Ch.10 A Return to Canterlot and A Move

Hello fellow Bronies and Pegasisters! This is chapter 10 and the results of the poll is interesting. 8 people voted in the poll and another 5 gave me pms with their vote as well which brings the total vote count to 13. The final tally is as follows:

Add Nightmare Moon to the herd: 10

No keep as is: 3

So majority rules, she will be added to bring the final tally to 10 mares. This won't change the plot of the story; it will only add one more member to the herd. I do have a way to work her into the story so don't be bummed out. This chapter won't be as long as the last few chapters as this is mainly a filler to explain what he would do during the time skip. That way I don't have like 3 chapters worth of explanations. The Changelings will also be starting their move in this chapter and Mike will arrive to help them.

I will warn you all now, my family has been having issues for the last few weeks and it looks like it will get a lot worse. I will never put the story on hiatus, but if I go from 2 or 3 chapters a week down to 1 a week then at least you all know why. I will see this story finished though so don't worry.

Disclaimer: I own nothing, all characters copyright of their owners. (I do wish I could go to Equestria though)

Onwards!

Mike and the Princesses left for Canterlot the next morning. Most of the townsfolk turned out to say goodbye and some were even sad to see him specifically go, especially a mint colored unicorn with a cyan mane and tail with a streak of white named Lyra who was crying. She was just as curious as Twilight when it came to him and she never missed a chance to talk to him at the party. 'I have new friends everywhere.' Mike thought. 'I wonder how friendly they will be once they hear that I was the one who brought the Changelings here.'

Celestia was dreading the upcoming storm that was sure to happen when the Changelings appeared however she had already given her word and the terms were accepted. It was one of her duties she had attended to the previous day. Luna was pretty shocked when she heard what was going to happen but like her sister she had no choice. It was either take the terms or risk losing Mike and she didn't want that to happen. Together they had privately met with Chrysalis and had a magical contract signed to make it official. The Changelings were now Equestrian citizens. The two Princesses were treated to the rare sight of Chrysalis jumping for joy like Pinkie when it was all said and done and they didn't know if they should've laughed or not.

After the chariot had gotten airborne, Mike decided to speak up. "Well, this has certainly been a great time so far. I honestly look forward to the future now."

"Well today is going to be a slow day." Luna spoke. "We have some work to do and we have to figure out where you will stay."

"Oh, that." Mike sighed dejectedly. "You guys have an extra room or am I going to have to sleep on the ground. Not that I mind that as I have done it before."

"Military training?" Luna questioned. "They made you sleep on the ground?"

"Have too for some of the training. Also during deployment, you might get stuck on a Forward Operating Base or FOB which is away from the main base. You pretty much sleep on either a cot or in a sleeping bag." He explained with a grimace. HE had been on a couple of those on his deployment and his back hurt for a while afterwards. He sucked it up though as was his job.

"Sounds fun however you won't be sleeping on the ground. We will find you a room Mike." Celestia explained. She wouldn't object to him continuing to sleeping in her bed, but she wouldn't say it out loud. "We need to discuss today. We can't let your roam the castle yet so I have to ask that you remain with us for today. You will act like our new guard and it will give you some insight as to how politics run here."

"Ugh great, I was hoping to avoid politics here." Mike sighed dejectedly. He was hoping to not be exposed to them but it couldn't be helped. He didn't doubt he would looked at with suspicion but it was the way things were.

They landed at the gardens a little while later and they received a warm greeting from the servants and common ponies who visit the gardens. Mike, in accordance with Celestia's orders, stayed near them the entire time as they made their way to the throne room. When they stood in front of the doors the two guard ponies in front of them opened them to reveal the crowd of nobles already standing there with anticipation. They were eager to meet the princesses and present their input into many things like always. Mike took a place behind their thrones and immediately stood at ease as Luna began court.

Mike lost count of how long he stood there but the Princesses eventually ordered a break for lunch. His legs were stiff but he ignored the discomfort and just followed them.

"Mike, how are your skills in holding a weapon?" Celestia asked with curiosity.

"What do you mean Princess?" Mike questioned while dreading where this was going to go. The training he had was pretty much useless here save for a couple of things and he knew it all too well.

"Can you handle a weapon such as a sword or spear? You need to look the role of our guard so we need to get you accustomed to a new weapon." Luna said with a knowing smirk. She knew he had no training about their weapons and he would have to get adjusted. If she snuck glances at him while he was training then it was just an added bonus.

"Other than some mock Bayonet training no. Can I ask about my rifle Princess?" Mike asked.

