Solar Empire Versus New Lunar Republic

Chapters

Prologue
Coronation Celebration
New Responsibilities
Dark Clouds

Prologue

In a small, dark room I found myself waiting, again. Suddenly a flash of blue light lit up the space revealing the clutter pushed to corners, a wall covered in old enchanted parchment and a desk so littered with scrolls that the desk itself had to be imagined beneath the mess. After the spots had cleared from my eyes I was left looking at the only source of light in the room as a tall, dark figure moved around.

Despite the fact that I should have been expected, the newly arrived figure ignored me and immediately began to shuffle items on the desk, searching for one item in particular.

I gave a small cough, and spoke softly, “Ummm…My lady I know you can see me in this dark. I was supposed to meet with you about your sister’s request. Is now a bad time?”

At my voice the figure whirled around and spread feathered wings wide as if in shock. I gave a mental smirk, ‘clearly somepony had something on her mind’.

The wings refolded to the figures side and she gave a soft sigh of relief. I could now see Her beautiful features in the pale, blue glow that seemed to be emitted from her and her immediate surroundings. Now that she saw me and was relaxing her features fell into their natural soft state. Her eyes looked coolly at me, and then opening her mouth she said, “I DID NOT SEE YOU THERE, YOUNG SUBJECT. I APALOGIZE FOR MY TARDINESS FOR MY SISTER’S MEETING. MANY THINGS OCCUPY MY THOUGHTS… right now… I am sorry are you hurt?”

I had not been quick enough in covering my ears, and the sudden vocalized blast during such an otherwise still and quiet night had physically shaken me. Seeing me giving soft shivers of pain the figure approached me and with a soft whisper said, “I am terribly sorry, I forget my voice, when I am startled. Two year versus centuries make an old habit hard to change. Please allow me to heal the damage.”

The figure bent down, placing her head level with my own and touched her long, dark horn to where my hooves grasped my still ringing ears.

As a soft, blue surrounded her horn I felt the ringing in my ears began to fade. ‘Merciful heavenly bodies, from now on I’m waiting outside,’ I declared mentally of course. There was no reason to upset the larger figure further.

“Now,” a far gentler voice came from the lips, “what is it that thou require of the Princess of the Night young Crimson Barrel?”

I gave a gentle bow of my head, “My Lady, your sister has sent me to tell you of the news you missed this night while arranging your beautiful night.”

“Are thou referring to the strange powers I felt coming from Ponyville this night?” Her curiosity was transparent. Apparently she had felt something, but her concentration had been focused on the momentous task of arranging the heavenly bodies for the night. Although, I couldn’t have imagined she wouldn’t have noticed, everypony here in the royal castle in all the way in Canterlot had felt something of great power surging in the direction of the small town. Not to mention the large apparition of a giant, glowing star. Subtlety was not a specialty of royalty, it would seem.

“Your sister was there this night. She felt the completion of the Great Circle within a pony, and had been anticipating the ascendance of a new student.”

“SHE DID IT WITHOUT ASKING ME! SHE SENT TWILIGHT SPARKLE, HER PRIZE STUDENT THE SCROLL WITH GREAT CIRCLE ON IT! I AM RIGHT, ARE I NOT?”

Had I not been expecting the news to shock the Princess I would have been reduced to a quivering mass at her outburst. However, before I had finished my sentence I had a vibrant, red glow from my horn enclosed my ears and to give them what little safety I could.

“You are mostly correct,” I quickly amended as her deep, deep, deep blue eyes looked thinly into mine.

“Your sister told me to relay this to you, and even I’m not sure what it means. She claimed that these words could not appear on any parchment and therefore I must bear this news to you.”

“Continue,” she may not have been blowing me back with the royal Canterlot voice, but I could not help giving a small shake at the ice in her voice.

Clearing my throat I repeated the words that had been relayed to me earlier that night: “Dearest Sister,

My most faithful student, Twilight Sparkle, has shown magical abilities now on level with our old friend Starswirl the Bearded. Although she is not the same level as we were when we once sought to further our magic in the, then new land, of Equestria, I sense greater potential in her still. I feared that with the premonitions that you and I have been having as of late, that a unicorn wielding the Element of Magic may not have been enough. After all it took two alicorns wielding the Element of Magic to win us the Great War that nearly wiped us out so long ago. I will not pretend that I do not feel great pride in my student for completing what you and I had created from nothing so, so long ago. I know you will most likely argue that this is not the same situation as with Starswirl and that there is no need to create new users for the Elements and raising one in power will only create an imbalance like we once had. And on this, I would agree with you. Twilight will have to come to terms with what Cadence had to two centuries ago. That she is at the uppermost tier of power and now that she ranks among us, the Elements will be more willing to cooperate with her, but at some point she will experience the pain of loss. Not just the loss of her friends to time, but also a loss only you and I know of seeing the very Elements we wielded by our friends and us in the hooves of another group of friends.

I ask you for patience and understanding in this time of change, for it is not of spite our personal gain that I gave Twilight the opportunity for great power, but for the fear of the omens of great conflict that you and I have both sensed. Please, if you would meet with me at dawn before the coronation, I will be more than willing to hear your thoughts on this matter, and give you a more heartfelt explanation of why I expedited this transformation of power, and why I took it upon myself to do so. Please do not hold anger towards me, and know that any and all actions I took were for the security and progress of Equestria.

With all my love Sister,

Celestia Sunraiser

And if you could take it upon yourself, please reward Crimson Barrel for his delivery of this message. Sorry to push, one of my students upon you like this.”

I finished the message and found myself gasping a bit for air. Once I had started delivering the message, the magic with which it had been recorded took over. Suffice it to say, Princess Celestia had bigger lungs than I, and needed far fewer breaths to complete the lengthy message. I had watched the Princesses expression change from to anger, to a pained look, to a blank expression, and finally a look of pensiveness.

Her lips parted and I braced myself for a verbal onslaught, but instead received a quiet, “Thank you.”

I bowed my head and replied “My Lady.”

She turned and began looking at some of the pieces of enchanted parchment that hung to a far wall.

“So she let her discover at least some of it herself. Oh, Sister, for one so wise you can be so foolish some times.” She sighed and turning back towards me I caught a glimpse of the parchment she had been looking at. A colored image that displayed the two most powerful figures in Equestria surrounded by five other smaller ponies all kinds and colors.

“Let me ask thou young Crimson Barrel. Doth thee understand any of which hath been relayed her tonight.”

“No, My Lady.” I gave my honest reply. I was far too overwhelmed and a little too afraid to do anything else. I felt like a lone insect caught between two a great tidal wave and fiery blaze.

“Tell me, does thou enjoy serving my Sister?”

“Yes, My Lady.” I replied keeping my head bowed. I couldn’t bear looking into those deep, blue eyes; I felt within them lay an inescapable void.

“Does thine’s loyalty run to Her and Her alone?”

“My Lady?” I felt a chill inside myself at the question. Was my loyalty to the crown being questioned?

“It is simply a question, of what thou holds truer to thine’s self. Does thou’s loyalty belong to mine Sister, to mine self, or perhaps to all of Equestria?”

I knew I was visibly trembling, despite every second I had spent developing a steady and calm demeanor, before the presence in front of me, I felt like a foal caught somewhere he shouldn’t be.

“T-t-to the c-crown. T-t-to Princess Celestia.” I barely got the words past my lips, as I kept my head bowed deeply.

“I figured as much young subject. It is to be expected. Thank you for your honesty.” Her voice was even, and gentle. I felt a rush of relief flood from the center of my gut to the tips of my hooves.

“My Lady,” I bowed by bending my forelegs, my head already arced so low I saw my red mane brush the stone floor. I began to turn to exit the room, “with your leave-“

“Oh, wait, young subject.”

I froze. I had become so still that I could not tell whether it was by my own will or if the powerful presence behind me had cast a spell over me. I supposed it didn’t matter.

“Thou have forgotten, your reward as promised by mine Sister.” Her voice still carried gentle tones and was still in her normal soft voice.

“My Lady, it is quite alright I was simply-“ I began as I turned around. When suddenly I felt a large powerful hoof beneath my chin, it began to raise my head, with a force I could not stop.

“Oh, but I insist as well, young Crimson Barrel.” I found myself looking into a beautiful face outlined by the soft, blue glow of an ever-shifting, ever-shining mane. I was lost in eyes that shimmered like the very stars in the sky, but between those precious shimmers was a deep void that would drive a pony mad from staring too long.

“My La-“ I couldn’t bring myself to speak as her face approached mine until her eyes were directly across from mine. I saw her smile and she moved her face closer to my own. And then I felt her horn touch mine and suddenly there was flash of light.

I looked around the room in a daze. I blinked rapidly trying to clear the spots from my eyes. I wished that some warning of the spell, that had just illuminated the dark room I had been waiting in, had been coming. My eyes through the shimmers caught the sight of the tall figure I had been awaiting at a cluttered desk. The figure by the desk had her face covered by a hovering scroll wrapped in a blue light.

“My Lady,” I began trying to gain the figures attention “I have a message for you from your Sister.”

A beautiful face peeked at me from around the hovering scroll, and addressed me with a small smile.

“Yes, young Crimson Barrel. I know this, I am reading it now.”

“Oh,” I felt a small ache in my head and tried to shuffle through the confusion I was having. I had received orders from Princess Celestia to relay an express message to Princess Luna concerning the event that had transpired in Ponyville. I had recorded it as she spoke to me… I had written it on a special scroll, the very scroll the Princess before me was reading now. I felt a blush on my cheeks, turning my tan face a heated red. I was acting like a foolish foal and here before the Princess of the Night!

“I’m sorry, My Lady. I shall take my leave.” I turned and began to quickly shuffle from the room. I was never this jumpy, but something in my head was telling me I needed to be leaving this room and the Princess in it in peace for the remainder of the night.

“Thank you for you quick delivery of this message. Why do thou not take the rest of the night to rest. After all with a coronation tomorrow, I’m sure you will want to be rested so as to stand present.”

I bowed my head to the Princess, “Thank you my Lady. I shall be blessed by your night, as I rest.” I turned and quickly exited the room. I heard the soft click of a door closing behind me.

I couldn’t help but feel embarrassed, but when I tried to recall what it was I should feel so ashamed of my mind went a little fuzzy on the details. I began to the descent from the top tower that the room was on.

Two bat-winged guards gave me cursory glances as I took the last step from the rounded staircase at the base of the tower. I gave them a quick nod as I began to move on towards my quarters at the other side of the Royal Castle. As I calmed myself and began to unwind from the encounter with the Princess, I found myself looking over one of the many balconies of the castle.

“Hey, Crimson!”

I turned at the sound of a familiar voice, and smiled as the dark coated pegasus I had known since my youngest days in Fillydelphia. “Sky Dive,” I replied,” What keeps you wondering about the castle at this hour?”

As the pegasus approached an easy smile lit up under his eyes. “Looking for you! And besides who can sleep on a night like this!” He raised a fore-hoof and I clopped my own to his.

“Yeah, I guess you’re right. So you could see and feel it from Cloudsdayle?”

“Hah! I wouldn’t be surprised of the Zebras in Roam couldn’t see it! What brings you wondering the castle, restless?” He gave me slight nudge with one of his wings. Teasing me for some uncountable amount of times that in the middle of night, I was once again awake and moving around.

“You’re one to talk. The pegasus that slept through typhoon training, is up and about like he has dragon-ticks in his feathers.”

The pegasus gave an unconscious ruffle of his wings. “Well,” he responded, ”I guess that goes to show what an event like that really means huh?”

I conceded on his point there. “If your curiosity must be sated for that thing between your feathers you call a mind, I was delivering a message to Princess Luna from Princess Celestia.”

At that his wings in classic pegasus fashion shot wide and his hooves seemed to leave the balcony floor for a bit. “What was the message? Did you meet with her personally? What did she say? Is she still-“

My horn gave a red glow as I applied small forces to the wings and mouth of my excited companion. Some-things never change.

I smiled at the thought, and opening my mouth began rapidly replying to the pegasus before I received another volley of questions. “I don’t know, it wasn’t meant for me. I simply, gave her the message and left. She said nothing of note that I can recall. And, yes, she is still just beautiful as you remember seeing her, Casanova.”

Where I would have blushed my friend just simply smiled, and turned to look over the balcony.

“That you recall?” he asked with a smirk. “Never heard you say that one before.”

“I-“ my mind felt a little fuzzy as I tried to recall the events that had transpired in the tower I had left behind. ‘Well it has been an eventful night.’

“I suppose I’m just a little out of it right now.” I answered turning out to look at the sky beyond as well.

“Well it has been an eventful night.” I heard my companion echo my thoughts, as he had done so many times before. It gave me a feeling of relief that I knew could only have come from the casual reassurance he gave.

We looked out together at the bright night. Many shimmering stars and the ever-present glow of the moon lighted the dark. The mare-in-the-moon, though seemed different this evening, instead of its empty gaze seeming to sweep the entire land, it seemed focused one spot that out shone all the other stars in the sky with a bright violet and white light. The giant figure of a six-pointed star glowed brightly, hovering over a single spot, never seeming to move save to twinkle brightly. Somewhere out there under that star lie the small town of Ponyville and within it was the cause of the star. The newly anointed Princess Twilight Sparkle.

“What do you think this means, the unicorn whom you claimed was always one step ahead of you in all your magic classes becoming a Princess.” My pegasus friend asked, not turning his gaze away from the sparkling-figure dominating the night.

“Who can be sure,” I replied wondering at his question myself, “Whatever it means, though, there is one thing you can be sure of. Just like when Princess Luna returned to us, nothing will ever be the same again. After all change only brings more change.”

Coronation Celebration

Coronation Celebration

SKY DIVE

“Now THIS is a party,” I said giving the tan coated unicorn beside me a shove with one of my wings. I saw his cheeks flush the same color red as his cutie mark of a deep-red, overturned barrel. “Mind yourself will you!” Crimson flustered, and began giving me a low whisper “We are still in the Royal Castle, in the Royal Ballroom, attending a Royal Party.”

“And you’re being a Royal Pain.” I replied giving him another nudge with my wing, softer this time. “Look at this place,” I said using my other wing to encompass the room around us, “how many royal parties have you been to that have streamers!”

Crimson Barrel’s eyes followed the sweep of my wingtip and he gave a soft sigh, and smiled, “Pinkie Pie really outdid herself this time, didn’t she?”

‘Leave it to Crimson Barrel to make the understatement of the decade’ I gave a mental sigh. The room we were in was decorated from floor to ceiling, including the floor and the ceiling. Streamers of violet and light pink hues covered the walls and hung from the ceiling. The were balloons of similar color clinging to the ceiling and seeming to dance around each other in almost choreographed fashion to the vibrant music that flowed through the air.

The music itself seemed to make ones hooves move of their own accord, as if guiding ponies to the dance floor. I gently began tapping one hoof to the beat and then noticed that at certain notes a small explosion of confetti erupted from seemingly random parts of the room.

Slowly I moved deeper into the enormous space with Crimson beside me. He was supposed to be here as one Princess Celestia’s personally trained students, he belonged with the crowds of upper-class nobles, prestigious magic users, and more famous citizens of Equestria that milled about in the ballroom. Me? I was just here for food, fun, and atmosphere. Well, maybe I was trying to catch a glimpse of Princess Luna as well.

“There’s Prince Blueblood and Filthy Rich talking to… Raven Wood?” Crimson let out a cry of shock. “The Raven Wood is here!”

I followed his wide-eyed gaze towards two unicorns and earth pony were speaking in a small cluster. The earth pony and one of the unicorns, both stallions, were dressed extremely well. The former wore a crisped, dark suit that went down his fore-hooves while the latter wore a gleaming white coat that stood out against his pristinely trimmed white fur. The other unicorn, a mare, had a disheveled black mane that went all the way to the violet glittering floor. Her attire seemed peculiar compared to the others; she wore a long black robe that even covered her tail and all four hooves.

“Is that the unicorn, you rave on about that will forever change the way we not only view dragons but how we relate ourselves to them?” I said making sure to put emphasis on the haughtiness of my friend’s words.

He ignored my tone and only gave me a small jerk of his head down then up in reply. For a pony that claimed to have a calm and clear demeanor the unicorn to this day was and always would be an egghead and fan boy of even bigger egg-heads at heart. Looking past the trio, I saw one of my reasons for attendance and my mouth began to moisten at the sight of an entire wall lined with tables. Each table itself had a small banquet of dishes and from here I couldn’t even see them all. An idea crossed my mind, and I couldn’t keep the sly smile from making a quick appearance on my face. My friend didn’t notice, as his gaze was still caught on the trio in discussion. I put a wing around him and he began to walk him in the direction of his gaze.

“Why don’t we go say ‘hi’?” I said leading him along. He suddenly looked at me and let out a small shout of “Wait! Sky! What do you- “ But he was to late as I gave him a kick in the hindquarters towards the trio, forcing him to brush into the flamboyantly dressed unicorn.

“I say,” the unicorn turned and glared at my friend “Whom do you think you are?” Despite the fact Crimson Barrel was of a larger size for a unicorn and was easily bigger than the well-dressed one, he still seemed to shrink down under the glare of the white-coated noble. Before Crimson could let out an apology I turned towards the unicorn in the black cloak.

“Excuse me,” I said getting her attention away from the noble that was berating my friend with his eyes. “Are you the Master Magician Raven Wood?” My question pulled her gaze towards me.

She gave me a squint of her already narrow eyes and said, “I am Madame Raven Wood. Although, I don’t know where you pull this Master Magician title from.”

“Ah, well it’s just that my friend here,” I put a wing around my now squirming unicorn companion and pulled him over to me, “is such a enormous fan of your work. The way he goes on, I imagine your magic on level with somepony like-” I paused quickly rasping my brain for any magic users of importance names. “ – Starswirl the Bearded. Something about the importance of dragons to all of pony kind.”

A little blush appeared on both Crimson’s and Raven’s cheeks as I finished. Eggheads, sometimes all it took were a few charming words and they light up a room better than their magic.

“Well, I don’t know about somepony like Starswirl, but I am making my own way in dragon research.” The dark-cloaked mare said turning her gaze towards the now red, formerly tan, unicorn under my wing.

“Oh, but you have practically pioneered the entire new field of research on dragons,” Crimson began, speaking rapidly to the unicorn in front of him. “You have really shown that for as long as our two species have existed, it is a depressingly low amount of understanding we have for our scaly companions. Your research into the way they breathe fire, and the many uses of their blood alone revolutionized our perception of them. Not to mention the new studies about mating habits and child- rearing. Even your more recent endeavors to explore the patterns of their hoarding of treasures in better detail, continue to shape the field of studies regarding the less social creatures of Equestria.”

“Well thank you, young buck it’s also nice to hear the younger generation is taking interest in the research beyond our own limited scope of Equestria.” The unicorn mare said giving my friend a small, but friendly smile.

“Of course,” the earth pony began, “not just the young generation have interest in your research. I have a special interest in it, and would like to invest in it, especially that research into dragon’s hoarding tendencies.” A smile crossed the earth pony’s lips that didn’t quite reach his eyes, and the white-coated unicorn turned from my friend and brought his full attention back the discussion at hand.

