"This is silly." Spitfire pouted. She was a decorated flyer and leader of the most acclaimed squad in Equestria. Yet here she was, letting her wingpony talk her into hiding in a bush.

Soarin's eyes were fixed to one spot. "I'm telling you something's going on." They sat, huddled under shrubbery on a hillside overlooking the outside of a castle wall. In the field beneath them, there sat a cobblestone well, which Soarin had insisted Spitfire drop everything to watch. "I was visiting an old buddy in the guard and when I was leaving I saw three guards jump down into it. I've been watching it ever since and they haven't come out yet."

"They're probably doing a security check," she said with an impatient wing twitch. "or maybe it's basic training punishments. You remember how stupid ours was? Drill Sergeant's probably making them scrub the inside of the well with their toothbrushes. Come on, we're gonna be late for training."

She was set to take off and Soarin rolled his eyes in begrudging anticipation of following her. Then, at the last moment before he turned away, he saw it. "There, look!" He pulled her over and directed her to the guard ponies exiting the well. "It's only the two of them. Where's the third?"

Spitfire had to admit it was strange, but her impatience was getting the better of her. "He probably told them to wait while he inspected their...and they're leaving." There was a notable lack of activity at the well without them. "We're gonna have to go down there, aren't we?"

Soarin got up and got ready. "You're call, boss."

She gave a defeated sigh. "Ok. Let's go be heroes." In effortless synchronization, the two took off, circled the well in a mirroring pattern, and looped into a dive straight down the well. It was dark, which made gauging the distance for a landing difficult.

They managed to touch down safe, but with a harder landing than expected. Soarin coughed. "Lot of dust down here. Shouldn't the bottom of a well be more damp," He took a moment to notice the ground at his hooves. "and have water?

Spitfire brushed herself off as she looked around. "Bone dry. Whatever happened to the water happened a while ago. There." She pointed to a large crack in the wall. It was large and, judging from the darkness, very deep. "This is where it would have drained into. Come on, let's see where it goes."

Soarin had natural reservations about wandering into a dark hole in a wall where it shouldn't be, but first and foremost he trusted Spitfire. "Right behind you, fearless leader." The two stayed side by side as they ventured into the crevice. Visibility got worse the deeper they went, but they had flown enough drills to know how to navigate dark, tight, spaces.

There was a shimmer that caught Spitfire's eye. "Torch ahead."

It was a small thing. Barely a branch that was shoved into the wall. Soarin puzzled at the thing. "Not much light coming off of it."

"Pretty far from the opening too." She furrowed her brow as the continued. "I think that's because whoever put them there didn't do it for the light, they did it to mark where they already were. Which would also mean..."

Soarin suddenly felt a chill. "That whoever put them there can see in the dark. Oh, boy."

Spitfire gave him a nudge. "Stay frosty, partner. Can't have my wingpony spin out on me. At least we know they're intelligent."

He chuckled. "That's true. Would need to be some really big and weird animal to make this. Like some kind of big vole, or prairie dog."

She rolled her eyes and smirked. "Maybe a snake or big burrowing owl. Ew, I hope it's not some kind of giant mole."

"Those ones what with the weird wriggly noses? Creep me right out, they do."

Spitfire smiled with a nod. "Exactly..." She stopped cold when she realized that wasn't Soarin's voice. The duo stuck close together as they turned the next corner. It opened into a larger chamber with more tunnels branching out toward the city.

There, sitting atop a makeshift stone bench, were three strange green creatures with red eyes that glowed in the dark. One of them, a very large one of them, stuck up his hand in a quick wave. "Good morning."

The two pegasi were on their guard immediately, but were undeniably confused. Soarin, not much for confrontation, took the invitation to talk. "Uh, hi. What's up?"

One of the two lankier creatures answered. "Lunch break." He said it very matter-of-factly as he took a bite of raw fish.

Spitfire raised an eyebrow. "Break from what?"

"Secret project." The big one replied.

