“Good Morning, Momma!” called someone, in a voice that was way too cheery for this time of day as they pulled her from the bliss of unconsciousness.

As her eyes opened, they came upon a mountain of food. Dish after dish piled high. Pancakes and daisy sandwiches, salads, eggs and bacon, and a few dishes she didn’t quite recognize. And, standing above it all somehow was her daughter. Ranma had made her breakfast in bed, an understatement to say the least, and was currently wearing a smile that would leave Pinkie Pie envious. There was only one expression that could possible convey the depth of the war of emotions within Luna…

Shock. Pure, unadulterated shock…

“How could one, little filly make so much food?” she thought dumbfounded. That was when it hit her. “Oh, goddess what is that smell, that… that… glorious smell,” and she was once more dumbfounded by the food in front of her. “It can’t be as good as it smells?” a bite later proved her wrong as she was sent back to the land of dreams by pure euphoric shock. Pleasure racing from her tongue threatening to overload her brain.

“Um,” Ranma rubs a hoof against another. The smile fading into a look of concerned worry as she took note of Luna’s prolonged silence. Her eyes darted back and forth. When Ranma spoke her voice was subdued, “I’ll just be in the kitchen… um, taking care of something.”

Luna snapped out of her dazed by the sad tone in her daughter’s voice, turned to say something but was too late as Ranma had already left. A hoof half raised and call to her child dying on her muzzle. Head slumped in defeat she let out a deep sigh.

“It’s not your fault, you know?”

Luna’s head snapped to the side of her bed where Ranko was taking her pick of the mountain of food. “I’m sorry dear, but what do you mean?”

“She’s sneaking off to the kitchen to make herself a small meal,” she idly inspected a cupcake before replacing it and grabbing a muffin next to it.

Luna’s mouth just hung there agape. “What about… this,” she waved a hoof at the Emperor’s Feast before her.

Ranko sighed, “she’s expecting you to eat all of it except for some crumbs.”

Luna was flabbergasted and weakly said, “how? Why?”

“You’ve never seen her eat, have you?” The smirk fell from Ranko’s face, “as to why, that’s all she expects to get.”

Luna’s horrified confusion mirrored her words, “wha… what kind of monster would do that to a child? To eat a feast and leave almost nothing for a starving child?”

“Monster, hmm, it’s as good a description as any for that thing,” Ranko spat with venom.

Her dark thoughts were interrupted by Luna’s next question. “But what of the party, not to mention the time in the castle?”

Ranko sighed in defeat and exasperation, “unfortunately, that is his training.”

“What do you mean?” a look of worry crossed Luna’s face.

“Well it wouldn’t do to sell a child, or arrange their marriage, if it appeared they wouldn’t make it passed adolescents.” Ranko scuffed.

“When around other adults she would be allowed to eat as much as she wanted, play with other kids, and just enjoy being herself.”

“And when she wasn’t?” Fear graced Luna’s eyes as she asked.

“She would have to steal her food or live off the scraps left to her.” Ranko’s tone was weighed down with sorrow. The depth of her failure to protect her charge written clearly across her draconic face. “And then she had to train under that stupid, stupid sensei.” There was a bit of venom in her voice, tampered by the realization it wasn’t the teacher’s fault.

Fear and worry made it to Luna’s face for a moment. “Wha-what did he do?”

“He and his best pupil taught her morality, what was right and wrong, and that stealing was wrong.” Tears began forming in her eyes as she wiped at them. “She nearly starved!” She wailed. “It took over a year to get good enough to fight him off her food. And…, and, the only reason…” sniff, “that monster allowed it was so he could… he could steal more food when they were in public…”

Luna put a wing around her distraught daughter. As she sat there thinking about what was just said and how to show this… Genma exactly what she thought of him. Just as quickly her rage dissipated, and was replaced with sorrow and longing. “So it was all an act?”

Ranko almost didn’t hear the whispered words. “I’m sorry what exactly ‘was an act’?”

“Everything,” she snarled. “Everything,” her tone dropped as tears began streaking her face. “Even that hug.”

“What hug?” Ranko asked softly.

“What hug?” Luna ask incredulously. “The hug, the first hug, when she called me ‘mommy’,” she wailed.

“ARE YOU KIDDING!?” Ranko exclaimed to Luna’s shock. “Ranma was drained physically, mentally, and especially emotionally.” She snapped. “She just found out the bastard that put her through hell wasn’t her father, her birthing mother was driven insane by that same bastard, her loved ones betrayal, the crap with her friend, the amazons, the trip across realities, being consumed by chaos and less we forget the week long trip in the Neko-ken,” she was nearly screaming by the end. “That hug and the emotions behind it are probably the least guarded and most honest she’s been in years.” Her voice softened as her frustration was spent.

