I entered the hospital again a few days later with some flowers for the female guard, River Blossom. Nodding to the nurse on duty I headed up to her room.

Entering I called out. "Hey River, you decent?"

"Hard to be anything else right now Talisman. You still coming here to check up on me?" She snarked back from her bed.

I smirked. "Well, we are both soldiers. Since I helped bring you back, and I am near the hospital, I figured checking up on you periodically and letting you know someone cares wouldn't go amiss. Soarin is getting out of here today, so I decided to stop by and see you for a bit while I am waiting." I said as I put the flowers into the vase on the table by her bed. There were a couple of get well cards, one from me and one from Cadance, as well as one from her family in Canterlot. Other than that there was not much to show that anyone had noticed or cared she had been injured.

"So what are your plans once you get back to Canterlot?" I asked as I sat down.

"Not to sure at the moment." The mulberry furred unicorn replied. "I can still do magic, but I lost my leg, so that limits what I can do in the Guard."

"Well, you could be an instructor. I am sure that they have positions that are open." I said.

She shook her head sadly.

"Not for me. I haven't been in the Guard for very long and I haven't made the best impressions on my leadership. The only reason that I was on Princess Cadance's detail was because I was one of the few mares that was available. Then this mess happens. I have to face facts, my career is over." She said morosely.

I looked at the mare with a critical eye. "I take it that you wanted to serve in the guard from a young age." I said.

"Yeah, I grew up in Canterlot so I got to see them a lot more than most ponies. When I got in and finished training, it wound up being a who you know rather than how well you could do your job. I always got assigned the crap details. I did them without complaint, but it really takes it out of a girl when you are doing the best damn job you can and the dirtbag that happens to be related to some noble or some retired general or some such gets the nice cushy jobs even if they can barely put on their armour." She replied.

I nodded in understanding. "There were some issues with that in the military where I am from. It wasn't as widespread, but the 'good ol boys club' was still a thing. I know that it definitely changed my perception of things when I was in. That was primarily the reason that I got out of the service."

River and I talked for a while longer before I had to go and see Soarin. I left her with a promise to write and to look her up if I made my way to Canterlot in the future.

I entered Soarin's room to find the doctor going over last minute instructions regarding the stallion's recover.

Soon I was pushing the stallion in a wheelchair towards the elevators.

"I hate being treated like an invalid." He groused.

"I hate this bit too. But there is a reason for it." I replied with a chuckle.

"I know, they don't want us getting hurt while we are still inside the hospital. Doesn't mean that I have to like it." He pouted.

I laughed as we entered the elevator.

"Well, I found this awesome diner near my hotel that serves the best pecan pie I have ever tasted. We'll stop by and get some. My treat." I said as the doors closed and I hit the button for the ground floor.

Soarin's eyes lit up. "Really? I don't want to put you out or anything…" He started before I interrupted.

"Don't worry about it. Turns out that there was a hefty bounty being offered on the entirety of the Don's organization. Apparently there have been a few attempts to collect on it. A few of the lower ranking guys had gotten nabbed, but no one who had ever gone after the big score had ever come back. Not sure if they chickened out and found someplace quiet to disappear to or if they were killed. Either way, I have a significant amount of money, and not much to spend it on. I also got you the room next to mine at the hotel. That way we can go and grab a drink later if you are up for it." I explained.

Soarin was quiet for a couple of minutes before replying.

"Thanks. That's a lot more than any of my teammates have ever done for me. Even Spitfire and we have been friends for years" He said.

"She is your current commanding officer?" I asked.

"She is. I know that she has to keep things professional, but a card at least to let me know she cares. But what did they do after I was shot down and captured? Went on to the next city to put on a show. Didn't even make a token effort from what I have heard." Soarin said sullenly as we exited the elevator and headed to the hospital entrance.

I sighed. "Then it sounds like I am going to have words with her when I see her. You never leave a man behind. Even if he gets killed, you make every effort to recover his body and bring him back." I said. "On my world we were still finding bodies from wars decades past and we would make every effort to identify them and then they would be repatriated and buried with the honors that they should have gotten years ago."

Soarin was quiet as he stood up from the wheelchair. "Is it really that big a deal for you?"

