7 - Heavy Discussion
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7 - Heavy Discussion

They had stepped into a smaller room, but it was not an entirely private one. Toby could see guards at every corner, standing quietly. He wondered what they did all day, guarding a small empty room. Just one table and some chairs? Did that really need guarding? He felt bad for them and took measured hops to be with the others before he mounted one of the chairs awkwardly, or tried.

He quickly decided they were not sized for him and nudged it away to settle on the ground. Sitting up, the table was at a fine height anyway. "Toby is ready."

Luna and Celestia settled beside one another, and Sombra sank to his seat beside Toby. "I confess... already you have surprised me."

Celestia canted an ear at Sombra's words. "What have we done that would be surprising?"

"Do not play coy..." He tossed his head towards the guards with flicks of his neck. "They are not here for my safety. You are nervous, as well you should be, but you have permitted me this audience at all. You are either hopeful, foolish, or perhaps something else? Enlighten me."

Luna waved a hoof at him. "You are aware of the situation." She looked to Toby with a smile. "Toby, remind us."

Toby did not expect to be called on! "We want to trade with ponies. Tsuki things for pony things. Both happy, yes?"

Celestia nodded. "I have no objection to trading with Toby's people."

"My people," growled out Sombra. "Do not so hastily forget."

"Yes, your people." Celestia's horn glowed as a glass hovered over from a smaller table at the side of the room. "Tea?" She set down a glass before each person at the table. "What craft do the Tsuki excel at?"

Rather than answer, Sombra looked to Toby.

He got the hint and sat up taller. He was being called on so often. He felt so very important. "Tsuki like to work with paws." He held out his forepaws for examination. "We like things that shine, things that last. Things that do both are favorite. Toby tour art... arti.... work places. Very pretty, very solid." He slapped a paw against the armor. "Like pony armor, but prettier."

Celestia nodded slowly. "That sounds lovely. Is that the extent of what you offer?"

Sombra clopped a hoof down, rattling the teacups on the table. "Is that not enough?!"

Luna gave a patient smile towards Sombra. "My sister wants to know what else your people may bring of benefit to Equestria."

Toby bobbled his head. "Tsuki like to sing. Um, not Toby. Toby never learn to sing..." He rubbed behind his head. "Toby raised in jungle, never learned that. Learn other thing, then Luna gave Tsuki, um, Toby best gift of all. She give words. Toby is very grateful, but no good singing."

Sombra grunted softly as he settled back on his seat. "Enough of the Tsuki's strengths. Let us hear what the ponies will offer."

Celestia took a light sip of her tea. "Very well. We will gladly support performers and offer them places to perform, to be paid in bits, which can be exchanged for any number of local goods of fine make and quality. Ponies favor such exhibitions, and having an exotic singing species sounds like it would be an easy success. I cannot offer official demand for their art, since I have not seen it myself, but I have little objection to them joining our marketplace, again, to be exchanged for bits, which can, in turn, be exchanged for goods, services, and supplies as needed and desired."

Sombra suddenly smiled. "I did bring one." His dark and green magic swirled and summoned from the ether came a statue about six inches tall. It showed a pony with wings unfurled. Behind her head was a great round sun. Little juts of glistening stone made up the sparkle of the sun and little flecks of precious stone made the sun and the pony's mane and tail shimmer in the light. "They have only heard tales of you, mostly from your sister. The likeness is not... perfect, but as an icon, it more than suffices, do you not agree?"

Luna drew a gasp. "I confess to jealousy. They did not fashion one for me?" Sadly, there was no second statue coming.

Celestia reached for the statue carefully, drawing it closer as her magic lifted it ever so gently from the table. "It's wonderful..." Slowly she turned it around to see it from different angles. "It's not accurate, as you mentioned, but the core concept is all there. I love it..." She decided she could easily learn to like Toby's people. Shame who had become their leader... She set it down carefully as she had lifted it. "Your people are talented."

Sombra seemed mollified at the admission. "They have more to go, refining their... techniques, but more than sufficient to command a price." He gestured at the statue. "How much?"

Celestia started. "It is not a gift?"

Sombra scowled. "We need bits to start building our kingdom in earnest."

Celestia shook her head. She had been certain the statue was a token of good will. It had been working as well... She looked to Toby. "What is the going rate for such a piece."

Toby was smiling ever so widely. Everyone there seemed to rely on his expertise that day. He was a smart moon rabbit. "Oh. Bet have to give... at least two favors and a belly rub for statue nice as that."

Sombra grimaced. "Currency is a new concept for them, but their needs are not diminished for it. Don't take advantage of his naivety."

Celestia reached out a hoof and tapped Toby's paw gently. "Thank you. The statue is clearly of fine make. I would add it to my collection... One hundred bits."

Sombra sat up. "Two!"

Luna cocked a brow. "One hundred is a generous offer."

"It is the only of its kind, and the first Tsuki art to ever be in the pony lands."

Celestia gave an inwards smile. She felt confident Sombra knew not the value of a bit, or he would have offered a price to begin. He was only a step or two up from his people. "For your people, I will give 150 bits, provided it be spent on what they require." She clopped her forehooves and one of the guards hurried off to collect the currency.

Sombra didn't further argue it. "What else is required for this... treaty?"

Luna's ears perked up. "All that is required is a formal cosigned document of friendship between our kingdoms. We will send a copy to all of our allies, so they know and may contact you with their own requests. Friendship begets friendship."

Toby bounced a little in place. "More than just ponies?"

Celestia nodded towards Toby. "The Zebras, the diamond dogs, as tenuous as that relationship is, the griffons, dragons, and more. Our world is blessed with a great number of talented races. This act will make the name of the Tsuki shared with the world entire. Even those who are not formally our friend will hear of it shortly enough. Trying to keep such a secret is folly at best."

Sombra gave a faint snort, his dark magic drifting from his flared nose. His eyes glanced over as the door opened, admitting the guard that had fled earlier. His expression brightened as the pouch of coins was set before Celestia, who lifted it with her magic and set it before Sombra. He pulled it close and tucked it away. "Let us get this over with. Where is the document?"

Toby shook his head suddenly. "They said is paper of friendship. We should be friendly."

Celestia smiled at Toby's words. "Well said. Before we move on to that, we must understand each other. What are the Tsuki's values? What do they hold in high regard?"

"What do ponies?" retorted Sombra with a grunt. "Besides moving the sun and moon."

Celestia ignored the barb. "We have a specific artifact that represents what we hold highest. Loyalty, Honesty, Generosity, Laughter, Kindness, and Magic. The elements of harmony. With them, we are strong."

Sombra suddenly got a wicked grin. "When you do not, you fail, as I have seen personally."

Celestia started at that. "What do you mean by that? Is this another attempt to get a response from me?"

"Do you not know?" Sombra rose up, standing on his hindlegs, forehooves on the table. "I lived in the crystal empire. They knew I was there as just a foal. They knew I was in incredible pain for the crime of being what I was. They did nothing. Where was their kindness? Where was their generosity? The crystal ponies abandoned your core tenets and paid the price for it."

Toby looked back and forth between the irate Sombra and the composed Celestia. There was obviously anger in the room, but it was about things he knew nothing about. "Have tried tea? Is good." He lifted his cup up at Sombra.

Sombra swat the cup aside with a flare of magic, shattering it against a wall. "Speak!" He was looking directly at Celestia's calm and collected face.

She slowly nodded. "I cannot defend the crimes of the past, especially ones I know little of. If what you say is true, the price has already been paid. We have not lost sight of our values. Will you deal with us fairly, or cling to the pain of the past?"

Sombra and Celestia held one another's gaze, the room tense with the power of the combat that was waged without a movement.

He slowly sank back into his seat. "Let us... deal with the current day."

"Let's," agreed Celestia. "There is a reason I did not invite Cadance or other representatives from the Crystal Empire to this meeting. That meeting does have to happen, I should point out, but not today. Neither side is ready for it."

Luna cleared her throat softly, looking across at Toby. "Toby, will you share your people's values?"

Toby didn't know! "Um..." What did Tsuki like...? "Things that make Tsuki good Tsuki instead of bad Tsuki, yes?"

"Precisely." Luna nodded gently. "This is not a test. Speak truthfully."

"Good Tsuki are nice. Good Tsuki work hard for other Tsuki, make world better." He drummed claws on the table, thinking as hard as he could. "Good Tsuki... not try to hurt, and help if already hurt. Yes, these are good Tsuki things."

Celestia gave a gentle smile. "Those are tenets I cannot argue with. Toby, King Sombra, do you see the merit in pony values?"

Toby was quick to bob his head. All the listed qualities sounded good to him.

Sombra was slower. "These are good... values. Do ponies respect Tsuki values?"

"We do," spoke Luna. With a pop, a paper appeared and with a magically held quill, Luna got to filling it out. "These values will be made formal here. That is not to say your people can't change their mind, but this is the first many races will know of your people. Do you have objection to this?"

Author's Note

The negotiations went well, mostly? The friendship treaty is signed. Tsuki and ponies are officially friends for a hundred moons! However long that is.

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8 - One Hundred Moons
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8 - One Hundred Moons

Luna signed the document first, already holding it, then she passed it towards Toby, floating in her magic. "Sign your name."

Toby understood the basic idea of writing, and reading, but he had not yet been instructed in how the magic worked, precisely. He took the quill and rubbed its feather against the paper. Its inky tip ground up and left some marks, and he nodded. "Toby mark." He passed it to Sombra with a grin. "Your turn."

Sombra let out a weary noise as his magic snatched both paper and quill and slapped the first on the table. With a great flourish, he signed his full name. King Sombra of the Tsuki. He slid it across towards Celestia. "And with your name the pact is sealed."

"Let it be known," said Celestia with great decorum and severity as she touched her quill to the paper. "That the ponies of Equestria and the Tsuki shall be friends for one hundred moons, and hopefully longer." She laid out her name neatly. "As part of this treaty, your people are free to come and visit, provided they obey the laws of the land."

Sombra was not to be outdone. He sat up tall. "Any pony that wishes may visit my people as well, provided they follow our laws, which are my laws.

Luna coughed softly into a hoof. "Perhaps it would be best to begin with some education?"

Sombra frowned at that. "Are you implying my people are inept?"

Toby wasn't exactly sure what was going on. "Edu... learn things?"

Luna nodded across at him. "Exactly. There are ponies who delight in teaching those who would listen to them. Provided they are fairly recompensated, they would gladly come to your kingdom and offer instruction. The three Rs would be a place to start."

Celestia pointed to the bag of bits that had been paid. "Fortunately, you have bits enough to keep them happy for a while and give your people a needed--"

"--I see your trickery!" Dark magic flared around his eyes. "You seek to gain the money you just gave me back so quickly. We paid you well, you won't swindle us so easily!"

Celestia gave a patient smile. "Do you have other uses already in mind? Your people are--"

"--Good," suddenly broke in Toby. "Tsuki are good."

Luna's smile was more genuine, but aimed directly for Toby. "Of that I have little doubt. You could be better, however. Your people have lived in isolation for so many years."

Sombra slid the pouch of bits off the table with his magic and it vanished under his cape. "I will consider your offer."

"That is all we ask," assured Celestia with a smile. "You've come such a long way, please, be our guest the night if nothing else."

The meeting was over. As everyone stood up, Toby turned to his boss. "You'll like this castle. So many nice things to look at and places to see. Garden is big and smells nice and has so many furry and feathery animals go cheep squeak and listen if you talk back. Toby not know what they say, but he en--"

"Thank you, Toby." Sombra gave a severe nod as he strode along, matching Celestia's pace. "Where will I be staying?"

As they all emerged from the meeting room, there was a guard looking nervous. Celestia quickly spotted him. "What's wrong?"

He dropped into a bow. "Princess Celestia! We've just received dire news."

Celestia glanced at the others, then back at the guard. "Time is important, speak."

"Yes, your majesty. There's been an attack inside the city!"

Celestia paled, then scowled, turning to Sombra. "What manner of attack?"

"Shadow creatures. Reports are sketchy at best."

Even Toby saw what was coming and threw himself between the two angry-looking ponies. "Sombra is good pony!"

"Is he?"

Luna cleared her throat, drawing attention. "Instead of arguing this, we should take action."

Sombra flashed a wicked smile, magic flaring out. "Yes, it is time for action. Allow us to demonstrate our skills. Shadow creatures should pose little trouble for me. Mere sniveling pawns before a master. Toby, let's go."

Toby suddenly turned and presented his side as he flattened out on his belly. Sombra mounted smoothly, reared up so only his hindlegs held firmly to Toby's sides. "We ride." Toby took off with a powerful leap.

The guard shook his head a little. "I didn't tell them where it was..."

Luna let out a little chuckle. "Toby is good at finding trouble. I have no fear that they'll find it."

Celestia tapped the ground. "Bring my carriage around. I will not sit idly by while my own city is put under siege. Let's see what Sombra is doing and make sure all it put to right."

As guards hurried to get Celestia to her carriage, Sombra and Toby flew through the air in athletic bounds of powerful rabbit paws. The trouble proved to be easy to find as it found them first. Toby just set down gently on a roof when the ground beneath him became dark as a moon-less night and tried to swallow him in great but toothless jaws.

Sombra slammed a hoof forward into the rising mouth and dark purple-green energy exploded, knocking the creature back, temporarily stunned. It was long enough for Toby to bound up into the air, soaring out of its open shadow mouth. "Found it," reported Toby joyfully.

"Yes..." Sombra squinted at the shadow serpent as it recovered and followed after them as if the air served it sell as a surface to slither along. "Lead it to an open space."

"Yes." Toby had to duck and change his heading to avoid its sudden lashing strikes. When it wasn't trying to swallow him whole, it lashed out with its tail like a whip. One such blow scored solidly on Toby's flank, ringing out against the metal loudly. Toby yelped with fear and a little pain, going all the faster.

He saw an open square up ahead. There were no ponies. It was what was asked for. He landed right in the center of it. "Found--"

The serpent landed on him. Darkness was all he knew. Darkness and isolation. He couldn't even feel Sombra on his back. He was alone, entirely. Somehow he was even more alone than when he was by himself in the jungles and didn't even know the magic of spoken words. He was truly alone. He didn't like it.

In the dark nothing, a point of light came to being. It was a sickly purple, but it grew rapidly. Toby could feel Sombra again. His king's horn was glowing viciously as magic streamed from his eyes almost like tiers as he roared in defiance. It was as if even the shout was testing the integrity of the slowly swelling bubble within the shadow around them.