The second lanky took a swig from a rusty mug, which gave off a strong odor that made the pegasi wince. "Very hush hush stuff. Gonna take a long time, but us goblins like a good long task."

Spitfire lowered her guard and Soarin followed. They were certainly a gruesome bunch, but they seemed friendly and didn't give off much of a threat. "I've never met a goblin before."

The trio did a little bow then the first lanky one gave a cheerful reply. "Two grunts and a brute, happy to make your acquaintance. Oh, where are my manners?" He reached back into their sack of fish then held one out to her. "Would you care for a bite?"

The ripe stench of it almost made her gag, but Spitfire kept her composure. "I'll pass."

The second grunt reached over and smacked his twin upside the head. "You git! Ponies don't eat fish. How long we been living all neighbor like and you can't remember that. Give 'em one of them apple things."

The first grunt rubbed the spot of impact then reached back to a second bag. Soarin caught a familiar scent and his eyes went wide at the sight of a pie box. The grunt opened it and presented a mess of filling and crust that was crammed in. A mess to look at, but the aroma was heavenly. It cut through the smell of fish and filled Soarin's nose with a smell that brought back every good feeling he could think of. "That smells amazing." The goblin set it before him and Soarin went to town. "Oh...oh that's good. It tastes just like my grandma used to make. Boss, you got to try one of these."

Spitfire rolled her eyes. "Later. First, I'd like to know what you're doing down here. Working on what?"

The trio shrugged. The two grunts went back to their lunch and the brute pointed to the left, to the center-most tunnel. "Talk Boss."

It only took a few more steps to hear it. The sound of digging and humming. Spitfire approached with caution, noting that this tunnel looked fresher than the others. At the end, a smaller hole stuck clear out of the wall next to a freshly placed support, and dirt poured out it small heaps. She called out as she drew closer. "Anyone down there?"

The humming turned into a bit of a tune. "Digging, digging, digging in the morning. Digging, digging, digging all day." As the yellow pegasus started putting her face near the hole, another face popped out to meet her. "Hi there."

She stumbled back and put up her defensive stance again. Spitfire's eyes widened as she fully grasped who just surprised her. A pale alicorn, covered in dirt, was smiling at her with cheerful red eyes. "You...your that alicorn Celestia warned us about."

"Oh dear," Uriah said with a chuckle. "I can only begin to imagine what she's been telling you about me. Ooh, I like your uniform. Wonderbolt?" He climbed out of the hole and brushed off some dirt.

She straightened up and put on her game face. "Spitfire. Captain of the Wonderbolts."

"Ma'am." Uriah stood at attention and gave his best salute. "I was something of a military pony myself. Thank you for your service." He waited for a look of "at ease" from her before he went back to relaxed and friendly. "Happy as heck to meet you. I'm Uriah. Former prince of Equestria, now King of the Goblins, all around nice guy. So, what brings you down to our humble little site."

Spitfire took a moment to size him up. He was a lot more relaxed than most of the royals she had met, but he still had an imposing stature to him. "We saw three royal guards go down a well, only two of them came back up."

Uriah gave an affirmative nod. "Yeah, I didn't think anypony would be around to see that. Just some overly curious eyes wandering from their patrol. We had a bit of an oopsie with the response, but it's fine. Don't worry about it." He kept on smiling as he walked past her. He retrieved a white box with a heart on it he had set aside. "Would you like a donut? My girlfriend made these for me."

She politely raised a wing. "No thanks, I'm trying to lay off the pre-flight snacks. About those guards?"

Uriah helped himself to a custard filled one with strawberry icing. "Mmm, my lady can bake. She's so sweet, I love her so much." He happily trotted about, setting up lanterns and supports where needed with his magic. He returned to Spitfire, joining her at her side, with a wing stretched over her shoulder to guide her, and lead her back the way she came. "Look, Captain, you really needn't worry. It's all being taken care of, no pony's missing, all the guards will be back at their posts in due time. Relax."

Spitfire narrowed her eyes. "If you're about to tell me to smile more..."

