Book of Moon

Magna strode up the winding stairs. He headed an escort of custodians. They sniggered amongst themselves as they made their way to princess Twilight Sparkle's workshop-office.

The Captain snarled.

"Pipe down back there. You are custodians, and you will take your responsibilities seriously."

A pegasus immediately behind him said, "I definitely take my responsibilities more seriously than you do, sir. You should've resigned by now, and saved Celestia the embarrassment."

The other custodians seconded him with their laughter.

Magna grumbled and pressed forward.

Twilight Sparkle was at her desk.

She opened one of her organizers, and reviewed her schedule for the required fifth time that mourning.

Twilight was wearing one of her specially tailored dresses. She had also put the element of magic back onto her crown, because today princess Celestia would be making an informal visit to the university. Naturally, this necessitated a full accompaniment of guardpoines to salute her arrival.

Twilight bit the top of her pencil. She had toiled round the clock for three whole days, and her schedule still looked like a slab of graphite affixed to a sheet of paper.

Twilight picked up a picture frame from her desk. Spike was smiling at her side inside Golden Oak Library.

Twilight touched the glass. If only there were some way to travel inside, and relive the past.

Twilight replaced the frame, and returned to her planning. She would need to make time to clear up her equipment in the safe room:  the grey powder had not been forthcoming.

Then there was Luna's book. Twilight wanted to kick herself when she realized it's container had been misplaced. She spent half an hour slamming her head into a wall trying to remember where she put it, before finally giving up at about three in the morning.

Twilight blew an unkempt lock of hair out of her eyes. She looked out the window and squinted at the rising sun.

She collapsed headfirst onto her desk with a groan.

A sound behind Twilight's door commanded her to awaken.

Twilight didn't move at first. Her head had acquired enough mass to rival the density of a neutron star.

Twilight gradually dragged her withered form towards the door. She took a deep breath, put on her restored crown, and stood tall.

A stately unicorn clad in the royal purple of the Custodians of Magic greeted her. Behind him was a platoon of burly pegasi.

"Good morning to you too," said Twilight.

Twilight scanned the throng.

"Strange. Does anypony know were Magna is?"

"Here, boss."

A compact earth pony wearing a white scarf stepped out from behind the unicorn. The unicron proceeded to step in front of him.

"Out of my way you dunderhead," said the earth pony.

The unicorn was impassive.

"I said out of my way — move it."

The unicorn turned around. Mock confusion played about his face.

"Oh sorry. Am I in your spot, sir? I didn't hear you for a moment there. Just look at how slow I am today."

The unicorn slammed into Magna as he went to join the ranks of pegasi.

"Mourning," said Magna, rubbing his shoulder. "Ready to head down to the gate?"

Twilight's crown slated to one side. She pushed it back upright.

"As ready as I'll ever be. What about you? I see you're still having...issues."

The bitter taste of a cold breakfast stuck in Magna's throat. (The cook had been selective in his forgetfulness.)

"Issues? Oh no I'm just fine. You know me, I can handle deaf subordinates all day."

Magna struck the ground with his hoof. His bones sounded a visceral protest. Magna loosed a string of expletives, his hoof throbbed with pain.

"Dammit, I feel like a substitute teacher at the school for bodybuilding brats."

"Maybe we can talk about this later, I'm supposed to be there before Celestia arrives," said Twilight.

Magna grunted in response, sucking his hoof.

The princess and her entourage made for the grounds.

Magna limped a few steps behind Twilight. His eyes watered.

"That looks painful," said Twilight, "You really need to control your temper. I might have to step in of a certain somepony doesn't provoke you again."

Twilight glanced back at the unicorn. He visibly perspired at her insinuation.

"Why don't you get that treated? I'm sure Celestia won't mind if I explain your absence."

Magna occasionally winced in his stride.

"Why? So the doctor has an excuse to hack it off? No thanks. And you don't have to mouth them off for me. You're my boss not my mother — whatever these idiots might say."

They emerged inside a great hall, with a luxurious carpet running from dais to door. Twilight made her way down it's impressive length.

Earth ponies with iron thews stood each side of the main entrance.

"The Captain is just naff I tells ya," said one custodian, "Here I was expecting Celestia to pick somepony who could actually fight, but Finn of all ponies gave the little runt a right thrashing. I'd take back what I said about ol' Green Finn, if I didn't want to trounce the Captain so badly me-self."

The custodian's interlocutor was throttling his spear.

"I've been serving with these maggots for three years now. I heard he wasn't even a custodian until a few months back. Am I getting any promotions? No sir. I'd make a better Captain than that coward any day."

Twilight approached the door.

The guards stood to attention. They moved to open the gate.

"That won't be necessary," said Twilight, "This is a royal visit, so my Captain should open it."

The second guard's spear snapped in two.

"Yes, princess," said the first guard.

He backed away from his peer, who was foaming at the mouth.

Twilight waited. Magna hobbled into view a minute later.

The second guard transfixed Magna with his bloodshot eyes. Magna slowed to a crawl. The muscled custodian grabbed Magna's scarf and hauled him into the air.

Magna pawed at his throat.

"You can take  the Captaincy, take the dignity of this establishment, take away the dreams of every Celestia-fearing stallion that ever joined the Royal Guard, but you will not take my duty to the princess."

The first guard prodded his friend.

"What," said the second.

The guard was directed to Twilight's frown. Magna's armour clattered as he was dropped unceremoniously. The guard continued to hyperventilate.

"I think you should calm down," said Twilight, "or serve your duty elsewhere. I didn't expect Magna's appointment either, but he is still Celestia's decision."

He lumbered back to his position beside the door and fumed in silence.

Twilight stood over a strewn mess of limbs and armor.

"Magna? Are you ok?"

Magna  wheezed.

"I think he just broke my larynx."

Twilight tried to help Magna to his feet, but was shrugged away.

Magna shambled to the door. He grasped the steel ring on one half of the door between his hooves, and pulled with his all his strength.

Magna's battered leg yielded. He drew a sharp breath.

The door creaked, then swung open.

Magna tumbled backward. He gawked up at the open archway from his back, and shielded his eyes from the sun.

The door was surrounded in a magenta aura.

Magna lowered his gaze.

"I'm sorry, Magna, but I have a schedule," said Twilight.

Outside was a path through the university grounds. A tall and splendid gate could be seen at its end. The platoon of pegasi flew through the open door and formed a line facing the path. The unicorn followed suit.

"Why did I wake up this morning?" said Magna.

His legs twinged as he climbed back to his feet.

"Cheer up. Don't tell me you're not excited about seeing princess Celestia?" asked Twilight.

Magna huffed.

"Is that an order?"

A stone platform had been build at the foot of the entrance hall. It was conjoined to the path by a short flight of stairs. Magna stood parallel to his troops at the end of the platform. Twilight awaited Celestia at the other.

A few moments later, a cluster of glinting specks could be seen on the horizon. They grew into a second platoon of pegasi in brilliant golden armour. The honor guard landed opposite the custodians. The rival warriors entered a deadlock of gazes.

There was a tremendous gust of wind. Magna was buffeted onto his armored hind quarters for a third time. Twilight had to hold on to her dress.

A winged juggernaut swooped down to the platform. His rippling form strode up to the princess.

"Twilight Sparkle. It's a pleasure to finally meet Equestria's youngest and most beautiful princess."

The pegasus swept up Twilight's hoof and gave it a gentle peck.