The snake could not hold it in. It became too much and it exploded outwards, bursting the snake from the inside. Two great broken pieces fell to the ground at either side, twitching and boiling. Sombra gave a feral grin. "You thought you could challenge me?"

It did, and it wasn't done. The two parts drew tight and became two two new beasts, nothing but claws and teeth, like two demons made from the same formless dark. Only their edges seemed clear, and they were ready to battle.

Those were enemies Toby knew how to fight at least. "I'll help." He reared up into a ready position.

Sombra slid off to the ground. "I'll handle the one on the left. Toby, do not fail me."

Toby stepped towards the right shadow, claws flexing. He didn't like using his claws for fighting, but it was time. "Say sorry and no hurting." The shadow chose to instead swipe at Toby. He wasn't fast enough to dodge out of the way, but he rolled with the blow and was on the creature. He grabbed it in his mighty arms and gave it the move that worked equally well on friend or foe. He hugged it. He hugged it for everything he was worth.

Unfortunately, it was still a shadow, and after a precious instant of squeezing it, the shadow surrendered its physical form and Toby fell through it back to all fours. It reformed already on top of Toby and grabbed him firmly, as if trying to peel him right out of the armor he wore.

Toby suddenly hopped. The creature was still on him, pulling and prying. That was alright. Toby spun around at the arc of the bounce and they came down with the shadow first. The shadow didn't have time to dissolve itself as it smashed into the cobblestones violently and evaporated into formless shadow, fading away quickly. Toby had won.

Sombra was in a more energetic battle with his, exchanging bolts of dark power when not clashing hoof to claw. The creature attacked with fierce energy, but Sombra was not surrendering an inch to it. "It is time to end this." The creature reared in defiance.

Whatever ending Sombra had in mind was not realized. Bright light like that of a suddenly risen dawn came down on the creature. It gave an unearthly shriek, as terrible as it was brief, gone. Celestia stood there on her carriage, scowling. "Are there others?"

Sombra snorted softly before he gave a light nod. "Good shot... That was the last that we saw."

Toby bounced over to Sombra's side. "We fought shadow things, gone now."

Celestia nodded. "So I saw. King Sombra, in the spirit of the document so freshly signed, I will extend the benefit of the doubt. You are... an expert in such things. Will you assist us in ridding ourselves of them?"

Toby thrust up a paw. "Trade!"

Celestia blinked with surprise. "Pardon, Toby?"

"Trade. You send nice ponies to show Tsuki good things, we help."

Sombra growled. "Don't forget your place," he hissed at the Tsuki, moving to step in front of the rabbit. "My knight speaks well... Do you accept this proposal?"

Celestia found a smile forcing its way onto her face. "This is a deal I can accept. Come... provided you believe they will not strike again tonight, your room awaits you back in the castle."

Sombra moved towards the carriage. "I believe we are safe tonight. Tomorrow evening, that I cannot assure. We must be ready and crush them when they appear. I will not allow them to tarnish my good name."

Celestia's face barely twitched at the mention of Sombra's reputation being damaged. "We can't have that..."

All three rode back to the castle. It had been an eventful enough day and conversation was minimal at best. Well, except Toby. He watched the city go by with a happy smile. "Ponies have good city."

"Ours is better," grumped Sombra.

Toby seemed to consider that a moment. "Tsuki city is good city. Pony city is good. Different goods."

That would have to suffice. Sombra didn't argue further for supremacy and they all eventually retired to their rooms. There would be more to deal with in the coming day.

Author's Note

Action scene! They always make me nervous. How'd I do?

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9 - Clandestine Dreams
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9 - Clandestine Dreams

With Toby tucked in for the night, Celestia and Luna held a meeting of their own. Celestia looked up to the starry sky above. "You have painted an exquisite piece tonight."

Luna snorted softly. "You did not call us here to compliment my aesthetics, sister, though I appreciate it."

Celestia nodded softly. "You know Toby."

It was hardly a question in tone or phrasing. "Of course," agreed Luna. "What are we dancing around?"

"He seems a fine and wonderful creature, well worth learning and supporting." She flashed a brief smile. "But he comes with..."

"Sombra," Luna finished for her. "You can say his name. However grave his crimes before, he does seem to have better dreams in mind now."

"You say that." Celestia's wings ruffled faintly, clearly bothered. "In our bargaining, Toby understood a kind gesture, and was eager to return them. Sombra is blind to them, full of suspicion."

Luna lifted her shoulders. "He is well equipped to deal with some of the nations of the world. What he lacks is knowledge. Don't tell me he is the most contrary ruler you have dealt with even this moon."

Celestia's lips twisted in a faint smirk of remembering her worst visits with world leaders. "You have a point, sister. Perhaps... I am biased."

"Perhaps?" Luna shook her head. "This is a stallion we were ready to wage bloody war on. To speak of 'slight' biases is to be blind to oneself. You have feelings, sister, no matter how often you try to hide them. You look at him and see that war that could have been. Will he return with a countless field of Tsukis, their eyes blank, and order them to die for his ambitions? That is your fear."

Celestia's teeth clenched before she could calm herself. "You paint a severe picture, Lulu. You've been with him, them. Tell me what I cannot see. You brought him here. I trust you."

Luna extended a wing northward towards the Tsuki's home. "When first we arrived, he was doing exactly as you fear. The Tsuki lived in terror and did as he wished them for fear of punishment. Then Toby happened." She smiled gently. "His simple but well-meaning presence has pulled him towards a new heading."

"And why does he tolerate it?" asked Celestia as she stared at her sister. "A stallion like that should not tolerate another creature that distracts them from their goals."

"You would think..." Luna seemed calm. "But Toby is too useful and obedient in his disobedience. With him at his side, the other Tsuki follow Sombra with feelings he never knew from his crystal subjects before. They move willingly and with greater energy. The Tsuki want the future Toby promises them, and Toby says Sombra can bring that future to them."

Celestia drew in a loud breath, a slow gasp. "Is he lying?"

"Not purposefully, hopefully not at all. Toby does have faith in Sombra." Luna bobbed her head. "He is willing to work beside his new friend, grump as he may be, and march towards the future he wants."

With a sudden avian cry, Celestia's phoenix descended from the sky and landed on her forehead, perching.

"Philomena," spoke Celestia in kind tones. "Did you see anything?"

The phoenix shook her head.

"Thank you for looking. Do tell us if that changes."

Luna considered the arcane beast. "I had thought at one time that Toby would be my companion, mystic and powerful."

Celestia snorted quite loudly at that, making Philomena flap her wings in surprise. "Philomena? She's a good friend, but she is also a troublemaker." The bird squawked at her indignantly. "Have you so quickly forgotten the last time? That poor guard still excuses himself when you enter the room."

Luna clucked her tongue against her teeth. "Perhaps we share a curse when seeking an animal companion then, dear sister. Mine went and became a leader of his own people. Yours prefers playing pranks whenever she sees the chance."

Celestia raised a hoof and Philomena bounced onto it lightly. "It is not the same. You should be proud. You do know he still looks at you with the same gaze. He loves you fiercely."

Luna colored. "You don't mean?!"

"Not that kind of love." Celestia rolled her eyes. "I'm not even sure he has encountered that love yet. He respects you and adores you. He is a friend, sister. There is precious little more wonderful than that."

Drawing herself to her full height, Luna nodded. "I should patrol the dreams of our ponies, and you, my sister, should sleep. You are up late and that is not good for you."

"As you say, but I'm glad we took a moment to speak." She lowered her hoof and Philomena flew free gracefully, vanishing from sight. "I will see you next when it is time to exchange them." She did not need to say what 'them' was. Both knew too well of their duties with the sun and the moon. Celestia strode away towards bed.

Luna took a slow breath, clearing her mind and allowing herself to slip free from the shackle of her flesh.

She began to patrol the dreams of ponykind. A few ponies had seen the shadows and were frightened. She soothed their worried minds and set them back to dreaming of more pleasant things. Happy dreams, sad dreams, dirty and clean dreams, all were tended to.

As she finished the ones that shone the brightest with a need for her attention, she decided to check in with her partners in dream patrol, the moon beings. She slipped in among them. "Well met."

They turned with surprise, but that calmed quickly once they saw who it was. They were not surprised at Luna's presence, just her abrupt arrival.

"Hey," called out one as they approached. "Do you know a big rabbit guy? Horns? He said he was with you."

Luna blinked softly. "Toby was here?"

"Oh, so he was telling the truth?" She seemed surprised at that. "Huh, I figured he was just a random visitor that knew you. Happens once in a rare while."

Luna's expression creased into a frown. "I told him to watch over the dreamworld for me, and he did just that. He is too stubborn in his desire to be a good friend to realize he couldn't do that."

The dream being shrugged her shoulders. "And he did it. He's wet behind the ears, but he was eager to help. He dove right in like he knew what he was doing, which he didn't."

Luna laughed at that. "That sounds appropriate. I trust no harm came of it?"

"He stressed your sister, but did pull her free from a class 8. Not bad, for someone who has no idea what they're doing."

Luna's laugh died. "You're certain she was unharmed?"

"Absolutely." She gestured at the pools they were surrounded by. "You should know your sister's tough. It was a graceless transition, but they pulled through it without either losing it."

Luna wanted to know what horrific vision had seized her sister, but to ask would be prying too close. It was one thing to witness the dreams of ponies removed from herself, but her own sister... She deserved some mote of privacy. "I... am glad Toby was there, if none here were going to act?"

"In a class 8?" Her brows went up together. "Get outta here. We just made sure it stayed in one place and monitored for any extremes. You know what a class 8 can do to you."

Luna did. The mind was in such a dark place that death could come quickly and easily to anyone you thought of in the dream. This meant that those who intruded on it risked being slain quickly and without a chance to defend themselves. It was often not a clean way to go either. The result was a dream guardian hurled free of the dream, shocked and hurt themselves, and a dreamer still lost in their dreams of death with just another to cry, scream, or run from.

"Lucky fool," she grunted out, wings fluttering fitfully.

"That's a good description," agreed the moon being. "He jumped right in and just forced her to a casual romantic setting and paired her up with someone before we pulled him out."

Luna perked at that. "A romantic setting?! Tell me he did not--"

"Not with himself," the moon being quickly assured. "Looked like a guard."

Luna deflated a little before a laugh escaped her. "He is more perceptive than we give credit for. How many of her guards pine for her..." She shook her head then. "Any other anomalies to report?"

"Just one." She pointed the way forward and began weaving among the dream pools towards one that had three other beings already watching it. "Class ten."

Luna frowned. "Nothing?"

"That's what makes a class ten." She pointed into the utter dark of the dream pool. "Nothing."

"I will investigate." She spread her wings as she marched towards the lip of the pool. "Hopefully it is naught more than a pony who has enjoyed their cider too thoroughly."

Luna slipped past the surface of the pool and everything was gone. She was in darkness, pure and thick. Class tens were unnerving in a way. It was not a dream of night, that would be fine. It was a literal void. Luna could not even feel herself in it, which was the greatest danger when exploring such places. One must have a concrete sense of self to not become lost in that nothing.

She pressed 'forward', though forward was a direction, and there was no direction to be found. She could only press on. She could not even be certain she was moving, but she dared not give up in trying to penetrate the depths of whatever absence of a dream she was in.

She was not alone. The realization was at once uplifting and terrifying, as she felt whatever was there meant her no good. She felt as prey in the darkest of nights. She was being watched from all directions. It was above, neigh, to the right? Every time she tried to face it, it was somewhere else. She was no longer in nothing, but somehow she found herself wishing for just that.

"Show yourself!" she commanded, but her voice, even her Royal Canterlot Voice, seemed smothered in the void, barely a whisper reached her own ears.

"One little pony, dancing in their head. One little pony, soon she will be dead," rhymed a genderless voice. "Princess of the night, she barely knows fright. Take her head to hoof, think she's so aloof. Pull apart flesh bits, Will she lose all wit?" Luna tried to face the voice, but continued to be wherever she was not facing. She mustered her magic to shield herself.

Great clawed hands grabbed her at the front and back and suddenly pulled with tremendous strength.

She screamed. Even her wails could scarcely penetrate the void.

Suddenly she was drawn free of the pool in the hands of a half-dozen moon beings. She was heaving for breath and shuddering violently.

What was that?

Author's Note

Luna encounters a dream she cannot handle. What does it mean?

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10 - Visitors
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10 - Visitors

Toby hopped from bed and was quick in dressing and surging from his room. There was so much to do, and he was eager to get started.

"Sir Toby," called a guard, making Toby come to a skidding halt in surprise. "Princess Celestia bade you to go to court. You are to remain quiet until it is in recess, then she wishes to speak to you."

"She calls for him?" Sombra approached with his usual scowl. "But not for me?"

The guard went rigid, glancing between the smiling face of Toby and the grimace that Sombra had to offer. "Uh, she only gave me the one message, sir."

"I am a king," hissed out Sombra, shadow licking through his clenched teeth.

"Y-yes, Your Majesty." He cleared his throat softly. "You may go as well if it pleases you? The court is public."

Toby suddenly grabbed Sombra and gave a warm hug. "Yes! We go together." Before Sombra could speak his mind on the matter, Toby had bounded off with his ruler securely in grasp.

The guard sagged with relief. "That could have gone better."

"Could have gone worse," noted one of his coworkers.

Toby landed just before the door to the court and set Sombra down carefully. He fretted over his dark ruler, plucking off the bits of fur that he had just gotten on Sombra a moment before and helping straighten things out. "All ready."

Sombra shook his head slowly. "I would thank you to avoid seizing me without my leave." His horn flashed as his suit was perfectly placed, negating Toby's efforts casually. "I was growing tired of that guard's ramblings anyway. Let us proceed."

Together they stepped into the court. Toby was capable of moving without hopping. Sure, he much preferred grand bounds from place to place, but he could put one foot in front of the other and walk like ponies did if he had to. Even he saw the court was no place for bouncing. He smiled at all the seated ponies, even as many of them gave a glance at Toby and Sombra.

Princess Celestia sat on an elevated throne. She nodded towards them as they entered. "Now is as fine a time as any to introduce our honored guest, King Sombra, of the Tsuki. Beside him is Toby, highest of the Tsuki beneath Sombra."

"Hello!" called out Toby, waving a paw eagerly at all the new ponies.

Sombra gave a more sedate nod.

Murmurs rippled through the room, gossiping running hot instantly. A well-dressed guard approached quickly and led the pair off to free seats to join the proceedings.

