My Little Pony: Guardians Of Equestria (Book Two)

Chapters

Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chatper 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10

Chapter 1

"So why do you think Mike and Applejack want to see us?” even though two years had passed since marrying the love of my life, Twilight Sparkles. The unicorn that was y wife looked up at me, as she thought of my question. The pony held a pink six-pointed star Cutie mark on her flanks, a meaning I did not truly know, nor did I ask her on it. Her coat was a faded purple while her large eyes were a shade of violet, her mane seemed to always be styled into more of a human woman's hairstyle instead of an ordinary mane, something I always found to be great for her all the time, not to flashy; and not to plan. It was straight and well kempt and shared its coloration with her equally tidy dark blue, pink, and purple tail. Over the past two year, she slowly started to change, growing a little larger, but no wings grew from her back at all, but I knew in a few more years; they would come. I myself had not changed much in the two years, since I did have the form of an Alicorn; I also gained the power to live a much longer life, how long; I'm not truly sure. But if Celestia and Luna had yet to age within a thousand years, then I myself would be living long as well as Twilight and our son Sonic Flash. The Pegasus colt, now two years of age was flying in-between us, his hair growing a bit longer, he took the style of mine, slightly spiked but pushed back. His tail longer then most of his type, a coat of pure white, and eyes as green as mine, save for my left eye was still red.

"I don't know,” Twilight answered my question as we made our way toward the farm. "From what Applejack told me...it sounded important.”

"Hrm,” I answered as I thought to my two friends. About a year after me and Twilight were married, they too married, the wedding just as grand as our own, Rarity and Devon had yet to be wedded; I don't understand why they were waiting. "Anyway, before I forget, where are Rarity, Devon, and their daughter?”

"They all left for Canterlot the other day,” Twilight answered with a nod as we went on walking more. "Something about shopping for the very best.”

I nodded at her answer as at last we came to the barn house, knocking on the door, it opened to see Apple Bloom. She had grown a lot in the last two years, where she used to be up to my knee, she was now up to my waist. Her body looking a bit more fuller with muscles since she still helps out on the farm, but her real job was to help us with the city, since her skills was for building things. She wore a brown hat, much like the color of Mike's and Applejack hat, in fact it looked much like their hats, but unlike their hat, this one had her Cutie Mark showed on the front, a red ribbon tied around it as the edges hung off the back as she grinned and looked up at me and then to Twilight.

"Well howdy guys!” she greeted us, her voice sounded so much different then the little filly I had known when I first came here. "And hello to ya too Sonic Flash, ya lookin' for Sapphire Bloom?” Sonic nodded his head as Apple Bloom pointed toward the old club house. "She's out there playing around,”

"Thanks Bloom, bye mom and dad!” Sonic then flew up a bit higher and then took off as fast as he could. "So what are ye two doing here?” she then asked as Twilight walked forward.

"Mike and Applejack wanted to see us for something, are they home?” Bloom nodded before letting us in.

"Ya hold on, Uncle Mike, Applejack, Brandon and Twilight are here!” as we waited, I caught my refection in the window a bit. The three scars over my left eyes were still easily seen, my blood red eye looking back to me as well as my right green eye. My skin started to get a bit paler, since winter had just ended, spring now just around the corner.

Soon the duo made their way down the stairs, Mike wearing a smile brown vest, no shirt under it his flaming shield Cutie Mark with the golden heart in the middle that almost looked like a huge necklace easily seen; as he wore slightly worn out blue pants, his hat always on as well as Applejack. His hair was brown and slightly long as always, his muscles easily seen as he was the strongest of the human group in raw power, since he was the Guardian of Power. His hammer slung around his belt, the marking of a flaming shield and a golden heart in the middle seen on both his chest and his hammer, his Cutie Mark. Applejack looked the same as she always did, smiling as she saw us as she waved to us both for a moment. Her coat was orange and her mane and tail were blond. She had a few freckles under her green eyes, something that suited the farm pony just fine. A brown Stetson hat rested atop her head as I said, and as always, I mean really, it was very rare when I saw her WITHOUT the hat on. Her mane and tail were tied at the ends with her mane hanging past her shoulders; her Cutie Mark consisted of three red apples.

"Howdy you two!” AJ spoke up once they were at the bottom of the stair. "Thanks fer coming, but we thought it would be better if ya heard it in pony, and not in a letter.”

"Bloom,” Mike spoke as his niece looked up at him. "You mind leaving fer a moment while we talk?”

"Sure thing Mike, see yer all later!” we waved her goodbye as it was only the four of us left, taking a sit in the living room, Mike and AJ sitting side by side as well as me and Twilight, Mike sighed and then smiled.

"The reason we called ya here, is something that we thought long and hard on.” He started looking at Applejack and then to us. "It's about Sapphire Bloom,”

"Is she okay?” Twilight ask as Mike nodded.

"Yeah, she's fine, it just,” Mike sighed once more before Applejack took over.

"Yer see,” She stated while looking at us. "We don't know what the future holds fer us, and we want to make sure that she is gunna be alight if something were to happen to us. What we are trying to say here is that...we want ya'll to be her godparents.”

Me and Twilight looked at each other at once at this, where was this coming from all of a sudden, I mean...there are times that me and Mike spoke about what would happen if Discord or my father Sinbad were to kill us, what we wanted the other to do; did...did they think they wouldn't stand a chance if Sinbad came back...WHEN he came back?

"Applejack...Mike...” Twilight whispered slightly as Mike spoke up.

"We trust you both, and believe me, we thought of the others as well, but well...Pinkie being...yer knows, Pinkie. Rainbow Dash living up in Cloudale; and she has Scootaloo to take care of now.” it was true, a year ago; we found out that Scoot had no family at all, she was living alone. At first I and Twilight were going to have her live with us, but we had Sonic Flash to take care of. Rainbow Dash thought she could take care of her, but Scoot had yet to fly, even to this day. So what I did was add a little magic to her scooter that allowed her to fly while she was on it. That way she can get from her new home with Dash to here anytime she wanted to. "Rarity we thought could take care of her, but then there's Devon...” we all kinda snickered at that. "Fluttershy was our second choice, but I don't think Sapphire could ever truly stay there with her.” I looked to Twilight, and I saw it in her eyes that we didn't need to think of our answer. Looking back, I smiled and nodded.

"We would love to,” I answered as they both seemed to smile at this.

"Then I guess I better get to the mayor's place and get those papers; Brandon you wanna join me?”

"Sure man,” I nodded as I stood up, we bid our wives goodbye as we started our way toward Ponyville.

"Again Brandon, thanks for agreeing to this,”

"Think nothing of it Mike,” I told my friend while patting him on the back. "We're both fathers, and we have to think of our kids first right?”

"You mean our foals right?” I rolled my eyes, it was weird now. We were saying the term the ponies of this world used on a daily basic now, I guess because we've been here for so long, it kinda dawned on us now I guess. "So...your sisters, their going to send another human here soon huh?” I nodded my head, it was true, since it had been close to two years since we last saw of any sort of threat, they wanted to bring yet another human here, much like they did with Mike. I was speaking to them just the other week, since I was starting to take the role of prince a little more better now. There were times I had to go in place of Celestia or Luna for something, saying it would be better now that I start learning to be a prince. As we spoke, I was not on with their ideas at first of bringing another human here. Yes it had been only two years, but my gut was telling me something bad was going to happen...really...really bad. But in the end, we came to an understanding that this had to be done, if we waited until the war was over, the ponies would think something was up.

"I still don't truly know if this is the best time to do so,” I told him with a sigh. "I mean...Discord and...Sinbad are still out there, plotting...I just know it. My father is not the type to just roll over and give up, he was searching for me for years Mike, years! He doesn't care what happens to the ones around him, he doesn't care what happens to him, all he cares about, is getting his goal!”

"Brandon, Brandon! Easy...take some deep breaths!” I sighed and held my chest as I took some hollow breaths, before shrugging his hand off my shoulder.

"I don't like not knowing where he is Mike,” I spoke in an almost whisper. "It makes me uneasy, it makes my skin itch thinking that maybe...he's watching us right now.”

We came in front of the mayor office, Mike went in to get the papers while I waited outside, looking around I watched as some ponies looked to me and nodded their heads at me as I nodded back or waved when they waved. The ponies here in Ponyville had long since stopped bowing before me, after the one hundred times of me telling them to stop treating me like one. Though they still gave me free stuff; that was something I was never going to make them change. After a while, Mike came out with a scroll in his hand, passing it to me as well as a feather pen, I read over it, this was the paper that would make me and Twilight his daughter's godparents. Putting my name on the paper I then passed it back to him as he rolled it up and placed it in his back pocket.

Pretty much after that I was left alone, walking though Ponyville for a while, wondering what to do, I had done my morning training, so that was off the list. I didn't work at Sugar Cube Corner any longer since I didn't really need the job; pretty much nothing was going on. The sun was shining, the sky were clear thanks to my rainbow colored friend Rainbow Dash.

"Hiya Brandon!” Looking over I saw the pony that had called my name. Her big eyes were a dark blue while her coat was a bright pink, her tail and mane were more of a magenta hue, and like always; poofy, her Cutie mark being that of three balloons with two blue and one yellow. As always she was hopping, maybe that was her way of walking; I rarely ever saw her just walk like the other ponies. Well...Pinkie was unlike any other pony I had met while living here in Equestria.

"Hey Pinkie,” I answered back as she stopped before me. "What are you doing today?”

"Trying to think of what to wear for the party tonight!” party...what party, oh yeah that's right, I nearly forgot that today was Mike's birthday, it seemed that Devon would miss it, but no matter, at least I got a few days out of not hearing him calling me a prison bitch. A few days ago, when Pinkie came over to ask him what to do for his birthday, Mike thought it would be fun to cos-play, like me and Spike did on the first Nightmare Night. When we thought of the theme, the one idea that came, was dressing up as characters from our home world. I'm not sure if Mike and Applejack already had their done, only Rarity knowing what they would wear since she was making their one before she left; luckily they said the costumes were done by the time she left. Me and Twilight already had a pretty good idea on what we would wear, Sonic Flash and Sapphire Bloom, I'm not sure, they asked us many times what kind of characters came from our old home, so I would sit down with them, and draw many pictures of what I could think of at the top of my head. "What are you going to wear Brandon?”

"Oh I have an idea, but I'm not gonna tell ya just yet,” I told her wagging my finger at her.

"Oh come on, tell me I won't say a word to anypony!”

"Nope,” I answered with a smile. "You'll just have to wait to find out.”

"Phooey!” she frowned slightly as I only laughed. "So what are you doing for the rest of the day Brandon?” I sighed and shrugged my shoulders slightly as we started to make our way though Ponyville, her hopping and me just walking.

"I don't know,” I answered her once more. "Maybe go home and chill by my self you know?”

"Well I still have a cake to make; I was just going around for a little break!” I then turned to look at her with a raised eyebrow.

"How big is this cake this time?” I asked, when it was my first birthday being here, she made a cake so large that it had to be outside and I had to use a freaking ladder to climb up to blow out the candles, with the help of my friends of course. And then the wedding, not as large as the birthday cake, but still large all the same.

"Oh don't worry; this one is only three layers!”

"And how big are these layers?”

"Small, like your forearm.” I thought about it and shrugged.

"Yeah okay, I guess that's good. I still can't believe Mike doesn't want anything for a gift though.”

"Yeah, I mean birthdays are about cake and gifts!” I chuckled at her before we came to the café. "Hey Brandon, want to have some lunch?” I thought about it and shrugged.

"Sure, I could go for a sub, what about you?”

"Hrm, maybe some hay fries!”

"Man I guess it's true what they say,” I chuckled slightly as we came to sit down at a table, the place had long since placed some stools at each table for me to sit or any other humans that would come.

"Oh what's that?” Pinkie asked as I smiled as we waited for the waiter to come.

"You can deep fry anything.”

Still waiting, the sound of wings were soon heard, looking up I watched as a yellow coat was seen before landed beside us.

"Hi there Fluttershy,” I greeted her as she smiled.

"Hello Brandon, Pinkie, do you mind if I join as well?” As always, her voice sounded far too gentle to be any sort of mean or evil, for as long as I known her, she never raised her voice at all. Feeling some of my nervousness fade away, I turned my head to look at the owner of the voice. A pair of folded wings at her sides the same color as her coat as she sat on the pile of hay next to me. Her coat was yellow and her mane and tail were pink, the mane was draped mostly to her right with it parting in two large bangs that curled at the ends; her tail was the same, being somewhat longer that most others with her mane even reaching past her knees. The Cutie Mark her flanks were a trio of butterflies with pink wings and turquoise bodies and antennae. Her large cyan eyes gazed at me for a moment before she smiled once more as I smiled back. Soon the waiter came, and asked us for our order for our choice of food as well as drinks. After giving our order, we waited while chatting.

"So what are you going as Fluttershy?” Pinkie asked, as I too kinda wanted to know what she would go as, I had given her many pictures of what somepony like her could possible be. They brought the tip of her hoof to her chin and tapped it, as if it was a finger before shaking her head.

"No, I don't want to tell anypony right now what I'll be.”

"Aw...” Pinkie sighed as I laughed slightly as I crossed my hands over each other on the table.

"Pinkie, just wait until tonight alright; then you'll know what everypony will be.”

"But I wanna know now!” she trailed the word off as I sighed and shook my head at the way she was acting, I swear, it was like having a little filly in our group with her around; but I guess that is just Pinkie for you.

The food soon came as well as our drinks, as we consumed our intake of foods and drinks, we chatted for a bit.

"So Fluttershy?” I asked looking over as she ate her food, looking like a garden salad maybe. "How was Sonic Flash when he came to help you the other day?”

"Oh it was so cute!” she smiled with a large grin as she held her hooves together for a moment. "All the baby bunnies were all over him, though I don't think he liked it that much, since when he tried to leave, the little ones would follow and pile on him!” I chuckled at this; it was slightly funny watching Sonic Flash try to do many things even at such a young age. Already he didn't want us calling him a baby, and thought to work with Fluttershy around her mini like zoo. The other day was his first day, and he came home with a few bits since all he did was feed a few of the little critters and such. "Will he and Sapphire Bloom be coming to the party as well?”

"Yeah,” I answered with a nod. "It's a good thing it's at Mike's and AJ's place, that place can hold a lot of ponies.”

"Hey Brandon, I got a question for ya!” I looked over at Pinkie.

"Yeah what is it?”

"Why are you always human and not your Alicorn self?”

"Yes...I kinda also wondered that myself Brandon?”

Even though I could now change into my alter ego at will without losing too much of my strength, I only transform when the need comes, like me taking the dirty of my half sisters...or me and Twilight want to do something different.

"Well you see, I'm not sure, I mean...” I took a moment to really think of my answer before giving it. "Yes it is cool how I can change forms at will whenever I want to, but I was born human. And really, I'm truly not ready to stay Alicorn all the time.”

"What do you mean?” Fluttershy asked as I turned to answer.

"As you both know, I'm prince of Equestria, weird how it happened, but it happened. I know one day I'm going to take the role of being a prince, and when that happens I'll stay as Eclipse a lot more then how I am now; until then, being human is alright with me.”

"I think I get it!” Pinkie Pie answered with a grin. "Be true to yourself right?”

"Pretty much yeah,”

"So since I got it right...can you tell me what you're going as, huh, huh, huh?!” she started to slightly hop in place as I sighed and shook my head holding my forehead.

"If I tell you, will you promise not to tell anypony?” she nodded while then making an X over where her heart would be.

"Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye!” she then placed her hoof on her eye. I chuckled at this, I knew Fluttershy wouldn't tell anyone ether.

"Alright, remember that nickname I said people back home use to call me because of my spiky hair?”

"Yeah huh!” she nodded her head.

"Well, I'm going as the guy they call me, I'm going as Goku from the show Dragon Ball Z.”

"Okie Dokie!” she then smiled and then started to eat again as I rolled my eyes.

"Dad, does this look right?” I chuckled as I helped Sonic placed the last of the coat color paint down as he looked to me. His whole body, even his mane and tail were a navy or dark blue, on the his hind legs he wore a pair of red and white shoes, his hair spiked backwards as he looked to me; his chest still had a bit of white in it. When I told him of a super fast hedgehog name Sonic, he wanted to be him because it was just like his name.

"Yes Sonic, everything is all good for you!”

"Wicked!” he grinned and started to hover up to my face and hugged me as I held him in one arm. It was weird, how he could fly and yet Scootaloo couldn't, heck I heard even the Cake's foals could've when Pinkie use to foalsit them. "I like your one though, you look like a fighter!” I turned to look in the mirror a bit, the main color of my suit was orange much like Goku's suit, the boots black with the laces, the under shirt being blue as well. The sigh I had on my back, though I never truly knew what it meant.

"Thanks son, now we just gotta wait for your mother and Spike.”

"Here I come!” in the last two years, Spike went though one more growing spell, though he did not want to grow any larger, he asked Celestia and Luna to make him stop growing at his size he was now, which she agreed, but it would cost him his wings. Though he never did use them anyway, it was no problem for him to lose them. He was my size now, his green fins much larger, and his muzzle a bit longer. When he came out of his room he was a sliver suit of armor, but on the left side of the top part of the armor, a blood red dragon came over it. The helm he wore, which I wove to allow his fins to come out, the eyes glowing an almost creepy glow. "Dude this armor is wicked, though it is a little weird to walk around in it.”

"I'm sure you'll get use to it as the party goes on right?” he nodded at this as he looked up at the stairs.

"Twilight, you coming?”

"Yeah, hang on...I can't believe I'm using something like this again!” I chuckled softly. After telling her all the different humans from my home world, I was shocked when she was at one time, one of the humans of which I loved the games. She came down wearing a black tight suit, humanoid, thanks to Celestia and Luna who would also be joining us in the party. As she came down, I blinked at how well the...what's the word, I think a gimp suit, well it did look like it; hugged her body. All of her curves could be easily seen, she wore this belt that went around her waist and well...around her...err...you know...inner thighs; the belt and the chest part, which looked almost like a bullet-proof vest with a light brown. The white headband she wore was long even as she tied it around her forehead, the two half a forearm cloth hung down her back, and her hairs spiked up a bit, a black eye patch over her left eye. When she reached the bottom of the steps, she crossed her arms over her chest while frowning at me and Spike. "If anypony think I went crazy again, I'm going after you two.”

"But dad said you are like some sort of one pony army guy right?” Sonic asked hovering over to her and then back to me. "Mom looks better then you!”

"Of course she does,” I answered with a grin. "She always does.” I saw Twilight roll her eye for a moment before she answered.

"Let's just go,”

It was getting pretty dark, so not a lot of ponies saw us, and when they did they always asked us what we were dressing up for. Once we told them, they just left, sometimes asking what we were dressed up as. Coming up to the Apple's place, I knocked on the door; it slowly opened as we made our way inside. Before I could take a step inside, something blue, like a blur ran past me followed by a girlish laughter.

"Sapphire Bloom get back here!” I looked over to see Mike, what he was wearing was none other then a Captain America suit, from the movie. Around his back was even the blue, red, and white shield. Wait a second...did he just say that blur was Sapphire?

"Mike?” I asked as he stopped and looked back at me as he bent forward a bit, his hands on his knees and he panted. "Uh...what's going on?”

"Sapphire...” he panted before looking up at us. "Drank...coffee.”

"Oh...how much?”

"The...whole pot.” Oh shit, that kid has to be freaking high on the caffeine. I heard her laugh again as I looked down as she ran around my feet and then around the sofa, hopping around and bolting left and right before she then stopped; then falling over. A small sound of snoring was easily heard.

"I think she...burned herself out.”

Being true to her name, Sapphire Bloom was as blue as any sort of sapphire you would've seen before, and the reason for her last name being 'Bloom' was that she had the same shade of red as Apple Bloom's hair. what she was dressed up as...you know what, fuck it, I'm not wasting my time telling you all what they look like, you wanna see it, look up the name I give you, or the hints, my brain hurts to much. Anyway, Sapphire was dressed up as none other then She-Ra, you know, the He-Man rip off? Anyway, she was knocked out cold, at least I hoped so, at times her hind leg would jerk before she then opened her eyes and groaned.

"And that's why I told you not ta drink any coffee yet Sapphire.” Mike chuckled as he went and picked up his young foal as she just looked around for a moment, her eyes locking onto me for a moment before widening.

"Uncle Brandon!” Uncle? Did she really just call me Uncle? "Oh wow, that a mighty cool costume! Whatcha going as?”

"Uh...Goku, anyway, did you call me 'uncle' just now?” she smiled and nodded her head.

"Yeah-huh, cause I overheard you and daddy talking about how ya'll like brothers from another mother. So that makes ya my Uncle!” we all laughed at this as Mike her down, the young colt and filly greeting each other before running off to play.

The others soon arrived, Pinkie Pie going as...oh dear god, Strawberry Shortcake, why was I not surprised at this? I mean, she even had the large freaking hat on. Next to come was Fluttershy; her coat was that of pure white, even her wings. Her mane and tailed remind the same as she had a golden halo over her head. So an angle huh? Not that it was a bad idea, I mean; she was sort of an angle in a way. Rainbow Dash came in dressed up as, well this shocked me slightly; a vampire. She wore a deep black cape and around her muzzle was two pointed teeth, no doubt the fangs, and around her lips, faked blood. This was a birthday party, not scare you friends shitless Dash...I could only sigh at this as I looked around, I believe that AJ said that Big Mac would be busy and couldn't attend, and speaking of her, she just came down with a...whoa.

She was dressed up as Black Widow, you know, from the Avenger movie, like Twilight's slightly gimp suit, it hugged her body quite tightly too. When she came down as a humanoid pony, thanks to my sisters who had yet to show up, she went past me and Mike. Now I know this may sound perverted in a way, but when she walked past us, me and Mike slowly tilted our body watching her walk by.

"No doubt Devon's work,” I spoke up as Mike nodded. "Nice ass though.”

"Hey...” Mike glared at me as I chuckled.

"What? I'm giving a complement, not like I'm trying to get in your wife's pants...her flanks.”

"Yeah, yeah, I know.” We both shared a chuckle as the day went on pretty more smoothly afterward.

Celestia and Luna soon came, Luna dressed up as Minda from Twilight Princess, you know at the end of the game, and Celestia, what else, but as Princess Zelda herself. I was surprised to see that Nova also came, since we had not seen him or the other old Guardians after Celestia Knighted us. He took Mike away, wanting to give his gift alone to Mike, and when he came back a few moments later, I could see it in his eyes that the gift that Nova got him truly touched him. I would have to ask to see it later or tomorrow.

As it became darker, it was time for us to go, saying our goodbyes; we all made our way out, toward our homes for a good night rest. Sonic was sleeping in my arms, poor kid, ate too much sweets with Sapphire, but at least he's asleep now. once we got home, Twilight's body reverted back to her old self as we put our stuff away, saying goodnight to Spike, we placed Sonic in his own bed in his room; before going toward our bed as well.

"That was fun huh?” Twilight asked as she watched me drop down to my boxers as I nodded my head.

"Yeah, it was very fun.”

"You okay?” she asked me as I looked back and nodded.

"Yeah I'm fine, just thinking on what Nova got Mike you know?”

"Yeah,” she nodded her head as she removed the blankets and allowed me and her to climb in. I was on my side, having myself up by my forearm as she looked to me, in almost the same fashion. "I was slightly worried when I saw Mike's reaction after he came back with Nova, what do you think he got him?” I only shrugged.

"Not sure,” I answered her as I lay on my back, she then snuggled under my arm, my hand on her back as I closed my eyes. "I'll have to ask him tomorrow, Devon, Rarity will be back tomorrow with their kid...and tomorrow is also the day Celestia and Luna bring here another human.”

"Oh yes, I nearly forgotten about that,” Twilight spoke as she looked away for a moment. "Well, I guess there will be another party tomorrow then huh?” I chuckled, knowing she was talking about Pinkie Pie and her parties.

"Yeah,” I then softly yawned before closing my eyes a bit more. Twilight didn't say anything, no doubt guessing I was tried. I felt her lay her head on my chest once more; before her soft breathing was heard. Soon after that, I too slowly fell into the magic that was sleep.

Chapter 2

Waking up with the sunlight glaring though the curtains of Twilight's and my room, I groaned as I tried to cover my eyes with my arm and turning onto my side. The Unicorn that was my wife laid on her side as well, for I felt her back on my own as she slightly stirred in her sleep from me moving. Thinking I could go back asleep, I closed my eyes and prayed for sleep to once more take me, and guess what; it did not. Sighing I sat up in the bed, the blankets falling down toward my lap as I yawned slightly, stretching making my joints pop and crack as I smacked my lips slightly and rubbed my eyes as I jumped out of the bed, landing lightly on the balls of my feet.

Going downstairs toward the bathroom, I closed the door as I looked myself in the mirror, the bags under my eyes easily seen as I yawned once more and took off my boxers to get in the shower. The steam and hot water was slowly waking me up as I leaned on the fall, my forehead touching it, the mixture of cold tile and warm water slightly making me more and more alert. As I stood here, I started to think of my life. Wow, it's truly been almost three years since I came here to Equestria thanks to Celestia and Luna, so much had happened since then. Opening my eyes, I looked down to my hand as I traced the lines of my skin; I was prince of a land filled with talking different color ponies, the power to change on will to a Alicorn, husband to a Unicorn, and father to a Pegasus. And truly, that did not weird me out one bit.

Back home, I was truly never normal, I mostly went on my own, training with my different fighting masters in case...he ever came. Clutching my fist as I thought of the one man I needed to kill, I closed my eyes as well. Sinbad, the man that was my father, and the killer of my mother; he needed to die, he needed to be destroyed! But...would that make me...like him as well? I dreamed of his death, thought of how I would kill him, rip his heart out, slash his head off, or make him female and then kill him. Was he right...was my heart truly as back as his? I shook my head, no; I was nothing like him. Sure maybe a little insane in the membrane; but nothing like him.

Turning off the water and getting out while drying myself, as well as trimming off the beard that was slightly growing. I came out of the bathroom with a towel around my waist as I went upstairs once more.

As I came upstairs to mine and Twilight room, I noticed that she was up, looking at a mirror; slowly brushing her hair with her brush, making it float with her magic. I smiled and came up from behind, kneeling down on the floor and embracing her from behind. She slightly smiled and nuzzled into my cheek as I embraced her.

"What's this for?” she asked me looking at me though the mirror as I chuckled and kissed her cheek.

