asked a very curious Twilight.

"It involves the Crystal Heart."

"I assume that it's an object from the Crystal Empire." said Rarity. "I'm afraid I don't know anything about it."

Twilight's friends had similar thoughts, judging by their faces. Brilliant Orchid kept a neutral expression.

"As the name suggests, it's a heart-shaped crystal that has special properties." said Twilight, getting the attention of her friends. "I've seen it a few times in the past while visiting Cadance and my brother."

"The Crystal Heart is what protects everypony in the Crystal Empire." said Cadance. This got everypony's attention even more. "And its energy is fueled by the spirit and hope of everypony."

"This energy gives the Crystal Heart the ability to create a very powerful barrier around the whole territory. Not even Queen Umbra was able to destroy it." added Celestia.

"But what does that have to do with that rumor you mentioned?" asked Gleaming.

"After a few discrete tests, we discovered... that stallions feel more at ease when they are near the Crystal heart. We've heard that some stallions claim that they feel healthier and even stronger." said Cadance. A few gasps were heard, and even Celestia was a bit surprised to hear about this. "Of course, their mares didn't think too much about it and consider it a 'happy moment' for their stallions, but our results tell us that they are not lying."

"So the Crystal Heart is providing stallions its energy? Is it safe? Or is it harming them on the inside?" asked Twilight. "After all, magic is something we do not mess with."

"We have been investigating this for months, and no stallions have been reported sick or hurt." answered Cadance with a smile. "We are still waiting in case of a long-term side effect, but... this could change everything."

"Indeed." said Celestia, who knew very well the implications of Cadance's words. "And it was a wise decision to keep it a secret."

"How many tests have you run?" asked Twilight, more curious than ever.

"A few stallions offered to help. Of course, we didn't tell anything regarding the Crystal Heart to their mares, and the stallions received a generous payment both for their cooperation and silence."

"What if their mares ask them about it?" asked Gleaming Shield. "You know they can pressure them to talk."

"They can try." answered Cadance with a cocky smile. "Our dear volunteers are very aware of what happens if they reveal anything regarding our tests. Besides, they can come to me anytime and denounce their mares for harassment."

"And I am right to assume that Shining Armor is also a test subject?" asked Celestia.

"Oh, Auntie... Shining is no longer a test subject." was Cadance's answer. "He fully embraced the Crystal's energy."

"Cadance. What are you talking about?" Twilight was now worried. But the Princess of Love simply smiled at her.

"We tried something a bit different with Shining. Let's just say that we managed to take a bit of the Crystal Heart's energy... and gave it to him."

A new round of gasps was heard.

"No wonder Sunset is in awe." said Celestia, closing her eyes for a moment but keeping her radiant smile. "Both Aero and Shining are showing quite the display of abilities, and it looks like they are enjoying it."

"Now I'm a bit curious about Aero's abilities in combat." said Cadance. "Let's go check on them, shall we?"

"Not bad, but I know you can be faster than that!"

"How can you be so fast?"

"Knowing that won't help you avoid an injury! Focus on the battle!"

"I'm not done yet!"

Right now, it was impossible to keep track of both stallions. Their training session increased in difficulty to the point of agreeing to a supervised battle, where the first one to hit the rival with his hoof or with magic would win. Sunset Shimmer only agreed because she knows when to intervene. However, she didn't expect to witness such a masterful 'practice session'.

The battle started several minutes ago, yet none of the two has been able to hit its rival! What's even more surprising is that both Aero and Shining Armor have been performing many short-distance teleport spells in order to evade the attacks and to strike. They are also performing these teleports very fast. Sunset knows better than anypony that this is very difficult to do. It requires a lot of focus, and you also need to know your surroundings. Otherwise, the spell would be useless.

Aero took some distance and started to fire many magic projectiles while running, but Shining Armor created a light blue magic wall that repelled all of them. Aero quickly teleported, appearing right next to him, but Shining also teleported, creating distance once again.

"Not yet!" shouted Twilight's brother, activating the magic around his horn. However, Aero noticed that Shining's breathing was a bit unstable. They have been fighting for a while.

"I believe we can call it a draw." said Aero, starting to relax. "I think you are starting to reach your limit. No need to overdo it."

After a few seconds, Shining decided to follow Aero's advice and began to calm down.

"Besides, we still managed to gather a few spectators." said Aero, doing a little motion with his head to the side. When Shining focused his vision there, he saw his sisters and the rest of their group. Out of everypony, Cadance and Brilliant Orchid were the most surprised. Not that the others weren't, because they have been watching their practice for a while. When they arrived, they decided to not interrupt the stallion duo.

"Oh. I didn't notice." said Shining, a bit surprised. "How long have you been watching?"

"For a few minutes." the one who answered was Sunset. "You two were busy trying to claim a hit on your opponent."

"I am not ashamed to admit we got a bit carried away." said Aero with a tiny smile on his face. "And it was fun, too. A good practice overall."

"Yeah! If I had to describe it... I'd say it was thrilling!" added Shining, still a bit tired, but he didn't care. "The kind of training Lilly would approve and even enjoy."

"Oh my!" Cadance had a mischievous smile on her face. "You call her 'Lilly' now?"

"W-well... It's not like we aren't friends." said Shining, as if he was defending himself. "But you have to admit that this was something else!"

"Well, you are right about that." Cadance approached her husband with half-lidded eyes. "I have to say, I'm loving this new side of yours. You were quite fierce there."

"I... could get used to this." said Shining, as both rulers nuzzled each other. "If you don't mind, of course."

"(Lovebirds even here.)" thought Aero, while walking to the group. "(At least some things never change.)"

~I think it's very cute! Their mutual love is very powerful!~

"(Mutual love, huh?)"

Cadance then focused on Aero, with a radiant smile.

"And you too, Aero! I can tell you stopped the fight because Shining was getting tired, but you are not!"

"I guess I can't compete against an uncursed stallion's stamina." added Shining, almost as if he was a bit disappointed.

"Don't underestimate yourself, Shining." said Aero, getting his attention. "This training session was enough to confirm that you have true strength, will, and combat experience. You are a skilled warrior and a Prince that must be respected. Don't you ever forget that."

"Thanks dude." said Shining with honest happiness. "It's good to hear a stallion say it for a change."

"Now, since you are here Princess Celestia..." Aero focused on the Princess of the Day. "I think this is a good opportunity for you to speak with them about my other circumstances. After all, that's the reason you called them here. Right?"

While Cadance, Shining, and Brilliant Orchid were a bit confused by Aero's words, Celestia and the rest of the group certainly understood.

Especially Celestia, who was calm on the outside, but a bit worried on the inside. The way Aero was smiling told her everything.

He saw through her.

He knew something was up, and that's the reason Cadance and Shining Armor were called.

"But we know now." said Cadance, still confused. "That you are an uncursed stallion."

"Aero... are you sure about this?" asked Celestia. This only confused the three ponies even more.

"Yes. They are bound to know sooner or later." was his answer. "Besides, this gives me a good opportunity to be with Rainbow Dash for a while."

The whole group was caught off guard because they never expected that kind of answer from somepony like Aero. Especially Rainbow Dash herself. Naturally, she immediately smiled, as if she was receiving some kind of gift. As for the rest of the group...

"W-why do you want to be with Rainbow?" asked an incredulous Twilight.

"Yes, darling! That is quite the bold statement." added Rarity, almost in a teasing tone. Sunset and Gleaming Shield were very interested in hearing the reason, too.

Aero stared at the six friends for a few seconds, with a bit of confusion on his face.

"I believe it's only fair. Since Princess Celestia's speech a few hours ago, I've spent some time with all of you. Except for Rainbow Dash." said Aero.

"Oh. Right. Sorry..." said a now apologetic Twilight. He is right. Since the speech, he has been spending some time with all of them around ponyville. Cadance and Shining's visit happened while he went to Sugarcube Corner, no doubt to visit Pinkie.

"It's hard to believe." said Applejack, being honest as always. "You certainly have some energy to spare, sugarcube."

"(I did have a little break while visiting Fluttershy.)" thought Aero, now focusing on Rainbow Dash. "(But this day is not over yet, and anything that keeps me away from the noisy mares of this Equestria is welcome.)"

*They all seem to show interest in you. It's super cool! Other ponies really like to hang out with you!*

"(It's not always like this, you know?)" thought Aero, who noticed that Themis is talking less than before. "(I do speak with many ponies during work, but...)"

"Aaaaaw yeah!" Rainbow Dash started to fly around the stallion for a moment, then stopped. "I was waiting for this, big colt!"

"I'm sorry, I still don't get it." said Cadance, still confused.

"What's this all about?" added Shining, now both rulers of the Crystal Empire looking at Princess Celestia.

"Very well. Since I have Aero's approval, I believe we should talk about this in the throne room." was Celestia's answer.

Before anypony was able to say something, the Princess of the Sun activated her magic, performing a quick teleport spell for the whole group, except for Rainbow Dash. Now the multicolored pegasus and the royal guard were alone.

"So... What's your plan, hot stuff?" asked the Element of Loyalty, not wasting a single moment to show him the best smile she could show. She also focused on showing her chest and wings.

"It's simple." said Aero, looking to the sky. "This is the best opportunity I have to show my ability to you. The clouds around the castle are enchanted, so nopony from outside will be able to see us."

"So you know about enchanted clouds, huh?" said Rainbow, rather impressed. In theory, that's not information everypony knows, but since the Wonderbolts are associated with the Equestrian military, Rainbow Dash found out about the enchanted clouds that the royal guard use both for protection in the air, and for combat training. There's even a special division in the Wonderbolts team that practices with these clouds.

"Most of the royal guard knows about it. Or at least that's what I hope. It would be an embarrassment if that wasn´t the case." said Aero, smiling a little. "So... you claimed to be the best flyer in Equestria. You don't mind proving it, don't you?"

Rainbow could only smile after hearing Aero's words. Words that no stallion, not even Soarin, would ever say to her. Most of the challenges or 'accusations' come from mares. Coworkers or fellow pegasi that enjoy the art of flying.

And so, the Element of Loyalty raised one of her front hooves, pointing to the sky.

"After you, buddy."

Just as she said those words, the wind around them started to move in a weird way. The Rainbow Dash from yesterday would try to figure out what was happening, but now, she knows that it's because of Aero. The wind is moving around him. She knew what was coming. She wanted to see it!

And so, without warning, Aero jumped really high, and the gust of wind that followed was strong enough to move the bushes, flowers, and even the training equipment that was around.

"Whoa..." Rainbow was speechless. Aero just jumped. That's all he did, but even now she can see how the unicorn is vanishing as he enters the clouds up there. And if she doesn't follow him now, she may not catch up.

But that's the thing.

She enjoys even looking at the stallion. How could she not? He's as big as the Princesses, he has some damm good muscles, and his attitude is unique. Nothing like the average stallion. He doesn't recoil or show signs of being afraid of many things like the stallions do. He doesn't actively seek the company of a mare. He can be alone, and what's more, it's the mares around him that actively seek to be with him.

But right now, that doesn't matter.

This was a challenge. He wants to see the best flyer in Equestria. He wants to witness her abilities. He wants proof. And that is something she just can't ignore. No matter how handsome and strong he is...

Preparing her body for a moment, Rainbow Dash flew upwards, following Aero and also disappearing amidst the clouds.

"(You better watch out, dude! I'll make sure to rock your world!)"

XIV - Thoughts

"There you are!"

It took Rainbow Dash almost 10 seconds passing through the clouds above the home of the royal sisters, but she finally closed the gap between Aero and her.

The stallion looked at her with a smile of satisfaction.

"I was sure that I had an advantage of at least a minute. Looks like you proved me wrong."

That smile made her feel things she normally doesn't feel. It's been a while since the last time she was happy about a stallion (other than Soarin) showing interest in her.

"What? You thought you could outrun me? Not a chance, hot stuff!" was Rainbow's answer. "Now then... What do you want to see? I have plenty of tricks!"

Aero used one of his front hooves to show the clouds around them.

"The stage is yours. Surprise me."

"Then watch me. You don't want to miss even a second of this."

And with that Rainbow Dash resumed her flight, and just like she suggested, Aero watched her every move. The pegasus didn't waste time and began a series of rather complex movements around the stallion. Aero actually got a little surprised because Rainbow Dash increased her speed even more while avoiding the clouds in the area.

"(Would you look at that. Such precise movements and at the same time she's being aware of her surroundings.)"

*She's moving very fast! She's also very happy that you are looking at her!*

Now, this got the stallion thinking.

"(I've been wondering since we spoke before meeting Fluttershy. Themis... Can you perceive the feelings and emotions of other beings?)"

*Perceive?*

"(When you tell me that they care about me, or that they are happy, sad or angry.)"

*I guess? It's like a special energy that comes out of them. I don't feel it in everyone. Just them*

"(Maybe it's because I've spend some time with Twilight and her friends. Compared to that, the other mares just think of me as a trophy or a toy.)"

*Why a toy?*

"(Don't worry about that. You mentioned that your father was able to see the future. Is it possible that your whole family have some sort of special ability?)"

*Maybe? I know mom and dad can do stuff. My sister too! That's why we have to find her!*

"(You are right. We have been postponing the search. It's been a busy day. I also have to tell the others about you. It seems that we'll have to wait until tomorrow to begin.)"

*Ok~*

Meanwhile, Rainbow Dash was still performing complex tricks, while also eyeing Aero.

He was still looking at her, and she was loving every second of it. There is something about being watched by him that she can't put into words but it's making her enjoy this more than usual.

She was also amazed that he is just staying there.

Floating.

As if it was natural for him, just like breathing.

"(It's like my eyes are deceiving me. I don't really want to admit it but.... He's so cool! But he is from another Equestria, and wants to go back ASAP...)"

And so Rainbow decided...