“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have yelled at you like that Princess.” As she lowered her head to bow she felt a hoof on her snout.

“Shh,” Luna said gently. “Please call me mom, or even mother.”

Taking a deep breathe to collect herself, “I’ll try, but it might take awhile.”

“That’s okay,” Luna nuzzled her and added a hoof as she hugged her daughter closer, “I am sorry.”

“It’s not your fault.” Her daughter replied wiping a few tears from her eyes. After a few moments Ranko broke the hug to go look after Ranma. As she left Luna barely heard her as she whispered, “it’s all my fault.”

Ranma and Ranko walk through the streets of Ponyville running a few errands, mainly replacing some of the food from breakfast. Ponies were milling about in the early morning market.

Ranko noticed Ranma was dragging her hooves a little bit, and her eyes were looking at the ground without focus. “Ranma what’s wrong?”

“I don’t know, it’s like I get the feelin’ she’s doesn’t like me.” Ranma answered without her usual enthusiasm.

“Why would you say that didn’t she give you that bone crushing hug when she found out?” Ranko remembering what Luna was worried about earlier.

“Yeah but pops… er, Genma use to do the same.” Ranma responded trying to keep the hurt out of her voice.

Ranko blinked, please, please not twice in the same day. Holding back a sigh she asked, “What do you mean?”

“We were surrounded by a bunch a people, and just like Genma use to she probably didn’t want to look bad. Especially since she’s a princess,” the last was said in a low voice.

“Don’t you ever compare her to Genma.” Ranko exclaimed not even caring Ranma could have revealed Luna. Ranma flinched at Ranko’s stern tone. “She loves you.”

“Then why is she avoiding me?” Wailed Ranma unable to keep the pain from her voice.

Ranko hugged Ranma, and glared at the ponies that got a little too nosy. After making sure no one was listening to them, again she responded. “She’s not avoiding you. Over the last few days she and her sister have been assuring the ponies that everything is alright. And, yesterday the delegations from the other nations have started showing up.”

Curiously Ranma asked, “why?”

This time Ranko couldn’t hold back the sigh. “Because, one week after the first eclipse set everyone into a frenzy, another one occurred.” Ranko let out a deep sigh, feeling guilt. “Then there are those who have been scyring any magical anomalies more than likely picked up the trace amount of Nightmare Moon’s magic the second time.”

Ranma cringed at the mention of her mother’s dark persona. In a tiny voice she whispered, “I’m sorry.”

“It’s not your fault,” replied Ranko immediately.

As they walked in silence with Ranma continuing to be a bit despondent. Ranko noticed a ripple in Ranma’s aura. Ranko was about to ask about it when it rippled again.

Ranma was curious, something was tugging from deep within and causing ripples across her aura. She was a bit hesitant due to how unusual the feeling was. Realizing her hesitation, she decided that there was one aspect of her life she would keep. She’d be fearless. So she pulled on the sensation.

The effects were instantaneous. Ranko looked on in horror as the ripples suddenly cascaded across her charges whole aura. Before she could panic Ranma’s aura struck out like a coiled snake grabbing the ambient magic. Ranko’s curiosity rose as it shaped to look like strings, drums, and a few other instruments. Her jaw hit the floor as they started playing, the sound going out over the market. Her surprised turned once more to worry as Ranma’s aura raced across the invisible chi-lines to every pony in the area. Her fears turning to awe as Ranma’s ki collided with the aura’s of the ponies making them shine in all manner of shades and colors. The ponies began stomping there hoofs in rhythm with the heavy and somber beat of the music.

Then they began to sing.

Love is a battlefield
Because it leaves scars that never heal
Love is a battlefield
Because it makes your fate with a seal
Love is a battlefield
Because both sides don’t know what to feel
Love is a battlefield
Because one always breaks the deal
Love is a battlefield
Because it’s never real

The ponies all seemed to be choreographed as they sang the bridge. Ranko was stunned as Ranma sang the next verse.

I had two parents, and I thought they were great
And that feeling stayed until I was eight
One sold me for everything he ate
The other would remove my head if I didn't make a girl late
But that was just my fate

The first sold the other to use me for dinner
The other was more victim than sinner
He would beat me as he ate and I got thinner
She was force to act in a peculiar manner
In the end there was no winner

Ranko was on the verge of crying as she was reminded of her failures.