Twilight politely retracted her hoof. She smiled with pursed lips.

"Charmed. May I ask who you are?"

The stallion removed his helmet and tossed his blonde mane.

"I knew you'd be interested —  if you hadn't already heard. I am Strong Wind, former wonderbolt, flying champion of Canterlot,  and Captain of Celestia's honour guard — I even bested the Immortal Spitfire, one-on-one."

Strong Wind beat his chest plate.

"You could say I'm the finest flier in all of Equestria."

"Finest?" said Magna, "you never beat Fleetfoot. Never will. There's only one pony who has."

Strong Wind gnashed his teeth at the utterance of Fleetfoot's name. He didn't even look at Magna.

"Are all of your servants so petulant? Your Captain should learn to keep such ill mannered toads in line."

"That ‘toad’ is my Captain," said Twilight.

"Him?" said Strong Wind, "but he's an earth pony. A dreg. To think the Custodians of Magic could fall so far. Why it's more than I can bear — I won't allow it."

Strong Wind smirked. He breathed condensation onto his gleaming helm, and shined it.

"The moment princess Celestia arrives, I will appeal to her for an immediate replacement."

Magna turned his back  and looked up at the sky. A golden chariot wheeled through the azure heavens.

"You do that. Maybe an ass-kissing snob like you can talk some sense into her."

Strongwind continued to pontificate about his wing measurements and track times. A sound like rolling thunder resounded from above.

Twilight scratched her chin as she recalled the weekly weather forecast. It had predicted almost three whole days of unabated sunshine.

__________________________________________________________________________________

The twin turbines of Lazuli's prototype hung over each side of her largest flatbed trolley.

Lazuli hummed to herself as she pulled her trolley by levitation.

A unicorn in a grey suit rounded the corner in front of her. He was carrying a huge grey crystal on his back. It shone with a dull metallic lustre.

Lazuli gave him a wave.

"Oh hi professor Tephra."

"Good morning, Lazuli," said Tephra.

Tephra peered behind Lazuli at her prototype.

"Another one of your hair-brained projects? It looks like some sort of propulsion device. Aviation perhaps?"

Lazuli grinned and nodded.

"That's right, professor. This is Gamma, my jetpack. How'd you guess he was a flying machine?"

Tephra set his crystal on the floor. He took a handkerchief out of his pocket and dabbed the sweat from his brow.

"The princess is working on something very similar, that's why she asked me to dust off this rather large specimen. Her plan is to harness the magical potential of crystals I hear. Clever, eh?"

Lazuli rubbed her hooves together.

"Yeah. Me and Gamma are gonna beat her to it. I can't wait to see the look on her face."

Tehpra chuckled.

"Matching wits with an alicorn? Well, I wish you luck. If only my own students were so exuberant."

Tehpra replaced his handkerchief and straightened his tie.

"I suppose you'll be wanting some crystal samples as well? Twilight's deductions indicate that only some form of hypothetical power supply based on crystals can produce the delta-v required to —"

Lazuli scratched her head.

"Crystals? I thought I could just power it with my horn..."

Tephra's eyes filled with tears. His face cracked with laughter.

"I can't fault your imagination, but I'm afraid that's not going to work. The machine would only output the same amount of thrust as a levitation spell. You might as well carry yourself around by the tail and call that aviation."

Tephra began to cough from overexerting himself.

Lazuli cradled her jetpack like a child.

"That's not what I meant. Gamma absorbs energy from his surroundings. He just needs a spark to get him started."

Lazuli rubbed it's polished surface, painted proudly in the royal purple of the university.

Tephra wiped the tears from his eyes.

" If that's true, it'd be a sight to see. Anyway, I couldn't help but notice that nifty little —"

Lazuli looked at her watch. The time could vaguely be seen behind a dirty sheet of glass.

"We're early for our test flight, but I can't wait a minute longer. Catch you later professor."

Lazuli rushed towards the university grounds.

"Wait — I just need help with this sample," said Tephra.

Tephra watched as Lazuli flung open a pair of double doors and vanished. He groaned and levitated the crystal again.

"Curse these old bones. I could really use that trolley."

Lazuli slowed when she reached the grounds. (The trolley threatened to swerve on the uneven path.)

A group of undergraduates chatted intermittently as they studied under a tree. The students paused to look at Lazuli as she passed. Some of them got up and surrounded the unicorn.

"Is that oil on your coat?" said a mare, cackling at Lazuli's  angular style of mane, "How can you walk out the door looking like...that. They'll think we're letting homeless ponies study here."

Lazuli shied towards her jetpack.

"I'm sorry. I spend so much time making machines, sometimes I forget to clean myself..."

Another student was holding her nose.

"When was the last time you took a shower?"

Lazuli was staring at the ground.

"A few days ago."

A unicorn, with teeth more suited to a mule, walked up to the trolley. He levitated Lazuli's jetpack to inspect its underside. Lazuli gasped.

"What have you got this time, ratbag? Not another crazy invention."

The stallion let go of the jetpack, which rattled the trolley almost tipped it over.

Lazuli gasped.

"Please stop these insane experiments,"  said the stallion, "I don't want my essays getting soaked because some vulgar little girl burrowed her way into my room with an oversized drill."

He pointed at the dormitory block, which was currently supported by scaffolding.

"There'll be flying pigs before there's flying unicorns. Professor Twilight should stop endorsing such puerile wastes of time."

The stallion was knocked onto his haunches. Lazuli's teeth screeched as they grinded.

"Gamma is not a waste of time."

Lazuli furrowed the earth beneath her burning hooves as she stalked the stallion down. He scrambled backward. A book entitled Monarchs of Equestria fell out of his saddlebag.

"You should watch your mouth. Twilight was a unicorn before she was princess. And the last time I checked..."

Lazuli thrust the stallion's book into his face.

" — She wasn't a flying pig. Maybe you'd know that if you'd actually read any of your textbooks."

Lazuli levitated the trolley out of harm's way.

"C'mon Gamma, don't listen to them."

The stallion's peers helped him to his feet.

"Well technically..."

Lazuli stomped off towards a large memorial site.

"I don't care."

Another student walked over to inspect the commotion.

"What's with her?"

The bucktoothed stallion tapped his temple.

"I believe it's more to do with what she's without."

The memorial site consisted of a raised stone circle with a full-sized statue of a stallion at its centre. The bronze unicorn was armored, and rearing on his hind legs. Vines clung to his body and obscured his face. A sheet of leaves blanketed the stone circle.

Lazuli lowered the trolley.

"No pony will bother us here."

The jetpack had a panel on its back next to an amber orb set into the metal casing. Lazuli opened the panel and disassembled some of the circuits behind it, using tools from her saddlebag.

" I can't believe Twilight made me take Delta apart. It wasn't his fault. I made a mistake with his control system."

Lazuli retrieved a circuit board from the jetpack. It included five stamp-sized chips, each with a yellow star printed on it.

"I'm not letting that happen to you."

Lazuli levitated a pair of tweezers. She held one of the chips in front of her, then squinted. A tiny slot on its side was barely visible.

Lazuli inserted one end of her tweezers. The top of the chip's casing flipped open:  revealing a chromatic matrix of gemstones. Each was no larger than a grain of sand.

Lazuli took out her magnifying glass so she could inspect the arrangement, and check that it was in proper sequence. She smiled.