"(I need to convince him! What if he has no way home? He has to consider that, right? Yeah! He has to! No matter how strong... and cool... and hot... and reliable he is! He will crave company at some point! I wonder... If I discuss this with Spitfire and Soarin...)"

"I'm afraid I underestimated Aero."

The words of Princess Celestia were surprising, to say the least. Twilight and her friends only nodded in understanding, but Shining Armor, Cadance, and Brilliant Orchid were caught off guard.

"Before I begin, I must warn you: What I'm going to tell you now does not leave the throne room. Getting a severe punishment will be the least of your troubles if you do."

"But Princess... What else are we missing?" Brilliant Orchid was a bit nervous. It is one thing to deal with a secret or two in her profession, but secrets among nobles and royalty? It can be unnerving for anypony.

Celestia knew that she has Aero's approval, but it was still very delicate information. It's a good thing she prepared a soundproof spell beforehand.

"Aero is an uncursed stallion, yes. However, he is also... from another Equestria."

...

"Yup. I kinda did that same face when Twilight told me." said Spike, as he watches the utter disbelief on the faces of Cadance, Shining, and Brilliant Orchid.

"I'm sorry. I think this is not the time for jokes." said Cadance.

"I... don't think Princess Celestia would joke about this." said Brilliant Orchid, doing her best to remain calm. "Not in a situation... like this."

"Brilliant Orchid... is right." said Celestia, although there was a hint of sadness that both Cadance and Twilight managed to notice. They do know her more than the others. "This is not a joke. It's real. Aero is an uncursed stallion because he was born in another Equestria."

"It's true, Cadance." said Twilight. Now this got a reaction from the alicorn of love. "We didn't believe at first, but he is indeed from another Equestria."

"There is something I would like to show you."

Everypony watched as Princess Celestia gathered magical energy around her horn, creating a beautiful golden orb. After a few seconds, the orb became smaller, and detached from Celestia's horn, moving away from her. The orb then started to get bigger, and only stopped when it was as tall as the Princess herself.

"A memory orb?" asked Cadance. "Are we going to see a part of your memories?"

"Not my memories." was Celestia's answer, now focusing on Cadance. "This memory orb spell is an advanced version of the original, and it allows me to watch two or more memories, so long as I have those memories stored as magical energy."

"So that's why..." said Twilight, deep in thought, while the others got curious about her reaction.

"Indeed, my faithful student." continued Celestia. "I asked permission to gather not only a fragment of your memories, but also the memories of the royal guards who saw it all."

"Is this... related to Aero?" asked Cadance.

"Oh... this is going to be good." said Sunset in anticipation.

"I'm curious too." added Gleaming with a smile. "I want to see how he handled it before that happened."

Before Cadance was able to ask anything else, a sudden flash of light took everypony's attention.

And then...

"Who is she?"

"She's destroying the timberwolves! What a powerful mare!"

"Is she from the mage squad?"

"Wait..."

"By Celestia..."

"Are my eyes... deceiving me?"

"No... I'm seeing it, too."

"H-how!?"

"So tall..."

"So strong..."

"It's a stallion!"

"This is from an incident that happened this morning." said Princess Celestia, focusing on the memory orb. "A group of creatures from the Everfree Forest suddenly appeared and started to spread chaos. Thankfully, no one was severely hurt, and the situation was controlled. While the guards and even my faithful student with her friends did a very good job defending Ponyville, Aero proved to be a very valuable ally."

"Near the Everfree Forest? Are you sure?"

"Y-yes! The creatures here are j-just part of the ones they couldn't stop there!"

"I see. Thank you. Don't let your guard down. Make sure there are no more creatures nearby."

...

"By Celestia... he is just like the ponytales my mother used to read me... A gallant and strong stallion! Can a mare... train a stallion to such degree? Is that even possible?"

Then, the memory orb changed the 'scene'. Now it was showing Aero joining a group of guards that were fighting a few manticores and more timberwolves.

"By the Sun and the stars..." At some point, Cadance was able to say that. Just that. She had a hunch about Aero, but this was more than what she expected.

"Unbelievable..." Shining Armor was watching with a mix of surprise and emotion. "I had a taste of his strength, but... that right there, that's fierce."

"Wait until the end, brother." said Gleaming. "You are going to love it."

"Yeah. Be prepared." added Sunset. Shining kept watching, but Cadance and Brilliant Orchid were wondering one thing...

Prepared for what, exactly?

And then...

"Keep Twilight Sparkle and her friends safe."

It was the moment the cragadile appeared. Even if it's a memory, the Cragadile's roar was still frightening. Princess Celestia was examining everything. Anything that could give her a clue about why these creatures decided to attack Ponyville.

And she did notice one thing so far.

"(What Twilight told me is true. Once he arrived, the creatures changed their focus to him.)" thought the Princess of the Sun.

They saw how the cragadile was trying to intimidate Aero, only to fail.

They saw how Aero moved slowly, but totally focused on the big creature.

They saw-

"What-" Cadance was not prepared for Aero's sudden move. Neither was Shining or Brilliant Orchid. Princess Celestia allowed herself a moment to admire the stallion for a few seconds, and so did Twilight and the rest of her friends. Now that they know about his wind manipulation, they saw the concentrated 'ball of air' that hit the cragadile and made it fall to the ground upside down.

Then, they saw Aero's second hit to the creature's stomach.

And then... the cragadile stopped moving.

...

Two hits.

A cragadile. A powerful and dangerous creature that's feared not only by ponies, but other species as well... was defeated in two hits.

By a stallion.

"..." both Cadance and Shining were speechless, and slowly changed their focus to Celestia. Brilliant Orchid never stopped looking at the stallion.

"I forgot to mention a crucial fact about Aero." said Princess Celestia with a tender smile. "Our otherworldly guest possess a rare gift."

"I know we were there, but that was so cool!" said Gleaming Shield with glee. "To think we had a practice duel a few hours before that..."

"Physical and mental aptitude, magical prowess, and undoubtedly handsome." added Sunset Shimmer with a coy smile. "I could watch him forever and never get bored."

"I called you, because I wanted to discuss about Aero." said Celestia, focusing on Cadance. "This was supposed to be discrete meeting, while Aero was in Ponyville."

And that's when Cadance understood.

"My sudden visit to Ponyville..." said the Princess of Love, almost like a whisper. Aero had no idea about this, but since they decided to do a surprise visit to Ponyville in order to see Twilight...

"Since you didn't know about Aero, I had to act fast and go to Ponyville. It was obvious that you would encounter him." continued the Princess. "As I said before, I wanted to avoid any kind of misunderstanding between you two, but now Aero suspects that something is going on..."

"Excuse me Princess Celestia, but..." Twilight Sparkle approached her mentor. "By the way you say it, something is going on."

That took everypony's attention.

"Hey everypony!"

A familiar voice filled the room, and a certain cyan pegasus entered the room.

"The guards told me you were here, and I..." Rainbow started to look around, with a mix of curiosity and confusion. "Wait. Where's Aero? I thought he would be here by now!"

This only confused everypony else while exchanging glances at one another.

"I would not worry too much." said Celestia. "He must be wandering around the castle alone. I am sure he took this chance to relax. He has been in the company of a mare since he arrived."

It was true. Starting with Fluttershy yesterday, Aero has been most of the time accompanied by a mare, or multiple mares.

"You have arrived at the perfect time, Rainbow Dash." continued the Princess. "You can tell us what made you think that Aero would be here, and then you can join us! I would like to discuss a certain topic regarding our VIP guest."

"W-well, I was showing him my best tricks up above in the clouds." said the Element of Loyalty, making a small frown which confused the others. "But our time alone was not as good as I hoped. It could've been better."

Princess Celestia had an idea, while looking at the memory orb.

"Rainbow Dash. I would like you to help me with something."

"What's on your mind, big guy?"

"Just a few things."

Rainbow Dash was currently laying on a cloud, and Aero was floating right next to her. After displaying her tricks and abilities, and after the stallion admitted that her skills were no joke, they decided to find a suitable cloud (mostly for Rainbow Dash) to relax for a while.

And Rainbow Dash was not going to waste this chance to get to know him a bit more. They are alone, after all.

"Like what?" asked her. "I'm curious."

"This world. This Equestria." was Aero's answer, while looking at the nearby clouds. "This 'herd system', and how different mares and stallions behave."

"Not to mention that you became famous around Ponyville, and maybe Canterlot, too! You are quite the mare-killer! They aren't ashamed to try their luck in public." said Rainbow in a teasing tone.

"And they talk about me as if I was not there." added Aero, although in slightly bitter tone. "I can understand if they have their... opinions about me, but to have the audacity to talk about sexual 'what ifs' involving me is just unnaceptable."

"You know, any stallion would take your place in a heartbeat. They love attention like that and to be cared for." said Rainbow.

"And by the looks of it, being used as sex toys, too."

"Woah!" Rainbow focused on the stallion, obviously surprised by what he said. "That came out of nowhere."

"Not really." said a slightly dissapointed Aero. "As I said before, they talk about me, even when I can clearly hear them. Most of the time they talk about the things I could do with them in a bed. I'm pretty sure I heard one mare say something about 'size difference', and I keep hearing the word 'Playfilly', whatever that is."

"Playfilly, huh?" teased the mare.

Aero then looked at Rainbow with an unamused expression.

"What do you want me to think of the mares of this Equestria, if most of what they say about me involves sex? Honestly, it would not surprise me if it turns out that stallions are submissive, too. The mares of this Equestria also act as if they are superior when it comes to social standing."

That was a bomb.

And Rainbow Dash was caught completely off guard.

"H-hey! We told you that stallions are cool with us mares taking care of them."

"So you are not denying it?" asked the stallion, changing to a neutral tone.

"They are happy! That's what counts, right? They hate the idea of doing complex activities, and prefer to have peaceful lifestyles. They are grateful that we take care of dangerous activities and important choices."

"Remember when we were stopped by the guards at the castle's entrance yesterday?" asked Aero, getting Rainbow's attention even more. "I was the one coming to request an audience, yet I was not considered at all, and they only focused on Twilight."

"W-well, Twilight is Princess Celestia's student! She is kinda a noble, you know?" countered Rainbow.

"That is true, and there is nothing wrong with that, but they still didn't consider me when we were there." continued Aero. "Even when I explained the purpose of our visit, they willingly ignored me, and even said to Twilight some nonsense about me not being 'her stallion', and about scents."

"Every stallion that's in a herd has the scent of the mares taking care of him." said Rainbow. "That's common knowledge. At least here." that last bit was said because now Rainbow knows Aero's circumstances. "A case like yours is practically impossible."

"Taking care? Is it not supposed to be love? To be with a stallion because they love him?" Aero raised an eyebrow.

"You know that's what I meant!" said Rainbow, a little nervous. "Why you make it sound like something awful?"

"Because in a way, it sounds awful." replied the stallion. "To say you 'take care of a stallion' makes it sound like you talk about a foal, or a pet."

"Stallions are not pets, dude!" now Rainbow was a bit angry with the direction this 'chat' took. "You can ask any stallion in Ponyville, Canterlot, or anywhere else, and all of them will agree that they love the way they live! Remember that as mares, it is our duty to protect them. You may not care about this stuff, but herds are really important, and very intimate. If you join a herd, your bonds and trust become the pillars to being happy. If our stallion has a problem, as mares we took on the job to fix it. If one of us has a problem, we also help each other to overcome any obstacle we might face!"

Aero decided to remain silent for a few seconds before continuing.

"And while I respect that, I still have a problem. Let me ask you a question: If a stallion wanted to request an audience in the Day Court. A stallion that was alone. What would have happened? Be honest."

"Well... if that stallion was alone, they would ask him why he is alone. They would also ask for the mares of his herd, too." said Rainbow Dash. "Leaving their stallion alone is a serious crime."

"Let's assume he says that he is alone, and insists on asking for an audience, because there is an important matter that he needs to discuss."

Aero decided to ask a situation that was very similar to his own. After all, in this Equestria, things could have been very different if he went to the castle alone.

"I don't know if they would guide him to see the Princess, but they would definitely treat him as a guest and keep him happy until his herd is found." was Rainbow's answer.

"So... a stallion can't do anything unless there is at least one mare by his side." said Aero nonchalantly.

"..." Rainbow didn't say anything for a few seconds. "It's best to keep an eye on them. You know why."

"I still remember what those guards said when I insisted: Sweetheart, this is between miss Sparkle and us. Be a good stallion and wait."

Rainbow wanted to say something, but even she cannot deny that mares tend to be bossy and direct with stallions.

"(I just wanted to have a nice chat and get to know him. Why did it turn out like this?)" thought Rainbow, cursing her bad luck.

She's conflicted. She wants to know more about Aero, but he defies everything she knows about stallions.

She needs to change the topic! Or at least talk about something else! Anything! She-

"My apologies. It seems that I've ruined the mood of this 'relaxing time'." said the stallion, surprising Rainbow for a moment. "I should not talk about my complains to you. At least not like this. Again, my apologies."

Bingo!

"Yeah. You kinda ruined the mood. I'll forgive you... on one condition." said Rainbow, smiling a bit.

"Oh? Should I be scared?" asked Aero, obviously teasing.

"Oh, not at all!" said the Element of Loyalty, getting in a good mood again. "Yoy just have to answer some questions. I want to know more about you, hot stuff. You are not scared of some personal questions, are you?"

Aero only smiled in response.

"Fire away."

"I'll ask this one just to be sure: Are you gay?"

"Well, you are not holding back." said the stallion in a good mood. "No, I'm not homosexual. I'm also no stranger to sex, if you were wondering about that as well."

"Oooh~ I see..." Rainbow had a mischievous smile. "And what kinda mare are you into?"

"Not being horny all the time would be a good start." said Aero. "Being respectful would also help."

"You know that while stallions look meek and insecure on the streets, it's another story in a bedroom, right?" asked Rainbow.

