Hello, Eclipse here, sorry for the delay in another chapter of this story. I want to thank everyone who has followed, favorited, and read my story. with that said. enjoy the new chapter!

*flashback*

I was walking home from school and I take a shortcut I usually take through an alley

"Well look at this guys, it's the weeb." I hear a sarcastic voice whose owner grates on my nerves. I turn around and sure enough, there's George one of the more infamous bully's at my school and his group, or as what one of my friends like to call them 'George's little gaggle of fucktards'.

"Is there a reason you are calling me that?" I asked politely only slightly confused at why he did so.

"Yeah I know you follow that stupid samurai bullshit," he tells me with a sneer as he walks a bit closer

"I don't see why you think it stupid. Out of the norm, yes. but I don't see why it's stupid." I respond, honestly confused at why he's so hostile about it. He is about a foot in front of me and his body language is very tense.

"Those swords of yours must cost a pretty penny. You wouldn't mind sharing that around would you," he says in a tone that leaves nothing to the imagination of his intention.

"Yes, I would mind, if merely because that you think that I would simply roll over like a dog," I say keeping a neutral tone. Taking my hands out of my pockets and keeping in mind the sheath I have sewn into my jacket for my tantō.

"I'll say this in a way I'm sure you'll understand." He says before taking out and flicking open a switchblade "Give me your fucking wallet or I'll fucking cut you." He says trying to sound intimidating. I'm not impressed.

"I have much better things to be spending my time on than a wannabe thug that can't even hold a knife right," I say with a flat look trying to sound as condescending as possible. He looks furious at that and rushes me with a stab so telegraphed I could have dodged it last week. I step to the side and grab his wrist and jerk it down with enough force to snap his thumb tendon. He goes to the ground screaming in pain.

One of his buddies rushes at me with a hunting knife. That's when I pull the tantō out of my jacket. I use the sleeve of my jacket to grab the blade of the hunting knife since my jacket is pretty thick, and I make a cut across his knuckles causing him to let go of the knife and stumble back holding his bleeding hand. I let it clatter to the ground. I jolt forward at a sudden pressure on my back. I blindly stab behind me as I turn around. I find my blade embedded in George's chest. he tried to stab me in the back, but lucky for me I wear a stab resistant vest under my jacket. He stares at the blade in his chest with wide eyes. He looks up to me and makes some choking sounds then he falls to the side and goes limp. I hear the sounds of running behind me. I turn around and see that his group had run off.

*end flashback*

When I had looked back into George's blank dead eyes the scene fades to black. I wake up breathing heavily and I hear a gasp beside me as I'm wrapped in a hug which aggravates my wound. I groan in pain.

"Oh! I'm so sorry!" Cadence apologizes pulling back from the hug.

"No it's fine" I rasp out. Why do I feel so weak? Another question to add to the pile, I suppose. "How long was I out?" I ask. Grabbing a glass of water on the nightstand next to the bed and take a sip.

"Three days." she sighed out. She looked like she wanted to tell me something else. I decided not to press about it.

"Three days?" I mumble in slight shock. She nods in confirmation. I sit back with a sigh. "What happened after I collapsed?"

"After you collapsed auntie came with a group of guards, and from checking the… Remains... Of the assassin. they were on a mission to assassinate auntie Luna. you just happened to get in the way as the room was technically supposed to be empty." Cadence explained. I was concerned when she turned green when she said remains.

"I'm still sorry about that," I said softly. She shakes her head

"It's fine, you probably saved my life, and auntie Luna's," she said to me. I was about to ask something but Celestia and Luna came in, their visage grim. They brighten slightly when they see I'm awake. Celestia trots over.

"Are you feeling alright?" She asks me with a concerned look upon her face. I shuffle a little on the bed to get into a more comfortable position.

"Other than my dry mouth, some pain where I got stabbed, and a general feeling of muscle ache and lethargy, I feel fine," I tell her, then I realize everything that I just said, "so I guess I'm not fine." I sighed. I hate feeling useless. Luna comes over to Celestia and whispers something in her ear. Celestia nods with a frown. I have a gut feeling I'm not going to like where this is going.

"Would you like the good news or the bad first," Luna says with the same frown on her face. At this, I get nervous, more so than I already was.

"Good?" I say unsurely. She sighs

"The good news is that your wound is healing nicely, as well as the scratch on your face, but there is scarring," She tells me. That's the good news?

"And the bad," I say meekly. I hated how weak I sounded when I said that. She continued with.

"The assassins claws and knives were covered in poison," I felt a rock drop into my gut when she said that. If that wasn't enough. To quote Billy Mays 'But wait, there's more.'

"But the poison is incurable by known means, It will make its way through your body shutting down organs as it goes" she finishes sadly lowering her head. The dread I felt from hearing that is impossible to describe in words. All the questions I had before came to a halt. Only one question remained.

"How long," I asked in a low quiet tone.