"Pfff," Uriah smirked. "What kind of a creep do you take me for? Nothing so sinister as that, I just ask that you have a little faith in the kindness of a stranger." He stayed friendly, but there was an unmistakable firmness to his ushering. They returned to the connecting chamber and Uriah smiled at the scene. "Like my man here."

Soarin and the goblins were getting along like old pals. He was settled in between the two grunts, recounting a story from his training days. "So, after this monstrous breakfast and me already being a nervous wreck, they hook me up to the Dizzitron. I look up at this thing and I'm terrified. They strap me in, it goes on and on, and then I hear this pop over the mechanism, which was loud enough, so I was concerned."

"Oh no." The brute chuckled.

Soarin nodded. "Every pony starts shouting, there's smoke, it's getting faster. They finally put out the fire and cut the engine. I start slowing down and the harness just kind of drops me like a rock. The drill sergeant comes up to see if I'm okay, I just kind of sit there processing, but then I yak all over him, the medics, the tech crew..." The goblins started cackling. One of the grunts fell off the bench. Soarin saw Spitfire waiting and tried to control his laughing. "Oh, hey, Boss. These guys are a riot. You meet the guy in charge?"

"Yo," Came the quick reply of the smiling alicorn. "I'm glad everyone's getting along." Uriah sniffed at the air. "I smell apple thing. Did you guys give him some apple thing?"

The grunt who fell sat himself back up and gave a nod. "'Course we did. Gotta be hospitable. Want some more, pal?"

Spitfire quickly moved to stop Soarin before they talked him into stuffing his face again. "We really should be going."

"What's the rush?" They didn't see him move. They just blinked and Uriah was in front of the Wonderbolts. He had a look of disappointment, but they recognized a mask when they saw one. "We only just met. I haven't even introduced myself to the other one. Hi, I'm Uriah."

Soarin, visibly frightened, took a gulp of air. "Hello."

Spitfire held her head high and kept her eyes locked with Uriah's. "Let's not do anything crazy. We're all friends here, right?"

"Of course." Uriah said calmly as he took another step forward. "That's why there's no need to be so...tense."

Spitfire didn't budge. "Right, so how about you just let us be on our way...huh?" It was subtle at first, but they both felt it. Giddiness, a trembling in the wings, a weakness in the knees, and, neither Spitfire or Soarin, could take their eyes away from Uriah's piercing red stare. "What are you...?"

Uriah kept his voice calm. "Shhhh. It's all right. Nothing to be worried about. Just relax...feel nice and warm...let go..."

They both started to sway, their eyelids beginning to droop. Soarin managed to speak through a yawn, his body feeling too numb to even manage that. "Tired...so tired."

"That's nice, isn't it?" Uriah was right up to them, unblinking, staring deep into their eyes. "Listen and obey. When I tell you to sleep, you will sleep. You will sleep and forget all of this, everything you have seen. You will sleep for five minuets and, when you awaken, you will go about your day as if none of this ever happened, as if the well did not exist. All you will remember is that you took a nap. You work hard and deserved a nap." As he spoke, they nodded unconsciously at each instruction. "Now. Sleep." They fell on top of each other with an unceremonious thud. Both pegasai were in a sound, unbreakable sleep. Uriah took a moment to lift Spitfire's limp foreleg and let it fall to the side. With a moment's concentration and a flash of red, the two vanished. "And they're a mile away and that takes care of that."

"Wonderful. Except for the fact this keeps happening." Uriah had to roll his eyes and smirk at that condescending tone he'd come to love. He turned in time to find Chrysalis and Tirek emerging from two of the adjacent tunnels on the opposite side of the room. The Changeling, looking particularly annoyed, flipped her mane out of her eyes as she approached. "That was too close a call."

Uriah just grinned and shrugged. "We handled it. We always handle it and it's getting easier."

Tirek crossed his arms and smirked. "I do have to admire the irony of it. The more guards stumble upon this place, the more get replaced with changelings and the easier it is to divert attention from the entrances."