"Love and lust can coexist, Rainbow Dash." said Aero, with a serious expression. "Sadly, the mares of this Equestria are more interested in the latter."

"Can you blame them? Look at yourself, hot stuff!" Rainbow dash got up while eyeing the stallion. "You look straight out of a mare's wild fantasy! No wonder some of them think you work at Playfilly."

"There's that word again. What is this 'Playfilly' thing?" asked Aero, a bit curious.

"Entertainment for mares." said Rainbow, once again with a mischievous smile. "The spicy kind."

"Are we talking about exclusive clubs and their 'exclusive services'?"

"W-well, yeah..." Rainbow was not expecting such a direct response. "Waiters, dancers, models, and, you know... cuddlers and..."

"And what?"

"..."

"Is it really that hard to say?" asked Aero, teasing the mare a little. "We both know what you are going to say, and it's quite easy: Stallions that may offer more 'intimate services' in exchange for money, or special privileges."

"Y-yeah..." Aero noticed that for a few seconds, Rainbow Dash lost her cool and was blushing moderately. "Is that common in your Equestria?"

"I don't really know, nor do I care." was Aero's answer. "Everypony is free to do what they want to do. However, if one of these clubs were to obstruct my job, then that's another story."

"You really are diligent when it comes to your job, huh?" said Rainbow. "Aren't you a workaholic?"

"Of course. I am Princess Luna's aide, and her personal guard." replied a proud Aero. "It is my duty to be there for her at all times, and to be always ready for her instructions."

"Geez, do you have any time for mares at all?" asked Rainbow in a teasing tone. "You make it sound like you are married to your job!"

"..."

Rainbow expected a quick response as always, but after a few seconds of unusual silence, Rainbow realized that something was wrong. For a moment, Aero looked up to the endless sky.

"Between my job as Princess Luna's aide, and my job as the leader of 'Elemental', The amount of free time I have is not too much. You wouldn't be wrong if you say something like that."

Rainbow noticed it.

Something was different.

Aero was calm as always, of course. But as a proud mare, she managed to notice the subtle change on his voice. That was everything she needed to know in order to understand two things.

One: His free time, or the lack of it, is not a topic he likes to talk about.

Two: He said that he is no stranger to sex, so he had a mare before. Combined with his reaction just now...

"(Be it an official relationship or a one night stand... this mare hurt Aero. Maybe this is the reason he is so reserved around us!)"

"Hey..." Rainbow stopped for a moment, getting Aero's attention. "What are your plans for the future?"

"Once this whole situation is over, I'll continue my duties. Why do you ask?"

"What if you stay here for a long time?"

Rainbow's question had the effect she desired, and Aero changed his expression, getting more serious now.

"I already had this discussion with Applejack's parents. I will return to my Equestria."

"But what if you don't?" Rainbow got closer to the stallion. "Have you thought about it?"

Aero sighed before answering.

"Rainbow Dash: How much do you trust Twilight? What about Pinkie Pie? Or Applejack? Rarity and Fluttershy?" asked the stallion. "Do you trust your friends?"

"Of course I trust them! What kind of question is that?" exclaimed Rainbow, almost as if she was a bit angry "What does this have to do wi-"

"Would you trust your life to them?"

"Wha-" Rainbow was unable to answer right away. She then changed her expression, getting more serious. "Yes. I would."

"There you go." said Aero, satisfied with the mare's answer. "I too, trust my Princesses that much. I know they will find me, and bring me back home."

"I see..." Rainbow Dash looked away for a moment, creating another unusual moment of silence. Fortunately, it didn't last for too long. "You have a really strong resolve, hot stuff."

"It is needed when you have to make some... difficult decisions." said Aero, but Rainbow noticed that he didn't take joy saying that. "The unsavory kind."

"What do you-"

"Hey Rainbow! That you?"

A new female voice was heard, and both Aero and Rainbow Dash reacted to it. Rainbow in particular recognized who was calling for her.

"(Crap! It's Spitfire!)" This was bad. If she saw Aero, a unicorn stallion, floating like it was normal, then there is no way she would not freak out.

Wait...

Soarin is there too! Why here of all places!?

"Aero! Quickly! You have... to..."

But Rainbow stopped talking, seeing as Aero was not there anymore. However, she managed to see something below her.

It was him. He was going back to the ground.

"(Huh... Didn't have to worry. He is definitely sneaky when he wants to.)"

It took a few more seconds, but both Spitfire and Soarin arrived, landing on the same cloud where Rainbow was resting earlier.

"Heya Rainbow! What's up?" asked the Wonderbolt mare. "Did Princess Celestia invite you and your friends again?"

"Yeah. What about you? It's really impressive to see you here, especially with Soarin."

"Well, our sweetie here was feeling a little nervous today, so I'm keeping him company while we practice some maneuvers for the next wonderbolts show. You should join us! You know Princess Celestia doesn't mind when we fly above the castle."

"I would really appreciate it if you join us, Dashie." added Soarin with a sincere smile that caught Rainbow off guard. "There's no better feeling than flying with you two."

"(Seems like they didn't see him.)" thought Rainbow, who didn't waste a second to form a smile on her face.

"Sure!"

All the mares and Shining Armor were quiet. They were proccesing what they saw in Rainbow's recent memories regarding Aero.

"I... can't blame him for thinking like this." said Celestia, who was obviously not happy about this. "The mares of Ponyville and Canterlot tend to be... very assertive, compared to other places."

"Let's face it: Most mares don't like to hear 'no' as an answer." added Sunset Shimmer. "It's like their authority is defied."

"What authority?"

The one asking the question was none other than Shining Armor.

"It is an absolute truth that mares have a duty to take care of stallions, yes. However, duty doesn't mean they have authority over a stallion's life and his choices."

"That is true." added Twilight with a serious expression. "While the law favours mares when it comes to mareless stallions, there is no mention of mares having a superior social standing compared to stallions. They are not 'below us', as some despicable mares tend to say."

"We respect them! They hate to be involved in complicated decisions and demanding jobs." said Rainbow Dash. "It's not like we force them to do stuff against their will, you know? They like to be pampered, and we do pamper them!"

"But what if a stallion wants to try something new?" countered the former captain. "What if he wants to be a guard? Or try his luck at construction? Politics? Or anything that involves being outside of his home."

"Well... Soarin is a Wonderbolt." said Rainbow. "That's an awesome job, right?"

"I've seen a few of your Wonderbolt shows." now it was Cadance's turn to talk. "Soarin is the sole stallion member, and his performances are always guided by another mare. His tricks are also very simple, compared to what his teammates do, including you, Rainbow Dash."

"Hey! It's a miracle that he can fly that much and follow those tricks, okay?" said the Element of loyalty. "He always gets tired after a show. We can't make him follow the other routines."

"It's no use discussing this right now." said Brilliant Orchid, getting everypony's attention. "Mares have been in charge of complex task and also protecting stallions for centuries. Of course we would think that we have some sort of authority over them. I am afraid to say that Aero is partially right: Sometimes I think of stallions as little foals that needs to be sheltered and protected, because they are frail, and just like us, they have been dealing with this curse for so many years, getting used to their weakness, and their affinity for calm, delicate activities."

Then she looked at Princess Celestia.

"Needless to say, Aero has opened my eyes."

"This will be an interesting topic to discuss with my sister later on, but for now, let's focus on Aero." said Celestia, using her magic to dissipate the memory orb.

"Yeah! What was that about mah parents?" asked Applejack. "From what he said in that memory thingie, they asked him to stay here!"

"Can you blame them?" asked Rainbow. "If my parents introduced a stallion like him to me, I would be grateful to them."

"I did say that any mare would be glad to be with him." added the talent scout. "I would be lying if I said that I'm not interested in him."

"That is a feeling I share."

Silence. An absolute silence that remained in the room for a few seconds.

Everypony looked at the last pony that spoke.

Princess Celestia.

"Why, I'm sure that even my sister shares the same opinion." added the Princess of the day, looking at everypony else. After seeing the collective surprise around her, she chuckled for a moment.

"Since everypony who knows Aero's true worth is here, I can begin this meeting... regarding his future."

*This place is huge! And this is just outside!*

"(Indeed. Anypony who doesn't visit this castle often would surely get lost after a few minutes of exploration.)"

When Aero came down to the ground, he found himself in the middle of the royal garden. Thankfully, he hasn't spotted any royal guard, so he has been enjoying his walk so far. Plus, it gives him a chance to speak with Themis. While he is a total mystery, he's also an interesting being, and judging by his attitude, he is still a child.

"(However, this castle pales in comparison to the Cosmic Realm.)"

*But it's so empty and boring! This place is way better!*

"(Well, at least this place is still beautiful.)" thought the stallion while looking around. "(I still can't get over the fact that this castle is mostly the same as the one from my Equestria.)"

And that's when Aero had an idea.

"(You know, if this castle is a mirror of the one I know, then maybe...)"

*Maybe what?*

"(You'll see in a few seconds.)"

And so, Aero changed his destination. Guided by the knowledge of his Equestria, he passed through flowers, bushes, trees, and exotic animals. His destination was still unknown to Themis, even when after a few minutes, they reached a dead end.

A wall.

*You wanted to see a wall?*

Instead of giving little Themis an answer, Aero activated his magic, and for a few seconds, the silver aura remained around his horn. Finally, a small symbol began to glow in the wall.

A moon.

"(So even this place is here... Most unexpected.)"

Once again, Aero activated his silver magic aura, and in a moment, he disappeared.

And then...

*Woah! What is this? It looks super cool!*

"(This, my dear Themis, is the midnight garden.)"

Technically, they are still in the royal garden, but now they are surrounded by beautiful, yet sturdy walls, and a transparent ceiling that somehow simulates the night sky. However, the biggest difference between the royal garden and this one is...

*This grass is blue! Many of the trees around have blue leaves, too!*

"(It's moonlight grass. It only grows in certain forests of Fillydephia. The trees and bushes that grow around it tend to be blue, too. In some very, very rare cases, instead of blue, the leaves turn white. Those variants are often called 'fullmoon'.)"

*And those flowers! They look like the shiny things from afar!*

"(Those are starblooms. I do not need to explain the name's origin, as the answer is clear to you now. Beautiful, aren't they?)"

*And the tree over there! Is that a fruit?*

"(Oh. Those are nightsweets. It is said that...)"

It was indeed a unique sight for little Themis: The flowers, the trees and bushes, even the grass! Everything is different compared to the main royal garden. It's also curious to him that Aero knows a lot about this place.

*Cool! But why is this place so hidden?*

"(While everypony knows about the royal garden in the castle, not many know about the Princesses' private gardens. In fact, only a few ponies are told how to enter each one. The midnight garden is Princess Luna's private garden, while the dawn garden is Princess Celestia's private garden. I can't say anything regarding the dawn garden because I've never seen it, but Princess Luna has focused on special plants and flowers that don't need the sun in order to survive and grow.)"

*So the sun pony and the moon pony have their own gardens. The moon pony's garden is cool!*

"(You can say that again.)" thought the stallion while smiling. "(As beautiful as the one in my Equestria.)"

And that's when he noticed it. Thanks to the area scan-spell.

"(We got company. It could be somepony with access to the garden... or it might be an intruder.)"

"Stupid Lily! Stupid Mint!"

*An angry intruder?*

"(You are right on the angry part, but I don't think it's an intruder. After all...)"

"Stupid mares! Stupid laws!"

"(He's not that far, but that's definitely the voice of a colt. How did he get here?)"

*Let's find out!*

Using his area-scan spell as a guide, Aero shortened the distance between him and the angry colt. As he got closer, the colt's voice became louder.

"I should not focus on magic? Try more 'safe' activities? How dare they!"

*A tree with white leaves!*

"(A fullmoon tree. It's indeed beautiful, and the colt is there. I can see him now.)"

Aero noticed that out of all the trees around, the fullmoon tree is the biggest in the garden. It's quite a sight, too: Every single leaf is white, almost as if they were shining. Anypony would think the tree is even magical.

"I'll make it my number one priority to learn some cool magic spells! I decide what to learn, not them!"

"Well said, young colt."

"Wha-"

Aero's words managed to scare the young stranger, who flinched in response. However, once the colt saw who was coming to him, he got confused, and after a few seconds, it changed to awe.

"So tall..." said the colt. Aero took this chance to examine him: A ginger-colored short mane and tail, with a light blue coat and horn. He seems to be a little taller than Apple Bloom, and is wearing a small amulet around his neck.

"I'll take that as a compliment." replied Aero with a smile. "I have to say, I was prepared to deal with unwanted intruders, or perhaps meet somepony from the castle staff. The last thing that I expected to find here was a lost colt."

"I'm not lost." said the young colt almost immediately. "I came here to relax."

"To relax..." said Aero, repeating the colt's word. "You came to Princess Luna's private garden, a place where you need a special authorization in order to enter, to relax."

"Yeah." replied the young colt, now focusing a bit more on the stallion. "You... are different. Any other stallion would freak out thinking that I need help. Also, stallions always have a bunch of mares at their side, but you are alone!"

"The same can be said about you." said Aero, still smiling. "Like I said, this is a private garden. How did you manage to get here?"

"I'm not telling you anything, stranger." said the young colt, looking at Aero with a bit of suspicion. "I don't even know you. Why should I tell you?"

*He has a point!*

"(Well, this is going to be interesting.)" thought the stallion, while also giving an answer to the colt. "Then I guess I should introduce myself."

Aero then proceeded to do the same thing he did when he introduced himself to the elements of harmony and the Princesses: create a silver-colored magic sword, making it float and with the tip just a few inches from the ground.

"I am known as 'Aero'. It's not my actual name, but a codename given to me. I am a royal guard, and also Princess Luna's aide. I salute you, young colt, for you must be one of the few, if not the only one who can enter this garden at such a young age."

The colt was now definitely surprised, and remained quiet for a few seconds while alternating his eyes between Aero and the magic sword he created.

