Author's Note

Here it is, at last, and hopefully you'll find it was worth the wait. If not, well, feel free to unfollow and all that, because, honestly, I wouldn't blame you for not having the patience for my shenanigans regarding my posting schedule, or lack there of in this case. Still, hope you enjoy and, as always, let me know what you think in the comments and all that. And on that note, I sincerely wish you all a nice day and many more to come

Shoutouts to my patrons for their continued support, including Calamababa, Canary In The Coal Mine and Noah Brown! Shameless self promotion engage! https://www.patreon.com/Crensler

Chapter 5: Beginning the Process of Moving On and Making a Friend

It's strange how much your view of the world can be changed by the simplest of things. If someone had told me a few weeks ago that I'd end up finding a small measure of peace due to something as seemingly insignificant as a birthday party, I'd have likely punched them in the face for being a complete fucking idiot. Yet, as I gaze at the distant village of Ponyville, I find myself smiling thanks to the party one silly, flamboyant pony threw for me. It still feels strange to smile like this, of course, but this warm, fuzzy feeling it's giving me can't possibly be bad, right? Still, as much as I would like to, I can't keep standing around smiling into space like this. I turn away from the edge of the landing pad and find Luna waiting for me to join her. Time to go give our report. Joy. Still, it gives me the chance to do something I've wanted to do ever since I heard I was going on that crazy little mission. Something I'm going to savor every second of to the fullest extent possible.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Celestia smiles as she reads the letter she just received from her student, the ball of tension in her chest melting away with every sentence her eyes trace over. She knew before it arrived by dragon fire that the mission had been a success, of course, but to see confirmation in Twilight's elegantly precise writing was more of a relief to her than she had expected it to be. As she gets to the bottom of the page, however, the friendship/mission report gives her a surprise.

I also learned that, no matter how bad things seem, no matter how deep the darkness becomes, even the smallest of gestures can show you the way back to the light.

Now what does that mean, she wonders? She quickly scans back over the letter, rereading it multiple times, but this one sentence stands out from the rest of the report. Did something happen on the mission? What did Twilight mean? Frowning, she rolls up the letter, as it holds no more answers for her. Glad as Celestia is to have gotten it, now the solar diarch finds herself at a bit of a loss. Perhaps when Luna and Artemis finally return she'll get the answers she seeks. As if on cue there is a knock at her door, Celestia straightening her posture and putting the letter aside, putting on a pleasantly neutral expression as she readies herself to receive her guests.

"Enter."

0o0o0o0o0o0o0

I open the door to Celestia's study and make my way inside, head held high and shoulders straight as I confront the princess of the day, meeting her gaze unflinchingly. I immediately find myself having to resist the sudden urge to squirm as her eyes study me intently, something about the intensity of her scrutiny setting me on edge. I'd come here ready to tell her off but now I feel like I'm back in school, under the weighty gaze of one of my teachers after having misbehaved. I manage to shake it off just as she finishes trying to peer into the depths of my soul with her eyes alone, the princess smiling at last, as if happy to see us. Well, maybe she's happy to see Luna at least.

"I am glad to see that the both of you have returned safely," Celestia says, the desire to roll my eyes just about overpowering at this point. "Though I understand from Luna's initial report that things did not go as smoothly as any of us would have liked."

"Honestly I don't think it could have gone any better," I remark, snark cranked up to eleven at this point. "I mean, you did send six civilians and two demigods to kick a dragon out of its lair, when just sending us by ourselves would have been sufficient. Oh, by the way." I lean forward and look Celestia right in the eye. "I fucking told you so." And she just doesn't even bat an eyelash. Does nothing rattle this mare? "Didn't you hear me? I said-"

"I know what you said." I click my mouth shut, straightening as I give her an annoyed glare. "And I disagree. If it weren't for the fact that those civilians, as you put it, had been with you, the mission would have ended in failure." I try to offer a rebuttal but she cuts me off at the pass. "No, I don't consider an outcome where you would have had to kill the dragon a success." Figures. "Do not misunderstand me. As much as it pains me to put ponies in danger, especially those six, it had to be done in this case." I grind my teeth, unable to offer a counter-argument at the moment. "Let us just be grateful that, despite a certain incident, there were no major injuries and that the mission was ultimately a success."

"It was still quite the gamble," Luna interjects before I can unleash the scathing retort I have in mind. Might as well let her have at it. My original plan to lay on the guilt trip went up in smoke in the face of Celestia's stonewalling, so why not? "So many things could have gone wrong. We may have enough power at our command to be likened unto demigods, but we are not omnipotent. Any of the Bearers could have been hurt or even killed over the course of the mission. Why would you even take such a risk? It is quite unlike you, sister."

"Perhaps in the past, but a lot has changed in the last thousand years," Celestia replies, that pleasantly neutral expression not so much as chipping under the weight of Luna's scrutiny. "It was indeed a risk, one that I know neither of you approve of, but it's done. I had faith in the Bearers' ability to succeed in this task, especially with your support, and they rewarded that faith by resolving the situation without further need for violence." Her gaze lowers at last, the mask slipping a bit to reveal...vulnerability. But is it genuine or just a calculated maneuver to manipulate us? I wish I knew. "Twilight Sparkle is my student and putting her and her friends in danger was the last thing I wanted, but their destiny, tied to the Elements as they are, is inevitably going to endanger them in ways I may not be able to protect them from. They need to be ready to face these unforeseen dangers, otherwise not only could they die, but all of Equestria could be imperiled as a result of losing its greatest defense." God damn it, why does she have to have a point?

