AUTHOR'S NOTE: I UPSET A READER WITH CLICHES AND THE STORY BEING ALL OVER THE PLACE. I'M SORRY YOU FEEL THAT WAY, READER. I WISH YOU DID ENJOY IT. TO EACH THEIR OWN. BACK TO THE MAGIC!

The following day I was released from the infirmary, a feat every pony on the medical staff except two thought was impossible. I had regrown my feathers the first night, which I had accomplished with true magic. Even the scar on my forehead was fading, the stitches barely visible.

"Prince Jackson", Nurse Redheart asked as she and Doctor Adryl walked me out, "do you do things to intentionally get hurt just to come see us?"

"Hey, I love my two favorite med-ponies", I smiled as I pulled both of them into a friendly hug.

My two companions smiled back as we walked, carrying on a lighthearted conversation. We eventually made it to the front doors of the castles and I grinned as I caught sight of Shining Armor leading a small squad of guards around the corner.

"Wanna see something funny", I asked, grinning wider when they both nodded.

I released them and focused on Shining Armor. I grinned as I popped into existence right in front of the unicorn and snatched his insignia from the sash across his chest. I stuck my tongue out as he jumped back and teleported to the other side of the group.

"Catch me if you can", I shouted, running back down the hallway.

Bolts of red magic exploded all around me as I ran, making me laugh despite the danger. One bolt struck the ground right by my left foot so I decided to teleport back to the doctor and nurse. A startled whinny slipped from Ben as I popped into existence.

"Here, hang on to this", I laughed, tossing the insignia to the good doctor.

The shouting of the guards drew my attention to the right and I turned and rolled under two bolts of magic. Regaining my feet I ran out the palace doors and leapt into the air, spreading my wings. As soon as I got airborne I felt a stinging pain radiate from my back and grip my entire body in convulsions. My muscles locked as I fell to the ground and was tackled as soon as I crashed.

"You again", Shining Armor shouted. "Where's the royal crest?!"

"The doctor has it", I groaned, his body weight pressing down on me.

"What is wrong with you", Shining asked as he got off of me.

"Boredom", I grinned, still unable to move.

He nodded to one of his guards and the magic left me, sending the Shiver across my scalp. He helped me up and stalked off, muttering about hide and seek and ignorant princes. I waved at the rest of the guards before I took to the skies and turned my sights on Ponyville. I hesitated a moment before flying in that direction.

"This is gonna be a long flight", I groaned.

About thirty minutes into the flight I had a crazy idea and decided it would be worth trying. I flooded magic into my wings and grinned as they seemed to glow, despite the black feathers.

"This is gonna be fun", I chuckled.

I flapped my wings hard and got a surprise as the land whipped by beneath me. I could hear a crackling noise as I flew even faster. It must have been an illusion from the speed, but I could have sworn my arms were stretching in front of me. Just when I felt like I was gonna rip apart a deafening boom ripped through the sky followed by bands of golden light.

"Holy shit", I yelled as Ponyville was approaching fast.

I realized the town was approaching too fast so I started flapping backwards, trying to slow my descent. As soon as the upper story of town hall came into view I knew there was no other option but to ball up and hope for the best. I just knew this was going to hurt.

"HEADS UP, PONYVILLE", I shouted at the top of my lungs.

Ponies began panicking as I streaked through the sky like a cannonball. I closed my eyes tightly as I slammed into the wall, wood fragments exploding outward as my hyper accelerated body ripped through the building like tissue paper, barely losing any speed as I streaked across the sky.

I zipped past the library, the branches slapping and grabbing at me as I tumbled end over end. A cyan blur latched onto me, somehow steering me down into a large pond on the outskirts of town. I splashed down in the pond, striking the bottom hard from what speed remained. I struggled to the surface, my wings making things more difficult.

"What the hay was that", I heard Rainbow Dash yell as my head broke the surface of the water.

"Experiment", I coughed while swimming to shore.

"That was a fail", she laughed.

"Halfway from Canterlot to Ponyville in five minutes ain't a fail", I grinned.

"That's impossible", Dash scoffed.

"Wanna bet?"