"Are you really a royal guard?" asked the young colt. "Every stallion that I've seen walking around is either a gardener, a chef, or a butler. Never a guard."

"My circumstances are... unique." said Aero. "But I am indeed a royal guard. Of course, it's up to you to believe it or not."

"Well, you can enter this garden, too..." said the young colt deep in thought. "I guess you're not lying."

"Is the young colt ready to tell me how is he able to enter the midnight garden?"

"I have a name!" said the colt, now in a more playful tone. "I'm Crescent Nova. Nice to meet you."

"There are two ways to enter this garden: One, you are part of the night staff that maintain the place, or two..."

"You earn the right to enter." Crescent Nova finished Aero's words. "Looks like we both earned it."

"(Even that is the same here. Unbelievable...)" thought the stallion, while still focusing on the colt. "So, Crescent Nova... What is your story?"

"Well... I like magic. A lot. Since the day I discovered that magic was a thing I could use, I've been practicing in order to try more and more magic spells in the future, even if pretty much everypony around me think it's dangerous for me to even try." Aero could see the signs of frustration on that last bit. "Seriously: My parents, my friends, even my own teachers warn me about trying even basic magic stuff."

"Considering how this Equestria works, it's not surprising, but at the same time, still disappointing." said Aero, getting the colt's attention even more.

"It's pretty lame, yeah. But Princess Luna was surprised by my dedication to magic, and thanks to her I can go to that famous school founded by Princess Celestia!"

"(He must be talking about Princess Celestia's Royal School of Magic, or 'School for Gifted Unicorns' as Twilight told me.)" thought Aero, remembering a conversation with the Twilight of his Equestria.

"She also gave me this!" Crescent Nova used one of his front hooves to point at the small amulet. "If I concentrate enough magic, this thing teleports me here!"

"An enchanted amulet. Impressive." said Aero with honesty. "Princess Luna must have enchanted that amulet so you can teleport here only using a small portion of your magical energy. However, this raises another question: How do you leave this place?"

"Well, I don't know how she managed to do it, but Princess Luna told me that whenever I want to return home, the amulet will know, and it will teleport me back to my bedroom." said Crescent Nova, with a face that Aero knew it meant that he is still surprised about this.

"(A self-activation spell? That's not something any unicorn could do. I guess the Princess Luna of this Equestria took a liking to enchantments.)" thought the stallion.

"And that's why Princess Luna is best Princess! Ah, but Princess Celestia is still a great Princess, Ok?" said Crescent Nova with the energy and innocence of a child.

"I see now..." Aero walked a few steps away from the colt. "If Princess Luna took a liking to you, then it means that you have a potential that needs to be polished. Now, and in the future."

"She said the same thing!" said Crescent Nova with joy. "You get it too, right?"

"How could I not?" was Aero's reply. "When I was your age, I was already training both my magic and my body. I never missed my training. Not a single day."

"Yeah. I can see that." said the young colt, chuckling for a moment. "Say... You look strong and tough. Can you give me some combat advice for a unicorn like me?"

Aero could see it. The reason why Princess Luna decided to help the young colt. She was able to see his true worth.

And so does he.

"It sure feels refreshing to see a young unicorn like you: A strong spirit with a hunger for knowledge and the desire to be unchained. Free of these ridiculous expectations that mares have of stallions." said Aero, with a brighter smile tham before. These words definitely had an effect on the colt, because his smile widened. "Very well. First, let me see what spells you can do, then we'll work from there."

Crescent Nova, who was now filled with determination, activated his magic, revealing a light blue aura around his horn. He is not going to waste this opportunity to learn from the first stallion that really understands his troubles.

"I'll be in your care!"

Author's Note

~~Kept you waiting, huh?~~

My goodness! It's really been a while since the last chapter. Remember everyone: The story is not dead. There's only irl circumstances that do not allow me to finish a chapter sooner :pinkiehappy:

Of course, my other stories are not dead, too. I've been thinking about them most of the time, to be honest. An unpleasant mixture of writer's block and irl situations led to this 'pseudo-hiatus'

I just hope that this chapter was as good as the others.

As always, if there is any kind of typo, don't hesitate to tell me and I'll try to fix it asap.

See you guys in a next chapter! :twilightsmile:

XV - Stalemate

Author's Note

Hello there.

This is an early christmas gift. And an apology for taking so, so long for this one.

Thank you for keeping a place in your mind for this story. I hope I keep delivering.

XV - Stalemate

Just like yesterday.

Luna woke up early.

But unlike yesterday, she woke up by herself. A very strange event, considering that since her return, her duties begin exactly at midnight.

As she looks at her reflection in her mirror, she notices an unusual detail.

She is smiling.

Of course, she knows very well why. She knows very well that smiling is not something she does often.

That was, until Aero's arrival yesterday.

"(When was the last time I felt like this?)" thought the Princess of the night. "(This eager to be awake?)"

A simple, yet curious thought was lingering in Luna's mind. Something that she didn't care about in the past, and it was a foolish thought until yesterday.

When was the last time she was interested in a stallion?

Before her transformation to Nightmare Moon, all she cared about was that her subjects recognized and appreciated her work creating the night. When she came back, the world changed in such a way that even to this day she has a hard time believing it.

Mares and stallions were equal. They worked together to advance and achieve their goals. The current Equestria is a mockery in comparison.

But thanks to Aero, it took only one single day to ease her mind and captivate her.

It was enough for her to wish that he stayed for longer. She almost entertains the idea of Aero living in the castle. She, along with her sister would make sure to give him the freedom he deserves... and the attention he deserves as a stallion.

Luna averted her gaze from the mirror as soon as she noticed her reflection was blushing and with her wings slightly up.

She knows her thoughts are selfish. After all... Aero has his own Equestria. One that needs him back.

With a Princess Celestia and Princess Luna that wants him back.

She knows very well that her sister, while willing to help Aero, also entertains the idea of keeping him here if possible. It's a delicate situation, and staying friendly is the obvious course of action.

But this won't work forever. It's only been two days, and nothing is set in stone.

"I am not sure of what kind of fate awaits us in the following days... but I pray to the stars that it is not a bad one."

As she appreciates her night sky, something manages to get her attention. Specifically, her tiara. It's glowing with a faint dark blue.

"(It looks like Crescent Nova is in my garden. I have not been able to see him lately, so perhaps I can speak to him today, and grasp his current abilities.)"

Without wasting any second, Luna charged her magic around her horn, and with a swift flash, she disappeared.

Her teleportation spell was fast and precise. The sight of the special plants she selected for her garden, alongside the magical ceiling depicting her nighttime made her relax and enjoy the view for a few seconds.

She was going to locate Crescent Nova, but something made her stop.

She heard voices in the distance. Two voices.

"It's hard to maintain..."

"You are doing great. Don't falter and trust your mind and heart."

She recognized who these voiced belonged to, and a genuine smile decorated her face.

"So even the midnight garden exists in your Equestria, Aero..." the Princess began to follow the path guided by the voices of the young colt and the enigmatic stallion.

"Now!"

...

"Hey! I did it!"

"Congratulations, Crescent Nova. You successfully performed a standard magical projectile attack."

"(Ah... it looks like my pupil is training.)"

Was it a coincidence that Aero and Crescent Nova met here? For him to be training the young unicorn? For her to wake up early and decide to come here just when these two met here as well?

Was this some sort of signal for her?

"It's easier now!"

"Now that you understand the spell and your body aknowledged your will, your mind is giving you the push that you previously needed. Many young unicorns tend to miss this detail when learning new spells. They become too eager and fail to concentrate enough, thus, their morale gets damaged a bit, but that small amount is enough to make you doubt and hinder your growth."

"Is that why you told me to hold the spell before shooting it?"

"Indeed. That way, your body and mind will be fully convinced that you can do it. A unicorn's will and mental stability are important when it comes to magic."

"I see!"

Princess Luna gently chuckled as she was getting closer. That is indeed a very important piece of advice. It doesn't surprise her that Aero would be an excelent magic tutor when it comes to combat and tactics. She was thinking on how she could tackle this lesson with Crescent Nova, but it looks like Aero's approach was a total success.

"Thank you Aero! I will practice daily and strive for more."

"I am curious... Princess Luna must be teaching you magic lessons for everyday life and specific applications. Why did you ask me for combat advice?"

"I know it's kinda early for me to think about combat and stuff of the royal guard, but..."

"It looks like you have a personal struggle."

"Can you keep a secret if I tell you, Aero?"

"Only if you are sure you want to tell me."

"Well, I think I can't tell Princess Luna this... but you are a stallion, and a nice one! So I think it's ok to tell you."

This caught Luna off-guard. She has always been a friendly and understanding tutor to Crescent Nova. So why can't he tell her about this problem?

"What troubles you, Crescent Nova?"

"I... I fear that some day... a mare might try to hurt me."

"So you seek combat advice for the purpose of self defense. Have you been threatened by a mare recently, or in the past?"

"Not yet, but recently, the fillies I talk to inside the magic school tend to be agressive and have bad humor when I don't follow their advice."

"Because you are not 'behaving' like a stallion is supposed to do, right? I understand. But is there a particular reason you did not ask Princess Luna to teach you?"

"She is already teaching me enough to keep up with the school's lessons, because they hardly teach me anything there since I am a colt. She knows this, and while she is angry about it, she says it's best to keep it like that so I can properly graduate in the future. I don't want to trouble her even more..."

"Goodness... a colt like you should not face this kind of trouble, specially because you are willing to learn and improve. I appreciate your trust telling me this, Crescent Nova."

"I want to be a cool and strong stallion! Like you! I wish I could practice magic without everypony bothering me for it. You and Princess Luna are the only cool ponies. And Princess Celestia of course."

"I could also give you advice on a daily physical routine to train your body. I know magic is your focus, but it never hurts to keep your body in shape, even if it's just a little bit."

"Sure!"

For a moment, Luna couldn't help but frown in frustration.

To think his pupil had such emotional weight on him, and thinking it would only bother her, decided to not trouble her with his problems. If she didn't wake up early and decide to come to her garden...

"But I also suggest you to trust Princess Luna. She does care about you and your growth as a unicorn. Am I right, Princess?"

"Huh?"

"(Oh, you sweet stallion. Not a single dull moment with you.)" thought Luna, realizing that Aero detected her with the area-scan spell. She was close enough after all.

"Indeed, my dear Aero." said the Princess of the Night as she approached Aero and Crescent Nova with a natural smile. She then focused on her pupil. "It is a pleasure to see you again, young Crescent Nova. I see that Aero has been guiding you in the art of magical self-defense."

"Princess Luna!" The young colt immediately kneels in respect. "Yes! Aero is truly a great teacher like you."

"And you are a great student." said the stallion. "I know royal guards with less patience than you, and I mean it. With your thirst for knowledge, I know that your magical abilities will bloom if you keep polishing them."

"You think so?" asked Crescent Nova with a hint of pride. "I guess I'll do just that!"

"Just as Aero told you, my young pupil..." said Princess Luna, activating her magic to create a tiny magic ball. This magic ball began to slowly grow in size. "It takes time, dedication and patience, but you have these traits already, along with a tremendous willpower to improve. You just need to remain consistent, and your magic will bloom in due time."

Crescent Nova was smiling from ear to ear while looking at Princess Luna and Aero. After a few seconds, the colt avoided looking at them, blushing a little, but also with a few tears dropping from his eyes.

Before they could ask him, Crescent Nova composed himself as fast as he could.

"Sorry. It's just that..." he stopped for a moment before continuing. "I wish mom and dad were as supportive as you two."

This certainly caught both Aero and the Princess off-guard.

"I know that mom and dad let me train magic even when they worry all the time." said Crescent Nova, looking at them with a mix of hope and happines. "But sometimes I feel like... like they don't really aknowledge my efforts."

The young colt lowered his head, clearly not feeling good saying this.

"I wish they would see me and tell me that they are proud of having a son that tries his best..."

"While I am not your father, allow me to say a few things." said Aero, who then activated his magic, enveloping the young colt in a silver aura. Crescent Nova was then gently lifted and slowly levitated until he was face to face with Aero.

"They may be scared of having an unpredictable son, but I assure you that they love you. Parents will always wish for a path of success for their children. And above all, while you might want to make your parents proud, always remember that what matters the most..."

Aero placed one of his front hooves on the colt's chest.

"Is here..."

Then he proceeded to place his hoof on the colt's head.

"And here. As long as you keep a heart of gold and stay true to your beliefs, what matters the most is to be the best version of yourself. Always strive to surpass yourself."

Aero gently put down Crescent Nova, who was now smiling with true happiness.

Princess Luna was... delighted.

Despite being a formidable warrior, his sense of justice shines through. He does not forget his oath to protect and serve, and does not abuse his special ability.

To see this side of him is a joy for her. Understanding Crescent Nova's worries, giving solid advice to him, supporting him despite this being their first meeting. His words were filled with a mixture of reassurance and hope.

He would certainly be an excelent fa-

Luna closed her eyes for a moment, embarrassed that her thoughts went there. She quickly saw Aero, and a wave of relief spread through her body, because the stallion is not looking at her wings right now, so she has enough time to calm down.

"My dear pupil, allow me to arrange a set of targets for you to practice." said the Princess, using her magic to make several targets appear all around the place. The targets had the colors of Luna's magic. Some of them were even moving a fixed distance from left to right. "Remember to focus and concentrate. This is practice after all."

"Yes Princess!" was the young colt's answer, and then he approached the nearest target to begin.

Aero and Luna saw with a smile as Crescent Nova was focusing on his first target, charging the magical energy on his horn.

"I must thank you, Aero." said Princess Luna, in a relaxing, slightly vulnerable voice. "I was not aware of Crescent Nova's recent worries. Had you not encountered him today, I would have remained unaware of it."