"I've never put much stock in destiny," I tell her. "It always seemed like a way for people to give up responsibility for their own fates. Maybe it's different here, I don't really know, but honestly if destiny says that those girls have to face danger when there are others better equipped to handle said danger available then it can kiss the darkest part of my ass." Something about what I just said is making Celestia smile and I'm not sure how I feel about that fact. "What? Is there a problem?"

"No, of course not," she replies, acting all mysterious, much to my annoyance. "I don't blame you for feeling that way, Artemis. I would likely feel the same in your position, after all." She sighs softly. "Still, there is little point dwelling on it now. What's done is done." She seems to hesitate. "I will promise, however, that I won't endanger them unnecessarily. As you said, there is little need when others are available that I can count on." I feel my eyebrows raise as she smiles at me, the expression not coming across like her usual pleasant expression does. This is really starting to weird me out. "Thank you both for giving me your report. If there is nothing else, there are other things that require my attention." A chance to take a gamble of my own. Well, here goes everything.

"One last thing," I say, drawing Celestia's attention once more. "I'm done doing your bitch work. We both know it's a waste of time to have me painting fences or whatever other mundane bullshit your correction officers decide to have me do." She doesn't say anything to interrupt so I plow on. "If you're going to have me doing things to help, I want to be doing something more than...than picking up other people's garbage. Like with the dragon, only fewer civilians caught in the crossfire." She stares at me for several long, quiet moments, the weight of her gaze making me want to squirm, but I somehow repress the urge despite myself. "Well?"

"If that is what you want, then I see no reason to deny your...request." Okay, that...was easier than I thought it would be. The hell? "Now don't look at me like that. We both know that, if you really wanted to leave, you were more than capable of making your escape even with that around your neck." She points at the collar/peytral that rests around my neck with one hoof. "While Luna's testimony aided in your probation, there were certain...concessions that had to be made in order to ensure your present status went unquestioned." What the hell does that mean? "Despite the claims I made when I presented you to the public, there is no record of us having a brother, not in any of the historical texts in any library in Equestria, nor anywhere else for that matter." Wait, there was something...a look just flashed through her eyes. Damn it, she's still hiding something! But what? "I understand you've been learning about how our government works, among other things of course."

"Yeah, it's not a true diarchy," I reply, keeping my suspicions to myself for now. "Granted, you and Luna have a great deal of pull, but you don't hold all the power, at least not anymore."

"That is correct." Celestia smiles at me like she's my teacher and I've just earned myself a gold sticky star. Joy. "There is a council that also holds sway in Equestria's affairs, made up of various nobles that oversee the various provinces." I nod, already knowing that part. "What do you think their reaction was to an alicorn appearing seemingly out of thin air?" Oh. Oh, well, shit, that explains a few things.

"They felt threatened," I mutter, to which she nods. "It's why Cadence doesn't hold much in the way of political power." Damn, I hate politics. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"Would you have believed us?" Luna asks, to which I barely resist flinching. No. No I wouldn't have. "Exactly. You would have just dismissed it out of hoof as the two of us trying to make excuses for wanting you on a leash."

"Well, you're not wrong," I grumble, glancing downwards at the peytral and grimacing in disgust. "So this...thing doesn't really have any true hold over me?"

"Of course not," Celestia scoffs. "It would take more than a few weeks to craft a device capable of suppressing the power of an alicorn. If it were activated you could easily overload it, so you needn't worry about that."

"If you truly wished you could go anywhere you like," Luna tells me. "You do not have to stay if you wish to be elsewhere."

"I appreciate the thought, Lu, but where would I even go?" I ask, rolling my eyes at the thought. "I'm a stranger in a strange land, a stallion out of time, whatever cliche you want to use, I'm it. I might as well stick around, see how things play out." I glance at the nearby clock. "Look, I'm gonna head out. Now that I'm not doing any more grunt work, my schedule just opened up." With that I turn and walk out with every intent of finding some way to spend my new allotment of free time.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Artemis had been in such a hurry to leave that he never noticed the way Luna had frozen up, a stunned look having formed on her face.

"Luna?" Celestia calls to her softly, rising from her seat to gently lay a hoof upon the younger mare's shoulder. "Lulu?"

"He...he called me..." Luna trails off, jaw working as she tries to voice her inner turmoil. "He called me Lu. No one else ever...but that doesn't make any sense."

"Easy, Lulu, easy," Celestia murmurs, pulling her sister into a gentle embrace. "You and I both know that what you're thinking is impossible."

"Is it?" Luna wonders, not truly reacting to the hug her older sibling was giving her at the moment. "The Elements made a body for him out of nothing and he was somehow pulled across realities, so who's to say what is and isn't possible?"

"Luna." Celestia's voice has turned stern. "He's long dead. Don't do this to yourself." The elder alicorn's expression softens as she hears her little sister draw in a shuddering breath. "Shhhh, easy now. It's going to be alright."

"I know I shouldn't cling to false hope," Luna says quietly, pressing the side of her face in against Celestia's neck and squeezing her eyes shut. "But I miss him."

"...so do I, sister. So do I."