I slowly unfurled my wing from around my unicorn companion as he became engrossed with the conversation about some expedition the dragon-researching unicorn was going on in the mountains to the northwest. I left the discussion and turned my eyes towards my end goal and began to weave through throngs of highly social ponies discussing whatever high-society ponies discussed towards the glowing banquet of food.

As I stepped, closer to the banquet, a sudden eruption of confetti appeared before my eyes, making reel back a bit. I hadn’t been keeping up with the music, so I hadn’t noticed that the confetti-explosion-note was approaching. Looking down, I finally caught the source of the confetti explosions as small green alligator wearing a party hat on its head and a multi-hued cone on its back that was wrapped in the opal glow of magic.

Now that was a way to had flare to a party! “Hey little guy,” I said reaching out a hoof towards the green-scaled creature. “Nice hat-hey!”

I tried to jerk back my hoof as the small creature jerked its head and snapped its jaws, I was already too late though and the jaw enclosed around my leg just above my hoof. “Hey that- doesn’t hurt… huh?” I looked down at the alligator gripping my leg like it was going to be tearing into the flesh, but instead all I felt was a wet pressure on my fur. “Get off my leg,” I said pushing at the creature’s small, green snout with my other hoof. It leg go as I pushed only to grab the hoof I had been pushing it with. In the moment it had opened its jaws to grab my other limb I saw the reason for the spit instead of blood on my leg. The alligator’s mouth was bare of teeth and instead simply had its soft gums left with which to pounce on the unwary.

“That’s cute,” I said giving a small laugh, “Now. Please. Get. Off. “ I said bringing a fore-hoof to the small alligators snout. The reptile with blinding speed once again transferred limbs with a gummy bite.

“Stop that!” I brought my other fore-hoof over and before I could get to the creatures snout it transferred again.

I became increasingly aware of other ponies averting their attention towards me. I snorted, “OK that’s it!”

I gave the creature swift blow with my wingtip. I instantly regretted the maneuver as the creature now hung from my wing in plain sight. I began to shake my wing violently in front of me, the alligator bouncing wildly before my eyes but the creature held fast. Suddenly the music hit its next note and the cone on the alligators back exploded right into my face. Confetti shot directly into my mouth and nostrils and I found myself coughing at the small burst that had singed the bit of my mane above my eyes. “Hey,” I coughed, “cut that out.” Giving my wing one great shake, the alligator finally released my feathers. However, any relief I had was short-lived as the creatures gummy jaws snapped on the top of my head. I could feel it drool dripping down between my eyes. I sensed the immediate crowd around me was only looking at me.

“This is my life now, isn’t it?” I said out loud as if to the heavenly bodies themselves. “Whatever, I’m going to get something to eat, you can stay there if you want to you little monstrosity.”

I began to move towards the tables layered in food again, the crowd in front parting like I was some strange pony wearing an alligator shaped party favor. ‘Oh yeah, I am!’

My inner voice went suddenly silent as I reached the banquet. I swear a tear literally formed in my right eye, or perhaps it was gator drool, but I had since forgotten newest appendage at the sight of mountains of confectionaries and hors d'oeuvres.

There were hay-pies that smelt as if they had just finished being baked, cupcakes of every color creating a sugary aroma that tickled one’s nostrils. A mountain of thinly sliced daisy sandwiches was staged on a platter to one side and the other side contained a literal pyramid, like one would see flying over Saddle Arabia, of apple tarts. And that was just the table in front of me; turning my gaze I caught the sight of a greater variety of food from chocolate mousse to glazed donuts, lettuce wrapped tomato slices with a coat of vinegar making them shimmer to celery stalks coated in a thin cheese.

‘Thank you sweet heavens. Thank you Princess Twilight. Thank you Pinkie Pie!’ I shuffled one of the plates onto a wing and began at the daisy sandwiches and made my way down the row, picking a little of everything. ‘Apparently they expected nopony to eat all this stuff,’ I thought giving my overflowing plate a small glare. I gave a mental shrug and with my other wing scooped a second plate and began to fill that one. ‘Honestly, high-society ponies and their tiny plates with their little forks and small glasses of…’

I stopped and took a step back looking back towards the litter of glassware full of something I had seen only once before. I gave a little smile and bent my hoof around one of the glass stems. I began to feel a little hoity-toity myself as I took a sip from the glass and felt the cool fizz of champagne on my lips. It had a similar flavor to what I figured would be the result of a pony mixing a batch of hard apple cider and poured into a can of cherry cola. ‘Nah, that would taste awful,’ I reconsidered. This stuff however was pretty good.

I found a small alcove, near one of the many balconies adjacent to the room and began to chow down as my eyes swept the crowds of ponies gathered before, each in their own personal sphere of interaction, within the giant whirlpool of the party itself. I saw Crimson Barrel, he had moved on from the trio of earth pony and unicorns that I had left him with. He was now talking to another group, this one completely of unicorns, with the same opal colored dress ware with gold trim, the formal attire of the students of Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns. He had that calm demeanor once again etched on to his face, like a mask that hid the friend I knew from the rest of the crowd. Between the cool look in his eyes and the fancy get-up he looked a little haughty. I gave a mental sigh; this was where he truly belonged, with these over-dressed, over-fed, overly wealthy ponies. Compared to his most of the crisp and suave outfits, my ruffled, grey weather-station uniform looked worthless; the dresses all the mares wore, made it look down right pathetic.

I solemnly bit into a cupcake. Its sweet cherry icing making the act of actually being solemn while eating it completely impossible and pointless, what did Pinkie lace these things with sugar, sweet dreams, and more sugar?

My gaze swept over the crowds of well dressed ponies, out towards the dance floor where despite the fact the music had a steady, vibrant beat the ponies dancing were moving in slow, arcing waltzes across the floor. “Well I got nothing for that,” I said as I reached for a glazed doughnut on my next plate.

Past the dance floor, though was the sight that really grabbed my attention. There on a diesis was the large winged form of an opal colored alicorn. She wore a golden crown, that must have been enchanted for it and all the gems atop it seemed to radiate with a brilliant light, as if she truly wore the sun upon her brow. The dress she wore made the vast majority of the mares out in the crowd seems bare in comparison. It had the pinkish hue of the dawn itself underlying brilliant gold arcs that swooped around it. Enlaced within the golden arches were traces of rubies that shimmered with a faint red glow, of course none were as dazzling as the large ruby encrusted within a large sold gold necklace that wrapped around the base of an elegant white neck.

She may not have been at the exact center of diesis, but I doubted anypony noticed any of the other ponies first. Of course, she was also the largest pony in all of Equestria, standing nearly half another pony taller than the next member of the royalty beside her. The pink, and light purple alicorn beside her was another sight to behold entirely. Beneath her silky blue dress her entire body was shimmering as if her skin was not coated in fur, but many multi-faceted gems, the same kind that were elegantly wound throughout her entire lavender mane. Leave it Princess Mi Amori Cadenza of the Crystal Ponies to out-shine all but Celestia herself.

Despite being the most eye-catching spectacles at the end of the ballroom, the Princess of the day and the Crystal Princess were not the center of most ponies’ attention. A purple mare wearing a pink dress with yellow laces, that despite being on splendid in comparison to most of the dresses others mares were wearing paled to the alicorns behind her, was standing in the center of the diesis. A small tiara crested with a six-pointed star was carefully placed behind her longer than average horn, atop a neat but not dazzling mane. Actually, as I looked her over, I saw nothing outstanding about the normal sized mare at all; save she was the center of the entire crowd’s attention. Oh, and in addition to hear purple horn, she possessed two average-pegasus-sized wings that were protruding out from either side. So that was the pony that had done what only three others had done before her. The one whom after achieving the pinnacle of pony magic, was destined to change Equestria forever. She really didn’t look all that special. Heavens, the poor girl couldn’t seem to understand that she need to furl wings alongside her so she stopped knocking them into the ponies next her.

Then I noticed the five other humbler ponies gathered around the, purple alicorn. There seemed to be an imaginary line that clearly defined the space surrounding the alicorn into its own enclosed area that nopony, save those five could occupy.

‘Maybe not humble after-all’ I thought, as my view lingered on the scene in front of diesis where a line of high-society ponies were taking turns meeting, congratulating, and, in the case of one small, grey unicorn, being blessed by the newly coroneted princess. But as I compared the arriving high-society ponies to the first, what I had originally thought as humble and plain could only be taken as such when comparing them to the powerful alicorns they stood among.

Heavens, the fact that were so plainly comfortable with occupying the same stage as the Princesses spoke volumes to how special those five truly were. And if anypony could stand out beside an alicorn princess it was Pinkie Pie. How did a pony bounce like that in place! Her enormous grin could be seen from one end of the grand ballroom to the other. I had a suspicion, that the entire reason she wore just a simple calm-blue, gown was that any dress that tried to magnify her personality and nature would either fail miserably or stun the unwary on-lookers into a daze.

Beside Pinkie, the beautiful white unicorn seemed just that, beautiful. Actually, as my eyes moved around the platform taking in the princesses and her she still seemed beautiful. Had she stood alone on diesis, she would have stunned the crowd with her curled purple mane, and exuberant dress of a similar shade. But instead, she seemed far more interested, in being a part of the group she was with, sharing smiles with those around her and even helping keep Pinkie’s dress straight from all the bouncing. I felt a little ashamed that I didn’t know all these ponies’ name despite the fact that they were on such a pedestal among power. I only knew Pinkie Pie because Crimson had pointed her out when she had shot a party cannon off in the middle of the royal palace during my last visit with my friend.

The next mare was a mystery to me as well, she was an earth-pony like Pinkie Pie, but where Pinkie was, well Pinkie, this orange-colored mare possessed a certain calm about herself. And unless that blue-cowgirl-getup had a lot of extra fabric, the size of her haunches claimed she had the power to buck me airborne, possibly to cloud level.

The yellow-pegasus in comparison looked feeble. Of course, I did recognize Fluttershy, how could I not remember one of my two-fellow Cloudsdayle Flight School Dropouts? The greenery sewn into the earthly-green dress she wore bespoke of just how much she had truly taken the earth as her place of residence. I even heard she had a house made of wood. Ha! To think a flight school dropout, an earth-bound pegasus, a meek mare would be standing among royalty, and yet there she was. Still as meek as ever, but even from here I could see something I hadn’t in those years long ago. Confidence, especially when she stood beside the other familiar face from my past.

Rainbow Dash. The cyan pegasus stood just as proud as ever, with that same half-cocky, half I’m going to do something so crazy it’ll blow your feathers off grin. Under the cloud lining her sky-blue dress, I could still see that her legs had that same lean and muscled look. She might not be able to buck me airborne like the orange-earth-pony, but I knew from experience it would hurt. I was also keenly aware that if she put her wings into the effort, I wouldn’t just go airborne I’d probably cough up my lungs. Fond memories danced through my head as I recalled her catching me sleeping during cloud clearing class and teasing me calling out “Hey Sky-Doze, you ever going to be a little helpful?”

“I don’t know,” I had lazily replied, “You ever going to be a little careful Rainbow Crash.”

She hadn’t taken that as well as she could have and responded by clearing the cloud I had been napping on, and by proxy me. My side hurt just thinking about it, and to this day I still felt a pang of guilt about clearing a poor cloud minding its own business. She may have been a dropout, but it had nothing to do with lack of ability like Fluttershy, or lack of motivation as in my case. Her issue had been entirely attitude. I wondered how much that had really changed.

I continued my casual munching as I took in the entirety of the sight before me. Here amongst the high-class and famous were five ponies from what I could tell had humbler beginnings than most in the room, and they were the wielder’s of the Elements of Harmony at the side of newest pony to rise to a level of power few could truly comprehend. ‘Funny, how that works huh?’

As I swallowed the last of my apple tarts, I was saddened as my searching eyes failed to pick out the dark winged figure of Equestria’s second in command. The Princess of night was nowhere to be seen, either on the diesis among the other royalty, or on the Ballroom floor, where she would have stood a full shoulder above everypony else. Well, now that I looked out it at the sky from near the balcony, the night was still quite young, and she was probably busy aligning some stars or whatever raising the heavenly bodies themselves entailed.

“Nice alligator, “ a voice with a strange accent said from my right side.

“Thanks,” I replied turning towards its source, “Just picked it up. You know, special occasion and all.”

“That I can see. Well it is a most prominent decoration. But as for me, I prefer something which causes less speculation,” said the zebra between a wide smile.

I had only met a zebra once before and that encounter had been so brief it had barely registered with me that I had seen a member of a race so far from Equestria, that were a rarity. I couldn’t help my eyes as they tried to take in something that seemed so out of place among the ponies dancing and socializing in their expensive outfits around me; I mean she looked so…exotic. Her dark eyes were kind, but I saw the glint of irritation as she noticed mine sweeping her body.

“Sorry,” I began to apologize, “I’ve just never met a zebra up close before.”

Her smile returned fully to her face again as she replied, “No need to beg forgiveness. Your curiosity does me no wrongness.”

‘Uh, huh,’

She gave me a small nudge with a dark hoof and laughing said. “How could I be offended by that, from some somepony with so silly a hat.”

Yes, she did have a point, and it more importantly it rhymed.

Sweeping her self with a hoof she said, “I tried to avoid attraction, and wore a dress of plainer fashion. You, my good sir, stick out like a bur.”

Ha, I had never been insulted in rhyme before, this party was awesome!

Looking at the dress she had referenced, I had to agree it was indeed plain. The long naval blue coat had multitude of pockets between its white linings, suggesting a garment for more function than fashion. Resting upon a lightly brushed, black and white mane was a large, dark hat that seemed like a folded triangle. Beneath the hat the zebra’s ears protruded to either side, two golden loops dangling from each. I was very much reminded of the sailors I had once met helping with part-time hurricane duty in southern ports of Stableside.

“What brings you all the way out to Canterlot?” I asked wondering just how far a trek the zebra-mare had taken.

“I came to see this new princess of which the sky proclaimed,” she answered, “It would be difficult to ignore one the stars have made famous.”

Yeah, giant glowing figure that didn’t normally appear hovering in one spot. I could imagine a bit of curiosity to be had.

“As for your inference that I have come a long way. I merely traveled from your southern bay. By Sky-chariot the journey is quite swift, so I left my first-mate to watch the night shift. “

“Ah,” her garb finally making sense. “You work on one of the Zebra trade ships that come over.”

She looked at me with an amused expression in her eyes, “Ah, I see my manners have left me. I forget to introduce myself to thee. I am Captain Zerithe of the Stripped Pearl. Heiress to the Trade Company Abaddon’s Swirl.”

“No Way!” my outcry turned the heads of a few nearby party guests. “You’re a Captain!”

“Most notice other parts of my introduction, nevertheless you are correct in your deduction.” Her amused look never disappeared, as she looked on it this strange alligator-for-a-hat wearing pegasus.

“Oh, don’t’ worry I caught the other parts. You’re a rich Captain. Also, you are either mentally addled, or have no fear what so ever. You’re one of those crazies that make all their profit from taking the fastest and most direct trade route between the Zebra and Equestria Ports. You insane people sail into a giant Whirlpool that’s as big a small sea itself!”

“Ha! So you do know of that which I spoke. I’ll tell you my friend, going in is easy; getting out is no joke.” Though her smile still remained it didn’t quite reach her eyes as she became more somber.

I broke the awkward calm by introducing myself “I’m Sky Dive,” I said extending a hoof, which the zebra took with her own in a surprisingly firm grasp. “I’m just a weather pegasus from Fillydelphia.”

“For one so humble, you hang with some high-class pony-folk. Although, by your appearance it would seem you make it a joke.” She responded pointing at my since forgotten unwanted headgear. Little guy had a good grip though; I’d give him that.

“I’m actually here with a friend,” I explained, “I may not have the wealth or class of some of these other stallions and mares, but I have something most of them will never have.”

The zebra looked at me expectantly. I arched an eyebrow towards her. “Oh, I am supposed to reply, ‘what is that you have? Pie?’” She pointed at one of the leftover hay-pie slices on my plate. ‘Man she is good…’

“That,” I replied, “And the ability to… to…”The zebra looked at me with amusement dancing in her eyes.

“Nothing, I’m dirt broke. And yeah the only reason I’m here is because my friend is a student of Celestia in her magic school. I’m just kind of gliding through life right now. I mean the two mares I dropped out of flight school are up there among royalty! I mean I’m just here to grab some free food and admire the real power from afar. Heavens, this isn’t even my alligator!” I finished bowing my head and sighing.

“That, my friend, is quite sad. Why would you come here to feel bad?” She put a hoof on my shoulder. “Let me tell you a story of a zebra, who seemed destined not for glory.”

A story that rhymed, I could put away some self-pity for that.

“There once was a terrible embargo, that made life difficult, for ships with cargo,” she began in a low, slow voice. “Any ship that was trying to make a delivery always seemed to meet great misery. For this embargo was enforced, by a navy pirates had coerced. Despite the good intentions of the ships traveling the seas. The navy sunk any and all as they please. One small ship that was manned by simple zebra sailor had always been considered a trader’s failure. But while the navy sunk many great vessels that were carrying items of trade, whether they had pirated the goods or paid, they left the smaller vessel alone, it would have no effect on their trade zone. Or so they thought, because after the zebra saw he wouldn’t be caught. He became a smuggler that traveled the trade routes alone, for he found a mission all his own. After making many deliveries within the embargoed zone, the owner’s of the great trade lines asked him to take a message to the throne. These people of great power were convinced the emperor knew not of his navy’s carelessness, and were sure the Empire would be hurt by this recklessness. But they could not travel in such a way as that zebra smuggler, so they asked him to sneak into the empire and approach the king disguised as a juggler. The zebra had become vital to the empire within a crucial moment; it was his task to end the trader’s torment. And so he ventured forth carrying out alone this great task, and before the emperor, the trader’s favor ask.”

The zebra Zerithe gave me a pat with her hoof. I sighed, “Yeah, yeah I see what you mean. It’s the old worn tale of humble beginnings and from that rise to a place of great importance. I can see it literally personified in five ponies right there on the grand stage.” I pointed a wingtip towards the diesis filled with the single most important ponies in Equestria.

“The thing is you have to have something that makes you special, so even if you come from humble beginnings, you’ll have something nopony or no zebra else would. That zebra had the ability to be sneaky, and had the advantage of appearing unimportant. So it was not that hard for him to rise to the occasion, when his unique talent was required, and save the empire.” I finished, sinking my head low again.

“Oh the empire failed and was burnt to the ground, for the smuggler’s ship hit a rock and he drowned. The navy ended up destroying its own empire by constantly enforcing their law, they may have run off the pirates but their overzealousness was there own flaw. The story has many meaning, I suppose. But all zebra stories have only the one who tell them knows. Most pony folk only listen to the part they like, for heroic tales they have always consumed, But zebra’s know the truth, and that is that we are all doomed.”

I stared at the wide smiling zebra. For the first time in my life I had nothing to say, the sudden twist had blown me away. ‘Oh, heavens, now I’m doing it!’

“Do all zebras really believe that?” I asked. “That we are all doomed to a tragic fate, no matter how we live or what talents we possess?”