"What, I can't give my wife a hug?” she giggled slightly as she turned to look at me, the brush going to the table as she then kissed me softly on the lips, her hooves wrapping around my neck as my hand with to her lower back and the back of her head. When she broke the kiss she gave me a small smile.

"You know,” she told me eyeing the bed. "You've been uptight for a while...and we haven't had any time to ourselves for a while...” I saw where she was going with this as I smiled and chuckled slightly.

"Really?” I asked her still only wearing a towel. "You sure sex this early in the morning is such a good idea?”

"Alright, then we don't have to then.” She then turned to leave leaving me speechless slightly.

"H...hey I didn't say 'no' did I?” she looked back and laugh slightly as she went toward the bed, laying down on her back, her tail draping over the bed with her legs spread; allowing anyone in the room to see her lower lips.

Going toward her and dropping my towel, allowing her to see me fully hard now, her laying like this always got me very horny, that and I did have morning wood slightly still, even after getting out of the shower. My hands on ether side of her head, I leaned down to kiss her softly on her lips, her mouth opening allowing our tongues to meet each other. Licking each other's spit and the inside of each other's mouths, my hands trailed down her sides, causing her to slightly shiver at my touch; as my hands went to her flanks, giving them a soft squeeze. Her hooves went around my neck once more as we kissed her hind legs then wrapping themselves around my waist as she tried to push me down on her more. I held myself up still, breaking the kiss as I then kissed her cheeks and neck, my left hand then going between her legs to rub at her pussy lips.

She slightly sighed in our kiss as I rubbed her softly; feeling her moist lips on the palm of my hand as I slightly brought my middle tip finger inside of her. Breaking the kiss, she then looked up to me and pushed my hand away with one of her hooves. Knowing that she wanted to truly mate now, I only gave a cheeky smile and then lined myself up; before slowly pushing myself in.

Inch after inch, I made my way inside Twilight's body as she slightly moaned, her head resting on the pillow, on her cheek with her eyes closed; a noticeable blush on her face as I pushed my hips further and further inside of her. Halfway in, I brought myself back out, my cock slick with her natural lube as her tunneled tightened around me, trying to keep me inside; this causing me to slightly jerk at the feeling. With only the tip inside of her, I then pushed myself back in, our moans filling the air as soon I hilted her, the soft sound of our hips hitting each other slightly heard.

My hands went down to her hips as I started a slow movement at first, slowly pushing myself into her and slowly out, at times grinding my hips along her own as she would softly moan and call out my name softly in a whisper. Leaning myself down, I brought my left hand to her cheek, pushing it softly so she was looking at me as I kissed her softly once more. Our movements stopping for a moment as she then placed one of her hooves on my cheek, our tongues mingling slightly as we mouthed each other, her at times sucking on my lips as I did the same.

Soon my speed grew faster once I started up again, my hips meeting her own faster and faster, the bed slightly bouncing, but luckily not making any noise as I was forced to kiss my wife once more to make sure our moans and love making did not become to loud. I started to shot out some shots of pre into her; she no doubt felt it for each time she would jerk at the burst of pre that I would put into her.

Because it was early, I couldn't last as long as I normally would, groaning and moaning the unicorn's name that was under me, I hilted myself within her; cumming inside of her. Twilight also moaned as I felt her love tunnel shiver and quake around my member, her own release being let go as she grabbed onto my lips once more, and kissed me deeply as we rode out of blissful moment. After a while, we came down from our high, holding myself up, I looked down to Twilight as she panted slightly. Smiling up to me as I smiled down at her, slowly pulling myself out of her and laying on my back on the bed.

A little while later, after Sonic Flash and Spike woke up, Twilight was making us breakfast as Sonic spoke.

"Is Devon and them coming back today dad?” he asked me as Twilight then brought the plates over, as I helped place them in front of everyone.

"Yes,” I answered taking my fork and picking up my fried egg and plopping it in my mouth and slightly chewed on it, before swallowing it. "They should be coming home soon, why do you ask?” I asked looking over at him as he took some of the egg and ate it off the plate before he looked away.

"It's Cloudy Skys,” he answered as I sighed knowing what he was talking about. Cloudy Skys was Rarity's and Devon's daughter, she was always doing slightly perverted things to Sonic Flash mostly. Sometimes even more perverted then Devon; which shocked me greatly when I found out first hand. "She's always bugging me and Sapphire Bloom,”

"Bugging you both?” I asked as he nodded.

"She keeps singing that song Devon taught her, you know. 'Sonic and Sapphire sitting in a tree...'.” Spike started to snicker slightly as the white colt turned to him and glared. "It's not funny! I don't see her like that, plus I think girls are icky!”

"Then why do you always hang with her then?” he asked as Sonic stuck his tongue out at him as I started to laugh.

"Look, I'll talk to Devon about her alright?” I told him rubbing his hair as he muttered under his breath. "Beside, me and Mike need to go somewhere for a bit.”

"Oh! Can I come?” he asked, not truly knowing that I and Mike were going to meet the new human that my sisters were bringing. I was about to answer him when a knock came to the door, since I was done I stood up to answer, to find none other then Celestia standing there.

"Good morning everypony,” she greeted us as she walked in after I stood to the side.

"Aunt Celestia!” Sonic Flash then got up and flew over to her and hugged her around the neck as she chuckled and hugged him back.

"Good morning Sonic Flash, are you ready for your studies?”

"Aw...” he moaned slightly hovering before her. "But I wanted to watch Uncle Armor train with the guards today, you promised!” I chuckled at this as Twilight came to stand next to me. It seemed that Sonic wanted to become a guard pony when he got older, and he would every time we went to Canterlot; go to watch them train; this being one of the reasons why he wanted to train with me a lot of the time.

"We will young one,” she told him petting his head slightly. "But first you must study; a trained mind also makes for a train body.” Sonic sighed and pouted slightly.

"Okay...” Celestia smiled and then turned to me and Twilight.

"I shall bring him back a little after four like always you two, maybe a little later if the guards are training a bit more today, is that alright?”

"It is no trouble at all Celestia,” Twilight spoke; she had long since stopped called her 'teacher' or 'Princess Celestia' since after the wedding. "We know that Sonic is in good hooves.” She smiled and nodded to her as she turned to me as Sonic left out of the building to wait for her. Giving me a small nod as I nodded back she left out as well before teleporting both herself and Sonic away toward the castle for his studies.

"So what do ya think this new human will be like?” Mike asked me as we made our way toward Everfree Forest, the forest being the only place where no pony would freak out the human coming in too much that they would run away. At least, that was unless we got there in time.

"I don't know,” I answered him with a sigh. "I just hope he or she is not a dick.” Mike slightly laughed at this, bringing a hand onto his hammer as he and I walked into the start of the forest. My sword was on my back like always as we made our way inside deeper and deeper. We didn't need to go that far, to see who we were looking for.

Right off the back, this human was different from us right from the start, seeing how this human, was a she. Her shoulder length hair was brown, but it was so dark that I thought for a second that it looked truly black in a way. Her clothing were dirty and torn in some places, ether she was a very unlucky girl, or was just to rough with her stuff to even care. When she turned to face us, I noticed that her skin was lightly pale, I mean, it did look slightly tanned, but compared to me, she looked pale. Once her brown eyes were turned to us, I could see it on her face, a sigh of relief, I knew she was a little weirded out how she was brought here; I mean I was too.

"Oh thank god,” she let out a breath as she made her way over to us. "I was getting freaked out for a moment, I mean, I never seen this part of the forest before; where am I and who are you two?”

"Well,” I placed my hand over my chest. "My name is Brandon, this here is Mike.”

"Howdy,” he gave a tilt of his hat as the women nodded toward us both. "And who might ya be?”

"My name? oh yes, it's Victoria, nice to meet you two as well; now...where are we; and what's with the sword and hammer?” she tilted her head to the side. "Are you two LARPing or something?” for any of you who don't know what LARP is, its means Live Action Role Play. I and Mike looked to each other as he pointed his chin to her and then to me, I guess he wanted me to explain everything to her. I sighed and sat down on the ground as did Mike.

"You may not believe it at first...but listen first and then we'll show you.”

So for the next little bit, I explained as much as I could to Victoria, she listened and did not interrupt me at all, when I was done she just sat there on the ground, crossed legged as she blinked. And then started to laugh loudly; I waited with my arms crossed as Mike also waited.

"Wait...wait, so let me get this straight...this is a new world, a world were ponies talk, can fly, use magic...and you two have some powers and are trying to save the world Ha...ha ha ha!” when she sat back up she turned to look at us, as we just held unamused looks. "Wait...you two isn't joking?”

"Look I should've done this before hand but...” I stood up and stretched, before I closed my eyes, feeling my body change and shift, as I slowly turned into my Alicorn self. When I opened my eyes she had her eyes wide with both shock and confusion. "As a said, it's a long story, as you stay here you'll find out more about me, Mike and the others when you meet them.” I then brought myself back to my human self as I straggled a bit to stay on my feet, since transforming did still take a somewhat toll on me since I had not gone Alicorn in a while. After that she only dumbly nodded her head as I turned to Mike, we were about to leave when the sound of clapping was easily heard.

"My, my, that is a nice trick there; so you are the one they call Brandon?” I shot my head around at the voice as did Mike and Victoria. Pretty soon the sound of laughter was heard as a flash of light was seen before us as we took a step back. When the light faded, standing large, I don't know maybe double the height of Celestia, maybe double and a half when she is on all fours stood the god of chaos; Discord.

He had his arms crossed, which seemed to be a chicken arm on the left arm, and a lion's one of the right. Hell even his legs were different, that of being maybe a donkey or a ponies, and the other of a dragon's. His coat color seemed to be that of two shades, grey and a darker grey, his eyes being yellow where they should be white, and a deep red. He had a grey color goatee, and I think a deer's horn and a weird knot like horn on the other side. He wore a smug smile as me and Mike pulled out our weapons as Victoria backed away as he only chuckled waving his chicken arm at us.

"Now, now, no need for such ways likes that.”

"Oh shut up!” I called out. "We know you're now working with my father to take over Equestria, so you can drop the act!”

"Oh don't go on with the hero speech,” he rolled his eyes while snapping his fingers as a cloud came before him as he jumped on it and laid on it as if it was a hammock. "After all these hundreds of years of ponies trying to rid of me, not counted those accursed ones who imprisoned me; these speeches grow weary!” he brought his other hand to his face as he seemed to rub his eyes. "I mean really, the hero does a little speech, attacks, thinks he wins but I only leave and come back...blah, blah!” he then laid on his side to look at us, one arm draping off the end as he snapped his finger, a cup came to his hand as he took it and took a drink form it.

"What the hell are you doing?” I demanded as he let out a loud sigh after throwing the cub away.

"Taking a drink, what? Even villains need a drink is I right?”

"Oh fuck this...!” I screamed and then ran toward him, sword up in the air as I slashed at where he was, but he was not there.

"Ohhh...too slow!”

"Brandon, behind ya!” I turned around to see Discord floating upside down as he flicked my nose and flew back as I growled and went to attack him again, but when I hit him, my sword did not cut him, my sword...was not a lollypop?!

"Seems someone has a sweet tooth?” Discord started to laugh as I started to shake with rage as I glared at him. "Oh look at you! You're becoming as red as the pony...what's his name...Big Mac?” I growled softly as I brought my hands out, crackling lightening as I shot at him. He only swiped the attack away like it was a fly as he laughed loudly.

I saw behind that Mike ran toward him, hammer up as he jumped and attacked him. But Discord poofed away and then kicked Mike toward me, as we collided and rolled away. Victoria running to our side and helping us up as I grunted and glare.

"What's the matter?” Discord asked laying on the same cloud again. "Hydra gotcha tongue? Your father was right, you do lose your temper...you're just like him.”

"Shut the fuck up!” I screamed as he only grinned. "I am nothing like that no good piece of god damn fucking ass whip whore licking ass rimming uncle fucker!” I saw Mike out of the corner of my eye give me a jaw shocking look as well as Victoria at my choice of words.

"Ohhh...so many colorful words! Maybe I should get you some paper and draw something with those words!”

"That's it! I'm going to start beating you!”

"Well I hope you stop before it gets late, I do have to have dinner you know?”

"AGH!” I screamed and ran toward him, my arms engulfed in lightening as I tackled him to the ground, my arm up to attack before he pointed his chicken finger at me as my eyes grew wide as a blast of red beam hit my chest sending me flying.

"Brandon!” Mike ran over to me as well as Victoria as they helped me up, I panted and held onto my shoulder, it felt like it was popped out as I grunted and popped it back into place as I glared ready to attack the bugger again when Mike stopped me. "Whoa there, listen, remember what you read up on him. He's just messing with ya, that's what he does, gets in ya head and then does that weird Discord thing.”

"Discord thing?” Victoria asked as I nodded.

"Yeah,” I nodded remembering now. "It seems that...well lets say this, our friend Devon is perverted beyond belief, if he was Disaccorded, then he would be...oh god...the nicest person out there...I think that's more scary then he is now.”

"I agree,” Mike nodded as he stood beside me taking his hammer out. "And it seems his magic here can mess with our weapons.”

"Well I don't want to risk you getting your hammer messed up. Take Victoria and get the others, maybe we can use the girls and the Element of Harmony to get rid of this guy.”

"You sure you'll be alright?” I nodded me head as I snapped my fingers, once more my arms bursting into a fit of lightening. "Alright, Vicky, let's go.”

"Uh...alright, hey Brandon you be safe.” I chuckled turning to her and flicking the tip of my nose with my thumb.

"I always am, now go!”

After the two left I watched as Discord was waiting, smiling at me with that damn smug look. My 'sword' was laying off somewhere for it was not in my hands as I brought my arms out ready to fight.

"You're going down freak!” I shot my hands forward shooting the lightening at him as he poofed once more away, jumping away; I dodged an incoming kicking from behind. Rolling back to my feet I ran toward him, jumping up in the air and kicked him hard in the chest making him skid backwards a bit while holding onto his chest with his arms as he gave me a wide eye shocked look as I growled deeply in my chest and slowly lifted my arms in the air. The air around me shimmered as I ready another spell my eyes narrowing as I clutched my fists, the lightening I had around my wrist growing larger and larger as I slashed my arms over each other like a X, shooting the power toward him. The hit caused a large explosion as I heard a scream coming from it as I grinned; that shut him up good. But as the dust settled I took a step back to see that Discord did not take a single damage at all. This caused some sweat to pour down my face; I...wasn't strong enough to stop him?!

I yelped as I felt myself be lifted and brought over to me, his chicken hand pointed to me as a weird purple glowed covered my hand as it was brought up.

"Hey Brandon?” he asked with a grin as the magic on my hand made me hit my self in the face. "Stop hitting yourself,” again he pushed me with his magic. "Stop hitting yourself, stop hitting yourself.” When he stopped I spat out some blood as he then punched me in the face with his own fist a few times before slamming me to a tree and then another. I groaned as I slightly opened my eye to see a claw finger pointed at me. "Oh, before I forget, I have a message from your father.”

"W...what?” I gasped as he smiled.

"He told me to tell you, 'like a bitch'.” My eyes grew wide as I watched the finger glow the same purple like magic as he pointed it to my face, oh god...this was it!” but before anything could happen, a soft thud was heard as I looked over behind his shoulder as Discord also looked over. It was Devon, Devon of all people!

He was crouched low to the ground, still wearing his armor gloves. He took up wearing a blood red tuxedo suit, with a black bowtie. Still wearing the same headphones he got the first time coming to Ponyville, his hair still curly; his chin now hold a small beard. I looked back to see also Mike run up alone, he was panting slightly as he ran back and I could see far off that more help was coming. Looking back, I saw Devon slowly stand up, his face showing that of so much blankness, it was almost scary.

"Who are...?” Discord started as Devon then let out a huge grin and waved.

"Hey guys, what's up bitches?” I only blinked as he then brought his hands to his hips and looked to me and then to Discord. "Hey are you Discord or something?”

"Why yes I am, I am the god of Chaos, Discord!” my black skin friend smiled and punched his open fist before lifting it up.

"Wicked sweet, I'mma gonna deck you in the balls!” and with that, Discord just dropped me as I let out a small groan in pain as Mike came over to me to pull me away as Discord turned to look at Deon fully.

"I have yet to hear that be said to me before...just who are you?”

"Oh, well I'm Devon, that guy in the hat is Mike, and that's Brandon!” he pointed to me as Discord looked back. "He was a prison bitch!”

Did...did he really just say that? Now of all times! Discord laughed at this throwing his head back and howled into the air.

"Really now? My, and how was he? Chained up?”

"Oh yeah,” Devon answered with a nod. "He was all chained up!”

"Hate you...” I groaned as I tried to stand up. "Hate you both...”

"Oh don't be like that Brandon, you know you love me!” Devon snickered before looking back at Discord. "But I know why you're so evil, I mean, someone as ugly as you has to be evil because of the way you look.”

"What...?” Discord asked glaring at Devon.

"Well with your different body parts and weird eyes...” Discord then shot a beam at Devon as he just swatted it out of the way like it was nothing. "The two different horns and the one tooth that's showing...” again Discord shot more and more at Devon as he just blocked them each with one hand. "And the fact that your mother just fucked everything that moved, hell, maybe I'm your father, ZING!” he started to laugh as Discord eye twitched a bit.

"Why you...do you have any idea who you're talking to?!”

"The son of like fifty different fathers?” Discord then screamed and ran toward Devon before he jumped up, kneeing his chin and then grabbing his horn and throwing him behind himself as Discord hit a tree on his head and then falling on his back; not moving at all. "That's why I never leave home without my magic coatd gloves bitches!”

After dusting his hands Devon made his way over to me and Mike as the cowboy helped me to my feet as I groaned, I felt sore all over as Devon then stopped before yes.

"Hey guys, man, you two having some fun without me so it seems?” he only snickered before looking at me, how the hell did he just knock out Discord like he was nothing, I mean, I was having so much trouble with him and Devon; he took him down with such ease! "Hey Brandon man, you look fucked up...you didn't get beat up by that guy did you?” we all heard Discord groan slightly as I stood straight up.

"W...what no, I uh...I uh...” I tried to think of something good as I sighed. "I fell down some stairs.” I saw Mike look over to me with a shock look.

"What, no ya didn't you...”

"Shut up before I throw you down a flight,” I gave him a glare as I started to wobble a bit, still not back to my full self.

Hearing a loud roar we looked over to see Discord stand back up and shot a beam of magic once more, this one hitting me in the chest as I felt it go though, I coughed up some blood as I fell backwards with a grunt as Mike grew wide eye and tried to help me.

"Brandon!” Devon also cried. "Dude you alright?”

"I have...” I gasped out slightly. "A hole in my fucking chest...why didn't you stop that one?!” I screamed as I spat out some more blood.

"I thought you had it?”

"No!” I screamed trailing off the word. Soon the sound of wings were easily heard as I looked up slightly to see my guards who had changed their uniforms from the black color they once were to a deep white with black armor, their coats being ether black or white. Discord started to back away as he then snarled slightly.

"This isn't over you!” he pointed to Devon. "You're on my list now!”

"What list? You list of people you want to fuck your ass?”

"GAH!” the god of chaos screamed and teleported away as I groaned and fell on the floor, the world around me slowly growing dark.

I don't know how long I was out, maybe a few hours or so, ether way, when I turned my head over, and grunted in slight pain, I saw Twilight sitting on the bed beside me as I noticed I was back in our room.

"Oh thank Celestia you're alright,” she sighed and brought a hoof to my cheek. "You passed out, Devon pretty much healed you as best as he could and they brought you back here.” I rolled on my side, groaning a bit in pain as I noticed my sword laying on the wall, I guess the magic of Discord wears off after a while, or maybe it was because of my sisters magic on it to deflect magic; course I would've thought it would've stayed as a piece of candy until we imprison him like the girls did last time. "Hey take it easy,” she told me placing a hoof on my chest to put me back on my back. "Yes we healed you more, but there are some things magic can't heal!”

"I...didn't even hurt him Twilight,” I sighed looking up from where I was. "I threw everything I could, I did everything I could and I couldn't even fucking hurt him!” I slammed my fist on the right side of the bed as I growled in anger. "My father had no doubt gotten stronger as well, for why would Discord follow someone who was weaker then him! If I couldn't even hurt Discord, what will I do when I face Sinbad!” my body shook in pure rage as I clutched my fists tightly. "What if he comes for you or Sonic Flash and I can't be there to keep you both safe, what kind of husband and father am I when I can't keep my own family safe from harm?!”

"Hush, hush, Brandon,” she climbed on the bed and laid over me, her face looking at me, her eyes so close I could see myself in them; seeing the worry in my eyes. "Brandon, you must know by now, you are not alone here. You have friends that will help as well though this; as well as the guards of Equestria.” She then leaned closer to me and placed a soft tender kiss on my lips. "And you have me as well Brandon, and I know, that you will find a way to keep us safe; but don't forget, I have magic too you know.”

"And you think I'm going to let you fight? HA!” I scoffed slightly at this. "There is no way you are fighting at all Twilight, forget it.”

"Only the Element of Harmony can hope to imprison Discord, we can't kill him. Celestia and Luna said they tried, it's impossible!” I turned to look at her as she placed her hoof on my cheek softly with a smile. "Everything will work out for the better; you'll see.”

I softly sighed and placed my hand over her hoof slightly as I closed my eyes and sighed once more.

"Did I ever tell you how I hate how you can change my mind like that?” she only smiled and nuzzled my face softly.

"Swag,” Both of our eyes grew wide at that voice, Twilight turning her head behind her to see who it was as I looked over her shoulder; to see a small puffy cloud floating before us, with a small Pegasus resting on top of it.

Her coat color that being of a light shade of violet, her eyes a very dark blue; while her hair being that of a lovely natural waves of deep black and bright green streaks. I knew at once, seeing this little filly who was lying on her belly, her hooves under her chin as she wore a cheeky smile on her face; that this was Cloudy Skys.

"Am I going to see some hot human on pony porn yet? Come on, come on, this has to be good!” she held a large grin on her face as she closed her eyes as I only groaned at the way she was acting. After close to two years, you think I would've gotten use to her being like this, I mean, she was perverted like her father.

"Cloudy...how did you get in here anyway?” I asked as she blinked at me.

"Door,” she answered with a nod as she rolled on top of her cloud.

"And how did you get that cloud in?”

"Door,” she answered again. I only sighed slightly, whenever I saw her, she was always on top of a cloud or at least on top of her father's head. "So come on, get to fucking!”

"Cloudy!” Twilight gasped as the young filly blinked. "Stop cussing this moment, it's not nice!”

"But I hear it all the time at night at home!” she cried out while hovering in the air. "I hear daddy go, 'oh fuck rarity, so fucking good!'!”

"Oh god!” I cried covering my ears. "Image of hot tub came back, gah, gah, gah!” Cloudy just laughed and flew off as Twilight tried to claim me down some; when I was I groaned and shook my head. "How is it that she is worst then Devon at time?!”

"Well...she is the child of Devon...what do you think would happen?” I only sighed and shook my head slightly.

"So true...so true.”

Chapter 3

Celestia, Luna, Devon, Mike, Shiny Armor, and I all sat around a table as we thought about why Discord now made himself shown to us. Devon, who kept on saying that he just wanted to troll on us all, while the rest of us; thought of something direr. I had my hands crossed over one another as I brought my chin on top of my knuckles, my eyes half closed as I was deep within my thoughts. Truthfully, I had no idea why my father would send Discord out now, did they have a plan to wipe us out, or did they think Discord could kill us off since he was sort of a god.

“Do you think he has an army?” Armor asked out as I turned my eyes to him for a moment to watch as he spoke. “I mean, it has been two years since any sort of an attack until just yesterday. Maybe this was just a warning.”

“But how could they have gathered such an army without us knowing?” Mike asked as he placed his palms on the table. “I mean, no one can make an army without word being brought out; right?”

“They went into hiding for two years,” I spoke for the first time as all eyes went to me. “I think something like this could be done without us knowing.”

“But what is this army?” Luna asked as she tapped her chin with her hoof. “That is the question.”

“Sinbad can no doubt go to his home world and to this world no problem,” I spoke out again as I stood up and started to walk around to ease the tension in my legs. “He has many friends, friends that owe him favors. Maybe he brought such friends with him, and with our weapons…”

“Just around a hundred could take so many lives away…” for the first time, Devon was not saying anything perverted or crazy, I think the impact of what was going on was at last getting to him.

“That is not true,” Celestia spoke out. “When we brought Brandon and Mike here,” Armor knew of how we came here so there was no need to keep that hidden. “We could not bring any of their weapons with them, even if they were holding them. Sinbad, though powerful yes, can not do that ether.” All was quiet around the table as I sighed and sat back down.

“So he and Discord had indeed gather a large enough army to fight us, the question is, where are they hiding, what are we dealing with here?”

It was true, that the Dark Beasts have been done for, thanks to the Holy Sun Blade. But, within the two years, no doubt my father could’ve made something, something sinister and vial to replace his lost army. Then there was the Omega-Alpha that was within him, if I did not explain before, I shall explain once more. Before the humans were ether taken to another world, AKA my home world, or killed. A human that lead the humans that would’ve killed the ponies and any human that sided with them, had a demon within him. This demon then killed the human for reasons I still do not know, causing the humans who followed under it’s host, to kill each other for the role of the new leader. Now, this same demon was within my father, giving him powers unlike I had ever seen, though we fought and stopped him before, he had two years to grow stronger.

“I have an idea,” we all turned to look at Devon as he raised his hand up. “Remember how we were told the demon killed off the first human, this making the humans that followed the host right?”

“Yeah that’s right,” Celestia spoke up as she leaned closer to Devon. “What are you thinking of young Devon?”

“W…what if this demon killed off the human, this making the other humans kill themselves off as well…to bring them back?”

My head shot up as I turned to look at Devon, we all did. Was he thinking, that the demon killed them all off, so that in the future, we would’ve been left unguarded; to bring a zombie army out?! No one said anything, if this was any other reason, I would’ve laughed maybe, maybe if we had a better idea…but…his idea…is sounded pretty close to what might and no doubt could happen.

“Let us not think of such things like that for this moment,” my sister Luna spoke as she stood. “It has been many hours, and we all need a good rest. Shiny Armor, the guards are still patrolling around yes?”