0o0o0o0o0o0o0

I should have thought of what to do with this new free time before I left the palace. Now I'm just staring around like an idiot in my disguise on some random street, wondering what I can find to amuse myself with. That's the problem with spending a thousand years going insane and being corrupted by dark magic. You kind of forget what you used to enjoy, among other things. Like your last name, what you looked like before going native, you know, just the little stuff. No big deal, right? No, bad Artemis, you're doing the crazy talking to yourself in your head thing again. I do that a lot these days, now that I think about it. Weird.

"Okay, moving on," I mutter with a shake of my head, forcing myself to stop standing around and looking like a tourist. So, what to do? What is there even to do, anyway? What do ponies do to have fun? "Probably sing songs or some such nonsense," I remark dryly to myself with a roll of my eyes. Really should've had a plan in mind, Artemis old boy. "Okay, just think of something to do. No big deal, people do it all the time." I look around, frowning as I read signs over shops, having made my way to the business district from the looks of it. There's so many ponies walking around, too. Heading to work, getting the daily shopping out of the way and who knows what else. Was this really a good idea? I don't know any-no, wait. I do know someone here. But how do I find her? I don't exactly have her address or phone...no, ponies don't have phones. "I'm think I'm panicking," I mutter, my heartbeat sounding strangely loud in my ears. "Come on, Artemis, think!" Where can I...the park! "Yes, the park!" I have a plan! Yay, go me! Score one for Team Artemis! "Christ, these ponies really are starting to rub off on me."

0o0o0o0o0o0o0

You know, it's actually kind of a nice park now that I don't have to clean it. The grass under my hooves, the sweet scent of the carefully tended flowers, the wind rustling the leaves of the trees...yeah, I should definitely come here more often. But for now I'm on a mission: find Nymphadora.

"Hey Dusk." I jump at the sudden sound of her voice from behind me. How the hell did she even sneak up on me? Was I really that distracted by the scenery or what? "Wow, no trash picking gear today? They give you the day off for good behavior or what?" Okay, play it cool. You just got back from fighting a fire breathing, larger than life dragon. You've got this.

"Oh, hey Nymph," I reply casually, even putting on a smile. Good start, keep it going. "I'm actually finally finished with my probation period, so I decided to see if you were hanging out here again today." And she's staring at me like I've grown a second head. Damn it, I can't even act casual right! "What?" She doesn't reply at first, eyes narrowing as she looks me over intently. "Okay, kinda getting creeped out now." Seriously, it wasn't that bad of a first try was it? Then the strange moment suddenly seems to pass as a smirk appears on her face.

"Okay, who are you and what have you done with Dusk Shade?" She asks teasingly, to which I roll my eyes and let out a derisive snort. "Ah ha! There's the grumpy unicorn I know!" That settles it. I'm done trying to act like a normal person before I really even began since apparently doing so just weirds people out. Okay, maybe it's just Nymphadora being her usual charming self. I can try again later with, like, Cadance or maybe even Shining Armor. Wait, no, not Shining Armor. He'd just take the opportunity to bust my balls. "So, you finally don't have to come back here ever again, and you do so just to see me?" Her tone holds a teasing edge. "Should I be flattered or looking to file a restraining order?"

"Oh, hardy har har," I drawl, laying on the sarcasm extra thick. "That's rather rich coming from the mare that hit on me the moment she opened her mouth." At least she has the good grace to be embarrassed about it. "So are you done busting my chops or what?"

"Well, I suppose," she replies after seemingly thinking it over for a bit, sounding like she'd rather continue giving me a hard time than not. "So, how does it feel to be a free pony?" Free? I don't know if that really applies to me yet. I mean, I could go just about anywhere now I suppose, but, like I said to Celestia, what would be the point? Exploration? Doesn't really sound appealing. I have enough on my plate without dealing with the unknown. I feel like that makes me a bit of a pussy, not wanting to leave this familiar little bubble of the world I've come to know these past few months, but honestly who gives a fuck? I have eternity, as far as I know. The rest of the world can wait until I'm ready.

"I'm not really sure," I reply honestly before the silence drags on for too long. "It's not like I was stuck in prison or anything." I throw in a shrug for good measure. "So...not any different than not being free, I guess?" God, I really, really do suck at socializing, don't I? "Anyway, what have you been up to lately?" Yes, a fresh topic. That ought to help.

"Trying my best to settle in, actually," Nymph tells me, walking over to a bench and sitting down. "I only moved to Canterlot recently and it's a bit overwhelming, to be honest."

"Not much of a city mare?" I ask, careful to use the correct terminology in her presence.

"I like the city just fine," she replies, "but Canterlot is something else." She shakes her head. "I've heard Manehattan is bigger, more crowded, but...I dunno, it's just a little much after living down in Dodge City for most of my life." The mare chuckles. "Though, calling it a city is a bit generous." She looks at me inquiringly. "So, not from here either?"

"What?" My head rears back slightly in surprise. "How'd you know that?"

"You don't look any more comfortable here than I do," Nymph informs me with a giggle. "Plus I'm good at reading ponies. Their expression, body language...everypony has their tells and I've managed to figure out some of yours." Oh, great. "Anyway, where are you from originally?" Shit, quick, come up with a convincing lie!

"Uh..." Damn it, that isn't what I meant, brain! Come on, it can't be that hard to think up a pun name! "Ger...maney?" Ugh, seriously? That's the best you can come up with? We really need to work on our improvisation skills if we're going to keep up this charade, brain.