"Their timing is most fortuitous," spoke Celestia. "King Sombra has pledged assistance in dealing with the threat."

"That he made!" spat out a stallion, his monocle falling free from his face with his outrage.

Celestia shook her head. "That is no way to speak to a friend. The Tsuki and ponies are formally sworn as friends for a hundred moons."

Sombra rose up to his hooves, seemingly towering over those around him despite not being that tall, such was his dark charisma. "I will dispatch of your little... problem. This is a matter you would be best to avoid."

Celestia gave a nod towards Sombra. "This I can agree with. If you see any evidence of the shadow's presence, do not attempt to confront it. Get to safety, then report the incident here at the castle as soon as possible."

The court slowly settled as they put that topic aside for the moment and went on to far more mundane issues. They talked of welcoming a young pony to the ranks of the head of a household, and the need for repairs in a school, and on and on.

Most of it was mundane, at least until the court turned as one to see a unicorn mare drawn in with chains at her hooves and one thick band of metal around her horn.

Tsuki leaned over to Sombra. "Why?"

Sombra snorted softly, shadow billowing. "We will soon be told, but I would presume this pony has broken the laws of this land."

The crier did his job admirably. "Announcing the arrival of the accused, Summer Splash."

Celestia sat up straighter, looking down at the unicorn as she was led forward. "You understand the gravity of the crimes laid at your hooves, I hope?"

Summer's bright purple eyes glanced around from beneath her messy cyan hair. "N-not fully, um, your majesty?"

"Then I will explain. Should a detail be in error, you should bring it to light when I am finished." Celestia's wings spread. "You, a student of my school for talented unicorns, used your advanced knowledge of magic to bring direct harm to another pony. Two days previous to today, you met with a fellow student and fell into an argument loud enough that most of those present in the dormitory have already sworn to hearing it." Summer shrank as the day was described. "A challenge was issued, a magical duel. This is, itself, a crime, though a minor one. Students of my school are forbidden from this very act for this precise reason. Did you not hear that rule when you joined?"

"Y-yes." Her head hung low. "I didn't mean to..."

"Drawing a sizable group of curious onlookers, who should have prevented the duel from proceeding but this is not the time for them, you proceeded to escalating demonstrations of skill and power."

Sombra's whisper reached Toby's ear, "See, they are not nearly as perfect as they would have the world think. Even ponies can fail."

Celestia leveled a hoof at Summer. "It completed with a spell that destroyed your fellow student."

"No!" squealed Summer, bouncing on her hooves. "I didn't do that!"

"Then tell us what you did. You cast a spell of staggering magnitude, according to the witnesses, then they were gone."

"It was just a teleportation," said Summer in a pathetic whine. "She was supposed to just be sent across the city..."

Celestia drew a ragged breath. "You have not yet been given proper education in the methods, and safety, of teleportation."

"I read it," confessed Summer. "I read it and I practiced. I could make things jump from place to place easily."

Celestia's expression softened a little. "A pony is much more difficult to transport than a fork or an apple. Do you understand what you've done?"

"She has to be safe! She's just lost," insisted Summer. "I didn't mean to hurt her, really! I swear! She's my best friend!"

Sombra cleared his throat. It shattered the tense quiet of most of the courtroom.

Celestia cocked a brow at him. "Do you have something to add?"

Sombra stood up. "I do. If the pony has mismanaged a transportation spell, there is a good chance your lost student can be retrieved."

A flash of hope went across Celestia's face before it quickly settled back to poise. "And how would you propose this?"

"Young Miss Splash is not incorrect. Her friend is lost. There is a very high probability she has been thrown where I can reach her. If she is there, I will find her... for--"

Toby suddenly tugged at his cloak, cutting off his attempt to name a price. "Do nice thing," he whispered. "Do nice, get nice. Friends."

Sombra glowered at Toby a moment before softly snorting. "My assistant reminded me of another matter. As I was saying, I just need a description of the pony to be retrieved and I will see if she is where I imagine she is."

Summer was quick to begin describing her friend in a long rambling mess. "Oh, and she was wearing a ribbon! Yellow, right in her mane." Her chains rattled as she gestured wildly in her efforts to describe her friend with exacting details. "Oh, please find her! Please!"

Celestia was not blind to Summer's sincere hope for her friend's safety, but... "Even if we assume your friend is found, you, Summer Splash, have, at the minimum, broken several rules of my school."

Summer deflated instantly. "I'm ready to be banished forever."

Celestia stepped down from her throne. "I should think not. However, when your friend is retrieved, I believe you owe her far more than a casual apology."

Summer looked up at Celestia, wet eyes blinking. "What else can I give?"

"That matter will wait until we can be sure Miss Strobe can be recovered safely. For now, you are free to return to your dorm, where you will stay, outside of meals. The horn band remains for now."

Guards stepped forward and undid the metal that clasped Summer's hooves.

She surged forward and hugged Celestia tightly. "I'm sorry!"

"I know," whispered the kind ruler as she folded her wings over Summer, shielding her from the room for a precious moment. "Let us hope Sombra can make good on his claim."

Sombra shook his head. "I intend to make this quick. See what Celestia needs with you, Toby. Be ready to deliver a full report." He vanished, discorporating into shadows that spread out and faded as they went.

Toby was left nodding at the empty space. He would do his job. He was a good Tsuki! Or so he meant to keep trying to be.

Summer sat down beside Toby right where Sombra had been sitting. "You're his friend?"

Toby blinked in surprised. "Friend, yes. Tsuki and pony friends too." He grabbed Summer to prove it to her, hugging the teary-eyed mare close.

She squeaked in shock, but her tension swiftly died down, then she began to cry. She sobbed into the great beast that held her, her face buried in his armpit where she could get at his fur through his armor. Her little noises were muffled by his bulk. Toby was left wondering if he had done something wrong, but the mare was hugging him back, and she wasn't trying to get away, so he held onto her and rocked slowly, letting her cry her tears as long as she needed to.

A guard gently tapped Toby on the back. "We should return her to the dorms, Sir Toby."

Toby nodded softly. "When she's done."

The guard had no ready argument for that, so he waited for the emotions to play through the mare before he could guide her away towards her room.

Court ended without any further drama, at least that Toby could comprehend. He watched the ponies get up and walk out as the court was called to recess. Celestia motioned for Toby to come with her and he gave a powerful bound to join her. With court no longer in session, bouncing felt right again, and he liked bouncing.

He landed beside her and matched her pace.

She looked thoughtful. "That was a kind thing you did. I could not offer her further kindness, not while this matter remains unresolved. I do hope Sombra locates Dusk Strobe." She glanced aside at Toby. "Do you think I was mean?"

Toby blinked, not expecting that question. "Sun Butt is nice princess."

Celestia quirked a smile at that. "I will accept that in the kindness it is offered."

Author's Note

Court is in session! OBJECTION! Insufficient bunny hugs!

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11 - A Dark Chapter
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What Follows Hugs

11 - A Dark Chapter

Sombra left the physical world. He was in a place of shadow and foreboding, cloying fog. It was not a new place for him. He was a creature of shadow. There was little point in denying that basic fact.

Wherever there was matter, there would be shadow. No matter how brilliant the pony city was, no... the bright lights only deepened the shadows thrown. He could feel emotions and impressions around himself. He could feel ancient, bright emotions, burning in the dark, smoldering beneath each hoof as he traveled. He could see in a flash what each was, but he tried to ignore them in favor of his quarry.

He cared little about the time a pony had tripped while running and skinned a knee, or that time some pony's heart had been broken when their friend did not come to their paltry celebration. They were old emotions, but each was powerful. They had to be to linger longer than a moment or two in the shadow.

Sombra heard a soft whispering. It was more the impression the sound than sound itself. It was coming closer.

With bright green and purple, Sombra's eyes flared. "Who dares to approach me?!"

"My little pony shadow," sang a voice from the dark. "My how long he lied fallow. Now he thinks he is once again large. Does he know he's not in charge?"

"A foal's game," scoffed Sombra. "Your nonsense does little but irritate. Step forward."

"How boring." A figure emerged from the gloom. Calling it a figure was, perhaps, generous. It was little more than congealed shadow with eyes that glowed much like Sombra's. "Don't think you have any rights over me, so-called King."

Sombra's chest puffed a little. "You are nothing in my presence. You have no--"

"--Don't tell me what I have!" barked the presence, ballooning out to three times its previous size. "I wasn't sealed in ice for a millenium, give or take a few centuries." It suddenly shrank back down. "Still, I should thank you."

"Save your thanks," remarked Sombra cooly. "I have things to tend to that don't involve you."

"Don't they?" The presence suddenly had teeth, grinning impossibly wide. "I think you do. Why, I think someone went and promised they'd take care of me."

The identity of the shadow became clear. Crystal clear. "You are more foolish than I thought." Sombra released his pony form, becoming little more than a shadow presence himself. "Prepare to be destroyed completely."

"Oh no!" The presence faded away, just the teeth left behind. The voice came despite them not moving. "Don't destroy me, oh lord of shadows. Once I was a loyal vassal. Have you truly forgotten me?"

Sombra cared little to trade tales of old times. "You are nothing but an impediment now." Dark writhing magic struck the teeth, destroying them in countless glittering motes of white that faded away.

"Oh that's right," spoke the voice, unharmed by the sound of it. "You went and made friends with the ponies. What happened to you? They should be groveling for mercy, not sharing tea and cakes."

"Times have changed." Sombra's magic swept violently through the ether, seeking out his quarry. "You either adapt, or are forgotten."

"Wise words." The presence appeared behind Sombra. "Is there room for me?"

Sombra swung around with a sword of crackling energy formed in the motion. To his credit, he did not immediately cleave his enemy in half. Perhaps he had changed. "Are you ready to change then?"

"You are not the same," spoke the presence almost sadly. "I should be in at least two pieces. What have you gained for all this loss?"

"I am king." Sombra blossomed in size slowly. "My subjects serve me with adoration and loyalty. I have forged powerful allies and will be known throughout the world. I will forge a nation worthy of respect!"

"A nation? Like the rabbit you were riding?" The presence swirled around Sombra's misty form. "They look fit for a petting zoo."

"He has proven himself in combat and diplomacy," grunted Sombra. "You know nothing and are deceived by appearances.... I thought better of you."

The presence laughed, loud and mocking. "You have turned my words on me, but perhaps there is truth to those steely words. Do you know your mount has intruded on the dream world? Very curious... If he is not careful, I will have to hunt him next."

"Try." Sombra's form exploded with power, driving the presence back. "He will destroy you, in body or heart."

"What confidence..." The presence faded into the shadow. "I have distracted you long enough. Since you are in such a cooperative mood, let's trade."

"You have nothing I want," stated Sombra flatly.

"I disagree. You want a pony. A poor little mare that's neither here nor there. Lost and crying, she needs your help. But you won't find her without a little hint."

Sombra tore the shadow in twain. He sliced and carved with a sudden blinding fury, but it was a lot of noise without a lot of effect.

"Are you done?" asked the voice. "If it helps, I didn't bring her here. The ponies did that."

Sombra turned to address his foe. "Such has been admitted. Very well, what do you want?"

"You have changed." The voice congealed into a form, one Sombra knew.

His eyes narrowed. "Vizier..."

"Ah, you do remember me," spoke the gaunt pony. "I had thought I had escaped your thoughts entirely."

"You are not... easily forgotten. Our plans were laid low."

"That they were, 'king' Sombra."

"I am King!"

"Not of the crystal wretches who wronged you." He frowned at Sombra. "Have you forgiven them?"

"Worse." Sombra smiled slowly, a malignant expression. "I have deemed them irrelevant. Let them quiver in isolation. My nation shall be where the eyes of the world rest."

"Ah!" The vizier looked pleased. "There! You do have some of the old fire in you. It's a pleasure to see it again."

"Does it now..." Sombra considered quietly a moment. "I have changed, as you have been quick to address. You could as well." It was a chance, but he took it. Sombra reached out a hoof. "There is room in my court for a pony that understands that prizes sometimes come with prices, and understands how to reach regardless."

The vizier returned that grin. "Now you are speaking my language. Lord Sombra--" he dipped his head. "--I would gladly assist you, but I fear you arrive at a problem."

"Hmm?" Sombra glowered. "Do you refuse?"

"I did not say that." The vizier held up a hoof. "You have sworn to dispatch me, have you not?"

Sombra snorted, a puff of green smoke escaping him. "If you swear fealty, then you are dispatched. You will trouble these ponies no longer... Unless we agree it would serve our interests, later."

"Oh, I am so glad you added that last part." The vizier cackled with joy. "Together again! I thought we would have a bright and deadly battle to the finish there, and I would have been pleased to play a part in that, but this... Tell me you will use me."

Sombra raised a brow silently.

"I am your tool, Lord Sombra, as ever I have been. But I am no idle blade. Give me a target and I will see it cut most cruelly."

"I will require that keen blade." The vizier grinned at Sombra's words. "But the sharpness required is more... tactical. Tell me your mind can be turned to making my kingdom the envy of all others."

"Oh..." The grin diminished a moment. "Oh... You were not speaking in jest. You will kill me." Sombra squinted a little. "Not literally, my liege. You will slay me, and ask that I be reforged, much as you were. And let there be no mistake. You were murdered, most cruelly. Your fluffy mount wears you like a bloody trophy. The old Sombra is gone, but... perhaps the new one is worth the task?"

"You speak in riddles," spoke Sombra in an irritated voice. "My goals have not changed, simply some of the methods. Will you serve me, or will this end here?"

"There's the Sombra I know... The mare you seek, she is close to her 'friend'. Find her and prove you aren't just bravado." Before he could be questioned further, the vizier was gone.

Sombra was left alone. Close to her friend? Where was the accused mare? He didn't know. He did know who would likely have that answer. He slipped between here and there and stepped free of a darkened corner into an unused room at Canterlot Castle. He was solid and fully living once more. With a soft snort of irritation, he began trotting. "Where are you," he grumbled.

Toby was never there when he was needed.

Toby smiled at the excited squeals that came from his back. He had three foals riding him, two fillies and a colt that clung to him as he bounded around the castle grounds. He landed lightly on the wall that separated the castle from the rest of the city. "You can see everything from here," he noted, raising a paw to wave it around.

His passengers gave excited gasps and cries, looking around from on top of him. One of them, the colt, leaned in close to an ear. "Can you bring us to that park?" He pointed down into the city.

