“You heard me correctly bring Iron Lance to me right now.” Celestia ordered two of her guards in a harsh stern tone, “I have some need of him for a short trip to Ponyville.”

Both of guards panicked, as it was exceedingly rare to see her so stern. Both of them had wondered if something had happened in Ponyville that demanded the princesses immediate attention. It didn’t take long for them to track down Iron Lance and sent him to a rather irate looking Celestia.

“Y-you wanted to see me your majesty?” Iron Lance stood to attention. Celestia gave him an unamused look.

“You are going to accompany to Ponyville.” Celestia explained, “I find myself in need of your opinion of something, as my student has recently fell victim to a rather serious problem.”

“What kind of problem your majesty?” Iron Lance asked nervous.

“I haven’t a clue, but I understand it is something that I need to see in person.” Celestia explained, “And we’ll be leaving immediately.”

It didn’t take too long to get to Ponyville, Iron Lance and Celestia had teleported right in front of the ruined library. Iron Lance looked even more nervous as Celestia inspected how trashed the place was.

“I see...” Celestia muttered her voice remained neutral, “Do you have any idea about this Iron Lance?”

“I-I think Night Light was caught at the scene at the crime, your majesty.” He answered, “He’s in the Ponyville jail right at this moment.”

“Oh really?” Truthfully Celestia already knew this bit of information, and she knew fine well Iron Lance was trying to hide something from her, “Then you don’t mind if we take a short trip to the farm?”

“Erm...no your majesty.” Iron Lance stuttered.

Mac had went off to see Fluttershy home, which left Mom and I to discuss what was going to happen to Night Light.

“You’re really thinking of divorcing him?” I exclaimed.

“Yes Dusk.” Mom nodded, “I think it would be best, you know fine well how much we argued in the past...and well, his little display the other day was the last straw.”

“Mom...” I couldn’t believe this was happening, “Don’t you think that’s a bit much?”

“No Dusk,” Mom replied, “I gave him far too many chances, and he’s let me down every time.”

“As foolish as he was, I suppose this couldn’t be avoided.” Luna spoke up as she joined us for breakfast, “I’m surprised you asked the guards to be so lenient on your father.”

“...” I said nothing to Luna’s comment.

“Hm?” Luna seemed to sense something, “It would seem my sister is on her way here.”

Mom, Luna and I headed outside to meet up with Celestia, who was accompanied Iron Lance of all ponies.

“Well this is going to be interesting.” I commented, Iron Lance looked like he was about to wet himself. I wonder if Celestia was doing this intentionally.

“Sister, to what do we owe such a personal visit?” Luna asked her sister, Luna raised a brow at why Iron Lance was accompanying Celestia to such a place such as this.

“It has recently come to my attention that your home was broken into and completely ruined by somepony just the other night.” Celestia explained, “I was hoping you could shed some light on what happened Dusk.”

“Oh really?” I raised a brow, was that mischievous glint I saw in Celestia’s eye? “Well my home was broken into and trashed, by my father and another pony apparently if what Night Light says is true.”

“Another pony?” Celestia asked intrigued, and took a moment to ponder what her former student was saying, “Are you sure Dusk?”

“Oh yes, he even had the guts to brag to my face about it.” I explained, “You can even ask my friends, they’ll all say the same thing isn’t that right Iron Lance?”

Iron Lance looked like he was about to run off like a coward at the first opportunity he could find. Celestia turned to him with a raised brow, watching him squirm under her intense gaze.

“Would you like to explain this Iron Lance?” Celestia asked warmly, “Because it would be very unwise if you lie to me, and believe me I will know if your lying.”

“Fine I admit it!” he panicked, “I got drunk with Night Light, he ranted and raved about how his son was such a disappointment so I egged him on to go and trash your place...I-I even helped him do it! T-There I said it!!”

“Good.” Celestia glared, “I’m going to make sure you never bother my student or his friends ever again. Iron Lance I hope you enjoy your stay in jail, because I assure you you’re going to be there a very, very long time.” Celestia snapped her fingers and in a flash Iron Lance was teleported to what I assumed was the Canterlot dungeon. Celestia sighed, “He’s had that coming for a very long time, I’m going to have to review the recruitment process when I get back.”