"Oh, you're from overseas?" It worked? Really? "I've heard of the different settlements and countries out there, but I never thought I'd meet someone from that far away." She leans forward, looking especially curious. "Tell me, what was it like there?" Great, now we need to come up with something else! Quick, give me an excuse!

"Unfortunately I was very young when we moved away," I lie as casually as I can. "From what I can recall, we never really settled anywhere until we got to Equestria." Good, good, keep them coming! "We lived in, erm, Vanhoover for awhile I think." Have to thank Cadance for those maps later. "Ponyville, too, at least for a little while. Eventually I grew up and moved here." I'm sweating under my coat and my heart is racing a mile a minute, but at least I managed to pull that little backstory out of my ass without too many hiccups. At least Nymph seems to be buying it, so score one for Artemis. "Still not very comfortable just yet, the crowds and all that, but it isn't so bad."

"Yeah, you got to meet me," Nymph jokes as she hops off the bench, bumping my shoulder lightly on her way past me. "So, I know I mentioned it before and, well, I was wondering if you'd like to take up my offer of spending the afternoon together." I look back over my shoulder to see her smiling bashfully. "I'll be on my best behavior, I promise." I hum thoughtfully while walking around to join her, eyes skyward as I think it over. I have my appointment with Shining Armor and Cadance later, but I should be able to hang out with Nymph for awhile.

"Sure," I say finally, deciding to take a risk with her. "Best behavior, though, or I trot on." I hold out a hoof to her. "Deal?" She chuckles and bumps one of her hooves against it lightly.

"Deal~"

0o0o0o0o0o0o0

It was going far better than she could have ever anticipated. When Artemis left on his little mission with the moon princess, Chrysalis hadn't expected him to return so...different. Granted, there was still a general melancholy and lack of self worth, even a loathing buried deep down, along with a festering kernel of hatred, but whatever happened on his excursion had created a little nugget of hope inside the alicorn prince. This certainly could help her plans in a way, but she'd planned to harness that hatred, twist it to her own ends. What was she going to do with him now?

"When we finally settled it was on a cozy little farm," Artemis, or rather "Dusk Shade", lies to her, too distracted with the weaving of his supposed deception to notice her lack of interest. "Not much to interest a-a colt growing up, of course, but my sisters always could find some new adventure for us, waiting over the next hill or behind the next thicket." She idly listens as he chuckles, his ability to lie so well surprising her. When she first encountered him his lies had been stilted, awkward, but now he's doing it as effortlessly as one of her Infiltrators can. "We'd come home covered in mud and brambles most days, leaving mother to shake her head and cluck her tongue at our antics while cleaning us up." By the First Mother, he's on a roll! How is he coming up with all this? Had he been planning it since their first meeting in case she asked? He could give her a run for her money if she was so inclined to test her ability to lie against his. "How about you? Any family?"

"Oh, yes, loads," she replies with a grin, thinking of all her children already spread throughout the city, right under the noses of the supposed Royal Guard and the very princesses themselves. "All over the place, in fact." If he only knew how true that statement is. "You may have even met a few and not realized it."

"Wow, your family must be enormous then," he remarks in response, causing her grin to turn into a wicked smirk for the briefest of moments. Yes, it most certainly is, even after the destruction of the Hive Spire her children are flourishing. No other beings in the world hold such love as ponies do and she would use that love to spread her family across the width and breadth of Equestria and even beyond! "Uh...Nymph?" She could see it now. Farms where ponies are kept to have their love harvested by her children, the surplus of love allowing them to build a great Changeling empire such as the world has never seen before or since! "Nymph." First, Canterlot, then the entire world would fall to the might of her swarm! "Nymphadora!"

"Huh, what?" Oh, goodness, she'd spaced out there for a bit. "What were you saying, Dusk?"

0o0o0o0o0o0o0

What the hell was that? I was in the middle of spinning one hell of a yarn, based partly on the memories I have remaining from before arriving on the moon, and I notice she's just staring into space with this strange look on her face. Like she was daydreaming about...I don't know what. As a matter of fact, I'm not sure I want to. "Are you okay? You...I dunno, you seemed kind of lost in thought or something for a bit there."

"Oh, um, sorry." Nymph blinks as she looks around, looking slightly dazed for a moment as she collects herself. "Your story got me thinking about the last time I was home and I guess I spaced out." She stopped, looking for a street sign, only to groan when she spots one. "Great, we ended up going the wrong way." She sighs, ears folding back as she looks at me apologetically. "Sorry, Dusk. I didn't mean to-"

"Eh, forget it," I tell her, filing that odd little episode of hers away for future reference. Maybe she has some sort of condition? It's certainly possible, I guess. "It's not like we can't just double back, right?"

"Right," she says, smiling slightly as her ears perk back up. One thing I've noticed about pony body language: the ears say a lot more than you'd think. Kind of like dogs. Not that I'll ever tell a pony that. Might get offended by the comparison or something. "Come on, this way." She leads me back several streets, surprising me with how far we'd gotten. Had I really been that caught up in lying to her? It had just come so naturally to me, like it was second nature. Not sure how to feel about that, but that's for another time. "Ah, there it is." She's brought me to some...restaurant from the sign and the smell coming from it. "Genuine Istallion cuisine" read the tag-line. So, after translating the puntastic name, I gather it's a pasta place? When was the last time I ate pasta? A thousand years ago? Longer? The food at the castle I've had has been good, great even, but so far no noodle dishes. Maybe if I like what's served here I can make a few requests? Something to consider at least. "I figured I'd treat you to lunch as an apology for my...disaster of a first impression."