"A place for every conduit, and every conduit in its place. You're doing great, Gamma. Let's see if the next one compares."

Lazuli placed the first chip on a work mat and opened the second. It's panoply of gems was pristine. She juxtaposed the two chips.

Lazuli grunted. Licked licked her lips as she corrected a misalignment with her tweezers.

The clear cut gems slipped about in her grasp.

Lazuli wiped away her sweat and returned to her jetpack for the third chip.

When the final chip had been inspected, Lazuli reassembled the jetpack. She switched her glasses for a pair of red tinted goggles, then looked to the sky.

"This is it, Gamma. We have perfect atmospheric conditions."

Lazuli levitated the jetpack onto her withers.

The weight winded her when she let go. She swayed awkwardly as she adjusted the straps.

Lazuli eventually stood in place. Her legs trembled and she breathed heavily. She grasped a starter rope near her shoulder by levitation. (Which had been cannibalized from a chainsaw.) The grip had been modified into another, smaller, orb. Wires were threaded through the cord itself.

Lazuli pulled the cord as hard as she could.

The amber flashed with an orange light, and the turbines began to hum furiously. The orb on top of the jetpack glowed faintly and crackled with magenta sparks. A HUD inside Lazuli's goggles monitored the jetpack's systems.

A gentle breeze brushed past the jetpack.

Lazuli yelped. Her legs gave way and she tipped sideways. The wing of the jetpack scratched the ground. T

The humming intensified and the trees behind Lazuli were blasted into autumn.

"Oh ponyfeathers..."

The metal wing screamed and sparked as Lazuli left the world behind. She was catapulted into the air on a low trajectory.

Lazuli screeched as she collided with a tree. It's branches slapped and stung her face. Lazuli emerged with an apple in her mouth.She spat it out in time to see the ground spiraling above her, and the walls of the university rushing up to make her acquaintance.

Lazuli's face rippled like a wind sock.

"Gamma — we have to straighten out."

Lazuli manipulated the jetpack's motion through the orb on the starter rope by magic. Reports fed into the HUD.

The turbines inclined and the wings broke the air.

Lazuli veered upward and away from the wall of the entrance hall. She was close enough that she could have skimmed it with her hooves.

Lazuli curved herself away from the great blue above, and leveled out. Her head was thumping. Her heart  had collapsed. Her breakfast was restless in her stomach. But all of Lazuli's earthly aches and pains vanished in a moment of breathless wonder.

A living map of Canterlot rolled by beneath her.

"You did it. Unicorns can fly, and everypony will know it."

Lazuli beamed for all the world to see. She stretched her legs, doubled the throttle, and ploughed through the sky like a born flier.

"I could do this for hours. You're the best, Gamma."

The hum faded, and the magenta sparks ceased. A warning blinked on the HUD.

"Low power? But we just took off."

The earth rose in front of Lazuli.

"What's wrong, Gamma? Can't you find any energy this high up?"

Lazuli's skin crawled. She quickly studied the landscape.

"If I just had some thrust, I could glide us to that lake. But I need your help."

Lazuli covered her face as she crashed through a cloud. The university was in sight, and growing.

"Hurry Gamma. Find some power — anything."

Another warning appeared. less than a minute until impact. Small shapes could be seen moving about the city.

Lazuli grabbed the starter rope and pulled.

The orb flashed, but the engines were silent.

Lazuli pulled the rope again and again. Tears were whipped off her face by the rushing wind.

"Please Gamma. Please don't leave me all alone."

A faint row of shining metal in front of a wide stairway came into view. A shape at the top of the stairs was particularly bright.

Lazuli was too low see the boundaries of the university anymore.

She let go of the rope and closed her eyes.

The sun caught a gemstone somewhere near the ground. It twinkled with a magenta light. The jetpack erupted with power.

Lazuli heard a crackling, and her eyes snapped open.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

"What do you say? Don't you think an unsightly wingless dreg is beneath you? "said Strong Wind.

Lazuli directed her jetpack to pull up. The HUD calculated that the current rate of acceleration was too low to escape the ground in time.

Twilight pointed skyward.

"Hey look: a wingless pony."

Strongwind followed her hoof. His gaze flitted about the sky.

"Pardon me, princess, but I don't quite understand what you mean by —"

A bolt of blue lightning blurred in front of Strong Wind. A torrent of air came after that sent him careening backward. The mass of metal and muscle cascaded into Magna.

Magna cursed as he was steamrolled flat.

Twilight had teleported herself to safety. She returned with a pop of magic,trying in vain to stifle her giggles.

Lazuli was with the clouds again.

She touched her chest and face: oddly conscious of the fact that she was still alive. Her mouth was dry, and her breath was tremulous.

"I think that's enough for one day."

Lazuli steered her flight into a gradual descent that would take her back to the monument. The HUD indicated that the jetpack's power supply was at more than half of its capacity, but was dropping significantly.

"Maybe siphoning ambient energy isn't as reliable as I thought. I hope you're ok, Gamma."

The jetpack angled counter to Lazuli's navigation. It spun about and flew in circles uncontrollably.

"Gamma? What're you doing? You're gonna make me sick."

The jetpack aligned itself with the platform and entered another steep dive.

"Stop Gamma. We can't land like this. You're going too fast."

Twilight levitated Strong Wind off of Magna.

"Sorry about that. I had a feeling my student would test her project without me."

Strong Wind produced a brush and delicately combed his rampant locks of hair back into formation. He used his helm as a mirror.

"What in blazes was that?"

Twilight laughed. She shaded her eyes as she watched the jetpack soar.

"Like I said. A wingless pony. Lazuli is a unicorn, but she's still found a way to fly."

Magna held his aching ribs.

"Flying unicorns. That's just great. More jerks to choke the skies with."

Strong Wind saw a chariot reflected in his helmet.

He sprinted to the side of the platform and stood to attention. Magna staggered over to the other.

The chariot hovered for a moment, then made a smooth landing. Twilight's crown slid just an inch. Strong Wind cleared his throat.

"As Captain of the Honor Guard, it is my privilege to announce the arrival of Her Majesty Princess Celestia."

Celestia stepped out of her chariot. Strong Wind bowed low.

A column of fire raged in Magna's soul. He did not bow.

The custodians below looked on in disgust. Strong Wind noticed Magna's insolence. He scraped the ground with his hoof — ready to charge. Celestia stopped him with her outstretched foreleg. He bowed again and stood down.

Celestia said nothing as she met Magna's gaze. The corner of her mouth twitched as she turned from him. She was unable to withstand the inferno reflected in his eyes.

Celestia looked at the stone surface of the platform as she walked to the gates. Her heart dragged somewhere behind her.

"Good morning princess, are you okay?" said Twilight.

Celestia raised her head.

"Not at all, Twilight Sparkle. It's always good to see you."

Celestia smiled meekly. A pair of holes were being scorched into the back of her head.

Twilight's crown drooped.

"So what's been going on? What's the state of the treasury? How are relations with Saddle Arabia? Do you have some more documents for me to sign? Do I need to make an appearance? Do I need to christen an airship?  Is Ponyville safe? Are any of my friends in trouble?"

Celestia watched Twilight wing's flail about as she spouted more and more potential dilemmas. She broke out into a sweat.

Celestia expediently placed a hoof onto Twilight's mouth.

"Please, Twilight, everything is alright. I just wanted to see you."

Twilight's mouth opened and shut uselessly for a moment.