“I see that my tale had an effect on you that is sad. I’m sorry if I have ruined your fun, it was not your hope I wished to stun. Most zebras believe it is only the foolish that perish and suffer this worst of fates. However some, such as I, have long since accepted the destiny put on our plates. For it is not uncommon for the good to suffer, and I have no need of a mental buffer, but if it makes you feel better my winged friend, I’m sure yours won’t be so tragic an end.”

Speechless. I was speechless. I was certain, that my jaw was hanging open, but I could not seem to focus the energy to reclose it. The zebra captain looked at the expression on my face and smile fading said, “Have I gone and made you mad, perhaps there is hope to be had. If you feel that you would like some adventure in your life, instead of this small meaningless strife, perhaps you could become part of my crew. I could use someone with an aerial view.”

Tempting. But I was pretty sure, that my mundane life in the safety of clouds above Fillydelphia was a bit better than serving under a zebra captain, with insane suicidal tendencies.

“Thanks, but I’ll have to pass on your offer for now, I’m sure if I left my boss would have a cow.” I said giving her the friendliest smile I could muster.

“Ha! I am unsure why his possessing a bovine would be so bad, but I can see you’re choice, although I am not mad, it is a bit sad. I shall make you a deal, a business offer if you will. Because you have humored me on this night I thought to be plain. Should you ever find yourself left in the rain, visit the Sunken Timber by the dock in Stableside, and I’ll have a job for you sailing the seas at my side.”

“Thank you, I’ll remember that. If I’m ever down south, I’ll be sure to look you up.”

“Then it is was a pleasure to meet you friend Sky Dive. Oh, but can I have one your pies, it would seem you have five?”

“Help yourself,” I said pushing a slice towards her, “The pleasure has been all mine Captain Zerithe.”

Taking the pie slice she turned and faded into the crowd of ponies still talking and chatting, unaware of just how close they were to the single craziest creature on this planet. ‘Once again, funny how that works.’ I thought shrugging to myself and taking a bite of an apple tart.

At some point Crimson had pulled his way out of the crowd and made his way over to me in the alcove I had now thoroughly occupied.

“Hey how are you do-,” he suddenly stopped his eyes fixed on my head. “Are you aware that there is an alligator on your head.” He said in low voice, taking a cautious step forward as if the news would send me into a wild panic.

“Oh sweet heavens of the devils of Tartarus, I would have never noticed. Thank you Crimson, for if not for your uncanny attention to detail, my mane would surely become even more soaked in gator drool than it already is.”

He didn’t seem to appreciate my thanks. “Alright, just trying to help. No need to be a mule about it.” He lifted a hoof as if to brush the alligator off. I raised a wing to stop him. “Don’t bother, unless you want him stuck to you. I doubt you could eve magic him off. Little monster’s got grip.”

“I see, well sorry this party seems to be a bore. I see you’ve at least taken upon yourself to aid in the common problem of where to store the leftovers.” He said gesturing at the small mound of food I still had one plate.

“Hey,” I responded pointing a hoof at myself and taking a proud stance, “It’s what I’m here for. And don’t worry this party is far from a bore. In fact you won’t believe the time I’ve had, it really hasn’t been all that bad. Besides, I’ve had time meet some neat folks, like an insane zebra full of jokes. And the food is quite good.”

“Alright, just making sure your-“ He turned and looked at me a small questioning frown on his face. “Are you…are you speaking rhymes?” He asked pointing at me with his hoof.

“Oh, I suppose I am, it must be contagious, although, I think the condition isn’t dangerous.” I gave my friend my craziest zebra smile.

“Uh huh…” He sighed. “So this a new thing with you? How long is this going to last? Because I want to know if I should start avoiding you like when you did that thing where you were convinced trying to forcefully ingest rainbows would help you perform the sonic rainboom.”

“Ummm…” I shifted my eyes upwards ignoring my unicorn companion’s mocking gaze.

“You remember, your insides hurt for weeks afterwards and all that happened was you had colorful flatulencias that could knock out a dragon from the stench. In the end we had to magically purge your stomach.” I looked back into my friends face and saw his small smile.

“Well, that was quite lame,” I admitted, “but this isn’t the same. It’s quite fun to speak in rhymes. In fact, I think all do it all the… times… That’s harder than I thought, how did she make it look so easy.” My friend now smiled wide.

“Well I’m sure you’ll get hang of it in time. It’s not the difficult to learn to rhyme. But for someone with such confounded mind between his wings, It may take same time to master new things.”

My jaw was beginning to hurt from hanging open so much that evening.

“How- why-“ I stuttered

“Ha,” My friend gave a small laugh, “half of properly creating or mastering a magical spell, is to make sure that it flows well. And often times, we do that with rhymes.”

I couldn’t tell what I was more shocked by, this small revelation that part of using magic was speaking in poetry or that my friend the studious scholar had actually expressed a sense of humor.

He laughed at the face I was making, “Well, I will let you go ahead finish your food, I think I’ll go mingle some while I’m in a good mood.”

He began to walk into the crowd of chattering ponies with what I was sure was a small bounce in his step.

I had retreated into my own thoughts again as I stared out into the crowd. Mostly, I’ll admit, trying to think of rhymes for what I saw within the crowd. I was deep in thought after observing some of the jewelry that a mare was wearing and trying to figure out what in the Heavens rhymed with silver. Suddenly, a small tap from behind on my shoulder shook me out of my thoughts. “Excuse me,” a soft voice said from somewhere behind me.

“Unless, you’re a poet or an alligator removal specialists; I’m trying to think of something.” I had been deep in thought and had been a little irritated about the interruption. I was so close I could feel the word right at the tip of my tongue. Sliver? Slither? Deliver?

“Oh, I’m sorry to bother you. It’s just that I saw Gummy and thought, that well, maybe you would like some help…” The voice petered off into a whisper so small I could barely hear it. But I caught the message. “Gummy,” I said turning around, “so the little monster does have a name? Wait! Fluttershy?” I saw the smaller yellow pegasus mare blushing behind me. I turned and looked towards the diesis, and sure enough the place between the orange-earth-pony and Rainbow Dash was now vacant.

“I’m sorry, but I guess you want to be left alone.” She began to turn and start heading for the diesis.

“Wait, Fluttershy!” Now it was my turn to blush, as I instantly began to regret my rudeness to the mare only trying to help, and my old comrade in failure from flight school. “It’s me Sky Dive from Cloudsdayle. We were in the same class.” I reached a hoof towards her and she stopped her escape to look me up and down.

“Sky Dive? Oh, how wonderful it is you! What are you doing here? How have you been? Where have you been? Why do you have Pinkie Pie’s pet on your head?” Her azure eyes had gone wide as they looked into mine as if the answers to all her questions were written right on my pupils. ‘Fluttershy. Difficult to get her to open up, but once you did it was impossible to put dragon back in the cave.’

“I’m here with a friend, he’s a student of Celestia. Been all right, can’t complain. Fillydelphia mostly. I had no idea it was someone’s pet, but now that you said that, I can’t imagine it coming from anypony else. Trust me, he’s not there by my choice.” I gave her a small smile. It had been a real long time since I had seen the mare. So long that I guess last time would have been when she and I had been a filly and colt. She had just gotten her cutie mark of three small butterflies, after some accident involving our mutual friend Rainbow Dash achieved her first sonic rainboom, and was turning in her resignation from flight school to the Head Instructor. The patrols that had found her claimed they had never seen a pegasus so unwilling to leave the ground. After wishing her luck, and claiming I was right behind her on the dropout list, I had watched her leave. I had heard she had moved to Ponyville, but I had never seen her after Flight School until today.

“Well he does get a bit friendly,” the she said brushing a curl from her pink mane out of her face with one hoof and then used it to point at the small alligator still firmly lodged atop my head.

“Friendly? A bit?” I said arching an eyebrow at her. “If this guy had teeth, I’m sure Pinkie’s pet would be the single biggest threat to Equestria. Heavens, Celestia herself would have to banish him to the moon. And probably me with him, because I’m sure that my head will come off entirely before he does.” I gave a small sigh.

“Oh, that would be terrible.” I looked at the smaller mare and saw that her eyes and become watery and her lips were shaking, as she seemed to stifle a cry.

“I’m sorry,” I could not help but feel but terrible for throwing out my frustration on the poor pegasus, that had always been the meekest and most gentle pony I had ever known.

“Please, don’t worry about it,” she said giving me a small but genuine smile, “let me see if I can at least help you keep your head.” She stretched out a yellow hoof towards the scaly green spring trap.

I nearly backed up. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” I warned.

She simply smiled at me, and then shifting her eyes above mine she whispered in a flowery voice, “Gummy, you know better than to jump on strangers. What would Pinkie Pie say? I think I know an alligator, who’s going to get a time-out if he doesn’t start acting like a good gator, and not trying to hurt ponies that are just minding their own business.” As she finished she poked the small reptile and I immediately felt the small pressure on my head being released. Instantly, a flood of wet saliva went over my mane and face. As I brushed away the drool from my face I saw the blank stare of the purple-eyed alligator looking into my own grey eyes. I stared in disbelief as I realized it was simply resting on Fluttershy’s out stretched hoof like a tame bird would. The yellow mare simply looked at the alligator with a warm expression, and giving it a small pat said, “Good boy, Gummy. Now why don’t you go have some fun on the dance floor.” She gently sat the small gator down and it began to slither towards the area where ponies could be seen waltzing in circles. I made sure to give the little monster a wide berth as it went past, trying to keep my hooves and wings out of striking range. I let out a deep sigh as I saw the green tail disappear in the crowd. I knew I wouldn’t be heading out to the dance floor anytime soon.

“That was amazing!” I said turning towards my pegasus savior. “How did you get him to just let go, and not bite you too?”

Fluttershy’s yellow cheeks began to darken with a red color as she looked towards the floor, as if were going to find a gold bit she just dropped. “Well,” she said moving her hoof in a small circle on the floor, “I’m just really good with animals.”

“Clearly,” I said putting my hoof around one of the champagne glasses I had collected. “Is that why you left flight school?” I offered her the glass and she took it without really looking.

“I suppose.” She said now a look of sadness crossing her face. Had I breached a sore subject? To me it had simply been a point we both had in common… but she didn’t know I had actually left too. ‘I have got being such a mule to the single kindest mare in the entirety of Equestria!’ I mentally berated myself,

“I was right behind you on leaving. Three days after you left I got my cutie mark and dropped out that same day. I think Rainbow Dash was encouraged to leave right after that.” I said pointing a wing towards our mutual friend pegasus with the multi-hued mane still smiling her cocky smile from the diesis.

“I didn’t know you dropped out too!” Fluttershy’s face once again turned towards me, with that searching look in her wide eyes. ‘Huh, that was a sudden change.’

She looked towards my flank; “You got your cutie mark then too!” Her face turned to a look of confusion as she caught sight of the white spot covering the black fur on my flank. “Is it a quilt?” She gave sheepish smile at her guess. Well she was closer than most, I had to give her that.

“It’s a parachute,” I said giving her the same explanation I had received from the Head Instructor herself after receiving a cutie mark that I couldn’t make sense of. Which had been beyond frustrating, because how were you supposed to know what made you special, if the thing that was supposed to tell your talent was a mystery to you! “Earth ponies and unicorns use them when they want to travel really quickly out of one of our cloud cities. They’re kind of rare, even in Cloudsdayle only the bravest or dumbest, depending on your view, use them to reach the ground in a hurry. They’re supposed to slow down your fall so you don’t go squish.”

The yellow mare gave a little tremble at my sound effect.

“So how did you get it as a cutie mark?” She asked straightening herself up a bit, as if trying to show that past the small horror I had inadvertently put in her head, she was still curious in my story. ‘I am such a mule,’ I thought again.

“Well actually,” I continued aloud, “It was very similar to what happened to you.”

At her inquisitive look, I pointed a wingtip back over at the cyan pegasus that was still smiling that smile of hers. It must have been glued to her face that was the only explanation I could think of.

“A certain somepony, was trying to recreate her ‘spectacularly-awesome, mind-blowingly-amazing, bone-shaking-thrilling sonic rainboom’ She got about halfway through it before faltering and crashing into the powdered snow bin in the weather station. I, however, had been napping on a cloud when the force she had created washed away all the cloud cover in the area.”

The yellow pegasus must have had a very vivid imagination, because her eyes went wide as saucers, as if she was witnessing the young colt I was plummeting from the sky.

“I was still asleep for a bit,” I continued letting my hooves move to the story, and slowing my voice down and bringing it lower to build the effect. My story may not have rhymed, but I was not going to let it fall short in the drama department, especially with such an attentive and imaginative audience.

“When I opened my eyes, the ground was so close, I could already see the spots on a ladybug.” My speech had sped up and I was letting the sound build as I took one hoof and began plunging it towards. “ I was moving too fast, everything was just a blur. I could see my infant life flashing before my eyes! I had not time to think, and just enough time to spread my wings and give one great flap before it was too late. And then suddenly,” I halted my hoof and inch above the ballroom floor, “I stopped.” I smiled as the yellow mare opened one eye hesitantly, and seeing where my hoof had stopped, gave a sigh and opened the other one as well.

“The Head Instructor always said I had enormous wings for a pegasus. As a colt she said I had bigger ones than she had seen on most adult pegasi. She said if I ever grew into them I would be the size of a young dragon. But after that day, after seeing the cutie mark, I hadn’t even realized I had gotten till after I was safely back in her office, she said I was destined to have the largest wings of any pegasus in the history, of Equestria. I dropped out of flight school later that day. No point in being trained to be great flier if the thing your best at is dozing off and only being saved by the fact that you’re a freak.” I finished with a sigh. Fluttershy looked like she was on the verge of tears again. ‘How does she do that so fast?’ I wondered again. It was like her tear ducts had waterworks ready to go at the drop of a hat.

“I’m sorry,” she said, her voice quite and meek. She was genuinely apologizing for something she had no power over, that had happened years ago!

“Ummm… It’s not your fault,” I said giving her a comforting pat with one of wings. “Don’t worry about it,” I gave the tearful pegasus my most reassuring smile, which she returned after some effort. ‘The emotional Jetstream that mare rode on…’

“After that made my way to Fillydelphia, been with the weather team there ever since. Save a few times we were called out to help other smaller communities with less dense pegasus populations to help wrap up winter or bring rainwater up to the Cloudsdayle. Even was in Ponyville a couple of times, saw Rainbow Dash giving orders to all the Ponyville pegasus. I never did see you though, I always wanted to say ‘hi’.” I gave her smile.

Once again her face had shades of red on her cheeks, “I uh…” she stumbled on her words. “Don’t normally help with the weather teams, or actually do any flying of any kind.” She quickly finished and took a swig from the untouched champagne glass I had given her.

For the rest of my life I knew I would never be able to forget the face of utter shock that flew across the pegasus’s face. If one had just looked at her face, they would have never guessed that her original color had actually been yellow, instead of a shade of red to make apples jealous. She looked at the glass; as if it was the strangest thing she had ever seen in her entire existence. The only thing I caught from the small whisper she gave was, “Fizzy…”

‘Yes, yes it was,’ I thought taking a sip from my own glass trying to not snort into as I stifled my laughter. ‘Oh, heavens, now I’m going to cry.’

After contemplating the glass a bit longer, the yellow pegasus took a cautious sip, licked her lips and then emptied the rest of the glass.

“That was wonderful!” She declared holding the glass away from as if admiring its craftsmanship. “I’ve never had anything like that before!”

“You’ve never had champagne before?” I said glancing at her through tear filled eyes. ‘That face…oh sweet heavens that face…’

Fluttershy shook her head and replied, “No, never. I remember seeing something like it at the Royal Wedding awhile ago, but I had been so busy, I hadn’t tried some.”

I went over to the table containing the glassware and put two more glasses between my wings. As I came back to the alcove I noticed the yellow pegasus giving me a loose smile.

“What’s funny?” I asked sitting across from her.

“Nothing.” She said through a snicker.

She took one of glasses I offered from my wing. “So tell me all about the wedding,” I said after we had both taken a sip from our glasses. “I was in Baltimare on tornado duty. I heard there was an invasion of some kind?”

…

“And then… and then… then Pinkie used a her party cannon on them! It was like she said, she never goes anywhere without her party cannon. Haha. Are you sure we’re going the right way.” I turned and looked at the yellow mare that was putting one hoof unsteadily in front of the other. She was at this point entirely leaning on me. To be honest, I wasn’t fairing much better, if it weren’t for the sturdy stonewall in the castle passageway, we both would have been on the ground.

“Not as sure as I was five minutes ago,” I replied.

We were currently somewhere to the west of ballroom in a large passage that I had been convinced had led to the little filly’s and colt’s rooms. Now, as I thought backed to what seemed like hours ago through my hazy memory (it had probably been closer to ten minutes ago), I recalled Fluttershy suddenly going bashfully silent in the middle of telling the story of how Twilight Sparkle had barged in on her brother’s dress rehearsal.

When I had asked her what was the matter she had quietly replied, “I… I hab ta go da widdle filly’s woom.”

Upon hearing this, my bladder, which I had not been paying attention to, suddenly alerted me that I needed to go relieve myself as well.

“Let’s go den,” I said convinced it would be an adventure. “But,” she said, “I don’t know where it is.” I recalled laughing at her worried expression.

“Don’t worry, I’ve been through the castle before. It can’t be that hard to find.”

Oh, how wrong I was. I had forgotten was simple thing about the Canterlot Royal Castle. It was huge! And now my bladder was tied in a knot as I shuffled down the hallway using one wing to steady the yellow pegasus as she continued her story of the Changeling queen impersonating Princess Mi Amori Cadenza, to unleash her army within the city, and my other wing to stabilize myself.

“Are we lost?” she said looking at me, the loopy smile gone and a look of concern in her eyes.

I sighed, “If I say yes, do you promise not to cry?”

Suddenly, she pulled herself away from me and began giving me an indignant stare, “Why you,” she unfolded her wings and maneuvered them so that one was on each side of her middle, “I am not some baby. I only cry when things are actually sad, not just because I feel a little depressed or tired or hungry. I am not a little filly and you aren’t my foal sitter. I mean you can’t even find a bathroom. Whoops!“ Suddenly her feet shifted under her and her weight began to carry her over her and with her wings still on her side she was not going to be able to catch herself. I thrust a wing towards her and she bit down on it with her mouth steadying herself. I was glad for the inebriation I was feeling, that I didn’t feel the pain of her teeth in my feathers.

“Wow,” she said as she steadied herself and released my feathers, “they are really big. I mean I can’t eben weech you habway from here, but you can weech me.”

I gave her a loopy smile; it was honestly the best I could muster, “Thanks,” I replied, “advantage to being a freak.”

“ You’re not a fweek.” She looked me straight in the eyes and met my gaze evenly, “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t’ve been rude. I tink… I tink I’m drunk!” she declared and then began to snort in laughter. “I feel like Pinkie must, during da beginnin’ of cider season! Hahaha!”

“Ha, you and me both,” I said guiding the laughing mare back under my wing and started moving down the hallway again. I really needed that bathroom now, and I was still on a quest for it.