"Hey, I won't argue against free food," I tell her jokingly, though honestly she didn't have to do anything of the sort. I can more than understand being socially awkward. Hell, maybe I'm even the alicorn of the socially impaired. Would certainly be fitting if nothing else. "But you know you didn't have to do this, right?"

"Yeah," she replies, heading for the door, looking back once she starts pushing it open with one hoof, a smile on her face. "But I wanted to anyway~" God, why are ponies so unbearably cute? I'm gonna get diabetes if I'm not careful how I interact with them from now on. "Now come on, I'm hungry and time's wasting."

0o0o0o0o0o0o0

The atmosphere of the restaurant is warm, inviting, the smell of good food, the sound of pleasant small talk and the clatter of utensils and dishes adding to the allure of the place. It's very clear that this "Istallion" restaurant is quite popular and, based on my impressions of it so far, for good reason. Nothing sucks worse than a crappy atmosphere ruining your dining experience, so I give them an A for nailing making the customer feel at ease the moment they step hoof through the door. Bonus points for the fact that less than a minute later we are greeted, seated and given menus, the stallion asking for our drink orders before giving us time to decide on our meals. I stuck with water, since I have no idea how alcohol will affect me and then there's the simple fact that I have no idea what else ponies have to drink, while Nymph does the same. Is soda a thing? A quick check of the back of the menu reveals that, yes, soda exists. I just have no idea what they are from the brand names. So, yeah, sticking to water.

"You doing alright there, Dusk?" Nymph asks from over the top of her menu. "You're looking a little...I dunno, like the menu offended you or something."

"Oh, it's nothing," I assure her, opening my menu and looking over the available dishes. "Wow, look at these prices." Nice and ambiguous, since I still haven't learned the value of the bit beyond the basics. Golden bits can be divided into silver nuts and copper bolts, with ten nuts equaling a bit and ten bolts equaling a nut. Ponies and their puns. Why are they so prevalent anyway? I tried asking Cadance once but she sort of just looked at me funny and asked me what I was talking about. Le sigh.

"Yeah, it's pretty good food for a decent price," Nymph agrees, allowing me to somewhat judge the value of Equestria's currency as a result. "Any idea what you're gonna order?" Good question. Mostly vegetarian fare, of course, but there are a few notable exceptions, labeled under a special portion of the menu for meat eating tourists. What sort of tourists do they get? My lessons haven't gotten to the various races of the world yet, so it makes me curious to find out. It also makes me feel tempted to try one of said dishes, but knowing my luck it'll make me violently ill due to my being equine for the last thousand years. I don't even remember what meat tastes like, now that I think about it. "You're making that face again, by the way."

"Sorry," I apologize, turning my attention away from the special section of the menu. So many choices. I get this odd feeling of deja vu as I find it difficult to make a decision, but I'm not sure why. Maybe I had the same problem back on Earth? Hard to say, to be honest. "I think I'll have the lasagna." A classic if ever there was one. I don't think I ever had vegetarian lasagna before I was whisked away from my old life, but of course I can't be a hundred percent sure about that. Still, from the lovely smell coming from the kitchen and surrounding tables, I think it'll work out just fine for me. "You?"

"I'll have the Alfredo with a side salad," she replies, closing her menu with a little nod. "Oh, good timing." Our waiter had arrived, taking our orders and heading off to the kitchen, leaving us to talk or whatever two not quite friends do when out to lunch. "So, here we are." She smiles at me in a slightly impish fashion. "I managed to get you out on a date after all. Yay me!" I can't help but chuckle at that.

"And all it took was for us to have the most awkward conversations in the history of Equestria," I remark dryly, the left corner of my mouth lifting in a sardonic smirk. "We should write a book about bad first impressions."

"Yes, we definitely should," Nymph agrees with a giggle. "We can call it: 'How to Make a Complete Flankhole of Yourself - A Beginner's Guide'." We share a laugh and I find myself enjoying Nymph's company more than I ever expected to. Not sure what that says about me but whatever. We're here, we're having a decent time; why spoil it with needless worrying? Not bad for my first attempt at socializing, if I do say so myself. Our food arrives as we exchange simple small-talk, a general sharing of hobbies and so on. Nymph, apparently, enjoys pony watching, studying the way ponies interact with one another and, no surprise, trips to the park. I relay my interest in reading and, though I haven't practiced in a millennium, how I enjoy drawing and writing poetry. All in all, though my experience in the field is limited, I'd say that it's just about the perfect way to start a friendship.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Chrysalis congratulates herself as the friendly little "date" goes off without a hitch, everything going perfectly according to plan. Artemis was becoming more comfortable around her and, soon, his guard would lower completely. From there her plan will enter its second phase, but for the time being she intends to wrap this obviously lonely, and desperate to connect with others, alicorn around her hoof. He would eventually come to depend on her for emotional support, perhaps even come to fall in love with her disguise. That's when she will know for certain that all her myriad schemes and the efforts of her children have been worth the effort. She's not certain why he's so emotionally vulnerable, given how, by all reports, he had hit Canterlot like a living artillery shell just a short time ago. But that is not her concern, nor does she care. He and Celestia would both pay for their crimes against the Hive. She will see to it personally.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0

The meal draws to a close and Nymph pays as she said she would. I still feel a little guilty about not being able to pay my share, but she insisted and it's not like I was carrying money on me anyway. Given the time when we finally leave the restaurant, however, I'm going to have to bid her goodbye for now.