"Let me tell you a little story while we walk. About forty years ago, there was a very unpopular war in a little hell hole called Vietnam. The troops didn't want to be there, the civilian population didn't support the troops, even took to spitting on them when they came home. But there was one commander, with the Third Airborne Cavalry Division who told his men, that his boots would be the first on the ground when they got there, and they would be the last off when they pulled out. The story goes that he held to that promise, and despite being so high ranking, he didn't sit back in his command tent, he was out there on the front line with his troops. How much is true and how much has been embellished through the numerous retellings throughout the years is up for debate. But there are stories like that from every war that had been fought in the last century about leaders that would go into battle with their men and fight alongside them. Those are the good leaders, not because they knew who to rub shoulders with, but they took care of their men and they did everything that they asked of their men." I said as we walked.

Soarin was quiet for a while after I finished. I could tell that he was reflecting on his interactions with his superior officer. Friends they may have been, but it seemed to me that ego and careerism had struck her badly. She was in definite need of a reality check.

"I get where you are coming from. I guess the memories of my friend blinded me to who she has turned into. Thanks." He said finally.

"Hey, all I did was tell you a story. You were the one who had to search your feelings and see what was in front of you." I said, suddenly feeling like some old Jedi Master talking to a Padawan learner.

He smiled, his eyes lighting up a bit at that, though there was still some sadness there. Soon we entered the diner and began eating.

Later that evening I was getting ready to go grab something to eat when there was a knock at my hotel room door. I pulled on my shirt and opened the door. Outside was a pegasus mare that was very familiar.

My eyes widened a bit when I realized who it was.

"Soarin? Is that you?"

"Yeah it is." She replied her wings twitching nervously.

"Come on in. I'm still finishing getting ready, so have a seat." I said as I pulled the door open.

Once we had gotten inside, I began pulling on my boots.

"So I take it that a lot of your clothes are enchanted?" I asked as I laced the boots up.

"Yeah, been doing that for years. Kind of nice to be able to go out as myself. Gives me a bit of anonymity." Soarin replied.

I nodded. "I can understand that. So natural born female wanting to be male, transgender, intersex, or magical accident?" I asked.

"A bit of the last two. My mom was working with a unicorn friend when she was pregnant with me and she got hit with a ricochet on a spell. Didn't know what happened because there were no ill effects. Then I was born with both sets of plumbing. Made my school years hell, part of the reason I pretended to be male for so long. Then I became a Wonderbolt and any chance of being able to drop the male persona was lost. But now, I figure to heck with it." She explained.

"So let me guess, you wrote up your letter of resignation and plan to deliver it to Spitfire." I said more than asked.

"Yeah. Won't be able to fly as a stunt flyer after my injury anyways. Thinking on what has happened over the years, that just cemented the fact that I haven't really been happy being a Wonderbolt." She said with a sigh.

"Well, look at it this way. You get a fresh start and you can even change your name to go with your more feminine appearance." I said with a smile.

She smiled in return. "Actually Soarin was the made up name. My mom named me Emerald Breeze."

"Hmmm, it does have a nice ring to it." I said before standing up and walking over to the mare. "Hello Emerald Breeze, my name is Talisman Stryke. I find myself needing someone to accompany me to dinner this evening. Would you care to join me?" I asked a smile on my face, my hand extended to the blue-grey mare.

She smiled as she stood up and took my hand and shook. "I would be delighted to join you for dinner Talisman."

We both looked at each other before bursting out laughing. I offered her my arm and after she took it, we headed down to the hotel restaurant.

I woke up the next morning to an interesting sensation of a wing covering my back.

'You know, it's not so bad. Dunno if this would be anything long term or not, but might as well enjoy it while it lasts.' I thought as I lay in the bed that I was sharing with Emerald Breeze. Who would have thought that it would have happened. Soon enough though, nature's call prompted me to leave the bed and actually wake up.

Once I had showered and taken care of my morning routine, I went to the phone in the room and ordered breakfast for the two of us. After I did that I took up the task to wake up the sleeping pegasus.

"Emerald, time to get up and be somewhat productive today." I said gently shaking her shoulder.

"Mmmm, piiieeee." She moaned in her sleep.

A snort escaped my lips. 'One track mind, this one.' I thought before trying again. "Yes there will be pie with breakfast. Now get up and go get showered." I said as I shook her again.

Emerald bolted up, bare breasts bouncing. "Really?! Thank you thank you thank you!" She cried before pulling me into a kiss and practically flying into the bathroom.