Dash laughed out loud and flew away, most likely to find a cloud to lounge on. That was something I hadn't even thought to try even though it sounded absolutely awesome. I looked around to make sure I was alone before I stripped down and wrung my clothes out and hung them on nearby tree branches to dry.

"That was fun", I groaned, rolling my shoulders as I sat on the grass.

"Until you hit town hall", a new voice called out from overhead.

I covered myself and looked up, jumping from the surprise of seeing a pair of crossed eyes staring at me from a fuzzy gray face with a goofy smile. It dawned on me that this was the one and only Derpy Hooves, Ponyville's resident klutz. I teleported into the middle of a bush and brought my clothes over with magic.

"Don't sneak up on me", I yelled as I got dressed.

"Sorry", she said with a smile.

She leapt off the cloud, falling maybe ten feet to the ground below. I wish I could say she stuck the landing, I really do. Somehow only her rear legs were willing to bear her weight, sending the front half of her body crashing to the ground. Her head wobbled for a second before she shook it and grinned with an adorable 'squee' as just her wingtips flapped.

"How are you doing that", I asked as I left the bushes and picked my sword belt up and fastened it in place. "That just looks physically impossible."

"I dunno", she chuckled as she fluttered up and away.

"What the", I whispered, scrathing my head then shrugging. "Derpy's gonna Derp."

I climbed the bank and began the trek back into town. Or rather, as close as Fluttershy's cottage. I flapped my wings a few times to rid them of the remaining water and folded them against my back the best I could. I noticed a twinge in my back as I walked and stretched it out the best I could.

"Great", I sighed. "Mom's gonna kill me."

I continued walking, my steps growing slower once my destination came into view. Considering how our last meeting went just the day before I was almost dreading the foreseeable future. My thoughts derailed as I caught sight of something odd outside of the cottage. I drew my sword as I crept closer to the cottage, my gaze never leaving the creature.

It looked like an extremely skinny pony crossed with some kind of insect. Its carapace was sort of a blackish green color, and oddly enough all four legs were filled with holes. Its dull blue eyes stared in the window with an unnerving glint of hunger. As I crept close enough I saw it was staring in at Fluttershy as she went around in a daze and a rage rose within me.

I stared at the back of the bug pony's head and turned my blade around, fully intending to decapitate the foul beast. As I tightened my grip the handguard made the tiniest noise and caught the creature's attention. It spun on me, its misshapen horn glowing green as it hissed in what almost appeared to be fear as it ducked back. I swung horizontally but missed as it skittered under my swing. It struck me from behind, its hoof catching me directly between the wings.

I cursed very loudly and spun, my blade slicing the creature's left foreleg and severing it cleanly and splashing purple blood across my face. It cried out in pain and fell on its back holding its nub. I flapped my wings once to launch myself into the air and did my 'superhero landing', my knee beside its head with my sword at its throat.

"STOP", a familiar voice shouted.

I stood and backed away from the creature, slinging the blood from my blade before sheathing it. I turned toward the doorway of the cottage and saw a horrified Fluttershy standing on the stoop shaking. She glanced at the blood on my face before rushing to the intruder's side with a towel. When she reached for the bug thing's wounded leg it hissed and snapped at her, causing her to jump back in fear.

"I'm trying to help you", Fluttershy almost growled at the thing.

She slowly reached for the injury again, this time successfully wrapping it tightly. She pulled a piece of rope out of the tiny saddlebags she wore and started tying it around the towel. I stepped forward and reached down, punching the fake pony thing in the face when it snapped at me.

"What is this thing", I asked as I retied the makeshift tourniquet.

"It's called a ch-changeling", she stammered in fear.

I checked my handiwork and decided it was sufficient before I stood up. The changeling started to try to squirm away but my hand on my sword was apparently enough incentive to remain still. I took a single step back and glared at the beast.

"Why did you attack this changeling", Fluttershy demanded, turning an angry glare on me.

"I was protecting you", I said evenly.

"What are you talking about, Jackson", she asked as she cocked her head slightly.

"HE WAS GONNA FUCKING EAT YOU", I shouted, leaving Fluttershy in stunned silence.

"No I wasn't", the surprisingly female changeling grunted.

"Shit, I hit a mare", I groaned.

