Four Corners

Fox was dreaming of Krystal again. But this time, he knew he was unconscious; A lucid dream. He knew that he had been sucked into some strange, black portal before everything went blank, thus rendering him here, asleep. Fox was getting bored. It wasn't that he couldn't create his own dreamscape, but trying to wake up when you couldn't was a tad worrying. So, Fox spent his time waiting by creating funny scenes in his mind with his crew. The dreams ended abruptly, however, as he felt pain rise from nowhere, creeping up his entire body and jolting him awake.

After waking up, fox jumped slightly at the feeling of something smack against his nose. The pain from the dream was gone, but Fox still felt pain in the area where he had clumsily shot himself. And on his face, presumably from falling out of the strange portal he had stumbled into. Judging by the hard cement floor he was staring at, face down, he guessed he was somewhere on a road or balcony. Turning around slowly, Fox was now staring at a bright, blue sky. Birds were chirping, and the fluffy little clouds slowly swept by in the breeze. The air wasn't hot, but warm, signaling that wherever he was, it was around early summer. Fox sighed at the seemingly magic atmosphere, and felt more relaxed than ever that he wasn't being shot at. Deciding to find out where he was, Fox decided to sit up.

Bad idea.

Yowling in pain from his now-reopened laser wound, Fox mentally slapped himself Fresh blood coursed down his belly and into his shirt and fur. Wincing in pain, Fox gave his head a shake, clearing his buzzy mind, and took a good glance around.

He was on a balcony of some sort, as he expected. He was in front of a large wooden door, a few feet taller than him and emblazoned with a gold picture of a sun on it. It was slightly ajar, but Fox found himself too hurt to try and walk. Instead, he decided to crawl-slide over to the balcony rail and prop himself up on that, grabbing onto a nearby telescope for extra balance. With some effort, and a bit of pain, he was standing again, staring over the edge of the balcony.

Whoa. What a drop.

The balcony looked to be atop a tall white tower, hundreds of feet from the ground. Beside him, the telescope gave under his weight, tipping down and nearly sending him over the railing. Deciding to play it safe, Fox instead leaned on the railing, which he knew would not move. In the distance, he could make out several small towns, with small smoke stacks rising from rooftops. He also saw some bird-like creatures flying nearby, but they were too far away to get a good look at.

Standing upright, Fox decided it was time to play Ambassador and see where he was. Limping towards the door, he noticed that his blaster had been dislodged from his tool belt. Searching around frantically, he finally found it, balancing precariously on the edge of the balcony, just about to fall. He quickly kneeled down to pick it up...

[insert sudden gust of wind here]

Aaaand there it went, down a thousand feet to the cement castle rooftops below. A resounding crack signaled its destruction, and Fox could barely make out several pieces of it scattering about.

Wonderful! Now I'm lost, injured -and- defenseless.

Once again, Fox started towards the tall wooden door ahead of him. As he reached out with his paw to push it open, however, he heard voices from inside. Unable to make them out, he readied himself for whatever was ahead and lurched through the door.

He had entered what looked like a bedroom, complete with a fireplace and a coathook, which held several pieces of golden regalia of some sort. A bookshelf decorated the wall opposite of him, and a beautiful bed with bedposts reaching up to the ceiling was located to his left. Fox felt his wound bleed more, and decided that he needed help if he was to survive on this world.

Hearing a loud gasp, Fox snapped his head around and saw that two short equines stared him in the eye with shock plastered on their faces. They had remarkably huge eyes and wings poking through regal golden armor, along with spears lowered at their sides. They gasped when they saw just how tall Fox was compared to them. Recovering from their initial shock, they both raised their spears towards Fox and advanced on him.

"You there!" Shouted one. "Halt!"

Fox complied, raising one hand in the air while using the other to control his wound's bleeding. The second guard didn't look too impressed at this.

"Raise your other hand! Now!"

"I can't," Fox moaned. His voice was hoarse with thirst. "I'm bleeding."

"I said raise it!" The guard shouted, stepping another foot closer to the injured Fox.

"Enough!" A female voice called.

Both guards stood down instantly, backing away but not taking their eyes off of Fox. Curious, Fox looked around and saw that he had overlooked a lump in the royally-decorated bed.It was far larger than the other two guardsmen. Fox could barely make out another white creature laying under the covers, but one of the bedposts blocked his view, and he was in no position to move any closer to the armed guards. Even if he was skilled in martial arts, he was still injured, and he didn't want to get any worse.

"Blazing Spear, who's at my balcony door?" The voice demanded.