I shook my head as I laughed. Grabbing the key to her room, I went next door and grabbed her suitcase so she would have something to wear. When I came back into the room, I found her standing in the door to the bathroom wearing a towel and dripping everywhere with an embarrassed smile on her face.

"I completely forgot to ask for something to wear." She said with a blush.

I shrugged. "Figured you would want something to wear besides what you had on last night. Speaking of those clothes, I feel like I should pay for the dry cleaning." I said, causing her to laugh.

"It's fine Talisman. I think I can afford it." She said through her laughter as she went back into the bathroom to dry off.

Soon enough we were dressed, Emerald wearing her enchanted clothes, back in her Soarin persona, and eating the breakfast that had arrived. We were having a discussion about how humans were able to fly using technology rather than having a biological method to do so when there was a knock at the door.

Heading to the door, I opened it to discover Princess Cadance outside.

"Cadance, please come in. Soarin and I were just finishing breakfast." I said moving to allow the alicorn to enter the room.

'Soarin' stood up and gave a short bow to the alicorn. "Good morning your Highness."

"Good morning you two. I'm sorry that I have been out of sorts the last few days, but with everything that has happened…" She trailed off.

Emerald and I nodded. "We understand." I said.

"Thank you." She replied with a smile. "I actually wanted to tell you that Princess Celestia and Princess Luna are wanting to meet the two of you in Canterlot. They wanted me to bring you there when I return later today."

Emerald and I glanced at each other. "Fair enough. One doesn't just turn down a Royal Summons after all." I replied.

Soon after we were packed and on our way to Canterlot in an honest to god airship. Not a zeppelin or a blimp, but what should have been a sailing ship that was powered by crystals and looking like the Alliance airships that were in World of Warcraft. This one, however was a passenger vessel. Nearly three hundred feet long, eighty wide and nearly sixty tall, it was a behemoth when compared to the ships that were sailing around Equestria. Of course nothing compared to a cruise ship on Earth or, more familiar to me, an Iowa-class battleship or Nimitz-class supercarrier.

The ship was making good time from Las Pegasus. I was on deck near the bow, looking out over the landscape below as Emerald, still in her Soarin guise, flew near the ship, a rope around her waist the was secured to the railing in case her injured wing gave out and she couldn't maneuver back to the deck.

"You know the doctor said to take it easy!" I yelled out over the sound of the wind and engines.

"I know my limits!" She called back. "Besides magic took care of the worst of it. I have to work the muscles to help heal it. That and I'm just riding the wake right now."

I shook my head at the antics of the pegasus. "Well, I'll be here if something happens." I called out as I adjusted my goggles.

Soon enough Emerald landed on the deck and took off the harness.

"So we still have a few hours until we get to Canterlot. What do we do to occupy our time?" She asked as she stretched her wings and back.

"Not sure. Not really much to do on this boat." I said.

"Well, you said that you can do magic right?" She asked.

I nodded in response.

"How about putting on a little show for the passengers?" She said.

I thought about it. I could use some of my lower level spells and put on a decent show. Multiple fire balls and such, since my control was pretty good at this point due to hours of practice with each type of Materia that I had.

"Sure, let me go get some of my Materia and I can put on a show on the fantail. See if anyone wants to come watch." I replied.

We parted ways as Emerald went to speak to the Captain and the First Officer of the ship while I went below deck to our shared cabin.

Entering, I dug into my rucksack and pulled out my Materia case. Pulling on my gloves, I began to select my Materia. A Fire, Lightning, and an Ice went into the slots on each wrist. I moved to the tray that contained my red Materia. Running my fingers along them, I found the songs of the ones that I wished to use. Speaking out loud, I asked them.

"Feel like putting on a show?"

The songs changed to a tone of agreement and playfulness. I smirked at the marbles.

"You two are incorrigible sometimes." I said, the songs changing to ones of laughter as I slotted them into my gloves.

Back on deck I headed aft and saw that pretty well every passenger and several members of the crew were waiting. All in all, about thirty ponies of all three breeds were there, several of them children with their parents.

"Well, looks like you managed to get a decent sized crowd Soarin. What did you do, go to everyone on the ship?" I asked the pegasus with a smile.

She blushed while the crowd chuckled a bit.

Turning to the alicorn, I asked. "Princess Cadance, would you be so kind as to put up a shield in front of the crowd please?"