"There is nothing to apologize for, Princess Luna." replied Aero, still looking at the young colt. "His troubles were a result of this nonsensical situation about mares and stallion. I hope that my words were enough to make him trust you more."

"You were really kind to him, yet remained professional when teaching. I would not be surprised if colts and fillies look at you as a role model."

"I wonder about that." said Aero as he chuckled.

There are a few seconds of silence between the two, as they watch Crescent Nova still practicing with the targets, until...

"Princess Luna."

"Yes?"

"Crescent Nova... Am I correct when I say that he is not cursed?"

Princess Luna let out a delightful chuckle, her smile not disappearing from her face.

"May I ask: What gave it away?"

"You may not know yet, since you just woke up, but there was a situation in Ponyville." said Aero. "And-"

"Are you perhaps referring to your valiant contribution to Ponyville's defense during an attack today?" interrupted Princess Luna, smiling at him. "I do know about it, dear Aero. Years of time and duty made us create a very particular spell where Tia can 'visit' me in the dream realm and talk, while I remain asleep."

"I should have expected something like that. I wonder if the Princesses of my Equestria have a similar spell, if not the same one..." said Aero, taking a moment before continuing. "When the situation was under control while waiting inside Ponyville's town hall, I saw a unicorn not far away from me. He was surrounded by many mares, possibly a herd. He was using his magic to levitate a glass of water and barely managed to do it. The glass of water was even trembling a bit the whole time."

Aero then focused on the young colt, who managed to hit the first two targets and was smiling with pride on his eyes, but also having fun.

"But when I see Crescent Nova, it's like seeing a colt from my Equestria. He is a fast learner, and I am pretty sure he has more magic control than the stallion I just mentioned. He definitely has potential. He has the best teacher after all."

"I appreciate your honest praise, Aero." said Luna, who was truly about it. "And his potential is the reason I took him as my student and protegee. Not even my sister knows about him."

This was enough to make Aero look at her, with a mix of curiosity and slight surprise.

"I love my dear sister, but I wish to nurture Crescent Nova's talents as much as possible. I want to protect him from this... negative influence of this society."

"Do you perhaps have plans of making him stay in the castle once he graduates?"

"When the time comes, I will offer him my support as Princess of Equestria, but it is up to him to decide. His sole existence is a true miracle, and I do not wish to see his freedom and innocence tainted by foolish beliefs of this current society."

Aero simply smiles, then focuses back on the colt.

"I will do my best to keep this secret as well."

Princess Luna slowly focused Aero, and...

Gave him a peck on his cheek.

"Thank you." said the Princess, in a true display of charm and honesty. This managed to surprise Aero. Enough for Princess Luna to notice it and chuckle. "It seems that even you can be surprised."

"Indeed..." is the only thing he said, with a tiny hint of a blush there. It made Luna happy.

Very happy.

"Discord, stop exaggerating and come here."

"I will not until she calms down."

"Princess Celestia is right, Discord. You are exaggerating. Princess Luna is fine."

"Yes. I am fine."

"See?"

"Nope. Still not going."

The scene at Princess Celestia's royal bedroom was interesting to say the least.

Discord was 'taking refuge' inside a floating trench he just created. He was even wearing a soldier helmet. While Princess Celestia and Twilight Sparkle were looking at him the same way a mother would look annoyed at her child pulling a prank... Princess Luna was staring at the only visual source they have to check on Aero.

And she just saw the other Princess Luna give Aero a quick peck.

And she feels fine about it.

"You think I do not recognize bloodlust and fury, Celestia?" asks a very cautious Discord. "I smell it! It's strong! Makes me remember that jab she landed on me all those years ago."

While Celestia was acting like usual on the outside, she was indeed a bit worried inside. The more time Aero stays on the other Equestria, the more they try to 'persuade' him of staying there. Especially the other versions of themselves.

The only important information they gathered from Aero and the other Princess Luna's conversation, is that the young colt Crescent Nova, is possibly the first natural uncursed male from that Equestria.

The situation was going nowhere.

Until...

[*The moon pony likes you a lot!*]

A new, unknown, and rather young voice was heard for the first time. For a moment they wondered if it was the colt that Aero was helping, but he was still practicing with the targets the other Princess Luna created for him.

So who was it?

["(Ah... Now it would be a good time to let her know about you.)"]

That was Aero's voice, but it had some sort of echo effect, unlike other times.

[*Yay!*]

"Princess Luna. I need to ask you a favor. Do you perhaps have some kind of spell that allows you to see and hear from my perspective?"

"I do I know one. Why are you interested in such a spell?" asked the Princess, with a hint of curiosity.

"I need you to cast it on me. There is a reason for this."

"Very well." Princess Luna didn't waste any time, and her horn performed a quick spell. Then, a magical sphere of moderate size was formed in front of her. The sphere began to show Princess Luna, but from Aero's perspective, since she was looking at her.

"This is a spell used by the royal guard for surveillance and patrol purposes." said Princess Luna, who was looking at the vision of herself, looking slightly to the side. "I assume you wish to show me something only you can see?"

*Is that true? She can see me now?*

A sudden, unknown voice was heard from the sphere, catching both Princess Luna's and Crescent Nova's attention.

"Woah! What is that?" asked the young colt as he walked closer to the sphere.

"That voice... it was not Crescent Nova, but it sounded young and cheerful." said the Princess.

"Yes. He is indeed cheerful." said Aero, smiling in slight amusement. "And he is the reason I asked for this spell."

Aero changed his focus, looking above him. There was nothing particular in there to see or examine.

However, the sphere showing his perspective had a different vision.

There, floating above the stallion was a small purple being with an oval shape and four small tentacles, each one in a cardinal direction. This small being had big, round yellow eyes and an almost cartoonish yellow smile.

And now it began to wave using its left tentacle while giving the most pure and honest happy expression.

*Hi! I'm Themis!*

Both the Princess and the young colt stared at the sphere showing Themis, then looking at the spot above Aero, then again at the sphere, where Themis waved in joy again.

"Hi there!" said Crescent Nova, still surprised.

"Hi!"

"A being that only you can see and hear..." said the Princess, looking at Themis with a mix of curiosity and wonder.

"This small bundle of positivity has been my companion since my arrival. However, it was only during my visit to Rarity's boutique that I was able to communicate with him." said Aero, looking at Themis. The small companion was moving slightly to the left, then to the opposite side, its tentacles moving gently each time.

"Just when I thought that you would not surprise me anymore... You sure are full of surprises, Aero." said the Princess, looking at Themis with an unusual glee. Probably becaue of how adorable it looks. He was currently seeing himself in the magical sphere.

"I am planning on telling Princess Celestia and the others soon, but Themis is the reason I am here. Themis told me he needs my help. He is looking for his sister." said Aero, going back to his serious attitude.

Luna understood that he is not going into full detail because of Crescent Nova.

"His sister? Is she lost?" asked the young colt in worry.

*Yes! I need to find her. She must be lonely without me. Without our parents!*

"I was planning on helping him today, but then the Ponyville incident happened." said the Stallion. "Before going back home, I need to find his sister."

Once again, Luna noticed that Aero didn't mention the alternate dimension issue because of Crescent Nova.

"I see..." Luna began to observe Themis in the sphere, as he was smiling at her. "I do wonder what kind of species Themis is. He looks unique."

"The only thing I can tell you is that Themis is nine years old, and that it comes from the Cosmic Realm."

*Mom calls me cinnamon roll!*

"The Cosmic Realm? What's that?" asked the young colt, tilting his face a little.

Luna, however, had a different reaction.

"I understand now." she said while smiling at the little purplish companion. "The Cosmic Realm is an unexplored area higher in the sky, Crescent Nova. We are currently unable to even reach such heights. The realm where the stars are located... To think I would meet another being who knows about it."

"He has the a ability to feel other ponies emotions to a certain extent as well." added Aero. "At least, from those who are close to me."

*Yes! The moon pony likes you a lot, and the young colt admires you!*

"Yeah! I admire Aero. He's cool and awesome!" said Crescent Nova without doubting his words.

"Yes, I like Aero a lot." added Luna with a tiny hint of a blush on her face. "The short time he has spend here was enough to not only lighten up my mood, but also to show the mares of Canterlot and Ponyville what a stallion of old is capable of. A remainder that I certainly welcome these days."

"I've spent a good portion of this day exploring Ponyville. Tomorrow, I will focus on helping Themis find his sister." said Aero, keeping his astral companion on sight so that Princess Luna and Crescent Nova can keep seeing Themis.

"Please, allow me to help you as well." said Princess Luna, observing Themis through the sphere, who was doing some sort of gentle dance while floating. "To meet a dweller from the Cosmic Realm is an event I did not epect at all. If there is a territory, a nation, or just neighbours up there, then it is my mission as Princess of the Night to keep a friendly relationship with them."

"Me too! Let me help!" added Crescent Nova.

*Thank you!*

"While I appreciate your enthusiasm, I have another task for you, Crescent Nova." said Aero, as he gently pats the young colt's head. "Focus on your studies. Remember: You have the potential to do amazing, wonderful things. Keep honing your skills, and no matter what other mares, or anyone else says about you. Be the best version of you and prove them wrong."

"Don't you mean 'anypony'?" asked Luna's apprentice.

"Who says you'll meet only ponies in your life?" said Aero in response. "You already met Themis, after all."

Crescent Nova saw the sphere, where Themis was nodding fast in a comical fashion.

"Alright, I got it." the young unicorn focused on Aero and Luna. "I'll make both of you proud!"

Just then, his amulet started to emit a gentle blue glow.

"Oh. Mom and dad must be home."

"Then you need to return to your home and family, my little pony." said in a gentle, motherly tone. Something that managed to surprise Aero a bit. Themis saw him, then saw the Princess, and then Aero again. Always smiling.

Suddenly, Crescent Nova hugged the Princess, who in response hugged him back.

"I'll come back in a few days. I promise." his focus then changed to Themis. "I hope you find your sister soon, Themis. I'm rooting for you!"

*Thank you Crescent Nova! I wish you luck in your studies! Become a cool stallion like Aero!*

"I will!"

The young colt touched the enchanted amulet. Then, after a few seconds, a dark blue aura enveloped him completely, then disappeared.

"I wish for his success and happiness as well." said Aero. Luna saw him with a feeling of joy inside her.

"What a doting instructor."

"In a world like this, he does deserve it." replied the stallion.

There were a few seconds of an unusual silence. Aero was admiring once again the flowers, plants and overall ambience of the midnight garden.

Luna, however, began to blush, while slowly focusing on the stallion's face.

"Aero. Would you mind... spending some time with me in my royal bedchambers?"

Everyone in the room was dead quiet. Princess Celestia, Princess Twilight Sparkle, and Discord, were observing the one pony... the one Alicorn who was visibly upset.

Princess Luna.

At any point, she would explode. Her counterpart's words echoing inside her again and again. Was she planning to-

["I wish to speak about Themis, and about you as well. Would you stay with me a bit more?"]

["I don't see why not. Perhaps we can take the long route and walk there? We could chat as we move."]

["That would be lovely."]

A sigh of relief was heard from everyone, along with a smile from Princess Luna.

"So... Now that a crisis was averted..." said Discord, who teleported right next to the visual source they have to check up on Aero. "I finally understand why we can see our tough cookie Aero like this. It's the purplish thingie! We have been seeing everything from its perspective. That's why the angles change everytime."

"Aero said that the creature's name is Themis." said Twilight, getting closer. "A being from the Cosmic Realm. I've never heard of it! This is so exciting!"

"We know very little of it." added Princess Celestia, watching as Aero and the other Princess Luna left the midnight garden, and were chatting as they make their way to Princess Luna's royal bedroom. "And it is only thanks to Luna."

"All this time..." Discord focused on the strange, multi-colored energy that allowed them to track Aero. "We had a piece of it. No wonder it contained traces of chaotic energy. It's from such mysterious area!"

"Themis..." Princess Luna, just like everyone else, managed to see Themis because the creature saw itself in the sphere. "If it needed help, then why it didn't ask for my counterpart's help? Or my sister? Why did it come here and choose Aero?"

"That's a good question, actually." added Twilight, getting closer to Princess Luna. "I mean, we still don't know if his sister was lost here or there, but the point remains: Instead of one of you two, the creature chose Aero. Why?"

"We have more answers now, but we still don't see the full picture." said Princess Celestia. A sudden, serious tone that got everyone's attention. "Nevertheless, we have a job to do. The more we delay Aero's rescue, the more the ponies of the alternate Equestria will tempt him to stay."

["What is the matter, Aero? Your face got serious all of a sudden."]

["My apologies, Princess Luna. It's just that I noticed something."]

["Princess Luna! Aero!"]

"That spell..." Twilight managed to see it. Aero used a quick spell. "That was..."

Both the royal guard and the Princess heard a familiar voice. At the other side of the hallway, Twilight Sparkle and her friends were approaching them. There was also a maid with them, following very close.

"Ah, the Elements of Harmony. Good Evening to all of you."

The seven mares stopped when they got close enough, and did a small bow in respect.

"I assume that Shining and Princess Cadance went to their guestroom already." said Aero.

"They did go somewhere else, though I don't know where exactly." admitted Twilight. "Knowing Shining, he must be chatting with our sister Gleaming. Probably training too. And Cadance... she is watching them, no doubt about that."

"Yeah. It is not complicated to picture such a scenario." added Aero with a smirk, knowing that would be something Shining Armor would do.

In typical fashion, they all gazed at him as he shows his smile, as it is an unusual event for him to do.

"Say, where did you wander off to end up tagging along with Princess Luna?" asked a curious Applejack.

"A few hallways like this, then the royal garden." was his answer, noticing that the maid was smiling warmly at him.

"We are currently going to my royal bedchambers to discuss something important." added Princess Luna, who caught everypony off-guard.

"T-to your royal bedroom?" asked a very surprised Twilight. The rest of her friends had similar expressions of surprise and a faint blush on their faces. The maid was the only one unaffected, though she was a bit curious about this, judging by her expression.