"Oh...so aliens haven't landed in Fillydelphia?"

"Not yet," said Celestia.

She corrected Twilight's crown for her.

"Why don't we go inside. Luna tells me you've been very busy lately."

Twilight smiled and trotted for the door.

"Okay, I'll have some tea made for us."

There was a cry from above. It was too slow to be heard in time. The blue lightning returned.

Celestia tasted hair. A powerful current of hair had wrapped Celestia's mane round and round her head like cotton candy. When she disentangled herself, Twilight had vanished.

Twilight hurtled backwards. She was suspended on the end of one of the jetpack's wings.

Lazuli's chest palpitated. She covered her cheeks with both hooves.

"Professor."

Streams of magenta lightning arched off of Twilight's body and poured into the amber orb on the jetpack. It shone with blinding intensity.

Twilight screamed. She entered spasms and her eyes flickered. Twilight's mind emptied. Curious and subtle memories floated through her.

The scent of petrichor.

The sweetness of sugar.

The shuttling of a sewing machine.

The roughness of tree bark.

The twinkling of dew on a spider's web.

Twilight was aware that she was holding somepony in her levitation amid a void of light. Warmth faded from him until he was limp and cold.

Twilight's breaths trilled.

When she let go, everything became dark.  At her back, was the shrill cry of love's demise.

Lazuli looked over at Twilight's unconscious body. The lightning had ceased. Another warning blinked onto the HUD.

Power approaching capacity. Overload imminent.

"Where's all this power coming from? This is a disaster. Gamma, but we have to land. Now," said Lazuli.

The jetpack lurched forward, putting on another burst of speed.

Lazuli clenched her teeth. She realized that the jetpack was compelled to expend the excess energy.

Their flight path maundered and whirled wildly.

The HUD pixels mashed, split, and faded. The jetpack's control systems had short circuited. They were both completely helpless.

Lazuli's coat stood on end. Her heart beat like pistons driving a steam engine.

"Professor, can you hear me?"

Twilight hung like a ragdoll.

Lazuli scratched her head.

"What am I going to do? If only I could use teleportation magic..."

Strong Wind puffed out his chest.

"Fear not fair princess, I shall save you. Fall in, guardians of honor."

The Honour Guard became a wave of golden bullets that shot after the jetpack. The Custodians of Magic gave chase without an order.

Magna and Celestia gazed up at the scene. Alone. Neither looked at the other. Magna took one painful step towards the entrance hall.

"Where are you going?" asked Celestia.

"Guard quarters. Flight's not my thing," said Magna.

Celestia walked in front of Magna.

"Your duty is out there. Twilight needs you."

Magna's nostrils flared.

"What does she need me for when commander Hurricane over there has everything under control? I knew this had to be another one of your false promises. I quit. You'll have my resignation tomorrow, and If there's any good left in the world, you'll choke on it."

Magna walked past Celestia. Celestia touched her chin for a moment. Then smiled.

Magna was obviously just confused and disheartened. Celestia needed to show some empathy and encourage him.

Celestia held out her hoof in a placating gesture and closed her eyes in satisfaction.

"Captains are not chosen lightly, Magna. Your resignation would be the first in the history of the Royal Guard. It's always a shame when such a special pony slips away, but I suppose I can't always know what's best. You can protect Twilight Sparkle — and I have full confidence that you can —  or, you may take the train back to Clipstow. The choice is yours."

Magna looked over his shoulder. Then continued walking.

"Sounds good to me."

Celestia blinked. She flew to catch up to Magna.

"B — but, didn't you come here to become a citizen of Canterlot? Wasn't that your dream? "

Magna cut through Celestia with a look that could cut steel.

"My dreams are already over. Clipstow will never forgive you. You will never understand us."

Celestia shuffled backward. She looked down to wipe the non-existent dust off of the gemstone she wore.

"I wanted to fix things somehow."

Magna kept walking.

"Could've fooled me."

Celestia pawed at the ground. Everything she was comfortable with had failed. She was going to lose Twilight's Captain.

But then she thought of Luna, and her barbed tongue.The corner of Celestia's mouth curled upward.

"You're right, I have no intention of appeasing refuse from the junkyard. "

Celestia wanted to touch her ears. Her mouth convoluted. Using such unkind words was akin to regurgitation.

Magna stopped at the door.

"Clipstow ponies are complete l — losers," said Celestia.

Magna stomped up to Celestia, anesthetized with rage.

"What did you say?"

Celestia shook her hoof aggressively, which looked like she was waving a wet fish. Celestia's angry snarl was an unusually rigid smile.

"You heard me, I called your friends a degenerate waste of my land and resources. And I called you a loser."

The word made Celestia swallow.

"You can't do anything except make nails and tools: Things that ponies with class use to do real work."

Magna looked like he was going to punch Celestia.

"I asked you to protect Twilight. If you go back there without even trying, you'll be showing all of Equestria how much Clipstow is..."

Celestia hummed and hawed. She probed the ancient depths of her vocabulary for derogatory words.

An image of Luna manifested in Celestia's mind. It tapped it's hoof and glared at Celestia impatiently.

"— not good?" said Celestia.

The image of Luna slapped Celestia round the back of her head.

Magna turned to the gates. He walked unimpaired.

"Well that does it. I'm not going to let you get the better of me."

Celestia could not disguise her relief. She didn't even realize she'd been holding her breath.

Magna turned again. He shook his head.

"Just give me one question," said Magna.

Celestia tilted her head.

"I know what you're like. Once your dirty work is done, you'll vanish. So before I go, you're going to tell me something," said Magna.

Celestia recovered her poker grin.

"Alright."

"Why did you choose me?" said Magna.

"Why not?" said Celestia.

Magna just stared. His gaze narrowed.

"That's not funny."

Strong Wing surged through the sky with a technique that cut the air in massive strokes like an oar blade.

Sweat rained behind the gold and purple platoons, but the distance refused to close. Whatever had capture the princess, it darted about faster than the eye could see.

Strong Wind flew on his back and reviewed his hooficure. The metal monster was no match for the wings of a champion, of course, but It wouldn't do to save the day without some dramatic flair. He kept inside the slip stream of other pegasi. When the pack finally gained some ground, Strong Wind would be rested, and ready to make his rescue seem effortless.

Strong Wind sniggered to himself. The despair of the lesser guards would make an excellent garnish for his sumptuous and supple victory feast.

Lazuli had her forelegs crossed.

"We've not crashed yet, so at least one of your control processers must be operating. Just land already. I'm worried about the professor."

The orb glared brighter than the sun.

Lazuli's stomach lurched as the jetpack haphazardly rolled and changed direction. With the novelty of flight wearing away, Lazuli focused on Twilight: She seemed to be riveted onto the wing by some unseen force.

The jetpack plummeted without provocation.

Lazuli's spine tingled.

The flagged turrets of Canterlot whistled by just a few feet below.

"Oh Gamma, you must feel terrible. I'm sorry for being short with you. Please hold on — I'll think of something."

The jetpack flew into a large flag a tore it from its pole.

Lazuli was blinded. She growled and tossed it away.

Strong Wind watched as the machine declined, and was hit by a bolt of inspiration. He would snatch the princess just before she touched the ground.

He licked his porcelain lips as he anticipated her kisses of adulation.

Strong Wing burst ahead of the throng. He swooped low and kept his muzzle pointed on his target.