Toby was quick to nod. "Uh huh!" With a powerful leap, his journey continued with the little ones. Giving them rides was fun, and kept them safe. Both good things.

Sombra encountered a princess. Fortunately it was one he tolerated more easily. "Luna."

"Sombra," she replied with a nod. "Sister has informed me that you have taken another task on yourself. You should take care to not overtax yourself."

"It is not beyond my grasp," assured Sombra. "Do you think so little of me?"

"On the contrary." Luna gave a gentle smile. "I believe that you are eager to show your skill, and may take on more than any pony should be expected to. I speak as a concerned friend." Her smile broke. "I had something else I wanted to inquire of."

"Yes?" Luna had been understanding of him. He saw no reason to deny her a question. "What is it?"

"It... I feel guilty to even bringing it up, but it is a matter that may involve you, but I feel not directly. There was a presence I felt, dark and shadowy."

Sombra frowned deeply. "Do you believe that was at my hooves?"

Luna raised a hoof quickly. "As I said, not directly, but perhaps you would know of it. It was formless, mocking, and cruel. It was also very violent."

Sombra could guess what it was... "I am... dealing with it."

Author's Note

Answers are starting to come together, I think.

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12 - Moon-lit Night
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What Follows Hugs

12 - Moon-lit Night

"I will not accept that answer." Luna leveled an even glare at Sombra.

"Do you doubt me?!" Dark energy poured from him as he trembled with a building fury.

"Neigh," spoke Luna gently. "But you are our friend. As friends, we will face this together."

Sombra's fury guttered out in surprise. "But... it is darkness. You are unprepared."

"What is the darkness but an aspect of the night I govern?" she challenged. "I was surprised at its intensity, but not at its nature. I am ready to fight it."

Sombra took half a step back, mind whirling with ways to escape the situation at hoof. "It is... dangerous."

"I am not a stranger to such things. I would be a poor princess if that were enough to dissuade me." Luna reached up a hoof for Sombra's shoulder. "I know you are used to working alone or with subordinates, but, this once, let us fight side by side."

"I have Toby," grunted out Sombra.

"Did you call?" Toby landed beside the two powerful ponies. "Little ponies playing at the park with a watcher, is good."

Sombra nodded faintly. "See? He will assist."

Luna wrinkled her nose. "No offense is intended to Toby, but he is not held as your peer. You have made this clear. He is also a creature of light, not of darkness."

Toby grabbed both ponies and pulled them close. "Toby is happy with both. Night is quiet dark time, moon so large and pretty above. Day has bright sun and noise, good noise."

Sombra squirmed in his assistant's firm grip. "Toby will suffice for this matter."

Luna studied Sombra's face from the other side of the hug they were trapped in. She watched him squirm and the way his eyes roamed. "You are hiding something. What is it?"

"Are you accusing me?!"

"I'm telling you." She pointed at him. "You are hiding something. What is it? We are allies, treat me like one."

Sombra's teeth clenched visibly before smoke escaped his nostrils in a loud snort.

Toby watched this play out, unsure exactly what was going on. He could tell they were tense though. "Luna is friend," he pointed out, hoping that would help. "She will do good things."

"Yes, good..." Sombra clucked his tongue against his sharp teeth. "Very well, let us see." He flowed from Toby's grip, becoming little more than shadow for a moment. "I know the identity of your assailant and would request their pardon."

Luna blinked with widened eyes. "So you d--"

Toby's paw came down between them. "Who is bad shadow person?"

Luna blinked at being interrupted, starting back before recovering. "Y-yes, that is the question."

Sombra glanced up and Toby and across at Luna. "He once served me, before the Crystal Empire was sealed away. I had thought him lost, but clearly he has persisted."

Luna shook her head slowly. "He still has your old viewpoints, I see... Why do you want him pardoned? Is it just out of some sense of loyalty?"

"I should think not!" exclaimed Sombra in almost a grunt. "He was, and still is, my servant. I will give him better tasks to do than terrorizing ponies pointlessly. I have this situation under control."

Toby tilted left, then right. "No more hurting ponies?"

"No more," agreed Sombra. "There remains one task that I must complete." His eyes focused on Luna's. "Where is the accused unicorn? I need see her to resolve this."

"I have heard little of this case, but all that I have is disconcerting." She turned and began to walk. "Let us see her. I have my own questions to ask."

Sombra fell in to her right and slightly back. "Your sister was swift to offer forgiveness, should the matter be resolved without harm."

Luna's eyes rolled. "That sounds like her. A grave crime has been committed. Punishment should follow, or we are giving the wrong lesson to others who are watching."

Toby hopped on Luna's left side, keeping pace. "She is very sorry and sad. Why punish more?"

Sombra lifted a hoof as he walked on the other three. "When a law is breached, a lesson should be given to all others who consider such a path themselves. Firm and decisive punishment dissuades future lawbreakers from action."

"In this, we agree," grunted out Luna.

"Do we?" Sombra suddenly smiled. "I recall you defending against your sister's wish to see me brought to justice."

Luna tensed as her hypocrisy was reflected. "Your crime was quite some time ago, and I have little fear of most ponies considering taking your path, Sombra."

"Perhaps not..." He looked around as they exited the castle proper and began crossing a courtyard. "Where are we going?"

"To sister's school of magic."

Toby suddenly looked excited. "Can Toby learn magic?"

Luna blinked softly. "You do not have a horn, Toby."

Toby reached up for his forehead, as if he possibly had a horn and just hadn't noticed it before. As it turned out, he did. Two of them in fact. "Toby has two horns, so twice the magic."

Luna gave a half-laugh. "Horns you have, dear friend, but they are not unicorn horns."

"So?"

Sombra lifted his shoulders. "He has done more with less. Until it has been attempted, I am not ready to say he cannot do it."

Luna stopped in her tracks. "Are you seriously suggesting the Tsuki may be capable of magic?!"

Sombra turned to face Luna, his expression passive. "I am saying it cannot be ruled out. Toby has performed several tasks I would have been confident in ruling impossible for him since we have met."

Toby clasped his forepaws together. "Toby will practice extra hard!"

"To what end?" Luna gave her fuzzy friend a gentle smile. "Dear friend Toby, why would you want to learn magic?"

Sombra's face was a half snarl, half smirk. "Because he can."

"Well, um... Because Toby can help more, and if Toby can learn magic, Toby teach other Tsuki, then they do magic. Better for all Tsuki!" He became more confident in his answer as he spoke it, bouncing in place by the end of his words. "Toby is ready!"

Luna reached up to brush along one of the long red horns that adorned her former-pet. "Dear Toby, let us not be distracted from our task. First, we set wrong to right, then perhaps we can speak of further lessons."

Sombra's eyes turned to the building they were approaching. "Yes, we should focus. The accused dwells here?"

"Sister informed me she was placed in house arrest in the dormitories." Luna strode to the front of the group. "It should not be hard to locate her."

They were not stopped from entering, though the students gaped at them. Some peered at the awful majesty of Sombra, others ogled at the bouncing form of Toby, and many dipped their heads or threw themselves prostrate for the passing of Luna. There was nowhere they went that was without signs of their passage.

One of the teachers stepped from his class just to squeak as he almost ran into the group of three. "L-Lu-Princess Luna! A pleasure." He dipped his head low. "Um... how can I... help you?" He stammered and his eyes darted nervously between them all

Luna reached for his chin and lifted it up. "You know I do not demand groveling. We are here to speak to the accused. Can you direct us to her?"

"Does he not know who I am?" questioned Sombra, one brow raised in question.

"O-oh, yes, um, Lord Sombra."

Lord was not his usual name, but he found no displeasure in it. He smiled quietly.

"She's right this way." He scurried ahead and began to lead the way, taking them up a flight of stairs and down a few halls. The door he pointed two had a guard standing beside it stiffly. "Here. Um, any luck recovering her friend?"

Luna scrunched her snout. "Were they truly friends?"

"Oh, yes." The teacher bobbed his head. "I'd have to tell them to be quiet in class more often than not. They loved chatting and exchanging notes."

Sombra brushed past the teacher marching towards the door even as he began to fade. He said nothing as he ceased to be.

Luna frowned softly. "It is not as easy for me to go where he has."

The teacher took this as a hint that his presence was no longer required. "Um... good luck..."

Toby's attention was on Luna. "How do we help Sombra?"

Luna considered a quiet moment, tapping her chin before she thrust it upwards. "Ah ha! May I put you to sleep?"

Toby tilted his entire body with confusion. "Toby trusts Luna, even if Toby not understand why."

"You'll see, I promise." Her horn glowed gently as Toby's vision dimmed and he slumped to the floor, passing right out to a peaceful slumber. "And now..." Magic reached from her horn, binding her to Toby's mind and allowing her access to the other side of reality, where thoughts resided, and hopefully Sombra.

Toby was in a vast field of snow, bright and pristine. He was far from alone. All around him were other Tsuki and he was teaching them a lesson. "See, this how you do it." He waved a paw and his horns glowed brightly before the snow before him was shoved aside, making a huge path that was clean of the stuff for some distance before him. "See? You can do it too!"

The other Tsuki made noises of wonderment and a few others began trying it just as Luna popped into being far above. "Toby!" She called out, descending on her powerful wings. "We have work to do."

Toby blinked softly. "It is very nice that Best Princess is visiting the Tsuki. Everyone clap for Best Princess!"

The other Tsuki began to slap their forepaws together in eager applause. They threw flowers that they weren't holding moments ago, raining them down on Luna as she landed.

She smiled at them a moment before looking back to Toby. "This is a dream. If we are to assist Sombra, we must move, now."

Being informed, his eyes sharpened. "Oh! Sorry, dream Tsuki. It will be even better when Toby shows how to do it for real. Keep practicing!"

His dreams, obedient and loyal, got back to practicing magic, not at all caring if Tsuki could actually use any magic to begin with. Luna extended a wing and nudged Toby up into the air in defiance of gravity. "Where we are going, there may be no ground. Better to come in flying."

Toby reached out with his paws, waving all four through the air before he managed an awkward swimming motion forward. "Toby is ready."

Luna did not look entirely convinced, but there was no time. It would have to do.

Author's Note

Sombra does not accept help easily, especially from would-be peers.

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13 - Putting to Right
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13 - Putting to Right

Sombra's perceptions shifted as he slipped from the realm of light to that of shadow and thought. He was comprised of the place, it was familiar to him. Yet, there was little to rule there. It was as empty as it was full, a dizzying place of infinite potential and little actuality.

He shook his head free of such thoughts and looked around. The school felt solid. It had great importance, even in the shadow world. Ponies thought of it often, and its shape barely wavered under the ripples of thought and shade.

That was, in part, unfortunate. It meant the door to the target's room was just as securely bolted as it was in the physical. He guessed they were tied, and opening or closing one would affect the other, considering how powerful the impressions were. The doors were known and solid. A light smile split his darkened face.

That didn't help the walls. Fewer ponies thought long or hard about any stretch of wall, which simply existed and was rarely interacted with. He hunched down just far enough to leap forward, striking the wall like thick jello and pressing through. As he emerged into the room, he could see two things. One, a unicorn mare, between that of a proper mare and a filly, and his vizier.

The latter held the former in a dark shroud of magic, wisps of purple and green in a sphere that held her securely. "You've come," he spoke as if delighted. "I thought you may not figure it out."

Sombra scowled as he took a step towards them. "There is no way this is coincidence. You caused this."

"I did," he confessed. "The two were quite spirited in their struggle to one-up the other... It was quite easy to make her spell go off in the wrong way."

The door burst open in a shaft of silvery moonlight, revealing Luna with Toby beside her. She nodded to Sombra, but her eyes were on the Vizier. "You are the pony he spoke of?"

The vizier lifted his shoulders. "There goes my enthusiasm. I thought you came alone to see me."

Sombra took another step, hoof leaving cracks where it struck the dark floor. "I have... grown." He tossed his head towards Luna. "The Tsuki and ponies are allies. Our combined strength will see those that dare oppose us driven to ruin!"

Luna clucked her tongue as she strode into the room. "Not the words I would have chosen, but it's growing on me. You, give us your name."

The vizier raised a brow. "If you are so confident you will destroy me, what does it matter?"

Toby landed beside Sombra. "Maybe not need fight?" He put a paw at his chest. "I Toby, nice meet you."

The dark pony laughed at the introduction. "You've trained your pet well, so many tricks."

Toby blinked softly. "Not trick, Toby is name. What you name?"

Sombra gestured at the trapped pony in the shadowy bubble. "Release her. I have negotiated your pardon, if you do not give reason to make my words sound foolish indeed."

The vizier smiled at Sombra, an easy expression, as if there were no threat at all. "How foolish of me to doubt you. As for my name, since I am not introduced, I am Quick Stroke. It is by these hooves that many laws of the Crystal Empire were signed and enforced."

Toby missed any malice in the words or posture. He nodded. "Toby help Sombra with law for Tsuki and help tell Tsuki how to be better Tsuki. We are same."

"Same?!" He barked out before he broke into laughter. "Perhaps in the most base of ways." With a sudden wave of a hoof, the bubble popped and dumped the confused and dizzy mare to the ground. "Here you are, as requested."

"I do not request." Sombra frowned. "You, I command."

Quick shivered softly. "With pleasure, King Sombra. Good to see you haven't been entirely dulled. How do you wish to proceed?"

Luna's magic wrapped around the mare and drew her close quickly. "You are safe now." The poor thing was gibbering, clearly shaken and traumatized. Luna gently brushed through her mane as the mare began to nod off. "It will take time to recover her."

Sombra pointed at Quick Stroke. "Tell Luna how her pony became lost."

Quick raised a brow at the alicorn. "One of the Royal Sisters, is she not?"

"She is." Luna frowned. "Explain yourself."

"That would take too long." He rolled his eyes. "You should take her back into the light."

Luna wrinkled her nose. "She is safe, for now, speak what Sombra bid you."

Toby was looking around the room curiously, admiring how the furniture shifted subtly over time and watching how the room had changed over the years, passed from student to student.

"Neither unicorn is guilty," Quick spoke. "At least, of anything greater than hubris. I was the one that drew her here."

Luna wrinkled her snout. "You've proven me wrong."

"A pleasure, though you make me wonder how..."

Sombra snorted. "A fault we share. You have proven Celestia wise in her gentle touch. That is immaterial. It's time to go. We're leaving."

Toby wasn't paying much attention to the conversation. He picked up a flowing shape on an only slightly more solid desk. Holding it, its shape collapsed, becoming more solid. He was holding a ribbon. "What is this?"