Uriah nodded. "And once we've replaced enough that the replacements outnumber the actual guard, we can start actively luring and capturing them instead of just reacting."

Chrysalis gave an unamused snort. "It can't happen soon enough. So we can stop worrying about slip ups like today!" She snapped and glared at the tunnel behind her. A small, timid changeling nervously crept from the shadows, looking sorry for itself. The queen stared daggers at her clearly petrified underling. "How could you botch such a simple transformation? You didn't even need to focus on one, they all look the same!"

The little changeling shrank at the scolding. "I'm sorry"

Uriah quickly rushed to the little one's side and gave Chrysalis a defiant look. "Don't yell at Ocellus! She's doing her best." He gently patted her with his wing to sooth her. "It's not her fault she got stuck with an officer. A grizzled and overly decorated. The other two didn't even want to touch it."

Ocellus sniffled. "It's just all that detail. I have to remember the badges and the colors and the order and..."

The pale alicorn gave her a reassuring hug and she nestled in for security. "Now now, It's okay. We took care of it. Someone's already taking on his image and he'll meet up with the group shortly. You just keep practicing and doing those meditations I taught you, okay? I am strong..."

She straightened herself and puffed out her chest. "I am worthy of love and respect. I will not let my fears hold me back!"

Uriah smiled. "That's the spirit. Now run along and you can try again next time." He gave her a little wave as she happily trotted off back down the tunnels, her confidence reignited.

Chrysalis glared daggers at him. "It's one thing to coddle my drones, but how dare you undermine me like that?!"

"Do you really need to be nasty?" He flared his wings. "Honestly, what functional purpose does it serve to scream at her like that? Would it really kill you to just show a little bit of patience and support to people that follow your every whim?"

She hissed. "Do. Not. Lecture me!"

Tirek rolled his eyes. "Oh, joy. This again. Can we skip to the part where you two kiss and make up so we can get on with important business? Let me have one of those donuts."

Uriah shrugged and floated the box over so Tirek could pick. "Yeah, works for me."

Chrysalis was taken aback. "No. No, that's not how this..." She was quickly silenced when Uriah snuck a quick peck on the lips. She seethed for a moment, but took a breath. "You're lucky we're friends now." She let out a defeated sigh as Uriah offered her a donut. She took one in her magic as the trio started their walk down to the main chamber. "Progress on my end of the tunnels has been going smoothly."

Tirek nodded. "Likewise. Barring any major interruptions, we should be finished in two or three days."

Uriah allowed himself a sinister grin. "Then we'll have Celestia's demise sitting right under her nose with her none the wiser as she scrambles to put her life back together."

Chrysalis gave a wicked giggle. "I still can't believe you talked her into willingly turning the throne over to you."

Tirek raised an eyebrow and grinned. "And all you have to do is "capture me" and turn me over. Heh, I bet you have something devilishly clever planed for that part as well."

The pale alicorn took to a gentle hover and drifted on his back for a bit. "Hmm, she hasn't accepted my offer yet, but it'll be a simple matter. First I'll turn off the power I gave you, let her think that the threats been neutralized. I'll present you at the Grand Galloping Gala, all wrapped up in chains like a present. Being busy with a public event, Celestia won't be able to transfer you back to Tartarus right away, so you'll be taken to the palace dungeons for temporary holding. At that point, however, the guards staffing the dungeon..."

"Will have been replaced with changelings." Chrysalis finished with glee.

Uriah nodded. "Once they've got you out of sight, I'll turn your powers back on and you'll get into position for our big moment. Heheheh, you gotta love it when a plan comes together so nicely. I can't wait till she's finally out of my mane for good and I can start moving on with my life." He returned to ground level and did a little dance as his thoughts wandered to more pleasant ideas. "Redraw some maps, redecorate the castle, maybe take Pinkie on a nice beach holiday."

Chrysalis halted in her tracks. "Pinkie?"

Uriah froze in kind. "Poodoo."