"This was fun," Nymph remarks once we're back onto the main street, smiling broadly, a bit of a spring in her step, much to my pleasant surprise. Maybe I'm not so bad at this as I feared. "So, did you manage to enjoy yourself, sourpuss?"

"Yeah," I reply, ignoring the friendly jab. "I had a good time." Still kind of surprised by that, but hey, anything's better than sitting around moping about my self-inflicted problems. "I'd like to spend some more time with you, but I've got an appointment to keep."

"Well, we can always hang out some more another time," Nymph points out to me. "Say...next Saturday?"

"Works for me," I reply with a grin, actually finding myself looking forward to the idea. I'm about to leave when there's this weird feeling in the back of my head, like I'm forgetting or missing something. I make a quick mental checklist of the things I have to do today and yet there's no explanation for it. Strange. "See ya later then, Nymph." I then depart for the castle with a friendly wave, Nymph doing the same. Things are finally looking up for old Artemis. Took the universe long enough to stop taking a dump on me, but I suppose it was worth the wait.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0

"And he's none the wiser," Chrysalis purrs, her friendly smile melting into a wicked grin once the disguised Artemis is out of sight, her eyes flashing green for a moment. "Alicorns," she scoffs while on her way to make her exit from Canterlot. "So overrated." If the so-called Destroyer is so easily manipulated then it's a wonder Equestria is still standing. But perhaps Celestia is a more cagey opponent. She certainly had proven a worthy foe on the battlefield when she had sealed the changeling queen and her brood inside of a volcano, after all. His guard had been down towards the tail end of their meal, allowing her to begin a subtle weaving of magic over his mind. Nothing explicitly manipulative, of course, otherwise her efforts could be discovered, but it had been just enough to allow the alicorn to have a more positive outlook towards their relationship than he normally would have. A rather useful skill, if she did say so herself.

"My Queen," a stallion that fell into step beside her moments before tells her in a whisper, drawing her attention from her gloating. "The Royal Guard has begun poking their muzzles into our recent gathering activities." Though she frowns, Chrysalis realizes that this was inevitable. The effects of their aggressive tactics would be hard to miss, even in a city the size of Canterlot, after all. "Their Captain leads the investigation personally and has already found several of our safe houses."

"This changes nothing," she tells the disguised Infiltrator just as quietly. "Have our Drones switch tactics to more passive gathering. It will slow the process, but with the amount of love we have stolen already it should not impact our plans in any significant manner."

"Your will be done, Your Majesty," the Infiltrator replies before falling out of step and going about his business, Chrysalis resisting the urge to sigh as she considers her options. Any direct methods of removing the guard captain from the equation would draw too much attention and replacing him could prove difficult given his connection to Princess Cadenza. There is always the option of taking control of him, of course, but how to do so? Replace Cadenza? It is a possibility to consider if nothing else, though capturing an alicorn would be dangerous at best, even one so young and inexperienced as the princess of love. Her children have already replaced at least a third of the guard's forces in Canterlot, so taking control of Shining Armor would allow them a much smoother takeover when the time for the coup comes. She is personally well on her way to dealing with one of the obstacles standing in their path, leaving three to be dealt with in the meantime.

"My Queen." Another of her Infiltrators draws her attention, this one working inside the castle as a servant to Celestia, falling into step just as the last had. "The Day Princess is to host a social event for the upper crust of Canterlot society within the next six months. Temporary staff are being taken on in preparation for it, a prime opportunity to have more of our number within the castle for the day we strike."

"Indeed," Chrysalis agrees, smiling at the thought. "These ponies and their silly fascination with gatherings. Such a waste of time and effort."

"Quite so, Your Majesty," the Infiltrator says, sounding like he pities the ponies as he continues. "But is it so surprising coming from such a needlessly frivolous species?"

"It is sadly true," Chrysalis remarks with a sigh. "They will be much happier under our guidance rather than the wasteful lives the alicorns let them lead now." She shakes her head slightly. "Make the preparations, my child. Do not let this opportunity slip away from us."

"As you command, my Queen."

0o0o0o0o0o0o0

The entire trip back to the castle I was pretty much on cloud nine, having had quite the pleasant afternoon after all, and I had a smile on my face once I was back within its walls, ready to face my scheduled lessons head on. Then I walked into the room and stared.

"This is a bad idea," I say immediately upon spotting the small cluster of dark clouds gathered in the center of the otherwise, mostly, empty room. There is, of course, my teachers/chaperones on standby, Cadance offering me a patient smile while Shining Armor rolls his eyes. "You guys do remember what happened the last time I touched one of those things, right? I mean, it wasn't even 'charged' then and I still managed to set that study on fire."

"This is something you have to learn, Artemis," Cadance points out and, fair point, she's right. I'm just not sure we should be doing it indoors. "You can relax." She smiles at Shining Armor, the stallion returning it warmly, and again, there's that odd twinge of envy that I immediately stamp down ruthlessly. "Shiny has the room warded against the possibility of another accident and defensive spells are his specialty." He even puffs up at this, making it my turn to roll my eyes. Kids these days, I swear. "Now, we'll begin with moving the clouds safely." She motions me forward and, reluctantly, I step up to the plate, so to speak. "Remember, you can't..." She trails off, this odd break in the lesson drawing my attention.