“I thought you’d said you had champ… champa…-fizzy before?” she said as she leaned into almost knocking us both into a decorative suit of armor, I had almost decided could have a dual function of liquid containment.

“I have, but only once,” I explained, “I was part of the team in Fillydelphia that set the current wing speed record at 910, when we made our tornado to lift water to Cloudsdayle. Our captain brought it out to celebrate with us for setting the record. But I didn’t get that much considering we had to share between the whole weather team.”

“Oh, I remember hearing about that. The pegasus in Ponyville tried to break that record the next year. I think we go Ummm… close…” Was her face red from the alcohol or something else as she turned to look at the far wall?

To my relief I saw one of Luna’s personal bat-winged guard’s up ahead standing post at the entrance to another passageway.

“Excuse me,” I called to him as I half-walked-half-fell over to him. “Do you know where the bathroom’s are?”

He turned towards and opening his mouth said, “IT IS NOT FAR FROM WHERE YOU STAND. IF YOU SHOULD TURN RIGHT IN THE PASSAGE JUST AHEAD, THY DESTINATION SHALL BE ON THE LEFT!” He gestured with a leathery wingtip down the passage.

‘Never mind, I don’t have to go anymore,’ I thought as my whole body trembled from the point-blank-vocalized-blast. In my stupor I had forgotten that the vast majority of Luna’s personal guards were still trained to use the royal Canterlot voice. Fluttershy hadn’t faired much better, though she had been able to plug her ears with her wings at the initial burst.

“Thank you,” she whimpered. Or at least I had assumed that was what she had said by the movement of her lips. Then a “YOU’RE WELCOME!” answered that indeed she had said ‘thank you’ and that my hearing had been still working. Unfortunately.

Despite the shock the guard had given us both, we had been thankful for his directions, and despite being sure our bladders had already been overcome with shock, we still scampered into our respective facilities upon arrival.

“I feel a million times better,” I said coming out of the bathroom.

Then I realized I was talking to myself, as the hallway was empty. ‘Guess, she really had to go,’ I gave a shrug and proceeded to move to the end of the hall to wait.

After, a bit more time passed, I went from antsy to frustrated to worried. ‘What did she fall in?’ Now I began wrestling with another dilemma, ‘How long did I wait before I assumed the worst and go in after her? Ten minutes? An hour? Three hours? A day? A year? Never? Actually, that last one sounded like the best one. I could go get someone if enough time passed could-‘ I suddenly turned to follow the soft blue glow that had just moved silently down the passage in front of me.

‘It couldn’t be! It was!’ I began moving my legs to keep up with the tall dark figures longer strides. Then the figure took a turn out of my view and I heard the clanging slam of a heavy door.

‘Okay… new moral dilemma, how rude is it to knock on a Princesses’ door in the middle of the night and as for her hoof-print? Probably, pretty rude.’ I let out a sigh and was about to turn around when I noticed a familiar green figure slowly moving about in front of where the Princess of the Night had just turned.

“Gummy?” I let out low whisper. “What are you doing out here? Shouldn’t you be with Pinkie Pie?”

It is at this point I would like to state something, that if it has not become clear already, I am not a clever pony. Thank you and enjoy the following stupidity.

I put out my hoof towards the small alligator. I honestly don’t know what I expected to happen. With the same swift speed and sure grip as before, the green creature had attached itself to my hoof. Honestly, I’m an idiot. As I was of course in the exact same situation as before and had handled it with such grace and elegance I began to repeat, the exact maneuvers I had used last time. Fore-hoof. Fore-hoof. Fore-hoof. Wing. Shake. And of course head with alligator drool. Once again, honestly I don’t know what I expected to happen. ‘Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, who’s really the fool?’

I began to turn around, so to head back towards the bathrooms and the mare that could once again cure me of my reptilian appendage. I lifted and one and abruptly stopped as I heard a loud CRASH come from within the room the Princess had entered. I was about to go to the door and try to open, but a moment of hesitation caused me to listen, and what I heard froze me in place.

“Sister, this is not fair! You ask me to respect you, ask me to honor you and I have, but what do I get in return? The same thankless and indignant treatment I received one thousand years ago!” The voice carried a scream of power behind it and I could feel it’s cold rage from out in the hallway.

“Luna! Please, calm yourself. I thought you as much as anyone else would like to honor Twilight with a small gift, as she ascended to a place beside us. I thought we had worked all this out already before the ceremony.” While the other voice sounded in rage, this one sounded like it was trying to be soothing and firm. It may have worked to except if there wasn’t also the barest hints of someone sounding like they were addressing a child mixed into her tone.

“I thought we had too Tia! When I came back and met Cadence, I was easy to forgive you sharing the magic we had worked so hard to create ourselves, with the loving pegasus. After all, I was gone and you needed someone you could depend on, someone to watch your back as you ruled.” Princess Luna’s voice had seemed to cool down and it seemed the worst was over.

“Thank you for your understanding.“

“But!” the ice in her voice from the Princess of the Sun’s next word on her lips.

“Two nights past you send Twilight the same gift, and although unlike Cadence you didn’t give her the whole of it, you gave her everything she would need. And despite what you say, I know there is more pride than you will admit at having, seeing you star pupil rise to be at our level. Sure, she completed the circle, but she lacks the same honor, the same integrity, the same power, and the same respect for the power she does have, as you or I had when we completed it.”

What was she talking about? I had no idea what they were talking about except it had something to do with Twilight’s recent rise to power. ‘What is this great circle?‘

I felt a tap on my back and stiffened, “Sky Dive, why are you over here? And why is Gummy back on your head?” A soft voice said from the direction of the hoof tap.

I breathed a sigh of relief and with one of my wings shushed the yellow pegasus now standing a bit straighter. She fell silent and listened with me.

“Sister, although I do feel pride at Twilight’s success, I did not lie about the fear I was having. The last time you and I had such premonitions, never ending darkness consumed the land under Nightmare Moon! I did not want such a fate to befall us again.” There was that soothing voice again, but the tone as if speaking to a child had only increased, not diminished.

“Oh. So that is your reason.” I could feel glaciers forming in my veins at the sound of that voice. “You wish to have someone at our own level of power, that is completely loyal to you, just in case I turn on you again. Princess Twilight, Princess of the Night! A Princess to replace Nightmare Moon, a Princess more than happy to live in your shadow!”

“HOW DARE YOU!” The voice of the Sun Princess was pure fire and rage, then there was the sound like a clap and suddenly the room was silent.

Fluttershy was shaking violently in front of me; she was pulling down on her ears with her hooves covering her eyes with them. “P-p-please,” she stuttered, “L-l-let’s go.”

I wanted to agree with her, I wanted to wrap a wing around her and take her and myself away from what we hearing. I wanted to find that guard and have him yell my eardrums out till, I couldn’t hear this horrible clashing of Equestria’s most beloved and powerful rulers any more. But I was frozen. I was simply a statue, even the reptile on my head, seemed to be holding his breath, as if waiting for a storm to pass.

“Your anger betrays your true feelings, sister” Ice. “I will do as you have asked. I shall give Twilight Sparkle a gift within my giving. But don’t think I don’t see this as another example of your continued favoring the few within your sight. You can make it seem like all is right within your kingdom by treating those near to you like they are your spoiled pets, like those nobles milling about, our your precious town of Ponyville under your castle, or your protégé. Tell me Sister, are you ignoring the poor and hungry further east or have you simply started going blind from staring into your own sun?”

The frenzied movement I heard within the room grew louder, and gave me the final inspiration I needed to jump towards Fluttershy and duck around the next hall. I turned and watched as the large winged and horned figure of Celestia stormed from the room. Her mane moving around as if it was caught in gale force winds and her normally smiling face was one that looked forward into something no one but her could see, with a hard glare. She turned and began heading the opposite way down the hallway from us. As her hoof-steps faded I turned towards Fluttershy and breathed a sigh of relief. Only then did I see her eyes go wide and a fear I had never seen before etched itself onto her face.” What are you doing here? I thought all guest were in the main ballroom?” I slowly turned around and looked up into the dark eyes, surrounded by blue and starry mane, of Princess Luna.

“Fluttershy? Is that you, why is thou not with Twilight and thine other friends?” The coldness that I had heard was entirely gone. It was like I could have imagined the entire thing. It was like everything I had heard behind that door had simply not happened. Except, I had seen Princess Celestia exit the room in a manner that did not bode well for my hopes at the misunderstanding being on my ears in. One could hope right? I mean after all I had almost been shouted to deaf by a guard mere minutes before.

“I Ummm… I…” the yellow pegasus just couldn’t seem to get her words started and was beginning to tremble again.

“We were simply going to the bathroom,” I stated. The Princess’s full attention turned towards me. “Ya know what happens when you get a little too much champagne in ya,” I said giving her my best please don’t blow me away smile.

She returned the gesture and replied, “I know all too well.”

‘Now there was a story behind that.’

Then she turned to Fluttershy, then back to me, “did you really somehow get this mare to drink?”

I only gave a quick nod as a reply. “Ha! Thou have done something I thought impossible. I fear now the old myth concerning the swine animal that flies may indeed come true.”

Did the Princess of the Night just tell a joke about Fluttershy getting drunk? ‘Huh’

“Although, as I observe you, I realize I have never heard the tale of reptiles for hats?”

‘Huh? Oh, right! Alligator on head again!’

“Nah, no tale, just a reptile that really likes to party. So he joined up with me.” I gave her another big smile. And then reaching back into my saddlebag that was attached to my weather uniform, I pulled out a book with multiple blank pages. “Ummm… If it’s not too much trouble, could I have your hoof-print?” I said opening the book to a blank page. A look of amusement crossed the mare’s beautiful dark face. And now that I really looked, she was beautiful. There was power behind every inch of her, but even under that there seemed to be an inner beauty that poured outward. Like she truly loved and cared about the silly stallion and mute mare in front of her. ‘If only…’ I thought.

“Of course. I would be happy to,” she placed her hoof on the page and I was about to feel like a dumb colt for not offering her any ink, when there was a glow around her long horn and the around her hoof. When she removed it There was a hoof-print on the page that within its from was shifting and twinkling like the Princess’s starry mane. ‘Wow…’

“Thank you, Princess Luna.” I said meaning every bit of it. “You are quite welcome young… I fear I do not recall your name young stallion.” She gave me an inquisitive look. I nearly choked.

“Oh, I’m nopony important really, just a weather pegasus.” I mumbled.

“Well to me a loyal and true subject is always important. Please your name.”

I couldn’t refuse her. “Sky Dive. It’s Sky Dive Princess Luna.”

She simply smiled at me, “What a unique name. Surely your talent must be something special with a name like that.”

‘Not really,’ I thought, but didn’t dare argue with her aloud.

“Oh, my!” The princess looked around as if trying to find something imprinted on the walls. “I bet it’s very near midnight. I must be off! You two should make your way back to the ballroom. At midnight, there will be a very special show for our guest of honor tonight!” She turned and started to move down the hallway her sister had taken a few minutes ago. Fluttershy and I quickly did the same in the opposite direction towards the ballroom.

“Oh Fluttershy,” we heard the deep but soft voice of the princess call back to us.

The mare beside froze, then she slowly turned and barely lifting her head replied with a meek, “Yes?”

“Make sure, you drink plenty of water, it will help with the dizziness.” And with that the tall, dark figure disappeared around the passageway corner.

The yellow pegasus simply, brought down her head and began to slowly move forward. “Actually,” I barely heard her whisper, “I think I just need another glass of fizzy.”

‘And to the Heavens I say, Amen.’

………………

After arriving back at the ballroom, Fluttershy indeed grabbed another glass of champagne but she slowly sipped at it, let the bubbles tickle her lips. She then approached me and lifted a hoof to my face. No above my face, towards the reptile I had once again forgotten had attached itself to my head. As the little scaled creature balanced itself on her hoof, she reached down and set the gator on the ground to once again scamper away into the crowd.

“Thanks,” I said once again wiping drool from off my face.

“No, thank you.” The small mare said lowering her head. “I’m going to go back to my friends now.”

“Oh. Well, I hope you enjoy your night.” I said feeling a little sad at the parting.

The small mare let out a meek whisper of which I only caught, “...ready have” and then turned and galloped towards the diesis where her spot beside her friends remained vacant awaiting her.

“Oh yeah, real smooth Casanova,” I turned towards the sound of a friendly voice to see Crimson approaching, his red magic tipping his own glass of champagne into his mouth.

“I didn’t know you knew Fluttershy. What did you say to her? She looked upset.” He approached me a look of concern danced under his normally calm yellow eyes.

Where in the heavens did I start? Or should I say anything to my friend. Did he really need to know what I was having trouble believing had happened myself?

I kept my silence about most of my adventures I’d had and instead said, “We were just having a drink. I think. She may have had a bit too much though.”

“Uh huh.” I saw doubt flicker across his features. He knew me too well, and he especially knew what I looked like when I wasn't being wholly honest. So for my next trick, I simply pulled the quick gag to distract the audience, while I let the matter before simply vanish. It was the kind of magic unicorns never learned. And I had a good distraction.

“You’ll never believe what I got,” I said giving my friend a quick flash of teeth. “Princess Luna’s hoof-print!”

I pulled out the book with the print from my saddlebag and watched as my friend began to ogle the glowing hoof mark.

“Wow, that’s really neat! I’ve never seen such well-done permanent embedding enchantment. I mean she practically put some of her essence in that mark! That’s some serious magic for just a hoof-print. But I guess when you have the power Celestia and Luna have, things that astound most magicians is simply trivial to them” Crimson finished excitedly.

“Yeah I guess you're right.” I still felt a little weird talking about the two rulers, but I couldn’t deny it was pretty awesome that, I had a little bit of the Princess Luna herself in the hoofprint she had given me.

“If you want,” Crimson said interrupting my thoughts, “I could see if I can get Princess Celestia to give you her hoof-print too next time I have class with her.”

“That sounds great,” I said smiling and passing the book over to my friend. “Take care of it please, I got a lot of important ponies in that book. From Spitfire to DJ Pon-3.”

“Of course,” he said taking the book and tucking it inside the pocket of his white jacket. “Maybe we should try to get some more while we’re here, I doubt you’ll see this many famous ponies again in one spot. We could try to get Raven Wood or maybe Princess Twilight....“

Suddenly a bright light began emitting from the diesis, and with it a loud blast of trumpeting, that despite being surprisingly loud, was pleasant. From within the light strode forth two shapes one large and blending into the light another a slightly smaller, darker shape. As the light faded and the music faded to a quieter background level the Princesses’ of Day and Night stood side by side in the center of the diesis. Princess Celestia bore a beaming smile on her face that shone like a beacon of sunlight itself. Princess Luna, however, was wearing a smaller smile that showed a gentle kindness, it resembled how the moon looked when it had the majority of its surface darkened leaving only a shimmering white crescent.

“Mares and Gentlecolts!” The voice from the opal alicorn boomed around the entirety of the ballroom as if the Princess was standing right beside you. It was both awesome and a bit creepy. “As you all know we have been gathered here today, to honor the rising of Twilight Sparkle into her status of Princess hood, like my sun and my sister’s moon have risen for centuries, now too shall Twilight’s star rise amongst our heavenly bodies. My dearest Twilight, won’t you come and join Luna and I up here. I believe my sister has something she wishes to show you.”

As the newly anointed alicorn stepped up to the level the two other princesses were on I only noticed the trace of a falter in the Princess of the Night’s smile. If I hadn’t been looking for it, I never would have seen it, but the scary part was, I had seen it.

“Twilight Sparkle,” Princess Luna began in a softer but slower tone than her sister. I had to admit while Princess Celestia’s booming echo had been a bit creepy, Princess Luna’s effect of a soft whisper into your ear was far creepier. “My sister has spoken of your star rising among us, but she did not mean it just figuratively. Look out into my night sky Twilight. Look up towards the center of the sky and see what place has been crafted for you in the heavens.”

The smaller purple alicorn immediately dove and glided towards a balcony on the far side of the room. Immediately hundreds of other ponies, high-society or not began clambering out onto balconies to look up into the night sky. From the alcove Crimson and I had chosen we were right beside a small outlook and soon found ourselves among the crowd gazing at the stars. Pardon me, Star. As in one massive constantly shimmering six-pointed star that even though it was still among the others in the heavens unlike the one from the previous night, it still outshone them all so brightly it seemed to be right within reach if one simply had a large enough stool to stand on. Almost, like I could fly up and cut myself on one of its sharp, shimmering points.

I looked around and noticed all the low hanging jaws, wide-eyed stares, and even erratic pointing. Clearly, the sight impressed many ponies and many looked at it with wonder and excitement. But nopony could match Princess Twilight in sheer excitement. The princess had begun to hop around like a young filly, excited for her birthday, or her first day at school. Then she turned and gliding up to the diesis wrapped her hooves around Princess Celestia’s white neck. And just for a moment I saw that smile on the Princess of the Night’s face falter again. It had been, like before, just for a moment, but it had happened. I doubted the new princess was even aware what was going on around her, between the two ancient rulers of Equestria. Heavens, was I even aware?

I let out a low sigh and turned back to look over the horizon at all the other stars seeming to sink into the dark pit that seemed infinitely far away. “Hey, Crimson,” I said nearly in a whisper.

“Yes,” he replied just as softly as I had. “Do you remember what you said about change last night?”

“That it only brings more change?”

“Yeah,” I answered, “I think you were right.”

I don’t think I wanted to know just how right he might have been.

New Responsibilities

Chapter 2
New Responsibilities
Crimson Barrel

“I think we need, to open up the Library more, that way more ponies can go in when they feel like learning something. I mean otherwise anypony searching for information on advanced subjects, like say time-spells, wouldn’t have to sneak into the Canterlot Library in the middle of the night. I mean, not that anypony would do that... Umm… What do you think, Crimson? Crimson?“

I started suddenly at hearing my name. Turning to the newly coronated Princess Twilight. I gave her small smile, “It’s whatever you see fit, your majesty.” I said giving her the same reply I had nearly all twenty times she had asked me what I thought of her ‘royal’ decisions.

“Do you think I should make trains more winged-passenger friendly?” – “whatever you see fit, your majesty”

“Do you think there should so many large rooms in the palace, what about more smaller rooms for more guests?”- “Whatever you see fit, your majesty”

“Do you think we could get some coffee from Joe’s Doughnuts later” – “whatever you see fit, your majesty”

I sighed as I looked into her questioning eyes. This was the pony that had become an alicorn by the power of her own magic, and whom had been trained by Princess Celestia by hoof? Twilight knew Canterlot like the back of her hoof, yet one would have never suspected the way she had been galloping down the streets and palace corridors excitedly making suggestions for improvement. It was as if she didn’t know what to do with her-self. Wasn’t a princess supposed to know things like what she wanted for lunch?

I looked into her eyes and continued, “I would suggest, speaking with Princess Celestia before doing anything to the Library, My Lady. She is quite fond of it, and many sections seem to common places for her to visit.”