It was then that he realized the machine had a driver. A thoroughly unpresentable driver, who's coat was covered in brown stains.

The jetpack stooped further until it was just tens of feet off the ground. The busy townsponies clung to their precious hats and ducked in the wake of a sonic explosion. Windows and doors were slammed shut by the gale. Everypony looked on in startled fascination as the jetpack sped down the twisting streets of old Canterlot.  Their confusion was doubled when Strong Wind followed. A veritable stampede of air trampled everything in its path when the guard squads descended.

The chase meandered towards Canterlot station.

Having waited long enough, Strong Wind redoubled his wing beats and drew close enough to clearly see the princess.

She was still.

Strong Wind snarled. A display would be a waste of time.

Twilight mumbled and slowly opened her eyes.

Strong Wind seized the serendipity of the moment and extended his hoof with a satisfied grin.

Twilight recoiled and looked about in a daze.

"Professor, I'm so glad you're awake. I really need your advice," said Lazuli.

Before Twilight could respond, magic rippled through her, and the magenta lighting burst forth again.

Strong Wind shielded himself from the vibrant light. He slowed, and almost hit into one of the custodians flying behind him.

A fissure split through the amber orb. It shone like a beacon in the daylight.

The jetpack accelerated again and rapidly outpaced the guards.

Strong Wind grunted, then shot off again to catch up.

The jetpack soared over the rail yard. Trains of every creed and color made off in all directions. Except one.

Lazuli flew over a shunned rail that stretched towards the sea. The jetpack continued to gather speed. Lazuli watched the rows of wooden sleepers become a constant sheet of brown.

"Gamma. I give up. I could shut off your auto-control systems, but I'd only have a few seconds to gain manual control. If there's a way out of this, I can't find it."

Lazuli looked at Twilight's sparkling crown.

"I'm a failure. My plans never work out. Not like the professor. She can do everything on her own. I wanted to  achieve something I could call my own, just once..."

Strong Wind inched closer. Perspiration accumulated inside his stuffy armor. The endurance flight had become a derby sprint without his realizing.

The searing muzzles of the jetpacks' engines was enough to leave him stifling. Strong Wind's wing strokes were perfect, but his efforts purchased no distance.

The jetpack began to shrink. It dipped ever closer to the ground.

Strong Wind was breathing in gasps. He wanted to bite his delicate hooves.

A rhythmic clapping noise pulled up alongside Strong Wind. He saw something that made his jaw limp and his pupils constrict.

Magna, who had forgone his armor, was racing ahead of Canterlot's champion flier on two pairs of motorized roller skates.

Sparks kicked up behind each roller as it struck the earth. A grey metallic shin guard was strapped to each of Magna's legs.

Magna's mane was plastered to his face. his legs felt like their bones had been jellified.

Adrenaline boiled through Strong Wind's veins. He roared and pounded the air harder.

A rock jutting out of the path made Magna trip. His knee was driven into a shard of rock.

He cried out as his leg exploded with pain.

Strong Wind laughed. The runt slipped back into the dust from whence he came.

The princess was almost within Strong Wind's grasp, but the Jetpack was static before him. Suspended beyond his limits.

Strong Wind lurched and fell. His body skimmed off the sleepers like a stone. Strong Wind lay in the dirt.

He grimaced, and strained, but couldn't rise. His wings panged. He clutched his dislocated limbs in disbelief.

Strong Wind watched the princess fly away.

From the waste and the dust, a grey wind sped past him.

Fragments of gravel covered Magna's leg. A pool of red stained his coat. Magna ran like a machine.

Never. I'll never let her win.

Lazuli's heart crept into her throat as the jetpack rocked from side to side.

The jet's where at their operational threshold.

Magna's hooves beat the earth over and over. His vision blurred and time was washed away. All he could hear was the sound of his own rasping breaths.

Who am I kidding. I can't go any faster. There's nothing magical about me. I don't have any wings or horns. To them, no matter what I do, I'll just be a flea riddled slob from the gutter.

A clear voice entered Magna's mind and spoke to him softly.

Ponies are inherently magical. It doesn't belong to anypony. Not even the unicorns. Like the wind, magic is something that must be shared.

You are never alone, Magna. All you have to do is listen.

Magna heard and felt the wind rushing around him. It expanded until all else faded.

Magna flicked through his newspaper.

Trollestia strikes again.

For the umpteenth time, everypony's favourite despot raises the fees for Canterlot citizenship just in time to keep Clipstow's racing heroes from gaining the freedom they deserve.

A cartoon caricature of Celestia was flashing a toothy grin. The outlines of her eyes where creased in malignant joy. She was raking bits into a green pot with her foreleg.

Magna punched the newspaper into a ball and kicked it away. He got up from the bench he was sitting on, and made down the street in a huff.

Workponies carted steel and scrap throughout the town; wheels dipping in the potholes. They delivered the lifeblood of a dying city. Dark corpses of crumbling brick were piled either side of the street. The occasional wisp of steam from a chimney was the only sign of life within. Taxes in Clipstow were about the same as the wages. Celestia's loud and dubious thugs lurked about the homes that could not pay, like ravens upon carrion.

Magna straightened his back as he passed. He would not be a victim.

Dark clouds marked Magna's way to the heart of town. Many fires had been lit to work the metal. Few had been kept alive.

His path took him within sight of the stadium. Fleetfoot smiled at Magna from a banner atop its walls. She welcomed one and all to the Daedelus Cup. The Road Warriors and Team Circuit faced off beneath her, four ponies each side.

Thousands of earth ponies crowded in front of the stadium. All of Clipstow was present, in spirit, if not pony.

Magna watched for a time. He looked up at the Road Warriors: an amateur team that became the favourites to win overnight.

Magna lingered amongst the crowds. Townsponies and friends called his name and patted his back.

Magna just soaked in their congratulations with a modest smile.

The line was allowed to move forward, and Magna took the opportunity to slide back into the empty shadows.

Magna clocked himself into the steel mill. Before he could don his safety equipment, he was called to stop.

Magna spun towards the familiar voice.

He was greeted by two stallions. One in a green racing suit, another in red.

"Ultima?" Magna lowered his hardhat. "Maximus? What are you doing here? You're gonna be late for the race."

The green racer prodded Magna's chest.

"What are you  doing here?" said Ultima. He snatched away Magna's hardhat. "You're about to miss your train."

Magna looked away.

"You know what. Celestia stands for everything that's cruel and unfair in the world. I can't work for her."

Maximus, the red racer, punched Magna's shoulder.

"You can and you will. Don't you see what the  has done? She's setting you free."

Magna rubbed his shoulder and began to retort, but Ultima stamped the floor.

"I don't know why she thinks a steelworker would make such a good slave for some spoiled princess to pussy whip — but that doesn't matter. You get to breathe the clean air of Canterlot. So take her stupid offer and walk out of this hellhole."

"But if I'm gone who will put food on the table?" said Magna.

Maximus looked at Ultima. Ultima nodded.

"look, little bro, me and Ultima...We're hanging it up for good." said Maximus. "The Road Warriors are done."

Magna's world spilt in two. He fell to his haunches and pulled at his ears.

"But you can't quit now — you're at the top of your game."

Magna's eyes welled up. His chest fluctuated. His sobs were conflated with hollow laughter

"You're not telling me you guys are actually going to get real jobs. What about your dreams of leaving Clipstow?"