"You mean that weird item that dropped with you? We have it." Luna said and Mike froze. They had his weapon the entire time and they never told him. "But we will not give it back to you."

"What, why? Princess you don't understand. If my superiors ever found out I never had my rifle in my possession they would tear me apart! Not to mention the punishment that would follow for losing Government Equipment!" He tried to reason with them but they wouldn't budge.

"Our citizens lives are more important and here our rule is absolute Mike. We do not know what it could do and if the ponies see you armed they might grow hostile. We are not unreasonable and if the time comes that you would need your…rifle, as you call it, we will give it to you but only during that time." Celestia stated in finality. She would no more of the argument and Mike knew it. At least he knew it was here but he couldn't get to it. He knew the argument was lost and he wasn't stupid to continue it.

"Very well Princess." Mike sighed. "Can I ask how I will fight if needed?"

"That is where my question comes in. You will undergo some weapons training with our weapons; however we need your preference of sword or spear. We do have crossbows if you would like that." Celestia stated with a sigh of relief that he changed the subject.

"Can you give me some time to decide?" Mike asked with some form of hesitation. He wasn't going like having to trade his weapon for something else but what choice did he have?

"You may. Now let us enjoy the rest of the day. We have some time before court continues." Luna said with happiness.

The rest of the day passed quickly and soon Mike was being escorted to an unused guest room that would serve as his quarters. "If you need anything just ask for a servant and we will be there." The pony leading him said and bowed before departing. Mike stepped into his new room and looked around. It was pretty much Spartan except for a nice-sized bed and dresser off to the side with windows on both walls. Not really something he would like but he had to deal with it.

As he slept he dreamt that he was in a different castle. It looked like a forest surrounded it and looked familiar but he couldn't place where he saw it. As he explored it he had a weird feeling that he was being watched and it wasn't by Chrysalis. It felt familiar like Luna's presence the other night in Ponyville when she spoke to him in his dream to show off but this one was more of a stern glare as if he was being analyzed. He saw nothing but couldn't shake the feeling.

The next day, he was on his way to Ponyville to assist in moving the Changelings. When he arrived he saw the Mane Six were trying to get everyone calmed down when Chrysalis spotted him and ran to jump on him. She knocked him over in her jubilant welcome but missed the Mane Six's glares for what she did. When he was allowed up he greeted her properly. "Hello Chrysalis are you doing better?"

"I am just fine, and I still can't thank you enough for what you have done for my children." She said with happiness. "The mayor has given us a small spot on the edge of town to build our space. Are you here to help?"

"Yes I figured you would need it." He stated as he glanced at the shocked looks of the townsfolk. They couldn't believe he was on friendly terms with the Changelings, but the Princesses have decreed they are welcomed so they had to hold their tongues. The guards that arrived to make sure order was kept did calm them a little though.

As he was lead to the spot where the Changelings were going to live he remembered the dream he had last night. He kept it quiet but couldn't shake the feeling that whatever it was that was watching him was still there. This nagging feeling in his mind that something was following him was still there but he wouldn't bother anyone with it right now. As he aided them in building their new sleeping area he was surprised to see some of the townsfolk helping but figured they wanted to done quickly so they could get back to their own tasks. It didn't trouble him, though as today was a day for helping his new friends get back on their hooves. He hoped that through hard work they would be accepted and wouldn't have to live under the shadow of their past forever. It was a new lease on life for them and Mike would be with them every step of the way.

And that's the wrap. I apologize if the end feels rushed, but please understand that while I do have the plot outlined and the premise of the story planned, I take it on a chapter by chapter basis. I have ideas for each chapter and eventually the ideas tend to run dry or get lost during my writing and I don't want you all being left in the dark too much. If I do start to run out of chapter ideas I would rather end the chapter trying to satisfy my readers instead of continuing it by writing a bunch of crap that would kill it so again I ask that you all please bear with me. Also heed my warning in my pre-writing statements as that might have a big impact on the updating pace of the story in the future. Also, check out my Oblivion one-shot if you haven't and let me know if you like it. I also have many more one-shots planned as well as another story involving the Legend of Spyro. I won't give anything away just yet but I hope it is accepted as well as this one.

We covered Mike's new role in Equestria and we found out where his rifle went. He is being stalked by you know who if you think on the scene he was at in the dream and he arrived to help the Changelings move. The next chapter will be the time skip and we will have a few flashbacks to further pronounce what he was doing during it. I hope you all enjoy and continue to support this story as it will start heating up after the skip with the war for Mike beginning and the villain(s) will start to plot Equestria's demise.