"Did you hear something?"

Ryan pulled her head back and held still.

"No, now hush. I want to hear what the first things asked is tonight."

"You and your believes, one bad or good question does not decide how the rest of night court will go."

As this lead into hushed fighting, Ryan carefully looked out again. Luna was looking out into the crowd now, but still had that smile.

("She knows I'm here, but just left me here and went ahead and started her night court. That could only mean one thing. She plans to put me through one of the greatest punishments ever conceived by intelligent beings. Public humiliation.")

A shiver ran from the base of her neck to the tip of her tail.

("I'd have taken another car head on if I had the choice.")

Luna called out again.

"WOULD THE FIRST PONY OF THE NIGHT PLEASE APPROACH!"

With that the guards at the door opened the them to a white pony with a blond mane and wearing a black tuxedo collar who held their head high and walked in with a grossly over needed amount of confidence. At his appearance Luna's smile became more strained.

"Ah, Prince Blueblood, to what do I owe the honor?"

Reaching the bottom of the steps and making a short bow with his head Blue Blood spoke.

"Good evening Princess Luna, I have come to make a request."

Luna very subtly rolled her eyes, making sure that Blue Blood didn't see.

"Very well, but I must ask why you waited to come to my night court instead of going to my sisters day court."

"Oh I did. I just wanted to be sure that both Celestia and you heard my request as so you both can consider it."

At this point Ryan stopped straining to listen and just watched. Blue Blood went on talking and Luna looking like she would throw him through a window to anyone who wasn't so engrossed in themselves as Blue Blood was and looked at her face. After he was finally done with his request for what Ryan thought was hair gel or something dumb like that he bowed his head again and left.

("I guess it's impossible for there to be such a thing as a perfect world, there's got to be at least one mirror kissing a-hole out there somewhere. He did give me the chance to see that whatever Luna has planed for me is not the worse she could do. At least from what I could tell from her face.")

After that it was a tirade of ponies coming to talk to Luna of various problems and requests. Some ridicules, like this one that wanted to know how come alicorns use unicorn magic instead of their own. Some were like Blue Bloods, though somehow not AS pompous. The rest were simple inquires, many pointed at Luna herself as it seems that she was absent for a great length of time and many ponies are curious about her, and some more practical requests, usually of a political nature, that if it couldn't be solved then would be scheduled for a meeting later. The thing that captured Ryan's interest was the excitement that Luna would have before each pony began then the disappointment after.

("What's she waiting for? She knows I'm here, had a creepy smile when she looked at me, and is waiting for something from one of the ponies here at the night court. The waits gonna kill me before what ever she's doing starts.")

Ryan was getting scared, the longer she sat there the longer bad was bound to happen. It had been three hours since night court started and the tension of what was going to happen was starting to get to her. She had spent a bit of time looking around for anyway she could have made a quiet escape but no such luck. With guards on the door and no way of getting to any of the windows without being seen she was stuck waiting for Luna's scheme to unfold.

"NEXT!"

The next pony to walk in was a doctor that Ryan vaguely recognized.

("Doctor Swell Heart. He's the one I never got the chance to meet personally. Wonder what he's here for. Probably something regarding me. I AM still missing.")

Swell made his way to the base of the stairs where Luna, who seemed more excited than before, greeted him.

"Ah, Doctor Swell Heart. I thought I should be expecting you or Stitch Heart for tonight's court."

Giving a quick bow, as seemed the etiquette, Swell spoke.

"Yes Princess, I have come to speak to you about a cretin problem. Normally such a delicate subject I would discuss with you more discretely, but seeing as this problem as made it, or I should say her, self quit well known, I felt that a more formal discussion would be appropriate."

The murmuring went up an octave at this, the snippets of conversation that Ryan could catch telling her that they knew what Sell was talking about.

"I think he's talking about that filly that went running through the medical wing twice today."

"I heard that she literally ran into Celestia while she was running away from some guards."

"I was visiting my brother earlier when it happened, and let me tell you, she had a sweet flank. Didn't see her cutie mark though."

The last comment made Ryan's face go deep red as her mind went crazy.

("Just how fast does gossip travel?! Or was I really just out that long? What kind of trouble am I in? Why couldn't it be Doc Heart instead? He seemed like a cool guy. Luna looks like shes ready to pounce! I DON'T WANT A SWEET FLANK!!!!")