"YOU CUT MY FUCKING LEG OFF", the changeling screamed, the pain evident in her voice.

"Jackson, help her", Fluttershy begged as she gripped me around the waist.

"Here, bite down on this", I said as I picked a stick up off the ground and shoved it in the changeling's mouth. "This might hurt, so hold her down, Fluttershy."

The Pegasus did as I asked and lay across the changeling. I picked up the severed leg and slid close to the changeling, pulling the bandage away. I placed the limb against the nub and focused my will on the wound, trying to reattach the leg. For several minutes I willed magic into the wound, but nothing was happening.

I turned my gaze to the changeling gasping in pain mixed with fear and came to a decision. I apologized halfheartedly, surrounded my hand with white hot fire and tossed the leg aside before placing my palm over the wound. The agonized whinny that came from the changeling almost struck me as funny but I refused to laugh.

I closed my eyes and focused the magic inside me to construct a replacement for her leg. I felt it more than saw it in my mind, mental hands shaping the golden magic into an exact replica of the old appendage. I made sure to punch the holes in her hoof in the exact same spots as before. The slowing and quieting of the changeling's breath told me she had passed out, something I wasn't sure if it was good or not.

"She doesn't look so good", Fluttershy whispered fearfully.

"I think it'll live", I shrugged and turned away.

"IT", Fluttershy asked angrily, suddenly in my face.

"Yeah", I quipped as I ducked under her hovering form.

"Jackson, you get back here this instant", she said, the tone of her voice making my feet turn me around all on their own.

"Yes, Fluttershy?"

"That changeling is a she, not an it", she scolded angrily. "It was wonderful of you to save her life, but I am very upset that you attacked her in the first place. What if you had killed her?!"

"That's what I was trying to do", I replied quietly.

"Jackson", she gasped, "how could you say that?!"

"She was going to eat you", I said. "I saw the hunger in her eyes reflected in the window."

"What makes you say that it was hunger?"

"She was looking at you like mom looks at cake", I said seriously, smiling when she laughed lightly. "You laughed, I'm off the hook!"

I darted into the cottage, grunting as a walking carpet grabbed me in a bear hug and carried me back outside. I groaned loudly as Harry sat me in front of Fluttershy and tried to sneak away again but she zipped in front of me, blocking my path. I thought about flying away, but remembered that she had chased Rainbow Dash for days for doing much less.

"Jackson, you almost killed somepony", she said quietly with tears in her eyes.

"I was doing it to protect you", I replied just as quietly, kneeling down to swipe her tears away as they fell. "All I could think about was keeping you safe."

"Thank you", she blushed, "but you didn't have to use the sharp side of your sword. In fact, I wish you wouldn't use a sword at all. They're just so dangerous."

I stared into her eyes for what felt like hours. The sadness I saw there made my heart ache for some reason, but the fear in her eyes shattered it. She was actually afraid of me. I stroked her cheek gently and made a choice.

"I'm sorry", I whispered, clearing my throat before trying again. "I'm sorry, Fluttershy but I won't give up my sword. If keeping you or anyone else safe means you're scared of me, then I will move out immediately. But nothing is going to stop me from keeping you safe."

"Jackson", she began, tears forming again as I stood up.

"I can't bear seeing you afraid of me", I said evenly as I dropped my head.

"You aren't going anywhere", she said forcefully.

"I refuse to be a daily torment for you or anyone else."

"How would you be a torment", she asked, her voice raising slightly.

"Because you're scared of me", I retorted loudly.

"I'm scared for you, not of you", she shouted.

"I don't want you being scared at all!"

"You can't help but be scared for your special somepony", she yelled, blushing and covering her muzzle for some reason.

"There's nothing special about me", I muttered, turning toward the cottage but finding my way blocked by Harry. I felt a hoof on my shoulder and turned back around.

"You're special to me", Fluttershy whispered before kissing my lips gently.

So that's what it feels like when someone else starts it, I thought as I stood there in shock. I heard Fluttershy's voice saying words and I felt myself nod, but don't ask me what was said. I felt myself moving but my mind kept swirling. Before I realized what was happening I was staring at an unconscious changeling lying on Fluttershy's couch.

"Well, fuck."