Ultima pressed a pair of turbo skates into Magna's forelegs. Magna stared at them, then looked up at his brother's smile.

"They came true."

Maximus clapped Magna's shoulder.

"We're proud of you, little bro. Say hi to Fleetfoot for us."

Magna wiped his tears.

"I'll miss you. You daft donkey."

He climbed to his feet and put on the motorskates.

"We'll miss you too. Now shut up and get on that train. It won't be coming back for you."

Ultima pointed to Magna's future.

"Go!"

Magna bolted away, and tore a blazing trail through the streets.

Clipstow station was built like a fortress. It's iron walls enclosed the entire city. An open plaza spanned in front of a forest of watch towers.  A blockade of guards denied access. The chugging of pistons and whoosh of steam sounded.

Magna's throat tightened.

A guardspony pointed at Magna and barked orders. The blockade of pegasi rallied atop a flight of stairs and readied their weapons. They raised a wall of spears against the trespasser. Unicorns positioned inside the towers fired volleys of concussive magic at Magna.

Magna dodged and weaved about the explosions that rained around him. Magna's hooves pumped into the ground — kicking up the scree of the city.

The skates spun heat and light like a grindstone.

Magna sprinted within spitting distance of the pegasi, then vaulted over the blockade. He landed smoothly and dashed through the station.

Magna leaped down from the train platform and raced along the tracks. Before him spanned a suspension bridge. He followed the train's trail of steam.

Sirens wailed behind him. An amplified voice boomed from his flying pursuers.

"This is the Royal Guard — you're under arrest."

Magna reached into his saddlebag and grasped his ticket.

If he could just get aboard, he'd be able to explain himself.

Unicorns rushed along raised walkways either side of the bridge. They emitted glowing fields of magic that descended onto the tracks.

Magna shut his eyes and braced for some form of impact. When none came, he opened his eyes to find the field to be completely incorporeal.

The train was slipping out of sight and the clouds were alive with motion. Magna almost dropped his ticket.

To the guards, Magna appeared as if he were wading through colourless amber. The time dilation spells distorted the air, causing it to become visible as a rippling bubble.

Magna looked back at the advancing swarm of pegasi.

Unicorns gathered ahead of him, preparing to lay a concentrated field of time dilation.

Magna froze. legs shuddering in place with nowhere to run.

He was carried forward by momentum alone. His future rode on into uncertainty.

A tidal wave of punches crashed along one of the walkways — sending unicorns sprawling into the sea.

Maximus was racing as Magna had never seen him race before.

The unicorn's magical attacks were battered aside by his indomitable speed. The blades of his motorskates where surrounded in a red aura.

The world around Magna decelerated as the  Unicorns on the other side of the bridge struggled to maintain the time dilation.

Pegasus guards swooped ahead of Magna. A lieutenant twice Magna's size ordered them to bar the tracks.

Ultima ground his motorskates down one of the bridge's support cables. He leaped into the sky and plunged onto the lieutenant's back — seizing him in a headlock.

"Take me instead, ya tin headed cloppers."

The lieutenant thrashed about and rolled, but Ultima only tightened his stranglehold.

The pegasi broke off the chase to aide their commander.

Magna watched as Ultima was swallowed in a cloud of feathers. Maximus lost celerity with each strike. Stern faced unicorns, drenched and wrapped in seaweed, levitated back onto the bridge. Maximus deflected blast after blast, but was eventually a stun spell slipped past his skates and caught him square in the chest.

Magna's heart was numb. He turned from his fallen brothers. Fear tugged at his heart. Magna resolved to look at only one thing and one thing only: He stared dead ahead, and challenged the sun.

His future wasn't all that could be found in Canterlot.

Magna impelled his rollers to greater speed. He kicked his left legs first: how Maximus always started. Then his right: Ultima's strongest side.

He lowered his head and launched himself forward faster and faster. The years rolled behind him.

Every race, every flag, every ounce of power the skates of the road warriors had to give. Everything that had made life in Clipstow bearable had been surrendered. Just for him.

The unicorns backed against the rails of the walkway. Their bulbous spell shuddered and convulsed. They instinctively scanned the surroundings for an opposing magician, and found none.

Magna remembered the enormity of the stadium as it resonated with the cheers of Clipstow. The Road Warriors blazed the circuit side by side, flags of victory atop their withers. An undying spark was lit in Magna's soul.

The spell expanded, quivered it's last, then burst. A fulminating comet exploded out of its back. The unicorns where stunned onto their backs. Some toppled back into the sea.

Magna's mind became clear like the wind. His being exuded a blue brilliance and his legs were a haze of fleeting feet.

The train zoomed into view.

Magna gauged his target, closed his eyes, then jumped.

Lazuli's dejected form looked up. Her eyes where puffy and her hoofs were covered in snot.

A figure was standing atop her jetpack — face shadowed by the sun. He jettisoned some wheeled object that he was carrying and put Twilight on his back. He reached out with his hoof and told Lazuli to unfasten herself from the machine. He almost retracted when he touched Lazuli's slimy leg.

Lazuli clung onto the stranger, then pressed a button at the center of her harnessing. The safety belts retracted, and the stranger hoisted Lazuli on top of the jetpack.

Lazuli met a short grey stallion whose face was set in a frown. He held to the jetpack with his free hoof. He was wearing a fascinating pair of mechanized roller skates on his hind legs.

Lazuli speculated on the function of various wires and capacitors set into its motley surface. She set her goggles above her horn.

"Can you levitate yourself?" asked the stranger. "Otherwise I'm gonna have to use the princess as a glider or something."

"I know you. You're Captain Magna. What are those machines you're wearing? Did you make them yourself?" asked Lazuli.

Small cracks quaked through the surface of the amber orb.

Magna scurried away from it when he caught the scent of burning rubber. The front roller of his motorskate was ruined.  Magna shook his head in consternation.

"Is this really the time?"

Lazuli scratched the back of her head.

"Oh, right. Sorry. I'm not very advanced in levitation. But maybe If I made a force field, I could break our fall."

Magna huffed.

"Ok, fine, if that's the best you've got we'd better take it. This thing looks like it's about to blow."

Magna eased himself around to face the wind —  taking care to keep a hold of Twilight. Lazuli didn't move. She looked at her reflection in the metal of her jetpack .

"What are you waiting for?" said Magna.

Lazuli took out a small screw driver she hid in her mane, and prized up the access panel. She bit her lip when she found two scorched sockets.

An amorphous residue had spilled into the control compartment.

Magna looked on impatiently as Lazuli gathered up the three remaining control chips.

Magna counted to three, then jumped. Lazuli hopped after and made an elastic bubble of magic.

The bubble rebounded several times before spilling it's three contents in a jumble.

Lazuli got up and stumbled about in a daze. She watched the jetpack end its first and final flight. It crashed into the support structure of a suspension bridge.

Lazuli renewed her tears.

"Goodbye, Gamma."

The earth shifted. The sky blacked and a prodigious plume of magenta lightning streaked into the heavens. A shockwave rampaged over the landscape — erasing all in its wake. Chunks of earth and debris the size of houses where punted along at the base of a vehement vortex of destruction. Animals fled in terror

Magna's tried to stand, but his leg was tender. He grasped it to staunch the flow of blood.

"Boss, we gotta go. Get up."

Magna rocked Twilight's body. She remained dormant.

Lazuli ran over to her mentor.