“Yes Princess Luna,” he answered with a nod. “They are around both Canterlot and Ponyville, Cloudale should be fine because of how if what Devon here says is true; then they can’t reach there.” She nodded, and then after a while, we all bid each other goodbyes and went on our way.

A few hours later we were back in Ponyville, haven taken the train, we did not speak too much on the ride back home. I was in deep thought of what my friend thought, zombies; dear god. Once we got off the train, I was back to normal after hearing the sound of Sonic Flash fly toward me and into my arms. I hugged him to my chest and rubbed his mane as he told me that Rainbow Dash was teaching him some of her moves. I smiled at this, glad that he was happy. Mike and Devon also greeted their children as well, Cloudy Skys making a comment again about how Sapphire and Sonic were all close as they made their way here. The two other foals glared at her as me and Mike chuckled, we kinda had the idea that the two liked each other more then friends; but they were young, so we would see in the times ahead.

“Oh, I nearly forgot ya two,” me and Devon stood up as we brought our foals to the ground. “Can you two come over to my smithy shop later on? I have something for you two.”

“Oh daddy, can I help ya too?!” Sapphire Bloom asked as she jumped up and down as Mike laughed and nodded.

“Sure thing there sugar, see you two, tell Twilight and Rarity I said hi!” we bided him and Sapphire goodbye and then me and Sonic did the same for Devon and Cloudy. With me and my son alone, we started to walk home until I felt a tug on my pants.

“Hey dad?” he asked looking up at me as I knelt down. “Can I ask you something?”

“You know you always can,” I told him as he nodded.

“Do you mind if we talk over lunch then? I’m kinda hungry.” I smiled and nodded as we went toward the Café, sitting down at a two sitter we placed our order, each of us getting a Big Mac, yeah, they became so wanting after that party, that pretty much ever café around had a Big Mac on the menu, though the pony Big Mac did not truly like it. For every time he ate one, ponies would laugh and say “Mac eating a Mac!”

“So what is it you want to talk about,” I asked as he took a sip from his drink from the straw before looking at me.

“Can you tell me about my human grandmother?” I sighed slightly, I knew he was going to ask about her soon, I promised him a while ago that I would tell him about his human side of the family, and I guess he wanted to know now.

“Well,” I started as I brought my hands on the table. “Your grandmother…” I sighed again. “Sonic, I want you to promise me you’ll never tell your mother I told you this. She thinks you are too young to truly know of my past. It is dark and very horrible, and she wishes for me not to tell you until your older.” I saw him about to argue but I stopped him with a raised hand. “But…you are initialed to know of your family, and of your own father’s past, so I will tell you, if you don’t tell your mother I told you; understand?” he nodded his head as I sighed and started to tell him all about first my past so that he could truly understand that of my mother. After showing him where my old scars were, and how I got them, I also told him how I gotten the scar on my eye, the once three cut lines on my eye, slowly became that of one, with the help of magic. But I decided to leave the last scar there, a reminded that I needed to become stronger to keep my family safe. Sonic Flash eyes grew wide at times when he learned that my father, his grandfather did this sort of thing to me; his own son. I then told him of my mother, of how she was treated as well, and then I told him of how I gained both the title and the gift of the Element of Wisdom; and how it was her who had tested me.

“I am sure that one day, she will appear before you as well,” I told him after I told him of how she came to me on the holiday a few years back. She had yet to show herself to me or Twilight since then. “And I know she would love to talk to her grandson.”

“But…dad…” I saw Sonic look down. “All the things that happened to you, how did you not go…?”

“Evil?” I asked as he nodded his head slightly as I laughed slightly. “It’s true, I guess, all the things that happened to me before coming here, could’ve made me gone mad with rage and sorrow of what happened to me. Sometimes I don’t even know myself how I was able to stay sane. But I’m glad I did, for I would’ve never met your mother.” He looked up to me and smiled warmly and then got off his hay seat, came over to me and hugged me tightly around the waist as I rubbed his head softly at this. “Sonic, I want you to know something too,” he looked up to me as I picked him up and placed him on my lap. “If anything were to happen to me, anything at all, I want you to look after your mother alright? But do not do it if it will cost you your very life, your life is more important of that of mine or Twilight’s.”

“Dad?” I looked down and sighed.

“I do not know what the future will hold for any of us now that Discord is here…and how Sinbad, (For he did not know that Sinbad was indeed my father) is also coming back. Just know this, which if something happens to me or your mother. I want you to live your life, I want you to live; do you understand?” he looked up at me with his large green eyes for a moment, before slowly nodded his head as I smiled and hugged him close. “You and Twilight are my treasure Sonic, I will do anything, anything to keep you two safe from harm.”

After a while, our food came and we sat down to eat, no more talk of such sad things like we were just talking about, just that of simple things. Celestia was teaching him about the human’s history; mostly that of Nova, Courage and Wisdom. I knew a bit of their past from when we spoke, so I pretended like I didn’t know as he rambled on and on about what their lives were like before they became Guardians.

“Hey dad?”

“Hrm?” I asked after consuming my food.

“You think aunty Celestia and Luna will ever find love?”

“I’m sure they will,” I told him with a smile. “They just haven’t found the right pony yet for them.”

“But what if they never do find the right pony?” he asked. “I mean…it not fair to them that everypony around them is in love is it?” I chuckled; he had his mother’s wariness that was for sure.

“I’m sure they will find somepony very soon, don’t worry.”

“Hey!” we turned our heads over to see Victoria making her way over to her, her old clothing were gone, thanks to Rarity, giving her a pair of simple blue jeans and a deep black shirt. She waved to us as we waved back before pulling up a seat and sat with us.

“It’s…Brandon right?” she asked me as I smiled and nodded. “Okay good, anyway, what are you up to, and who is this?” she pointed to my son as I chuckled as Sonic then answered.

“I’m Sonic Flash, and I’m his son!” Victoria turned to me with a somewhat shock look as I chuckled.

“Remember, I’m not fully human any more,”

“Right…right, anyway, uh…do you have any money so I can get something to eat; I kinda don’t have a job yet.” I chuckled slightly and nodded, passing her a bag of bits.

“Well, if you’re staying over at the Cake’s place, ask for a job there. I use to live and work there you know, so I’m sure they’ll do the same for you.”

“Oh really, thanks!” I smiled and nodded before I then looked behind her, seeing a cloud very low then normal as it slowly floated toward us. I frowned and got up and went over to it, before shooting my hand in and catching the filly inside as she let out a short cry.

“Cloudy Skys, what are you doing?” I asked as I held onto one of her hind legs as she flipped about to look at me.

“Hanging around I guess now huh?” she asked with a grin as I rolled my eyes and let her go as she hovered in the air for a moment, before then landing on the ground and then making her way over to the three of us. “Hey Sonic,” she trailed off his name in a teasing way as he glared at her. “Where’s your girlfriend?”

“She’s not my girlfriend!” he cried at her as she giggled.

“Well she’s a girl, who is your friend…”

“Shut up!” he screamed at her as she laughed. “That would make you her girlfriend then as well!”

“So…she has a nice plot,” I then saw her lick her lips as I flinched back, and then shuddered; too much Devon in her for her own good.

“Now, now you two, that’s enough. Cloudy, can you please stop teasing Sonic?”

“Aw…but its fun!” she resorted back to me as I rolled my eyes.

“Okay…remember those glasses you wanted, the ones that looked like your dads?” her eyes brightened up as she nodded her head fast. “If you stop teasing Sonic and Sapphire, I’ll make you an unbreakable kind, but you have to stop teasing them for one week; got it?”

“Two days,” she counter offered as I frowned slightly at her.

“Seven days,”

“Three days?” she asked me again as I crossed my arms.

“Seven days,”

“Fine, fine…someone woke up on the wrong side of the cell this morning,” I slightly frowned at her, but I knew at least my son would be alright for the week no worry, I guess though, that after this week was over; Cloudy would no doubt go right back to teasing them.

Speaking of which, when we all sat back down, and by all I mean that Cloudy went back to her little cloud and sat on that, Victoria getting something to eat, as well as the pervert daughter of Devon. The sound of clopping was soon heard as i heard Sonic yell out.

“Hey Sapphire!” we all looked to see the blue pony run over toward us, she then stopped and looked up to me.

“Howdy there Sonic, Cloudy, and Uncle Brandon,” she smiled at us all before then going on. “Dad’s done with what we were doing, ah came over here to come and get ya. Mister Devon is already there!”

“Alright, Sonic, you eat your lunch and then go back home, you know Celestia is going a home study today,” he frowned, he was just like me, he hated to study. He wanted to just train to become a guard like his uncle Shiny Armor, and be a warrior like me. But he nodded all the same. “And Cloudy, don’t you tease him understand?” I asked poking her noise a bit as she smiled and nodded.

“I won’t!” she let out as I rolled my eyes and followed after Sapphire.

“So yeah, did you hear about the cities you guys are rebuilding?” I looked down at the blue pony as she looked up as we made our way toward the smith’s shop, also known as Mike’s Iron. “Seems like many other ponies are buying shops and homes there; mostly from Mister Devon’s city…what did he call it again?”

“Los Pegasus,” I answered her as she nodded. It was true, within the two years; we had gotten a lot done in the three cities. As Mike planned with the help of Nova, they were moving all of the buildings that could be reused, over to my city, that way if we needed pieces or needed to see how they were built, we would have a old style blue print in a way. But he still made his city, that would house a lot of the food for not only all three of the cities, but for Canterlot, Ponyville, and even Cloudale. So far, Devon’s city was the only one really able to house shops or homes, and already many ponies had bought up those areas too. We even went there at times to do a little shopping; many of the shops came from Canterlot. Devon, with the help of Celestia and Luna, made a huge Casino, which was ranking in a lot of bits for building his city, so it was no doubt he would be done before any of us. The city of which I and Twilight would rule over was going as fast as it could, since I had promised to rebuild it to its former glory. It was funny; do you remember that pony who loved humans, Lyra right? She was the first pony to buy up the first home that was done there. But she would have to wait until that whole block was done to move it.

We found a lot more history behind the humans that use to live here thousands of years ago. It seems, when the three ponies races did not get along at all, the humans were alright with all of them…that was until that battle that forced us all the leave this world. Ether way, Wisdom, being true to his name, told me about how life was in the city he called home. This city housed a huge library, of which Twilight when we came here spent much of her time. She had learned how to read the old human langue with the help of Wisdom, who passed his knowledge down to her, though the matter of moments; not the same way I and the others learned. The three cities, pretty much balanced each other out when it came to battle. The city that I would rule, which I had renamed Eclipse City, a name I did not ask for, Wisdom thought it would be a good idea since the castle that would be there, was for Luna and Celestia, before it was mine and Twilight’s. The city was known for its wisdom on the battlefield, giving ideas faster and quicker then any others that were in their ranks. Mike’s city was known for their power, they were the front of the group always, charging in and destroying many of their foes so that the wave would be weaken for the others to get ride of. And Devon’s for their courage, for many of them did so many missions on their own, that others thought impossible. They were just like the ponies, the earth ponies were the ranks with all the power pretty much, the Pegasus with their gift to fly, and the unicorns with their gift of magic.

Still, even though me and Sapphire were walking toward Mike’s Iron, I always thought back to the ‘what if’. Like ‘what if this demon never came, and the humans never did have to leave?’, What would our lives now, Devon, I, Mike, and now Victoria, what would our lives be? Pretty soon I snapped out of my trance as we were almost there, I saw Devon over by a wall with his arms crossed almost glaring toward Mike, I was confused, Devon, pissed off at someone? As we dear closer, I then noticed three older mares watching Mike as he pounded on a piece of metal with a hammer given to him by Nova on his birthday, this hammer making any metal he smith, have magic that would never break at all. The mares were watching him as he was shirtless, I could see it on their faces, and they liked what they were seeing.

Sapphire went over to her father as I went over to Devon as I tapped his shoulder. He looked to me and glared back at Mike.

“That bugger is taking my title!” he hissed under his breath as I turned back at him and then to Mike.

“Huh?” I asked as Devon pointed to the mares.

“They said that Mike is the most sexiest thing alive, that’s not true, everyone knows that I am the sexy one!” I held a face that would no doubt say ‘wtf’ at Devon’s reaction.

“Dude…are you…jelling?” for all of you that don’t know, jelling means jealousy.

“Of course not!” he exclaimed looking at me. “Like I always say once you go black, an’t never going back!” I rolled my eyes and looked back at Mike, he was done whatever he was doing after Sapphire told him we were here, he put his shirt back on causing the mares slightly moan in disappointment as they went off.

“Howdy you two,” Mike greeted us as he came out. “I’m glad you came, here, I made something for us three.” As he turned to go to the back of the little shop, I went up beside him to whisper to him.

“You did the shirtless thing just to mess with Devon, didn’t you?” I saw him smirk at me and then wink causing me to chuckle. Once in the back area, I noticed that there were three things covered; they all looked to be our size, so no doubt they were armor that Mike made for the three for us, beside them, what seemed to be a table, one of them was long, the other the same size in length, but huge with width, the other, the size of a glove.

“Now, as you know, Nova gave me something for my birthday a few days ago,” he sated as he then stood in front of the covered stuff. “Some of the things, I’ll keep to myself for now, but anyway, some of the things he gave me, will help us greatly. One of the things he gave me, was that of metal that’s light and strong at the same time!” the first cloth he threw off, showed that of what to be my size, the armor was all blue, save for the black that would be the points and shoulder blades, which had three overlaps, one at least half way from each other, making it so if I was hit in the shoulder; it would just slide right off. The metal that covered the hand and the forearm, reminded me of that of the Assassin Creed gallant, only longer a bit, the marking on it showing that of my Cutie Mark, even on the upper arms had that of my Cutie Mark as well. The legging had these wings, or flaps that covered the north, east, south, and waist of my legs, making it still able for me to easily run, but also keeping my thighs safe from any incoming blows. The chest part looked slightly big, but I’m sure it was just extra padding, because if he said was true, it couldn’t break, maybe he made the armor thicker to keep us from getting too hurt as well. The other thing was beside it, was a weapon, my eyes went wide, for it was a sword laying on the table. But this was no normal sword; in fact, it had the length and width of that of the Holy Sun Blade.

The handle of the blade was double the size of which my own sword had, this handle could easily allow me to hold this sword with two hands, it had no guard on it, but a black crest that seemed to be a triangle going from the base, to maybe five center minters up the sword. The inside was laced with lines of gold. The sword reminded me too much of the Rave Master sword in a way, and if any of you don’t know what that is, look it up. One edge seemed to be the sharp edge, while the other dull and flat, no doubt for me to easily block more with my other hand.

The other two looked pretty much the same, where my armor was blue and black with my Cutie Mark on it, Mike’s was red and black with his Cutie Mark, while Devon’s was green and black with his Cutie Mark, that being of the sideway juice cup. The weapon that Mike had made for Devon looked pretty much like his old gloves, or so I though. When the human farm worker told him to close his hands into a fist, I jumped back when three long sliver blades from within the knuckles of the gloves. I saw the tinkle in Devon’s eyes as he saw this, giving his new found weapons a few good swings, he reacted the claws and only grinned more. Mike’s was a long sword, the handle being that of a mixture of black and gold, the blade it self was long, almost as long as my sword that he made me, but not as wide, no; it was that of a normal sword.

Mike thought best to leave what he made here for the moment, he still had some more things to do on the armor and weapons, he just wanted to show us what he was doing the past few days. So saying our goodbyes, me and Devon left his shop, and then we too went our own ways.

I was about to leave to go back home, when I had this feeling I was being watched. Jerking around for a moment, the feeling came from within Everfree Forest. Thinking that there was no harm then to just check it out, I turned on my heels and made my way toward the forest.

Once inside, I brought my blade out, using the teleportation spell to bring the sword to my hand, I held it before me, walking slowly toward where this feeling was. Soon I came to a large clear area, looking around, the feeling was here, and it was around me. Hearing a snap of a twig, I span around, ready to struck, when I took a step back in shock. For Sinbad, my father; was standing before me.

Slowly backing away, I noticed him wearing a long red cloak, unlike the robe of which I first saw him in when he attacked us at Mike’s welcome party. The back dragged on the ground, giving the cloth a jagged rip edges, the arms of the cloaked went up to his wrists, it didn’t cover mush of his hands. His face, wrapped in clothed of where I slashed him, and also where he was burned; only part of his face could be seen. His face, clean of hair, even his head was shaven; and for some reason, his red eye, that I of which I truly remembered, was gold. I brought my sword up to attack him, when he flicked his wrist at me, my sword flinging out of my hand and into the trunk of a tree, I looked down and then toward the tree before I heard him speak.

“Now, now, no need for weapons today dear boy.” Wait…this was…not the voice of my father, this voice…was different. Where my father’s rough was rough, full of cocky; this one was slightly claimer in a way; and for some reason, it made me feel as though this voice was filled with wisdom. “I have only come to parlay with you.”

“Who…are you?” I asked as the man before me stopped and shook his head.

“Oh you know what I am dear Brandon.” I took a step back once more, closing my eyes halfway; I then knew who I was talking to.

“You’re the demon.” I answered as he smiled a crack of a smile I should say.

“Very good, much smarter then your father.”

“He is not my father,” I resorted as the demon chuckled slightly.

“Yes, you are still saying that, you think just because you say it; you won’t be like he is…don’t you?” I only grunted at the demon as he only chuckled softly.

“So what, you’re controlling him fully now, is Sinbad truly gone from the world?” I asked wanted to at least know that much right now.

“No, I do not have the power yet to fully take control of his body.”

“Good, cause I plan on killing him,”

“Ah,” the demon spoke again walking around me in a circle as I followed him. “You are much like him.”

“I am nothing like him!” I screamed as he smiled.

“Oh but you are, as he said before, your heart…is as black as his. You dream of his death don’t you, think of it, image yourself stabbing him though with your sword!” I was about to say something back at him, to denied what he said, when my eyes went wide as he was right before me, his hands on my chest. How…how did you move so fast?! He smiled, his hand pressed firmly on my chest. “I also know, you are wondering, why did I choose your father to have as my host, don’t you? Think about it, when Darkness was alive and I told him to bring a human of my choosing here, out of all the humans in the world, I chose your father; why is that?” he smiled and leaned closer to my ear. “I tend to settle better in a bloodline I already had control of.”

My eyes went wider, bloodline…he already had control of…did that mean…

“Yes, I can see it in your face,” to spoke softly backing away. “You understand now, that you are the descendent of the human that wanted to kill off all of the ponies!”

“N…no!” I screamed slashing the air with my arm. “You’re lying! You’re lying!”

“And what would I gain from lying to you?” he asked me as I smiled. “A good laugh, no, that is Discord part; blood never lies Brandon.”

“S…shut up!” my arms crackled with my lightening magic as I shot my arms toward him, but like Discord, he flicked it away as if it was nothing. He smiled all the while looking at me as I got ready to shoot another attack at him as he held up his hand, a single finger wagging back and froth.

“Now, now, none of that now,” he smiled slightly before going on. “Or does your family have to pay for your mistakes?”

“You leave them out of this!” I screamed as he chuckled.

“Then play by my rules then boy, or your son will watch his mother blood spill before him.” I growled slightly in anger but slowly allowed my hands and arms to fall to my side. “Good, now we may speak like sane people.”

“I know that you have no doubt many questions, questions that I may be able to answer to you; if you promise not to attack me again that is.” He then went over to the tree where my sword was deeply rooted, puling it out and throwing it to me, allowing me to catch it in midair. I thought about it for a moment, I could hit him when his back was turned, but if I missed; my family would be the one to pay that prince. So closing my eyes, I brought the sword back to where I got it home, back home on the wall as he smiled and nodded his head. “Good, now, what is your first question?”

“You are not here to kill me,” I answered him crossing my arms. “That much is sure now, so why are you here?” he smiled at that and then brought his arms out toward me, palms up as I flinched back slightly.

“Why, for you of course. You see, Sinbad, this body I am controlling, wish for your life to end. I on the other hand…find that you could become very useful in my plans.” He smiled and then started to walk around me as I watched him. “Think of it Brandon, think of what I offer you, allow me to bend into your body, to live with you, though your body. Yes at times I will control you, but not all the time, no, I will give you the will of freedom like this. Your friends and family, they will be speared, and you will have the satisfaction, of killing your father with your own hands.”

“I don’t think he will like what you have planned, if he can hear you?” the demon smiled and laughed slightly.

“Oh he can’t hear us, he won’t even know that you and I are talking, think of it. Every pony here will think you have killed off the greatest threat they had ever known, you will rule your city, just as your friends will rule theirs, but, unlike you, they will soon die out, and they no doubt will give the cities to you to control. This will be part one, a false sense of peace in a way, then soon we shall gain more and more land by gentle needs; and then,” he smiled. “The world could be ours!” I was confused by this; I thought he wanted to kill the ponies. “At first I wanted these damn ponies to be wiped from this world, but hey…when more humans come, they will need slaves’ right?”

“You’re mad,”

He turned to me and gave a puzzle look.

“You think that I would betray my friends to the likes of you, you think I would take over the world and then make the ponies slaves?! Let me tell you something demon,” I pointed my finger at him. “As I told you, I am nothing like my father, I will be there, to stop monsters you like, to keep the dark at by, so that the light may brighten each day!”

“You don’ get it do you?” the demon chuckled. “We are born into a world of darkness, and then brought into the world of light, and then once more; brought to the world of dark.”

“A poetic excuse!” I screamed as the demon laughed slightly and shook his head before turning his back to me.

“Just think of my offer Brandon, it will still stand…that is, until the last showdown. For listen to me well, you are stronger then your friends, you have power deep within yourself that you have yet to unlock. And I am not talking about this so called Guardian power, no…this unlocked power is far greater then anything this world or any world will ever see or know!” why was he telling me all this, if I indeed had this so call power that he claimed I had, why not kill me now? Wouldn’t it be easier in the long run…not that im complaining, I rather like living you know? I watched him turn around and slowly walk away before waving with his right hand. “And a little advice too young Brandon, when you see red eyes, it’s your father, and like I said.” He then turned back and smiled, the smile sending chills down my spin. “He will try to kill you.” And just like that…he was gone, leaving me with more questions now then ever.

After forcing my legs to move, I found myself walking back to Ponyville, many of the ponies there waved and greeted me like they always did; I knew some of them, but not enough to call them my friends. I gave them a wave back as well, but my mind was out there, thinking deeply on what was going on. Making my way back home, I opened the door and closed it, standing with my back on the door for a few moments; the house was quiet, making me think I was alone. Going up stairs, I then found Twilight laying down on the bed, her hind legs in the air, a book before her as she flipped though the pages with her magic. I smiled watching her for a moment before she looked up noticing me.

“Oh, your back. I saw Mike a little while ago when getting some food, he said you left long ago; where did you go?” was I really gone that long? I couldn’t really tell truthfully, I could’ve been out there for hours for all I knew.

“I just…went out to clear my head is all,” I told her sitting down on the edge of the bed looking at the book she was reading. “Is that the newest book of the human’s history?” Twilight nodded her head reading though the book once more.

“Yeah, this part got me interesting though,” she pointed it with her hoof as she read the title. “The Legend of the Sliver Hair Warrior.” The name, I heard it before, many of the ponies that study history started to do the rewriting without our help. They now knew how to read and rewrite the old words. This was the last chapter I helped with before they no longer needed our help. It seemed that in a way, the Sliver Hair Warrior was much like the Super Saiyain in a way, yeah sounds weird right? From what I remember, because I was only worried about writing it down at the time. A warrior, it didn’t matter what city they came from, would become so enrage that a power unlike any could control or even learn how to make a power just like that was released. Making the one’s hair turn a bright sliver, they gained power unlike any had ever seen, but there was only one Sliver Hair at a time. It was impossible for two to be born at one time. “I bet if we had a human like this, goodness, we could stop all this fighting at once!”

“Yes, but the warrior would go on a rampage dear, see,” I pointed to the text showing how they could not be controlled. “I think its better we have a fighter who can control their powers.”

“Like Mike?” she asked looking up to me as I chuckled.

“Yeah, like Mike.” We both slightly chuckled until a thought came to mind. “Anyway, where’s Celestia and Sonic, I thought there were going to study here today?”

“Oh, Celestia took Sonic over to Canterlot, seems Armor is doing some new training with some rookies, and Sonic wanted to watch to see what he would have to deal with when he became old enough to join.”

“Wow, our family have a lot of luck huh?”

“What do you mean?” she asked looking up to me.

“Think about it, you were taught by Celestia, Armor became the captain of the guards, I’m prince of Equestria; which is still thinks is weird. And now Sonic is being taught by Celestia about different subjects and he wants to become a guard as well!” I chuckled slightly at this. “I don’t think we would ever live a normal life huh?” Twilight chuckled and agreed with this, the sound of a door closing cause us to stop.

“Hey Twilight, where are ya?” it was Spike, what could eh want with Twilight?”

“Up here Spike,” Twilight called out to him as the dragon, came up, I noticed that he was now wearing blue slightly worn out jeans. “What’s with the pants?” she asked as Spike looked down and rubbed the back of his head.

“Oh, that Victoria girl, she kept making jokes about how I was ‘naked’ so I asked Rarity to make me some pants, and Devon; gave me one of his old ones until Rarity made a wardrobe for me.”

“Well that was nice of her and Devon,” I answered as I got up from the bed.

“Oh, nearly forgot, a letter from Celestia to you two, want me to read it?” me and Twilight looked to each other and nodded as he pulled out a letter from the pocket, taking off the seal as he cleared his throat to read.

“Dear Brandon and Twilight, you are needed as well as Mike, Devon, and the rest of your friends at once at the castle. Something has happened and you must come here to see for yourself, I shouldn’t be writing about what is happened or what we found out…or should I say, who we found.” I and Twilight turned to each other with a look of confusion on our faces; Spike went on to reading the letter by himself for a moment until his eyes went wide. “No…way?!” he cried out causing me and Twilight to jump. “You two…listen to this!” he then went on to reading as we listened. “And by ‘who’ I mean somepony myself and Luna did not think would be here now, after all these years, the Changeling Queen herself!”

Chapter 4

Sitting on the train on our way to Canterlot, I held my gaze out to the window, watching the hills roll by as I was deep in thought. It was bad enough that I had just met the fucking demon that was within Sinbad’s body, him making a sort of deal with me; but now this?! It was true that we did not find the body of Queen Chrysalis at all when we started to take apart the castle to move it toward Eclipse city, but…why would she show herself now? Why risk her life by even going to Celestia and Luna, did she somehow convince them that she could be trusted? True she was betrayed by Darkness and I did try to save her, but she ended up saving me…was she trying to get something for saving me?