Love is a battlefield
Because it leaves scars that never heal
Love is a battlefield
Because make your fate with a seal
Love is a battlefield
Because both don’t know what to feel
Love is a battlefield
Because one always breaks the deal
Love is a battlefield
Because it’s never real

I’ve been brought to it, again
I’ve got to do it, again
I need to go through it, again
I know I will blow it, again

All the ponies looked a bit sad at the defeatism in Ranma’s voice.

She belongs to the night
She keeps the stars in sight
She was unaware of my plight
She didn’t know why I need to fight
I hope with her that things go right

He had to become truly mad
He was thought to be absolutely bad
He left the world utterly had
He made his bed and was glad
It was all rather sad

The other’s looked on confused by the last verse.

Love is a battlefield…
Love is a battlefield…
Love is a battlefield…

Because it’s never real…

The awkwardness of the last line made sure Ranma and Ranko had some privacy. Ranko just looked on speechless. As she was about to try to comfort Ranma, the young fill beat her to the punch.

“What the hell was that?” Exclaimed the freaking out pony. Completely ruining the moment.

“That… snirk… that… snick,” cough, cough, “that was a Heart-Song. Though I’ve never seen one before.” Ranko tilted her head as she pondered something. “I’m curious how the magic behind it works. But, um,” she got a little concerned. “When a pony feels a particularly strong emotion, they can share it.” She brought Ranma into a hug. “When they’re elated they bring up the whole community. When they’re down they share the burden.” She paused to let it sink in. “So, how are you feeling?”

Ranma thought about it for a moment before smiling, “better actually.”

--

Ranma bounced around Ranko like a little filly, back to her excitable self after finally letting go of some of her burden. She came to a stop in a headstand on top of Ranko’s head.

“I didn’t know flowers could taste so good.” Ranko was eying a drop of drool that threatened to land on her face from Ranma’s mouth.

“Just because you see someone eating flowers they bought, doesn’t mean you should eat flowers off the side of the road. Also, you’re drooling, you know.” Ranko pointed out while trying to move her face away.

Ranma just ignored her, she was screaming so it mustn’t be important. “The last time I had them they tasted so…, so bland, and I had just had a squid okinomiyaki a day or two earlier.” The drool bubble got bigger. Before being drawn in, as a thoughtful look crossed Ranma’s muzzle. “Hey can I still eat squid. Oh, oh, what about other meats?”

“Well, I’m not so sure what meats if any ponies can eat, but considering your draconic heritage I wouldn’t be surprised if you end up eating gems.” Ranko joked with smirk on her snout.

Ranma was silent for a few minutes as she thought about how gems would taste. “So,” Ranma looked up, which was down, “what are we going to do now?”

“Well,” Ranko thought a moment, “after we return from this errand, first we need to head over to Twilight’s study to have you take a look at the plans.”

“Ah, but I hate numbers,” exclaimed the filly in a put upon way only child can truly master.

Chuckling Ranko stated, “didn’t you always say numbers were important?”

“They are important, but that doesn’t make them not boring. Like my old forewoman always use to tell me ‘measure twice, cut once.’ Then, I would say but why when I could cut perfectly. Then she would be like,” she took on a posture and tone to mimic said forewoman, all while still on Ranko’s head. “‘If you don’t then, even if you measure it right, I’ll take the materials cost out of your pay, for incompetence,’ Finally Nabiki would somehow show up and say, ‘and if she takes a yen, you’ll owe me double.’ She always had that smirk of hers when she said that, I wonder how she knew when to show up?”

“Oh, that’s easy, she was super good at guessing when you’d get bored,” said Pinkie.

Shocked, Ranko quickly spun around on reflex, only to see a fading pink cloud of dust. “That makes senses,” stated Ranma from her perch still looking in the direction they were heading.

A hour or so after restocking the castle’s supplies, and heading to Twilight’s study…

“Okay and we build a grounding line here,” Ranma drew a line with a pencil in his mouth. “To prevent this node,” she indicated a circle with a symbol Twilight didn’t recognize. “From overloading. Right Ranko?”

Twilight stared in awe at the diagram before her. She had seen magic arrays built into structures, Canterlot Castle being a prime example she had seen only a few of the layers the Princess and her mages had put into over the millennium. And, she had seen some of the building plans of Manehattan which was one of the most advance cities in Equestria. But this, this was a work of art. The design was clearly more traditional but the construction was the most advance things she had ever seen. Unlike the enchanted buildings she was use to these arrays weren’t added later and absorbed into the structure but were a part of the foundations and everything else.

There were lines indicating conduits for magic, and chi, or was it ki Twilight couldn’t wait to learn that branch of magic. Materials and runes she never even heard of. Runes that were needed to enchant the materials before they were even added to the building and the subsequent arrays. There were circles that represented nodes with runes they called kanji to store and process the energies. It was already one of the most complicated and intricate buildings she’d ever seen, the only one more complicated is her own tree castle. And, that’s a construct from a magic box from the Tree of Harmony itself.