"About four days and that is only because we used the strongest healing spell we could." She said before placing a hoof on my shoulder. "I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault," I mumble out in shock. I look up at their worried faces "Could I have some space to think please?" I ask numbly. The three of them nod and leave the room. Why is life unfair. I was ripped from my dimension, I can't see my family in anyway shape or form, and now I'm poisoned with an incurable poison that kills me in a week causing organ failure as it goes. Fucking wonderful. Now that I actually have time to think about why I pledged myself to Celestia. It wasn't just because I fucking felt like it. Ah, I know why. I wanted purpose and also the shock of suddenly being thrust into another world.

It felt like a dream that I could wake up from at any time, but reality just gave me a swift kick in the ass for those thoughts of it being a dream. It's only been two days, technically five, and I'm already dying, just my luck. And now I have four days to find a way home to say goodbye. I hope it's enough time. I chuckle ruefully at that. If- When I find my way back I can just Imagine how worried they are about where I've been, and I'm going to pop back like

'Hi everyone I just came back from a supposed fictional universe, I pledged myself to their princess, I now have another sister, I got stabbed by a griffon, and I'm dying from an incurable poison. so how was your week?' I can't help but laugh harder at the faces I imagine them making. my morbid sense of humor is showing again. I get up from the bed very slowly. Fuck, I can barely lift myself up. I see my armor in the corner along with my sheathed katana. At least I'm still dressed from the waist down. I take the covers off and slowly stand up. I make my way over and I see in the same pile, my blood-stained shirt, or it was bloodstained at one point because my white shirt is now pink. Meh, I've worn worse. I hobble my way over to my shirt. Is this what Joker felt like in Mass Effect? I'll have to give the smart-ass more credit for his perseverance. The muscles in my legs are screaming in agony. It now even feels like my bones hurt.

Wait. a liquid poison that makes my bones hurt. Goddammit, why did I have to have that thought. Despite how bad it is I chuckle anyway. Heh, bone hurting juice. Fucking dammit. I make it over to my shirt and somehow get it on, despite my bodies best attempt to stop that. I now limp my way over to my sword, I grab it and start using it as a walking stick. After a few more agonizing steps I get to the door. When I open it I see the surprised faces of Celestia, Luna, and Cadence.

"What are you doing walking around?" Cadence says in a concerned scolding voice.

"Getting out of this hospital room," I grunt, leaning against the doorway.

"And you think that a good idea after what you just went through," she said using the same tone

"Nope." I drawl, making a popping sound at the p. "But if I only have four days, there's something I need to look for," I pause to look over to Celestia "If you would allow me I would like to look through Starswirl's archives for dimension traveling spells unless you know of any off-hand." she gains a thoughtful look

"It has been quite some time since I've last looked through those scrolls and the ones that I do know of are not complete, as the casters have never returned," Celestia responded, taking a grim tone at the end. "And I assume the reason for asking is because you wish to see your family again before you pass." She questions with a saddened look. I simply nod. My legs suddenly decide to buckle from underneath me, but before I hit the ground Cadence catches me

"Thanks," I said to Cadence whom nods. Alright now comes the hard part, I, ugh, have to ask for favors. I hate asking for favors. From anyone. I just hope I'm not going to be an inconvenience more so than I already am. Luna notices the look on my face

"What is wrong, are you feeling any harsh pain?" she asks. I shake my head and sigh

"No, it just." I sigh again heavily looking at the floor. "I have a favor to ask."

"That is all?" Luna says with a raised brow.

"I hate asking this but, I need someone to carry my armor to the room I'm staying in." I say with a sour look on my face "as well as some help to the archives. If I'm allowed." I mumble looking to Celestia for permission.

"You have my permission to look through the archives, not that I would have denied you access in the first place." She tells me. "As for your armor." Celestia's horn lights up for a split second and then it stops "you will find your armor in your room." she gives me a small smile. Right, I had forgotten teleportation is a thing.

"Thanks," I say quietly.

"We do not mean to be rude when we say this but we have to return to our duties," Luna says to Celestia. with an apologetic face directed at me.

"Unfortunately," Celestia sighs

"Don't stop on my account. Go, you have a country to run." I say shaking my head at why they think they need to apologize. They both say their goodbyes and teleport off to do whatever it is that they need to do. I look back over to Cadence whom I'm still leaning on. "Could you take me to the Archives please," I ask

"Sure, It's no problem." She says with a smile. My vision warps and I feel a bit tingly. suddenly we are in a room filled with scrolls, books, and other various odds and ends.

"Here we are, would you like some help? I have no pressing matters for tonight," she tells me, I was about to say that I could do it myself I took a full look at the amount of stuff I would need to sort through. It was daunting, to say the least.

"I would appreciate it, thanks," I say with a tired smile.

"It's no problem at all." She smiles back. And so we set upon the task of finding me a way home, no matter how brief it might end up being.

Cadence POV:

After about a half-hour of us sitting next to each other looking through various books and scrolls, Owen asks me something

"Cadence." He says looking up from a scroll and over to me. I look up from the book I am currently reading through.

"Yes?" I ask curiously.

"Why has everyone been so nice to me?" He asks with a look on his face that I can't quite place. "You've all have known me for only two days at most, and yet it's like we've been friends for a few months, why is that?" He continues. I recall some of the things that were shared with me when I looked through his memories. And something I noticed is human friendships are different than pony friendships. And I tell him that.