“Where did you just send him princess?” Mom asked.

“Just somewhere where he’ll be out of mind for the time being at least.” Celestia answered simply, “I would imagine a certain somepony would like a few words with Iron Lance, don’t worry I told him to expect him and explained what had happened.”

“W-Where am I?” Iron Lance looked around in a panic, this wasn’t the castle dungeon, “Oh by the sun w-where am I?”

“Well Iron Lance, it has come to my attention that Celestia wants you whipped into shape?” A voice spoke behind him, “That attitude of yours has caused ponies enough problems as it is. Shame really you’re actually a damn good soldier.”

“Captain Shining Armour?!” Iron Lance exclaimed in fear. Shining Armour cracked his knuckles, and gave Iron Lance an unamused look.

“I don’t take too kindly to ponies who harass my family.” Shining warned.

“This is going to hurt isn’t it...” Iron Lance gave an frightened, awkward smile.

“Yup.” Shining answered simply.

“Please be gentle...”

“Ah-hah...no.”

Work on repairing the Library was coming along well, even if it was taking longer than expected. I shouldn’t have been so surprised at any delays that may have popped up.

“Ya’ll alright there Dusk?” Mac spoke up, snapping me out of my thoughts.

“I’m fine Mac.” I replied, “I was just thinking about how all this started that’s all.”

“Yer experiment?” Mac asked, “That’s what started this right?”

“Yes...yes it was.” I answered, “As much as I think about it, I don’t think I’ll ever regret doing it.” Mac stopped what he was doing, and gave me quizzical look.

“Ah don’t blame yer.” Mac spoke, as he continued on repairing the bookshelves, “Why should yer regret something that’s made yer happy? Ah mean yer alot happier now right?”

“I am Mac, but I dread to think what somepony could do with that spell if they got their hands on it.” I replied with a grimace, it was a thought I wasn’t fond of, “I’d hate for anypony to go through what I’ve been through over these past few weeks.”

“So yer put the formula in a safe place then?” Mac asked.

“It’s down in my basement lab, but I’m the only pony who has the key to it.” I answered, “I’m debating on destroying that formula to be honest.”

“Yer mean that door was supposed to be locked?” Mac stated, I froze in my tracks and turned towards him with a terrified expression.

“Oh...no...” I ran to door and down the basement stairs into the lab, I checked the table where the research notes should have been, “It’s gone! Oh by the stars no!”

“Dusk?” Mac ran down after me, “Dusk what’s wrong?”

“Somepony has stolen my research on the spell!” I explained, “If anypony tries it then what happened to me will happen to them, the spell is guaranteed to fail. You’d have to be an Alicorn to have the level of magic needed to even attempt it with any chance of success!”

“What?” Mac exclaimed, “It’s really that bad for anypony to try?”

“Yes,” I continued, “If this was cast by an Alicorn, then the spell would have been temporary if it was cast without the binding properties of the moon. If done by a Unicorn the spell will be permanent regardless if the spell fails or not.”

“Do yer think yer old man took it?” Mac suggested.

“I doubt it the door was locked during the night he and Iron Lance broke in.” I confirmed, I walked over to the door lock and examined it closer, “Just great...the lock was picked.”

“How can yer tell?” Mac inquired.

“Because the damage to the lock is on the inside.” I explained, “Here look, it looks like it was kicked in from this side.” The door lock was kicked in rather badly, most likely an attempt to make it look like part of the break in.

Elsewhere in a small carriage home, a blue unicorn stallion with a silver mane and tail was going over some notes with a zeal only reserved for performances, and matters involving his self appointed rival.

“Just what were you planning Dusk Shine?” The stallion continued to read the ingredients needed for this spell described in the research notes, “Sugar and spice? Powdered Heart’s Desire, Crystallized Lust and Liquid Courage? What were you doing with these ingredients?”

The stallion looked around his shelves for the various ingredients, he knew for sure he had picked up some of the ingredients during his travels before he settled down here in Ponyville.

“Ah here we are!” The stallion grinned, sure tricks and illusions were more his forte but he was still a capable magician regarding magic of the non-performing variety, “Well Dusk, let’s see how well the great and powerful Mirage Lulamoon does when I out do you at last!”

Author's Note

Oh the plot thickens.

• Silent out