The changeling queen had to do a double take. "Pinkie Pie? That's the mysterious girlfriend you've been head over hooves for? Of all the ponies, it had to be her?!"

Tirek raised an eyebrow. "Am I missing something?"

Chrysalis shook with outrage. "She's the element of laughter. He's literally sleeping with the enemy!"

"Hey, now, to be fair we didn't..." Uriah rubbed the back of his head. "No, that's a lie. We did. Last night as a matter of fact." Chrysalis just stared at him agape. "I mean I can't deny it, she was just fantastic. Like I actually forgot that I hadn't been touched in five hundred years. There was just so much trust and passion and laughing and whipped cream..."

"Stop talking!" She was beat red and sweating.

Tirek had to laugh. "Good for you."

"WHAT?!" barked the exasperated changeling queen.

Tirek shrugged. "It's not like he's ever given us reason not to trust him. He could literally shut down my nervous system with a thought, but he's never lorded it over me. As long as he's not letting it get in the way of what's already in motion, I say let him have his fun."

She was about to say something, but then she turned to Uriah and he just looked at her with that dumb little smile and those big red eyes of his. The changeling queen put a hoof to her forehead. "There's no point in arguing is there? I can yell and stamp all I want, but you're just gonna talk in circles and do what you want."

Uriah draped a wing over her shoulder. "Pretty much."

Chrysalis just let her head fall against his shoulder. "But Pinkie Pie? Really? Are you sure you wouldn't rather have somepony more stable like Mud Skip or Trixie...or me?"

He gave her a peck on the cheek. "I appreciate it and don't think for a second I'm ever gonna let you live that last part down," She rolled her eyes. "but I know this feeling. It's been a very long time, but there's no mistaking it, down in my very core..."

She let out a defeated sigh. "True love. I could taste it in the donuts. Just...promise you won't let her change you. I've grown pretty accustomed to you as you are."

The pale alicorn smirked. "I don't know any other way to be. Now, let's see if we can't keep this moving toward the west. It's going to need a delicate touch, we don't want any oopsie daisies on something this scale or critical importance."

"Sire! Sire!" The call could be heard echoing behind them, accompanied by the frantic scrambling of goblin claws.

"Running and yelling." Uriah kept his smile, but there was just a twinge of perturbation. "Running and yelling are not good things to hear while digging a tunnel." He turned to see a grunt scrambling down the corridor. "Please tell me the canary's okay."

The grunt stumbled over himself, but stood back up with a smile. "News from Goblin Town, Sire. The Great and Powerful Trixie has returned."

Uriah's ears perked up. "Trixie's back? Whoohoo!" He started doing loops. "This day is the best! Come on, guys!" Before Chrysalis and Tirek could say a word, Uriah was pulling them along with a whistle.

The air was very clean. It wasn't often she had thought, but Twilight had to appreciate it as she took in another deep breath. She did a little trot in place to amp herself up, then one more big stretch to get ready. Then she was off like a shot. She was usually so careful about take off since her wings were still new. Letting go of that hesitation had such a rush to it. She continued to climb, carefully watching the cloud layer as the fields beneath her disappeared from view. There was the slightest whistling and that was her que to put her game face on. A series of small grey projectiles shot up from the left. Twilight, with precise swiftness, arked and weaved to avoid them, quickly closing her wings as to slip between two of them. Then five hoops in shot up in an uneven row ahead of her. She quickly shot forward, maneuvering to pass through each hoop before they fell back down beneath the clouds. Next, monolithic pillars rose up and began drifting toward her. They spun and rotated, surrounding Twilight in a cage-like pattern. She hovered, turning herself to keep track of their movements. The pillars advanced, closing the cage and trying to knock her out of the air. She dodged one, sprung off another, then charged her magic. With a series of powerful bolts, she easily demolished the pillars one by one. The last two rushed at her, but she avoided them with a well timed rise. They collided with a thunderous boom, followed by another as she destroyed them with one more downward blast. Twilight allowed her a satisfied smile as she wiped the sweat from her brow.