"I believe it's simply a difference in culture," I answer him. And continue with "In my case, it also helps that you allowed me to look through your memories, so I would find it hard to not empathize with you." He nods at that

"Understandable, but still, you guys are princesses. I'm just some random creature that showed up out of a portal. In the throne room no less. I'm just surprised at how welcomed I am." he mutters shaking his head.

"Equestria is a very peaceful place and has been for a very long time, but I could see where you could have your doubts," I answer, and I have my own question to ask. "Why are you asking this all of a sudden?"

"It's just," He sighed, then laid back putting his hands behind his head and he stared at the ceiling. "I'm just so used to slow progressing friendships, regardless of who they're with." I simply hum at what he said. As I said I can understand where this is coming from. "Why did you decide to adopt me as a little brother anyway?" He asks after a moment of silence.

"I have honestly always wanted a sibling," I tell him laying down myself. He looks over to me.

"Really?" He said shifting to lean on his side facing me, his head propped up on his hand

"Yeah, I'm sorry if it seemed a little quick for me to be asking that from you," I say with a bit of embarrassment. My ears flattening

"Actually I'm fine with it, I was just curious," he said shifting back to laying down. I look at him surprised. "I've always wanted an older sibling," he mumbles out.

"How come?" I ask curiously.

"I've had a couple friends that have older siblings and I couldn't help but wonder what an older brother or sister would be like," He answered sitting back up and grabbing the scroll he was reading before,

"My thoughts were the same, but for having a younger brother or sister," I tell him. He hums interestedly. A question pops into my head. "If you don't mind me asking, what are your brothers and sister like?" When I ask this he stops for a moment and then sets the scroll down again, he shuffles to the right to face me with a small smile on his face.

"Well there Ben, Ethan, and Rose respectively. Let's see, Ben is... hyper to say the least." He smiles. "He has some trouble focusing on things so I have to help him with that bit, not that I mind. Him along with Ethan, like to play games with me. But he can get overstimulated and I'll have to calm him down. He likes to learn things and will usually come to me if I'm there if he needs help with something. He like to go outside and run around. Otherwise he's just a loud ball of energy." He chuckles, I smile at that. "Ethan is almost the polar opposite of Ben. he's quiet and somewhat shy, but he will still come to me if he need help with something. He has problems with listening to rules and I've has to punish him a few times when I've watched them while mom had to work. If there's anything he like to do it's watch movies and play games, I think he takes those bits from me. Otherwise he's a pretty quiet kid, unless Ben is involved." he finished with a laugh. "And then there's Rose she's the youngest, but the most self-reliant one, I didn't mention it earlier but they live with their dad in the same town that mom lives where I live with my dad in a town that's an hour away, so I'm not able to visit them all that often." I stop him for a second

"What do you mean their dad?" I ask confused. He then looks like he realizes something.

"Oh. sorry, I forgot to mention that their half-siblings, but that doesn't matter to me." He shrugs "It's not going to cause me to treat them any different," it make me happy that he thinks like that. "Anyway, Rose had to deal with three older brothers growing up so she can sometimes be the furthest thing from girly you can get, I think the only reason she's not a complete tomboy is because of how often they go to visit mom. She's pretty quiet as well, but I think that mostly to do with Ben and Ethan doing their own thing and she gets left alone. Well, unless I'm there, then we both read books just enjoying the quiet together. When it comes to books she can't get enough of them, there are a few times where I've had to use both her and my library cards to get all the books she wanted to check out." he laughs, I laugh as well, as it reminds me of Twilight. "Yeah I don't doubt Rose is going to become a very smart person," he finishes with pride.

"It sounds like you love them very much," I giggled.

"There is nothing more important than family," he tells me with a smile.

"Agreed," I nod. we both resettle and go back to our respective searching. I just hope I can help as much as I think I can.

After several hours and dinner which Auntie Celestia was nice enough to bring to us, I am Interrupted by Owen again, but not In the way that you'd think. I was reading a passage when-

*snore*

Yeah, that. I look over and see him asleep with the book he was reading at his side. I giggle at his sleeping face as he just looks so peaceful. I should get him to bed so he doesn't wake up on the floor. I put the books and scrolls we have yet to go through into a pile and levitate him onto my back and also grab his sword. I trot my way to his room only being interrupted by Auntie Luna on her way to her room.

"How is he?" she asks with a concerned voice when she sees his sleeping form on my back.

"He's doing well. Given the circumstances." I frown at the last bit. She frowns as well

"I suppose that is all we can ask for at the moment." she sighs. I walk closer and put a hoof on her shoulder

"I believe that we will find a way to cure him, we just have to hold out hope that everything will be fine." I say giving a small smile and getting one in return. We hug for a moment and say goodnight before continuing on our respective ways. I get to his room and put him in his bed covering him in the blanket, he stirs only slightly.

"Goodnight Owen," I tell him setting his sword on his nightstand. Just as I start for the door I hear softly behind me.

"Goodnight Cadence," I smile when I hear him say that. I walk out and quietly close the door behind me. I walk to my room close by and climb into my own bed and fall asleep.

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-Eclipse