“Brandon…are ya alright?” I turned over, seeing that Twilight was beside me, watching me with equal worry in her eyes, and then saw that Mike and Applejack was sitting opposite to us, Sapphire Bloom had stayed behind with Apple Bloom with Cloudy Skys also there. Behind us, I felt a shift as I looked up to see Devon slightly hanging on the back of my sit, Rarity beside him looking at us as well; the rest of our friends, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie, also turning from their seats to look toward me.

“Yeah, I’m fine…just…this makes no sense at all!”

“This is really going to be weird,” Devon pointed out. “I mean, meeting a chick you fucked before, and now you’re married; awkward,” he trailed the word as I glared at him.

“You wanna get pimp slapped?”

“You wanna get bitch slapped?” he asked grinning at me.

“This is no time for jokes Devon!” I snapped at him. “Chrysalis could be planning something for all we know, she could be also working with Sinbad and Discord once more and is just trying to worm her way back into our circle…to try something!”

“Like get in your pants?”

“Shut the hell up Devon…”

“Kay!” he then slid back down in his seat as he sighed and rubbed my eyes.

I was surprised that no one said anything else to me, there were some slight mutter here and there about what they thought would happen, but nothing that came to me for answering. I felt Twilight’s hoof on my hand as I turned to her. I could tell that by just looking into her eyes, that she was telling me to claim down, that everything would be alright. I took a deep breath and brought my hand over her hoof and slightly squeezed it. I was worried…I didn’t want to betray her once again like I did, thinking that it would keep her safe. For any of you that don’t remember, me and Chrysalis had sex okay. We didn’t have a big army like that of the Dark Beasts, and we needed all the help we could get…and she would only help if I did as she asked. Though that was all just a plan to get me under her spell, if it wasn’t for Sonic, the one that came from the future, bringing back a cure of what I was under, the world would be a must different place now; that’s for sure.

As the train came to a standstill, I stood up and clipped my sword on my back, I saw Mike make sure his hammer was nice and tight, but also loose around his belt for easy remover. Devon slightly playing with his new gloves as we all made our way toward the castle. Walking up the stairs, I noticed the guards were much more tense, looking around, I did not see a single Changeling around, so thinking they were inside, I knew why they were so tense. Once we came into view then pressed their chest out slightly and moved out of the way as the doors slowly opened.

Walking in, the Changelings were all around. Some were up on the high ceilings watching us with their blue eyes as we slowly made our way in the castle; some where on the ground, standing still as they made a sort of line for us. I could see my friends behind and beside me look around slightly worried, I reached behind me and took my sword sheath out, holding it in my left hand, my right hand on the hilt. There were a lot of guards around here too, double of that of the Changelings; I guess Armor was not taking any chances. Making our way though another sets of doors, I stopped at once as I saw her standing before Celestia and Luna. My sisters raised their heads to look at us, also allowing Chrysalis to look back and gaze onto us, but mostly; on me.

She looked the same pretty much like the last time I saw her, tall and slender, almost like that of Luna’s body built. Her creepy green and dark blue eyes looking at me cause me to tighten my grip on my sword at once. Her hair was longer then I remembered, reaching a bit further then before, a somewhat darker then normal blue, or lighter I wasn’t sure. Her body, being much like her subjects, black with holes, a horn making her look like a Alicorn, and a weird blue mark on her back; with bug wings. She then smiled her sharp teethes showing as I slowly brought my sword out of the sheath as she laughed softly.

“Oh Brandon, no need for that sword, I mean you nor your friends and family any harm.”

“Bull shit,” I muttered slightly enough for her to hear, looking behind her, I saw Sonic Flash from behind Celestia’s leg watching what was about to unfold. “What do you want?”

“As I was telling your sisters here, I have come, to offer you my help.”

“Oh, like your tried to help last time, and you pulled that little trick?!”

“Oh you enjoyed it and you know it.” I growled softly pulled the sword fully out as Mike then grabbed my shoulder, I looked back and saw him slowly shake his head as I glared slightly and brought the sword back in place. “But, you are right, your trust with me as of this moment can no doubt, I can guess…be very slim.”

“There is no trust with you,” I told her.

“Then why did you try and save me then hrm?” she asked moving forward a bit as I tensed up, Twilight by my side at once as my friends gathered around us. “This question has lingered in my mind for the last two years; so answer me this.” I took a moment to think over an answer as I then looked away.

“I tried to save you so you can pay for your crimes,”

“Is that all?” she asked once more as I glared at her harder.

“Brandon, she is telling the truth,” I looked back up to Celestia. “Nova, Courage and Wisdom have been watching her for the last two years, they knew she was alive and have been watching her closely, and she has no ties with Sinbad or to Discord or the demon. She has come to offer as any help she can.”

“And you’re going to accept her help?!” I called out as Celestia nodded her head. “Are you mad?!”

“I trust Nova’s judgment on this, and just like we did with Moon, we will watch over her carefully.”

“And what of their food source huh what about that?”

“If I may?’ the Changeling Queen asked as I turned to her, my hand still on my blade.

“As you know, we have two different types of food we can have, love, or blood. My subjects and myself will need love in order to fight fully, and you…you have a lot of it.”

“You’re not touching me,”

“No need, you see, just being near you, I can take some of that love from you, not too much that it will affect you. Because like blood, you never run out of love, it keeps going and going. The love for your family and friends…it is something I have never tasted before.”

“So you’re feeding from me right now then I’m guessing?” she only smiled and nodded her head. “I’m still not bought that I’m sure you’re on our side; you could turn at any moment.”

“You’re wrong, as you told me, if these fiends get their way, my race will slowly die out, and I will not allow that…not now even,” I saw her look down slightly as I saw a side of her as I never did before. “The reason I also want to help is to yes, keep my race safe, but also; somepony else.”

“Who?” I demanded as she looked toward the shadows for a moment.

“Vlad, come on out.”

We all turned to where she was looking, as two color eyes slowly opened from within the shadows, the same shade of colors of that of Chrysalis; the sound of clopping was easily heard throughout the room as a small little Changeling came out. Well I should say small, he was about the same height as Sonic Flash, and a little more muscle then the normal Changeling. His head was shaped much like a colt pony would be his bug like wings were slightly small, but no doubt big enough for him to easily fly up the only reason I could see his wings, was when the cape that he wore that covered nearly his whole body; the main cape being that of a much darker shade of black, the inside red, the edges slightly torn a bit. Like Chrysalis he had blue hair, pushed before his face allowing a bit of his eyes to be seen as he made his way over to the Changeling Queen. Around his legs were holes, his horn, being that much straighter then a normal Changeling. But looking at this Changeling named Vlad; I couldn’t help but think something about him seemed…I watched as Chrysalis leaned down to nuzzle at the young Changeling before looking back up at me.

“Vlad, I like you to meet Brandon; your father.”

“W…what?!” I screamed out backing away as my friends beside me gasped as well as Luna, Celestia, Twilight and even Sonic was slightly shocked at this. This Changeling…was…my son?! No, this was some cruel, cruel joke! But…as I looked at Vlad more and more, I could see a bit of my pony self in him, the face mostly and the way he looked at me with his half closed eyes, the same way I did when I was studying someone. I turned to Twilight, she didn’t even look at me, I gulped, knowing that later on I and she were going to talk; and no doubt…not very good ether.

“Do you see why now I want to fight along side you?” Chrysalis went on placing a hoof on her son’s…my son’s head. “I want to keep Vlad safe, safe from dying because there is not enough love. I never truly understood what it was to have love for myself…but when Vlad was born, I just…felt something, it’s hard to explain; I’m sure you can relate, right young Twilight?” she held a smile as Twilight looked away as I watched Vlad. He turned to look at me for a moment as he started to walk forward, I watched as Twilight walked away, past our friends without saying a word as she left the room, I was about to go after her when I felt a tug on my pants. Looking down, I watched as Vlad slowly hovered up to my face. We were staring each other down, I watching him, and he watching me.

“Hello…father,” he spoke to me, his voice sounding a bit deeper then that of Sonic. “So nice to meet you at last.”

“Uh…likewise,” I answered as he smiled and then flew over to his mother as she looked back at Celestia and Luna.

“And where will you be allowing us to stay then Princesses of Equestria?”

“Dad…is he really my…brother?” me and Sonic Flash were outside; I was sitting on the steps thinking deeply my hands in my hair as I felt like pulling the fiber of hairs out. Armor came to me a little while ago, telling me that Twilight was at her family’s place in her old room, she didn’t say anything to her folks, and Armor knew. He placed a hoof on my shoulder and told me that it was not my fault, and then left.

“Yes Sonic…he is…”

“Why didn’t you tell me I had a brother…?”

“Truly…I didn’t know,” I saw from just looking at Sonic that he did not truly know what I was meaning. I knew that this would be hard to explain to him right now, I mean, how do you tell your kid that you had sex with another women before he was born and got her knocked up? Sighing I turned my body so I was fully looking at him. “Sonic, I want you to do something for me alright?” he looked up at me and nodded as he stood up. “I want you to go find ether your aunts or uncle and stay with them for a moment while I go talk to Twilight; alright?” He gave me a questionable look, but nodded all the same as he then went off toward where Shiny Armor ran off, that being toward the training grounds to speak with the guards. I then stood up then and made my way toward Twilight’s family home.

Her father was the one that answered the door, I was waiting for him to be outrage with me, no doubt Twilight telling her mother and father what had transpired, but he gave me a clam look and allowed me to come in.

“She’s in the living room with her mother,” he told me as I nodded and made my way toward the living room. When I came in, I saw the two unicorns drinking tea, or I thought it was tea because of the steam I saw coming from it. The two mares looked up at me as Twilight then looked down at once. Her mother got up and patted the spot where she was as I walked over. The two then left the room, giving me and Twilight some time alone. With her cup floating in the air, she started to play with it a bit with her hoof, almost in a fidget kind of way as I watched her. I sat down on the sofa and sighed slightly, looking down with my hands between my spread legs, my body slightly forward.

“Weird turn of events…huh?” I asked her turning to look at her as she only slightly nodded. Even though she did not say it, I knew that she still thought of what I did with Queen Chrysalis, and now the proof of what I did, was born and walking around her. “Twilight…understand I did not know I mean if I did know I would’ve…”

“I know,” I stopped as I heard her speak as she turned up at me. “It’s alright; I know you did what you did back then because you thought it was the only thing you had to do. And even more…you did not know that something like this; would happen.” She then looked down at her drink as she then went on. “What are you going to do then?”

“Well,” I answered crossing my arms and looking in front of me. “I have no idea right now. I mean, think about it, what would Chrysalis gain if she did what she did last time, make us think she is on our side then betrays us? Her kind does need love in order to fully fight, which I guess I have enough to give and not make me go coo, coo like I did last time.” I then brought two fingers, one on each hand to my lips as I sighed softly. “And then theirs Vlad, we know that he is truly my son, because truly, what would be gained by making us think that he is?” I saw Twilight slightly nod at this as I went on. “Look…I know you have ill willed for the Changelings, we all do; but we truly don’t have any idea what we are up against. We need all the help we can get, and we will keep a much closer eye on Chrysalis this time; so she won’t get to me, or anypony again alright?”

“What I mean,” she spoke. “What are you going to do about Vlad?”

“Growing up back in my home world, I had some true friends, not a lot, but true all the same. A lot of them didn’t know their father’s or didn’t have a relationship with them. Yes I may hate that damn bug bitch with every fiber of my being for what she did to me. But Vlad is my son…and I will have a relationship with him. Who knows ether, when he becomes Changeling King, he may try to rule more differently then his mother did before he was born.” In a way, I knew it was just wishful thinking, but hey, maybe if Vlad stayed around us long enough, he would see the errors of his mother’s old ways; if she truly did change. Twilight didn’t say anything for a while; I looked over and brought my arms around her, pulling her closer to my body as she hugged me as well.

“What I’m truly worried about…is that she’ll try and take you from me like she did last time. I mean…this time there won’t be a future Sonic Flash coming to save the day.” I smiled and nodded at this.

“True, but if Celestia and Luna can trust her, or believe in her words…maybe we should give it a try as well.”

“Hrm…”

“And I will get blood work from Vlad and me as well, just to make sure he is truly my son and not some ruse it that will also settle your nerves.”

“It would yes.” Twilight nodded at this as I nodded back before we then heard the sound of talking outside the window of the living room.

“So…that would make you Prince of the Changelings then?” that sounded like Sonic, but who was he talking to? Me and Twilight got up and peered out of the window, still slightly hidden so our son couldn’t see. Vlad was sitting before Sonic, as he then nodded his head.

“Yes, I guess it would.” The young Changeling answered with the nod of his head. “Though mother says I am still too young to start learning what it means to rule over our kind.” Vlad then smiled slightly. “But you, you are the son of the Prince of Equestria,”

“You are too though,” Sonic pointed out pointing his hoof at him as Vlad chuckled, the way he did it, reminded me a little of Chrysalis.

“Yes, but truly, do you think a Changeling would rule over all of Equestria. The only possible way I might if by any chance something were to happen to every other pony on line for the throne.”

“The line?” the white coat colt asked titling his head causing me and Twilight to hold back a small chuckle as Vlad sighed and shook his head.

“The rulers as of this moment are our aunts, Celestia and Luna. Since our father is now their half brother, thanks to Nightmare Moon giving her DNA to him, or from what I heard, he would be next in line if something where to happen to his sisters. Your mother would also rule with him, and if he would to say die, then she would keep ruling. After she then pass away, then you would take the rightful place on the throne. If you were to die without any children, then Princess Cadence would be next, and then lastly Prince Blue Blood, since he is the so called nephew and such. And if he were to die and no one was left to that blood line, I might be used for a last resort.” It was strange how great of knowledge he had, even at such a young age, for Sonic just tilted his head more and more to the side, Vlad placing his hole covered hoof on his face and shook his head. “Never mind, it is not important as of this moment. Where is our father anyway?”

“Inside talking to mom, and why do you call him ‘father’?”

“Why do you call him ‘dad’?”

“I don’t know…just a feeling I get to call him that.”

“The same with me.”

After that, I and Twilight made our way outside, Sonic looking over and coming over to us as Vlad stayed behind, nodding his head to me as I nodded back.

“Vlad?” I asked as he came over. “Do you know where Celestia and Luna are allowing you and the rest of the Changeling to stay?”

“Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, as they said,” he sated looking up at me standing beside Sonic. “That they wish to keep a close eye on us, so they are giving us a wing of the castle of which is barely used.”

“I see…” I answered as Sonic then spoke up.

“Hey dad? You think Vlad would be able to come to Ponyville once in a while to meet the others?” The question caught me slightly off guard, I mean, I knew everypony feared the Changelings, and just by looking at him, seeing his face, they could no doubt guess that he was my son. “Oh, you can also join the Cutie Mark Crusaders!”

“The what?’ Vlad asked as then Sonic started to explain what the group was. I turned to Twilight and also asked her if it would be such a good idea for Vlad to come to Ponyville, she had no idea truly, but maybe if everypony saw him with our kids, they could somewhat be less worry about him.

After a while, Vlad then sighed and shook his head.

“From what I understand, no Changeling had, or ever can get a Cutie Mark as you call them; so I joining would be a waste of time.

“Yeah true,” Sonic told him with a nod. “But you’re not full Changeling; are you?” Vlad thought about it for a moment, or from the look on his face he was thinking before he nodded and gave a small smile.

“True, alright, so what do you and this group does on a daily basic?”

“Well,” Sonic spoke was waving him over with a hoof for him to follow as the two half brothers made their way down the street. “First we gotta find out what your talent is…”

After an hour of this, we all headed back toward the train section to return him. Chrysalis came with a few guards making sure she would no do anything rash, Vlad standing beside her, giving us all a quick nod of the head as we all boarded the train. The whole ride back was filled with questions, Luna, thank god; she did not truly believe Vlad was my child, so she demanded a blood work to be done. I was glad it was her that asked; not me. So giving the doc some of my blood and Vlad some of his own, they sent it off, we would have to wait two days before we would find out. when it came back to find out I was truly his father, I would do what I said I would do, make sure that I was within Vlad’s life, because truly, I don’t want any other reason for another bad guy to be made to come and kill or really harm my friends and family. After reaching our stop, and saying our goodbyes, we all went our own ways. Sapphire Bloom, Apple Bloom, and Cloudy Skys was seen on the docking area of the train stop, Sonic Flash asking me and Twilight if he could go and hang out a bit more with his friends. We agreed, it was still pretty early, only being that of the afternoon. Twilight and I then made our way toward our home; I didn’t truly say anything, too deep within my thoughts of the moment of what happened today. All I knew…that things were going to happen soon, very soon. And then there was that Demon that came to talk to me today, he said himself that I had this power deep within myself, great power, yet he wants me to live; why? Could he want me to grow stronger and stronger so that one day he can take over my body?

After a few hours of me and Twilight being alone with each other, mostly just talking and also cleaning up the house, lord knows how long it’s been since we last cleaned it, we decided to go out for lunch like we always did at the café. While making our way there, we noticed that Applejack, Mike, and even Victoria were there. We waved as they saw us and waved back as me and my wife took a seat with them. It seemed they had just got there, so when the waiter came over, we all placed our orders, and started to chat while waiting.

“That Pinkie Pie is a happy go lucky type isn’t she?” Victoria asked us as we all chuckled, I looked up to see Mike reading from a book, it was plan green, no title at all, but it was slightly large.

“Well that pony is the pony to go to when ya want to throw a little hoedown I always say!” Applejack spoke up with a nod as she placed her hat on the table for a moment to shake her hair a bit and then placed it back on. “I’m surprised she hasn’t done ya a party yet!”

“Well I kinda asked her not to,” the female human spoke up as she nodded her head slightly. “I mean, it’s a nice thought yes, but still, not yet I guess.” She then looked to each of us for a moment before leaning forward slightly. “So you four…are married to each other, I mean, you and Mike, and Brandon with Twilight?” we all chuckled and nodded our heads.

“Yes,” Twilight spoke up as Victoria turned to look at her. “We found nothing wrong with a human and a pony falling in love, and we each love each other very much; so why not right?”

“And you married Brandon here…even after that thing with…what’s her name… Chrysalis?” me and Twilight turned to each other as I sighed and looked up to her, I was about to say something when Twilight spoke up again.

“What he did, he did because he thought it would help keep us all safe, yes it did hurt, but still; I love him all the same.”

“Even though he has a kid with her?” so I guess Mike and Applejack told her about that, again Twilight said nothing for a while until I spoke up.

“Let’s not talk about this right now please?” the newest human of Equestria nodded her head and then looked away as I turned to Mike. “And man, what are you reading?”

“One of the gifts Nova gave me,” he answered placing it down. “He gave me a few books, some photos and…something else,” I saw him look down after saying this, what was this last piece of item that Nova gave him. “Anyway, this is one of the books I’ve been studying. Its different fighting styles involving sword play close quarter combat or CQC as ya would call it. Some of these things my father taught me, so their petty easy things.”

As I watched him go back to reading, something came to mind, Mike was one of the best fighters in our group, and he had a balance of both raw power and skills. Not only that, but he also had his unlock Guardian powers, closing my eyes, all I could think about was how much I needed to grow to be stronger. Placing my hands on the table with a slightly loud slap, all eyes turned to me.

“Teach me,”

“Beg pardon?” Mike asked as I gave him a stern look.

“Mike, I need to get stronger, not by muscles or anything, but the way of the blade. And if you said you’ve been studying these books…then I want you to train me.” He gave me a look, I wasn’t sure what it was but he looked down at his book before closing it.

“Before I answer that…can I tell you what ah notice from your fighting?” I nodded my head as he brought his fist into his open hand, placing his chin on top of it. “You fight out of anger, though yes it can be useful, but it also blinds you; take Discord. He was toying with you the whole time, making a complete fool out of you, and that is how he was able to overpower you. Devon…well he beat him because he used the same tactic; which shocked me.” He closed his eyes before then adding. “You can be the best fighter out there Brandon, but you must learn to control your emotions. When you were sent back to Earth, by who knows what,” he was playing it off like he didn’t know for Victoria’s sake. “You were so enrage by your father that it cased you to get that,” he nodded toward my scar as I traced the line with a finger. “You must learn to keep your emotions down, do not let them fog your judgments. I will train you, if you allow me to also to train how to control your rage.”

Chatper 5

I agreed. Though at the moment, I didn’t truly think on how hard it would be training with Mike, I mean, sure over the years we spared a few times; mostly to entertain the kids of course, but no, he was not holding back when it came to training me. It had only been a week since I asked him to train me, and also a week since the day found out about Chrysalis having a Changeling colt, a colt who was mine. And being true to my word, once a day I would go up to Canterlot, go to the wing of the castle, given to the Changelings to stay thanks to Celestia and Luna; to offer some of my love as their food. Truly I did not fully know how the hell she was taking love out of me, all I knew was that I did not feel the effect of what she did to me last time while me and Vlad would spend some time together; she of course being close by. As I said before, I did not like her one bit, not after what she put myself and mostly Twilight through, but it didn’t matter, I was here for Vlad. Like is aid before, it took two days for the blood work to come back, and it was indeed a match, Vlad was my son. So sucking up my pride, I would have to deal with the queen of the Changeling while I would visit.

Every time I would come, Armor always had ten guards with me; just in case something was to happen. So far nothing had happen, but it was better safe then sorry. Vlad told me that he could eat like a pony could, which was good on some parts I guess, but he could not change like the other Changelings, something that I saw as a little weird. But what he could do surprised me. It seemed he could bend his body into the shadows, using the shadows around him like a weapon in a way, a neat little trick; and something that may prove useful if he ever had to defend himself. He had yet to come to Ponyville to visit, and he never did ask to come with me, so I did not ask. In fact he didn’t show any sort of interest to come to Ponyville at all. Pretty much, all me and Vlad did was talk, he would ask me of my past, wondering who I was before becoming what I was. I told him, and did not hold back. It seemed even though he was a little younger then Sonic Flash, he didn’t mind a lot of things at all. Chrysalis would be near a lot of the time, for the reason to feed off my love as was the deal, a few times I felt a little tried, as she told me this was normal, but she promised that she would stop if it went to far. Though with the guards around all the time, I think this was the more of the reason then that.

Over the week, I noticed that she truly was different, when she smiled; it didn’t seem that evil at all, it seemed like a real, heart warming smile. Did having Vlad real open something up deep within her? And could something that could feed off the love of others truly love someone else? I went to the library whenever I had the chance, to study up on the Changelings, I could not find what I was looking for, so maybe this was a first in history for her kind.

“Mother told me about how she tricked you,” I turned to Vlad, we were in his own room that was given, it was pretty large, I mean, I think it was as large as the living room of mine and Twilight’s home. “Do you still hate her for that?”

“I dislike her for doing that,” I told him as I sat on his bed with him. He had a few books on it, it seemed that he liked to read, not as much as Twilight, but he loved to read all the same, and write as well. “I mean…it was a pretty crummy trick I’ll admit, using my emotions and will to keep the ones I hold dear to me safe to her own gain.”

“She isn’t like that now,” I turned back to him as he looked up to me. “Mother…I believe that she has changed. I will always love her like a son should, and I do not know what she was truly like before, since I was not born then. But I know, just from hearing what the guards whisper when I sneak in the shadows at night that she has truly changed.”

“I truly hope so,” I answered him placing a hand on his head. “We real don’t need another foe that’s out to take over the world, or destroy It.” he seemed to smile at this as he went back to his book before I stood up and stretched. “How have you and Sonic been doing?”

“Great,” he answered me while my back was to him. “His friends though, the one with the green in her hair…she keeps looking at other ponies flanks.” I sighed and shook my head.

“Like father like daughter. Her father, Devon, he’s a bit of a pervert.”

“A bit?” he questioned as I turned to see him with a raised eyebrow. “He keeps making sex puns any chance he can get, and says the most random things ever! If it wasn’t for Discord being alive, I would think that HE was the God of Chaos.” This caused me to laugh loudly as he too started to chuckle.

“Yes, I guess you’re right, Devon can be a bit of a…air head, but he has a great skill and will for peace like myself and Mike. And he knows when it’s time to be for real, and not joke around; even though he does somehow still have time to make every fight a little…”

“Strange?”

“Strange,” I agreed before looking out the window. I was about to tell him that I was about to leave, when a knock came at the door. Going over and opening the door, I noticed one of my guards that Armor assigned to watch over me.

“I am deeply sorry Prince Brandon,” he spoke while bowing slightly. “But the princesses require you to come to the throne room at once.” I nodded my head as Vlad jumped off the bed and came over to me.

“I shall find mother then, see you tomorrow father?”

“Yes, and you know, if you wish you can always come to Ponyville to meet visit.”

“I shall remember that, but I believe you should go now.” I nodded as I gave my Changeling son my farewells and left.

Walking down the hallway, I turned my head to look out of the window to my left; I noticed that there were many more ponies then normal down around the grounds. Many of them seemed to be frightened, reason I do not know.

“Excuse me, but what is going on down there?” I asked the pale coat Pegasus as he turned his head slightly back to me as we kept on walking. “What is going on down there?”

“The reason why the princesses wished to speak to you and the other Guardians,” he answered looking on ahead. Devon and Mike were here as well; but why? “It seemed that the city far away from Equestria was attack, these ponies had come here to seek help from the princesses, and to also tell us what happened.” Could this be the army that Sinbad had started to build, could they be slowly gaining more and more guard that way they can have a place to grow even more? At least we now could find out what we are going to be dealing with.

The room of which Celestia, Luna, Mike, Devon, and also Shiny Armor was the same room we always have our plans, we now called it the War Room in a sense. Mike nodded to me as well as Devon as they both were waiting with the others. The guard that took me here went toward his post as Celestia turned to look at us all before speaking.

“Guard, may you please bring her in now.” another guard, all black but wearing Celestia guard armor nodded and went off, a few moments later coming back with a light blue color unicorn. I could not se her cutie mark, for it was covered as well as her hind legs, some red seen from the blood, in fact she looked a mess, her long blond hair in shambles. Her head was held down, her body visibly shaking as Celestia made her way over to the pony and brought a hoof to her shoulder. “Do not fear, you are safe here, please; may you tell us what happen?” the pony looked around at us for a moment, locking eyes on the only humans in the room, well…I’m not sure if you count Devon as a human anymore or myself; but you get the idea.