Clearing her throat to gain the rooms attention again, Luna addressed Swell.

"It would be a safe guess that you speak of our newest friend."

"I do. As you might know, twice today she has ran recklessly about the medical wing and is now somewhere in the castle if she hasn't already some how found her way out. The first time she was pursued by two of the royal guards and crashed into your own sister Celestia. The next she was chased by our most recent princess, Twilight Sparkle, and her friends only to escape."

"I have heard of this. My sister told me of these events herself when I awoke for the night. While I am open to hear all the concerns of my subjects I must ask why it is you waited to speak to me of such things rather than speak to my sister."

"I thought to come to you Princess because you were the one that found and saved hi-ahem, Her from meeting an untimely end. Plus it is simply easier on my schedule to come to night court. I wish to know why it is that my recommendation to have her recovery period extended and begin regular therapy sessions upon being found is being ignored. Her activity today as reaffirmed that she is having a great deal of trouble of adjusting and needs professional help. Yet both your sister and your own self have said to let her be. That along with you having halted the search for her hours ago as made me quite concerned."

Again the crowd talked loudly with themselves, and again Luna quieted them.

"Your concern is well warranted and I apologize deeply for the trouble, but I can assure you that it is all under control. But the subject I wish to handle first the question of her meant well being. I am under the believe that she is mental state is perfectly fine."

("While I don't want to have to see a therapist, I have to say you're wrong on that one Luna.")

"Really? I'm sorry Princess but as one of her treating doctors I must have more than just your word. What I have seen and heard today is strong evidence for my case."

Luna's grin that had subtly been on her face had grown greatly at his comment. Ryan was, has quietly as one could, freaking out immensely.

("PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF WHATEVER YOU HOLD DEAR DON'T DO WHAT I KNOW YOU'RE THINKING OF DOING!!!!!")

She was trying her hardest to try and convey this through her one eye peeking from behind the stands, trotting in place all the while. As it was Luna wasn't looking her way at that moment.

"I do believe that the best way to proof her mental stability would for her to defend herself."

It was then that Luna looked to Ryan. It was also then that Ryan decided that making a run for it would be the best idea. Unfortunately she was not given the time to even take a step before a dark blue shimmering glow grasped one of the curtains edges and pulled it aside, leaving Ryan to face all the crowd that had turned their heads her way. Her ears folded back and her tail went between her legs, her eyes wide open and her pupils tiny dots.

The room was blanketed in silence.

"..."

("...")

"Please approach the throne."

Luna kept her calm demeanor but her smirk was plane for all to see. Ryan, along with most of the onlookers, were broken from the stare-off. Loud musings of Ryan's sudden appearance could quit plainly be heard as she took slow agonizing steps closer to stand next to Swell.

("Please let a bolt of lightning strike me down where I stand now, if there is any mercy to be had by whatever higher beings there might be up above or below.")

Now at the foot of the stairs she quickly spared a glance to Luna, still sporting that smirk, and to Swell, who seemed a bit dazed, before turning to look down at the floor and continue her silent prayers. Luna broke the tension building in the room.

"It is nice to see you were able to join us tonight. I do hope that you enjoyed your nap."

("If I had never woken up again it still would have been better than this.")

"I did..."

Ryan kept her gaze locked to the floor, not seeing Swell shake his head and throw a glare towards Luna.

"You mean to say that you knew she was hiding here the entire time and didn't say anything earlier?!"

"Yes, I had known she was here from the moment I stepped in the room. Tis the reason I had halted the search for her. I also knew that it would make a fitting punishment for disobeying doctors orders to have to explain herself in public at my night court."

"A-A PUNISHMENT?! Princess, with all the respect I can muster I have to say how unbelievably irresponsible this is! To put a patient who has been traumatized through an ordeal such as this can only lead to further traumatization! I will be taking her back to her room and scheduling her for weekly therapy sessions this instant."

"I believe that we were seeing if she was truly in need of help, Swell Heart."

Swell swung a hoof to point it at Ryan, who was now glaring at him now.

"It is very plain to see that she has not recovered! She-"

"I'd like to see you suddenly be put in front of not only a huge crowd but also a princess when you're not ready!"