She seemed relieved that she had gotten some genuine feedback from me and immediately began rambling again, “Of course, you’re absolutely right Crimson. If I made it so everypony could get in at anytime the Library would become incredibly overcrowded. And if it too overcrowded, it would disrupt the work the important work some ponies are doing there. What if we could set a priority system with cards or…”

Though the Princess seemed to be talking to me, I knew she had already gone back into her own world, and there was no pulling her out until she came across an area she wanted my opinion in. And in all honesty I was being a terrible Royal Advisor.

I furrowed my eyes at the title. I had originally thought that now that Twilight had ascended to a level on par with the other Princesses’ own, Celestia would have seen fit to make me her newest personal student. This line of thought had been nearly confirmed for me when I had received a personal message from the Sun Princess while saying farewell to Sky Dive. As soon as my pegasus friend had started flying east, back to Fillydelphia, I had rushed to the East Tower to be granted my new role as her personal student. It was when I heard the title ‘Royal Advisor’ my heart nearly leapt out of my throat. I hadn’t thought myself capable of being somepony who could give advise to Princess Celestia, but if she had thought I was ready then I would have been ready to try my best! But at the words Princess Twilight Sparkle, my expression had become one of blank emotion, while inside I fought bitterness and hurt.

Of course she got the special treatment, she was a princess after all, but I was the next in line in Magical Studies! Heaven’s I had beaten Twilight’s scores on certain exams. And as for the ‘Magic of Friendship’ I had been a friend with Sky Dive since before he gone to Flight School and I had gone Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns. So why was I now the new princesses’ lackey?

Princess Celestia had assured me though it was an important role to fulfill. “Princess Twilight needs to have ponies that can be her friends and support her during this large change in her life,“ the princess had explained, ”She has more power than a lot of ponies have ever had throughout history. And now that it will be harder for her friends to see her as frequently as they had before, she will need everypony that can to treat her like one of their own friends. And who knows maybe you two could become close friends? I seem to recall you two getting along rather well in Magic Kindergarten.”

I didn’t know if you would call me turning her Smarty-Pants doll into a frog-doll and her in return turning my mane into a candy corn all over a dispute for who got play on the swing during recess, ‘getting along’. My hair had been sticky for weeks afterwards.

Still, I had seen her expression, as she waved her friends off at the train station. Although, Ponyville wasn’t that far away from Canterlot and Twilight not only had royal transport but her own wings and magic to get her there, she had known she would be busy with her new royal duties and have a hard time finding time to wander of far just lunch or a friendly visit with her friends. She had been sad, behind her cheery smile and her promises to visit as her friends congratulated her Princess-hood again and again, I had seen the glimmer of tears. It wasn’t like they couldn’t still be friends, but with the Rainbow Dash leading the weather team, Fluttershy’s veterinary practice, Rarity’s custom boutique, Applejack working Sweet Apple Acres, and Pinkie Pie… making cupcakes... it would be difficult for them to visit Canterlot, and harder still to do it at a convenient time for Twilight.

However, all that aside, why did I have to be her friend? And with her dragon assistant in Ponyville for the day, overseeing the move of her highness’s clothes and personal items to Canterlot, I had the pleasure of keeping her majesty accompanied by myself for the day. ‘Yay…’

The new princess was currently studying a suit of armor and muttering under her breath as she poked at the plates that had been elegantly overlapped with each other to protect the pony wearing it.

As I caught up to her I heard, “…no need for so much of this stuff. I mean sure we have Changelings, sometimes dragons, and griffon raiding parties; but I don’t understand why we have so much military equipment.”

“ITS IS FROM THE WAR 1000 YEARS AGO, My Lady” A booming voice sounded from the suit of armor to the left of the one the Princess was studying.

To me the voice had been deafening, and I had been a good distance behind the princess. I was genuinely worried she may have been rendered permanently deaf, or even at that proximity had her brain damaged.

She had immediately leapt back and was now rubbing her ears with her hooves as she rest her head on the purple carpet rolled through the corridor. “Ow, ow, ow” she whined. I couldn’t blame her.

“Lady Twilight, are you alright?” I asked lending her hoof.

“What?” she shouted seeing lips move but not catching what I was saying.

‘Oh fantastic,’ I thought as I looked down at the all-powerful alicorn painfully caressing her ears.

‘Great job as a Royal Advisor Crimson Barrel, first day on the job and the new princess goes deaf. Honestly put forth your best hoof forward there didn’t you?’

Ok getting frustrated with myself wasn’t going to work. I looked over at the bat-winged guard next to the old suit of armor. He at least had the decency to look bashful about seeing the Princess in obvious pain. Pointing a hoof at him I shouted, “Don’t just stand there! Go get your Princess, whom you just deafened, some help and don’t blow away anyone you ask for it either!”

The guard spread his leathery wings and in that half-glide, half-gallop fashion that flyers had began to move down the corridor. As his tail disappeared behind the corner, I turned to the purple mare on the floor.

“We are getting you help,” I said making sure to speak slowly and enunciate all my syllables in front of her vision.

“Help?” she shouted back at me sitting up all of the sudden her wings going wide. “Oh, don’t worry that won’t be necessary.”

‘Oh, great now she was going to be difficult.’

“Listen,” ‘great word choice there Crimson’, “You need to take it easy, I think you need help otherwise you may go deaf.” Again I had spoken slowly and moved my lips around each word before the purple princess’s eyes.

“Oh, I see, don’t worry I got it!”

‘You what?’ I thought as suddenly a purple shimmer surrounded the alicorn’s horn, and then spread to her ears. After a moment the purple glow faded and the mare visibly relaxed. “Ah, much better,” she sighed in relief, “That certainly caught me off guard, but after an encounter I had with Princess Luna one Nightmare Night, I thought it might be useful to find a spell that could help heal eardrums.” She gave me an actual grind and then said, “I think I might, ask Princess Luna to not have her guards use the Royal Canterlot Voice indoors, or maybe to at least tone it down to a more bearable level. What do you think Crimson? Crimson?” her eyes looked into my face questioningly for what must have been the hundredth time that morning.

Stunned all I could reply was, “I think that would be a wise decision your majesty.”

Smiling the Princess turned and began to once again trot down the corridor, glancing over everything she passed like it was something new. Still in shock, I simply fell into step, behind her as my nerves began to unwind, and I realized just how tense I had gotten when I had thought I had failed my task as both advisor and friend to a princess. I calmed my breathing and tried to ease my heart to a more comfortable pace. As we walked towards the corner at the end of the corridor, I saw the bat-winged guard turn it towing behind him a unicorn wearing a nurse’s cap carrying a white kit with a red cross on it. Now it was my turn to smile bashfully as he looked between the princess trotting casually through the courtyard and the unicorn that had just blamed him for deafening her. The look on his face turned to confusion and then to one of frustration when he looked at me. “The problem, has been resolved,” I amended,” Thank you for your quick reaction, to royal needs.”

The guard turned and shrugged apologetically to the nurse, and they both were still standing there as Princess Twilight and I rounded the corner, and they disappeared from view.

After we had turned the corner the purple alicorn turned her head and with a smirk asked, “Hey Crimson? Did you really ask a deaf person to listen?”

I snapped my head away and began observing the tapestries on the wall, as if I was going to be examined on their every detail in the near future.

“Ahem,” I cleared my throat, “I don’t recall My Lady. Heat of the moment and I was simply too worried to remember such a thing as my word choice.”

“Aw, well thank you for being so worried about me. You really are a good friend. And I was worried when I told Celestia you still might be upset over the whole candy-corn-mane thing in Magic Kindergarten.” I assumed that she must have been smiling when she said this, because I was too busy blushing and looking everywhere but at the purple mare to notice.

We walked for a little ways longer trotting in silence as I did my best to keep my gaze from ever crossing the princesses’ path. She was still studying the castle surroundings, but as I occasionally glanced at her, I saw she was moving slowing and swinging her head with less fervor than before.

“It has been a long time, Crimson. How have you been?”

The sudden question from the princess made me stop in my tracks. After a bit she caught I wasn’t following in her anymore and stopped looking back at me. “Is something wrong?” her voice was even but there was a genuine trace of concern.

‘Who was this mare?’ I thought puzzled. She still has the same egghead, as before, but where was her tendency to overreact? Where was the lone-scholar attitude? Did she actually care for others now? Had she really expressed a sense of humor when she pointed out the irony of my phrasing?

‘This definitely wasn’t the Twilight Sparkle I had know during Magic School. Was it becoming a Princess, or perhaps maybe in her time in Ponyville, she really had learned a something about friendship.

“No, nothing. Just… it’s nothing.” I finished lamely as I began to trot up to her ready to continue with our tour of the royal palace.

She slowed down her pace and feel into a slow walk beside me no longer looking over the old suits of armor or tapestries that aligned the walls. “You really were still upset about the whole candy many incident weren’t you,” she said in a sad tone.

“Huh?” No, I wasn’t. Well, maybe a little, it had been really sticky. But that had been ages ago and I could let bygones be bygones couldn’t I? “No, not really. I just never really thought you cared about anypony not hundreds of years long gone or written in your books.”

The princess gave the floor the same the sheepish smile I had given the guard I had reprimanded for a crime he hadn’t meant to commit. “I was like that. A few years ago, you would have been just another pony in my class. Another pony I barely knew save your name and that you were a potential rival. But I like to believe that I’m not quite the same pony I used to be. Ponyville was good for me, and I believe Princess Celestia had known it would be when she sent me there. Because, more than anything, I know that’s what changed me most is my friends.” As she finished she looked up and forward, and I knew she was imagining their faces before her.

I felt a pang of guilt for the ill thoughts that had plagued me earlier. I had seen her near tears at the sight of her friends departing, even with the knowledge she would see them again. Those friendships had given her a gentler and less inward-focused demeanor.

“I see,” I said looking forward as we continued our slow pace, “In that case, I would like to apologize for turning your doll into a frog toy.”

She turned towards me and smiled saying, “Apology accepted. I’m sorry for turning your mane into candy.”

“Apology Accepted. And I’m sorry for calling you a ‘baby in all but diapers’,” I said turning to the purple alicorn.

“Consider it forgotten,” she said drawing a line with her hoof in the air, “I’m sorry for asking my brother to chase you guys away and float you into a tree, when I wanted to be alone.”

“Not to worry,” I said mimicking her gesture, “I’m sorry I put that glue-spell to your chair in class.”

“That was you!” The alicorn said suddenly her eyes going wide as her wings shot apart, and I saw the hint of a purple shimmer on her horn. I froze my hoof still in the air, a look of shock and fright suddenly covering my face.

Suddenly, she smiled and folding her wings, the shimmer on her horn disappeared. Then she gave a laugh “Hahaha, you should see your face, you look like,” she made a ridiculously over-horrified face and held it until her smile broke it. “Haha, I knew you had done that, which is why I kept magically making your mane sticky long after that candy corn incident.”

And I was apologizing to this mare? What the hay!

“Well,” I said returning my face towards its normal blank expression, “I guess we can let all bygones be just that.” I said evenly and begun to trot once again down the hallway.

“Oh, I was just pulling your horn,” the princess said now trotting up beside me. Turning her face towards me she said, “You, need to not be so serious that’s another lesson my friends taught me. Life has its ups and downs, but if you take everything with stress and never laugh at the little things, you go a little… crazy. At least, that’s what happened with me.”

At that I did smile, because I could recall a unicorn mare that would begin flinging spells wildly and grossly overestimate the magic needed for a spell because she had gotten frustrated after not being able to complete it on her first time. One such incident I remembered involved the unicorn instructor sprouting leaves instead of the ficus we had been working on growing taller. But still…

“I’m not always serious, just…” I petered off unsure of my wording.

“Just when you’re dealing with somepony you don’t really like,” she said again falling into a sad tone. Despite what I witnessed in her drastically different personality and the moment of apologizing for past wrongs, I didn’t tell her she was wrong.

“Do you have any friend’s Crimson?” Twilight had suddenly turned and was now looking out a window with a view over the shimmering city of Canterlot as the sunlight reflected off the polished marble and gleaming stone.

“I do, a pegasus named Sky Dive has been my friend for most of my life. I’ve known him since before I went to Magic School. Our mothers had been best friends and we spent a great deal of time together.” I answered stopping as well, but not joining her beside the window.

“How nice,” she sounded like she meant it but I couldn’t see her face from where I stood, “Wait did you say Sky Dive? Wasn’t that the stallion that was flirting with Fluttershy at the party last night?”

I nearly choked. The thought of Sky Dive flirting, or even putting forth the effort to flirt was nothing short of hysterical! Let alone with a mare like Fluttershy. He wasn’t the most talkative pony to begin with, preferring to ‘pony watch’ from afar normally or take a nap in the corner. Sure he had acted a little strange and had dodged my remarks about his conversation with the pegasus mare, but flirt… I just didn’t think the pegasus had it in him.

“I extremely doubt that was the case,” I said stifling my laughter in my throat, “I think he may have mumbled something equivalent to ‘hello’ before she left to go back to you and your other friends. I think she had come over simply to get Pinkie’s alligator off my friend’s head.”

Twilight Sparkle’s head tilted up and to the side a bit as I finished. “Well that does explain, why she came back with Gummy, still having black and grey hair in his mouth. Also why she left to go talk to somepony at a party. She’s not a big socially outgoing pony, and usually doesn’t get involved with anything that doesn’t involve her animals. Of course, she also came back drunk, and had mentioned a ‘quest for an illusive bathroom’ involving the aid of a pegasus friend. And a zebra I spoke with told me of an alligator clad pony at the party, who according to her was ‘A pony to be garbed so was the strangest sight. Especially for one not seeking the limelight.’”

Had Sky Dive mentioned a bathroom adventure? It was just too ridiculous to believe. I was sure that the exchange between the two had begun and ended with removal of the alligator from my friend’s head.

Turning back to face me the purple mare smiled as she said, “Well Rainbow Dash was certainly flustered anyways, especially when she heard the name. Sound’s like your friend and some of mine have history.” She smiled gazing into what only she could see. “ I wonder what they’re doing right now?”

“Probably just still on the train. It only left earlier this morning.” I said reminding her that she had literally seen them not three hours ago.

“Oh yeah,” She replied giving an embarrassed grin, “Guess I can’t help but miss them already. Do you get to see Sky Dive often?” She asked the same way she had asked for my opinion so many times earlier that day from tapestries to lunch.

I simply answered, “No, not really. He works and lives in Fillydelphia, so it’s rare to see him more than twice a month.”

“Oh,” the princess said turning her head to look down the corridor, “I’m sorry to hear that.”

“You get used to it.” I answered evenly as she gazed onwards.

“I suppose you do,” the alicorn replied as she began to once again move through the corridor sweeping her gaze from wall to wall in a slow study of her surroundings.

Despite how she had changed; despite the wings bore now or the friends she had that she now missed, despite our minor moments of laughs and light-hearted talk, I doubted I would truly be this mare’s friend. Even if I was able to completely subdue my own jealousy at her being chosen for the best of everything and my anger at her inadvertently taking away my moment at being able to finally be tutored by the pony I admired most. Even if I could ignore, the slight pangs of a competitive drive I felt inside when I looked at the now royal Princess Twilight Sparkle. Even if I could do all that, I actually doubted that she had any desire to really be my friend at all either.

Bowing my head, I fell into step behind the Princess I was now supposed to advise and aid and wondered if this was truly, what Princess Celestia had actually intended me to accomplish with this task.

...

I had to admit the thought of coffee and doughnuts for lunch had been strange to me at first, but after the morning with new Princess the caffeine and sugary boost that rushed through me gave me a renewed sense of energy. I knew it wouldn’t last long, but like a calm moment in a storm it was welcome. And speaking of storms it looked like the pegasus were building a nasty one over Equestria’s capital, if the dark grey, water-swollen clouds were to judge by. We would have to make our way back to the palace soon otherwise be at risk of getting caught in the downpour.

I looked over to tell this to the princess, and stopped with my mouth half open. The purple mare had managed to cover not just her snout, but also the fur on her neck and cheeks in a thick jelly paste. This is what went for royalty these days?

“Your majesty, you got-“

“Crimson, please,” the mare interrupted me raising a hoof, “if I’ve said it once I’ve said it a thousand time: you don’t have to address me like I’m Celestia or Luna or Cadence; just call me Twilight or Twilight Sparkle or something less formal.”

‘How about your royal pain in my backside?’ I thought. Out loud I said, “Yes Princess Twilight.”

She sighed knowing it was the best she would get from me, “Yes, Crimson?”

‘Heh, she’d find out eventually.’

“It would seem a storm is brewing outside, I think we should get back to the palace soon or risk being drenched.”

“I know,” she said in a bored tone. “I don’t how but ever since I got these,” she raised one of her purple wings in reference, “ I can practically tell you the weather pattern for the day. We actually have another thirty minutes before it begins to rain and thirty-two minutes before it actually becomes a genuine storm. We have plenty of time to enjoy some time away from our work. I mean wasn’t like we were getting much done anyway with me fussing about little things like library schedules and ancient armor.” She finished and took a sip from the coffee mug hovering before her in a purple glow.

“Point taken.” I had to agree with the princess on this. The more time we spent away from a castle where we both felt useless, the better mood we would probably be in.

I looked around Doughnut Joe’s shop, and took in the familiar scene of tables crowded with ponies enjoying their food. The place still had the same look of an establishment that had brought it’s own theme instead of adopting one from it’s surroundings. The rounded coffee bar area, isolated booths with cushioned seats, and low hanging lights giving a soft glow over the bar and tables gave an atmosphere that seemed to reflect the owner’s accent. It was unique to Canterlot by giving its customers the impression they had walked off the street of the royal capital and into an eatery in the middle of downtown Manehattan. A little like teleporting, but entirely different kind of magic.

“I recall that we came here quite often, during our time in school. It was always a way to unwind after spending an entire day with your face crammed in a book or nearly blowing your horn off your head from concentration,” the princess said interrupting my thoughts.

Turning to look at her still jelly and frosting covered face I said, “By we do you mean that most of the students came here and gathered in a booth or at the bar, while you sat in the corner hidden behind another book?”

She sighed, “I suppose I do. I was pretty isolated, back then and cared way more for pushing my own knowledge and abilities than making friends. But like I said earlier, I’m different now. So can we move past the old, stuck up me?”

“Alright,” I replied. I felt like I may have pushed a little too hard. She seemed to be making a genuine effort for my sake to be polite and open. I could at least not poke at the newly anointed princess, isolated not by her own choice this time. Actually I was curious about some things.

“Princess Twilight, can I ask you some personal questions?”

The corners of her mouth lifted and leaning forward said, “Oh, of course. Sitting in silence is no way to pass a meal. It’s nothing about me before Ponyville is it?” her smile faltered a little at the end.

“No, nothing like that,” I reassured her. Her smile went back to being full strength. Somepony really wanted another pony to talk to. ‘Once you have friends I suppose it’s hard to go back to being a loner.’

“Well you mentioned, your new ability to predict the weather. Has there been anything else that’s changed, new magical powers, desire to spend more time up than down, can you walk on and manipulate clouds? I mean you are an alicorn now, the height of power anypony can achieve. So what’s different?”