“It…was just like any other day,” she started, her voice so low, she reminded me a little of Fluttershy. “It happened so fast…I don’t even know if it was real. One moment it was clear, then the ground started to form mist, as if a cloud had came down on us. We thought little of it, but a chilling scream caused us to know, that this was not normal.” She then looked to myself, Devon and Mike again. “The things that attacked us, looked just like them, but at the same time not.” She closed her eyes and shook her head. “Their bodies looked to be decaying, they looked dead, and they WERE dead. Some missing limps and eyes yet they still roamed around; their swords and axes and other such weapons as twisted as they were!” for once Devon was right…zombies, great fucking great! “But…there were humans that looked…normal.” This caused me to look at her in slight shock. “The undead seemed to listen to them.”

“What did they look like?” I asked as the mare looked up to me.

“One was always flicking his hair back; another was small, maybe…less than five feet? And the last was both tall and wide…he was the worst out of all the three, he killed my husband…my filly…” she then started to break down in tears as I cursed and looked away for a moment.

“That is all, guard, take her somewhere where she can rest.” The guard saluted and then left, I soon felt all the eyes on me as I looked back. “You know who they are…don’t you Brandon?” Celestia asked as I sighed and nodded.

“They are three of Sinbad’s best men,” I told her as everyone started to listen. “Leonard, the one that’s he said was flicking his hair, he believes that even when killing can be a art, though he cares for of how he looks when he kills then anything else. The smallest of the group is Nix, crazy little bugger, he says the weirdest things, but he can torture and make sure you suffer a fate worst then death…soon you will wish for death! The last one is the worst of the three, he’s big, strong, fast, and will do anything to kill you, even kill his own men to do it. His real name I do not now, but from what I remember of him, he calls himself…the Animal.” I sighed and then started to rub my eyes. “The only reason I can think that they are here, is because Sinbad needs more commanders in his army,”

“That does make sense, and I’m guessing we can’t turn them over to the good side huh?” Armor asked me as I laughed slightly.

“Not a chance, they love to kill, killing is like breathing for them.”

“Such terrible humans that live in your home world,” Luna spoke while shaking her head. “How did you not become like them if you were raised around such vial villains?” I smiled and shrugged my shoulder slightly.

“Your guess is as good as mine truthfully, maybe I was lucky; maybe it was because of my mother.”

“In any case,” Celestia spoke while walking up. “I do not think it is wise to tell any other pony about this until it is the right time, until them; please keep this between everypony in this room.” We all agreed on this at once, like really, I don’t think the three towns in Equestria would take it pretty well if they found out that a army of zombies would be coming soon. “Mike, do you still have a lot of that metal Nova gave you?” the hammer wielding human nodded his head.

“More then enough Princess Celestia, do you wish for me to make armor for the guards as well?”

“If it is not too much trouble, the armor we gave them is pretty much only for show, and not really for fighting.”

“I shall get on it right away once I mosey back home then malady.” The whitish pink Alicorn nodded her head before something came to mind.

“Celestia, you told me that each land, like Equestria has rulers, right?” this was pretty much basic stuff when living in this world, the Alicorns were kings or queen of their land. Luna scoffed at this, seeming displeases at me brining this up.

“Yes,” she answered shaking her head. “The king of that land, what was his name…Prince Bright Heart, it seemed he fled two days before the attack of the city he lived in.”

“Wait, wait,” Armor cut in looking at her with confusion in his eyes. “Two days…he knew that this attack would happen?!”

“Yes,” Luna answered the captain guard. “The coward, he did not even tell his subjects that they were going to be attacked!”

“Any idea where he may have gone?” I asked, while Celestia shook her head.

“Bright was not always keen on…worrying about others, more on himself. He could be half way around the world by now.”

“What will happen to the ponies that came here, I mean…they need a place to go after this war is over right?”

“This is true brother,” Luna spoke up moving forward. “But I doubt many would want to go back to their old homes after this attack…too many bad thoughts. That is why, if there is no ruler to take over the land there, if the Changeling Queen can earn her trust, we wish for her to govern there.”

“Are you sure that is such a good idea?” Devon spoke up as he crossed his arms. “I mean…she does feed off love, and sure Brandon here can feed her…but if it took these ponies a day to get here, how will you watch her to make sure everything is all hunky dory?”

“We have the crystals we use when we must speak to all of Equestria; we can place many hidden though out the city, much like spies in a sense. And also we can send on of you four once a week over to make sure everything is fine.”

“I like this plan,” I answered nodding my head. “But one thing at a time, we need to ready ourselves at any given moment. We do not know truly how large this army is, when we get back Mike, how fast can you make those armors?” the cowboy turned to me and counted to himself with his fingers.

“By myself aye can make maybe…half a dozen every few days, depending on what type of armor we need.”

“Make the armor so that the wearer can move about with ease, you said yourself that the armor is light but strong right?” he nodded his head as I turned to Devon. “Devon, I’ll need you to train the guards under you with Armor, you don’t mind training him do you?” I asked turning to my brother-in-law as he shook his head.

“He still needs some learning in how to command, something I’m willing to give.” I nodded to him as I then turned back to looking at Celestia and Luna.

“I’ll help in any way I can as well, is there anything you two would like to add?”

“Yes, may you speak with the Changeling Queen and see if she is willing to add any of the Changelings to our main forces?”

“That…could cause problems princess,” Shiny Armor interrupted while the two Alicorns turned to look down at him. “I mean…its bad enough that the guards are always near the Changeling, but…them trusting them on the battle field?”

“We have no choice Armor,” I told him as he turned to me. “I can understand where you’re going with this. But for now, we have to at least trust them enough, to fight with them.”

The only sounds that could be heard were the clanking of the train’s. After the meeting, Devon, Mike, and I were now on our way back home to Ponyville. Since it was only us at the time, we were able to get one section of the seats, making it easier for us to speak of what we thought.

“I don’t understand why we can’t tell the girls,” Devon spoke as he shrugged his shoulders. “I mean, don’t they as well as everypony have the right to know what will soon be on top of them…so to speak?”

“Oh yes Devon,” I answered rolling my eyes as I crossed my arms, my chin to my chest. “I can see it now, ‘Oh hey there Twilight, oh yes my day went well. I just found out that the army Sinbad has, is in fact an army of undead humans!’.” I could see Devon’s reaction as he chuckled softly out of slight worry; as he rubbed the back of his neck.

“Well…when you put it like that…”

“Ay agree with the princesses on this,” Mike answered as he nodded his head, taking off his hat to push his hair back. “Ay means, we should keep this under the farm until it is truly needed to be spoken of.”

“I agree as well,” we all jumped at this new voice that came out of nowhere, but I knew the voice at once. Soon a small head poked from under my seat as my Changeling son Vlad came out and shook his body.

“Vlad, what are you doing here?!” the young Changeling turned his head to look at me before jumping up on the seat next to me; and reseating himself. I did not notice till now, be he now held a cape that covered his body a bit. I mean, his legs and a bit of his sides were easily seen, and his chest as well. The cape was slightly ragged near the end, a deep black, the inside a blood red. “And…how did you get in here in the first place? I didn’t even hear you come in!”

“I used my skills father,” he answered me giving a small nod. “Remember that I spoke of it to you many days ago.”

“What skills?” Mike asked as the young colt turned to him and then to the ground where his shadow sat. Jumping down, he stood in Mike’s shadow, before his eyes flashed a deep dark green, and slowly; ever so slowly, he sank into his shadow. I have never seen this first hand, so seeing it for the first time slightly shocked me, thinking he would come back from the same shadow, I jumped as I felt him ‘grow’ from the shadow beside me, as we entered a tunnel.

Pulling up on the train platform, we got out one at a time, Vlad beside me as he hopped from the small jump as he looked around. Before coming to the stop, I had asked him, what he would do when everypony watched him with weary eyes. He just shrugged slightly.

“I do not care father,” he answered me as he turned to look me in the eye. “If they fear me, they fear me. Just like Nightmare Moon, where she had to gain their trust, I too can gain their trusts.” It was so weird, here was a youngling, only two years of age, maybe a bit younger, and yet…he spoke and held that much of wisdom; of that of a much older pony.

“Hey Vlad?” Devon asked as we made our way into the town, already eyes were on us as he looked up toward the Humicorn with half closed bored like eyes. “Does your mother know you are here?”

“No,”

“Don’t you think you should’ve told her?”

“I can take care of myself; I have been without any sort of life before.”

“What?” I asked as he turned to look at me.

“Mother knows that one day I will leave, so she wanted to get me ready for that day when it comes. So every few weeks, I would leave, sometimes close to a week itself, living off the land and keeping myself safe; I am not like my older brother father, I can and will deal with anything thrown my way!” I only gave him a half puzzle look, what was she thinking, allowing him to be out on his own, at just two years old, even younger! But…his kind does have a different…way of living, so I guess they and the ponies here are not all the same.

“Hey dad!” I brought my head up after hearing the sound of Sonic Flash call out to me. Smiling as I saw him run over, behind him Cloudy Skys and Sapphire Bloom close behind. He then stopped running and went into a speed walk, and then stopped when he then noticed Vlad. “Oh Vlad! So you decided to come over here now?”

“Yes brother,” he answered with a nod, his eyes half closed in the bored like look I always seen him wear. “I have thought about coming here, to see what Ponyville is truly like.”

“Well that’s neat!” the white colt nodded his head before moving to the side. I could see that Sapphire Bloom was slightly scared, I mean, I could see it written all over her face. “These are my friends, Sapphire Bloom.”

“Uh…howdy,” she gave a small wave of her hoof as Vlad only nodded.

“And this is…uh Cloudy…?” I turned to look at Cloudy to see if she was alright, but what shocked me…was HOW she was looking at Vlad.

Her eyes were opened wide, her jaw slightly slack, and I think I saw a small blush on her face. I do not know if Vlad noticed this or not, since he only nodded to her.

“Hello there, so you are the one that Sonic spoke of, the perverted one?”

“Uh…uh…yeah!” she then nodded her head and smiled. “That’s me, uh… have to go,” and just like that, she turn and left, and for the first time ever, I did not hear a single comment on perverted like things come out of her mouth at all…it slightly worried me.

“Well…that was strange,” Sapphire Bloom answered out loud as Vlad turned to her and raised an eyebrow as she turned to answer him. “She never don that before.”

“Never?”

“Never,” Both Sonic and Sapphire answered at once as Vlad tapped his chin with a hoof.

“Well,” I answered dusting my hands as the three looked up at me. “You three do what you do then, are you two foals gonna show him the club house?”

“Yeah!” Sonic nodded his head slightly and grinned. “Like I said, maybe you can get a Cutie Mark too!”

“I highly doubt this,” the changeling answered with bored like eyes. “But…doesn’t hut to try…right?”

“That’s the spirit!” Sapphire beamed a smiled as the three went on toward the farm.

After they were gone, I and Mike turned to look toward Devon who turned to look at us.

“What?” he asked as I shook my head.

“Why did Cloudy react the way she did when she saw Vlad?”

“How the hell should I know?” he answered with a shrug.

“She might have a crush on him,” Mike answered picking at his teeth with his finger. I and Devon did a double take back as we gave him shock like looks. “Oh come on, think about it. They are two years old, yet they have grown faster then any human child could, maybe they mature faster then humans do; I’m not sure.” I was about to say something else when I saw Devon smirk from beside me. Turning over I then saw him grin more widely as he brought an arm around my shoulder.

“I guess that makes us in-laws now!”

“Oh hell no!” the other two started to laugh slightly at this before roaring into laughter, and I had to admit, I too started to softly laugh at this. It would be slightly funny, I mean Cloudy falling in love with a Changeling? I guess it is really true what they say then…love truly holds no bounds.

Chapter 6

“So mind me asking…is Pinkie Pie always so…happy go lucky so to speak?” Victoria, or as we now called her as Vicky, because she thought that her full name sounded too much like a older women, and how much Vicky seemed to just…click for her; asked the small group before her as she had a plate of food before her. Her hair was a lot cleaner then that of when she first came to Ponyville, being now straight with slight curls at the top of her shoulders. Rarity had long since given her many new clothing to wear, though she wore a style that being much of a tom-boy in a way. The jeans she wore were pale blue, they hugged her legs tightly, and her black v shape neck loose shirt. Sitting around the large table outside of the café was myself, on ether side sat Sonic Flash, and Twilight. Next sat Devon, with Cloudy Skys and Rarity on ether side of him, and lastly, Mike with Applejack and Sapphire Bloom. I chuckled as I took a bite out of the salad I was eating, after living here for nearly three years, you tend to eat more healthier then what you were used to eating.

“Oh yeah,” I answered with a nod. “She’ll try to find anyway, and I mean anyway to throw a party.”

“Yeah I know,” She answered with a nod. “The first day I started to work with her, she had this little thing that poofed colorful paper in the air, saying that I completed my first day of work.” I chuckled, remembering she did the same thing to me. “Anyway Brandon…and also Devon and Mike. Do you mind if I ask you three something?”

“Sure, go right ahead,” Mike answered taking a sip from his drink.

“Well, I’ve heard that you three had it rough…do you mind telling me a bit of your pasts?”

Now that I think of it, I truly didn’t know of Mike’s nor Devon’s pasts, I never did ask them about it because I truly didn’t care about. They barley knew of mine, all I said was of what my father did, and the little things I knew of the three new humans, of who are working with my father Sinbad.

“Who do you want to hear first?” I asked putting my chin on top of my knuckles giving her a blank like look as she turned to look at me. I sighed and straighten up as I crossed my arms and closed my eyes as I started to tell my tale.

“My father was a man with great power, and not the good kind ether. Before I was even ten, I found out about the ‘family work’ so to say. I truly didn’t know what he did before then, he told me that he was teaching people who crossed him to behave, I thought he was some sort of police officer or something; boy was I wrong.” I sighed and shook my head, opening my eyes to watch her as she sat back to listen. “Once I found out that he was a kingpin of a large ring of shady men and women of the sort. This is when I went to my mother to truly know if this was true. When she told me all she knew, I’ll tell you, I hated her for it, to allow him to do this and not tell the police, but then I knew…just how much power he truly had.” I sighed and looked away. “When I was ten, I watched him and his lackey beat a man to death before me, for leaking something that didn’t make any sense to me. First chance I got a few years later, I ran…I just ran.” I ended my tale there, which was pretty much my history; short but not sweet at all. She just gave me a look of pure shock in a way, I smiled slightly, but not a kind smile. “You know what they say, what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger? Everyday I thought when he was going to kill me, I always thought that on that day, I had to get stronger, every breath I took, could’ve been my last. That is why even today, I still train, I still fight; readying myself for the day, when we face off for the last time.”

“Whoa…” she muttered softly as I only nodded, I could see that Sonic was also watching me, his mouth slightly opened as I never really went into the detail of my past like that with him. “And I thought I had it rough…”

“HA!” Devon yet out a short laugh. “My life was way more colorful then that shit!”

“Oh really?” I challenge him with a raised eyebrow. “Go on then, tell us your story!”

“Okay, so this is what happened to me, seems my pops left after one night, so a one night stand really. And after many years, around the time I was thirteen, my mother grew ill…I was hyper back then.”

“Was?” I asked tilting my head. “You still are!”

“Hyper, no; crazy, yes.” I only rolled my eyes and watched as he put on his famous cocky smile, god I was really started to hate that smile. “Anyway, about four mouths after she fell ill..she passé don, leaving me with nothing to my name but my father’s red sweater, you know, the one you saw me in when we first met each other?” I nodded, he barley wore it anymore, but he sometimes did, the sweater and other such clothing, like jeans, seemed to fit him a lot more better then that of the red tux he was now wearing. “Anyway, after a few weeks on the streets, I went under the wing of a local gang, you now, little stuff. Selling coke and other such things as well as being a paper boy to them.”

“Did you by any chance smoke your own stuff?” I could tell that the ponies around us had no idea what we were talking about, but Vicky and Mike surely knew what I was getting at. Devon just waved his hand at me before leaning on his forearm on the table.

“Come on man, I may be a little crazy,”

“You would have to get better to be crazy,” I answered him as he blinked in confusion.

“I would have to be better to be…wow…that’s so nice,”

“Eh, I try.”

“Anyway,” he answered rolling his eyes. “No, I did not smoke, snort, or inject anything I was selling, I don’t roll like that.”

“So what happened after that daddy?” Cloudy Skys asked as she moved closer to hear as Devon smiled and went on.

“Well, one night, the boss told me to go to this warehouse, I wasn’t really sure why, there was some word going around that a rat was in the gang. It wasn’t me if that’s what you’re thinking. Anyway, so I go there, and it’s a rival gang, seems they wanted something that I was carrying, course I knew how to defend myself. Being the youngest of the gang you learn to fight.” He then looked away, as if thinking. “I don’t know what happened next…all I remember was being hit in the head hard, blacking out; and waking up…with me being the only one alive.” I brought my hand on my chin as I listened carefully to his story, that part got me to thinking, what happened after he blacked out?

“I got lucky then, you see, this old man that ran this juice bar found me, gave me a job to work for him. I took the job, leaving the gang, they thought I was dead anyway. Anyway, a few years passed after that, and one day, Darkness kidnapped me…and well you guys know the rest of that story.”

No one really said anything for a while. It was weird hearing about Devon’s upbringing, I mean; he sold drugs and did things like run with a gang and such. I didn’t know if my life or his life was worst, I guess it just depends on how people, or ponies; think on it. And yet, as I watched him, he just held a huge grin on his face, not a care in the world, but when he spoke about when he blacked out, I saw something. Only a flicker, but something all the same, something I would never think of seeing from him; fear, true and down right fear. What happened to Devon on that fateful day when he was knocked out, did the gang he ran with came and killed them off, also thinking that he was dead? Or was there something more to the story, something that he didn’t know; or didn’t want to know.

“If ya’ll don’t mind,” Mike spoke up as he cleaned his face with a napkin. “I rather not speak of my past just yet. It’s rather…hard for me to speak of what happened ta me, or should I say, someone else.”

“Hey we don’t mind,” I answered with a nod. “Remember, it took me a while to tell you of my past right? You’ll tell us when you think you are ready.”

“Yeah homes!” Devon nodded along side me with his same old grin. “Anyway, I got to go anyway, Fluttershy is gonna help me pick out a pet!”

“Did she freak out when you said you wanted one?” asked Twilight as the dark skin human chuckled.

“Oh yeah, she was dragging me across the field!” we all laughed and bid our farewells. Since it was spring, the apples were just about coming out now, in fact many of the trees had apples already, so Mike with the help of Applejack and Sapphire Bloom, would be working on picking some of the apples showing their bright red colors. Cloudy Skys came with me, Twilight, and also Sonic Flash, the two little foals talking for a bit before I over heard the two talk.

“So when is Vlad coming again to visit?” the filly asked on her small cloud, hanging low toward the ground.

“I dunno,” Sonic answered her. “Why do you want to know?”

“No reason,” she answered almost too quickly. “He’s kinda cool.”

“Well he IS my younger brother,” Sonic Flash answered, I swear, I could only think of him hold a coy like smile at the way he said it.

“Yeah, so how is HE cool, but you’re not?”

“Hey…” Sonic grumbled as Cloudy giggled slightly. “So is your mom still bugging you about the hair thing?”

“You mean the green streaks? Yeah she wants me to get rid of them, but I love grin!” I then leaned closer to whisper to Twilight.

“Man, a mother who hates green and a daughter who loves it…wonder how her room looks,” Twilight held back a giggle at this as we made our way toward the large library/home.

Walking in, I noticed Spike putting some books in a case, even though he was taller and growing older, he was still working for Twilight by delivering books to and from our home. What I also noticed was what he was wearing. Just as he told me days ago when we found him wearing one of Devon’s old jeans, he had taken up the habit of wearing clothes. Rarity had made him a small wardrobe to start him off just in case he didn’t wish wear any more. Today he was wearing a deep blue pair of baggy jeans and also a grey vest, with the letter S on the right side of flaps. The curves of the S near the ‘tail’ looking much like that of Spike’s own tail in a way. Putting a book into the shelf, I also noticed that he wore grew fingerless, or nail-less gloves.

“Hey Spike!” Sonic called out as the dragon turned over to look at the foal running upt o him. “Man I love your clothes, they make you look epic!” Spike only smiled as he brought his claws to his hips and grinned, before his right thumb flicked over his nose.

“Yeah I guess so huh, I mean at first they were a little weird to wear, but now I’m sorting liking it.”

“Suits you,” I told him as he looked up. “The vest I mean, I don’t really see you wearing a long sleeve shirt or sweater.”

“Nah, they make my scales itch.” We both chuckled as well as Twilight as she came over. “Oh Twilight I nearly forgot, that book you wanted came in today, it’s on your bed.”

“Ah thanks Spike,” the purple unicorn answered with a smile. “Anything else?” she asked as I watched Sonic and Cloudy go up toward his room. Sonic found this gem stone and wanted to show Cloudy, and he had it where Spike wouldn’t find it.

“Well…do you think I can speak to Brandon alone?” he asked as I looked over to him and raised an eyebrow at him.

“Sure, I’ll be busy anyway reading this book.” So with a nod, she turned and went up the stairs, leaving me and Spike alone.

Spike went over to lean on the nearest wall as I went over and took two bottle of juice, the kind that Devon made from his little shop. The bottle being that of white, with a cartoon version of Devon on the bottle, showing two thumbs up with his eyes closed and a wide smile; pretty much the same face he made two years ago when I first tasted his juice. The name of his shop, ‘The Devo’ easily seen under the picture, on top showing ‘Don’t knock’, his slogan. Passing the bottle to Spike who opened it and took a sip, I also lent my body on the wall as I did the same.

“So what is this about?” I asked taking another quick sip. We both let out a gasp of air, before softly hiccupping.

“Well…you see,” He started while sighing and closing his eyes. “There’s…this girl I like.”

“Wait…not Rarity?” I asked in slight shock as he smiled and shook his head.

“You were right man,” he told me looking over at me. “And now that I think of it, me being upset on the past, hating on Devon for taking my first crush; that will just ruin the friendship we have.”

“So…who’s the lucky girl you like?” I asked as Spike then looked down, I watched as he tapped the floor with his foot nails, he didn’t wear any shoes at all.

“You promise not to tell anypony?” he asked me as I nodded.

“Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye.” I then placed my fist on my eye as he rolled his eyes.

“Aren’t you getting a little old to be doing that?”

“Aren’t you getting a little old to be looking though porno?” his face tightened at once as I laughed. “Kidding man, but yeah I promise I won’t tell, who is she?”

“…Vicky,”

I didn’t say anything after that for a while, Vicky, as in Victoria? The Victoria that just came to Equestria a little over a week ago?

“Really?” I asked, I mean, Spike didn’t show any sighs of liking the girl when they were around at all. The dragon nodded as he sighed.

“But…I don’t know if something like that could even work…I mean we are different…” at that I burst into a fit of laughter as he glared at me. “What’s so funny?!” he demanded as I sighed and wiped away the tears.

“Spike man, my wife is a unicorn, and our son is a Pegasus, if we can work, why can’t you two?” the humanoid dragon turned to look at me as I lifted my bottle up a bit and smiled. “Look, all I’m saying is don’t just go up to her right now and say that you have this crush on her. Spend some time with her at first, see if these feeling for her are real you know?” I watched as Spike seemed to think this over for a moment and then slightly nod his head. “And as I said, I won’t tell anypony,”

“Nor shall I.” we both jumped and looked down to see Vlad standing before us, still wearing that same cape like before as he looked up to us with his half closed eyes. “Hello father, Spike.” He nodded to each of us. “Is my brother upstairs?”

“Uh…yeah, he’s with Cloudy Skys up there.”

“Alright, thank you.” and with that he made his way up the stairs before we then heard the yelp of surprised coming from ether Sonic, or Cloudy.

“The way he does that,” Spike told me as I turned to look at him. “Is kinda freaky, almost how Pinkie Pie pops out of anywhere at any given time.” I only chuckled and nodded at this, the bottle I had now empty as I took it toward the trash can. “Well, I’m going to go out for a bit, tell Twilight I’ll be back before it gets too dark.”

“Where are ya going, if you mind me asking?” I asked washing my hands in the sink as Spike sighed.

“Well,” he answered almost toward the door. “This place is getting a little cramped now you know, I mean, with Sonic, you and Twilight living here, it’s like I’m just extra space.”

“So you’ve been looking for a place for your own?” I asked as Spike nodded.

“Just don’t tell Twilight just yet alright, I don’t want her to make a big deal out of this. I mean, sure in a way she is like a mother to me. She has taken care of me ever since I hatched.” I nodded to this as I smiled my agreement to him, and with that; he turned and left with a wave of his claw.

After letting Twilight know that Vlad was here and with Cloudy Skys and Sonic, I left the house to get some fresh air, that is, not without taking my sword with me. Clipping it on my back and making my way outside, I noticed some new faces in Ponyville; these being the ponies whose homes were taken over. Since we now had a whole kingdom around, it was no that hard finding places for them to live. Some even went to the homes in ether my city or Devon’s City, though many decided to ether come to Ponyville, Cloudale, or stay within Canterlot. Some of the new ponies bowed their heads as I walked past, I only giving them a small nod and a smile as I went on with my own. I was just minding my own, until I noticed something come flying toward me; was that…a parrot? It was too, as it flew closer and closer to me, I noticed the color of blue and yellow easily. It stopped before me and hovered for a bit as if waiting for something, so bringing my hand out, it landed on it and cocked it head toward the side.

“Well hello there little one,” I spoke as I went to pet its head with my finger as it softly cooed and nuzzled my hand. “And who do you belong to?”

“Ark!” it yelled out flapping its wings. “Prison Bitch, Ark!” at once, my smile went away as a frown came onto my lips.

“Oh…I know who you belong to…”

“Sup bro!” I looked behind the bird to see Devon standing there with his arms crossed as he held a huge grin on his face. “I see that you’ve met my new pet.”

“Ark, Brandon’s a prison bitch!” I turned down and glared at the bird as it only tilted its head as Devon laughed.

“Devon…I’m gonna kill your bird.”

“Oh come on man, he just repeating what he hears!”

“Just repeating, just repeating!” the bird confirmed the half human, half unicorn words as he flapped his wings.

“Yeah, yeah whatever, anyway if your looking for your daughter.” I pointed with my thumb behind me. “She’s hanging with Vlad and Sonic at the house.”