Luna nodded to Toby. "We should go, in this I agree. Toby, it is time for you to--"

Toby sprang awake where he had been put to sleep.

"--wake up," finished Luna, a hoof on his back. "Thank you."

Shadow exploded violently. From within the churning vortex of purples and greens stepped free Sombra with a slumped over mare on his back. Beside him came Quick Stroke. His eyes squinted in the light of the hallway. "Distasteful."

Sombra let the mare slide gently to the ground. "This is the realm of our allies. They will learn to admire and respect our work, and support us in our domination."

"The long game." Quick smiled. "I look forward to seeing how this goes."

Luna nodded to Sombra. "You have performed... as promised. Thank you. I knew you had it in you to handle this."

Sombra flashed a large smile of sharp teeth. "As if there was doubt." There was a delay before he glanced over towards Toby, who was playing with something. "What are you distracted by?"

Toby held out the ribbon he had held before awakening. From it dangled a metal, more of a medal. It glittered and sparkled in the light.

Luna frowned softly. "It has been some time since I have beheld that honor. A high medal of bravery in the face of imminent peril." She reached up and traced the gemstone heart and its wings. "The last award was given to a group, but this one... is older. The design has changed since then. When did a student of this school earn one of these, to create such an impression?"

Quick snorted softly. "I care little for the small honors of a small country." Luna glared at him for his slight.

Sombra held up a hoof. "There is little reason to be so fast in your disparaging. I can think of one who deserves this, but it would be in Luna's means to award it properly."

Luna started with surprise. "Who do you have in mind?"

Sombra thrust a hoof at Toby. "He knows not fear, and he would work for the benefit of his allies without regret."

Luna's eyes danced between the medal and the rabbit-like creature holding it. "We think... you may be correct." Her horn glowed, taking the medal carefully. "There are proper observations to be had. I will arrange the ceremony in all due decorum."

Toby's mind was elsewhere. "You two good friends."

Sombra blinked softly. "Who?"

Toby pointed at Sombra, then Luna. "Best King, Best Princess. Even bester together!"

Luna gave a little smile. "I admire his strength, even if there is still growth yet to be had."

"As if I am not strong enough?!"

Luna reached up and put a hoof on his nose. "Inside, not outside. What pony does not have more growth to achieve that still draws breath?"

Quick snorted at the display. "You've found your partner, M'lord."

Sombra colored at the implication, which only grow worse when Luna suddenly gave one of his warmed cheeks a kiss.

Her horn glowing, she carried the unconscious unicorn away. "Release the prisoner. She is exonerated of the crime. She will face punishment for the duel when sister decides the proper price for it." She blinked away, her passenger gone.

Toby tilted his head one way and the other, then looked at Quick Stroke. "You Toby's partner?"

Quick's snout wrinkled in disgust. "I am not interested."

Toby gave a slow blink before it hit him. "Not partner like that. Partner for Tsuki. Partner for Sombra. We help Sombra be Best King."

His expression lightened. "That I can consent to. You are a curious creature. You did not show the usual reaction to being engulfed in true darkness, forced to face nothing but your own frail mortality."

Sombra waved the dark speak away. "As if I would have any lesser working for me. I expect great things, from both of you." He strode off, confident and pleased with the day's efforts and results.

Quick returned his look to Toby. "You are not serious about those two, are you? She does not strike me as the 'right' pony."

Toby twitched an ear before it fell back to its usual flopped state. "What pony is 'right' pony? If he likes her, and she likes him, good pony!" He brought his paws together in a clap. "Luna is really good pony."

"So you insist..." He prowled around Toby. "What do you even know of her? I've heard many things, from long ago."

"I know she is good friend, and Best Princess." He nodded with confidence. "She is brave and kind and good with magic." He put a paw at his own chest. "I want to learn magic too! Oh!" He jumped up and came down facing the other way. "We are in magic school! Toby will ask if he can join."

Quick strode easily to be at Toby's side as the bouncing began. "They will turn you away. You are not a pony, and only ponies do they know how to handle, unicorns specifically. You are not that, and so they have no place for you. However cheerful their claimed model is, it has no room for things outside the normal."

"Toby think you are wrong. I will ask nice. I will work hard, then learn magic!"

"As if your people should be so lucky." Quick smiled, a malicious hint about his features. "There are really two sorts of people in the whole world... unicorns, and not. You, my new friend, are not. You could avoid much embarrassment and effort accepting that."

Author's Note

Toby's saved the day with the help of his friends! Now it's time to learn magic, right?

Quick suggests not. Good thing Toby is terrible at being told NOT to do something.

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14 - Due Process
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14 - Due Process

While all the important ponies of his life went off to handle important pony business, Toby went to handle his own. He loped through the halls of the school with a face of cheerful determination.

Landing beside a unicorn mare, he nodded to her. "Hello! Where pony to ask join school?"

The mare blinked at his question. "Are you asking for a friend?"

Toby sat on his haunches and raised a furry finger to point at himself. "Toby ask for Toby. Who ask?"

She smiled, warm with only hints of the uncertainty within her. "This is Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns."

The emphasis flew past Toby without notice. "Yes, is good school. Toby want learn magic to bring magic to Tsuki. You lucky to be here. Are you good magic?"

The phrasing seemed to confuse the mare a moment before she put it together, her expression going from bewilderment to a smile. "I'm still learning, but I can do some things I couldn't when I first came here." She pointed back at her thigh. "My specialty is plants. Making them grow, wilt, change colors and species."

Toby clapped at the wonders being described. "Is good magic. Maybe Toby learn that? Where pony to talk to?" His eyes went to the pony's rump, where a symbol of a wild growth of vines was depicted. "Maybe Toby get picture when he learn magic?"

"Um, good luck with that," said the unicorn without confidence and wearing a false smile. "Most ponies are invited to join by showing off the magic talent they already have... I guess you could talk to the dean? She's usually in her office." She pointed the way.

Toby locked in on the door being pointed to. "Thank you." He took off at a powerful jump, sailing down the hallway. The limited clearance forced him to make three jumps where one would have been enough in clear space, but he was there quickly enough. He looked over the door. It had a sign that declared it to be the office of some important-sounding pony.

He had not had bad luck with important ponies so far. He turned the knob, only to be shocked! He jerked his paw back with a yelp. "Bad door!"

The door opened a crack. An eye could be seen, peering from the small space. "What's this? A student fail at a conjuration?"

Toby tilted his head at the pony eye. "Name is Toby. Want join school and learn magic."

"Do you?" The door opened wider to reveal the mare speaking. She wore half-glasses and looked to be advanced in years. "Most unicorns that show promise have applications turned in by their parents, we schedule a trial, and then we make a decision." She cocked a bushy brow. "And here you are."

"Here Toby is," agreed Toby. "Toby not have parents. Toby will work hard! Learn magic, bring it to Tsuki."

"That so?" She appraised him from his paws to his horns. "Well, you've already got my attention, go ahead. Show me what you have."

Toby wasn't sure what was meant by that. He had tricks, but would a really good hop impress the mare? What could he do...? The idea of bringing up his exploits did not even occur to him. They were just his job, not notable in any fashion. "Toby... not know magic. Is here to learn."

"I'm afraid you have the wrong school." She shook her head slowly. "We are here to advance already gifted students to their peak. You need to learn the basics before you even dream of applying here."

Toby's face fell in dismay. "Where Toby go?"

The mare, on the other hoof, suddenly smiled. "You should go where students here fear to go, but where you must. Are you brave?"

"Toby will go!" he exclaimed with joyful optimism. A way forward seemed to be opening and he was ready to hop on it.

"Keep that attitude. You, my large friend, are bound to Magic Kindergarten." A student passing by gasped with horror and scooted away as quickly as his legs would carry him. "Here, I'll write you a referral, but only if you are serious about this."

"Toby is ready." He bobbed his head with certainty. "Thank you."

A paper floated free of her office and hovered before Toby, filled with little scribbles. "Bring this to them and they'll do their best." She looked up at Toby's red horns. "Do those even work? Well, I'll leave that to them to worry about. Good day."

Toby barely had time to take the paper in a paw before the door was closed. He was alone again, but he had a place to go, and a mission to complete. He was happy. With a joyful smile, he bounded to the closest window, pulled it open, and squirmed right out of it. Free of the inside, he made a powerful jump towards destiny itself. He would learn magic if he could.

How bad could any place that literally started with 'kind' be? It sounded like a nice place to him. A nice place for nice ponies to learn nice magic. He couldn't wait.

Celestia glanced between her three breakfast partners. They were not who she would have normally expected. Of course, Luna was always welcome to join her, no, she was no surprise. Sombra was still a bit off putting, and his 'vizier', Quick Stroke, was another matter entirely. "Mister Stroke, have you given thought to your changed role in things in this new world?"

Quick flashed a smile that worried Celestia. "An astute question from an astute ruler. Some of my... methods... may be... dated, but what is a pony that cannot adapt? I will serve my king well, just as I always have, even if the means need updating."

Something was nagging at Celestia, and it suddenly clicked into place. "You served Sombra when he was king, over the Crystal Empire, correct?"

Sombra nodded. "He was quite loyal, and creative. I hope to turn that towards the betterment of my kingdom."

Celestia inclined her head at Sombra in acknowledgment before she returned her attention to Quick. "Why aren't you a crystal pony?"

He blinked. "It's been so long... Even I had forgotten." His pelt began to shimmer darkly, as if reflecting his dark past. He was a crystal pony, but like that of few others. "I had learned long ago to conceal that. It intimidated the others to have their overseer not be one of their own."

Luna frowned a little. "A valid, if underhoofed technique. You will have little need for it among the Tsuki. They will not see you as one of them regardless, but they may welcome you as kin if you treat them well. Toby is already trying to offer a... paw... in friendship and solidarity."

Celestia tapped at her chin thoughtfully before a cookie approached her, held in her golden magic. She bit it in half and chewed quietly a moment. She had questions, but few ways to ask them that would not appear as rude, so she set them aside for the moment. "It is good that ponies are getting chances to turn a new leaf and embrace a life of growth." Her eyes turned to Luna. "The doctor's report that all is well. I believe our student has suffered sufficiently for her crime, and I will be giving the order for her to return to her studies."

Luna huffed softly. "You are very mild on your students. Even if she caused no direct harm, did she not break a rule of some severity?"

Celestia shook her head. "She was brought in chains before the full of the court, driven to tears and made to wallow in her failings. She been been disciplined quite thoroughly. Now is the time to show kindness and help her move forward. She is still a talented student, and I would see that encouraged."

Quick leaned back in his wide-bottomed chair, "She is, this I will grant. Her magic was quite ready to hurl her friend across the city when I took hold of it. A pity her aim was off."

Sombra canted his head towards Quick. "In what way?"

"She would have hurled her friend into the stone. It would... most likely... have caused no lasting harm, but been quite painful and uncomfortable until she was rescued."

Luna gave a soft snort. "If you had simply rescued her instead of whisking her away to the shadows, you would have been a hero."

Celestia shook her head. "Teleportation accidents are no small matter. I thank you for preventing what could have been worse. I will have her teacher informed that her technique needs refinement, not that a student of her level should be attempting to move a living pony so far."

Sombra gave a sharp-toothed smile. "Your students have a habit of surprising you."

"They do," agreed Celestia, a more sedate smile appearing on her face. "It is a pleasure every time." A cup of tea lifted to her snout and she sipped lightly. "We should begin the day."

Toby landed before a much smaller structure than the grand edifice that had been the School for Gifted Unicorns. 'Magic Kindergarden', read a sign over the gate leading to the place. The building was painted bright and cheerfully, and he saw many little unicorn foals running around with excited giggles and squeals.

"This happy place," he decided, but if he was to learn there, he would be the largest and oldest thing there. The social ramifications of that did not click with him. He did little hops to avoid any potential collisions and opened the door to go inside.

"Who you?"

Toby looked down and to the left to see a little filly gazing up at him with big eyes. "Who you?" she repeated, pointing at him.

"Toby." He nodded. "Who you?"

"Junifer," she replied with a smile. "Why here?"

"Learn magic," replied Toby. This little pony spoke in small easy words and sentences. He kind of liked it. "You learn magic, yes?"

"Uh-huh," agreed Junifer. "You big."

"You small," he returned, settling down to be closer to her level. "Help learn magic?"

Junifer tilted her head left and right. "Can try." She didn't sound completely certain, but she sounded ready to try, and that was enough for Toby.

The door Toby had undone and let swing open a few inches suddenly pulled the rest of the way open. An older mare stepped into view. "Who left t--" She cut off, almost walking into the furry wall that was Toby. "Oh my..."

"Hello!" cried Toby, turning to face the adult. "Toby is here to learn magic. Teach Toby please."

She looked uncertain, glancing between him and the filly beside him. "Junifer, come here."

Junifer shook her head. "Help teach magic!"

"Yes..." Her eyes travelled up to his double horns. Were they like unicorn horns? She could only try and find out, she supposed. "You will have to follow the rules of this school."

"Toby will follow rules, learn magic, work hard." He reared up to clap his paws. "Toby is ready."

Author's Note

Toby goes willingly to the place Twilight never wants to be sent back to. Welcome to Magic Kindergarten. Written at Everfree NW 2017

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15 - Ready to Learn
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15 - Ready to Learn

"Alright class," said the teacher, looking over the fillies, colts, and one Tsuki in her classroom. "So why does the sun rise in the morning?"

Hooves went up into the air. She picked a little filly to answer.

"The Princess does it!" she squeaked proudly.

The teacher nodded. "She does. In fact, we're all going to get to see it. In a few weeks, we'll be attending the Summer Sun Festival and watching Princess Celestia raise the sun." She smiled warmly. "She'll also be taking a few questions, so I want you all to think about what you might want to ask her."

The class erupted into chatter as little foals gabbed quite excitedly about what they might ask of the Princess of the Sun.

Toby, on the other paw, tilted his head left and right. "Toby already talk to Sun Butt."

All heads turned towards him.

Toby sat there, confused. Why were all the ponies staring. Oh! "Sun Butt is name Best Princess likes. Toby mean Princess Celestia."

The teacher shook her head a little. "Class, why don't you get into groups of three and plan what you'll ask when you get the chance. Toby, if you would, come with me?"

She walked off to the side as the class began to cluster. Toby squirmed free of his chair then was beside her in a single bound. "Yes, Miss Teacher?"