“Hmm,” Ranko looked at the new addition for a moment. “That looks fine for the primary system, it should cover the basic harmonics and energies.”

“We’ll have to add a secondary system to dump the energy reserve, in case the primary safeties fail.” Pointed out Ranma.

And it wasn’t even finished, Twilight started drooling as she stared at the basic blueprints.

“Well that’s all we can do for now,” stated Ranko firmly. “We’ll need to see the effects of these rainbows before adding the other safety systems. Not to mention the other systems.”

“Why? What about the rainbows?” Twilight was curious about how rainbows of all things could effect a magic circuit this complex and powerful.

“Because the rainbows made by ponies are made of magic themselves. They’re used to direct the energy from the light they refract from the sun into ambient magic, and therefore they directly affect ley-lines.” Ranko wiped at a drop of drool as it formed just thinking of all that raw magic. “We need to know how this will affect the harmonics of the energies as well as the physical properties of the storage systems and other materials. Not to mention the indirect effect on all the magic and chi properties.”

Twilight thought about it for about minute. As the realization of what rainbows and sonic rainbooms causing a disruption of magic in a system like this, her face took on a look of horror. “We could see if Rainbow Dash can get us that information. The recipe for rainbows maybe a secret, but their effects on the local magic fields would be a matter of public safety.” She paused as a thought occurred to her. “We could even have her do a Sonic Rainboom to she the effects of that as well.”

Ranko started laughing, “you’re joking right? Sonic Rainbooms are old mares tales.” She couldn’t help herself as another bout of laughter came out. “She got you believing she can do that. How’d she do that?”

Twilight smirked, “oh simple… she performed one.” Ranko stopped laughing and stared at her disbelievingly. Twilight smirk widened, “three times actually.”

“But… bu…, how?” Ranko sputter.

“What is a Sonic Rainbum… thingy?” Asked a curious Ranma as she tilted her head to one side.

“Oh,” Twilight was excited to be back in familiar territory. “A Sonic Rainboom is the energy dispersal wave across the ambient magic as something with a magical aura breaks the sound barrier.” Her smile widen as she started entering lecture mood.

“Oh, oh, can I do it?” Ranma started getting excited as well.

“Well I don’t see…” began Twilight.

“No,” screamed Ranko in a near panic.

“Ah! Why not?” Asked a slightly annoyed Ranma.

“That’s a good question.” Added Twilight.

“Because, first off, your magic is being suppressed by this,” Ranko tapped the headband. “Secondly, you have no control over your magic right now, if you did perform one you may cause massive dispersal of chaotic magic across the ambient magic and even the ley-lines themselves.” A shiver ran down her spine. “That would be bad, very, very bad.”

Twilight shook to her core as she imagined a Discord world multiplied by a magnitude of ten. It could take years just finding her friends. A hopeful thought occurred to her, “but we won’t have to worry about that, right? It’s not like Ranma could break… the… sound…” she trailed off at the look Ranko was giving her.

“You’re kidding, right?” At Ranko’s head shake, Twilight gulped hard. She turned to Ranma, “please, please don’t ever do that.”

“I promise that, unless there is an emergency, I will not go faster than the speed of sound, under my own volition. That’s how it works right, I have to be doing it under my own power?” Ranma asked concerned.

“Yes that should be fine.” Twilight quickly did some calculations in her head. “Yes that would work,” her and Ranko breathed a sigh of relief. At Ranma’s slightly sad expression, she correctly guessed she probably thought it would be fun pulling it off. Rainbow had told her a few times how fun it was. She quickly thought up something to cheer up the filly, “remember, you can watch as Rainbow Dash performs one.”

“But when I have my magic under control I can go zooming through time and space, right?” Asked a hopeful Ranma.

“I wonder what a Tachy Rainboom looks like,” stated a curious Twilight after a moment of thought.

“Probably made up of old raggedy drapes in all the colors of the rainbow.” Joked Ranko.

“Can you imagine how much power that would release.” She looked back at the filly and shivered again. A thought occurred to her. “Speaking of power, with that house you’re designing you’ll have quite a bit of it. What do you plan on using it for?”

“Mostly to clean the house,” answered Ranma plainly.

Twilight jaw dropped and her right eye began twitching. “All that to clean a house?” She practically screeched.

“Well it’s a big house,” stated Ranko offhandedly.

The whole right side of Twilight’s face began to have spasms. “I know a half dozen spells that could clean a house ten times that size at a millionth of the power you already have.”