"Since all the Elements of Harmony are here, might as well take this opportunity." said Aero, who then focused on Luna. "They should come with us."

"WHAT!?"

"I agree. Since they are all together, might as well use this opportunity." added Princess Luna, focusing on them. "You wiill all join us, Elements of Harmony."

"Woah woah! Time out! Really!?" Rainbow Dash was the first one to react, her wings slightly up and clearly blushing.

"D-darling!" Rarity was next, with a face that clearly approved the 'implications' of what was said. "S-so bold!"

"Oh shucks... ah guess I wouldn't mind..." Applejack was flustered. "Ah think Ma and Pa would approve it."

"It's finally happening!" Pinkie was jumping of joy around her friends. "And with all of us! You greedy stallion!"

"I-I-I mean... I'm not..." Twilight was blushing and clearly nervous. "...Opposed to it... If that's what you want."

Fluttershy didn't say anything, but her wings were up, she was blushing like a tomato, trying to control her breath, and was quickly alternating between looking at Aero and shying her eyes away.

The maid was chucking gently, yet was interested in the idea, as she was eyeing Aero as if it was a delicious sweet.

A long sigh of disappointment was Aero's response.

"I will kindly ask for all of you to get your minds out of the gutter."

His words made Luna react, finally understanding what was happening.

"By the stars... I did not mean to imply an intimate encounter between all of us and Aero." Luna quickly apologized, a bit embarrassed. Pinkie Pie, who was still jumping, stopped mid-air. "I am really sorry. I truly meant what I said. We will discuss something important, and your presence would make it faster to understand."

The Element's flustered expressions quickly turned into embarrassment. Except for Pinkie, who just chuckled in response.

"W-we understand..." managed to say Twilight, her pride hurt due to jumping to conclusions. "We'll go with you."

"Before that, though..." Aero's words took their attention. "I do have a question... for you."

Aero was not looking at Twilight, nor any of her friends and Elements of Harmony.

He was looking at the maid.

"Me? Of course. What is it, dear guest?" asked the maid with a gentle voice.

"How long do you intend to keep your disguise?"

There was a somewhat eerie silence of a few seconds.

"I'm afraid I do not understand, dear guest." was the maid's answer, not giving a single hint of nervousness.

"The only reason I am not attacking you right now is because I was told that changelings here can walk freely and without the need to disguise as somepony else." said Aero, not losing his focus on the maid. "Besides, even if you try to hide it, your presence and magic energy is simply too strong to not stand out after a quick scan spell."

Aero slowly approached the maid.

"You are no ordinary changeling. Identify yourself."

His voice was strong. Commanding even. Managed to send shivers to some of the mares around in the best way possible.

But the maid changed her smile a little. It was a still a tender one.

"You should be careful with such a voice, sweetheart. You may woo and conquer a mare without knowing it. That said, I am impressed. Celestia was right: You are a miracle."

Aero expected a green flame signaling the changeling's iconic quick transformation. Instead, he was greeted by a gentle, multicolored energy that moved as fast as the flames should have. However, the transformation lasted for a couple of seconds.

The changeling's original appearance managed to surprise him. Because of who she was, and because of how different she looks.

She had a lovely, lustrous white body. The holes that all changelings usually have were missing on her. Her wings were larger, and had majestic, royal looks. Her mane was a bit larger, and had a lighter coloring in contrast of the original he remembers. She was even emitting a very faint glow around her.

However, her face and eyes were similar to what he remembers, and so is her height.

He is not mistaken. He has seen that face countless times: Wanted posters, several newspapers showcasing her foul crimes, including the identity theft of his friend's fiancee.

The same face that even now, still smiles motherly at him.

"Hello sweetie." said the new, taller changeling.

Aero was instinctively on guard, yet remained neutral. Still trying to get used to her appearance in this Equestria.

"Hello... Queen Chrysalis of the changelings."

I - The Weird Encounter

It was a beautiful day in the magical land of Equestria. The sun was shining brighter than ever, and many ponies were enjoying a relaxing stroll in their villages and cities. However, the Everfree Forest was an exception, as many clouds were gathering around it. As the one place where the weather acts on its own, and many dangerous creatures lurk in the dark, most ponies avoid even being near its surroundings.

However, it's also where the old castle of the two sisters is located. Only a few individuals know this place, and even if somepony were to know about it, getting there is not easy. The current Elements of Harmony know this very well.

But today, the two sisters that used to live there are back for a brief visit. To the two Princesses of Canterlot, this long-forgotten relic of the past still holds both sweet and sour memories.

"We appreciate your help in this particular situation, Aero."

"It may not seem like it, but you are the only one we can count on when it comes to...intimate problems."

"Princess Celestia. Princess Luna. It's no problem at all. I'm honored that you selected me for the job."

It's not every day that Princess Celestia request help from somepony other than her former student Twilight Sparkle, or the Elements of Harmony. The list of ponies or any other beings the Princess truly trust...is very limited. Among the few names, there is a certain royal guard that made his way after many challenges. He started as a simple soldier, and now...not only is he one of the most powerful ponies among the royal guard but is also Princess Luna's aide. He is the only pony, aside from Twilight Sparkle, that approached her in her first days after Nightmare Moon's defeat.

'Aero'.

A unicorn royal guard. He obviously has a name like everypony, but he has grown fond of his 'codename', so he uses it almost all the time instead of his real name. Even with the Princesses.

"We have already told you that you don't have to be so formal when we are alone." said Luna with a rather unusual, yet honest smile.

"I guess it's a force of habit." said the guard, appreciating her smile to the fullest. It IS very unusual to see Princess Luna smile like that.

"We ask you to at least try. That is all." said Celestia. She knows he's a bit stubborn, and considering his overall achievements, she can't blame him.

"Even in public?"

"Yes. Even in public." was the answer. This time, from Princess Luna. "Others may question it, but we will not."

"As a high-ranking royal guard, Luna's aide, and one of the four members of 'Elemental', you have earned our trust, and I say this because we care about you, Aero."

And it was no joke. Celestia knows that once in a while, Equestria can create exceptionally great ponies, with a strong path to leadership, greatness or nobility. Aero is a unicorn, but he was taught from a very young age that a mage's weakness is his body, so he prepared and trained his own since then.

Both sisters were looking at the royal guard, and they had to admit it...It really paid off.

His bright red coat, along with his brown mane and tail emphasized his well kept and strong body. Due to his rank in the guard, he was allowed to wear a personal cape, with colors similar to his body and a particular design to show his status as the aide of her sister. Aero also possesses a unique ability among ponies, making him a very valuable asset. He does not use the royal guard's armor for a few reasons, the most important being that to the public eye, he would look like an assistant and not a soldier, fooling possible enemies that may want to hurt her Princess.

He is a great stallion and stands out in a good way. Celestia took a mental note to talk with Luna about this in the future. Mostly because he is by far the only stallion that managed to get not only her attention, but also her friendship, and maybe...just maybe...

"Ok, ok. I get it." Aero let out a small sigh, then focused on her Night Princess. "I'm a bit surprised, though. From what Princess Twilight Sparkle has told me, there is nothing useful left here."

"As much as I love and trust my precious Twilight, if she were to know about the many artifacts lost in equestrian history...she could not handle it. Especially if said artifacts belong to us." said Celestia with a simple smile.

"Well, sadly that's true. Even I can admit that Princess Twilight can get a little...anxious when it comes to certain subjects." said the royal guard.

"We're here."

Luna's voice alerted both her sister and her aide. His current mission was to escort and help the Princesses if needed. The alicorn siblings came to their old castle to retrieve some personal items that were left, and for many years, forgotten. The last time they were here...it was not a good day. A younger sister was banished, and the older sister's sorrow was unlike any other in her life. It's no surprise that Princess Celestia would avoid this place at all cost during her lone reign. The same goes for Princess Luna. To come back to the place where you succumbed to hatred and jealousy...

It took Princess Celestia hundreds and hundreds of years to muster up the courage and come here. It may sound crazy to most ponies because they see her as the pinnacle of wisdom and leadership. But for Aero, who's been helping Princess Luna since her return, and has been told by both sisters about how they really feel about that day and the consequences of their decisions...he knows it's a big step.

"Aero...I have a feeling you will know what I am about to say."

She was right.

"You want me to check this room." was the aide's answer, who was looking at the big and old door. "So this is the place where everything happened..."

"I can't believe he figured it out so early." said Luna, who was also looking the door. "This...is the one place I don't want to see. Not yet, sister..."

"Me neither, Luna." Princess Celestia's voice was starting to crack a little. "I was so foolish back then...I feel awful just thinking about it."

"All right. Sad time is over."

Aero's voice took both alicorn's attention.

"Let me check this room. I'm guessing you have many other rooms and halls to search besides this one." he placed one of his hooves in the door. "If anything happens, please use the magic signal, and I'll be there as soon as possible."

"I expect you to do the same, Aero." was Celestia's response. The fact that she was smiling again put Aero at ease.

"We will see you later, dear aide." said Luna. Her smile was a bit more cheerful. At least that's what Aero thought.

And with that, both mares started the nostalgic walk in her previous home, out of sight in a matter of seconds. Aero could not help but smile a little at the sisters. While most of Equestria see them in their royal duties and public appearances, he gets to see them in a more personal way.

"Now then..."

It was time for Aero to get serious. He may be friendly when it's only the Princesses or his friends, but when he is alone during a mission, there's no time for jokes or fun.

He carefully opened the door, and noticed that this part of the old castle was REALLY dusty. As he walked, he was leaving a trail with only the dust from the floor. Almost every piece of old furniture had spider webs. Heck, he could even see some spiders. Curiously, most of them had some peculiar symbols on their backs.

"You would never guess a battle started here..." said Aero to himself, looking around while walking slowly to look for any kind of peculiar item. So far, nothing is taking his attention. "It's incredible that the future of Equestria was decided in this castle centuries ago."

Aero is sure that in the past, when both sisters lived here, this room would have been everything you search for when you hear the word 'regal'. Now, with the incomplete walls and destroyed ceiling...it's just a decaying room. There were pillars too, but all of them are incomplete and mostly destroyed. The few that 'survived' are being invaded by vines and little insects.

As much as he understands the emotional pain of the Princesses, the room is already starting to get boring to him. He kept looking for something valuable until he spotted some kind of unique furniture. It was a bit taller than a bookshelf, and it had some round-like stones with a few cracks around them. There were five smaller stones around a sixth one in the center, much bigger than the others.

"Judging by the number of stones, and what Princess Twilight has told me...this must be where the Elements of Harmony were kept in the past."

Aside from the fact that they are extremely powerful, Aero doesn't know too much about them. Only that they had the form of gems during the battle between Princess Celestia and Nightmare Moon, and recently, they took the form of necklaces, the exception being Twilight's tiara. He's only seen Princess Twilight's Element of Magic, and that's only because he saw her wearing it during her speech in Canterlot.

He was about to look somewhere else to keep looking for anything valuable, but something caught his attention for a moment.

One of the smaller stones started to glow. It was a faint, purple glow, and it was coming from inside the stone.

"What is that?" Aero got closer the the stone to take a better look. He looked through one of the bigger cracks in the stone. Aside from the glow, there was nothing else. He kept looking for a few seconds just to be sure.

"Maybe I need to tell the Prin..."

He stopped talking.

Because now there was a very small yellow round thing looking at him. He's assuming that it's an eye.

His horn was immediately charged with magic, teleporting a few meters back in less than a second. Princess Twilight may be a prodigy at magic, but Aero has been mastering many spells for combat and dangerous situations, teleport being one of them.

Something came out of the stone. It was the purple thing that Aero saw inside. His horn began to glow again, showing his bright silver aura for a moment.

~(Princesses! There's an unknown entity in this room. I'll try to immobilize it.)~

At the eyes of Aero, it was some kind of small and oval-shaped being, with a bright purple color, and now it had two small round yellow things, that seemed to work as eyes. The being also had what looked like four weird tentacles around his small body. He also noticed that it had no problem floating, so maybe it can fly too.

"Maybe it deceives with his appearance?" said Aero to himself, because if some mares were to see the small being, they would definitely call it cute.

The creature finally noticed the unicorn, and its eyes got a little bigger, as if he was surprised to see him. Then, it started to slowly approach him. Aero did a quick scan of the room with his magic. It seems there was no ambush prepared or any traps around. At first, he was confident that the room was safe because the Princesses used to live here, but with the unknown being's presence, he had to be sure.

"You don't look like something that could live in the Everfree Forest..." said Aero, almost like a whisper. "What ARE you?"

Just then, something weird happened: In the center of its body, and between each 'eye', a yellow curved line appeared, like it was mimicking a mouth...

Like it was mimicking a smile.

The small being was now in front of Aero.

"It seems that you are not dangerous...yet." said the royal guard, examining the creature for a few seconds. "At least you look docile."

The small unknown being was also examining Aero, looking at his horn, then his cape, and finally his cutiemark: a tornado, or cyclone. Many ponies say it's the former, but many others say it's the latter.

Aero was still uncertain about touching the creature or not, but the small floating being took the initiative, quickly moving one of its tentacles to the royal guard's horn.

In the exact moment they touched...

*I'm so sorry mister. I hope you can forgive me, but I need your help!*

*Please! I beg you!*

*My sister! My sister is...*

*...*

*Please...*

*...*

Aero quickly opened his eyes.

This was bad. Really bad.

He doesn't even remember passing out. He quickly got up and started to recollect his thoughts. The last thing he remembers is that he was looking at...

"(What the hell just happened?)" thought the royal guard, doing a quick scan with his magic. Once again, the room was clean. No traps or any other living beings waiting to ambush him.

Not even the little creature from before.

"(Where is it?)"

Aero looked everywhere in the room, but the unknown being was nowhere to be found. Like it never happened. There was no explaining to what actually happened to him either, and he hates feeling like that.