"What?" I ask, noticing that she's scrutinizing me, to the point that it makes me feel uncomfortable. "Is there something on my coat?" I even glance over my shoulder in case there's some stain or maybe even a great dirty bug crawling on it, but no, not even a speckle of dirt breaking the smooth blue...wait. Is my coat darker? The hell? "Uh...is it just me or is my coat color getting darker?" Even Shining Armor is looking me over now, much to my discomfort. "Am I sick? Can alicorns get sick?"

"No, you're not sick, and yes, though it's rare," Cadance replies, shaking her head as if to clear it. "Don't worry about it, Artemis. You're just recovering, like Luna is." That gets my attention. Is the same thing happening to Luna, then? "Of course you probably won't be one hundred percent until you discover your own talent, but it's a good sign, trust me." She then smirks. "Also, I'm glad to see your afternoon was well spent~"

"Pardon?" The heck does that mean? "Would you care to elaborate?"

"Nope," she says impishly, with Shining Armor raising an eyebrow, as even he's not sure what she means. "I'll tell you later, Shiny." Damn couple sharing bullshit. What's so damn funny and what is she looking so satisfied about? "All set?"

"Yeah, I've got it covered," Shining Armor replies, his horn flaring with pink light, causing the whole room to light up, showing the once invisible array of wards he has in place, which fade once the light of his magic does the same. "All wards intact and ready to go."

"Alright, Artemis, whenever you're ready we can start," Cadance says to me, offering me another smile now that she's done being all irritatingly mysterious like her "aunt". Still, better to just bite the bullet and get it over with, I suppose. I take a deep breath and rise into the air, wings flapping steadily to keep me hovering next to the clouds, which I eye like a snake coiled and ready to strike at the slightest provocation. "Come on, Artemis, it'll be fine. Trust me." Right. Sure. Of course it'll be fine. No problem. I slowly reach out and gently prod the nearest puff of dark grey condensed water vapor with one hoof, tensing as I feel the energy stored within them even through the metal of my hoof guard. When it doesn't immediately erupt into a conflagration of discharged electrostatic death I touch it again, more firmly this time.

"Right," I murmur as I place a second hoof against the springy, spongy surface, shivering as that feeling of stored up destructive potential tickles my nerves anew. "You've seen ponies doing this before, Artemis," I remind myself quietly, swallowing thickly as I prepare to move the clouds. "No problem, right?"

"Is he talking to himself?" Shining Armor asks Cadance, just loud enough that I know he meant for me to hear it.

"Shush, Shiny," Cadance admonishes him softly. "Let him concentrate." Yeah, Shiny, let me concentrate! It's not like I'm handling what amounts to as an electrostatic bomb here or anything! Okay, okay, calm down and focus, big guy. You've got this. Don't try to force it, whatever that means. Gently...why is it vibrating?

"Sweet Celestia!"

"Shiny, the wards!"

"...fuck my life."

And then the room explodes into a mess of shouting, singed hair and ricocheting lightning bolts. Truly the world hates me. There's no other explanation for how I've managed to fuck up the simplest of pegasus magic. Oh well. Guess I'm just not meant to master this particular aspect of being an alicorn, is all.

"Well," Cadance says once it's all said and done, the three of us drenched as one of the lightning bolts managed to trigger an anti-fire ward Shining Armor had set up. "I have to say, Artemis, that I'm impressed. I've never seen anypony coax such a storm out of a handful of rain clouds before."

"It's a talent," I grumble, giving myself a shake like a wet dog, Cadance and Shining Armor cringing as water droplets are sent spraying everywhere. "Hey, maybe that's what my 'cutie mark' will be in; causing disasters."

"I'm starting to believe you might be right," Shining Armor comments, only to wince as Cadance punches his shoulder with one metal-shod hoof. "Ow! Faust above, Cadie, what was that for?"

"Being negative isn't helping," she points out, frowning as she pushes a clump of water plastered mane out of her face. "I don't understand it. You shouldn't have so much trouble with this aspect of your magic."

"Maybe I'm just not meant to be a weatherpony," I suggest, blinking rapidly as a bit of water gets in my eye. "I mean, I don't have any trouble walking on them. But the second I try to do anything else..." I trail off, gesturing around to the various scorch marks on the walls. "Boom."

"There must be some rational explanation," Cadance reasons, her coat and mane poofing a bit as her horn lights up, using a similar method to the one I came up with to dry off. Moments later she's back to her usual pristine self, a fact Shining Armor doesn't appreciate, based on the stink eye the unicorn guard captain gives her when the pink alicorn isn't looking. I get a rather dirty look myself when I demonstrate my own drying technique. "Oh, I know! We could write to Twilight about it." Wait, what?

"Are you sure about that, Cadie?" Shining Armor asks, his tail twisting in the grip of his magic to wring the water out of it. "I mean, there have to be experts here we can contact first. Plus, you know..." He trails off uncomfortably, glancing my way as if afraid he'll hurt my feelings.

"I dunno how you two know her, but she seemed fine with me the last time we spoke," I say, earning a wince from Cadance and a shocked expression from Shining Armor. "Okay, what did I do now? Is my tail on fire or what?" Really don't need to be setting off another anti-fire ward. I just got dry and getting drenched again isn't on my list of priorities.

"You spoke to Twily recently?" Shining Armor asks, Cadance shaking her head at me and mouthing the word "no" emphatically. The hell is going on here? Why would she want me to lie?