“Well I have this friend who really likes to have the house cleaned to godly levels. And if she comes to visit, I don’t her having to lift a finger, or hoof as the case may be.” Ranma pointed out in a tone that said ‘well obviously.’

Twilight hair began fraying and splitting. “But…, but…, but…,” she couldn’t believe it. She couldn’t! She had been practically drooling over those designs and these…, these monsters were going to waste one of the most beautiful things she had ever seen on something so, so stupid. Her hair began to spark and smoke wafted up. Her eyes took on a mad gleam.

Twilight’s thoughts were broken by laughter as the other two broke their stoic facades. “You should have seen your face,” Ranma smirked. “Told ya she’d lose it.”

“Yeah you were right,” Ranko took a steadying breathe. “While it’s true most of it will be used for cleaning,” Twilight twitched, “that’s because most of the other things won’t be needed as often.”

“What do you mean by that?” asked a curious Twilight.

“Well a part of it is making sure there isn’t too much chaos for Prin…” Ranko paused as she was elbowed in the ribs by Ranma. “not too much chaos for Mother nor too little for Ranma. Another part is maintaining the subspace and spatial expansion fields.” Twilight’s mind boggled at how much space one could make with that. It could easily cover the space between Ponyville and Canterlot. “Then there’s the protection and seals. And lastly restoring, hatching, and eventually feeding the dragon eggs we recovered from the other world.”

“Any plans for the hatchlings?” Twilight touched on a subject she wasn’t sure if she should.

“That’s up to them, and whether they want to return or not,” Ranko said before giving a sidelong glance at Ranma. “Of coarse if they stay they might have to put up with spontaneously breaking out in to song and dance.” Ranma grumbled in an irritated tone.

Twilight was curious about the byplay, “did something happened?”

“Yeah,” Ranma grouched.

“Ranma had her first Heartsong,” Ranko beamed wistfully. “It was one of the most beautiful things I’d ever seen.”

Twilight blinked and looked confused, “you like to watch ponies dance and sing?” She thought a moment. “We could go to Bridleway sometime.”

“Well that might be fun, and the performance was interesting. Not to mention the fact it helped Ranma a bit was nice.” Ranko began. “But, the interplay of magic and ki was what I found so enthralling.” She swooned. “The colors and the energies were just so beautiful.” She bit her lip while hugging herself as if she were still wreathed in that power.

“Oh, sounds like you’re addicted.” joked Ranma.

“As much as one can be addicted to happiness,” Ranko. Her bliss was dampened by thinking about the reason for the Heartsong. Before her thoughts could turn darker, she was interrupted by a suddenly excited Twilight in the face.

“You saw a Heartsong. Actually saw a Heartsong,” Twilight had a mad grin. “As in saw the magic and what it was doing?” Her grin widened.

“Can’t ponies see magic?” Asked a confused Ranko.

“Well yes,” Twilight admitted. “But, Heartsongs are infrequent and unpredictable so rare is the case a unicorn with mage sight was present. And, rarer still did they chose to study instead of participate.” Her eyes held a manic gleam. “However, there was always interference making it impossible to get clear picture.”

“That was probably the ki,” Ranko pointed out.

Twilight started pacing back and forth. “Can you imagine doing the definitive work on such an obscure yet fundamentally vital branch of magic? Why, it could revolutionize the foundation of all Equestrian magic.” She stopped and turned to Ranko. “So, can you really see what happens?”

“Y-yes,” Ranko hesitantly answered.

“Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes…” Twilight hopped excitedly around Ranko before stopping in front of her and asking. “Will you marry me?”

“Wha-wha-wha-what…” Ranko sputtered incoherently. She calmed herself, “what did you just say?”

Twilight was confused and not knowing what the problem was, decided to repeat herself. “I said, will you teach me?”

“Bu, but… that’s… not… what… oof,” for the second time that day Ranko was interrupted by a elbow to the ribs.

“You got lucky, you should just take the training and run.” Ranma advised in a serious tone.

Realization dawned on Ranko. “Yes, yes I will train you,” she stammered. “Just train you, nothing else. Just training, just training, yep…”

Twilight was confused by Ranko’s nervousness, but seeing the problem just shrugged. She happily said, “this is the start of a beautiful relationship.”

Author's Note

A. n. I’ve had an epiphany Pinkie is like Abby(NCIS). I wonder if Abby would like Pinkie. Now that’d be a fanfic.

A. n. a Tachy Rainboom is a Rainboom breaking the Tachyon barrier or the speed of light.

A. n. might need a tweak or two but will take care of that later.