“Oh, well that’s pretty easy to answer actually,” she cleared her throat. “I’ve noticed that I can walk on and move clouds. My wings do seem to have a mind of their own sometimes. Rainbow Dash actually warned me about that. It also means I do get claustrophobic pretty easy now to. I can understand now why the rooms in the palace have ceilings so high. I mean Celestia and Luna would probably never want to be in there if they felt trapped in the confines of their own palace.”

“That makes a certain kind of sense I suppose,” I said sipping hovering my teacup to my lips and sipping. Setting it back on the saucer I asked, “What about your magical abilities?”

“Well,” she blushed, “Celestia has been trying to tell me, that I was probably one of the most powerful unicorns to ever exist already. She said she was extremely happy I became an alicorn, because she said it would have been sad to see with that level of magic to not continue to higher levels.”

I tried to keep my face blank, instead of letting a frown cross my face. So, she had been one of the most powerful unicorns of all time? Well she had better have been, considering she never did anything but study magic. And that Celestia herself personally trained her.

“But now,” she continued, “I think the main change I’ve noticed is that I don’t have to put nearly as much effort or concentration into any of my spells, even my transformational magic. I turned a snake into a ribbon the other day, and I didn’t have to break focus from breathing. Well I did have to focus on it after a piece of fabric began trying to suffocate me. But the point was, I still have the abilities I’ve studied, but they are just easier for me. I get really excited at the thought of learning new magic that would have been impossible before, though and I can’t wait to see what Celestia has in store for me.” The purple alicorn’s seemed to be looking off in the distance as if on future events that had yet to transpire. I could her giving an unconscious smile.

Again, a wave of jealousy swept through me. I was a wonder my cheeks didn’t blush green. Her future just looked so bright compared to my own. I was to be a simple unicorn subject, but worse than that I was to be her simple unicorn subject.

“I do have moments where I perform some levels of magic I thought were impossible before.” She turned her eyes towards me and said in a low whisper. “Please don’t tell Princess Luna, but the other night I saw a star that wasn’t quite in line and moved it a bit.” She raised her coffee cup to her lips again and took a slow sip. I just stared dumbfounded.

‘She saw a star misaligned,’ forgetting for a second how ridiculous that concept alone was, she had moved it just to make it look more aesthetically pleasing, practically subconsciously, in all likelihood. With that kind of power how did she keep from sending that cup of coffee to the moon when she took a sip!’

“What is it?” she asked when she caught the way I was looking at her. “Do I have something on my face? I always end up doing that.” She raised a napkin to wipe her still jelly and frosting coated mouth, but I had ceased judging her by such simple standards. ‘A star,’ I was stuck thinking, ‘she had moved a star.’

“Did I get it all?” the princess asked me as she moved the napkin across her lips. “Yeah,” I said not really paying attention. “Come on you said we didn’t have long till it become a real bad storm.”

“Crimson, like I said we have plenty of time to make it back to the palace. Nearly twenty minutes before the first drops.”

“Of course Princess Twilight,” I said as I put down some golden bits on the table. ‘After all,’ I thought, ‘You are now the great and powerful Twilight Sparkle.’

…

‘Maybe not all that great and powerful! Twenty minutes my left hind quarter!’ I thought as I ran through the Canterlot streets trying to keep myself as dry as possible. Although to be honest the effort was already in vain. I was soaked to the bone and my fur was clinging to my skin, and my red mane hung heavily water laden over my face.

“I thought you said you could predict the weather!” I shouted towards the purple alicorn sprinting in front of me towards a covered patio area. As she galloped she would give a sweep of her wings and be launched forward that much faster for it. She reached the patio before me, and turned her own wet mane covered head towards me shouted. “I don’t know what happened! One second it felt like it was so far from happening and then the next I was hearing the thunderclaps! Sorry!”

I slid under the patio beside the soaking wet princess.

“Well, I guess we can wait it out until it finishes here.” I said trying to shake my wet mane from my eyes.

“That sounds like a well advised idea, royal advisor,” She said exasperated as she sat beside the wall the patio was built out of.

“I suppose so. Glad I could be of some service.”

I had begun wringing out my mane with my magic trying to get the water that had filled it out. It had begun to feel like I had soaked up an entire lake.

“Here let me help.”

Suddenly a purple glow danced in front of my eyes and I felt the loose grip of magic not just on my mane, but my entire body.

“Hey, what are you-“ and then a wave of warmth swept across my entire body. I had began at the base of my hooves and then crawled up to the tips of my ears.

As the glow disappeared, I gave a small shake despite how warm and dry I felt.

“Thanks,” I said turning to look out at the rain. I couldn’t let her see my face. I wasn’t composed at all, having my all body instantly overtaken by another’s magic had sent my mind reeling in a direction it had never had before. The alicorn princess had had me at her mercy and even if her intentions and helpful and harmless, she had engaged in my entire being in her magic without warning and with an ease that was nauseating to think about.

“Ah, much better,” I heard the sigh of relief from behind me. She had repeated the same spell on herself I supposed. I heard her hoof steps behind me then draw closer, and then there she was sitting beside me.

“Sorry, about getting us soaked. Feeling better now?”

‘No.’

“Yes, thank you,” I answered. Then a thought crossed my mind and I decided to voice it. “If you could do that spell the whole time, why didn’t you just waterproof us all the way to the palace?”

“Well, honestly I thought about trying to stop the rain first, but that seemed like a rude thing to do to the pegasus. Then I thought about the water resistance spell, but I didn’t think you would like that one, considering I haven’t figured out how to make it not airtight.”

I shuddered. This mare was going to haunt my nightmares. “I appreciate the thought.” I looked over the empty, wet streets. “Well I suppose we didn’t really have anything too pressing to get back to.”

“Yes, I think you’re right.” I felt a hoof nudge my shoulder and perkier voice say “Now tell me about this Sky Dive, will Fluttershy be having a special somepony this Hearts and Hooves day?”

I choked on air, as if my body had indeed been engulfed in that airtight spell.

“Well, you know how these things-“

“Why Twilight Sparkle, what are you doing out in this dreary weather?” A charmingly smooth voice rang out.

I was rescued. I turned to see whom my savior was and had to look up and up into yellow eye with pupils the color of my own mane. A serpent-like body towered of me and an unbalanced, horned head looked down upon me, as giant paw gestured towards the princess and myself. I had never seen a Draconequus up close before. I had seen this one from a far once in the royal palace being led by Princess Celestia and a company of royal guards. I had also seen the twisted statue that he had been on days I wondered the royal gardens. I had, like most ponies, thought the statue was an artistic ponies depiction of chaos, and had been done based on the ancient stories of Princess Celestia and Princess Luna fighting a powerful creature that forced chaotic events into existence and sowed his very namesake into pony’s heart’s during the earliest days of Equestria.

“Discord,” I heard the purple alicorn say coolly beside me. Something in her tone told me she wasn’t too pleased to be seeing one of most powerful being in all of Equestria simply wandering through the rainy streets of Canterlot. And on this, I agreed with her, what was Discord doing out and about?

Twilight voiced my thoughts as she looked up into the creatures face she asked “Why are you out in this weather? You’re supposed to be accompanying Princess Luna to the Eastern areas tomorrow, should you not be with her getting ready?”

Discord gave a make look of taking offense and gesturing to himself with a talon appendage said, “Why dearest Twilight, it sounds like you don’t trust me. Don’t you remember I’m reformed now? I thought we were friends.” He gave a smile that reached everything but his ears. His tone wasn’t quite mocking, but it sounded more like the one I used to address Twilight than an actual friend.

‘Gee, that was a depressing thought, I need to really work on the way act to the Princess I was supposed to be advising.’

“I remember. I also know how hard it is for you to break your old habits. I’m still finding quills that want to write Dearest Celestia; today I learned the magic of picking my nose. That’s not even funny to a filly.”

I had to quickly hide my smile. “Not even remotely,” I agreed.

Suddenly the grey pony-like head was right in front of me and those red pupils were boring right into my eyes.

“And who are you?” The way he asked could send shivers down a pony’s spine. The very way each word seemed to be toned hinted that not only did he not care about your answer, but that it was entirely insignificant in all things that mattered. I wasn’t something important or even trivial to him. He wasn’t asking to get an answer, he was telling me I was inconsequential, no matter how I answered.

He already knew the answer, of course, which is why he had asked the way he had. He knew my single greatest weak point and my fear and had tried to play it to his advantage, and it worked.

I took a subconscious step backwards and was only aware that I was retreating when a feathery wing was pressed against my back.

“Crimson Barrel is my royal advisor, and you would do well to leave him be. He is the strongest unicorn in the entirety of Equestria and I’m sure capable of a proper reforming spell if he has to.”

I was?

“Is that so?” the Draconequus’s gaze had never left me. “Well I guess we’ll see how long he last then.” He pulled his head back from mine and letting out a slow laugh that seemed to express anything but the normal joy associated with a laugh. “After all the royal life can get quite stressful.”

“I’m sure he can handle it.” An even tone came from behind me and the feathered wing pushed harder against my back, as if to give me the reassurance that its owner truly believed what she was saying.

How pathetic was I to need to be rescued from my own insecurities?

“Yeah,” I chimed in weakly. Pathetic.

“We’ll see,” Discord laughed again. “Now if you’ll excuse me your highness, I have appointment with the Princess of the Night and her patience as of late has seemed to thin.” Turning towards the streets the he conjured an umbrella, opened it until it pointed the wrong way and was ruined, and strolled off at a leisurely pace around a the corner heading away from the palace where he had said he was going.

“That… happened,” I managed.

“Come on, I think we can make it to the palace. He gave me an idea.” Two umbrellas appeared before us wrapped in a purple aura.

“Did you just conjure those from nothing?” I asked unable to hide the hint of awe in my voice. This day had really thrown me off, and I had still not fully recovered from an encounter with a creature whose words could carry the force of a spell that could bring down a house.

“No, I don’t know if I can go against the laws of nature quite like Discord can. They were the potted plants by the wall over there.

I wrapped one of the umbrellas in the red glow of my own magic and opening stepped into the rain. The alicorn princess opening her umbrella stepped up beside me. “Well, it’s been an eventful day. Let’s get back to the palace shall we? I think there is something I need to research in the library.”

“Of course, Princess Twilight.” I said letting her take the lead. “And, thank you.”

I said trying to put my sincerest thanks, as well as an apology for my behavior to that point behind the simple words. I think she caught some of it as she replied, “It’s just an umbrella Crimson.”
‘If only.’ I thought falling in line behind her at a steady pace, ‘if only that was all you had done for me.’
…
“She’s already left?” The purple alicorn asked one of the unicorn guards in gleaming armor as she magically wrapped a towel around her still wet mane. “Yes, Princess Twilight. Princess Luna left for Fillydelphia before the storm started.” The guard finished handing the Princess a tissue he had stashed under the front of his armor. Being an alicorn princess apparently didn’t keep one from getting the sniffles when your hooves got cold and wet
The alicorn princess then pressed the tissue to her nose and gave it a blow that sounded closer to the that of ship sounding its horn as it arrives into port rather than something that could come from a pony’s nose. Even the guard’s stoic expression faltered when his eyes widened at the sound.
“Thank you,” the princess said offering the tissue back.
“That’s all right, my lady, you can keep it,” the guard said putting up a hoof to decline her offer.
“Oh, well then, thank you,” Twilight awkwardly held the tissue in her magic for a second now unsure of what to do with blown out rag. Giving a slight smile, I decided it was time for my ‘royal advisor’ duties to start. “Thank you, Sergeant,” I wrapped the tissue in my magic and began to step through the door. “Princess Twilight, did you still want to go the Royal Library?”
“Yes, of course!” she replied. “Thanks again,” she said to the guard now forgetting the previous moment of awkwardness at the thought of the giant rooms lined with books.
The guard returned to his post with a silent salute and I threw the tissue into a bin behind the door. ‘Well, if I’ve done one thing right today I guess it had to be something trivial.’ I thought with a small smirk as I fell into step behind the princess as she walked with upbeat stride towards her favorite destination in the entire palace.
“Sky Dive lives in Fillydelphia, right?” I heard as we walked down the same curtains and tapestries that had been there this morning and centuries before that. “Yes, Princess Twilight. He and I grew up together there.”
“That’s even better”, she said suddenly. I turned around and looked at the smiling alicorn and managed to only let a hint of my confusion into my voice as I asked, “Better for what?”
The young princess trotted up to me and still smiling began explaining her plan. “Well, I’ve never been as far east as Fillydelphia and as a Princess of Equestria, I thought it would be shameful for me to not have been somewhere as major as Fillydelphia in Equestria. But that alone seems like a very selfish reason to go, so I was also thinking that since Princess Luna will be there on official business, starting tomorrow we can go and see if she might need any royal assistance. Not to say that she can’t handle anything or anypony herself,” she quickly amended with a small smile, “but as a new princess, I think it would behoove me to take note of how she handles situations outside the view of the royal palace. I’m sure she wouldn’t mind me listening to her council, or even giving me a few notes. But, “ She turned her eyes toward me, and I could see we were coming to the ‘even better’ part involving Sky Dive and myself.
“But,” she continued, “It would be a shame to travel all that way and not take the time to visit some of the residents of the city itself. And what better way to do that than start with somepony I know who lives there. Or at least the pony that will be guiding me through his former hometown knows.”
‘It made enough since,’ I thought. Even if her logic was more or less based on how little she actually knew.
I was silent for a bit; we were nearing the library and I had to figure out the best way to explain things. She still had a slight smile, but I could see the longer we walked in silence the more her smile seemed to slip. ‘Why did it have to be Fillydelphia?’
“Princess Twilight, can I be honest with you,” I began as we rounded the last corner on her trip and were left in a high ceilinged hallway with multiple arching windows made of marble looking out over the green gardens of the Canterlot Castle. The library was two-doors down, near the center of hall, and a white-coated unicorn standing at attention was currently guarding its door. I stopped as we rounded the corner staying out of earshot. It wasn’t that I didn’t trust the guard, but I had no intention of letting my life story become a rumor in the castle, and all it took was one misheard fact by a guard that becomes just another pony after his shift, spreading misinformation.
I looked into the purple eyes of the alicorn princess and saw a touch of worry. “Fillydelphia, well, I don’t really consider it home,” I started with the truth, “I left for the Unicorn School of Magic as soon as I could, and that was the same time Sky Dive left for Flight School. Despite growing up there, nothing has ever made me happier than leaving behind that place. I know it should have significance to me that that’s where my blood is from, but I don’t have any family left there, except Sky Dive. And to be honest, I have never visited him. That being said, I don’t know if even he really wants to be there, or if he is only there for his work as a weather pony. So I ask of you princess, would you please reconsider going?” I finished, a little lamely as I turned my head towards the library door to see the guard pony still standing his post.
“Crimson?” Turning back I saw the look of concern that the Princess wore and began to feel a little ashamed of myself. ‘Why is the royal advisor, asking the princess to not do something simply, because he has issues letting go of the past?’ The thought stung.
“Okay,” she gave a small nod, the look of concern never leaving her eyes. She began turning towards the library and slowly trotting towards it. “If you think Fillydelphia, too far for a side visit, I’m sure we can meet some nice locals that live on the eastern side of Canterlot. I would like to know how the trade ponies are doing with the influx of apples this season. Besides, I’m sure Princess Luna has it all under control, and we might just get in the way of her visit.”
I began to follow slowly, a shameful relief spreading through me, for the second time today.
She approached the library door and the guard, broke his pose to open the great wooden door for the alicorn princess. I turned my face away for just a second, to let all the pain melt off it. Just a second so that, nopony would see the horror in my eyes as memories of crimson flames danced before them. Then I turned back, the pain and remorse gone, my face blank as a newborn’s flank. The guard continued to hold the door and I gave him a small nod of thanks as I passed into the library antechamber.
Twilight was over by a small wooden table, holding a quill within her magic. As she brought the quill, down on a page within a large book covered in the countless names of other ponies, that had passed through this hall to the library beyond she remarked, “Sunset Shimmer has been in here three times in the past two days. She’s starting to make us look like we weren’t even trying to study when we were in school.”
“Hmm,” I only gave a small noise of acknowledgement, my mind was everywhere, but on the mare that reminded too much of myself when I had met her. Like me, I knew the reason for her hard was because she also felt like she was being left behind, and hidden in the shadow of another pony. More and more, though, I felt the dark feelings of jealousy leave me as I followed the pony that would probably never be topped as Celestia’s crown pupil.
I wasn’t paying attention to that pupil though and nearly ran straight into her, as she stopped near the entrance to the library. “Umm, Princess Twilight?”
“Isn’t it amazing,” she answered not really asking my opinion, but stating her own. I looked around at the shelves upon shelves of scrolls and books. Some were in pristine condition and neatly organized, while others seemed to be a mess of papers, a victim of the students of the magic schools late night study sessions. Most of the grand windows were open and the giant, royal-purple curtains pulled back to let the light from the sun drift over the giant tomes that were so big they stood on their own pedestals.
The multiple hues of the books covers, created a sort of dull rainbow in the large space, and this often had the effect of making newcomers to the palace library spin around in place taking in the room till they were too dizzy to stand. I knew of a purple unicorn mare that had once spun around so fast she had turned green and very nearly got sick. Of course, I hadn’t fared much better, I had spun around and run straight into a giant globe of the world, causing it to spin wildly, and myself to end up on the ground, as it gave way under my hooves.
“It is at that,” I replied honestly, “but haven’t you been here hundreds of times? I’m actually sure that Twilight Sparkle counts for more than half the sign-ins in the library ledger.”
“I’m sure it’s not nearly that much,” she said waving a dismissive hoof. ‘I’d actually still make that bet if it ever came to a count,’ I thought to myself with a smirk.
“But,” she continued, “This place has just never really lost its wonder to me. Just to think of the infinite knowledge that is stored in this section alone. I could days in here just going through the books, and I have. It used to be all I did, and I barely have made a dent in this room alone. It’s just so much…”
“Well, you have time now, if you want to…” I began but stopped as the young princess turned her eyes toward me.
“I would love nothing more than to fall right back into that habit, to fall back into the embrace of knowledge and learning.” She looked away, towards the shelves for a second; almost regretfully she pulled her gaze away and back to me. “But, I know what that can do to a pony now. How it can keep somepony, from blossoming into their full potential, or for them to not realize the importance of other ponies around them. I never would have had my friends, had Princess Celestia not had the foresight to push me out of the library to Ponyville. I wouldn’t have discovered the magic of Friendship. And when I think of it like that, I wouldn’t have become the princess I am now thanks to that magic.” She finished somberly. Her voice had become quiet and her eyes seemed to glisten with a small bit of moisture, but she gave a small smile.
“And speaking of being a princess, I have royal duties to attend to now, as well. I can’t afford to spend all day and night in here alone.” She finally looked away towards the tomes and scrolls around the room.
‘The studious and knowledge hungry unicorn, I knew was still in there somewhere, but that was not the pony I was looking at now. I was looking at a Princess, and a pony that understood the nature of the world far better, than any of the ponies that spent day after day crowding these aisles. And I just couldn’t help myself.
“You don’t have to stay up here all alone, Princess.” I spoke in my most consulting tone possible. “As your royal advisor, I believe it is within my duty to accompany you as you seek knowledge to better yourself. Also, it I believe it is within my duties, to aid you in knowing when it is time to move on to the next appointment on your schedule.” I finished giving a smile to the purple alicorn that had turned towards me with a surprised look.
I stepped forward towards one of the chairs that had books piled atop and began levitating them out of the way. Suddenly the books fell to the floor with a loud bang that sounded like a canon compared to the previous quite in the room. My magic had slipped for the first time, in a very long time, and it was due to the two purple hooves suddenly wrapped around my shoulders.
“Thank you, Crimson,” I heard too close to my ear for comfort. As I gave a little squirm, the hooves released their grip.
“Too much?” a soft voice came from off to my side. I still hadn’t moved. I was utterly frozen in place.
“Just a bit,” I said trying to calm myself enough to keep the hairs of my mane from standing on end.
“Sorry… Umm, I’ll be over here in the history section if you need me.” I turned my head just in time to watch the purple tail of the mare disappear behind a shelf.
I gave a sigh, and began restacking the dropped books on a table nearby. Finally calming my nerves, I began my search for a book I knew I had once seen some time ago, but ignored because of its irrelevance to my studies.
As I searched, my mind drifted towards the encounter I had with the new princess. Magic of Friendship or not I still wasn’t sold. But still, I couldn’t give myself any reason to actually dislike her anymore. After all, the pony I had been, so jealous of was practically gone, replaced by one much kinder, happier, open, sharing, and true to others. I guess the future didn’t look as bitter as I had thought earlier this morning.
After, another minute of searching, I found the patchwork colored book I had been searching for. I levitated the book out and began walking it to the chair I had cleared. I noticed the book, looked not only older than some of the earliest books documenting the earlier periods of Equestrian history, but the patchwork that made the book appear to be a random collection of other books now seemed to be intentional and not the result of repairs to the cover as I had originally thought. ‘Makes a certain kind of sense, I suppose.’ I thought setting the book on a stand.
As I sat, in the chair opposite, I found myself thinking of Sky Dive in Fillydelphia. I was a little, depressed at how much of a coward I had been, and that I had not mustered the courage to visit my friend. But I knew if anypony understood, he would. Besides he was probably, busy with preparations for Princess Luna’s arrival with the rest of the weather team.
The thought of Sky Dive busy was enough to make me smile as I opened the book and turned to the first page. It read in slanted, sideways text, ‘The Chaos Theory.”