"I'm really sorry professor. Please wake up. I can't stop this alone."

Thunder roared. Magna and Lazuli were deafened by the coming doom.

A blade of white light cut the sky above Canterlot. It streamed forth and ploughed through the oblivion in a burst of shining iridescence.

The lightning fizzled away and the darkness passed. A calm rolling wind was all that remained of the storm's anger.

A great cloud of shimmering stardust marked the aftermath. It coalesced into a shining star. Princess Celestia appeared from within. She floated gracefully to the ground.

Magna squinted and shaded his eyes.

"Captain Magna, escort Twilight back to the university. Report to me when you arrive, " said Celestia.

The two locked gazes.

"Yes, Your Majesty," said Magna, with a short bow.

Celestia examined the mangled bridge. Her face softened. It's supports had been atomized entirely and the severed rails where bent like frayed whiskers.

Magna spat while Celestia's back was turned.

Celestia was very still. Twilight would've thought something was wrong. Luna would know she was deeply hurt about something. But to Magna, Celestia's heart was imperceptible.

When Clipstow was young, the bridge sang with the cadence of Equestrian soldiers — marching out in shining armour. They marched back in, burdened by heavy chains, and heavier debts. Freedom was a casualty. The sun shined in Clipstow no more.

Celestia wanted to throw her crown into the sea. She took off without another word.

Twilight was murmuring.

Magna limped over to Twilight with his bad leg held off the ground.

"Waddya mean there's no more homework, mommy? There has to be more..."

"Boss? Are you awake yet?" asked Magna.

Twilight gathered herself onto her haunches. She rubbed her temple and squinted.

"Oooo I'd rather have an anvil dropped on my head than do that again, but yeah, I guess I'm in one piece."

Magna awkwardly shifted his weight onto his injured leg so he could help Twilight stand with the other. Before Twilight could accept, Magna was trampled aside by a flock of squawking pegasi.

They fawned over the princess and inquired about her health incessantly. None of them even noticed Lazuli.

Twilight made more than a dozen placid replies of ‘I'm fine.’ Before crossing her forelegs in dismissal.

The pegasi fell silent and stood to attention. Strong Wind trotted up to the princess.

"Dearest princess, are you well? You have my sincerest apologies, for you see, your captor was a most terrifying dragon."

Had I not wrestled it into a watery grave single handed, it would assuredly have eaten you. Sadly, I was unable to contain my unbridled fury and accidentally destroyed that bridge over yonder with my spectre bomb attack."

Strong Wind held both hooves into the air and brought them down sharply.

The Honor Guard hung on his every word with baited breath as he re-enacted the titanic battle. Even the custodians were nodding their heads.

"I see," said Twilight.

Twilight looked at Magna and raised her hoof in question. Magna shrugged back at her. Twilight looked at Strong Wind, who was now uncomfortably close. Twilight leant away as far as she could and placed a hoof on Strong Winds peytral to stop him from coming any closer.

"Yes, I'm very grateful. Now if you will excuse me, I'm feeling a little light headed right now so —"

Strong Wind bobbed his eyebrows.

"Light headed you say? Well, my duty isn't over until you are home safe and sound. Let me carry you there, you've been through enough."

Twilight sprang into the air flapping her wings desperately.

"That's alright I can get back on my own..."

Twilight's eyes drooped. She spiraled downward and slid into the ground headfirst.

Strong Wind moved to pick her up, but Twilight crawled away from him.

"No. No you definitely don't need to..."

Twilight lay still as she was submerged in dreams again.

Strong Wind stretched his wings, bending them up and down. He grunted as his bones clicked back into position.

"Such distress has worn the poor girl out. This looks like a job for Captain Strong Wind."

Strong Wind collected his trophy and took off to the cheers of his subordinates. The pegasi followed and called his name as he paraded back into Canterlot.

Magna sighed. He contemplated the long journey back to the university. He heard somepony weeping behind him.

"Quiet your whinging — you're alive aren't you?" said Magna.

The unicorn let out a tumultuous cry.

"You don't understand. Twilight's  going to send me away for what I've done. The university is my life, and now it's gone."

The unicorn lay on her front and hid her shameful sobs behind her hooves.

A single note played on Magna's taut heartstrings of cynicism. He plonked his rear next to the pathetic creature to relieve his mutilated legs.

"Slow down a second. You built that thing all by yourself? What did you call it again? Gamma?"

"Yes. Gamma is — was — my jetpack. I always wanted to be like professor Twilight, so I decided to study expert systems, arcane interface, and advanced crystal computation," said Lazuli.

Magna blinked as the science talk passed uselessly through his ears.

"So you're a student then? Pull yourself together. I've known Twilight for a few months now. She's not going to revoke your scholarship just for blowing up a rickety old bridge. If anything, she's going to fire me for letting get carried off by a restraining order waiting to happen."

There was a pause in the unicorn's waterworks.

"What do you mean?"

Magna patted his chest.

"Take it from me, I'm from Clipstow. ‘Fortune Bridge’ won't be missed. It's been years since anypony could afford a ticket, and we've seen the guards get their supplies by air."

The unicorn sat up. Her runny nose made her sniff.

"Maybe you're right. But even if I could go on, I'll never be able to rebuild Gamma. I'll never be able to find out what went wrong. He needs five working control chips. I knew two of them were prone to error before I even launched, but control chips like that are so rare that It could be decades before I found any more. So I had to try. I just had to."

The unicorns's words played on Magna's mind. Her face became that of a young colt. He held a shattered motorskate, and wore a cast on his foreleg.

"I knew they weren't ready, little bro, but Ultima wouldn't listen. Looks like you'll be changing his bandages for the next few weeks — the stupid git." Magna remembered Maximus saying.

Magna removed his remaining motorskates and screwed a circular plate of casing on each skate. From inside he removed two star chips.

"These are motorskates. My brothers made them so they could be fast, like Fleetfoot. They used this pair to win their first race. Right now, they are in custody. There's nothing I wouldn't give to see them racing again."

Magna offered the chips.

"Go on, take 'em. There's no sense in both of us losing our dreams. The limiters on these things are busted anyway. Just promise me that your next jetpack isn't a doomsday device, ok?"

The unicorn's lip trembled. Her eyes started gushing tears. She sprang at Magna and clamped him in a hug — nestling the Jacuzzi of mucus that was her face into his cheek.

"Oh thank you so much. You saved Gamma."

Magna cringed. His leg roasted with pain.

"Oh, and I suppose me saving your life was purely incidental?"

The unicorn laughed and stepped back, noticing Magna's discomfort. She smiled at him.

"My name's Lazuli. I like you. You must be the first pony in the whole university who hasn't made fun of me."

Magna stood up.

"And you must be the first unicorn who didn't make me want to twat them upside the head. Anypony who spends their time making jetpacks has to be good in my books."

Lazuli scooped up the control chips, making sure she had a line of five. She and Magna then made for the university together.

"Aren't you going to tell me I smell funny?" Asked Lazuli.

Magna adjusted his scarf.

"Didn't I tell you? I'm from Clipstow. Everypony smells like crap where I come from."

Lazuli held her hoof to her lip and pondered.

"That's funny, I don't remember anypony smelling bad, and I've been to Clipstow too."

Magna stopped in his tracks.

"You have? How'd you get in?"

"I flew there on Spike's back, you know, that dragon who lives in the grounds? You can come with me next time, if professor Twilight says it's ok," said Lazuli.