“Alrighty, thanks man, come along Polly!” the bird then took off into the air, and as the duo left the bird screeched out.

“Bye, bye prison bitch; ark!”

“I’m gonna make that bird into KFC if it keeps calling me that!” I screamed as Devon laughed loudly.

Chapter 7

Having just finished another sparring match with Mike, him giving me more bruises then I could even put him to the ground, we were shocked to find Vicky standing before us; Devon and Shiny Armour who came to also train with the Humicorn, with a large pole in her hands. With sweat making my clothes cling to me, I stood up and starched my sore limps as me and Mike made our way over toward Vicky as well as the other two. We were training out in the Apple’s field, since it was the largest area of where we could train.

“Uh, hey there Vicky,” I greeted our friend as I placed the wooden sword I was using on my shoulder, still holding it by the hilt. “What brings you here?” she wore a determined face as she answered my question.

“I heard that you four were training, and I want to train as well.”

“Why?” Devon asked tilting his head to the side; his bird flew from a nearby tree and landed on his shoulder as it copied what he did.

“I want to fight with you guys as well.” This took us back for sure, the four of us turned to look at each other for a quick glance before looking back at her. “What…do don’t think a women can fight?”

“No, no!” Mike answered waving his hands side to side. “We are not thinking that aren’t we fella?” we all shook ours heads at this as Mike chuckled slightly. “It just…do you have any sort of fighting skills?”

“Course I do, I can fight.”

“We are facing zombies here Vic,” Devon answered walking to her side. “I mean, how well can you fight?” he then grinned and poked her side of her head. “I mean…you can be called the Stick Girl!” he started to laugh as Vicky’s eye twitched before twirling the pole in a circle a few times before the edge of the pole slammed right between Devon’s legs.

The rest of us cringed as she didn’t even look at him when she did this, Devon holding his crotch as he slowly fell on his side, and Polly flew up screeching loudly.

“Nut cracker!” he screeched as Devon fell fully on his side, curling into a ball as he whimpered slightly.

“Oh…my…god,” Mike gasped looking at the dark skin warrior. “She…did she just neuter him?!”

“Devon man, are you alright?” I asked going to his side as he lifted an arm up.

“I’m okay…thank god I already have a kid.” He answered with a soft chuckle as I shook my head.

“Look,” Vicky answered digging the butt of her pole to the ground. “In my past, I had to fight a lot to live, not as you two did, but when I tell you my story you’ll understand. I can fight, and if I’m gonna stay here, I want to help keep my home safe.” I stood up and crossed my arms looking her right in the eyes before Shiny Armour came up.

“Spoken like a true solider,” he answered with a nod. “I will train you if you wish; your style is much of my own. Can you get up early to get to Canterlot tomorrow to start your training?” the human nodded her head as Armour nodded back. “Good, do any of you think this is a bad idea?”

“I say go with it,” I answered smiling. “We need all the help we can get right?”

“Ah agree with this,” Mike answered with a nod of his head while placing his hat back on top of his head. “Are ya truly sure on this?”

“Truly,” she answered with a nod as Mike nodded back.

“Then I guess I’ll have to make you armour as well, lets see, since you’ll be using a spear or a staff, you’ll need something to allow you easy movement and speed…”

“Captain!” we all jerked our heads over to the south of the field to see one of Celestia’s guards coming toward us at a high rank of speed. The guard was flying low toward the ground before skidding to a halt before us, his breath short and heavy; wings dropping toward the ground slightly as he tried to catch his breath.

“What is it soldier?” Demanded Armour as he made his way over to the gold wearing Pegasus to see what the matter was. The rest of us came up behind Armour to hear as his guard jerked his head up to tell us.

“A…a small army was reported seen in the Everfree Forest sirs!” he answered looking toward where the forest would be. “Our scouts tell us they look human…but not at the same time.” Devon’s, Mike’s and my eyes locked on to each other as we nodded our heads once. There was no time to don on our armour, so with hast; we made our way toward a tree stump that held out weapons. Shiny Armour giving the guard a few orders as he saluted and went off toward Ponyville as Vicky came over to us.

“This is my chance to show you what I can do!” she explained to us as Mike slipped his hammer though his buckle. “Let me fight!”

“Too risky,” Armour told her with a look. “I promised to train you, but we do not know what sort of evil we are facing.”

“But I…” Vicky was about to rebel until the unicorn cut her off.

“I told the guard to have the men form around Ponyville in case the ones we are going to fight get pass us. I also told them to allow you to join the ranks. If any get pass us, fight there but not at the bulk of the hoard!”

“He’s right Vicky,” I spoke up clipping the sword on my back and then unsheathing my blade. “Fight there alright, until we know truly how well you fight, we don’t want you to risk your life; alright?” She gave me a stern look before looking away for a moment, sighing she then nodded and kicked up her pole, holding it behind her back before she ran toward the village.

Even in the day, the forest looked like it wanted to kill you. Though even though it was a little dark, my blade’s light allowed us to easily see as we treaded deeper and deeper into the forest. Mike and I were taking point, while Devon and Armour took our flanks, slowly moving forward, at times pacing in a clock like spin to see if anything was around, so far; nothing. I then stopped and then placed the sword up toward Mike’s chest to stop him as he stopped just before hitting the flat of my blade.

“You notice that?” I asked him as Devon and Armour came up behind us to stay close.”

“Notice what?” he asked as he looked to me as I looked to him out of the corner of my eye.

“Listen,” I told him as he looked around once more.

“I don’t hear a thing,” he answered me as I only nodded my head slightly. “What are ye getting at B...” he then stopped as he knew what I was talking about as he drew his hammer out. I heard the sound of magic behind me as I looked behind to see Shiny Armour also have a spear out, Devon punching his open metal glove fists together.

At once, the sound of a brush being rustled was heard as something sprang out while growling loudly, acting on reflex, I span the sword in my hand in the air, before slashing it downward. Whatever came to me fell in to the floor quickly, now not moving. Soon more rustles were heard as the four of us went back to back, to see what we were about to face. They here human like yes, their bodies’ human, yes; but they were far from human anymore.

They bore no hair at all, their skin a bloody red, sucked in slightly giving them an almost skull like look. Where their eyes should’ve been, was nothing but a soft red glow. They wore no nose at all, their arms skinny as well as their legs; but they wore the armour well enough to think they did have the muscles to hold them up. Their ears were gone, and their lips as well, making their teethes, or what they had left that is, easily shown.

The armour they wore were damage in many places, rust taking its toll on it. But from looking at each of the human zombies, I knew how the armour was made. Around the legging looked like a skirt of chain mail in a way, clanking and clinking with each movement they made. The chest part looking very heavy, buckle in a way, a symbol that I had seen before marked in the center, covered by the blood of ether old or new victims. A shield that was rounded; an Alicorn shown in the middle with twin swords going though the sides, the Holy Sun Blade down the middle.

They hissed and growled, their rusted looking swords, axes and daggers swinging toward us, but hit nothing but air. They were but a jump away to us. I counted maybe fifteen of these zombies, fifteen that may or may not be mine, Devon’s or even Mike’s family member. I remember that there was to be a small army...oh no did they already went past us and these were just the left behinds?! The four of us slowly went back to back to each other, looking around, I noticed Shiny Armour holding his spear with one hoof, and I would’ve thought he would use magic to hold it, but I guess not. The last fourteen Zombies solders slowly moved closer and closer as I turned back to undead humans, my grip tighter on the hilt, and all at once; they attacked.

I had three before me, two having small axes and the last with a short sword. The one with the sword came at me first, swinging and twisting the blade at me to stab at my gut. Jumping backwards I parried the blows and ducked low to the ground before slashing upward. The other two came in front of the first and brought their axes down to block my attack as I glared and then using my magic, allowing my hands to softly glow; turned my sword into a flaming inferno. All three jumped back as I brought the sword made of flames before me, slowly moving forward as they backed away; before I let out a battle cry and sprang forward like a cat springing toward its prey. Chopping off the head of the closest zombie, I then rolled toward the ground behind the headless body as it slowly fell backwards; as it did so, I then jumped forward once more and stabbed my blade though one with the axe as a weird hollow like scream was heard from the monster. Releasing my shield from my ring, I then slashed the edge on the dead human’s neck, causing it to snap and fall backwards; before that body too fell. Slowly turning to the last zombie as it turned and ran toward me, I jumped back as a spear was seen thrown at the chest of the creature, Armour’s spear.

Looking back at where my friends were, I saw that they had already dealt with the others as well. Using magic, the unicorn brought his weapon back to his side as Devon crossed his arms and kicked one of the even deader zombies.

“Some small army my black ass!” he complained and shook his head. “I mean, the Dark Beasts gave us more of a fight then this!” Mike only crossed his arms, before taking his hat off and slapping it over his legs to get any loose blood from the sides.

“This doesn’t make any sense at all though,” he spoke softly brining his fingers toward his chin. “You would think they would attack Ponyville…but why go into the forest and come this way; the village is that ah way right?” I didn’t stay and think of my reasons, slipping my sword back into place I ran as fast as I could toward Ponyville, hearing the sound of my friends calling me back, I just kept on running. After a wile they caught up to me as we pushed out way out of the forest coming to Fluttershy’s cottage. She was in the village as well today as I cursed as even more of our friends could be in danger! As we gained closer and closer I could see the bodies of those zombies just on the outside of Ponyville as I glared harder pushing my legs harder and harder; I was right, the ones we fought were just there to keep us busy as the main forces came here! But as we got closer and closer to the middle of my home, I saw that it was not a zombie the guards were fighting, or trying to keep at bay; but my father Sinbad.

And it wasn’t the guards as I thought it was, Twilight and the rest of the girls had the Element and were using them on him, the color of a rainbow hitting Sinbad as he only used a single hand to block the attack as he only chuckled; a low heartless chuckle before flexing his other hand causing the attack to stop and sending the girls skidding backwards. Sinbad then drew his double blades as he edge closer and closer toward the six as I started to run once more, yelling out he span around and brought his swords down as I brought mine up, the clashing of our metals easily heard as I glared hard up at him and he smiling down at me with his crooked smile.

“Ah Brandon,” he spoke softly to me as I glared; it was his voice, not the demon’s. “Been a while hasn’t it?” we both pushed each other back as he held his swords behind him as I glared and brought mine to the side of me.

“Not long enough,” I answered as Mike and Devon came up to my side as Armour went off to first see if his sister was fine, as well as the guards. Vicky was off to the side, her arm bleeding as she looked at Sinbad in totally fear.

“What’s this,” he asked looking at my friends on ether side of me. “Not gonna fight me one on one?”

“No,” I answered holding my sword to him. “I now know that you must be killed, and I can’t do this on my own. I really don’t care how you die, by my hands or the hands of others, all I care about,” I then slashed the sword in front of myself. “Is seeing your blood and lifeless body before me!” He only started to laugh at this as Devon snorted.

“I say we just beta this prick now!”

“I agree man,” I answered with a grin as Mike slapped his hammer in his hand before getting ready as well.

“So be it!” Sinbad called out stretching his arms out. “This place will be your graves!”

Running toward me mostly, he brought his swords toward me as I the ducked and slashed at his chest, but my tip never touched his skin or his clothing for that matter, Mike then went after him with is hammer, swinging it with speed one without training with such a tool could use. Sinbad dodging and weaving each of his attacks before Mike grinned, throwing the hammer toward him. Sinbad rolled out of the way with a look of smugness over his lips as Mike flexed both of his arms causing them to burst into flames. This caused my father’s eyes to grow wide, no doubt had yet to see Mike fight, he did not know that he had earned his Guardian form. The cowboy human then ran toward Sinbad, punching at him as the demon/human backed away and then tried to stab at Mike. But he was quicker; grabbing the blade I watched as some sliver slowly came down to the ground, his swords melting. Releasing one of his swords, my father jumped back, a look of pure fear on his face as me and Devon flanked on ether side of Mike as he brought his hand up, his hammer coming right back in his hand.

“So it seems you three have indeed increased in your skills and power within the two years.” The red eye monster spoke while holding his now only sword to the side.

“Well no shit,” Devon answered while rolling his eyes as I turned to look at him or a moment. “I mean what did you think we were doing? Fucking around…okay maybe we were…”

“Devon now is not a good time for that sort of talk.”

“Party pooper,” I scuffed slightly and turned to look back at my father as I grinned and brought my blade tip and pointed it to him.

“You are outnumbered and outclass Sinbad,” I told him wearing a smug look. “Surrender now, it’s over!”

“Yeah dad you tell him!” my eyes grew wide as I looked over to the side to see Sonic Flash pretty close by, I saw from the corner of my eye that my father had a large and evil sly grin on his face.

“Sonic get out of here now!” I cried as Sinbad then brought a hand out causing Sonic to yelp out as a dark magic flowed around his body and pulled him toward my father; his grandfather.

“H…hey let me go you bald bugger!” the small colt cried out as he tried to struggle to be released. My anger flared as I ran toward him to help him, when a blade was pressed to his neck, causing both me and my son to stop moving at once.

“Now, now, Brandon,” the smugness was once more back as I growled softly under my breath. “You know I don’t want to hurt a child,”

“Bull shit!” I screamed but did not move an inch in fear of my son’s welfare. I saw him smile more as he shrugged.

“Well, I won’t hurt him unless I have to; after all, he is my grandson.” I could see the shock in Sonic’s eyes as he looked up at the man holding him and also to me. “Oh, he didn’t tell you at all did he?” he asked looking down at Sonic Flash with a grin. “I am his father, the one that gave him that scar and also took away his mother.”

“You…big meanie!” he screamed out and struggled more as I took another step closer, maybe if I got close enough I could shoot Sinbad in the head and just end it here, but he saw me and brought the sword closer to his neck causing me to stop.

“None of that now, or he gets it.” Devon and Mike were on ether side of him, but far off for fear of the threats he was having on my son. “Now then, here’s what’s going to happen, I am going to take my grandson here and leave, and you will not try anything at all, you want him back and alive; you will surrender yourselves under my rule!” he grinned as I glared harder as my sword shook harder in rage, but I sighed and slowly lowered it toward the ground as I heard him chuckle. “Good boy…now you will…” I looked up just in time to see something moving beside him, it looked like a shadow as it edged closer and closer, before it exploded upward like a water fountain. Sinbad let out a startled cry as someone came out of the shadow, Vlad! He grabbed his half brother and pulled him out of the grip of his grandfather before landing back in the shadow with Sonic Flash. And before Sinbad could even move, he was attacked from behind, sending him rolling forward as Chrysalis stood behind him, her horn glowing with magic as a group of Changelings stood beside and behind her ready to fight.

“You?!” Sinbad let out a roar. “You’re dead!”

“No, you only thought I was dead,” The Changeling Queen answered as Vlad used his skill to bring himself beside his mother, Sonic beside him looking around in utter confusion. “Brandon, Mike, Devon, now is your chance!” I gave a sharp nod as me and the other looked at each other for one moment before jumping forward, fist, sword, and Hammer falling on top of where Sinbad stood, before he snapped his fingers and disappeared in a black of smoke.

After a while making sure all the zombies were gotten rid of and Sinbad was no where to be seen, we went to the wounded, Vicky only had a small gash, but it still needed to be stitched up. I then went over to Twilight and the others to make sure they were fine, Sonic hadn’t spoken to me, but I knew he had questions and I had to answer them. When Twilight was fine, she then asked.

“Did she really save him?” knowing what she meant I answered.

“Vlad really did, but she did help.” She slowly got up as Sonic went over and hugged her as she hugged him back. Hearing someone coming up behind me I turned to see Chrysalis standing there with Vlad at her side. Twilight looked up and then stood up fully and made her way over to her. I got out of the way and stood beside the other three humans as we watched as Twilight stared up at the Changeling Queen.

“Awkward….” Devon whispered and I saw that in his hand, was a sock puppet, the eyes and everything as he moved the ‘lip’ as he spoke as I sighed and rolled my eyes.

“Thank you,” Twilight spoke softly as Chrysalis only nodded her head slightly and turned to walk away.

Chapter 8

“Is…is that man really your dad?” I knew this was going to happen, just knew it. After everything in Ponyville clamed down enough that we could go on with the rest of our day, Twilight, Sonic Flash, and I made our way home. Sonic just went up to his room; I thought when I saw him go up that he was freaking out about what happened. I mean, he was held at the throat with a sword. And I knew my son, though he tried to act like he wasn’t scared of anything, I knew deep down inside he was frightened. Going up to his room, a bit smaller then mine and Twilight’s room, a circle like shape and where his dresser where he would keep his ‘treasures’ as he called them; that held a flat surface so it could easily fit. Over by his bed, which the foot of the bed would be, the window was open, allowing the close to autumn air to blow in, giving the room a dim feeling of cold. On the ceiling was a picture of the Wonder Blots, in the middle of himself trying to look as Rainbow Dash said ‘20% cooler’. Each of the members had their name sighed on the bottom.

I sighed as I went over to his bed, he sat by his pillow, the symbol of the Wonder Blots easily seen where his head would rest. It didn’t surprise me that he was a fan, though he did still want to be a guard stallion when he was older like his uncle Armor. I sat on the edge of his bed, my hands on my knees as I bowed my head. Sighing once more I pushed my hair back out of my forehead before looking up at really nothing.

“Yes,” I answered simply to him as I turned to see him still looking at his pillow. “He is.”

“Why…didn’t you tell me?” he asked looking at me as I closed my eyes to really think of an answer.

“I really don’t know,” I told him truthfully as I picked my words softly. “I thought at first that maybe it was to protect you, though I guess that didn’t happen since he still got you.”

“Do you think he’ll try to get me…to get to you?”

‘Don’t think like that,” I told my son as I moved closer and brought him on my lap as he looked up to me. “Listen here alright, he will never get you ever again as long as I’m around you got that? You saw how I, Devon, and Mike handled him right; so there is no worry.”

“If I hadn’t gotten in the way…you might have gotten him today.” He looked down; I could tell he felt like he cost many lives today. Even though I did not tell him who my father was, he did know of what he was capable of.

“Maybe, maybe not,” I spoke while softly running my hand over his black hair. “Listen alright…my father,” I hissed the title, making it sound like poison. “Is a very tricky man, he will wiggle his way out of the hook he had gotten himself in like a worm. Maybe we could’ve gotten him, MAYBE. But I’m not really sure, whatever he has become now; it is no longer normal.”

“Because of that demon inside of him?” I smiled, so he was listening to his aunt Celestia’s lessons.

“That’s right, without that demon, he is nothing but a man who thinks he can do whatever he wants.” The small colt looked up at me and then surprised me by hugging my waist; I smiled softly and held him in an embrace as well.

“I wish he wasn’t like that though,” I heard him whisper. “Why do you think he is the way he is?”

“I don’t truly know Sonic,” I answered as we broke our hug off. “Truly, I wish I knew; maybe I could understand him a bit more.” I watched as he raised his chest with a sigh as he then shook his head.

“I can’t believe that Vlad and his mom helped us out like that.”

“Yeah, even more how your mother said ‘thanks’ to her,”

“Yeah, I heard that she hated her, why is that?” I chuckled and turned away rubbing the back of my neck.

“I’ll tell you one day when you’re older alright? Anyway, let’s go see how your mother is doing kay?” he nodded and then started to flap his wings as he went airborne and started to make his way down the stairs to the living room area. Coming downstairs I was shocked that Sonic stopped right at the foot of the last piece of stairs, and when I moved him out of the way, I saw an even more shocking sight. Chrysalis was sitting on the sofa, Twilight on the other side, as they both were drinking from cups.

“May Twilight, this is very nice tea,” Sonic just landed beside me, I looked down to see him looking up at me. The hell was going on? “Thank you again for allowing me to come within your home.” I saw Twilight only give a nod of her head until she looked over to see me and Sonic, Chrysalis also looked over and gave a small smile, her sharp teeth easily seen. “Why hello there boys, and how are you?”

“Um…fine Miss Chrysalis,” my son answered as I only nodded. “I was…just leaving, is Vlad around?”

“I believe your brother is outside with the other two, the blue one…Sapphire was it?” I nodded my head as she nodded again. “Said they found a way to get his Cutie Mark.”

“I’ll…be going then,” he then started to leave before turning to Twilight. “Hey mom, is it alright if I stay at Sapphire’s place tonight?”

“Yes Sonic you may, I’ll bring your bag over later alright?” he nodded and then left out of the house, closing the door softly behind him. After he left, the sound of the room was none; it was almost scary in a way, a silence that would make anypony go insane.

“I’ll just…uh…get some tea as well,” I spoke up as I went to sit by Twilight pouring myself a glass as I watched as the Changeling Queen watched me as well.

After poring myself one and taking a quick sip I then asked.

“So…uh, why are you here?” I asked as the Changeling nodded toward my wife.

“She invited me here,” she answered as I looked to Twilight. “To ask me something.”

“Yes,” she answered with a stern look. “And what I’m asking is what are you trying to pull?”

“Whatever do you mean young unicorn?”

“You know what the hay I’m talking about!” she blurted out. “What sort of plans are you hatching with Sinbad and the others hrm? How is it that you just ‘happen’ to get there just in time with Vlad to save Sonic like that?!” Chrysalis didn’t answer as she used her magic to lift the cup and drink again before answering.

“Vlad was already in Ponyville when the attack happened,” she answered as she brought the cup down. “A year ago, I gave him a charm that he keeps within his cloak, this charm allows him to call me and talk to me as long as I have this,” she lifted her wing up and then I saw what seemed to be a small stone, somehow under he wing. “Once he told me of what was happening, I rounded up as many of the Changelings as I could and we made haste to come here. Once here, we then saw the fight going on with the Sinbad and the other three, that is when me and Vlad came with the plan once we saw Sonic got capture.”

“And you didn’t think to help before that?”

“We saw how well your husband here,” she turned to me for a moment and then back to Twilight. “Were doing, I thought best not to involve myself or my subject in a fight that we did not need to fight; we’ve only gotten in the way.” Before Twilight could say anything else, Chrysalis then raised her holed hoof. “Twilight, I can understand why you feel so hostel with me. First I claimed to be working with you to stop Darkness, and then I…” she then looked to me and gave a small smile as Twilight growled softly under her breath. Whoa, I never knew ponies could growl. “But as I said, I understand, but I am a changed Changeling, this I am speaking the truth of.

“When I first found out that I was having a foal, I thought this could be a good way to use Brandon here, but….something happened. I started to have deep feelings for Vlad, a feeling I had never felt with anypony. The same feelings you Twilight, have for your son.” I crossed my arms as I listened, as well as Twilight as she watched the Alicorn Changeling. “I am not asking for forgiveness or for any of you to forget what I have done in the past; but know this. I am now full yon your side to stop Sinbad.” After she was done, she fell silent, I didn’t say anything, nor did Twilight, that is, until she then at last spoke.

“Just because you saved my child,” she answered looking at her straight in the eye. “Doesn’t mean I trust you at all, you first almost took my brother, and then you took Brandon here; I will never forget or forgive you for that. But at the same time, I know you are telling the truth; but be warn.” She leaned closer a bit. “I will always be watching you, you understand, you try anything funny with my friends or love ones; and I will make sure you are dealt with at once.”

“And I understand this,” She answered with a quick nod of her head. “Now Brandon,” I turned over to her as I raised one of my eyebrows. “I like to thank you for being in Vlad’s life, even after what I did to…gain him, shall we put it.” I only frowned and then brought my cub back on the table as I rubbed my head softly with my fingers.

“Listen,” I spoke with my eyes closed. “I may not like you all too much, though, I do thank you greatly for helping save Sonic; for that, I have seen a bit of a lighter side to you. But as Twilight had pointed out, this could’ve all been just a plot to try and backstab us all when we aren’t looking.” I saw her face grow from a tender smile, to a full out frown. I then raised my palm out so I could keep going. “Or…maybe you have changed for the better, I do not know, it will take some time to trust you; but maybe one day.” I then reclosed my eyes. “But Vlad is truly my son, and he deserves to have a father in his life, even if his mother did try to make said father into a sex slave.”

“Not a sex slave,” she pointed out with a smile. “A boy toy,”

“Ugh, don’t say again,” I mutter softly.

Again she softly chuckled before then speaking once more.

“Anyway, as I was going to speak of. Vlad and I have spoken of this for a few days now, and with yours, and your wife’s permission, I would like to have him live with you for a while.” I didn’t see that coming at all, I turned to look at Twilight, and the same shocking looking face spread out on her face was easily seen as we both turned to the Changeling Queen as she sent on. “I have raised him these past two years, and he had only a few hours at most, sometime most of the day; to spend with you. And he is unlike any normal Changeling. As you both saw today, he can bend the shadows around him for his will, and he can not change like the rest of us can.”

“Really?” Twilight asked in wonder as Chrysalis nodded her head.

“Yes, this was a great surprised to me as well, a foal born from a Changeling, which can not change. Maybe it is because he is only half a Changeling, I do not know; for this has never happened before in my race. Though with the help of myself, I was able to change him for a day at a time so that he could come and go to anywhere he wished without causing thrills of screams of terror from the ponies.”

“Wait,” I stopped her and leaned closer. “He has been in Ponyville before?”

“Oh yes,” she answered with a nod. “Many of times in fact, but these are in the past and are not to be worried about; nothing happened when he was here.” So that meant, that maybe I have met him before in the last year and a half, and I did not know it at the time. Hrm, but who could’ve he been?

“He can stay here,” I jerked my head to Twilight as she answered that question. “A son should be able to know his father.”

“Thank you Twilight Sparkle.”

After she left, leaving me and Twilight alone for a while as we tidied up the room, I then asked.

“You’re really okay with this Twi?” I asked as I heard her sigh as she put one of her books away.

“I’m fine about this yes,” she answered with a nod. “It will be both good for me to get to know him a bit better, and also to show him what living with others is like; and not with Changelings all the time.”

“Yeah maybe,” I answered nod, with a nod as I sighed and slumped on the sofa; I only had a few seconds before the knocking of the door causing me to stand up again. “I got it,” I answered as I went over to get it, opening the door, I took a step back as a small looking brown colored with black stripes zebra unicorn was pushed in my face. His eyes were covered in curly black hair, in fact it reminded me much of Devon’s hair, or that little baby from the Proud Family TV show I use to watch. He wore what seemed like a tux top, a deep black and a little bow tie on it as I saw the unicorn zebra grin.