Author's Note

Well, this is it. As of this chapter Solar Empire vs New Lunar Republic will become a regularly posted story. I'd like to thank all of you that have taken the time to try out a story by a new author, and I hope to keep everybody interested in a story that has become one of my favorite parts of my week. Finally a big thank you to clydepony, for being both my editor and the one that encouraged me to start and continue this project.
With that, I'll see ya'll again on next week for Chapter 3.
P.S. If Google Docs messes up some of the formatting, I'll take it down and repost it with it fixed. Cheers!

Dark Clouds

Chapter 3
Dark Clouds
Sky Dive

“Oops,” I let out the involuntary noise as the cloud bundle I was gathering came loose from my grip and flew into straight into the faces of the pegasus ponies next across from me. I heard them began to yell as they became blinded by blanket of thick cloud cover, and then came the part that made me wince.
THUD. THUNK. “OW!” “WHAT IS GOING ON?” THUNK.
“SKY DIVE!”
I heard my name clearly, despite all the sounds of wings crashing against wing and ponies being wrapped up by others just trying to escape the cloud cover.
‘Well that was presumptuous of them,’ I thought, ‘there is no way they saw that I actually flung those clouds over there.’
I gave an exasperated sigh, and began to slowly and covertly remove myself from the scene.
Suddenly a loud, piercing whistle cut through the cacophony of wings beating against each other and stopped me mid-flee. A tan pegasus mare with a dark brown mane flew into view. She gave the scene a quick but thorough scan, taking in the now violently vibrating cloud cover, the large empty patch in the clouds that the mess had originated from, and then me. I still had a hoof raised as if I was going to start running away on the thin air. As the mare locked eyes with me I could only return her narrow, pointed stare, with a small, very sheepish smile.
‘Well I’m already in trouble, mine as well embrace it, and take the punishment. Leaving now might put me out of a job.’
I brought my hooves together and with a small swoop of my wings landed on a cluster of clouds and stood at attention. The pegasus above me, still had a frown around the whistle in her mouth, but her eyes seemed a little less furrowed as she turned away from me.
The mare turned towards the still trembling cloud cover, and began flapping her feathered wings creating a wind that I could feel even from my position behind her. The clouds slowly began to thin and then without warning a she put her head down and surged forward directly over the cloud cover dispersing the thick, white moisture completely with a definite PUFF.
The white curtain moved and I could now see the two mares and the male pegasus weather ponies with their mane wild and their eyes still spinning from their dizzying experience.
“Alright, fall in line team! Now!” The commanding tone, the tan mare flying overhead gave left no room for any disobedience. Snapping to attention the three pegasus recovered quickly at the order and formed up under and in front of the commanding mare.
Giving a sigh, I spread my wide wings and with a few swift pumps, I was able to glide to the end of the formation. I knew that if it weren’t for commanding presences hovering above us, judging all four of us with narrowed eyes, I would be the subject of three angry stares. Currently, though, the pony above of us had our full focus.
“Do you think this is your play time?” the tan mare shouted down at us.
“No, Commander, ma’am!” rung out simultaneously.
“Oh, is that so?” She said landing in front of the four of us. As she began to pace in front of us she was taking it in turn to give each everyone of us a questioning glare.
“So does somepony want to explain what is going on then? Now?”
Silence answered her.
That’s what I had to love about these team things. It’s always the team first then everything else, us against them, true comrades.
“Sky Dive, ma’am!” suddenly rang out from the line to my right. ‘Well so much for the group sleepover later,’ I thought to myself.
“What about Sky Dive, Tornado? Do go on.” The commander had stopped in front of a grey mare with a white mane, two down from me.
“Well,” Tornado started suddenly seeming uncomfortable with the commander’s gaze focused solely on her. “He’s continuously clowning around, an accidental lightning strike every so often is understandable, but mini-thunderstorms on top of our heads? And he is always asleep. If he is not taking a nap he’s searching for a spot to take one. I personally believe this unit, no this entire section would be better off if he was put on some task less involved, like tracking the migrating birds.” She had apparently found her confidence in my mistakes and as she became more resolute in her conviction of me, I found myself sinking deeper into the clouds.
As all the other pegasus nodded in agreement with Tornado’s conviction and the commander began to turn to walk towards me I nearly volunteered for bird tracking duty right there, just so I could escape the judgment that was about to come my way.
“Sky Dive!”
The commander stopped abruptly and turned to face me, and if her eyes could really do what they appeared to be doing I would have had two neat holes from the front to the back of my skull.
“Yes, Commander Ma’am!” I shouted with more resolution and confidence than I felt.
“What do you have to say about your units statement of you and your attitude?”
“Ma’am, it’s not entirely true, ma’am!” I replied aloud, but in my head my thoughts rang, ‘Wait what was I saying? Of course it was!’
“Oh? And what parts did you find untruthful?” The question was shot out like a flinging spear, with no way to dodge or block it.
“The part about my napping. I don’t have to search for a place to nap, any cloud in a storm will do! “
‘Why mouth? WHY?’
The commander’s eyes didn’t leave me. They stayed steady and locked onto mine. My legs were actually beginning to shift under me. Why was this mare so Tartarus-damned scary?
Then just as I was about to give in, when I was on the cusp of accepting fate and sulking off to fly with my fellow feather brains; the commander did something extremely rare. It was so rare in fact, that I believe I had only ever seen the act once before in my entire time in Fillydelphia. She smiled.
It wasn’t a giant ear-to-ear grin, but it held just enough humor to let all of us present see that it was indeed the genuine article.
“You got some mouth Sky Dive. One day it’s going to get you in trouble with somepony that doesn’t have a sense of humor.” She stepped back from me, relinquishing me of her gaze and my body was finally able to relax. I didn’t really know when, but apparently I had locked my knees and practically twisted my feathers into a knot.
“As for the rest of you,” The commander continued now waving a wing at Tornado and the other pegasus. “I’m growing tired of this complaining and excuse making. If I assign you a task I would like it complete sometime before the next change in seasons. Do I make myself clear?”
“Ma’am, Yes, -“
“But ma’am!”
The interruption made the commander whirl on the grey mare, now shrinking into the cloudbank.
“Tornado, I have already exhausted my patience listening to your whining, do you wish to continue to push my limits, and your luck?”
To her credit, Tornado was doing a more remarkable job than I could hold her courage in front of the commander. With what little conviction she had left she got out the words, “But Sky Dive-“
“But, Sky Dive, What? But Sky Dive is the only pegasus in the entire western Fillydelphia squadron to consistently produce the required thunderstorms on time every time. But Sky Dive has the ninth highest wing power score in Fillydelphia. But Sky Dive works himself to exhaustion moving ten times the cloud cover the rest of this unit manages to a day. But Sky Dive what, Tornado?”
With each statement, it was like an invisible hammer was pounding the small grey mare into the clouds like a pony shaped nail. It seemed to be at the point of the commander pegasus was looming over just a grey head with the rest of the poor weather mare buried in the clouds.
“But, n-n-nothing, ma’am. S-s-sorry ma’am.” The grey mare squeaked out, no longer able to meet the tan mares gaze.
“That’s what I thought,” the commander turned away from the cowering pegasus, and then with one last blast of her powerful voice she shouted, “Alright, I want this section cleared yesterday fillies! If this cloud cover isn’t thinned out by the time Princess Luna makes her presentation for the harvest moon tonight. You won’t just have to deal with me, but the Princess of the Night and her Royal Canterlot Voice. If any of you kiddies think you can handle that you’re quite welcome to continue to clown around and keep your head in your tail. Now move!”
“Ma’am, Yes, ma’am!” We shouted in unison.
The other pegasus lifted up and began to move the clouds around us with a sense of urgency, that would have made you believe the Princess of the Night herself was already bearing down on them with her watchful eyes. As I tensed up to take off and join them a strong hoof held me in check.
Turning I saw the commander looking at me and with a shake of her head, she said, “I have another task I believe you would be better suited for. And honestly I would hate to come back here and break up another mess. Even my throat gets sore after having to deal with the amount of disturbances you cause.
“Yes, ma’am.” I replied, immediately becoming downcast. I had had a feeling those things about me being one of the more useful weather ponies was just a way to get Tornado to stop complaining and stop the train of disobedience in its developmental stages. Now it was time for my punishment. ‘Well, maybe if I was lucky, I would only be reassigned to a lesser position. In all honesty, helping the birds with their migration wasn’t so bad. Except for the Geese. Those feather brains were more aggressive than ornery dragon, and more stubborn than a buffalo about their flight formations. And they were not shy about nipping the careless pegasus in the tail.’
I let these thoughts drift through my mind as the Commander led me towards the hazy city center of Fillydelphia.
The one downside to working in many of the cities in the eastern parts of Equestria was the constant haze and smoky air above and around the city. But it came with the territory and this territory was the hub for industry. Rails, horseshoes, farming tools, tea kettles, etc. the vast majority of the products desired and needed by all the working and upper class ponies alike were manufactured in the burning, churning factories below. Fillydelphia wasn’t the only example of this, but it was one of the best.
Many ponies to the west, would dare to call the pegasus of such cities the laziest bunch of featherheads you could ever be tasked to work with. But any citizen of a city like Fillydelphia, unicorn or earth pony (honestly, mostly earth pony) would tell them to stuff it. They were thankful for the pegasus that choked down the foul air, and made their best attempt to clear the smoggy skies, and keep the many chimneys and smokestacks clean.
We weren’t lazy so much as we had to make sure to take regular breaks and lie down low for cleaner air, lest we risk suffocating to death or catching black-lung. I shuddered at the thought of the sickness that had caused too many overconfident, and hard working pegasus to be driven to the brink of death. Each breath rattling in them as if it would their last, which so many times it seemed their last breath came too soon. Lazy didn’t describes us, more like suicidal and idiotic, but those of us that wished to live long, miserable lives made sure to bed down low and often, and the habit dies hard, even when some us of went west to help weather storms or bird migrations.
As we broke the dark grey layer to a landing platform with a large covered fan that created a welcoming, air cleaning gust, I noticed that the commander entire body, even her upper legs and hindquarters were covered by her full, dress uniform. Honestly, I had been so focused on her intimidating gaze before, I hadn’t paid that much attention to her attire, but now that I was, my mind staring puzzling over the reason that she would already be in full dress, when we had till tomorrow evening before the Princess arrived.
A surprise inspection by the Chief Weather Officers would explain her impatience. Setting an example ahead of time for the rest of pegasus, no, it was still too early for even that. Expecting a special somepony? I nearly choked at my own thought process.
“Sky Dive, you didn’t breathe too heavily on your down did you?” she questioned at the small noise I had made. Her voice was calm but stern as it cut into my thoughts.
“No ma’am.” I replied swiftly, stifling a cough so hard my throat began to become sore.
“Well, I’m surprised, you were controlling your breathing at all the way you were staring at my hind quarters,” her voice still calm, still even.
I, on the other hoof, barely coughed out a “No ma’am. I wouldn’t,” COUGH, “dare ma’am.”
As I hacked out through my raspy throat, the Commander turned and with that smile that showed only the slightest bit of humor she said, “How disappointing, I used to be able to accidentally give a stallion black lung with a tail twitch.”
I couldn’t breathe.
As the commander turned around I made a quick retching noise, as softly as I could and forced fresh air into my starving lungs. I could only hope I didn’t hear a soft rattle as I breathed out.
“I didn’t mean to stare ma’am,” I finally coughed out, “ I was just curious as to why you are in full dress uniform already.”
“Oh, is that all?”
Did her voice ever break that low, even tone? ‘Oh, yeah, when she shouts us all half to deaf.’ I was beginning to imagine this soft voice was the one she solely practiced away from the pegasus she commanded. ‘Probably so that at the end of her career she still has a voice left to use,’ the thought seemed to make sense, I couldn’t imagine her vocal chords lasting more than a few years at the rate she had to yell at me.
“You’ll see, soon enough,” she said turning inwards towards the door ahead of us. I knew the building we were on was called the Inner Government Building. It was one of three grey, fifteen story buildings that formed a triangle near the East most side of what one would consider the ‘heart’ of Fillydelphia. Of course, this group of buildings was so removed, because Fillydelphia heart was clogged, and choked with a thick cloud of smug and grime no pegasus team could remove. That fact had been proven when one of the largest wings of pegasus ever formed tried to tackle the task and within two months had made so little difference to the city, but caused much more damage to their bodies. Fur missing, teeth falling out; skin practically dyed ash-black, and a never-ending rattling cough.
Hence, the three central building that were the center of order for Fillydelphia, the Inner Government Building, the Inner Industrial Standards Committee Building, and the Inner Equestrian Welfare Building were located East and downwind of the city center.
We silently walked down the hallway to a door that contained a lift that carried ponies (mostly pegasus) down through the smog to the areas of the city below it. As the lift doors closed behind us, our slow descent began; the Commander turned and looked over me quickly.
“I suppose you look decent enough. At least you don’t appear to be too covered in filth.” She said giving dark fur a quick pat at which some of the cities permanent coating of dust lifted softly into the air, seen hovering the dull glow of the lift’s magic, flameless lumo-bulb.
“Advantage of having a dark colored mane, nopony could ever tell my fur was originally pink.” I let out the reply a little more casual than I would have normally around an officer, but this was far from normal, and my awkward and sardonic sense of humor was the only thing keeping me from going mental at the moment.
“There’s the sense of humor again. I’m curious Sky Dive, just how many times have you been bucked in the jaw for what comes out of your mouth?” The commander’s tone implied no answer was needed, but…
“Couldn’t tell you. Lost count one evening at open mic-night at the Swaggering Goose, some ponies can’t take a joke about the redundancy of smoking Zebra-Tobacco, when there’s already enough smoke for everyone to have plenty, without losing money in overseas trade. Of course, I meant no offense to the zebras.” I finished without saying that the joke was, however, directly pointed at a group of too old to be foolish ponies trying to sell their tobacco products to the new workers, just then leaving the stages of childhood, and already experiencing the choking sensation of the factories.
I got a sideways look from the Commander. Then a sigh, “Like I was saying, big mouth, big talk, get bucked.” She then gave me a soft look like I hadn’t really seen in her eyes in what seemed like ages. The look made me swallow any retort I was going to make and stay silent till she finished speaking, in her softer voice. “Sky Dive, you are all those things I said out there. I wasn’t just yelling at Tornado to shut her trap. Although, I enjoyed it,” a small smirk formed on her lips, “I swear only pony in Equestria with a mouth bigger than yours. But,” she continued a serious look sharpening her features, “They were true.
“You have an amazing amount of strength for a pegasus, even a stallion of your weight class has trouble bearing the loads you can muster up. And your air spinning technique to create the thermal drafts to create a genuine thunderstorm is unparalleled in the Fillydelphia region. You could be a petty officer in the storm front division if you just played your cards right. But instead,” the soft voice took a slightly more sober and sad tone, as if she wasn’t the stern Commander any more, but a concerned elder. “Instead,” she continued, “you mouth off to your superior officers, you take too long to report for duty, you have multiple demerits, plus you’re constantly causing a mess for the ponies that have to work around you. Your reputation with many ponies in some parts of town would have us believing you to be a good, sturdy young stallion. Others, the ones our officers listen to, the ones with influence, say you’re a punk and a troublemaker. Despite my feelings on those ponies,” the way she practically spat the words influence and ponies had me believing she didn’t put much stock into what those types of ponies said about my character.
“Despite that, all you really have sometimes is shut your big mouth and keep your head down from time to time so you don’t end up working in the Dark Sectors for so long you breathe smoke like a dragon and your throat turns to ash. I loved your mother like a sister, and your father-“
She paused for a moment as she caught the slight flinch I gave. I wanted this talk to be over. I wanted her to yell at me again. I wanted off this lift. What the BUCK was taking it so long? I then realized that as I looked back up towards the still sealed doors, that a brown furred hoof was on the door release button. I began to let my frustration show on my face, and was about to ask the hoof’s owner to move out of my way, so I could storm off to Celestia knows where. When I turned to meet the tan face of the mare beside me all I saw were the tears and the pained face of somepony still feeling the hurt of a loss never truly forgotten.
The anger in me melted away. My frustration disintegrated into stuff like the ash that surrounded me, and permanently residing inside me. Now looking at the mare beside me I lost sight of the Commander and saw once again a mare I loved so much. “Aunt Feather,” I said extending a hoof and putting it around her neck. She didn’t say anything as grime transferred from me to her neatly pressed collar. I doubted she really cared at the moment.
“They would be proud of you. You know that Sky Dive,” Feather Duster said looking into my eyes that were on the verge of sharing in her pained tears. “Not of what you’ve done necessarily, but of the character you’ve developed in standing up for what you believe is right. You’re so much like him you know? You have everything but his wings. His were never as large as yours. I know he would be proud. And I know your mother would be proud of both you and Crimson.” She finished speaking and began to wipe away the mess her moment of emotion had left on her face. I removed my hoof from her collar and watched as the mare that had been there, the mare that had looked after Crimson and I so much in times past, the mare that had always ensured that I would have not just a place to rest my wings but a place to call home. I watched that mare, as she slowly replaced her mask and the mare Feather Duster became Commander Feather of the Fillydelphia’s Eastern Weather Division. She was almost gone completely again, but as her hoof left the door release button, she whispered, “After all this Equestrian Royal charade of a parade finishes, you’ll have to tell me all about your time in Canterlot and how Crimson is doing over a pint of hard cider.”
The Commander didn’t wait for a response and began to move from the lift to the left end of the next hallway we found ourselves in at a brisk pace. I simply smiled and fell in line behind the older, tan mare.
As we walked further and further into the building I was reminded on how little the bureaucracy of Fillydelphia put into eye pleasing aesthetics. While the Canterlot Palace seemed to have treasure around every corner and eye grabbing pieces of art, the Inner Government Building was mostly a grey hall, with the occasional obligational pattern thrown in, mostly, I imagined, just so the designer didn’t die halfway through the project out of sheer boredom. Tartarus, I was bored just looking at it! But it was either look at the wall or look at the bored and blank faces of the ponies that worked in the small rooms that stemmed off of every hall. I personally chose the wall even it was less bland. My mind found itself giving thanks for the few obligatory portraits of Chiefs of Staff, ponies that donated a significant amount to the construction of such a depressing building (could it had really been that much besides the lift?), or important ponies in Fillydelphia’s history.