In her moment of quiet, a shaped burst from a cloud behind the alicorn and lunged at her "I'm an ambush!"

With all the reflex of a blink, Twilight put up a barrier. After a notable splat, Twilight turned with a smirk to find Rainbow Dash splayed out on the wall of magic like a bug on a windshield. "Really?"

"Always expect the unexpected." Rainbow did her best to scold while muffled. She pulled her face off the barrier and shook off the impact. "You can't let your guard down, even for a moment."

"She's right." Twilight beamed at the sound of that warm voice she loved. Luna parted the clouds as she approached. The projectiles, hoops, and the broken pillars, constructs of her magic, vanished as she collected them. "Misdirection is a key factor in advanced levels of magical combat."

"I know." Twilight nodded. "If your opponent is too busy looking at the big sparkly rocks looming over them, they won't see you slipping around for the, equally effective, high speed kick to the head." Luna and Rainbow were both visibly stunned by the casual violence. "What? It was in Uriah's book?"

Luna smiled and gave Twilight a little kiss. "Easy does it, my little action hero. You might understand what my nephew puts to paper, but that's a far cry from knowing what he's going to do in a confrontation."

Rainbow rolled her eyes. "Tell me about it. Picked a fight with him twice and I've been turned into a baby and planted like a shrub. It's not so much about being moving faster than him, you gotta think faster too." She gave Twilight a reassuring nudge. "Shouldn't be any trouble for you though, Egghead."

Twilight's face fell in concern. "Thanks, but I'd still prefer it never come to that. Uriah's been so wonderful. The lengths he's gone to to protect Ponyville and support us when we need him. There's so much genuine love there that I feel like he really is my big brother," She took a deep breath. "But he's never backed down about wanting to take down Celestia and then there's the weather reserves. I want to believe in him so much, but I can't shake the feeling something really bad is happening in the back of his mind."

Luna wrapped a wing around her to calm her. "That's why we train. So you can be ready to face him, even if we don't want to. Maybe I can talk to him. I could try and convince him that he doesn't need to fight. Even if he never forgives my sister, he can still live peacefully with us and move on."

Rainbow Dash felt a knot in her stomach. "Look, I get why it's important for you to try, but I don't think you should get your hopes up. I've seen his eyes when he talks about Celestia. It's the same look I get when I try to set a record or win a race. He needs to take her down and he'll bulldoze through anything that gets in his way. It'll hurt him, it'll hurt the ponies he cares about, but he's not gonna be able to stop himself."

Twilight raised an eyebrow. "Don't you think you might be being just a touch overdramatic?"

The cyan pegasus put on a defiant look. "Mark my words. When he's not with us in Ponyville, Uriah's probably hold up in some secret lair, plotting his revenge, salivating on every gruesome, twisted detail.

"Ahhh, Trixie!" The pale alicorn practically squealed as he galloped through the main hall. The goblins had all gathered in a homecoming for their favorite magician. They gladly cleared a path for Uriah as he made a b-line for silver maned mare. "Come here so I can give you a hug. Come here so I can give you a hug." He scooped her up and spun her about in the air in a warm embrace.

Trixie laughed and hugged him tight. "Aw, I missed you too, you big goof." They touched down gently and she gave him a peck on the cheek as they parted. "I missed those ruby red eyes of yours. You look great." She gave him a playful poke in the chest.

"I feel great." He gave her a playful nuzzle. "I got some therapy, I got a special somepony."

Trixie raised an eyebrow. "Is this that mare you were telling me about when first came here?" His blush answered for him. "You sly dog." She took on a more concerned look. "How have things been going with the Stalliongrad ponies? When I left, they were still giving you trouble."

The pale alicorn shook his head. "It never lets up. Frostbite's programming seems unbreakable. I finally had to hypnotize the lot of them just to get them to eat. I'm gonna have to just keep them in a trance until everything's done."

She gave him a reassuring nudge. "I'm sorry you had to resort to that. I know you hate having to force your will on ponies like that."