"Yeah, I did," I reply casually, glancing between the two of them in confusion. "Why?" Cadance actually facepalms...facehoofs. Whatever, she does it. Shining Armor, meanwhile, looks puzzled.

"Cadie, what's wrong?" He asks the obviously uncomfortable princess, who chuckles awkwardly. "Come on, hun. You know you can tell me anything." Oh dear. This can't be good, given the look on Cadance's face.

"Well..."

0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Princess Celestia hums to herself as she goes over the day's various political documents and bureaucratic paperwork, a steaming cup of tea sitting on the corner of her desk as her quill scratches across the parchment in front of her, her signature brought to life in elegant detail. Just when she's about to roll the document up and place her official seal upon it, however, the whole castle suffers a minor tremor as an incredulously angry shout echoes through its halls.

"Princess Celestia did WHAT?!" She'd recognize that voice anywhere, the alicorn sighing as she rescues her tea from falling to the floor. It seems she will once again have to speak to somepony about her decision to send Twilight and her friends into danger and, this time, it will be her own captain of the guard. Not a conversation she's looking forward to having, that's for certain.

"Faust save me from overprotective siblings," she mutters, stamping her seal onto the scroll and adding it to her "out" pile. "And from silly mares who try to hide things from their partners."

0o0o0o0o0o0o0

I'm starting to feel like a bit of a fifth wheel as I watch Shining Armor pacing the room, hooves clicking against the tile floor angrily, while Cadance tries to sooth his brotherly instincts. I should've guessed he was related to Purple Smart by their cutie marks, given they both have that pink starburst thing in them, but how was I supposed to know relatives can have similar marks?

"Now, Shiny, I know you're upset-" Cadance tries to sooth him, the guard captain stopping mid-stride to shoot her a rather nasty look in response.

"Upset? Upset?!" Oh, yeah, this is going to be good. "Cadance, why didn't you tell me about this?!"

"Probably because of the freak-out you're having right now," I mutter dryly, getting a rather unamused look from Cadance and a scathing glare from Shining Armor for my trouble. "Right, none of my business. Shutting up now."

"As indelicately as Artemis just put it, he's right," Cadance admits, causing me to smirk smugly when Shining Armor turns his attention back to his mare friend. "I knew you'd worry about it and that you'd storm out to tell Celestia off."

"You're damn right I would!" Shining Armor snaps, definitely not a happy camper at the moment. "She had no right to send my LSBFF into danger like that!" The fuck is a LSBFF and why wasn't I told that they're related before? I suppose the subject never came up, but still, it would've been nice to know.

"She didn't force Twilight to take the mission," Cadance points out calmly, not wanting to upset him any more than he already is, by my estimate. "Look, I wasn't happy with it either, but it's done. Twilight is fine, Shiny, I promise."

"It still doesn't excuse the fact that she put untrained civilians in danger," Shining Armor fumes. Thank you! Finally, a pony that's making sense! "Sending Princess Luna, even Artemis, to confront the dragon is one thing, but Element Bearers or not, Twilight and her friends shouldn't have been involved."

"I know, Shiny, and, believe me, I told her as much myself." Oh, really? Way to stand up to the establishment, pink princess. "Even Artemis and Luna did." Shining Armor glances my way and I wave for comedic effect, to which he snorts before turning his focus back to Cadance. "But she brought up a good point. The fact that they're the Bearers of the Elements of Harmony will inevitably place them in danger, whether any of us like it or not. Isn't it better to prepare them for it rather than to just let them face it in ignorance?" Shining Armor grinds his teeth, likely able to see her point but definitely still displeased about the whole thing. "No one was hurt and they've all learned just how dangerous the world can truly be. You can still tell Celestia how you feel, but please, love, don't do so in anger. Do so from the heart." Blech. Why'd she have to make it sound all mushy? And here I was looking forward to seeing puffed up Captain Armor here rant and rave at old Sun Butt. Phooey.

"Fine," Shining Armor grunts at last, his shoulders sagging as the wind goes out of his sails. "You still shouldn't have kept it from me, Cadance."

"I know, love," Cadance agrees, sounding contrite. "For what it's worth, I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner." She offers him a hopeful smile. "Forgive me?" He seems to chew it over for a bit before sighing and returning the smile with a small one of his own.

"Just this once," he replies, the two sharing a tender kiss, to which I gag childishly. "Don't be jealous, Artemis. I'm sure you'll find a good mare someday."

"Yeah, sure, jealous," I mutter dismissively, though the twinge in my chest says otherwise. "Seeing two alien equines sucking face totally has me feeling envious here." Again, what's with the secretive, amused look from Cadance? Ugh, females. No matter the species they're always confusing. "Well, since this lesson's a bust, I'll leave you two to deal with the fallout." I charge my magic through my horn, preparing to depart, having learned a nifty little spell recently that I intended to put to good use before they can protest. "Bye!" Then, with the feeling of someone trying to turn me inside out from where my navel would be if I were human, I teleport away, intent on a hot shower to make up for the fact I just got drenched with an absolute truckload of freezing cold water a few minutes earlier. And I appear a good five feet above the floor. "Bollocks."

Indeed, it seems I can't catch a break, my "graceful" landing just driving this point home. Still, the whole day wasn't a total loss and, with my plans for next Saturday, I still have something to look forward to. Maybe things will work out in the end, maybe they won't. At least I'll have some fun along the way.