I made sure to snide at Big Bucks’ portrait, the founder of the system that allowed for young ponies, nearly foals, to be lowered into the small vents and clean them. Of course, he hadn’t been too concerned about black lung for the young ones, or worse that they made sure to remove the burning coals before the ponies were lowered into the chimneys. “In the name of Industry,” he liked to declare, “what shouldn’t be allowed.” Of course, now that he was off in Canterlot with the rest of the successful ponies of the elite class, we didn’t see much him, just his infamous slogan and wide, smug portrait.
After passing a lone Equestrian flag at the end of yet another hall, with its golden sun and white moon split down the middle at its center and the shadows Princess of the Sun and the Moon in their respective field, we were at a large door. I had personally not been this deep in any of the inner three bureaucratic buildings, but it still came as a shock to me that I was looking at not just a large door abruptly ending a hall instead of a further maze of halls and office areas, but that the door was also ornate.
At least in the sense it had a pattern that was supposed to just let your eyes wander over it, but instead, carved deep within the wood was the same pattern as the Equestrian flag. I turned to the Commander, now she had my full attention. She gave a smile. Not the one that had been Feather Duster’s friendly, loving smile before, but the Commander’s sardonic smirk, “Looks like you made a big impression with one of the big ponies. Warned you about that mouth of yours, and you might really want to watch it now.”
The giant door began to swing open with a slow creaking moan, and my eyes nearly gave free of their sockets, as they fell on the giant, dark figure within. Her mane still shimmering like the beautiful night sky I had laid eyes on in Canterlot, and her entire presence seemed to force the focus of the entire room on her majestic demeanor. I found myself once again before the Princess of the Night, in all her beauty and awful splendor. She parted her dark lips as if to say something, but a sudden flutter of wings came from another side of the room, and cut her off. With a voice that carried the full boredom and anticipation to be doing literally anything else of the teal pegasus that owned it; Rainbow Dash, blowing her seven hued hair from her face, said, “Finally, the only weather pony in Equestria with a worst cloud clearing time than my pet tortoise, has arrived. Can we please get on with this? This place is lame!”
….
The room unfortunately did not live up to the door it had boasted at its entrance; it too possessed the same grey color and uninspiring patterns as the rest of the building. However, its shape was quite unique.
While the vast majority of the Inner Government Building focused on sharp right angles, this room was particularly oval in layout. This allowed for me to see all five of the ponies in the room with me, each one’s presence more mind blowing than the next.
The Commander was not included among this count, of course. After Rainbow Dash’s stellar introduction of myself Commander Feather shoved me into the room in the general direction of an empty seat and closed the door with a soft click behind her departing tail.
That number did, however, include Rainbow Dash, one of the single fastest ponies to ever fly in Equestria, and of course my old flight school dropout fellow. Speaking of flight school dropouts, the other of our number had graced us with her presence as well. Fluttershy was currently sitting so low in her rotating chair that her ears were barely visible over the table that dominated the center of the room. It was quite interesting to see both the docile, yellow pegasus and over anxious, teal pegasus together. It truly showed the level of difference in their individual personalities, as well as, exemplified the bonds of their friendship. I could never see myself being a friend with a pony so polar opposite of my sarcastic and relaxed attitude, at least Crimson (despite being a busy, know-it-all) had a fair sense of humor, and could roll with sardonic sense of humor, and even give as good as he got. But those two were another level of commitment.
The other pony coupling that was to my left and not so immediately across from me consisted of one glorious pony I had seen at a distance and another I had only ever heard of. I looked over to the regal, and tall figure of Princess Mi Amore Cadenza and to the shorter but strongly built, white furred unicorn beside her. I knew full well the unicorn was Princess Twilight’s older brother, the ex-commander of the entire Royal Guard, Prince Shining Armor. The look in his eyes seemed mellow, like he was at a completely relaxed state, but I recognized the slight tension of muscles under the neck. He was a pony of action and should anything happen in this small, rounded room I had a feeling he would be the fastest to react, not Rainbow Dash.
Then, of course, was the metaphorical dragon in the room; although, in fairness to the Princess of the Night, she was significantly more intimidating than any dragon I had ever known to exist. No dragon had come to rule a kingdom, because it was strong enough to literally move the celestial bodies in the heavens and change the entire world’s state of night and day. Princess Cadence had a beautiful, regal air about her. Fluttershy, though small, gave off an easy going feel of that whatever was on your mind concerned her just as much as it did you. Rainbow Dash felt like she was radiating with energy, and just the way she sat on the edge of her seat made my heart start to race too. And Shining Armor’s calm demeanor, and body like a coiled spring, put a little anticipation in every breath I took.
But none of those four ponies came close to matching the towering, dark figure of Princess Luna. Her regal attitude and persona were a natural state for her, and her poise and grace were unmatched by any pony this side of Canterlot. The way her eyes gazed around the room, it was as if when her eyes met yours she could see into your very soul; and all your burdens and desires and concerns and hopes became hers as well, like she took them into herself after she had been so close to you that you could have sworn your minds were, for an instant, one. The aura her mane gave off alone seemed to radiate enough energy to outshine a star. She caused the room to pulse with a low hum as the just the excess of magical energy she radiated, buzzed off into the atmosphere and coursed through those around the circular table, causing our hearts not to race, but skip beats with the rhythmic pulse of her energy. And though Shining would have been the fastest to react at the table physically, with Rainbow Dash a split second behind, it was clear that should the entire table erupt into flames, that before the Prince of the Crystal Kingdom could blink in shock, the Princess of the Night would have suppressed the fire and asked for everypony to continue as if nothing had happened. It probably, wouldn’t be even a reaction for her, just her natural ambient power controlling something infinitely small compared to what her normal burden was.
So naturally, my eyes were focused on the dark figure, with blue and starlit, flowing mane, that dominated the room in both size and sheer ambient presence. What I couldn’t understand was why every other pair of eyes around the table rested on my dark furred, dirty plot.
“Hey, Fluttershy, feeling alright? I tell you, I had quite the headache after that night, you?” I asked turning to the petite yellow pegasus across and to the right of me. Her eyes met mine and she gave me a nervous- half smile and a slight nod. I could barely see her head, though as deeply sunk into her chair as she was. Rainbow Dash gave her a sideways look, confirming that she did indeed know Fluttershy had quite the headache the next morning, and when her violet eyes turned to me, it was clear I was the pony to blame.
“How have you been doing Rainbow? I didn’t get speak with you at the party, and it’s been awhile. Oh, congratulations on becoming the element of loyalty by the way.” I knew it sounded lame, but I was nervous and deep silences were not comfortable for me.
Fortunately the compliment caused the teal pegasus to relax her gaze on me and actually began to wear that same overly confident smirk she had practically patented.
“Thanks,” she replied. “Although, it doesn’t really mean that much without the rest of my friends representing the other elements. But it is nice to be part of the action in Equestria from time to time.” Her tone held pride (how could it not, this was Rainbow Dash), but it didn’t seem focused on her so much, as a pride in what she was part of.
‘I guess she had matured too, I guess none of us are the same foals that dropped out of flight school.’
“Of course, I’ve been practicing flying though too. Did you hear about my Sonic Rainboom? I would venture to say that for a awesome flier like myself, being a part of the action, was something like my destiny.” She said with an air of confidence I was sure was only achievable by her, as she brushed aside some her multi-colored mane out of her face.
‘Well, matured might be too strong a word, perhaps grown up?’
“Yeah, quite the show from what I’ve heard. I heard you can do the practically on demand now,” I said letting her know I had been told of her talented showcase both in Cloudsdale as well as Canterlot, and that I recognized it as something special.
“You haven’t seen one?” She asked looking over to me. Something in her voice actually made it seem like she was a little disheartened by the concept of a pegasus missing out on seeing her splendid feat.
“Umm… No, been busy here mostly. I was too swamped with the rainy season to go to the fliers competition in Cloudsdale and I wasn’t invited to the Canterlot wedding, although I’m sure it was lovely,” I turned to the pink alicorn and white unicorn on my left giving them a smile. “Except for the army of Changelings, and getting kidnapped, and the city almost getting taken over… Yeah other than that it must have been great. I would have loved to have attended.” I finished a little lamely, my smile starting to falter.
“Indeed,” the Princess of the Crystal Kingdom spoke with a gentle smile. “Save for those minor hindrances, it was an amazing affair. So sorry you missed it.”
The funny part about the way she had said the last part was that it sounded as if she was genuinely serious, that she was in some way sorrowful not everypony in Equestria could have been present. ‘Interesting,’ I thought to myself as I noted Shining Armor rolling his eyes. He looked like he had heard this a thousand times before and wasn’t capable of giving the same reaction his wife was still giving, over a year later.
“Anyways,” I said turning back to the teal pegasus, still bearing a nervous smile, “You’ll have to show me some time. For old time’s sake, after all, I got my cutie mark as a result of you practicing your Sonic Rainboom all those years ago.” My smile got a little bigger as I saw the cheeks of rainbow haired pegasus turn a slight shade of red at my last statement.
“Indeed, it should be fun.”
I froze, in my seat as the dark figure of Princess Luna spoke her first words. I had forgotten that outside of the Royal Canterlot Voice, her natural tone was a soft, nearly rhythmic stream that flowed gently into one’s ears. But despite its softness, the five words she had spoken had drawn the attention of every pony in the circular room. When she opened her mouth, the rest of us listened.
“I am sure you are all wondering why I have gathered you here, especially when the Harvest Moon is not till tomorrow night.” She turned her head encompassing the entirety of the room in her starry gaze.
I was especially curious, considering I didn’t belong to any group of noteworthy importance. I wasn’t a member of the Royal Party, relative/friend to a pony in the Royal Party, or a wielder of an Element of Harmony.
“My friends and subjects,” she continued (guess which category I was), “There has been a grave threat made against the Honored Guest for the Harvest Moon Raising festival.”
Fluttershy, seemed to nearly faint into her chair. Rainbow Dash was already leaning out of hers as if to pounce on some invisible threat. Princess Cadence, though wearing a shocked expression kept a calm demeanor. To her side, Shining Armor moved visibly closer to his wife and his narrowed and a small frown formed on his lips. I, however, was so frozen in place I doubt my heart was beating when Princess Luna finished speaking.
“We don’t know who yet, hath made this threat against us, but of my Honored Guest, you are my most trusted and I felt that If any were to be targeted it would be one of us in this room. I would like to hear your thoughts on this matter which is why we are gathered here today.” The Princess of the Night finished again taking in the entire room, and letting her gaze carry the full weight of her words made eye contact with each pony around the table. When it came my turn, my reaction was only for a sharp chill to course down through my spine and for the rest of my frozen body to shiver slightly as it passed through me.
Silence weighed down on the room, as if a word spoken might break so fragile object that rested on the table before all of us. The silence itself was fragile and cool, like a thin layer of ice that was a wall dividing everypony from everypony else. And then, like such ice it was shattered by a torrent of questions and statements from the ponies around the table
“Do we have any idea where the information about the threat originated?” Shining Armor spoke up for the first time. It was then that I noticed that his voice though deep and masculine, held notes of someone used to speaking in a distinctly light-hearted way.
“If anyone tries anything, we’ll beat them into next week!” declared Rainbow Dash as she violently flapped her wings, threatening to launch herself into the air within the small confines of the room.
“Is it possibly some communication error?” Princess Cadence asked. “It has happened before, especially in foreign communications. Zebra channels in particular.”
“Why would Zebras come after Royalty?” Rainbow Dash asked in a way that implied it was more statement of disbelief rather than a question.
“Nopony is saying anything about a Zebra attack.” Shining Armor declared, raising a hoof to cut off Rainbow Dash.
“Exactly,” Princess Cadence said, “my point was that it could be nothing. But-“
“Nothing!” Rainbow Dash shouted from across the room. “Nothing doesn’t make a threat against royalty, nothing doesn’t try to put you on edge with fear and forces you to look outwards for some great threat, or have you forgotten Canterlot already?” Rainbow Dash’s way of speaking to royalty in her own way made me question, exactly how trustworthy she was with this secret. I was sure her intentions may have been good, but she was already causing frustration within the party that was supposed to be trying to control the situation calmly.
“I beg your pardon?” the pink alicorn let out in a high-pitched voice. Princess Cadence was clearly offended and now had lost focus on the threat that had been made and was about to argue about the threats of the past.
“Excuse me,” a soft voice squeaked from over near where Rainbow Dash looked ready to leap forward. If it hadn’t been for a brief moment of quiet, I was sure I never would have heard the voice of Fluttershy as she said, “Should, we maybe shorten the festival to give less time for an attack, and maybe move the schedule around to throw off any pre planned attacks?”
As I looked around the table at the other arguing ponies, I was sure I was the only one to have heard Fluttershy.
“How do we know it isn’t a spy already amongst the guest?” Rainbow Dash asked. I was sure she believed her tone to imply that she knew she was smart and had said something ingenious by her standards. However, I wasn’t sure that’s how it was taken though as Shining replied accusingly with, “What are you implying?”
‘What the hay is going on,’ I found myself thinking. These were supposed to be ponies of the upper tier, the elite, the ponies knew how the world worked.
The only one really like I expected her to, was Rainbow Dash, and although she was being a bit of a mule about it, she was bringing up some good points. Fluttershy, though, was too quiet to get involved to any point, where her one piece of sound contribution could be heard and the Royal couple seemed to be too defensive about the whole situation.
Not like I had much room to talk. I was so quiet and still, I might as well have been as stone pony decoration in the room. Which now that I thought about it, would actually have been a nice touch, particularly for a centerpiece on the table. As I looked towards the table, I saw the only pony in the room that was acting like a member of the Royal Party. The towering figure of Princess Luna looked calmly out at the room, like she was weighing every item that was said, and through the bickering was keeping her crowned head level.
As I looked at her, she met my eyes, and gave me a small smile. It was such a small gesture and so unexpected, that out of pure reflex I naturally, smiled back and said, “Kind of loud in here, huh?”
‘Yes, it is.’ the deep yet feminine voice that radiated into my head would have had me sprawled on the floor in fear, had the rest of my body not already conceded to being so petrified in terror, that I couldn’t breathe. ‘I planned to let them get it out of their systems but they are delaying too long. I wish to overlook the festival hall today and the rest of city this evening before the actual festival tomorrow.’
The dark alicorn must have seen the terror in my eyes, and how I was visibly shaking from the sudden penetration of my thoughts, because her next thought to me was, ‘I am sorry. I did not mean to frighten you. I was simply trying to communicate with you in a way that would enable you to hear me without interrupting the others.
I was amazed, awestruck, and terrified. This was yet another example of the level of power that an alicorn princess held, and it was one I had not at all been prepared for.
‘Can you read my mind?’ I thought at the dark figure. I waited, but all that I heard was the cacophony of the room of ponies arguing around me. ‘Maybe…’
“Can you read my mind?” I said aloud, but it was barely a whisper, inaudible in the din around me beyond my own lips. At least so I thought.
‘Not at present, but I can project some of my worded thoughts to you’
“Cool,” I replied aloud. The terror still present but not dominating the forefront of my mind anymore, curiosity had pushed panic further back and was encouraging me to ask questions now. Alas, the Princess of the Night’s next thought to me was, ‘Indeed. But I grow impatient with this trivial bickering. You may want to cover your ears, you know what comes next.’
‘Uh Oh’
I instinctively cringed as I put my fore hooves to my ears, and braced myself for what was coming. And sure enough, soon every pony in confined, reverberating room was clutching for their ears as well and trying to not pass out from a headache when the mighty Royal Canterlot Voice erupted with, “SILENCE! IT IS TIME WE STOPPED BICKERING LIKE FOALS IN THE SCHOOLYARD AND BEGAN TO THINK OF WHAT SHOULD BE DONE TO PREVENT DISASTER. ONCE WE HAVE THE CULPRIT, WE’LL SEE WHOM THE THREAT IS FROM. FOR NOW, THOUGH, I NEED IDEAS TO KEEP PONIES SAFE.”
Even braced as I had been, I was still shaken by the loud, reverberations that shook every bone in my body. I could only imagine how the other four in the room were coping at the moment, without warning. Looking around, I saw dazed eyes and hooves massaging ears as if trying to comfort them and let them know the pain was over. Poor Fluttershy was on the ground, shaking. But the way she wasn’t massaging her skull told me, she must have received a warning too. She just hadn’t quite let go of her ears in fright that there would be a second wave of vocalized thunder.
“Now, “ Princess Luna began, once again in her soft, rhythmic voice. “Does anypony have any thoughts to share?”
She turned her starry gaze once more around the room, towards all the trembling ponies, that were all silently praying for the pain in their heads to go away.
“Umm…” I spoke up quietly raising a hoof, ”What if we shortened the festival, to keep there from being less time to stage an attack, and perhaps moved some of the minor events around to keep the party making the threat from being able to act according to a preplanned form of attack?” As I spoke I looked over at the meek, yellow mare that had been ignored earlier. She was still trembling softly on the ground, and I found myself feeling horrible for her. Especially since I had just stated her idea, albeit a good one, as if it were my own. I opened my mouth to tell the room that I had heard Fluttershy’s plan when I was interrupted by a loud, but not booming version of Princess Luna’s voice.
“Yes!” She said raising a silver adorned hoof in my direction. Looking around the room she declared to all the bewildered ponies in the room, “This is why I asked Fluttershy about you! I knew you would be a good choice Sky Dive!”
‘What in Equestria have I gotten myself into?’

Author's Note

Hey, everyone! So it has been a long time since I posted a chapter; and that is mainly from getting real life priorities straightened out, like job! But with that taken care of post will be more regular. Once again thanks to Clydepony for being the editor that stays up late to read these things.
Thank you guys for reading!