Swell jumped back in surprise at Ryan's outburst. She had now rounded on him, jabbing a hoof her own in his direction. All the nervousness had bled from her as he talked, replaced by anger.

"And quite frankly I've had enough out of you! Yes I have some problems I need to work out but so does anyo-anypony else! I am done with hearing out of you that I need to see a therapist. I was completely within my right mind and ready to go through my procedure, and just because there were some surprises does not mean that I am "Traumatized"! ANOTHER thing! You seem to think I ENJOYED being chased around and looking like a fool. It's not exactly like I WANTED to run around a castle looking like an idiot."

Ryan was starting to close in on Swell who was backing up, the crowd hushed in anticipation for what could happen next, when Luna put an end to her rant.

"I believe he understands now. Could you please not make him flee from my night court?"

Ryan, pulled from her tirade, looked back at Luna with red on her cheeks, before giving one last glare to Swell and sitting at the the foot of the stairs, head glued to the ground again. Swell, after a taking a second to look around in a even greater daze than before, hesitantly made his way beside her, careful to not fully look at her. Despite her reluctance to look Luna straight in the eyes, Ryan still felt she needed to speak.

"I am so sorry , I just felt-"

"It is fine. I know that you were just letting off stress. Just be more mindful of what, or who, you release it upon. And it was quite fun seeing you an emotion other than quiet, sad, or sarcastic."

("YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE ME BURN A HOLE IN MY CHEEKS WOMAN!!!")

Ryan dipped her head lower to try and hide the blood rushing through her face.

"But you were called to the throne to explain yourself for why it is you were chased by my sisters royal guard, her once apprentice Twilight Sparkle, AND her friends THEN felt it perfectly fine to sleep under the seats of my court room."

Luna adjusted herself in her seat, leaning forward a slight bit.

"So please go on."

Ryan peeled her gaze off the floor and meet Luna's. Luna had finally lost her smirk, her face a mask of calm, but Ryan could still see that mischievous spark in her eyes. Ryan let out a discreet breath and did her best to get comfortable.

"Alright, alright. If I have to.....do I really have to?"

"Yes you do."

Ryan snapped her head to the side and let out air through her nose.

"Fiiiiiine." *Sigh~*

Ryan faced the deep blue ruler, doing her best to keep eye contact in an attempt to look strong, before going on.

"I guess...I should properly introduce myself?"

"That would be a good place to start."

Before Ryan could begin Sell started to mutter something.

"I-uh-um..."

Swell was still trying to speak against the proceeding events but his brain was still untangling some crossed wires and couldn't quite get it out. It was Luna that stopped his repeated utterances of "Um, uh" or "I".

"You can go and sit with the rest of the audience now Doctor Swell Heart. When she is done with her explanation you can escort her back to her room."

Still out of it, Swell just nodded his head and walked to the first unoccupied space he could find in the ever louder gossipy crowd. With that done Luna returned her attention to Ryan.

"Now, if you could continue?"

("I could but I'd rather noooot...")

One more breath out her nose.

"My name-" ("Can't say Ryan. Not in front of this crowd of rumor starved savages. Need a more pony name. um-um-um....") is Art Craft. Craft for short." ("Yeah that works.")

Luna raised an eyebrow at this but said nothing.

"As you know twice earlier I ran around the medical wing and the castle. Both times I was chased, the first time by the royal guards, and the second time by some crazy mares."

The conspiratorial like whispering went up again from behind her at calling their newest princess and her closest friends crazy. She elected to not address it.

"So I'll talk about them one at a time. For the first one um, well I had just woken up after my...procedure and I was alone. No-um..pony was around and I wanted to make sure I was alright. I wasn't really sure what to do and decided to try and find a bathroom so I could use the mirror. IIIII-ummmm...I ran into some royal guards and kinda freaked out. I was still a bit dazed just having woke up and got scared. When I reached the doors I ran umm in..into your sister, Princess Celestia."

Ryan fought against the near need to jump out a window as the crowd nearly burst with conversation. Luna just nodded and motioned for her to go on.

"She took me back to my room afterwards. She said it was okay, she understood it was a mistake. After that we just talked a little bit and then she left."

Conversations on top of conversations were going on without pause as Ryan thought out the next incident carefully. She felt a bit stronger with this next one, her voice coming out a tad stronger. Luna for whatever timeth it was quieted the other ponies so Ryan could go on.