"I can, but it might not be the strongest." She said as her horn lit up and a shimmering blue barrier was erected between the crowd and myself.

"It shouldn't be an issue, just wanting to take precautions. Accidents do happen after all and I would rather not have anyone hurt." I said as I started to juggle balls of fire, ice, and plasma, two of each.

The crowd oohed and ahhed at the display before I threw the balls off the stern of the ship, the ice dropping out of sight, the fire dissipated, and the plasma burst in a spectacular flash about fifty feet behind the ship.

Whipping my hands from across my chest conjuring two dozen fireballs and began to manipulate them, making them fly in various ways and formations around the ship, while speaking.

"I know that most of you know that Unicorns are able to actively use magic in a variety of ways. Most common is the ability to levitate objects and the ability to create temporary mage lights. Most other spells are related to their special talents or something job related unless the unicorn is particularly studious and has learned more spells than what is related to their innate talents. Myself, I have to use foci as I do not have a horn to channel with. So I use what is know as Materia. Materia is a concentrated sphere of what is known as the Lifestream, a river of energy that flows throughout the planet, it is made up of the life energy all those that have come before and all of those that will come. They willingly give up some of their energy to allow us to use magic through Materia. It is not something that comes easily though. Just as a young unicorn must practice their magic to help strengthen it and to help their reserves grow, a Materia user must practice and gain familiarity with the spells that they are trying to cast. At best an inexperienced Materia user would just have nothing happen, at worst the spell could explode in their face, causing serious injury. The more a Materia is used, the stronger it becomes until it reaches a point where it is considered 'Mastered'. At that point the Materia will 'spawn' for lack of a better term, a new lower level version of itself, allowing the process to be repeated. A true Materia Master, either someone who just has an innate ability to manipulate the energy or someone, such as myself, that has put hours upon hours of practice in to understand how to manipulate the spells, can make different combinations of spells by linking Materia in the slots of their bracers and weapons, allowing them to create even more devastating spells. Spells can also be combined with what are classified as Support Materia that add different effects to the spells. The most common is the All Materia, which allows one to 'target' multiple individuals for a spell. It can be something like a Lightning spell which will jump from enemy to enemy, or a restorative spell like a Cure that will heal injuries that your allies have sustained. The problem with using restorative Materia, is that it is basically a bandage most of the time, just something to stabilize injuries until the individual can receive proper medical attention. The crown jewel of all Materia are ones such as these." I said dispelling the swarm of fireballs before beginning my summoning.

"Rise from the ashes, PHOENIX!"

"From the frozen wastes, arise SHIVA!"

With a cry of phoenix song, an absolutely massive firebird appeared and began to soar around the vessel, its song bringing smiles to all aboard.

A sudden chill overtook the area as the ice goddess rose from a mound of snow and ice that had materialized on the deck. She had a playful smile, giggling a bit, a sound of bells in a breeze, before winking at Emerald and blowing her a kiss, obviously approving of the mare, but causing the mare to blush heavily through her fur.

Soon enough the summons took their leave and Cadance dropped her shield.

"Thank you all folks, I hope you enjoyed the demonstration." I said, taking a bow as applause rang out.

Soon enough we were back below deck and Emerald and I were in our cabin.

"That was amazing. Especially those last two. What were they?" She asked.

"Summons, basically they are Aeons, or personifications of gods that can be called to the aid of someone worthy. Some like Phoenix and Shiva are on the lower end of the power scale, while others that I have are ones you only call upon when you have to do some serious damage, like taking on an entire army." I said as I slotted my normal selections of Materia.

"So basically, the biggest stick you have available." She replied.

"Pretty much." I said before a knock sounded at the cabin door.

Emerald went to get the door while I put away my Materia case.

"Your Highness, what can we do for you?" I heard her ask.

"Hello Soarin, could I come in?" I heard Cadance reply.

"Certainly." Emerald replied as she opened the door to allow the alicorn to enter.

I sat on my bed while Cadance took the desk chair and Emerald moved to her bed.

"So what is going on between you two?" Cadance asked bluntly.

Emerald's eyes widened and her wings twitched, betraying her nerves. I merely raised an eyebrow.

"What do you mean Princess?" I asked calmly.

"Don't try to pull that Talisman, I am the Princess of Love for a reason, I can sense love in all of its forms and you two are thick with romantic love." She said.