She reached up with a hoof to adjust her glasses. "You wouldn't fib to me, would you?"

Toby blinked softly. "Never!" He reared up and put a paw over his chest. "Toby not like lying. Lying is bad."

She nodded. "If you are... familiar... with the princesses, why aren't you being mentored by somepony?"

Toby let his head slowly cant to the right. "What you mean? Toby told this right place to learn magic. Is not?"

"It's a fine place," she assured with a slow nod. "But it's meant for young ponies. Are you not frustrated learning with them?"

"No." Toby's reply was simple and honest. "Toby learn other things too. Is good place. Only wish more magic time." He fell back to all fours even as he reached up a pawhand for his horns. "Toby is ready for magic."

She sat down as she regarded him. "You are a curious one. I appreciate your simplicity in this increasingly complicated world." He didn't get it and she could see that, so she just smiled. "Do you want to stay after class?"

Toby looked horrified. "Did Toby do bad?!"

"Not as a punishment," she quickly corrected. "For a private lesson. I'm still not sure if what you're after is even possible... But I'm willing to help you find out."

Toby's rigid frame relaxed as he was told he hadn't gotten into trouble. "Oh, that is different. Toby will stay."

The class was gathered back into their seats and the teaching resumed, wandering around from art time, to play time, to snack time.

During snack time, the filly Toby had originally met sat down next to him. "You didn't say you knew the princess!" Junifer accused him.

Toby lifted an ear limply before it fell back down. "Toby not know that important."

"It is!" She stuck out her tongue at him. "Why isn't she teaching you magic?"

Toby pointed up towards the castle. "Best Princess and Sun Butt busy being princesses. Toby not want to be bother, so Toby come where ponies learn magic."

Her horn glowed dimly and toby felt the slightest pull on his horns towards her. He obliged her and lowered his large face towards her smaller one. She reached up and half-climbed his head, mounting him and swinging around so she was perched just behind his horns. "You have nice horns," she complimented once she was up there. "The very first trick you should learn is making them glow."

Toby raised his head back up into its normal position with his new rider along for the journey. "How Toby do that?"

She stuck out her tongue a little thoughtfully. "All ponies have magic," she started." She tapped his head. "Everywhere. Trick is getting it here." She tapped at his horns. "Picture it like... Like glowing. Glow everywhere, then glow here." She tapped again.

He gave a bobbing before he felt her being shaken around. "Oops, sorry."

She giggled softly. "You're fun." She fell forward between his horns. "Go on! Try it!"

He tried to envision that, that he was glowing nice and bright, like the full moon in the sky that Best Princess cared for. He was a moon, his own moon, so bright and silvery, shedding gentle light across a sleeping world. He was huge, and hard to understand at a glance. He was... difficult to approach... Toby frowned. He shook away those dour thoughts and got back to the glowing.

He was glowing, from his short tail to his floppy ears. He imagined that glow flowing, gathering. He tried to push that glow into his horns, but the glow was like water, and trying to push water was not very effective. But he knew how to drink water! He sucked. He pretended to suck on the tip of his own horns to pull the water up into them, but it was like trying to drink a really cold and solid milkshake, rather than water. The glow didn't want to move.

A sudden clip-clop woke him from his reverie.

The filly on him gave a soft 'aw'. "You barely started and it stopped. I was so excited!" She pet him on the head gently. "But you did it! You glowed, a little... Maybe if you keep trying?"

Toby looked uncertain a moment before a huge grin split his face. "Yes! Toby will keep trying. You are good teacher!"

She looked quite proud of that, puffing out her chest. "You have good taste."

Toby reached up and gently set her down. "Toby will practice lots!"

The filly gave him one more congratulation before she ambled off, a satisfied grin on her little face.

The rest of the school day resulted in Toby learning very little in the way of the class itself, as he was busy trying ever so hard to glow like the moon he loved. So far as he could tell, he hadn't. None of the ponies said anything, and he imagined they would if his horns lit up in the middle of class.

As the little foals ran screaming from the building, giggling and cavorting their way to freedom, Toby remained behind, watching the teacher clean up after the class. He reached for a discarded toy and set it in the bin it had come from. "Toby will help."

The teacher quietly accepted his assistance and soon they had the schoolhouse looking presentable. "Now, I feel we should do proper introductions."

Hadn't they? Toby realized he didn't know the teacher's name at all, besides teacher. He nodded. "Toby is Toby, of the Tsuki, helper of Sombra. Nice to meet you."

She arched a brow. "Helper of Sombra? King Sombra?"

"Uh huh." He quickly bobbed his head. "He leader of Tsuki. Tsuki and ponies now friends for hundred moons."

The teacher made a quiet note to actually crack open a newspaper at some point. "I see. I am Early Start." She dipped her head at him. "It's nice to meet you too." Early sat on her haunches. "Junifer's a darling little filly. I saw she was helping you during snack time."

Toby bobbed his head quickly. "Yes! She told Toby to glow like moon. Said To--"

"I."

Toby blinked. "What?"

"When referring to yourself, use the word, 'I', not your name." She gave a little smile. "I know you're smart enough to learn."

Toby tilted his head a bit, then back the other. "So name for self. T--I... understand?"

Early smiled triumphantly. "There you go. Now, as you were saying?"

"Glow like moon," Toby repeated. "Said have magic all places. Trick is getting magic here." He reached up to tap at the top of one of his right horn. "To--" He stopped and caught himself. "I... try, but it hard!"

"What does it feel like?" Early asked with a patient tone.

Toby sat up. "I try push first, no good, so I try pull, work better, but hard, like straw is small or water too... thick."

Early considered a moment. "That could mean a few things. To start, it could just mean you have to practice more, and that 'straw' will get larger with effort. It could also mean your people have magic, but not enough to do this well." She pointed up at his horns. "The fact that you channeled any at all does mean your horns can do the job, but how well remains to be seen. Do you understand?"

Toby did not, not entirely, but he grasped the part that seemed the most important. "I practice very hard, get better." He grabbed for Early Start, pulling her in for one of his big hugs. "You are good teacher! To--I learn many things in your class." He nuzzled into her cheek, ignorant of her flustered expression. "I practice every day."

Early patted him on the back gently before she slipped free. "That's good, very good, but I do have a rule." She pointed to the vacant school desks. "No practicing while I'm lecturing. You won't learn other things if your head is in the clouds." She could see Toby's expression falling and made a soft shh noise. "Calm down. You're not as bad as many little foals. You can be taught, and want to learn, and that's important. So listen when I'm talking."

Toby's mood quickly rebounded. "I will." He brushed an ear towards her. "Listen."

"Good. For now, practice. I would have given you much the same lesson, but Junifer beat me too it." She smiled softly. "Sharp little filly, that one. I look forward to seeing where she goes in life."

Toby started trying to grasp that vision of glowing like his own furry moon when he felt a poke. Early Start was prodding his chest.

"Go home, Toby." She pat him on the shoulder. "I have to close the schoolhouse. You've learned a lot today. I'll see you on Monday."

"Not tomorrow?"

"You get the next two days off," she informed with a smile. "Me too, and I plan to enjoy it. Practice, and relax. Don't stress yourself with this. These things take time and patience."

"Patience," he repeated as he moved for the door in small hops. "I not good at that, but will try for you. I. You. I. You." He ran a tongue over his furry lips. "Names." He vanished with a tremendous leap once he was past the door, gone.

Early shook her head slowly. "You're no foal, but you may as well be..." She closed the door and locked it. It had been an interesting day, and nopony got their head stuck in random objects. She decided it qualified as a good day. "And now for a weekend..."

Author's Note

Toby has the first step towards MAGIC MASTERY. Give him a week, he'll show that Star Swirl what real magic is like!

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16 - Practice Makes Perfect
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16 - Practice Makes Perfect

Sombra stared at Toby across the table they shared with Celestia. "I normally would not object to peace, but you have been distracted this entire meal."

Celestia gave a more kind smile. "Have you found something, Toby?"

Toby bobbled his head quickly. "Toby, uh, I is learning many things."

Sombra snorted softly. "I have noted your absence. Have you been entertaining foals again?"

Toby considered that. "Yes, no. I is going to Magic Kindergarten, learn many things." He raised a paw to his chest. "Promise to work hard, bring back to other Tsuki."

Celestia inclined her head slightly. "Is that where you've learned to start saying 'I'. friend Toby?"

Toby flashed a bright smile at Celestia. "Yes! Teacher name Early Start, is good, teach I many things."

Sombra snorted and rolled his eyes. "Your grammar is still far from perfect."

"And yet, improvement has been had," countered Celestia. "Every journey starts with the very first step. I am glad to hear of your bold decision for self-improvement." An ear quirked up with an unspoken question.

A question Sombra was happy to speak, "And you are happy being taught with foals perhaps less than half your age? You are surely the largest student in the class."

Toby bobbled his head. "Uh huh. I sit in back so not get in way of seeing lesson. Is okay, I can see chalkboard and teacher hears when I have question."

"And the foals?" Sombra let out a puff of green magic from his flared nostrils. "They don't bother you?"

"Met nice filly name Junifer. She teach I how to use magic." He clapped his paws with joy at the memory of the first lesson. "I still practicing!"

Celestia's brow raised a moment before tea floated over for her to sip. "You've used magic?" She kept the statement soft and even.

Toby was blissfully unaware of any big deal, besides happy news. "Toby make horns glow o... Oh, sorry." His face fell. "I make horns glow, once. Talk new way is hard, but I practice, like horn glow."

Sombra slammed a hoof on the table as he rose on the other three. "You will continue this," he commanded.

Toby jumped at the stern command. "Oh, uh, alright. I thank you for support." He had the best boss in the world, except maybe Best Princess. "I no have school today, plan to practice after food." Oh right, eating. Reminded, his nose guided him to a quiche on the table that was putting off enchanting scents. He picked up the tray and looked to Celestia.

She smiled as she tended to and made a little dismissive wave. "Please, go ahead. It is there to be eaten."

With joy, Toby showed that table manners were not one of the things he had learned well, and tore into the dish with wild abandon, breaking his fast and preparing for the day.

While he was doing that, Celestia's gaze turned to Sombra. "I do hope you do not plan to stifle this before it can take natural shape."

Sombra moved around the table towards Toby. "I plan to see my assistant master his gift. Far be it from me to scoff at the uses of magic... Toby, tell me you can share this gift."

Toby paused in his feast, looking up with cheese and other bits dripping from his snout. "I think so. I is not good at it yet, more practice, then will share." He gave a nod of satisfaction with his answer, and returned to enjoying Equestrian cuisine.

Sombra's smile was lined with sharp teeth and manic joy.

"I know that look." The vizier had just arrived. "And I approve. What opportunity have you found?"

Celestia huffed softly. "Toby has some ability with magic, though it remains to be seen if it advances beyond glowing."

Sombra put a hoof on Toby's shoulder. "You will continue this work and I look forward to hearing updates on its progress."

Quick Stroke sat down at the table. "An entire nation of spellcasters? My estimation of your kingdom has increased considerably, my liege. I eagerly await further news."

Toby was slow to pick up on things, but the pressure in the room was hard to miss. "I try hard, but no know what I can do."

Celestia fixed her gaze on Toby. "You should move exactly as fast as you feel comfortable with. Learning magic is not something to be hurried along, unless you want to make mistakes as tragic as the court case you only just witnessed."

Toby remembered the crying mare and he set his tray of food down, hunger abating. "I... Extra careful." He nodded. "No do magic without sure."

Sombra's snout wrinkled a moment. "Do not be overly concerned. You are not working with anything that could harm anyone else. I've yet to hear about someone being glowed to death."

Celestia rose from her seat. "In this, I agree. Enjoy your time at school. I feel you are learning much, beyond magic."

Quick Stroke sneered. "Can you read?"

Toby tilted his head at the question. "I read little, learning. I can write Toby, want to see?"

Quick tapped the table. "Be my guest, my large peer."

Celestia paused in her retreat, glancing back at the three a moment before she resumed her course. She shook her head at the vision she had seen of Toby eagerly scrawling his name for Quick to see.

Toby was by himself. He had no bosses, Best Queens, or whatever Quick Stroke was around. He had only himself, and his stubborn horns. He looked in a mirror at the bright red projections on his head. He hadn't seen them glow, just taken the excited words of Junifer. At first it was easy to accept her youthful excitement, but he had been trying so hard all day... "What if I can't do it?" he said only to the reflected Tsuki he could see who looked almost as sad as he did.

He tried to dismiss the negative thoughts. He just had to glow like the moon. He closed his eyes and an image of Luna appeared before him, regal and perfect. She glowed without even trying. He tried to take just a little bit of that to glow as she did. He didn't glow entirely by himself, how could he, but he could reflect the shine of the moon out off his pelt. Yes... he could glow.

Vision of the glow in his head, he tried to pull it up, to make his horns pull at that glow into themselves.

His left horn shimmered faintly. Toby gasped, and it went away. "Stupid Toby," he muttered to himself as he realized he scared his own glow away. He had to focus. He clapped his forepaws together and stood up on his hinds, towering over much of the room.

A knock came from the door, and it opened without pause to reveal Luna. "To--" She trailed off, blinking at his standing form. "Am I interrupting?"

Toby fell down to all fours, half over the started princess. "Best Princess!" He eagerly hugged her in greeting. "T--I practicing glowing."

Luna's retreat was paused in confusion. "Glowing?"

Toby quickly bobbed his head. "I can glow." He backed off on his own and pointed up at his horns. "Do it twice now."

"Your speech has changed subtly." Luna looked Toby over. "Sister mentioned you are now attending school?"

"Yes, I go to school with little ponies and learn big things." He spread his paws wide. "Luna watch I glow?"

Luna sat down on her haunches. "I would like to see this, Toby."

Toby had an idea. If he could glow in reflection of an imagined moon or Luna, surely he could glow with the actual Luna far more easily. He tried that, imagining Luna's gentle glow around her bouncing off of him, then being pulled up to his horns. She was a powerful pony, she already glowed so brightly, at least magically... not that he could see most magic, but he imagined, and that would have to be enough.

He felt warm and safe in Luna's presence, and he brought that warms upwards, drawing it into his big red horns. With such a powerful pony so close, he couldn't imagine failure.

Luna watched with careful silence as one horn began to dimly glow, then the other. They pulsed with what she imagined to be Toby's heartbeat, becoming stronger bit by bit with every pulse.

Toby let out an explosive breath and flopped down, panting. "I... not... even notice... how hard it is."