He waved it off. "Oh, enough about me. How was the tour? How's your dad?"

"Both fantastic." She had a little bounce in her step as they walked through the clearing crowd and toward Goblin Town square. "It was so good working with him on stage again. It really helped me get out of that funk I'd been in. Got some brand new tricks to try."

Uriah smirked with a glint of pride in his eyes. "Well, I can't wait to see it. Of course, you'll need the right venue." He rubbed his chin with the tip of his wing, soaking up her confusion at his faux puzzlement. "For the Great and Powerful Trixie, I suppose the only truly fitting event would be...the Grand Galloping Gala."

They way her eyes lit up made his day. "The Grand Galloping Gala?! I've been dreaming of performing there since I was a filly. Performing for all the most important ponies in all of Equestria, it'd sky-rocket my reputation to THE greatest magician of all time. I've tried getting myself booked, but the castle staff won't let me through the front door. Last time they threw me out a window."

He resisted the urge to laugh, but there was just something so cute about her vengeful seething. "Well, now you've got the crown prince of Equestria to set you up proper."

Trixie raised an eyebrow. "Don't you mean exiled prince?"

He looked at her deadpan. "You cut me deep, Trixie. You cut me real deep." They shared a laugh and he put his wing around her to hold her close. "The plan has adapted. I've placed a deal in front of Celestia in exchange for our friend, Tirek."

She nodded. "Scary centaur, steals magic, how's he been fitting in?"

Uriah smiled. "Great. He's proven to be a really good ally in all of this. It's made things wonderfully easy."

Tixie gave a mischievous little smirk. "Speaking of being a good ally, I brought a surprise." As they entered the square, she gestured forward. Uriah's eyes widened at the sight of a town's worth of ponies he'd never seen before. They seemed frightened, the goblins surrounding them and eyeing them curiously. "I brought guests."

He had a puzzled look between Trixie and the group. Uriah gently approached the group. "Hello." At the front, he noticed a pegasus mare with a dust colored mane and confused colt held securely to her side with her wing. "You folks are new."

The mare took a breath and looked at him with nervous eyes. "She told us stories about you. About a lost alicorn prince that could do wonderful things with his magic."

Uriah shrugged. "Meh, I don't really like to toot my own horn." He noticed she was becoming uneasy as the goblins drew closer. "Oh, don't be afraid. Boys, boys, give our guests some room, you're scaring them."

Just like that, the surrounding horde collectively took a few steps. One of the grunts leaned out from the group and raised his hand. "Sorry about that, sire. Just happy to see new faces. Can we get you folks anything? Fresh grog, apple-thing, we could go get Mud Skip to make you folks a proper breakfast."

The little colt perked up his head. "What's an apple-thing?"

Uriah got closer and knelt down to speak with the lad. "It's somewhere between a cobbler and a pie, that's so good and so perfectly absurd you'll never find anything else like it in all Equestria." The pale alicorn took note of the cloth covering wrapped over the boy's eyes. "What's your name?"

"Drizzle." The young colt cautiously stepped out from under his mother's wing with a smile.

It finally struck Uriah that the colt was blind. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Drizzle. I'm King Uriah." The little colt, following his voice, held out for a hoof shake. Uriah smiled and gently, but firmly met the gesture. He looked to the colt's mother. "How long?"

She sniffled. "Almost a year now. There was a bad storm, he got picked up by the wind and caught the weather vein, but the lightning..." Uriah silently held up a wing to let her know she didn't need to finish. She composed herself. "She said you're a healer. That you can do things other ponies can't or won't. I took him to Celestia, begged her to help, but she said she there was nothing she could do...Could she?" The alicorn gave a silent nod and the mare swallowed her rage. "Can you?"

Uriah didn't say a word. He simply scratched an itch behind his ear, then draped a wing over Drizzle's face. There was a low hum as his horn glowed dark red. The magic flowed from his horn to his wing. There was a warming sensation and Drizzle gasped, but Uriah held his hoof tighter to calm him. Then, the magic stopped. Uriah turned Drizzle toward his mother, making sure his face was pointed right at her, and removed the cloth wrap. "Open your eyes."