“Hey Brandon!” I turned to the side to see that it was Devon holding the foal under its arms. “Meet my FroBro!”

“Wait…what?” I stammered a bit as the foal he was holding grinned wider.

“Hey there, I’m Devon’s FroBro!”

“…What?”

“Brandon, who’s at the door?” I heard Twilight call out.

“It’s Devon,” I called back. “And his…FroBro?”

“FroBro, what in Celestia’s name is a FroBro?”

“I’m a FroBro!” the foal called out as Devon laughed slightly and put him on the ground. Twilight then came up beside me and then looked down, blinking in confusion as I nodded.

“Yeah I thought so too…Devon is he…your son?” I heard Devon laugh, I mean, the coat and skin of the two were almost the same, even the hair looked the same!

“You’re not the first to ask that, but no, guess this; he’s Rarity’s old boyfriend’s kid.”

“Okay, so that explains who he is,” Twilight pointed out while looking between the two as I did as well…man, if Devon truly was a born unicorn, I think I was looking at his younger self in a sense. “But why do you have him with you in the first place?”

“Well you see,” my brown skin friend spoke as he brought his hands behind his head. “Rarity’s old boyfriend came into town with his wife, seems she wanted to get a dress for the next triple G that she was invited to; so he brought the whole family down as well. Love here,” he turned down to the foal and chuckled. “Was getting bored, so I thought, ‘Hey, why not go walk around a bit?’.”

“Devon tells me you’re his prison bitch!” the colt named Doctor Love spoke up as I looked down at him with wide eyes.

“W…what?! I’m not his Prison Bitch!”

“Then are you her’ Prison Bitch?” he pointed to Twilight as I glared.

“No! Ugh, god Devon, first we have to deal with you, two years later we got Cloudy; now we have a Mini Devo!”

“Uh,” Devon only shrugged his shoulders before giving me a grin. “Haters gonna hate!”

“Lord Brandon, Sir Devon!” Devon turned around to see one of Luna’s guards, a all black winged pony with bat like wings fly over toward us before landing before Devon; giving a small bow. “I am deeply sorry for interrupting, but I must ask of the whereabouts of Sir Mike of Power!”

“What is it about?” I asked moving outside as he bowed once more.

“Your sisters have requested that also you and Sir Devon report to the town hall for a short meeting, no pony else must come. This is just for the Guardians, and also the rulers of Equestria…including the Changeling Queen herself.” I and Devon gave each other a quick glance, before sharply nodding our heads.

“Alright, thank you, and Mike is no doubt at his home, you know the farm?”

“Yes my lord,” he bowed once more. “I will go at once then.” And with that, he took to the air and flew off toward where Mike would no doubt be; what was this meeting about and why couldn’t the girls know of this?

After Devon sent off ‘Doctor Love’, to go back to Rarity’s and his home/work place, with Twilight also going there to make sure he got there safe. I and Devon made our way to the town hall; Mike was already there, leaning on the wall with his arms crossed, and eyes closed. Opening his eyes, and once seeing us, he gave us each a nod and a greeting before we made our way inside, not without waiting for the guards to remove their spears to allow us to go through. After walking just for a short while, we came to the office that the Mayor would always be, but it seems that she was not here as of today; no doubt because of what the guard of Luna told us. Sitting around the table of the mayor of Ponyville were Celestia, Luna, as well as Queen Chrysalis. They all turned as we made our way in, the guards on the outside closing the door as soon as we were far enough in.

“Thank you for coming,” Celestia spoke softly with the nod of her head. “I hope you three weren’t doing anything that needed all your attention.”

“Nothing we can’t get back to I guess,” I answered as she nodded her head with a small smile. “So what’s going on then?”

“As you know,” Luna then spoke up. “The city that was taken over by Sinbad and his army.”

“And that bitch of a prince that ran away before telling his subjects?” Devon chimed in as Luna sighed and nodded.

“The same yes, we that city is only a few days away from here, and we need one of you to go and investigate this city, alongside with us,” she then turned to look at her older sister Celestia, and even the Changeling Queen.

“Why do ya only want one of us to go with ya?” Mike asked while crossing his arms as Chrysalis then answered as she stood up.

“We do not know when Sinbad will plan his next attack on ether Ponyville or Canterlot,” she pointed out as she then nodded her head. “And we do need at least two of you to stay to hold them back.”

“Hrm,” I crossed my arms and brought my right hand under my chin as I thought. Who would truly be best with going with them? Devon…no, he would no doubt not really do anything or make anything into a joke, I couldn’t go because now Sinbad knows I have a son, no doubt not knowing about Vlad also being my son.

“I’ll go then,”

I turned to see that it was Mike that spoke up as he moved forward.

“Are you sure about this Mike?” Luna spoke as she moved closer to him. “This city is a few days away.”

“I am sure,” he answered with a nod. “Brandon and Devon can not go, Brandon being how Sinbad now know who one of his sons are, and Devon…well…is Devon,”

“Hey…” I heard him groan as I rolled my eyes.

“And also,” Mike went on. “I have unlocked my Guardian Form, if we need to fight, I can no doubt take them a lot of them out.”

“That reminds me,” I spoke out as he turned to me. “Why didn’t you use said form when we were fighting those zombies and Sinbad?”

“I did not want to show that form unless I truly needed to, yes maybe I could’ve used it, but it takes a while for the form to take shape.”

“True,” I agreed with a nod of my head as Celestia also nodded her head.

“Then it is agreed then, tomorrow the four of us will set off toward the city to scout out and see what we are truly dealing with.”

Chapter 9

The feeling of ice cold air flowed around me as I rested on the Princess of the Sun’s side, and the Princess of the Night lying on my chest, her head I mean. I closed my eyes for a moment, the only thing keeping me somewhat warm was that of the small fire that crackled and snapped in the night. Opening my eyes, the thousands, if not millions of stars gazed down back to us, tinkling and shining making the dark sky, seem to almost light up. Chrysalis was laying across on the other side of the fire, her head on her hoof as she watched me, Luna, and Celestia with half closed eyes. It had been two days since we left Ponyville to start our way to Bright Heart’s old town of which he ruled over. But the coward ran two days before the zombies of which Sinbad himself control; invaded. For some reason, the princesses could not simply teleport us to the castle like they would always do. So with me riding on Celestia’s back, we flew, rested on the earth’s ground, and ate as well.

All I had with me was my hammer, which was now lying beside the bag of which held some of our food, the bag itself; and also one of the light but strong armor. This one being a simple one, of which covered my chest, arm and legs. I gave a small yawn, it was late and I truly wished to sleep, but then, the Changeling Queen spoke.

“I have a few questions for you,” I looked over, I’m sure sleep could come later. I did not dislike her like the others did, nor hated her as Brandon did. I always believed that everypony could change if they wished. “If you don’t mind.”

“Nah, ah don’t mind at all,” I answered as I removed Luna slowly from my chest so I could sit up fully. “But do ya mind if ah asked you a question first?”

“Go ahead,” she spoke while bringing her hoof up to tell me to speak what I wished of.

“Well,” I started as I crossed my arms. “Why do you no care what Vlad does and do, ah mean, he is just a little younger then my own; and yet you allow him to wonder wherever he wishes to.”

She only chuckled before looking away as if trying to find the answer she already knew.

“Mike was it?” she asked looking at me as I nodded. “Do you plan on always having your filly live with you?”

“Well no,” I answered with the shake of my head. “When she is old enough and she is ready, ah am sure she will leave and live on her own.”

“Well, Vlad is just like that,” she spoke as she looked back towards the nothing of the darkness. “You see, Vlad is unlike any other foal you or I have seen you’ve seen first hand how mature he is; I think he was born fully grown!”

“Ah get that feeling a lot too when ah see him,” I admitted as she smiled.

“I trust Vlad, and as I’m sure you have heard, I allow him to leave the Hive, or to leave me, and live life his way. Yes he does come back, I made him promise at least every two weeks just to see how he is doing; but he can handle himself well.” I nodded at this; every mother can raise their child whatever way they wish. But still, this seemed very weird to me, I mean; he was only maybe close to two years of age…where does he live within those two weeks? “Now it is my turn to ask a question for you.”

“Oh, then ask away then.”

“Why do you not hate me, as your friend does?” she asked placing her chin on her hoof looking at me with half lidded eyes, an almost coy smile on her face. “I mean think about this, two years ago I kidnapped his wife, made him pretty much my boy toy,” she smirked at this remark. “And I also done some other things to Twilight’s family before even all of this happened. So my question dear Mike; is why are you so claim and kind to me?” I had a small feeling she would ask me this, closing my eyes and softly sighing, I turned over to look over at the large lake, the full moon easily seen shining in the middle of the dark and still water.

“Have you ever heard the saying, everyone deserves a second chance?” I asked looking at her as she nodded her head. “Well, I believe that you do. Sure at first you were on the other side, working for Darkness, but you thought it was for the betterment of your race. Though you went the wrong path for that, ah can only guess you had no choice of the matter.” I then smiled at her. “And plus, you help save my best friend’s foal, for that, I can tell you have changed.”

“So are you saying that Sinbad should have a second chance?” she pointed out as she shook her bug wings for a moment before I sighed and shook my head.

“Sinbad is a different type of case,” I answered with a soft sigh. “He…ah don’t know how to put it lightly, but he is a scum of the Earth, that needs to be destroyed. I understand that Brandon still has nightmares about him.”

“Yes, Vlad told me about those,”

“Hrm?”

“Oh sorry,” she chuckled. “It seems Sonic told Vlad about their father’s nightmares, and Sonic heard many a nights of him screaming in the night.”

“Well yes,” I sighed and shook my head again. “Ah am really sorry for Brandon, he had his father in life unlike some men who leave the first moment they get; and it turns out to be a hell for him.”

“You know,” the Changeling Queen trailed off looking at me over the fire. “I have heard of Devon’s past, and also Brandon’s; but I have yet heard of yours,” this was true, I don’t even think I have yet to tell Applejack of my past. For reason, I don’t truly know. Was it because I still think that it was my fault it happened, my fault that he is no longer here? “Come, tell me.” She pushed in a friendly type of why. “The best way for the past to heal, is to at least talk about It.” she was right about this, Brandon and Devon told their stories to everyone, and yet, I still not tell them mine. Maybe speaking it with her first, may help ease some of the pain.

“It happened a few years before I was brought to Equestria,” I started my story as I looked down at the grass below my legs. “I lived on a farm with my family; I was not that close to all my other family members, all but my father.” I closed my eyes as I tried to remember. “Me and him, we were almost like twins, not father and son, he taught me all what it meant to grow food and keep our farm in order. Taught me how to fight, and what it meant to be a man. He also told me of my older half brother…”

“Half brother?” she asked me as I nodded my head. “And what is the different between a half brother and a full brother?” I chuckled at this as I explained.

“You know how Vlad and Sonic are right?” I asked as she nodded. “They bother have different mothers, Sonic with Twilight, and Vlad with you; but have the same father, Brandon.”

“Ah, I see,” she answered with a nod. “So what of this ‘half-brother’ to you then?”

“Well,” I started once more. “He told me one day that I had a older half-brother, before he met my mother, he was with this women. But for reasons unknown to me, they drifted apart after their son was born. He didn’t tell me much of my brother, only that he had this weird birthmark on his face.”

“Birthmark?” the Changeling Queen asked as I nodded.

“Aye, from what my father told me of this mark, was that it resembled that of a dragon curling around the crown of his eye.”

“So…” she trailed off. “What happened to your father?” I sighed and took a deep breath before going on.

“One day, ah was to go and scout off our land, to make sure that no wolves or other such beasts would come to kill our cattle for food. But ah wasn’t feeling the greatest, so he allowed me to go home to rest, and he took my work for today.” I closed my eyes again as I shook my head. “Ah shouldn’t have allowed him to go, before once he went off…he didn’t come back.” I looked away, and when I did look back, I could see the sorrow in her eyes as she knew no doubt what had happen. “The police found his body a few days later, so cut open, so slashed and so many broken bones…they thought of this as a bear attack. But ah knew better, ah just knew, and now ah fully know that it was murder, not a bear attack.”

“And how prey tell do you know of this?” she asked looking at me.

“Brandon told me of the three best men under Sinbad’s control, ah doubt he told you,” I saw her slowly shake her head side to side. “One of them, he is named Animal, for he kills his foes with such strength, such fiery, that it truly looks like an animal attack. And also, how he marks his preys; for ah saw a mark under my father’s neck, which he never had before.” I didn’t say anything for a while, the thoughts of seeing how my father was since I was also out looking for him like the rest of my family was. But I was there when the police found him too, the image; will never go away. “After that, all of my family blamed me for his death, saying that if it was me that went, he wouldn’t be dead; saying that it should’ve been me. But even then, ah stayed; ah stayed and watched over my father’s land for it was passed to me now to take care of it. Well…until ah came here that is.”

We both did not say anything, I felt Celestia stir a bit behind me, and also Luna, but I do not think they woke.

“Thank you,” Chrysalis spoke while closing her eyes. “Thank you for opening up to me. You have treated me more like a friend, and not a witch.”

“Well, ah still am slightly weary of you and all.” I admitted as she nodded. “But, ah think that one day, maybe we can be friends.” I saw her give a weak smile.

“I would like that very much Mike, thank you for allowing me to know of your past. But I have one last question, for I know it is late.” I nodded my head as she looked to me. “Do you truly believe that it was your fault that he died?” I looked down, and slowly nodded my head. “It is not dear Mike,” I looked back up to see her smiling at me. “It was that human that goes by the name of animal, he is the reason why your father is no longer in the world of the living. I do not know if you are the type for revenge, but I do know this. If I were in your spot, if someone killed my Vlad. I would hunt them down, demand that they tell me why they killed him; and then slowly slice their throat and listen to them gargle in their own blood.” This caused me to flinch as she smiled; flashing her white teethes at me before laying on her side, her back to me. “Also think of this Mike, if you had died, then the Earth pony named Applejack would’ve never met somepony like yourself. I always say to myself, those which of things in this world, or any world; happen for a reason. We are born, we live, and we die for a reason. We may try to fight this thought, but it is there none the least.” She then turned to look at me for a moment and smiled once more. “Good night Mike, and may your dreams, be happy ones.”

I woke up the next morning to see that the sun was up, or still slowly coming up. Celestia was using her skills to move the sun, her horn in a golden color as she did so. But she was also speaking with her sister, I guess something like this was second nature to her or Luna. As I stood up and dusted the dirt from the back of my pants and shirt, I saw them look at me as Celestia smiled.

“Good morning Mike,” the white and pinkish like Alicorn spoke to me. “I hope you slept well?”

“Well when I’m using you as a pillow, and Luna laying on me like a blanket, yeah I slept just fine.” The two sisters chuckled at this before I looked around and asked. “Where is Chrysalis?”

“She just went to the lake for a little bath before we would head out,” Luna spoke and nodded slightly as I nodded back and went to the bag, slipping the hammer back on my belt before donning my armor once more. “Mike…Celestia and I heard what you two spoke about last night.” This caused me to stop and look back at them. “Do not fear, we shall not speak of it with anypony else if you don’t wish for us to speak of it. But if I may say, I am deeply sorry for your lost.”

“As am I Mike,” Princess Celestia spoke out as I turned to watch her. “I am truly glad we picked you to come here, for now you have a loving family here, and friends to count on.” I gave them a small smile at this, before nodding my head softly.

“And ah am glad that you brought me here too you two.” We all shared a smile before Chrysalis came back by flying low to the ground.

“There it is,” after a few more hours of flying, we saw it, Bright Heart’s castle and city. It was surrounded all by water, like an island cliff raising from the dark water that crashed on the Cliffside; a long and wide bridge going from the city, to the mass of land just west of it. The castle was that of the largest building there, even from here I could see that the pale white stone seem to almost shine that much of snow when the sun hits it. But, watching the city carefully, I noticed something, a dim light of a wall seem to cover the whole city, and I’m sure Celestia saw this. “Ah, so that is why we could not teleport here.”

“What do ya mean?” I asked looking up at her as she pointed with a hoof toward the city.

“Do you see that gleam that covers the city?” she asked me as I only nodded my head slightly. “That is a magical barrier. Bright Heart didn’t like that some unicorns were stronger in magic then he was, so a few years back he had a magical barrier installed into the city, so when we wished; he could place it up so that his subjects would have to pay him; to use magic. And even then, it weakened them somewhat.”

“The lout!” Luna hissed under her breath. “He didn’t care about the lower ponies in the city that needed help, and would always find a way to gain more bits from them one way or another!”

“Couldn’t you two have done anything?” I asked as Celestia shook her head.

“As of now, we are no longer in Equestria, this is a whole new land, and we do not rule over it.”

“Ah see,” I softly sighed at this. “At least the ponies that escaped here to come to Canterlot, have a better life then?”

“Yes,” Luna answered with a nod. “But I do not think they will come back here any time soon.”

“So then,” Chrysalis spoke up as she walked forward. “The moment we walk past that barrier, we won’t be able to use our magic?”

“No we won’t, but Mike will be able to use his Flame of Passion and his Guardian powers; for that is not truly magic.”

“Lucky you,” the Changeling spoke. “Seems you get to protect us a little more now huh?” I softly chuckled at this and nodded. “So what’s the plan?”

“We will need to scout the area,” Celestia nodded her head at this. “See what we can learn, though we can not see all from here, we will need to into the city itself.”

“With all those human zombies,” Luna answered as I sighed.

“Alright,” I was hoping we could’ve brought some of the guards with us, I doubt even with my skills I can keep all three safe if they can not use their magic. “Let’s do this then.”

Walking into the city of which Bright Heart use to rule, the feeling of dread and also sadness clanged to the walls of the homes and shops all around me. Blood, dried blood were painted on the white brick of the street, and also the buildings all around us. At times you would see the body parts of both that of zombie humans, and also of ponies. It was sickening. The stink of dead filled the air, bugs flying about around the limbs. I prayed for the ones that did not make it out of here, I pray that their souls can find some sort of peace. Sinbad, all of this was about of him, if Darkness hadn’t brought him here, if the demon hadn’t given him all this power, maybe this all would’ve…no it would’ve been avoided!

I marched in front of the three Alicorn behind me, I looked around, making sure we were truly alone, but no matter what, the feeling of being watched was felt no matter where I looked. Princess Celestia had called it right, the moment we made our way inside the city; she could no longer cast any sort of spells, the same with Chrysalis and Luna. If we were to be in any sort of fight; I would have to make sure to keep them from harms way. But there was something else too, no doubt Bright Heart left many of the guards behind, so not to tipoff his subjects that something was coming when he left, so nothing short of a army could’ve taken this place over…so where were they? Where was this army? The sound of a rock falling caused me to turn sharply in the direction of which it came from. I heard a yelp as something clattered in an alleyway, as the three behind me heard it as well.

“Whose there?!” I demanded in a rough voice. “Show ya self or ah shall come and get ya myself!” again I heard another clutter, but then the sound of clopping, a pony? No a small unicorn filly slowly walked out.

Her coat was that of a pale white, almost like Sonic Flash’s coat, her large blue eyes that of fear as she tried to conceal herself in the darkness of the ally. I could see that she was dirty all over; some cuts easily seen though her coat, her right eye blackened as if punched. I released the tension in my body as I couched down low to the ground; her long flowing black hair, which was straight down toward her neck messy and tangled as she backed away some more from me.

“Hey, it’s alright, ah won’t hurt you young one.” I spoke softly as she blinked at me with her fearfully eyes.

“You lie!” she sobbed as the tears flowed from her eyes. “You look just like the monsters that came here!”

“That is true,” I spoke and nodded. “But ah am not them at all, look see,” I showed her my body as much as I could. “Do ah look like them truly?”

“N…no,” she whispered. “But…those things…they…they…”

“Child,” Celestia spoke as she walked up toward her. The filly bowed at once, no doubt knowing who Celestia was. “No need to bow; for I am not your princess, but tell me…have you been here since the ones who did this invade your home?”

“Yes princess…” she whispered. “My daddy and mommy were running, but with all the ponies running, we got separated.”

“And where were you hiding all this time?”

“There’s a shop that had a lot of food, and a place where I can hide if those monsters come looking to…to…” she stated to cry again, no doubt she had seen things a filly her age should not have seen.

“We can’t just leave her here,” I sated standing up. “But we can’t just bring her with us while we look.”

“This is true,” Celestia spoke and then looked to Luna. “Luna, take the filly and go home,”

“Sister…”

“I know you will be worried about us, but right now we have a young foal that needs tending too. And I also have some experiences in fighting without the use of magic; while you on the other hoof, don’t.” The princess of the night sighed and looked to her sister before softly nodding and then looking to me.

“Watch over my sister, please Mike.”

“With my life Princess Luna,” I vowed as she smiled.

“Come along little filly,” she spoke to the little unicorn. “I’m going to take you away from here.”

“W…wait!” she cried and then went over to me. “Are…are you going to stop those monsters?”

“Ah will,” I answered. “Though they are not here, Ah have friends back home who are also helping.”

“Then…mostly they are up in the castle,” she pointed with her horn. “If you go to the side, there a picture of an Alicorn on a brick, push it and a doorway will come…but there is something else.”

“What’s that?” I asked looking at her.

“Another one that looks like you, not the monsters that attacked, but one that has skin like you, not rotting; he commands that things that took over. He uses this big huge axe too!” Animal, so he is here then. “Please mister…please you have to stop them please!” I bent down and hugged her softly to my chest.

“Ah promise, now go with Luna, she will help you alright?” she nodded and then backed away, before Luna looked to us and picked up the filly, putting her on her back, and taking off in the air. (Ares Stromwolf)

The filly was right, a secret way into the castle! But how did she know this, which was the question that got me thinking. Maybe she saw someone go into the castle this way at one time or another; or maybe it was a well known fact by many, ether way, myself, Princess Celestia as well as Queen Chrysalis, walking with one on each side of me down the rather wide tunnel way.

The long and wide tunnel, alit by the flames all along the way, making our shadows much larger then what they were to be. The sounds of clopping of their feet’s, and my boots were the only things heard as we made our way further and further in. With hammer in hand, I was ready for whatever was to be seen on the other side. Further and further we made our way down, until we noticed a much brought light come from the far end of the long tunnel. Once out of the tunnel, it looked like we were now standing in what seemed to be the main chambers of the castle. Looking maybe as large as the Princesses castle back in Canterlot, this room was large and grand. I was wondering why this place was not destroyed like any other place in the city. Looking around, I couldn’t get the feeling off that we were being watched, and I was right. Far off in front of us, a throne was settled in the darkness, the torches not touching the area, all but part of whoever was sitting there torso, and legs.

At once I brought my hammer up as the one of the throne, Animal chuckle softly, a low deep chuckle.

“Rest easy Mike,” I flinched at how he knew my name, how did he know my name? “You wouldn’t want to do anything…rash now would you?” I heard the snap of fingers, followed by the sound of growls, looking to the side, I watched as many, so many zombies that I couldn’t count at the moment; come as if from the shadows. Unlike the other zombies we fought back home, these ones were unarmed which greatly confused me. “Now then Mike,” I heard him speak out again as I looked up slightly, backing away with the Princesses as the Zombies humans made a ring out of themselves, keeping us from going to far back. “I have heard much of you, yes, the power you hold, and I must say…it makes me wonder; how much power you truly have?”

“Enough ta stop the likes of ya!” I answered with a growl under my breath.

“Oh I doubt this,” he answered; I still could not see his face. “But I would like to see first hand myself. Cast away your armor and hammer to the Alicorn behind you, and fight my men in hand-to-hand combat. If you agree, I promise no harm will come to your friends.” I glared at him and tightened my grip of my hammer fro a moment, looking around, I noticed a few things, one, we were vastly outnumber, that much was clear; but even then, I felt that I had a good chance of beating all of these monsters. Two, if I refused and they attacked all at once, we wouldn’t make it. Closing my eyes for only a moment, I unclipped my armor off and dropped it on the floor, before casting my hammer out of my grip and going over to Celestia. I saw her give me a wary look, but I think he knew that this was the only way that we could truthfully be alright. Even though she claimed to have skills in fighting, I doubt she could handle too much before being overwhelmed. I turned back, wearing now only my dark black pants and pale while shirt as Animal softly chuckled. “Good, well then Mike,” he clapped his hands together as the monsters around us began to move closer to me. “Show me what you got!”

Chapter 10

Once more another zombie came after me, claw like hands reaching out for my throat for the kill. I smiled, reaching my hand to grasp it’s wrist before shoving the heel of my palm up it’s chin; a loud crack and pop of it’s neck easily heard as it fell to the ground like a heap of potatoes. One more down, and a to more to go. I do not truly know how long I have been fighting for, could it had been minutes, or even hours? Ether way, all I knew was that no doubt after getting rid of these monsters, I would have to deal with the one who was controlling them; Animal. Tow more ran at me, and even after them; even more charged. I didn’t bother to count how many, they would just fall by my fists anyway. Pulling my right arm back, I snapped it forward, breaking the skull of the closest one before me as I then span, doing a round house kick in the chest of the one right behind the first one to fall; this causing a chain reaction, allowing two more behind it, to fall back as the one who was kicked, fell on top of them. moving quickly, I jumped slightly bringing my right foot down on the next zombie, before kicking the other across the chin, snapping the head right off as it rolled away. Jumping back to give myself some breathing room, I panted as my body, drenched in sweat, begged me to stop for just a moment; but my will to keep on fighting.

My hands ached in pain of all the hitting I’ve been doing, though they did not look it, they had some strong bodies; it felt like I was hitting rocks, not rotting flesh. I was hit in the chest and arms a few times, we found out a while ago that the zombies could not turn us if we were bitten like said in old stories or movies. So at least there I did not have to worry. Doing a quick count as the crouched low to attack once more, I noticed that there were ten more to fight, ten more to ‘kill’ ten more, before I would have to face the one controlling them. If I had my hammer, I’ve had already gotten this done and over with. But I had to fight with my hands, for fear of all of them attacking Chrysalis or Celestia. I did not know if they could handle any sort of fight without their magic, and I did not wish to find out today, nor now. More and more came after me at the seconds, with just a simple strong kick or punch, they fell to the ground, dead (or as dead as one could be since they were already dead). At last, no more were coming at me, with sweat pouring down my face; I backed up a bit more as the man who had taken over this city clapped his large hands. Though I had yet to see his face, I could see a lot of his body, wide and large, taller then me. In fact if Celestia, and this is me just guessing, were to stand on all fours, I’m sure he could be as tall as her.