"First off, that is a damn scary power to have. Smacks of being able to manipulate people something fierce. Secondly, what we do in our alone time really ain't any of your business. Thirdly, anything that is happening has to be discrete due to 'Soarin's profession at the moment." I replied cooly.

Cadance drew back as if struck. "I'm sorry if it came off that way, I just like to make sure that those I know are in healthy relationships, even if it is just friendship." She explained, an abashed look on her face.

"Well, what we are is still up in the air. As I said, due to 'Soarin's profession and the fact that he is in the limelight can cause problems due to the press wanting to know every minute detail of the lives of celebrities. That and there are some other issues that it would be up to 'Soarin' if he wants to discuss them with you." I replied, while looking at the mare in disguise. "But only if you can keep them to yourself." I added, looking at the alicorn with narrowed eyes while pushing mako into them, increasing the glow.

Cadance nodded as Emerald stood up and walked to the bathroom, grabbing a robe along the way.

Cadance gained a puzzled look at this.

"You're aware of how the Royal Guard's armour can alter their appearance to make them all look the same?" I inquired, using the knowledge that River Blossom had given me.

Cadance nodded.

"As it turns out, the effect can be applied to any article of clothing that can be enchanted. It can allow you to change any portion of your appearance, so long as the clothing is mostly intact." I explained as Emerald stepped out of the bathroom.

"Your Highness, meet Emerald Breeze, AKA Soarin of the Wonderbolts." I said as Emerald moved in front of the alicorn.

Cadance was struck speechless for several moments.

"But, but, how? Why?" She finally stammered out.

"Because it was easier for me to pretend to be a stallion." Emerald replied.

"So you want to be a stallion?" She asked.

"Not really, though I am halfway there though." She said with a giggle.

"Huh?" Came the eloquent response from Cadance.

Emerald turned to face Cadance, and with a smirk over her shoulder to me, opened the front of her robe for a few seconds before closing it again.

Cadance for her part was gobsmacked.

I chuckled at her expression. "So you can see why we want to keep things discreet until she has handed in her resignation from the Wonderbolts." I said.

"You're resigning? Why?" Cadance asked.

"Talisman and I talked several times while I was in the hospital and after I was released, and I came to some conclusions. First I have to ask, have you ever made a visit to the Academy?" Emerald said.

"No, I haven't. I know that periodically the upper leadership of the Air Force and the Guard make visits." Cadance replied.

"But do they ever make a surprise visit?" Emerald asked.

"Not that I am aware of. They are always announced." Cadance replied.

"That what I thought." I replied. "That gives them time to hide the dirty little secrets of the Academy and the Wonderbolts in general."

"What do you mean?" Cadance asked.

"Quite frankly, if the Wonderbolts were a unit in the military that I was a part of on my homeworld, the entire leadership, a good portion of the rest of the unit and several members of the upper brass would have been court martialed and jailed because of the abuse of the recruits and the abuse of power by the leadership to keep it quiet. I have seen issues with maltraining take out not just the instructors involved but also individuals several rungs up the chain because they kept things from being reported. As the primary role of the Wonderbolts is an aerial demonstration team, trust between wingmen is paramount. If you don't have that, then the shows will suffer because the more complex maneuvers that require precision and trust that your teammates are going to be in the proper position will not be there. Frankly, once this gets out, and it will even if I have to petition Celestia herself, I don't think the Wonderbolts will be flying again for a long while." I said.

Cadance looked at me with wide eyes before looking at Emerald who nodded her head.

"The team has gone down hill in the past few years, I myself am ashamed how much I let happen without so much as a token protest." Emerald said, eyes downcast.

"Hey, there wasn't much that you could do without becoming a pariah and being kicked off the team in disgrace. From the sounds of it, you would have had to petition Celestia directly and bypass the entire chain of command which would have cause a world of problems." I replied giving the mare a hug.

Cadence sat silently for a few moments before speaking.

"I can see your dilemma. Not that it excuses you from your responsibilities as an officer in the Air Force. Depending upon how things go, I will see if we can do something to grant leniency given mitigating circumstances." Cadance said finally.

Before either of us could say anything, the PA sounded to let us know that we were approaching Canterlot and to prepare for landing.

Cadance took her leave to prepare for disembarking while Emerald got dressed in her enchanted clothing and I packed everything away.