"The second time wasn't my fault and I know it. I was just resting in my room reading when a pink mare calling herself Pinkie Pie came in and started yelling about parties, followed by her friend. They seemed fine at first, introducing themselves and being polite, but then they started asking me questions and wouldn't give me the time to answer them. THEN they started fighting over whose question I should answer first and started to back me up to a wall, each one trying to get me to themselves first. I tried to say something but they weren't listening. I couldn't stand it anymore, so I ran out the door hoping to get somepony to help me, but then they started chasing me!"

Ever ready to catch any potential gossip the crowd was getting really loud over "Art Craft's" tale but were hushed once again by a quick glare from Luna.

"After I got out of the medical wing I just ran around randomly until I was sure that they weren't chasing me anymore. That's when I realized that I had forgotten to remember where I ran and didn't know how to get back to my room. From there I decided to duck into the closest room I could find, which just happened to be this room. I was trying to figure out what to do next while I rested under the stands when I started to drift off. The next thing I knew it was night time and you were starting court."

That was the end her story so Ryan just remind quiet, waiting for Luna to say something. Luna for her part maintained her calm exterior the entire time even when a few chortles or small gasps could be heard at some points during Ryan's tale from the expressive crowd. She nodded to Ryan, showing she had heard and understood her, and began to ponder her, giving thought to what should be done about the mare that had, intentionally or not, caused so much trouble in just a days time. She gave some critical looks to Ryan, or perhaps she should say Art Craft, never betraying her thoughts. Ryan was starting to get nervous. Her anger towards a particular doctor had carried her through most of her story, but now feeling calmer she could feel it creeping around inside her again. Back when she was human, and a guy, she would have been able to force it down and do much the same as Luna, hold a expressionless expression and wait patiently. She wasn't having such luck now.

No matter how hard she tried she couldn't help but feel the need to wiggle in her spot, her eyes darting this way and that way. It felt as if something didn't happen soon she would blowup like a bomb, or more like a balloon. In line with that analogy she deflated like a balloon as well when Luna spoke.

"It would seem you have had quite the day. While it could have been avoided I can see how you truly did not mean to cause such a commotion. Seeing how I have already made you come forward to speak your piece here in my night court you have served an appropriate punishment for what was hardly more than a misunderstanding. You have also shown that you are of sound mind and are ready to enter society once again after you have been excused from the medical wind of the castle. Is there anything you would like to add before I go on?"

"Uh..no, Lu-Princess Luna."

Not many cached it or thought much of it, but some of the listeners did notice Ryan almost addressing Luna causally rather than with the proper royal periphrasis. The rumors would likely be blown out of proportion and be spreading through the papers for at least a week.

"Then that is all that needs to be said, Doctor Swell Heart and one of my personal guards will escort you back to your room. I would suggest you try and keep from running through the halls this time, Art Craft."

"I won't as long as nopony chases me first."

Luna smiled at her before turning and nodding at one of the bat-pones at her throne, as Ryan felt was a good name for them, who nodded back and descended the stairs. Reaching the bottom he gestured for Ryan to follow him. She took the chance to examine him more closely now that she was right behind him.

("Yep, definitely a bat-pone. No other name could fit better.")

As they walked to the door the bat-pone nodded to Swell on their way, who promptly got up and started walking a bit behind Ryan. The bat-pones at the doors parted them open for the small group and closed them behind them, cutting off the crowd that seemed to feed off the juicy bits of info they could glean from the mysteriously strange mare that had been running rampant through the halls. The rest of the walk was spent in silence, the bat-pone leading in a partial march, Ryan and Swell deep within their respective thoughts.

("So let's review. One of my treating physicians, most likely along with most of the upper crust now, think I'm loco. Luna new from the start that I was taking a nap in her courtroom and to get at me for it and running around twice in the castle she made me defend myself in front of everypony. On reflection this punishment was also a means of making sure I didn't being consider coco because of the way I've been acting. And now despite my questionable friendship with the Princess I'm now on thin ice with her and even thinner ice with everypony else. Greaaaaat...I need to find a way to thank AND apologize to Luna. As not only the only one keeping me out of rehab, she's been helping me since that start.")