Luna reached forward and gently brushed Toby's shoulder. "You have done a marvelous thing. Unicorn foals can struggle for years to get a reliable glow, so do not lose hope. This is a step that requires patience."

That word again. Toby slowly sat up on his haunches. "I try..." He wanted to glow right away, not later... but he had seen what happens to ponies who do things they're not ready for. "Good glow?"

"Very good," agreed Luna with a smile. "I am very proud of you and your efforts. You are a magical creature. You proved that before you began glowing. You exerted mastery over the flowing maelstrom of the shadow world, in most recent example. You were consumed by angry darkness without harm. You have visited the moon people and pony's dreams, a task I thought I was largely alone with." She raised a brow. "Come to think of it, many of your abilities mirror that of my own."

That made perfect sense to Toby. "To--I is Tsuki. Tsuki are moon rabbit. You glow, I shine. I glow is... you light. Your light is I glow." He kept waving his paws back and forth between Luna and himself. "Understand?"

Luna gave a slight nod. "They say the moon glows with the sun's light, and only it is the true start of that glow. I could not say with certainty, but the idea of something glowing with the power of another is not a new one to me. Moon rabbit." She smiled softly in remembrance. "It was truly Destiny's hoof that led you to me."

Toby tilted his head. "I."

"I?"

"Luna said 'me'. Name for self is 'I'."

Luna gave Toby's shoulder a soft patting. "It is good to see you are taking your lessons to heart, but there is more than one name for oneself. I, me, and myself to start, all used in different places. I will not trouble you with all the rules. Language is a rich dance that takes time to learn, much like those horns of yours. Neither will remain so difficult with practice."

Toby needed patience. When did life become so full of the need to hurry up and wait? He put that aside for the moment. "I not looking while glowing. What color is Toby glow?"

Luna let Toby's slip slide. "A pale silver. You are still developing your technique, the color may shift as you gain confidence and ability."

"I glow like moon!" Toby seemed quite happy with the color, clapping his paws with mounting joy.

Author's Note

Toby shines on. You keep being you, Toby. We're behind you.

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17 - Awards
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What Follows Hugs

17 - Awards

Luna stepped forward, gravity behind every somber step. "It is with great pleasure that I bequeath this unto you." In her horn's magic, she held the medal that Toby had found in the dreamworld and floated it towards him.

Toby glanced around curiously. There weren't many ponies present. Quick Stroke and Sombra sat closeby, watching. "Excuse I. I thought many more ponies?" From the way Luna had spoken before, he was confused. "If only two, why wait?"

Luna's teeth clenched a moment. "You are growing... clever, Toby."

"I sorry!"

"No, do not be." She gently slipped the medal over Toby, even if she had to work it on over one horn at a time. "Celestia insists that you may keep the medal you found, but it does not... technically... qualify." She adjusted it on his chest so it sat properly. "But know that I think you are deserving of it."

Sombra sat up tall and proud. "It is but one medal among many more you will earn. The world will speak your name in reverence." As part of his kingdom, he left unsaid.

Quick Stroke rolled a hoof at Toby. "Now that you have been properly decorated, what news have you?"

"News? Oh! I is still practicing. Can read whole book now!" He beamed with sublime pride. "Have favorite about little pegasus that try to catch rainbow." He let out a heartfelt sigh. "She catch it someday."

Luna gave a warm smile. "I fear, while Quick Stroke is surely gladdened by your education, he is more curious about your magical progress."

Toby's expression faltered. In a small voice, he reported, "can glow..."

Luna set a hoof on his shoulder. "It remains just as hard?"

"Toby... not want talk about it..."

Quick Stroke rose to his hooves. "It was, perhaps, too good to believe." He strode off without looking back.

Sombra was not so hasty. "Luna, is there an expert available in helping... unconventional magic users?"

Luna perked her ears. "I will investigate, a fine idea. There is clearly magic in here." She gave Toby a pet along his back that brought a little smile back to him. "We just have to get it to come out, and shine."

So they did just that, arranging for an appointment for Toby to see an expert. He was given an address and a time, which was more than enough.

With timid hope, he bounded easily above the streets of Canterlot, making his way unerringly. He came to a soft landing in front of a small house and tilted his head one way and the other. It didn't look like a grand place. It looked kind of run down, really. Was someone who could help him really living there? He raised a paw and gave a light knock. There was only one way to find out.

"Yes?" came a female voice before the door opened to reveal a unicorn with thick glasses, broken and repaired in the center. "How can I help you?" She looked Toby up and down cautiously, then started. "Wait, are you Toby?"

Toby bobbed his head. "Yes! Toby is I name! Are you expert?"

"I'm Moondancer." She opened the door the rest of the way with her magic. "I've studied magic talent and displays in other species before, but I didn't think I'd be hired for that. Did you know that dragons have intense magic, but it is almost entirely internal?"

Toby blinked as he stepped inside. "I not know that. You are expert." The one little fact was enough to convince him. "Know Tsuki magic?" He reached up for one of his red horns. "I practice real hard, glow, hard... Can barely glow before real tired." He felt extra sure she was the right one. Moondancer? Moons had been really good to him so far.

She grabbed a book off a sagging shelf with her magic and pulled it closer. "It's not commonly known, but horns are a natural tuner for magic. Two is actually less optimal than one, if one is attempting to focus and shape magic." She sat as the book flipped open beside her. "Still, if you can glow at all, it means you have some ability to externally manipulate magic." She began to show diagrams of animals with odd lines in them. "Every species has different thaumic patterns. What we need to know is what are yours."

Moondancer may as well have been speaking a new and terrible language. Toby shook his head slowly, trying to sift through it. "How... know?"

"I'm glad you asked." She put the book aside. "This may tingle a little." Her horn lit up as that 'tingle' came, like a full body pricking with thousands of tiny needles.

Toby squeaked and jumped, bumping his head into the roof and coming right back to the ground, dazed. Bits of wood and plaster rained across his limp form. At least the pricking had stopped almost as soon as it had begun.

"Fascinating..." Moondancer circled around her prone patient. His body glowed with lines, brilliant with Moondancer's magic. "Not like a pony's at all." She stepped up onto Toby, following a line along. "You don't seem..."

"That hurt," whined out Toby as his senses began to return. "You say tingle, not tingle!"

"Oh?" Moondancer leaned over the side of Toby from above. "I never cast it on myself. I'll bear that in mind for the future. Now, as I was saying, you don't seem to have any collection or thaumic generation organs, that I can see." She shook her head. "Your horns aren't even very attached to your network. I don't even grasp how you managed a glow with this."

Toby sat up, the motion sending Moondancer tumbling to the ground. "T--I glow. Want see? Is hard, but can do."

Moondancer sat up and readjusted her glasses carefully. "I would like to see that. With the spell active, we can see exactly where the energy moves inside you to cause the effect and gain a greater understanding of the situation. Proceed."

Toby tilted his head down at the little unicorn that had hurt him. He decided she rated maybe a three on the scale from one to Best Princess. Still, Best Princess had said she could help, so he tried to be patient. He closed his eyes. Even if she was only a three, she still glowed, so he tried to use that, to glow with the expert's magic.

Moondancer's eyes danced over his form, watching as different lines glowed brighted or dimmed. "Interesting..." Then the glowing began, and she adjusted her glasses to make sure she was seeing it correctly. "Fascinating..."

"What see?" asked Toby, eyes still closed.

"You are not glowing."

Toby blinked his eyes open, the glow ceasing. "What? Toby felt like glow. Toby can glow! Toby promise!" He only realized after he frantically defended himself that he had failed to speak properly. "Um, I. I glow."

Moondancer nodded. "You did, indirectly. That wasn't your magic. Your magic never reached your horns. Your magic was moving elsewhere while the glow was happening. Your glow did not match the frequency it should have, either."

"What?" Toby blinked at her, struggling to understand what he was being told.

"Your color."

Toby bobbed his head. "Why not say in first place? I glow like moon. Silver and pretty."

She shook her head. "That is not what I saw. You were more of a light pink, like my magic." Her horn lit up, displaying the color easily. "Are you certain you were silver previously?"

Toby inclined an ear lightly before it fell back into place. "Yes. I silver with Best Princess."

"Which princess is best?"

Toby blinked. "How not know that?" Some expert! "Luna. Luna is Best Princess."

"I... see. Can you glow again?" Moondancer adjusted her glasses idly. "I have a theory I wish to test."

Toby wasn't sure what that meant, but he closed his eyes and focused on shining. Once he had it, he felt something change, ever so subtly. He couldn't say what. Oh, it changed again, and once more! He giggled a little. It tickled in ways he hadn't felt before.

"Enough." Moondancer tilted her head up at him as his eyes opened. "Verified. If I modulate my frequency, your glow follows it." Toby stard at her, blank and lost. "When I changed the color of my glow, your glow changed with it."

"Oh!" Toby bobbed his head. "Why no say in first place?"

"Are you doing it on purpose?" Moondancer tapped at her chin. "Are you reflecting my magic?"

"I glow with light. You glow. I glow with glow."

"So, yes?" She hiked a brow, bushy and thick. "I think we can approach your situation intelligently now. You are approaching this in a fundamentally flawed way. Let's try this. Try to glow, but don't think about your horns. They're not part of this."

Not part of this?! "But horn make magic..."

"For unicorns, yes. You are not a unicorn." She sat up. "You are a... Tsuki was it? Tsuki are not unicorns. Your magic is different. Glow, but don't focus on what's glowing."

Toby tried to have some faith. He held the image of glowing, reflecting that light, but he did not pull it up towards his horns. He just let it bounce off of him and shine. Shine it did. Toby began to emanate a soft light in all directions. More importantly, it didn't feel like he was running a marathon while he was doing it. Reflecting without purpose felt... natural.

"Fascinating." Moondancer adjusted her glasses as she looked over Toby. "You will note that the fr--color of your efforts is different depending on the direction." She pointed. "From me, you can witness my thaumic signature, but I see many other colors. You are redirecting external magic, instead of internal. That was your mistake. You were trying to focus internally, which your network does not seem designed to do."

Toby was at once excited and dismayed. "Does this mean I do magic, or... no?"

"Not unicorn magic," said Moondancer, crushing Toby's dreams without hesitation. "You will need to develop your own magic." She pointed at herself. "Unicorns work by focusing internal magic and projecting it onto the world. You can redirect, with practice, external magic. Can you shape it? Undefined. I presume we'll be attempting to discern that."

Toby frowned, trying to decipher the words Moondancer was using. "Can say with small words?"

"Discern means to figure out," Moondancer provided with a little smile. "We'll be finding out what you can do, right?"

"Yes please." Toby bobbed his head. "I change mind. You now four."

Moondancer blinked softly. "Four?"

Toby smiled joyfully. Learning to count had benefits.

Author's Note

We get to peek inside the Tsuki. Moondancer is not very good at bedside manner, but she seems ready to get the job done.

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18 - Nerd Convention
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What Follows Hugs

18 - Nerd Convention

Toby’s life became busy, but not in a bad way. He’d wake up and spring to school and get to meet his little friends there. They’d learn about stuff, even if he was told he shouldn’t try to learn unicorn magic anymore. That was alright. “I learn Tsuki magic,” he reported when asked. He could glow on command, brilliantly shining with the lights of the magic of those around him.

He liked shining. Even if he was told to not do that in the middle of class. So he didn’t do it there, no matter how fun it was.

After school was over, Toby’s work was not done. He would go right over to Moondancer’s house and she was happy to help him practice. That was why he got better at shining. It was tricky at first, but once he got the hang of it, it felt natural.

He landed in front of Moondancer’s house and opened the door. “I is here!” he called out as he stepped in, ignorant of the idea of waiting before entering.

“Is that him?” A different unicorn poked her head free from the back. “It is! Hello.” She came trotting towards him, her wings fluttering as she went. “We’ve met before. I’m Twilight Sparkle.”

Toby smiled with remembrance. He had met her, but it was only once, and not for that long. “Twilight is princess. Not Best Princess.”

Twilight hiked a brow even as Moondancer came to join them at a more sedate pace. The bespectacled pony nodded to her larger companion. “We’ve made great progress. Toby, shine.”

That was a command Toby was glad to obey. He almost felt like he was allowing himself to shine, and he began, reflecting the light of those around him. Twilight’s light was a bright magenta, clear and vibrant.

Twilight gave a thoughtful humm before her horn began to glow. Her magic made the reflected magic shine all the brighter. She moved her horn around and the reflection moved with it to a degree. “He could make a great magic detector.”

Moondancer blinked at Twilight. “Is that the first thing you thought of? I think he can do a lot more than that, with practice. In fact, today was when I planned to try something. Toby, are you ready to try something new?”

Toby smiled brilliantly. “Moondancer teach I to glow so good. I ready to learn more.”

“What did you have in mind?” asked Twilight curiously. Her eyes roamed over Toby. “You mentioned his horns weren’t involved?”

She shook her head. “As ideal as horns are for channeling internal power, he isn’t using that, so, no, no horns.”

Twilight rolled a hoof. “Could he do anything where there aren’t unicorns around?”

Moondancer frowned. “That requires further testing. Twilight, are you going to assist or not?”

Twilight jerked back, stung by the chastising. “Sorry... Please, continue.”

Toby looked back and forth between the two unicorns. He wasn’t sure what to rate Twilight just yet. She had annoyed Moondancer, negative a point there. But, she was a princess. Mmm. “Five,” he said to no one at all.

Moondancer adjusted her glasses. “One day you’ll have to inform me why you spout random numbers. Let us begin. If you can reflect the visual spectrum of thaumic energy, I’m curious to know if you can reflect other thaumic emissions.”

Toby stared blanky. “I not understand,” he confessed. “What want I do?”

Moondancer pointed up at her horn. “I’m going to cast a spell at you, and I want you to reflect it. Make it bounce, as if you were a mirror, which you are... kind of.”

“A thaumic mirror,” echoed Twilight, sounding impressed.

Toby had no idea how to do that, but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t try. “Okay!” He bobbed his head and focused on shining as brightly as he could.

Moondancer shook her head. “Don’t try to reflect everything. Focus. It will come from here.” She pointed up at her horn again to emphasize. “That is what you need to reflect, nothing else.”

Toby cringed with worry. Making just a part of him glow was what was so hard in the first place, back when he wanted his horns to glow. “Okay...” He had to try though. He wouldn’t be a bad student.