"I dunno, your majesty," Said the first guard. "Some sort of... alien." He shifted his spear cautiously.

"He looks like a dog!" The other guard stated.

"Nope," Fox corrected. "The name's Fox. And I'm a... well, fox."

"Well then, Fox, why are you on my balcony?" The voice spoke with a motherly tone; not upset, but high-held nonetheless.

"I have just as much a clue as you do, Mrs...?"

"My name is Princess Celestia, but you may call me Celestia," The voice said.

Fox saw the lump in the bed shift, covers slowly rolling down to reveal yet another white creature. This one, however, was much larger than the other two, with a very... colorful hairdo. Fox saw that Celestia had much larger wings than the other two guardsmen, and on top of that, she had what looked like a long, pointy horn sticking out of her forehead. Her colorful hair waved in the air, as if blowing in some ethereal wind. He noticed that her tail had the same traits. What really confused Fox, however, was the large, bulky bandage covering Celestia's horn. A warm smile covered her face and her eyes had a relaxing mood to them.

"Alright, Celestia..." Fox trailed off, leaning against a nearby wall for support. "What are you?"

"What am I? I am an alicorn," She stated proudly. "But I'll tell you more later. You're hurt."

Fox was surprised at this creature's sudden hospitality towards an alien creature. A race like this must've had several alien contacts before if she was this friendly towards him.

"I'll be fine, Celestia-"

"Princess Celestia, furball," The second guard said.

"Fine, Princess Celestia," Fox groaned. "I'm sure I'll be fine. I just need a way home right now."

"And where is home?" Celestia asked, shifting on her bed to a more comfortable position.

"Not really anywhere. I live on my starship called the Great Fox II."

"Creative name." The second guard rolled his eyes.

"Well, Mr. McCloud, I'm sorry, but the only one powerful enough to send you all home is me."

"Wait," Fox said, snapping his ears forward. "All of us? Did the others get here too?"

"Not quite, I'm afraid." Celestia unfurled a wing and dismissed her guards with it. The two guards made quick time. "You see, two others have been transported here along with you. My student, Twilight Sparkle, may know where they are if you wish to check."

"Thank you, your highness," Fox said, beginning to limp out the door.

"Ohh, no you're not," Celestia chuckled. "That wound looks bad. Come here."

Fox painfully changed course. He decided that he should probably follow the orders of another planet's princess if he wanted to stay alive. Arriving at her bedside, Fox got a better look at Celestia, and guessed that she must've been quite beautiful for her species. He saw her lower her eyes to his.

"I'm not supposed to do this, so don't tell anypony..."

Celestia lowered her head awkwardly to accommodate for Fox's short stature. He saw her face near his belly, then get ever so close to his...

His...

"Whoawhoaheyheyhey!" Fox said, hopping back quickly despite the agony it caused him. "What do you think you're doing?!"

"Healing you," Celestia said. "And my magic's not very strong from this far. Come closer."

"Magic?!"

Fox was no stranger to magic. He'd seen it before, when he'd used Krystal's staff.

"Yes, magic," Celestia said. "Why? What did you think I was do-" Suddenly, she covered her mouth with a hoof, realizing just what it looked like to Fox. "Oh. Oh my."

Both parties stared at each other for a moment awkwardly before erupting into a quiet fit of laughter.

"Now that we got that out, get over here so I can fix you up."

"Are you sure you're okay to do this, your highness? Your horn doesn't look well." Fox stepped closer to Celestia's bedside.

"Trust me, I've healed ponies lots of times, and I was in a lot worse shape than this."

Fox moved his hand, removing the bandages and exposing the wound to Celestia. To her, it didn't look bad on the outside, but she guessed that whatever injured him must've gone a bit inside as well. Fox flinched slightly as Celestia's horn touched his sensitive skin.

Then that pain went away.

Looking down in surprise, Fox found that his wound had been completely closed. No more pain touched him when he moved around, and he patted where the hole used to be to be sure of it. Healed to perfection, as if it had never even happened. Fox looked up to see a smiling Celestia raising her head.

"Even if my horn's broken, I can still use my magic," She stated. "Um, somewhat. It's just not as powerful."

Fox nodded a response.

"Aren't you surprised?" Celestia asked.

"Your majesty, trust me," Fox chuckled. "If you'd seen half the things I'd seen, you wouldn't be surprised by anything for the rest of your life."

"Well, why don't I give you a little more of a surprise, then?" Celestia pulled Fox close with a wing. "I really know how to make a boy scream..."