"(The Princesses!)"

Aero once again activated his magic. He needed to know if the Princesses were safe!

But as the seconds passed, he started to get worried.

"(They are not responding. In fact, the magical link is broken.)" this was bad. Aero doesn't know how much time was unconscious, and worst of all, he has no idea where the Princesses are.

"This can't be right..." said the guard to himself. "Dammit! Maybe the creature really did something to me! They would never break the link!"

But there was no time to waste. That creature would be something to worry about later.

There was something way more important to deal with right now.

"(I need to check the castle first. If they are not here...then I'll have to talk to Princess Twilight.)"

Using his magic, he immediately teleported out of the room. Not without getting his head full of questions that sadly don't have an answer yet.

"(What kind of enemy would be powerful enough to fight them at the same time? Let alone defeat them! I need to know what's going on! Was this planned? Did somepony know we were coming here? Dammit!)"

Author's Note

Hello there!

First of all, I want to apologize because while my english is not THAT bad, it can be for the standards of this site. English is not my main language (That would be spanish, pero no todos aqui lo entienden).

That aside, I wanted to give it a shot with this story.
I saw that RGRE is filled with 'X lives away in the everfree, mane 6 gets word of it, then ~~they try to hunt him to fk his brains out~~.

But what would happen if a stallion from a (mostly) canon-Equestria were to appear in a RGRE? And I thought of this.

I may update in a few days, or in a much longer period of time. Can't promise anything.

PD: It's clear that I need an editor that knows proper englsh. Any help will be really appreciated!

V - The Anomaly

"It must have been quite a surprise, dear Twilight."

"Quite the surprise indeed! It was an incredible coincidence, Princess."

And it was true.

Twilight Sparkle was preparing a letter for Princess Celestia, explaining Discord's strange visit, and letting her know that she would be coming to visit her to find out more about it. That's when the cutie map activated. Only Twilight's cutie mark appeared, and curiously the place it marked was Canterlot.

At the same time, Princess Celestia was preparing a letter specifically for her former student. Following the news they received from Discord, she knew that Twilight would be able to help them, so she decided to invite her to the castle to inform her of recent events.

That's when one of his guards informed her that Twilight was already in the castle, and she wanted to talk to her.

Now, both alicorns were walking in one of the corridors on the highest floor of the castle: The Princesses' bedrooms, as well as the additional rooms for important guests.

"Princess... Did something happen to Aero?" Celestia understood that Twilight was really worried. Discord really needs to improve his behavior around others when he's worried.

There's no way to hide it now. Not from her.

"Yes."

A simple and direct answer. With this, Twilight immediately understood that the situation is more complicated than she thought. She wanted to keep asking, but seeing that her mentor didn't seem comfortable, she decided to wait.

It didn't take long for them to reach their destination: Celestia's room.

When Celestia opened the door with her magic, they saw Discord sitting in a chair that was definitely not part of Celestia's furniture. He also had his legs on a desk that didn't seem to be hers either.

"Ah! Twilight, it's wonderful to see you again. How about a big hug?"

"He is still acting weird..." said Twilight, a bit confused.

"Discord, please get out of that chair. This is no time to play around." said Celestia, as she and Twilight entered the room.

"You're still no fun, I see." said a disappointed Discord, then he snapped the fingers of his left hand, and both pieces of furniture disappeared, although he was still in the same position in midair.

Twilight noticed that at the same time the furniture disappeared, a small object appeared next to the draconequus: A small jar, with... something inside. It was constantly changing colors.

Celestia closed the door, then used her magic, creating a small magic ball that started to expand itself, getting big enough to cover almost the whole room. Now it looks more like a barrier.

"A soundproof spell?" Twilight was now sure that something big is going on if Princess Celestia doesn't want anypony to hear them.

"Twilight. What you are going to hear now is very sensitive information. Nothing we talk or do here will leave this room."

"Of course, Princess. You have my word." Twilight put a hoof on her chest, knowing that this is definitely why the cutie map sent her here.

"Are you sure it's ok for Sparkle to know about this?" Discord got up from his floating position.

"You were not so subtle when you visited her. It was obvious she would ask me about your sudden visit," said Celestia, looking at him with a serious expression. "Besides, Twilight is more than qualified to help us. After all, it's thanks to her that now we have permanent access to the world where Sunset Shimmer lives. "

Even when she is no longer her student, Twilight is always happy when she hears the Princess speak of her with pride.

"Wait." Twilight just realized something. "Then you need my help because..."

"Indeed, Twilight. " Discord's voice made it obvious he was more interested now. "Let's just say that our tough cookie Aero went from Equestria A... to Equestria B."

"T-this way, please."

Following the indication of the royal guard who received them in the lobby, Aero along with Twilight and her friends advanced through a corridor that at least in the case of the stallion, he knows very well.

"(The castle and its shape seem to be the same.)" thought Aero. "(This is the only hall that leads to the throne room.)"

As they approached their destination, Aero noticed that although the mares in the castle had better behavior, they all followed him with their eyes, and some of them couldn't hide the blush on their faces.

Spending a few minutes in silence, the group reached the entrance to the throne room.

"Finally..." said Aero, almost in a whisper.

"Princess Celestia is waiting for you." said the guard who had guided them.

"Then let's not make her wait any longer." said Aero, preparing his mind for what might happen.

When the doors opened, the small group entered the throne room.

"(At least it looks the same as I remember it.)" thought the stallion as he took a quick look around: The large fancy carpet that reaches up to the throne. The various stained glasses on both sides of the walls, showing different events in Equestrian history, The pure white floor, and the ceiling.

And of course, the grand throne for both Princesses, with the brightest gold there can be, and even a mini-waterfall on one side.

There were several guards in the room. Obviously, they were all mares, but at this point, Aero does not care anymore. After all...

One of the two ponies that he wanted to see is right in front of him, sitting on her throne.

"(There's no mistake...)" thought Aero, while he and Twilight's group advanced. "(It's her.)"

It was true.

She was here. In Canterlot.

Celestia. Princess of the Sun.

And she...looked a bit surprised.

"(Do you recognize me, Princess?)" thought Aero, as he bowed respectfully for a few seconds and then got back up. "(If you don't...)"

Celestia quickly regained her composure and focused on Twilight.

"Twilight, my faithful student." Celestia smiled at her. "You should have informed me about this meeting. There was no need to request a formal audience to see me."

"I'm sorry Princess, but Spike was not available. He is with his friends in Rarity's Boutique." said Twilight. "And this trip...was kinda an emergency."

The Princess clearly saw how her student was now looking at the only stallion in the room.

She also noticed that every mare in the room was eyeing him. She couldn't help but sigh at this subtle but inappropriate behavior on the part of her guards.

"(Even in my presence, they cannot contain their excitement.)" Celestia was a bit disappointed. "(It seems that soon the guard will have to be educated to at least be respectful in front of a stallion.)"

"Guards. Leave us." Celestia's voice was soft but had a certain feeling of authority. The guards nodded and left the room... but not without first giving one last look at the stallion's body.

Once they left, both Celestia and Aero relaxed a bit.

"Now then..." the Princess finally focused on the stallion. "I think it is no exaggeration to say that her visit and this audience are related."

"Indeed." said Aero. "May I ask where is Princess Luna?"

"Luna will be with us in a moment." Celestia replied. "In the meantime, I would like to know how you met my faithful student, Aero."

Aero...didn't answer. At least not immediately. It was almost three seconds in which he did not say a word. Celestia was about to ask if something was wrong.

He was actually thinking. A lot.

"Before we begin, Princess... I have a question for you."

Aero started walking to get closer to Celestia. It would have been easy for him to teleport and appear in front of her in an instant, but while he's still searching for answers, Aero knows the value of respect and conduct.

At no time did he take his eyes off the Princess. This act was enough to arouse Celestia's curiosity even more since stallions have not dared to look directly at her for many years.

"Princess ... Do you know who I am?"

Once again Celestia showed her surprise, but this time it lasted long enough for Twilight and her friends to notice.

"You identified yourself as 'Aero', but I am afraid I don't have any memory of meeting you before." Aero could see in the Princess's eyes that she was being honest.

One simple answer... And it was enough to make Aero focus on finding a solution to his problem. The doubts continued, but at least he already has a better understanding of the situation.

Now that even Princess Celestia herself doesn't recognize him...

"Then I'm afraid we have a problem."

"I do hope our sister is right about this 'unique audience'."

Princess Luna woke up earlier than she should have.

Although it would be more appropriate to say that a royal guard had to wake her up on her sister's orders.

If there's one thing she hates, it's being woken up early. She was still a bit mad at the guard who woke her up, and she knows the mare is just doing her job, but even Celestia knows she shouldn't bother her if there isn't a very good reason.

And now, that same guard was going with her to the throne room.

"I... almost forgot, Princess." the guard tried to look at the night Princess. Emphasis on 'tried'.

"What is it, guard?"

"The pony requesting the audience is a stallion."

This made Luna stop.

"A stallion requested the audience? Are you certain that it was not his mare?"

"The stallion was accompanied by miss Twilight Sparkle and two of her friends." explained the guard. "But it seems they are not a herd, and..."

The mare stopped talking. Luna raised an eyebrow in response.

"Guard. Is everything alright?"

"I only heard this a few minutes ago so I don't know if it's true, but..." the mare looked like she was trying to understand something. "Several of my companions have told me that this stallion... defeated the guards at the entrance."

Princess Luna started to think that her sister considered this stallion special enough to wake her up early. This stallion also requested both her and her sister for the audience.

She's actually a bit happy about this. Almost nopony goes to her Night Court. It's no surprise. Nightmare Moon left a deep scar in Equestria. She knows she deserves this, and her sister told her it would require time to dissipate the fear of everypony.

But now, what she heard definitely took her attention.

A mareless stallion?

And on top of that he defeated a couple of royal guards?

"Did your comrades give you more details about this event?"

"From what I could understand, for some reason, the stallion got upset with them and then doubted that they were royal guards. They got a bit upset, but then he managed to take them both by surprise and... subdued them." the mare royal guard was really surprised to even hear about this, and her face was showing it. "Can you believe it, Princess? A stallion defeating a mare! No matter how much I think about it, I don't think it's possible."

"Common sense would tell you that now in the present, such a thing is not possible," said Luna, who started to walk again, and the guard followed. "Mares have been leading society for many years, and even if I still do not get really used to it, stallions are now in charge of housekeeping and raising foals."

And she really, really hates it.

After her defeat as Nightmare Moon, Luna had some pretty confusing first days. She had to start practicing her speech to not confuse the butlers, chefs, and guards in the castle. At the same time, she had to deal with the various changes in laws and customs that took place during her long banishment.

But by far the worst change she had to accept, and with a lot of effort, was the new role of the mares and stallions.

Before succumbing to the will of Nightmare Moon, Luna remembered that both mares and stallions worked together and equally.

But now? Mares are the ones who take almost all decisions, Stallions are now so few that herds had to become the norm in hopes that more males would be born.

But the worst of all was how the stallions themselves changed.

They were once strong soldiers, proud workers, and willing to challenge life itself. Now? Frail in body and mind, they are completely dependent on a mare for decisions and have a strange fascination for dresses.

And all because of that...

Something that happened during her banishment. When her sister told her about it, she could not believe it, but as the days passed, she had to accept reality.

"I was also told that he's very handsome." the guard didn't hide her curiosity. "They are still wondering how he doesn't have a mare yet. No stallion can be without a mare for such a long time and be still alive!"

Luna was calm on the outside, but internally she was wondering what would happen in this audience. After all, the fact that it was a stallion who asked for it is already an unprecedented event in this new society.

"Well, guard. It seems that we are going to find out very soon."

Princess Luna arrived at the doors of the throne room. The guard who was accompanying her joined her comrades who immediately briefed her on the current situation.

For some reason, Twilight Sparkle and her friends were there too.

"It is good to see you, Elements of Harmony." Luna respectfully greeted her sister's student and her friends. "I was told that you and your friends were with my sister and the stallion that requested the audience."

"Princess Celestia... asked us to wait outside." answered Twilight, a bit worried. "The moment Aero mentioned the Everfree Forest."

"The Everfree Forest?" Luna knew that the words 'stallion' and 'Everfree Forest' definitely didn't go together in any sentence, and that 'Aero' was probably the stallion's name. The guards started to murmur to one another. A few butlers also heard this while passing through.

"I think Princess Celestia is worried about this." Twilight used her magic to take out a scroll from her bag. Luna approached the parchment when she noticed that there was something written on it.

If you didn't feel it, don't blame yourself. No unicorn would have been able to feel it. I was lucky to feel it because as an alicorn, our magical senses are greatly intensified.

I've sent a few pegasi scouts to check on the forest to see if there's anything different, but according to them, there's nothing wrong. I am sending you this letter so that you and your friends don't go near the forest for now. Maybe it's nothing, but I'd rather be safe than sorry.

Yours, Princess Celestia."

By reading the letter, Luna understood her sister's actions. She also understood that she must enter the throne room right now.

"My sister is simply worried about you. We hope you understand." said Luna, approaching the door, although before opening it, she once again directed her gaze to Twilight.

"Twilight Sparkle. May I ask you something?"

"Sure. What is it, Princess?"

"Is it true that this stallion defeated two royal guards at the castle entrance?"

As soon as she finished her question, Luna noticed that everypony stopped murmuring. Twilight didn't answer right away. A couple of seconds passed where silence reigned.

"Yes. It's true."

All the royal guards did a collective gasp.

"It was very cool!" added Rainbow Dash, doing some moves with one of her front hooves. "He teleported between the two, and boom! The two guards collided with the wall and fell."

"(So he is a unicorn and defeated two royal guards?)" thought the night Princess. Now she definitely understands why her sister woke her up early.