Drizzles lids fluttered, strained from being closed for so long. When they opened, a look of pure joy washed over his face. "Momma...you're so pretty."

His mother covered her gasp, then began to tear up. "Oh, baby!" They ran to each other and she took him in a warm embrace. "It's a miracle! He can see! He can see!" The crowd was overjoyed. Everypony gathered round the mother and child to celebrate. Even the goblins joined with a cheer. Drizzle's mother looked to Uriah, tears still streaming down her face, with a smile of gratitude. "Thank you! You're every bit as wonderful as she said you were."

Uriah smiled, trying a little too hard to look humble. "Meh, it's only Tuesday. Now, does anypony else have any problems they need help with?"

An older stallion raised his hoof. "There's been a terrible drought and Cloudsdale's been ignoring our request for emergency rain water. Our crops aren't gonna make it."

An earth pony mare on the opposite side of the group stepped forward. "Our roads are all cracked and broken."

A third voice broke from the back. "I'm going bald!"

The alicorn king raised his wings. "Okay, okay. Let's just all form a neat, orderly line to the front and I will get to all of your concerns. Everypony gets a miracle today." They cheered and followed his instruction. He turned to get a wink from Trixie before he set to work.

So the day went, Uriah granting every wish that came his way. Some were simple enough to fix right then and there, others required pre-programmed black sun spells for them to take back to their town, and others required him to take a field trip to fix them himself. It was certainly busy, but Uriah liked it that way. Trixie made herself right at home again, more than happy to share stories and new tricks with every pony and goblin in earshot. It was a good day.

After putting in all the extra miracle work while balancing progress with his master plan, Uriah was considerably tired. He got himself nice and snug in his bed. "Ah, I'm just a big toasty cinnamon bun. I never wanna leave this bed."

"Sounds like a plan." Trixie's voice came in like bell. Before Uriah could look over, she jumped right in and snuggled up next to him. "I love my little wagon, but that hammock just does not compare to this."

Uriah raised an accusatory eyebrow. "I figured, which is why I had the goblins prepare your own room with your own big comfy bed to sleep in. Was it not satisfactory?"

Trixie smirked. "Almost. It just didn't have you." She booped his nose and the two shared a laugh. He pulled her in closer and wrapped his wings around her. "Aw, that's the stuff."

He rolled his eyes. "You do remember I'm spoken for now?"

"True," a third, familiar, voice crept up from the foot of the bed. Chrysalis popped her head up with a sly grin and slunk her way up to them, nestling under Uriah's wing, opposite from Trixie. "Begrudgingly, I'll allow Pinkie her privileges, but I for one can't give up my share of your affection."

Trixie did a double take. "Pin-The crazy one? That's who you're in love with?" She puzzled for a moment. "You know what? I can see it."

Uriah cocked his head. "Thank you?"

The blue unicorn nuzzled his neck. "That being said, I agree with Chrysie. It might not be true love, but what we have is special. You make me feel safe and you've made me feel important again."

He sat up to protest. "But, Trixie, you were always important." The mare and the changeling queen both reached up and brought his head soundly back to the pillow.

Chrysalis hushed a giggle. "There's that chivalrous sweetness."

Trixie joined her in gazing at Uriah adoringly. "Nothing else like it."

Uriah was looking more red in the face than pale as they both held onto him tight. His movements restricted, he felt compelled to relax. "I am very tired and suddenly very warm. I think I'm just going to sleep now." His nerves were suddenly calmed by a gentle synchronized snoring. The girls had beaten him to it. Uriah smiled and simply held them as he drifted. "Good night, girls."

Author's Note

I am SO SORRY this took so long. I really don't know what's wrong with me and my motivation. I swear I'm gonna do better and we are getting closer to the big finish, I swear.

I appreciate all the patience and positive feedback I've gotten so far. Thank you all for sharing this journey with me.