Twilight had done well. All of the injured ponies now had their wounds dressed accordingly, and most of the damage to Celestia's throne room was repaired thanks to the many servants there to help her. She'd made two new friends, both from different lands, and said friends now sat on a staircase not too far from her. The two got along well, warming up to each other nicely and even joking around a bit, but she could still sense the fear that must be going through their heads. Being transported to a new world tended to do that to you. Checking something off of a very, very long checklist, Twilight did a little hop in place and decided to reward herself for how well she'd done.

It'd been a while since she'd been to Donut Joe's Donut shop.

Practically prancing over to her two new friends, she cleared her throat to get their attention.

"Hey, you two," She said. "I'm going to grab a bite to eat. Want to come with me?"

"What kind of food?" Milvar asked. He'd been craving mead since he'd met Naughty.

"I was thinking, maybe donuts?"

"Donuts?" Milvar asked, tilting his helmed head. "What's a donut?"

"Ya mean ya don't know what a donut is?" Naughty asked, showing shock when Milvar shook his head.

"Can't say I do," Milvar sighed. "What is it? Is it some sort of food?"

"Only the best food you'll ever try!" Twilight chirped. "Come on!"

Grabbing Milvar's wrist with her magic, the three began their journey to the donut shop.

'Bout two seconds later :3

Milvar had never tasted a confection this delicious in his short life, and judging by what he'd seen in this strange land, he guessed it wouldn't be the last.

Revealing his face for the first time to his comrades, the ponies in the donut shop, including Naughty, paid no attention to the battle-scarred veteran as he literally tore a chocolate donut with sprinkles apart. Sprinkles flew this way and that, littering the trio's table. Donut Joe and several other surprised ponies watched on in awe as this strange alien devoured the donut with haste. When the donut was gone, Milvar's blonde beard had been painted brown and several sprinkles dotted it. Twilight and Naughty sat on the opposite end of the table in silence.

"Another," Milvar said. "These things are better than sweet rolls!"

Another donut, this time with pink frosting and a cream-filled center, was promptly bought and laid down on the table by Twilight.

It didn't last a minute.

The unlikely trio made it back to the Canterlot Castle in quick time. The sun was beginning to set, and few ponies remained in the streets to see a towering human and a giant teddy bear walk down the street. The guards were hasty to let the two alien creatures into their castle, but with a flutter of Twilight's eyelashes, they managed to get back inside without any further problems.

"Now," Twilight said when they had finally reached the throne room again. "I don't have a place for you to stay just yet, so you're welcome to stay with me until I can find you two a way home. Sound fair?"

Milvar and Naughty nodded in unison. Milvar's blonde goatee had been licked clean by now, not to mention his bulging belly barely managing to stay inside of his Stormcloak armor.

"Great!" Twilight said. "It'll be just like a sleepover! Uh," Twilight turned away for a bit. "But with boys. So I guess it's not really a sleepover."

"Nah," Naughty said. "I think it'll be more of a sleeping contest. I'm pooped."

"Me too," Milvar said. "I never want to lay eyes on another donut ever again."

"Well, let's go then!" Twilight skipped down a hallway to the left of the throne room, which led to a long corridor of doorways.

None of them noticed the astronaut-shaped hole in the throne room's ceiling.

Walking beside Twilight, the three were silent. They didn't really have anything to talk about besides Milvar's hunger and Naughty's past. Naughty didn't feel like revealing his old past to his new friends just yet. Perhaps when they were closer he would tell them. At last arriving at room number 406, Twilight magicked the door open and let the other two step inside ahead of her.

What Milvar and Naughty saw was a regally-decorated purple room with a high ceiling and two purple beds. A single writing desk was on the far wall and a doorway beside it led to a bathroom. A single window in front of the writing desk gave a view of the setting sun and Canterlot Labyrinth.

"We're here!" Twilight said, smiling. "It's not much, but I'm guessing you two can share a bed?"

The exhausted Milvar and Naughty sighed in defeat as they promptly fell upon opposite beds.

"H-hey! That's my bed!" Twilight tried to levitate Milvar off of her bed, but he wouldn't budge. "Fine then, you big ol' ape. Sleep in my bed." Twilight was about to levitate Naughty off of the other bed so she could sleep in it, but he was just too darn adorable when he was sucking his thumb.

Now it was Twilight's turn to sigh in defeat. Sigh. Deciding not to try her luck with waking the enormous beast of a Milvar, Twilight snuggled in beside Naughty and fell asleep in moments. It had been a long day indeed.