Ryan had finished her thought and some others when they reached the outside of the medical wing. Being careful as to not make any noise this late they passed through fairly fast, making their way to outside her room soon. With just a quick nod to Swell the bat-pone walked off to return to his duties. Swell opened the door and went in after the bat-pone had turned the corner, Ryan coming after. Ryan made her way to the bed and hopped on, getting herself comfortable before looking at Swell. He was sitting in a chair waiting for to finish before he began. He let out a low sigh, looking to deflate much like she had.

"Miss Ryan, it is with all my heart that I must apologize. When I had made to suggest that you need mental treatment I did not in the slightest mean to say that you were mentally disabled in any way. It's just that since you had been put through such a great physical change and had ran from the medical wing twice that I thought you were suffering from some kind of scaring or, Celestia forbid, mental damage from the spell. It never occurred to me to ask you directly what had happened. What had prompted you to do these things. You more or less had valid reasons for what you did. I saw symptoms that weren't there and felt the need to help you in a way that you didn't need. So for that I am truly sorry."

During his apology Swell had dipped his head down, his ears folding back. Ryan's head jolted slightly back, her ears mimicking his. She had not expected that out of him and had to take a second to recover her thoughts. She had been ready to get some kind of scolding, or even a threat about still getting her into therapy. She had prepared herself with biting comments and threats of her own, but now her weapons made of words were useless as she tried to think of how to approach this new conundrum.

"We-well it's fine. I mean really it is. I can see where you were coming from and like Luna said, it all could have been avoided. I should be one saying sorry. I had no reason to snap at you the way I did and it was wrong of me to do so, especially in front of so many other ponies. I guess let's just say we're even and let bygones be bygones, okay?"

Looking up at her, ears perked, Swell has a smile now.

"That sounds great."

They shared a small laugh.

"Um, so I never got to meet you properly before."

"That's right, we never did get introduced. Well let me remedy that."

He stuck out a hoof.

"Doctor Swell Heart, Swell for convenience. Pleasure to meet you."

Ryan grasped his hoof and gave a nice firm shake.

"Ryan, Ryan Kumen."

They smiled at each other. Swell looked over at the wall clock and let out a sigh.

"Well I suppose that I should let you rest, it's rather late and I'm sure we could both use all the energy we can get. I know now that those "Elite" have enough ammo for a lot of gossip and we're the main subject."

A shiver went up Ryan's spine at the notion as Swell got up to leave. Just as he was at the door she remembered something and stopped him.

"Swell Heart?"

Stopping to look back at her he put his hoof down from where he had it on the door handle.

"Yes?"

"I was wondering...Could you talk to Stitch Heart about getting my name legally changed?"

Swell's eyes went wide and he turned fully around.

"Getting your name changed?"

"Yeah. It was something I thought about on the way back. I've pretty much gotten the idea that this is going to be my new life down, and I was thinking, "Ryan Kumen doesn't sound like something a pony would name their kid". I figured that a new name would help me fit in a bit better, like it did back in the courtroom. It just seems like something that's going to get in the way later and I want to take care of it now."

Swell was not sure what to say. She did have a bit of a point, but just changing her name like that?

"Well, I guess I can talk to him about it, but it will have to wait until tomorrow. Most of the medical staff has already gone to sleep, I was just up since it's easier to go to night court. He'll also want to come and talk to you about it as well. I would strongly suggest you give it more thought in the mean time. This isn't an small matter and I would hope you are absolutely sure about what you were doing before you went through with it."

"I know, and I was going to sit on it for a little while anyway. I just wanted to see if it could be done before my name was officially documented is all."

"Okay, I guess that works. Just don't try going for anything strange like Trygar or something along those lines."

"I'm not, promise."

Satisfied with this answer Swell nodded, wished her a good night, and made to leave before pausing and then turning back again.

"I guess I should ask, what are you thinking of changing it to?"

"That one's a tad easier. It's a name that grew on me pretty fast and I think I could live with."

"And it is?"

Ryan couldn't stop the grin from spreading across her face.

"Thinking about it, I really like the name Art Craft."

Author's Note

And there it is folks! I know that this chapter a bit rougher and shorter but I was felling bad about late it was. I promise to touch it up where it needs it, just bear with me for now. If you are wondering about why it was late and the future check out my recent blog for some detailed info. As always rate freely & fairly and thank you for reading!