Magna starred at her.

Lazuli lowered her head with upturned eyes.

"Did I say something wrong?"

"No,"said Magna,"I'm just having a hard time believing that ponies still make fun of you when you can ride a freaking dragon."

Lazuli's face filled with something warm. She turned around and covered her cheeks.

"Oh it's nothing, Spike's friendly really. In fact, sometimes I think he's lonely."

Strong Wind landed at the university of magic to a round of applause. The students had heard the news of Twilight's abduction. They cheered as he strutted up the path to the entrance hall.

Strong Wind's chest filled with hot air. He felt the princess's luscious curves draped along his back.

"Rejoice Canterlot. Your hero has returned."

Strong Wind almost bumped into Celestia as she landed in front of him.

"Excellent work, Captain. I knew the situation was in capable hooves."

Strong Wing swelled like a blimp.

"It was a small task for a true warrior such as I. That dastardly dragon never stood a chance."

Celestia gasped. Her hoof clapped her face.

"Oh my, a dragon you say? The university isn't safe anymore. I guess I have no choice but to offer you a permanent position among the Custodians of Magic. Who else could possibly stand up to a terrifying dragon?"

Celestia levitated a glittering emerald behind her outstretched wings.

Strong Wind beat his peytral.

"Naturally. That last one got off lightly, but If any dragon dares threaten my darling Twilight ever again, I'll tan his scaly hide. No pony crosses the great Strong Wind."

Strong Wind felt tremors pulse up his legs. An explosive roar made the crowds scream and run. Spike thundered up the path, his tongue flicked gobs of drool as it wagged about.

"The horror. To think that another dragon would attack so soon. You have to help us Strong Wind  — you're our only hope," said Celestia.

The guardsponies formed up to protect Celestia. Nervous glances where exchanged  up and down the line.

Spike's mind was suffused in the scent of finely cut emerald. He scattered the guards like bowling pins.

Spike loomed above. His claws threshed the earth like a combine harvester through wheat.

The muscle drained out of Strong Wind until only a flabby bag of nerves remained. He dumped Twilight and zipped off fast enough to leave his armour behind.

"Don't eat me. Don't eat me. Don't eat meeeeeeee."

Spike stood over Celestia, peering at the emerald. Celestia smiled and waved the emerald about. Spike chased it with his snout.

Celestia tossed the emerald high into the air. Spike leap up on his hind legs and snapped it down his gullet. Celestia flew level with his head and petted Spike's scales.

Spiked hummed gleefully, smacking his lips.

"Hello, Spike, I see you still like being stroked behind your ears. To think you where so small when I cared for you," said Celestia.

Spike's wings flared. He noticed Twilight sprawled out below. He gently nudged her with his snout. His chest made a deep whining sound.

Twilight stirred. She touched his nose.

"Hi, Spike. I'm ok, don't worry."

Twilight tried to stand up, but her legs couldn't support her.

Spike bellowed. He kneed the earth in discontent.

Twilight rolled onto her back. She saw a blurred figure floating down to her side.

The figure lifted her gently upward. It was the last thing Twilight was aware of before the maze returned.

Spike's nostrils filled with smoke. His breaths were shallow.

Celestia bit her lip. She knew a dragon on the verge of a nervous blaze when she saw one.

Celestia touched Spike's snout.

" Spike. Listen to me."

The dragon hadn't taken his eyes off Twilight, who was in Celestia's levitation.

"Twilight needs some rest, so I need you to stay calm, and help me take her to her chamber," said Celestia.

Celestia laid Twilight on Spike's snout.

Spike felt Twilight's chest expand and relax. He felt her heart beating.

The fire in his chest flickered away and his claws eased open.

Celestia stroked Spike's ears again.

"Good. Now follow me, Spike."

Celestia flew up towards Twilight's quarters. Spike flew beside her, and kept his head unerringly level.

Celestia's horn glowed. Twilight's bedroom window expanded to almost thrice it's normal size.

Spike reached inside and tipped Twilight onto her bed. Celestia stepped inside, and tucked Twilight in.

Spike's hind quarters hit the ground with a thump. He curled up at the base of the tower, and closed his eyes.

Celestia sighed like the wind.

She and took off her crown and set it on Twilight's dressing table. She looked at a photo of her nephew at Twilight's coronation and rubbed her eyes.

"It's happening again. It's happening and I don't know if I can stop it."

A translucent image of a tall mare with a flowing red mane appeared in the mirror.

"If you're still asking yourself that question, we've already lost. "

Celestia looked away from her.

"Equestria isn't ready. Twilight isn't ready."

The mare scoffed.

"And she never will be. That's not the point. All these years, you've had faith in her. All these years, you've told me how special she is. Well where is that faith now? Where's the princess, who's speed defied explanation?"

The mare faded.

Celestia put aside the photo and donned her crown. She flew out the window, which returned to its normal size behind her.

Celestia smiled.

"I'm here. And it's high time I placed my bets."

Lazuli happily trotted up the path.

"Seeya, Magna. Thanks for walking with me. I can't remember the last time I had that much fun without a calculator."

She showed her ID at the gate, then made for the tower room Twilight had lent her. It was easily distinguished by the unicorn shaped hole in its roofing.

Captain Magna slithered on his belly. He inched forward meter by blister-agitating meter. He stopped to catch his breath just within the University grounds.

Princess Celestia descended from the evening sky.

"Welcome back, Magna. How are you feeling?"

Magna's carcass was still. It tasted gravel.

"Pretty good...for a glob of pig iron in a furnace," it said.

"You look more like a Captain of the Royal Guard to me," said Celestia

Magna spat the dirt from his mouth.

"I hate your rotten guts."

Celestia laughed.

"I am pleased with your progress as well."

Magna wanted to leave, but his legs erupted in pain at the mere thought of movement. Celestia stood quietly for a moment.

"I think you deserve a straight answer."

Magna raised his head to look at her.

"I don't know why I choose you," said Celestia, "all I know is that when I call for a Captain, Equestria answers me with a pony. After what I saw today, I know it was the right decision."

Croaking sounds emanated from Magna's weary husk.

"Where's the princess?"

"Twilight is sleeping. It looks like our talk will have to wait for another day," said Celestia.

Celestia turned away from him and spread her wings. Her horn glowed.

"You're right. I took Clipstow for granted, and I can never atone. But, I promise you this. If you stay at the university, and keep Twilight safe for just one year, I'll do everything in my power to have your brothers released. After that, you may go where you please."

Celestia took off, and flew into the west.

Take care, Captain Magna. I'm counting on you.

A golden light weaved about Magna's leg. The cries in his body flowed away into restful silence. Magna sprang to his feet and began looking over his foreleg.

It had stopped bleeding.

The sun sank below the horizon. Magna stood, and watched the sanguine skies.

There was something in his chest that he could not reconcile.

Twilight woke up to find a drowsy hedgehog in the mirror.

She combed her hair and tried not to think about her train wreck of a schedule.

Twilight looked down from her window. Spike was looking up at her. His tail was whipping across the ground.

Twilight waved down to him and yawned.

"Hi, Spike. I'll be down soon."

Twilight went downstairs to the workshop-office. It was pitch black. The moon was the sole source of illumination. It's soft

light blanketed the office.

Twilight's wings snapped open. She lit her horn and stalked towards the office.

The Luna's book was on her desk.