"Is that possible?" asked one of the guards

"I can't picture a stallion fighting a mare, let alone knowing how to fight." said another.

"Are we absolutely sure that Sweet Pearl and Dust Windy were defeated by a stallion? Maybe it was a mare!" said a third guard.

"But I saw it! It was the same stallion that is now in the throne room with Princess Celestia." another guard spoke.

"Do I need to remind you all that you are still on duty?"

The firm and powerful voice of Princess Luna made all the guards slightly nervous, but they immediately fell silent.

"He is not like other stallions..."

Most ponies didn't hear it, but Luna was able to hear Fluttershy's whisper, and there was no doubt that the shy pony was interested in him.

"(Let us see who you are, stallion Aero. You seem to be quite the enigma to these mares.)"

Luna, using her magic, gently moved the door to the throne room, and entered.

When she opened the door, there was no sound at all, and a few of the guards, as well as Twilight and her friends, noticed it.

"(A soundproof spell.)" thought Luna while closing the door. "(It is the first time since my return that I have seen my sister being so cautious.)"

As she advanced, she could see that her sister and the stallion were looking at each other head-on, albeit from an acceptable distance.

And...

"(By the stars...)" Luna had to make an effort not to show her surprise. "(Now I understand everypony's interest in him.)"

A pure red coat, like the blood of a noble, or the beauty of a rose. His mane and tail are of a brown color. Such a common color, and yet...so brilliant, like a blessed soil. His height was imposing for a stallion. The fact that she was only a few inches taller than him was proof enough, And his muscles were firm and very well trained.

Truth be told, he was a very desirable stallion. It's no wonder why all the guards and even the Elements of Harmony took a liking to him.

"Luna. I'm glad you arrived." said Celestia. The stallion also noticed her.

"(And he really is a unicorn...)" If Luna had a partial interest in him, now it increased even more. This is the first time she has met a unicorn with such a healthy and strong body. It is a fact that unicorns always have a weaker body compared to pegasi and earth ponies.

But he is without a doubt the biggest unicorn she has ever seen.

"So this is the stallion that the royal guard and the Elements of Harmony told me about." said the night Princess, smiling but focused on the stallion's possible reaction.

Celestia looked at Aero, who was a bit conflicted, judging by his expression.

"It seems your guess was correct." said Celestia, although in a very serious tone.

"Sadly." added Aero.

"Sister? What is going on?" asked Luna, finally reaching the two ponies.

"You speak to me like you don't know me, Princess." said Aero, with a hint of sadness in his voice.

"I'm... afraid that I only know what the guards and the Elements have told me." said Luna, a bit confused with what the stallion said. "Your name is Aero, and it seems you are involved in an incident concerning the Everfree Forest."

Aero just sighed. It was slow and you could really tell that he was not in a good mood.

"Now that my sister has arrived, we can begin." said Celestia, who suddenly changed her expression, focusing on Aero. "And I would like to start by casting a truth spell on you. Is this acceptable?"

Aero already knew what the Princess was doing, considering she asked Twilight and her friends to leave the room when he mentioned the Everfree Forest.

"Of course, Princess. It's only natural for you to be concerned for the well-being of your student and her friends."

Celestia allowed herself to smile slightly as she activated her magic. A bright golden aura appeared on her horn, and in a matter of seconds, Aero had a golden aura around him. Luna, feeling more and more fascinated with the stallion for his sure and firm demeanor, walked until she was beside her sister.

"You mentioned that you 'woke up' in the Everfree Forest. Specifically, in the throne room of the old castle where I used to live with Luna. Is this true?"

The Princess of the Night couldn't help reacting to this information. It was where her tragedy began, and where Twilight and her friends defeated Nightmare Moon.

"Yes. It's true." answered Aero. Both Princesses saw that the aura around the stallion remained intact.

"For what purpose did you meet Twilight Sparkle and her friends?" asked Celestia.

"After I couldn't find you when I woke up, I turned to Twilight Sparkle for help. Miss Fluttershy found me before entering Ponyville. Miss Rainbow Dash found us before we caught the train to Canterlot."

Once again, the golden aura surrounding Aero didn't even move.

"Why were you looking for us?" asked Celestia, who was impressed by the fact that Aero didn't falter even for a second. His answers were precise, honest, and without any fear.

"At the time, I thought you two were missing. That's why I wanted to speak with Twilight Sparkle. I needed her help."

The third answer and the golden aura didn't react. Celestia knows he's telling the truth.

"May I ask why are you using an area-scan spell?" asked Luna. "And to keep it active with such low magic energy, it is not an easy feat."

"Well, it was obvious you would detect it, Princess Luna." said Aero, smiling a bit. "Even if I use low magic energy to keep it active, it still emits a faint glow. Fluttershy was curious about it when she noticed it."

"I'm surprised you know about this spell, Aero." said Luna, "Especially considering how stallions behave in these times."

Celestia also knew about the spell and was wondering why Aero was using it. She decided to not ask about it so Aero could be at ease, but it seems her sister was defeated by curiosity.

The area-scan spell is an advanced spell that lets you sense the presence of those around you, even if they are hidden. The range you can cover depends entirely on who cast it.

Despite being a very useful spell, very few unicorns have managed to learn it and master it. While Celestia and Luna have already mastered it, only a few members of the royal guard have managed to learn it. Barely.

The golden aura around aero was not reacting. He was still telling the truth.

It was odd, but in a good way.

Countless stallions have been in the throne room. All of them were shy in their presence, they were never alone, and let their mares do the talking most of the time.

But this stallion in front of them...

Despite being under the effects of the truth spell. Despite being on his own in front of the two most powerful mares in Equestria...

He was calm and even comfortable. As if he was talking to two friends.

No stallion has behaved this way with them in a long, long time. Both Princesses felt something that was almost forgotten to them.

And they were enjoying it.

"Princess. This is not enough." Aero got a little closer to both alicorns, surprising both of them for his boldness. "I think it would be better if you cast me a memory-scan spell."

Both Princesses were speechless for a moment. His knowledge was also superior to that of any other stallion.

"Are you sure, Aero?" Celestia was honestly worried now. "Even if we are the maximum authorities in Equestria, are you sure you want us to look at your personal memories?"

"You only need to look at today's memories." Aero replied. "Besides, I trust you both."

"Very well." said Luna, then looked at Celestia. "We have his consent, sister. If he trusts us, then we must show to him that he is not wrong."

Celestia noticed that her sister was smiling, and she was happy about this because Luna doesn't smile too much. Even her 'mask' smile is an unusual sight.

But right now? It was a true, delightful smile.

Celestia and Luna combined their magic, creating a mixed aura of gold and dark blue in their horns. Aero, who was still surrounded in a golden aura, was now surrounded in a unique mixture of both sister's magic.

With the spell activated, the Princesses were able to observe different images and events in their minds, which are the representation of Aero's memories. They managed to see exactly the moment when Aero fought the two royal guards, and they listened to the entire conversation. Luna was fascinated by this.

They were able to observe the entire journey that Aero made with Twilight and her friends. Canterlot, the train, Ponyville, to the moments where the stallion leaves the Everfree Forest... and when he wakes up in the old castle.

Then there was just a black image, and it was clear that it must be from before he woke up in the Everfree Forest.

And when they saw his previous memory, they stopped to look at it carefully.

Because they saw themselves in it.

"We appreciate your help in this particular situation, Aero."

"It may not seem like it, but you are the only one we can count on when it comes to...intimate problems."

"Princess Celestia. Princess Luna. It's no problem at all. I'm honored that you selected me for the job."

...

"Let me check this room. I'm guessing you have many other rooms and halls to search besides this one. If anything happens, please use the magic signal, and I'll be there as soon as possible."

"I expect you to do the same, Aero."

"We will see you later, dear aide."

...

~(Princesses! There's an unknown entity in this room. I'll try to immobilize it.)~

"You don't look like something that could live in the Everfree Forest..."

"What ARE you?"

"It seems that you are not dangerous...yet. At least you look docile."

...

*I'm so sorry mister. I hope you can forgive me, but I need your help!*

*Please! I beg you!*

*My sister! My sister is...*

*...*

*Please...*

*...*

...

When they finished the spell, both Princesses were stunned, because nothing they saw made sense.

They acted as if they already knew him. What's more, they seemed to be very close, to the point of not hesitating to ask for help and favors.

Luna especially was excited to learn that apparently, he was not only her aide but also a member of the royal guard that they could trust. She had her doubts about the cape he was wearing, but this in theory explains it.

And then there was the way he 'flew' over the forest. That was not just unicorn magic.

And also the voice. It sounded like a foal speaking to him.

On his mind.

"That voice ... I don't remember hearing it." said Aero, a bit surprised. "Could it be the voice of the creature?"

"How can you not remember your own memory?" Celestia was also a bit worried about what the mysterious voice said.

"I don't know, but the creature is definitely the reason this is happening to me." was Aero's answer. "Everything started to go downhill since waking up. Somehow the creature put me to sleep just by touching me."

"You already knew about Twilight Sparkle, her friends, and us..." Luna was trying to understand the situation. "But none of us remember meeting you before. How is this possible?"

"I had a couple of theories when I was in Ponyville, but now... I think I know what's going on." Aero was dead serious now. "I even thought about the chance of this being a nightmare or some time travel mess, but with everything I know now..."

The stallion once again focused his eyes on his Princesses.

"At first I thought you were missing. I thought that something bad happened to you... but it turns out that something happened to me. This... this is a different Equestria. This is not my Equestria."

The doors to the throne room finally opened. Naturally Twilight, her friends, and the guards who were guarding the hall immediately looked inside.

"Twilight Sparkle. You and your friends may enter."

Luna's unmistakable voice was heard throughout the hall. The guards stood firm, while Celestia's student and her friends entered without hesitation. Twilight, being the first to enter, could see her mentor and Luna, but not Aero.

"Where is Aero?"

"We have decided that Aero will stay with us as a guest today." was her mentor's answer. "He came to us looking for help, but we had to be sure about his intentions since he mentioned waking up in the Everfree Forest."

"He is now being escorted to one of the rooms on the highest floor of the castle." added Luna.

"But... that's where your VIP guests stay!" exclaimed Twilight, who like Fluttershy and Rainbow was surprised to hear that.

"Wait, so he is a VIP now?" asked an incredulous Rainbow Dash. "What the hay happened in that audience?"

"Well... I think Aero qualifies as VIP. He is a very unique stallion." said Fluttershy, almost whispering at the end.

"This audience has been... quite informative." said Luna, smiling in a way that surprised Twilight. She never saw Princess Luna smile like that.

"You will also stay today," said Celestia, walking towards her student. "I've sent a letter to Spike so that the rest of your friends can come to the castle early tomorrow."

"I don't understand Princess. Why do you need us all here?" Twilight really wanted some answers. It seems that whatever was said in the audience, was enough to worry both Princesses.

"You'll find out tomorrow." said Princess Celestia, trying to quell her student's curiosity. "Right now, Aero needs to rest. Considering what I learned about him today, he must be very tired."

"So... you know he is like, odd. Right?" asked Rainbow Dash.

"He is very... assertive." added Fluttershy, who was surprisingly smiling a bit.

"Oh. Believe us, Elements of Harmony. We know." said Princess Luna. There was something about the way she said it that made Twilight think she was happy about this.

"Which is why the mare escorting him is somepony we trust." added Celestia with a smile. "You also know her very well. Both of you are fast learners."

"And here we are! The floor of the Princesses and their guests. Make yourself at home, handsome."

"Thank you. Although I already knew how to get here, I appreciate the gesture that you have accompanied me."

After listening to Aero, and due to the clear evidence that something very strange was happening, the Princesses decided that he should stay at the castle today as a guest. He couldn't be happier with this decision, because he was getting tired of everything he's seen today.

Lack of stallions, excess of mares with an attitude that leaves much to be desired, different events, different customs, and so on.

And the icing on the cake...

He is so close... yet so far away from home.

"Aaaand this is your room."

"...It's the room next to Princess Luna's bedroom. Are you sure this is the room they gave me?"

If there's something else he's happy with, it's the fact that this particular mare has not been acting like a creepy stalker like the others. She is by far the nicest mare he has seen, aside from Fluttershy, Twilight, and the Princesses.

"It sure is, handsome. This was actually an order from both Princesses." answered the mare.

"I never saw you talking to them in private, and we both teleported at the same time, so I assume you used a magic signal."

This got the mare's attention.

"Hey~ You know your stuff. I'm Impressed."

"What did the Princesses tell you about me?" asked the stallion, who allowed himself a small smile.

"You should smile more often, handsome." said the mare, who was clearly enjoying the little chat. "As for your question, they only told me that you are a VIP, incredibly single, and to not underestimate you. Oh, and your name of course."

"Yeah, that sounds about right." concluded the stallion.

"Don't get me wrong Aero. I can see clearly why all the mares are stalking you. I don't even understand how you were without a mare for so long. A stallion like you would make any herd very lively. I'd dare say that each mare would compete to get your...affection."

The mare was looking at Aero with an expression that could clearly be interpreted as 'if you know what I mean'.

"I'm surprised you've managed to keep calm around me. I know it's not something I should say or brag about, but at this point, I thank you for it."

"I'll stick to calling you handsome." the mare winked at him, with a soft but true smile. "Do you need anything before I go back to my duties?"

Aero thought about it for a few seconds.

"Your name would be nice. I'm kinda curious about you, and it would be nice to have somepony to talk to once in a while."

"You don't waste your time, huh?" said the mare, who began to walk away from Aero, slowly returning to the hallway. However, she turned her head a little to focus her eyes on him. "The name's Sunset Shimmer, and a friend of Twilight is a friend of mine."

Author's Note

Finally!

I wanted to reach this point in the story.

Believe it or not, I feel like a huge weight has been lifted from my shoulders. I'm sorry if this chapter felt slow, but this is how I wanted this chapter to be.

Let me know if there are any serious typos.