Fox gasped for air as Celestia rode up and down.

"Celestia! Oh, oh!"

Up and down, up and down.

"Please, princess! No more! I give!"

Celestia made strange noises as she increased her pace. She looked Fox in the eyes, giving him a strange look. Under her lay her victim, now half-buried in Celestia's fur. Under her lay a poor, defenseless...

Pillow.

"And then!" Celestia snorted. "And then, the poor fellow had to ride the darn thing all the way back! Ha!"

Fox pounded his thigh, roaring in laughter. Celestia was telling a story of how her student's brother, Shining Armor, had to ride a cart all the way home from Ponyville (Wherever that was) while sitting on top of a sack of potatoes.

Don't ask.

Fox and Celestia's combined laughter slowly died down as the last of Celestia's jokes were said. They'd been telling jokes and stories all night, with Fox's being funny and all, but not nearly as funny as Celestia's. She'd seen countless funny things over her lifespan, and Fox was more than happy to listen to them all. However, when Celestia peered at the clock, she noticed it was nearly midnight. Luna had set the sun for her tonight, so she had no worry about being late, but she still had to sleep.

"My my, Mr. McCloud, it's been a time and a half, but it's getting late."

"Yep," Fox said, standing up. "Where am I staying for the night?"

"Well, we have a few empty rooms downstairs if you want to chance it." Celestia blushed a little. "Or you could stay with me."

Fox decided it would be safer to stay with the princess. Making himself comfortable on the chair, he closed his eyes.

"Night, princess."

"What's this, now?"

Fox opened his eyes to find Celestia staring at him from her bed.

"None of that, now. Get over here." Celestia lifted her blankets, patting the spot beside her.

"Erm, Celestia, I don't think that's a good id-"

"Ohhh, guaaards~!"

"Fine, fine! Hang on..."

Fox crawled in beside the princess. Though he felt this was horribly wrong, he felt her warmth relax his tense muscles. Turning away from the princess, Fox made himself as comfortable as he could be while sleeping beside an ancient alien princess.

"Now can I sleep?" Fox asked jokingly.

Celestia chuckled. "Goodnight, Mr. McCloud."

"Just call me Fox, ma'am."

The two drifted off into a restful, totally non-sexual sleep.

Somewhere in the distance, a lone, elderly stallion pushed his broom across the streets of Canterlot. Rumors had told him that a meteor struck somewhere this night. Some even say it was an alien! But, rumors were rumors, and he dismissed them. Meteors burned up in the atmosphere all the time. Nothing ever hit the ground in his lifetime, and he doubted any would hit anytime soon. The stallion was sweeping up litter from beside a large fountain. Why couldn't ponies ever keep the streets clean?

With cleaning done for the night, the stallion packed up his custodian's cart and levitated his broom into its holster beside it. He was getting ready to head home, when suddenly he noticed something sticking out of the fountain.

It looked like a long wire at first, but then he noticed that it was moving underneath the surface of the water. He climbed up on the edge of the fountain to see what was going on, but couldn't make anything out in the darkness of the night.

"Heh, strange. Ain't ne'er seen anythin' like that 'fore."

He grabbed the wire with his telekinesis, pulling it upwards, but it didn't move at all. It felt like something much heavier was attached to this wire. Giving it harder tugs, he finally got some ground on the wire and it began lifting out of the water.

Suddenly, a gloved arm splashed out of the water, grabbing the stallion's uniform.

"What the hay?!"

The gloved hand made no movement, but the custodian saw that the wire was rising out of the water on its own accord, no longer in his grasp. It got longer and longer, until finally it ended and a white box started. Then came something else.

A helmet.

A body.

A set of arms and legs.

But the stallion was too frozen in fear to take his eyes off of this creature's golden, reflective visor. He could see himself reflected in the creature's gaze, and when it at last stopped rising out of the water, it yanked the stallion up close to its helmet. The stallion was in the air now, held only by his uniform.

"Hailp! Hailp! Demonspawn's got me! Hailp!"

The monster slammed the stallion into it. The stallion's face was now plastered on the demon's visor, staring into a cold, hateful stare that told of neverending misery and agony.

Then, it spoke with a voice that reminded the stallion of every horror movie he'd watched.

"John Madden."

"YYYEAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!"

The stallion's uniform tore at last, and he fell to the ground, wasting no time in scrambling to his feet and darting off into the night, screaming. The evil monstrosity stared after the stallion with an evil glare before starting off after the stallion, stepping down off of the fountain and lumbering down the street.

"Football."