“My, my,” he clapped once more before standing, I watched as he reached behind the throne he sat on, pulling out what to me was the largest axe I have ever seen. It had an hourglass shape to it, the edges shining in gold trimming as the main metal was that of pure sliver. “So Sinbad was not lying, you have some skills.”

“When my friends, and the ones ah care for are in danger,” I spoke out taking off my hat and throwing it behind me. “You bet your arse that ah have the skills to fight!” slowly he made his way down the stairs, still covered in some darkness, his skin being that a little paler then my own.

“Oh I have no doubt about that,” he answered as at last I saw his face, but this caused my eyes to grow wide, his face had what seemed to be a square like look, his eyes that a deep brown, but that was not caught my attention, no, it was that of around his right eye. A birthmark, shape like a dragon of sort. “And now,” he answered slamming his axe on the ground. “I wish to see your skills for myself…little brother.”

(Brandon’s POV)

“Hey, give me the muffin!” I glared at Devon as he sat across from me. Just to be safe since Celestia was gone, Luna coming back just a few hours ago with a young filly; that she went with the doctors with to see if any of her family resided her now, myself, Devon, and our family came to stay in Canterlot until Mike, Celestia, and even Chrysalis. I was eating a muffin, after Devon of which ate pretty much all the others, this was the only one I got and for the last half an hour he’s been asking me the same thing. “Give me the muffin, the muffin, give it here!” I think he was just doing this just to bug me until I submitted, but I was strong, and I would not give it to him. “Come on man, give me the muffin, the muffin, give it here, muffin now please…JUST GIVE ME THE GOD DAMN MUFFIN!” this caused me to frail about as I fell backwards toward the ground, the muffin flying out of my hand until it landed on the table. “Oh! Thanks man!” I slowly stood up glaring at him as he stuffed his face of my muffin with a grin.

“You know,” I answered dusting myself off. “You’re worst then Derpy when it comes to those.”

“No way, there no one worst then she, and you know it!” he answered as I rolled my eyes. ‘So anyway…day three and still they hadn’t come back,” I sighed and nodded. “At least Luna is back right, though I wonder how they are doing now…?”

“Hopefully their fine,” I spoke as I remembered what Luna spoke of, as the little mare told us of how she told them of a secret way into the castle where the zombies would be. “Still though, that Changeling better not back stab ether of them.”

“That reminds me,” Devon then leaned forward, one forearm on the table as he watched my face. “Why do you hate Chrysalis with a passion?”

“What is that suppose to mean?” I asked looking at me. “Devon, she helped kidnap both me and Twilight, brainwashed me, and made me her…her…”

“Sex toy?”

“Shut the fuck up,”

“Kay,” he answered with a grin. “But still man…I mean, Twilight talks to her, hell even Rarity is thinking of making a dress for her!” he then said the next line very slowly. “And…she did save your son man…”

“Ugh…” I looked away while crossing my arms at this. “What do I keep on saying, for all we know, she could’ve planed all this to just get our trust and then BOOM! Get us when we least think of it!”

“Yeah, but come on Brandon,” he answered as I watched him. “What about Nightmare Moon? She could’ve used you just to get her body back and then back stab you all. And if that would’ve happened, you would be dead. If I remember what Rarity told me, you placed your life on thinking she as truly changed.”

“This…is different,”

“How so?”

‘It just is!” I screamed. “Look just dropped it alright!” I saw him shake his head before standing up, turning his back to me as he left me alone at the table outside Canterlot’s café. I looked away, my mind racing on what to truly thing. But before I could truly think, I heard Devon speak up.

“Look man,” I looked up as Devon turned slightly, only half his face showing. “I can understand why you hate her for what she did. If she did that to me…tore me and Rarity up like what happened to you two, yeah I be pissed too. But remember something; none of us are saints in this world, the human world, nor the next.” I raised an eyebrow at him, not in a rude way, but a shock way at how he was speaking to me. “I mean, come on man, I sold drugs, well carried the shit. But it never crosses my mind, did those drugs get to kids hand…no, when did those drugs get to kids hands. And then, that time where I was knocked out, I don’t know…but I think I did that, I think I maybe killed them all. But look at me now!” he smiled and turned fully to me, hands grasping at his hip as he gave me his famous smirk. “I’m a father, I have a great girl that loves me for who I am, I have amazing friends, and freaking captain of your guards!” he chuckled before turning and walking away, not before waving his right hand as he went. “Just saying bro, anyone, anypony, can change for the better.”

(Mike’s POV)

I backed away once more as I heard what he had just called me. No, this couldn’t be true, it just couldn’t be! But…looking at him, he did have the face of my dad, our dad. His hair the same shade as mine, which I got from my father, the birthmark, looking just like what dad told me all those years ago. Animal slung the axe over his shoulder, the handle resting on the other shoulder as he smiled, coy and sly at the same time; at me.

“What’s wrong?” he asked again. “An’t gonna say hello to your older brother?”

“Ya lying,” I muttered low under my breath, but he could still hear me, for his grin grew wider. “Ya lying though yer teeth.” He only chuckled once more.

“Oh really, and how can you be so sure I’m lying dear brother?” he asked rolling the axe head in the air a bit. “Come on, how many people in the world, have a dragon like birthmark over their eye?” I scowled as he chuckled once more, that birthmark, was just like the mark I saw on my dad’s body, and Brandon said that he always marked his victims.

“So it was ya,” I muttered. “Ya…ya murdered our father?!”

“Murder,” he answered rolling his free hand in circles. “Is such a harsh word, I like to think of it as…freeing one’s soul.”

“Ya slashed him into pieces!”

“Fine, whatever, so what?”

“S…so what?!” I screamed, my body shaking in pure rage, but I started to claim down, remembering my studies with my father as I slowly breathed in and out. “How could ya do that, to yer own father?”

“Let me ask you this Mike,” he pointed to me. “What kind of father leaves one of his own flesh and blood, and goes with some other women, never calling, never writing at all?” I didn’t say anything. “You know nothing what I went though after he left me and my mother, she went straight down to hell you know, selling herself for drugs while I did some other stuff. Then Sinbad,” he chuckled. “He saved me you know?”

“How did that monster save ya?”

“You say monster, I say I great man,” I glared as he chuckled. “Anyway, you want to know how he saved me. He took me from that hell hold that I was confined in, took me under his wing fed me, clothed me, taught me, more then what our so called father did!” he then closed his eyes. “And then, when I became older, I wanted to follow in his footsteps, lead the world to a better fate!”

“That man murdered his own son’s mother!” remembering Brandon’s pain and sorrow for losing his mother. “And ya think he can lead the world to ah better place?”

“Better for guys like us, the strong, the weak can rot in hell for all I care.” He then smiled. “But you, oh your strong, I’ve seen it first hand, and heard of it too. I mean, you lived after Sinbad shot you in the chest, sure it wasn’t for you, but hey, full hit in the chest is okay in my books.”

“And ya can tell that bastard, that his payback will soon be a coming,” he only sighed and shrugged his shoulder.

“Tell me Mike, why you fight alongside a race unlike our own?” He pointed to Celestia and Chrysalis who stood behind me. “They sent the human race to different world in the first place, okay maybe not the black bitch over there,” I heard the Queen of the Changeling hiss slightly. “But you know what I mean. They are nothing more then animals,”

“Says the one who murdered his own father,”

“Uh, touché.”

“And to answer yer question, ah fight for what ah know is right. We are fighting to keep the world at true peace, unlike what yer doing!”

“So…you’re not gonna say yes if I ask you to join us then hrm?”

“Damn straight ah won’t,” I answered as he sighed.

“Well, guess I can add brother to list of people I’ve killed in my family.” He brought his axe up as I brought my hand out, the hammer flying into my hand as I held it up over my head.

“By the Power of Equestria!” I bellowed out, the cone of light surrounding me, my clothing transforming into that of the Guardian of Power as I watched as Animal grinned slightly.

“What I neat little trick,” he spoke out. “Now I know I can go all out on you, let’s see who is stronger then brother, Mike Stormwolf, vs. Ares Stormwolf!”

“Yer no brother of mine!” I roared out, as we ran toward each other, the edge of his axe slamming onto the flat of my hammer.

(Brandon’s POV)

I can’t believe I’m even thinking of this…but maybe Devon is right. As I watched the ponies who had become part of my guards, a mixtures of unicorns and Pegasus, the talk me and Devon had before he left still lingered in my mind as I recounted what he told me.

“Just saying bro, anyone, anypony, can change for the better.” Ugh, I crammed my eyes shut as I rubbed the sides of my head. He was right, for once he was freaking right. Maybe I could start to be…least colorful with my words about the Changeling Queen. She and I do have a foal together, and even Twilight goes out of her way to talk to her at times. Sighing slightly to myself I reopened my eyes as the unicorn guard took down another one, I watched as he grinned as his comrades cheered him on. I would give her a chance, a small one, and maybe, just maybe I would start to warm out to her…

“Prince Brandon, Prince Brandon!” I turned my head at once to see an Earth pony running as fast as he could toward me, he skidded to a stop before me as the guards behind me came up behind me at once, no doubt they knew whatever this pony brought; was not good news.

“What is it?” I asked in a claim voice as he panted and looked up to me.

“Sinbad’s forces were just seen south of the city milord!” My eyes grew wide, damn it, and with so many other ponies here, it would no doubt take longer to get them to safety. “Sir Devon is already rounded up everypony to get to the castle with Princess Luna, and Shining Armor is also rounding up any guards we can spear for the front attack!”

“Good,” I answered with a nod. “You go back and get to safety; if you see anypony at all I want you to help them.”

“Yes milord,”

“Also, see if you can find my wife and Spike as well, tell them that I asked if they can send word to Celestia and Mike, we may need all the Guardians for this attack.”

“Understood milord, anything else?”

“No, now go!” he saluted quickly and turned to leave as I turned to look at my guards. “All guards that can fly I want you in the air for a air attack, carry anything you can carry and drop it on the enemy’s heads!”

“Sire!” they spoke at once and took to the air toward the castle for whatever they could use.

“Unicorns, follow me to the south of the city, use as much magic as you can to keep them at bay, if you are to far from me to get orders, you are to go to your captain or Shining Armor and follow their commands, understood?”

“Yes sire!” she cried out as I nodded closing my eyes as I teleported my blade into my hands.

“Then let’s go!”

(Mike’s POV)

Again out strikes collided with one another, our arms shaking from the strain of holding each other from pushing ourselves apart. Jumping back at the same time, the moment he landed Ares lunged forward with his axe over his head brining it down with such speed I almost didn’t move in time. He was as strong as I was while I was in my Guardian form, and some of his attacks even sent me skidding backwards. Celestia and even Chrysalis offered to help me, but I would not risk them being hurt, and beside; this was a family matter to settle. I let out a pain cry as his axe got at my shoulder, not too deep, but deep enough that blood shot from the shoulder and the feeling of pain rocketed though my hammer arm. I heard Celestia let out a gasp as my left arm went to hold at the wound. Ares only smiled as he went for another attack. Grinning as I knew he would do this, I gripped the hammer and threw my arm forward, the top of my hammer hitting him right in the gut causing blood to spill from his mouth as he stumbled backwards holding onto his gut as he groaned in pain.

“You punk…” he groaned standing up straight. “You think you can hit me and get away with it?!”

“Ah am going ta give ya a lot more then a few hits on ya bastard!” I answered holding my hammer behind me. “Ah will fight anyone who dear kill for evil plans, and ah will not stop until you and whoever work for him are stopped!” Ares only glared at me as he got ready for another attack as I did as well. I started to get dizzy slightly. The mixture of fighting before him, and then getting cut around the shoulder blade, started to take its toll on me; but I would keep on fighting no matter what. As I watched him, we started to circle each other, watching each other for any sort of attack the other might do. I noticed his axe glow a dark color; I thought it was just my eyes playing tricks on me, until I saw his lips twitch into a smile.

“Mike watch out!” Celestia let out a warning as I turned to her for only a moment and then back to Ares, a wave of blackness came toward me as I grew wide eye and jumped out of the way; not before getting hit below the knee by the blackness.

I screamed as I felt like I was being burned where I was hit, my legging in that area was pretty much gone, as well as the first layer of skin. Throbbing pain and blood dripped from the wound as I fell on my good knee, groaning and also breathing heavily from the pain. I tried to stand up, but I cried out in pain as I fell back on my good knee. My mind wanted me to clutch at the part of my body that was hurting, but my will knew not to. I watched as Ares laugh slightly, his finger dragging along the axe as he grinned at me.

“Neat little trick huh?” he asked as I glared and huffed trying to dull my pain. “Sinbad couldn’t give us magic or other sort of powers like he has, so he went with the next best thing; our weapons having powers or magic.” He then crossed his arms as I tried to stand again. “Don’t even try Mike, you see, that attack that got you not only eats away at the skin of which it touched, but it also makes it near to impossible for the victim of the attack to move that part of the body!” I glared and huffed more as I went for my hammer as I gripped it. I may not move for a bit, but I was still going to fight. “It’s really too bad you’re such an idiot for not joining us, oh well,” he seemed to sigh as if he was disappointed. “Tell dad I said ‘hi’ will you?” I watched as his axe glowed once more of that black attack, my eyes grew wide as I tried to move, but my body wouldn’t move, I was stuck! His eyes narrowed as his lip curled up in a grin, raising his axe up into the air, he held it there for only a moment, before shooting it forward, the black wave coming toward me, as I closed my eyes; ready to face my end.

…but it never came, all I heard, was the sound of Celestia’s scream. Opening my eyes, my eyes grew wide in shock to what I was seeing. Celestia was standing before me, her wings out stretched as she shook a few times, before falling on her side.

“C…Celestia!” I moved as quickly as I could with just one leg, turning her onto her back as Chrysalis came over as well helping me move her. The blast hit just half of her body, but the part it did hit; cause me to shake with sorrow. Where it hit her, just along her right side and a bit of her neck, was now blacken, not white. In some placed, both the coat and the skin were burned off, some places only the coat. Her breathing was short and shallow as her eyes were wide. “Chrysalis, can you do anything?!”

“Not while that barrier is up,” she told me. “I…I can’t do anything!” I watched as the Princess of the Sun breathing grew heavy as she tried to catch her breath, and Ares laugh easily heard.

“What a stupid bitch!” he laughed as I growled under my breath. “She knew what would happen and she still took the hit!” I was seeing red, red from rage as I started to push myself up, my body screamed in pain, but my rage blocked out me truly feeling pain as I turned my back to Celestia and the Changeling Queen. I watched Ares as he laughed more before stopping to look at me, his eyes growing wide as he started to back away.

“M…Mike?” I heard Chrysalis call my name in confusion. I looked down, watching as my hammer arm started to steam, I hadn’t felt this much rage for anyone since Darkness almost killed my family two years ago, or when Nova used the Golem to attack Applejack. Making sure I was far enough away from the two, I took a step forward, before roaring out into the sky as my body was engulfs in flames.

The power of the Flame of Passion grew higher and wider then I ever thought possible; the area around us shook as I screamed my rage out. And when I locked my eyes on Ares, I saw pure fear in his face.

“You…” I growled loudly causing his to back away. “You…will…PAY!” turning over to Celestia, I brought my arm out as once more like I did before when I felt my power come to me, I released my energy toward her, once the light touched her body, she was slowly starting to heal. I watched as her eyes closed slowly, her skin healing over quickly then naturally, and her coat returning to normal. “Chrysalis,” I said without looking at her as I turned back to my brother. “Watch over her, while ah deal with tis trash.” I started to walk over to Ares, not waiting for her reply, I think she said something about ‘so much love’ but I couldn’t be sure.

“D…don’t think you can scare me with something like that!” Ares cried as he pointed his axe at me, shooting the black wave at me. Before the wave could hit me, I swatted it away with my left hand, destroying it with just a single swipe. I walked closer and closer, the flames around me growing higher and higher, wider and wider as he backed away before running to me as he intended to slash me. Again, my left hand came up as he brought the attack from the side, but I blocked it, using only my hand to catch it as he looked to me with a shock look.

“You dear,” I spoke softly. “You dear harm my friend…” I tighten my grip, lines of crakes seen as he tried to move away. Dropping my hammer to the ground I brought my right arm our, before slamming my fist into his arm; a deafing snap was heard, as his grip of the handle was gone. He held his arm in pain, it was now bending backwards as he looked down at his arm, and then up to me. Bringing my arm back once more, I punched him right in the chest, hearing more cracks as he was then sent flying into the back wall. The force of my attack in fact broke the wall as he was thrown though it. Picking up my hammer, I followed after where the body landed. Watching as he coughed up blood and tried to run. “I’m not done with ya yet pardern,” I hissed with pure rage.

He tried to run, looking more like a running jump limp. I could see we were close to the bridge as he tried to escape, but I was walking, watching him as I came closer and closer. But once he pasted the barrier that kept from any magic from working, I watched as from within his pocket, he pulled something out, before a black mist covered him, he disappearing. I growled in some annoyance as I turned to leave, looking up and noticing the barrier was there, if it wasn’t for that, Celestia would’ve help as well as Chrysalis! Pulling my hammer behind me, I slashed it up and before me as a wave of red fire shot out. The fire wave traveled up and up, until a loud booming crack was heard. The barrier started to crack more and more along the edge, before it then broke, sending thousand of none cutting shards down all around me.

Closing my eyes then, I let out a loud sigh as the flames around me died, the pain now being felt, but at least I could walk. So limping toward the castle, I climbed in the hole Ares made, to see Celestia up, but Chrysalis on her back.

“Celestia…” I sighed, glad she was alright. She looked back and then came over to me, and then pulled me into a deep hug.

“Mike…thank the sun and the moon you are safe,” she then pulled away.

“What is wrong with Chrysalis?” I asked walking over; watching as her left hind leg twitched in the air as Celestia slightly chuckled.

“Listen,” she told me as I did just that.

“So…much…love…” the Changeling moaned as I looked to her.

“I think you made her intoxicated with the Flame of Passion.” The white Alicorn spoke with a chuckle. This also allowing me to chuckle as well as I watched her look at my leg. “here, allow me,” she lowered her horn and started to heal my leg, I flinched as I felt the skin heal over it as I sighed, at least I could walk again without some pain. “I can hardly believe that you broke that barrier so easily,” she told me, since she could now use magic. “Not even I could hope to do that.” She then looked over the rest of my body, it was then that I noticed that not only was I cut at the shoulder, but other places too. “Here…allow me to…”

“No,” I answered her rising my hand up. “I’ll be fine fer now, lets just get her sober before we leave.” She nodded as I turned and kneeled down to shake Chrysalis, her eyes flickering for a moment as she opened her eyes as I smiled. “How ya doing?”

“Mike…what was that you just did?” I saw on the ground a flash of light, I knew that this was Spike sending Celestia a message.

“That was something called the Flame of Passion,” I answered her as I smiled as I helped her to her feet. “It is only released when ah am in complete rage when my friends or the ones ah care for are hurt.”

“That was unlike any sort of love I have ever tasted though,” she spoke looking to me with her large eyes. “Not even Brandon’s love for you all can hope to match that!” I only chuckled, until I heard Celestia let out a gasp.

“We must return to Canterlot at once!” she told us as I turned to her as well as Chrysalis.

“What is the matter Celestia?” the queen asked as Celestia started up a teleportation spell for us.

“Sinbad is attacking even as we speak, Chrysalis, can you heal Mike?”

“Don’t worry about me,” I spoke out as I went over to hold onto her side. “Just get us there at once!”

(Brandon’s POV)

Our blades smashed into each other, both his swords down toward me, as my was held up, side ways to block both from hitting me. I glared at my father as his red eyes seemed to glow with both that of coy, and anger. We both jumped back, skidding a bit as his forces collided with the ponies of Canterlot who were giving their lives to keep those who could not safe. My eyes never leaving his eyes as I twirled my blade near the ground, at times sparks could easily be seen when my sword’s tip grazed the ground. Though I could not see him, I could hear Devon saying ‘head shot’ or other such pun when he brought another foe down. We were pushing them back, and that is why my father was also so pissed. Thanks to Mike’s training, he had barely hit me, the only cut I had was above my eyebrow from when a lone slash caught me off guard. I heard a screeching growl behind me as I turned to see three zombies coming after me, Sinbad seeing his chance; he came for the attack as well. I was about to attack the zombies quickly to get back at my father, when a wave of green fire covered the zombies before they were even close to me. I looked over to see Chrysalis standing a far bit away, her horn glowing with the same green light as she gave me a smile and then a wink that caused me to flinch before she flew off with a group of those smaller Changelings coming after her.

“Brandon! Duck!” I turned back to where the zombies use to be to see Mike running toward me, he was in his Guardian form, and doing as he said, I fell to the ground as quickly as I could. I watched as he dropped his hammer, his right arm turning into a flaming inferno, before he punched Sinbad hard in the chest. I watched as my father was sent skidding backwards, holding onto his chest which was now blacken from the soot of Mike’s attack as I stood back up. “Pay back two years in the making, how does that feel?” I watched as Sinbad glared at Mike as I watched the hammer wielding fighter smirk as I then stood up. “Yer okay Brandon?” he asked as I stood beside him, nodding my head.

“Yeah, you?”

“Can’t complain,” he answered me as I nodded again as Sinbad smiled.

“So…it seems Ares has failed to get rid of you?”

“Seems like it,” Mike answered him as he crossed his arms. “As our friend Devon would say at a time like this, dick move there on brining him to fight me.” Ares? Who was Ares? Thinking of it, I knew that Alistair and Nix didn’t go by any other name, so Ares must be Animal. Did Mike know Animal?

“Bah, I’ll deal with him later, but I have what I need anyway, until next time!” and with a snap of his fingers, he was gone; his army of zombies soon following suit the way he came in.

Cheers of the guards that were fighting, easily heard as I turned to Mike, seeing him all banged out.

“Man Mike, you okay?”

“Ah am fine,” he waved his arm a bit. “Do not worry about me, is AJ and Sapphire here?”

“Daddy!” we both looked over to see his small filly daughter running over to him as he smiled and went down on his knee, the young Earth Pony rushing into his arms, nuzzling his face and chest. “Ah am so glad yer back; are you okay? Yer bleeding!”

“I’ll be fine,” he answered his daughter as I looked behind them to see Applejack running up as well as Mike opened his arms to welcome her into his hug. Soon Twilight and Sonic came up as well as the rest of our friends, that including Celestia and Luna. Chrysalis coming last.

I looked over at her as the Changeling Queen stopped, to also stare me down. Everypony was watching us, seeing what we would do, no doubt thinking I was about to spit her out or something. Closing my eyes as I thought of what to do, I slowly made my way over to her. The Changelings that came with her hissed as I came closer, but she hushed them by holding her wing up. Standing before her, my sword in my left hand, I brought it to its sheath as she only smiled down at me. Blinking once as I took a small sigh outward, I brought my right hand out toward her. She looked down at it and looked to me with a look of confusion.

“What happened between us in the past,” I spoke. “In pretense…is in the past. I think to myself, what I would do if I could go back, but I know that is impossible. I do not fully trust you yet,” I warned her still holding my hand out. “But…if Twilight can deal with you, as well as my sisters; then I will try and see past our own pasts. And maybe one day, I will trust you, and maybe, we could become friends.” I let a small smile creep on my lips. “Also, thanks for saving my hind back there, and also; saving my son.” I saw her smile again as her hoof went to my hand, my fingers curling around her hoof as we shook once before letting go.

I watched from the corner of my eye as the rest of my friends, all save for Devon, and my family; give what seemed to be a shock look at what was going on.

“Thank you Brandon,” I looked back to Chrysalis as she smiled softly. “I am glad to know that I have a small part of your trust, I hope that some day; I may earn more.”

“We shall see then hrm?” I answered with a raise of my eyebrow as she smiled and nodded all the same.

“I would have asked if you would like to chat a little more, but I am tried; and would like to retire for the night,” I nodded as she turned to leave. Saying her goodbyes to Vlad as she left for Canterlot’s castle.

After coming on the train to return to Ponyville, I was sitting alone, Twilight was busy talking with Vlad and Sonic Flash about something. Looking out the window, the clicking clank of the train’s car was all that could be heard before I saw Mike sit on the seat in front of me.

“So…” he sated looking at me, his wounds healed because of the Changeling Queen. “What made you change your mind?”

“Would you believe that it was Devon that helped me?” I saw his look, a look of shock and a almost ‘what the fuck’ look to it. “Yeah I know…it just, for that one moment…he didn’t seem like Devon at all, he seemed, I don’t know how to say it.”

“Well…do ya mind if ah ask you something?” Mike asked me as I turned and nodded. “There had to be a reason that ya hated her so much, sure the kidnapping and brainwashing is one…but there had to be a much deeper way ya had for her. I mean, Twilight did at least start to speak to her before you did.”

“Mike…” I sighed looking around making sure nopony heard what I was going to say. “Do you swear not to speak of this to anyone?” he nodded his head as I sighed. “The reason I hated her so much…was not because of her…but because of me…”

“What do you mean?” he asked again as I sighed.

“The night me and her had sex…I…I enjoyed it way more then I should’ve.”

“Wha?” he asked with a somewhat shock look.

“Yeah…” I sighed out and nodded. “I…even wanted to…you know…”

“Again with her?” I nodded my head, looking down in shame as I shook my head.

“I guess, I don’t know,” I started as I played with my thumbs. “I thought, that maybe hating her so much would make me feel like it was just a sick joke my mind was playing with me. But…after you guys freed me from her mind control thing…at times I would think about what we did. Ugh…I swore I would never betray Twilight again like that, but every time I think back on that, how it gets me…a…aroused…ugh! It makes me feel like I am betraying her!”

“Brandon,” Mike spoke after I was done as I looked up. “Everyone has their own…as they say ‘guilty pleasure’, and as long as you don’t tell anyone ah told you this…” he leaned closer and whispered. “At times, AJ thought it would be nice if me and her got someone or somepony to do a threesome with us.”

“W…what?” he chuckled at this as he nodded.

“Yeah I know, that is her guilty pleasure, Chrysalis is yours; everyone has one man.”

I only sighed and looked back out the window as he patted my shoulder.

“Don’t dwell on it too much Brandon, at least she won’t try and brainwash you right?” I heard him chuckle as I closed my eyes and chuckled as well.

“Yeah…” I answered as the train came to a slow stop. “I guess you’re right.”