Moondancer’s horn glowed and a beam of power lanced out at Toby. His attempt to shine the bolt did little, and the fur around where it struck turned a bright green. Moondancer did not stop though. The color of the fur slowly changed as the beam remained. “When you succeed, the color will stop changing. Keep trying.”

Toby’s fear became a sort of curiosity. He had never had the chance to actually see unicorn magic, just... there... He reached out and grabbed at it. His paws changed color as they entered the stream. Unicorn magic had a texture. It was subtle, but he could feel it flowing around and over his fingers. He liked it.

Moondancer peered at her student and his goofy grin of triumph. “Are you focusing?”

Toby jerked upright. “Oh, yes! I is trying.” Well, he wasn’t, but he got his mind back into it. He got his shine back, but it was his usual shine, reflecting Moondancer and Twilight and other bits of things he didn’t even know.

Twilight raised a hoof. “Toby, what if you tried to make your color match Moondancer’s? All over.”

Toby blinked at that idea. He never tried to change his color before, but that sounded like an idea he wanted to try. He felt for the subtle differences where he glowed with Moonlight’s magic and where he glowed with Twilight’s magic and tried to replicate the former’s. It was not as easy as just imagining turning colors. Still, Toby was determined, and, to his benefit, he wasn’t clever enough to think of why he couldn’t do it, so he just focused on doing it.

Flexing new muscles, the color of Moondancer’s magic exploded out across his right side, then his left side in erratic little bubble bursts of color. He could do it... He was increasingly sure of it. It clicked. His aura ceased to be a patchwork of lights for just a single precious moment. He glowed brightly with Moondancer’s power alone and uniformly. Her magic began to scatter. Some of it was still reaching him, but a lot of it began to fly around the room at seemingly-random angles, changing the color of papers, books, and anything else it found in Moondancer’s cluttered house.

She ceased concentrating on the spell. “Test successful.”

Twilight clapped her hooves excitedly. “It took me a long time to get a thaumic shield right.”

Moondancer nodded at Twilight. “It’s different for us. We have to fashion internal magic into an external barrier. Toby, on the other hoof, reflects and redirects external energy. He didn’t make a shield, he just reflected it away.”

Toby did not understand that. “I did it.” That he knew, and he was smiling so brightly. “Thank you!” Before Moondancer could object, he was on her, hugging tightly.

Twilight danced away from the two, smiling at the exchange. “And, to think, this could be just the start.”

He shook his head at her. “Nuh uh. I learn glow first. This second.”

Moondancer wriggled her way free, or tried to. The rabbit-like student was rather good at holding ponies in place. “He is technically correct. Toby, can you put me down?”

“Yes.” He placed her carefully back on her hooves. “You is good teacher.” He pat her on the head, unsure why Twilight was snickering.

Moondancer adjusted her skewed glasses back into position. “We need to practice more. Twilight, if you will, I would like your assistance. Training with one unicorn may be detrimental. I want him to be able to reflect different magic and harmonize with more than just me. Do you have other things we can use?”

Twilight frowned faintly in thought. “Well, you have me, obviously, but there’s more than that. I’ll ask Celestia if we can borrow a few things for the task.” An idea suddenly struck her. “If you can reflect any thaumic emission, what about dragon fire?”

Toby wasn’t sure he liked the sound of that. “I not like fire,” he stated simply, shaking his head.

“We can work up to that.” Moondancer sat on her haunches. “Bring Spike and he can breath fire near Toby, to see if he can reflect its light before we consider moving past that. If he can’t do the light, there’s no point in trying for advanced practice.”

Twilight nodded her head. “Great point. That’ll save a lot of headaches, actually. If he can harmonize his field sufficiently to echo to the visible spectrum, then we can proceed.” She reached up suddenly and poked toby on the chest. “So, what was that about not being the best princess?”

Toby blinked down at her. “You not.”

“Who is?” She asked, ears erect.

“Luna is Best Princess.” Why did so many ponies not know such a simple fact? “She is best.”

Twilight gave a slow nod. “What about Celestia? She raises the sun.” Her hooves went up and around in a loose approximation of sun raising.

Toby leaned in towards Twilight. “She is good, not best. Luna is Best Princess.” He waved at Twilight. “Also good princess, not best. Only one best. Is okay, still good. Not feel bad.” He grabbed the pony he assumed was sad to not be the best and squeezed Twilight close, lifting her right off the ground and shaking her left and right in slow rocking motions he hoped soothed her. He stroked down her mane for extra effect.

Even as Twilight gave a nervous laugh and tried to extract herself, Moonlight coughed into a hoof. “If you are on such good terms with Princess Luna, you could ask her to assist.”

Thump. Toby dropped Twilight to the floor in a heap. “Is good idea!” He could spend time with Luna and get something good done at the same time? “Is great idea! Toby will, um, I will do that now!”

Moondancer thrust out a hoof in the way. “Hold on there. It’s late afternoon, Luna isn’t awake yet.”

Twilight picked herself up from where she had landed. “It’s not polite to just drop ponies like that,” she sourly noted. “Why do you like Luna so much, anyway?”

Toby’s face erupted into a big smile. “Many many things. Start with words.” He pointed at his throat. “Luna give I gift of words. Words is very very good gift. I is so happy to have words. They hard sometimes, but I get better with them. Then she give I new clothes, dark like her. I like wearing those. She first real friend, best friend.” He bobbed his head quickly as he counted the ways Luna was Best Princess. “She is princess of moon. Moon is good! She is good. Moon reflect. I reflect. Tsuki is like moon. She is Best Princess. See?” There were so many reasons he had.

Twilight tilted her head. “I see...” She didn’t, entirely, but well enough to set the topic down. “I want to try another experiment.” That got Moondancer and Toby’s attention. “I want to shine a light of magic on you, and I want you to reflect it to a specific place.”

Toby blinked softly. “Sound fun, but I not good at reflect yet.” He put two paws out in front of himself then walked them up on top of each other. “Step step, hop hop.”

Moondancer smiled at that. “That is a very wise stance. Let’s get this step complete before we aim for precision. For now, even when you’re not here, try to harmonize yourself with the frequency of other thaumic sources around you.” Toby stared at her blankly. “I mean, glow with their color all over evenly, instead of just directed at them.

“Oh. Why no say that first time?” Toby smiled and bobbed his head with understanding. “Toby ready to practice, but first I hungry. Have food?”

Author's Note

After a day of heavy education, Toby demands feeding. Feed the rabbit!

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19 - Deep Reflection
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What Follows Hugs

19 - Deep Reflection

Toby's life was one of learning, with a new step included. Every time he felt the tickle of a different color, he tried to bring it all around, to wrap himself in it like a warm blanket, which made him glow that color. He tried for even blankets, but didn't always succeed. It seemed that stronger sources were easier to shine with, so being around Luna or Celestia or Twilight meant easy shining, but easy was not always best for learning, so Toby eagerly tried to copy everything he felt.

It took him a while to even notice he had gained an ability. He could feel new magics coming close to him. Hopping through the city, whenever he landed near something magic, he knew. He didn't know what magic it was or what it did, but he knew it was there, and could try to glow with it. It was a neat little trick, or so he thought.

"Toby?"

He looked up, blinking. He was in class and had gotten distracted.

The teacher gave a slightly strained smile. "No glowing in the classroom."

He colored in his brown cheeks. "Oh! I is very sorry." The other foals were giggling at him being busted and he tried to put aside his glowing lessons long enough to maybe learn some other things.

His life was so full of learning and growing. Toby loved it.

"We're leaving," spoke Sombra sternly after Toby had returned to the castle.

Toby gave a slow blink, the news bouncing around his mind. "Why?"

"Our visit has already extended far beyond the plan." He pointed at Toby. "Our kingdom has had no ruler for an uncomfortable length of time. Gather your things."

Toby glanced left and right. He normally did not object to Sombra's orders, but... "Tob--I is learning. Look." He tuned himself to Sombra's magic.

The room became a radiant splashing of green and purple, dancing against the walls. He was sure he was being uniform, but that was just what Sombra's magic was.

Sombra seemed unmoved. "Very nice, but you can practice your 'glowing' while at home. I will hear no other words of insubordination."

Toby sagged with disappointment. He didn't want to go! "Can... I say goodbye to teachers?"

Sombra nodded. "Very well. Make it fast."

"Fast I can do!" Toby bounded out the nearest window and lept away. Powerful bounds brought him back to school first. He came down just in front of the door and knocked on it, but no one answered. She was probably home, and he didn't know where that was... He stuck out his tongue a little before he produced a piece of paper and got to using one of his new skills, writing.

Hello

Thank for much learn. I so happy to learn. Would stay forever. Must go. Thank you thank you thank you.
Toby

He looked over his scribbles critically, hoping he hadn't fouled anything up. It was as good as he could manage and he slipped it under the door, hopefully to be found later. His vision grew clouded a moment before he blinked a few tears away. He hadn't realized how much leaving hurt and he wiped the tears away on his furry arm. He had more goodbyes to say.

He landed in Moondancer's yard and didn't need to approach her door. She was in the yard, with Twilight. The two seemed to be playing a game that involved bouncing a ball back and forth. They were having fun together. Toby didn't want to interrupt, but he had to, or he would miss his chance. "Hello."

Twilight looked off towards him just in time for the ball to bounce off her head. She gave it a glare as if it had decided itself to do that before returning to looking at Toby. "Hello, Toby." She started. "Is something wrong?"

Was he that obvious? Toby tried to force a smile. "I must go, Sombra said so." He pointed northwards. "That way, back to Tsuki home.

Twilight's ears wilted. "Oh, we were just getting somewhere..."

Moondancer shook her head. "I'll pack my things."

Toby and Twilight were unified for a moment in their confusion. "What?" They spoke together.

Moondancer tilted her head. "I am not finished. I have no other demands that will be delayed, save some reading." She reached out a hoof towards Twilight. "Somepony told me that reading can wait, especially for a friend."

Toby couldn't hold it in. He grabbed Moondancer right off the ground and buried his face in her neck, getting it wet with fresh tears. "You is..." He couldn't formulate the proper words for it. "Thank you..."

Twilight gave a little smile. "That's very kind and I'm very proud of you, Moondancer. You'll keep in contact, I trust? This is your first time out of Canterlot, right, let alone all of Equestria."

Moondancer nodded from the arms of the emotional Tsuki. "I will keep you appraised of our progress. Toby, I need to get my things."

Toby blinked and put her down gently. "Oh, yes. I should do that too." He considered what his possessions were. He had most of them already. He just needed his armor. "Meet at castle." He pointed up at it. "Meet Sombra and Quick."

Twilight waved a hoof at Toby. "Actually, maybe you should give Moondancer a ride." Moondancer didn't look overly confident in the idea, but Twilight continued, "Sombra can be... a little pushy if I'm told correctly. You'll do better to have Moondancer already with you instead of trying to get him to wait for her."

Moondancer vanished, only to appear in a splash of sparkles by the door. She nodded back at them and trotted inside.

Toby considered Twilight's idea. "I can do that. I only missing one thing anyway, get that after Moondancer ready." He reached for Twilight, but didn't grab her. Instead he pet her along her mane. Ponies had nice manes for petting. "Thank you, Twilight. You is good princess."

Twilight gave a little twitch of a smile. "It was a pleasure, even if I wish we could finish what we started. Moondancer will take it from here, trust in her. Oh, and don't forget to say goodbye to 'Best Princess' before you go."

Toby went tense. Had he almost done that? "I not!" He almost sprang for the castle, but remembered he had a Moondancer to bring with him. "Soon as I can..."

"You've grown." Twilight tapped her chin twice before she pulled out two books from the depths of her fur. "While we're waiting..." She set the two side by side and her magic began to glow brightly.

It was a powerful magic, Toby could tell. He could also see Twilight was very focused on whatever she was doing. He tried to be still and quiet for her, almost not breathing in case that interfered with the potent magic being displayed, even if he had no idea what was going on.

Just as Moondancer returned, Twilight sat back with a huff. "There we are. Pick one."

Toby blinked. The two books looked identical. He reached for the one closer to himself. "I am happy, but confused."

Moondancer approached the two, glancing between the two journals. "Keeping communications open?"

"Precisely," answered Twilight with a radiant smile. "If you write in your book, it will appear in the other, so we can write back and forth, no matter where you end up."

Toby's smile echoed hers as he realized what a fantastic gift he had been given. He wouldn't need to say goodbye to Twilight. "You is very good princess. Toby will write every day! Maybe some nights too." He considered grabbing her, but he had other things to do. Instead he dropped down low. "We go now."

Moondancer eyed her new mount skeptically a moment before she threw a leg over and slid up with some effort onto his back, sprawled over him like a rug. "I never did this--" Her words were cut off as he bound powerfully, propelling them both into the air like a bullet. Canterlot spread out below her and her mouth hung open a moment before she caught her breath enough to give a scream mixed with terror and amazement. It was likely a good thing that Toby arrived at the castle swiftly, coming down just before the guards at the front door.

She slid from him, wobbling and staggering from the experience. Toby gave her a single pat. "Take care of her. She with I." The guards nodded a little as Toby jumped past them into the building. He had one other mare to speak to above all others.

The guards to Luna's room were less allowing than the door guards. They frowned in unison at the rabbit-like creature demanding access. "She's sleeping," barked one. "No one is to interrupt her."

The other nodded. "She spent all night guarding our dreams. The least we can do is ensure her rest."

Toby shook his head quickly. "No, is important. I is leaving, must say goodbye to Best Princess."

They were unmoved, standing firm and unified.

Toby considered his options. He could jump over them, but they were just in front of the door. At best he'd land on their back ends and be pinned between them and the doors. That would be very silly. He looked them over. They were not unicorns. They weren't any pony he immediately knew. They looked like pegasi, but not. Their ears were fuzzier than normal, and their wings looked odd, and they had weird eyes too. Toby couldn't place it all, but they were very strange pegasi. They were also in the way...

He tried anyway. Unicorns were best for reflecting, but all ponies had some light to shine. He reached for theirs and let it shine out. The hallway suddenly dimmed. He was putting out darkness? That was a kind of light, right? He wasn't sure, but he was doing it. The hallway plunged into midnight.

The guards sounded surprised, but Toby couldn't see what they were doing. He couldn't see what he was doing! Something crashed.

A door opened, "What's going on out here?"

Toby smiled, losing concentration at the sound of Best Princess. "Luna!"

As light returned, Luna was revealed, peeking out of her door over the forms of her two collapsed guards that were busy untangling themselves and getting to their hooves. She raised a brow at the two, then looked back them at Toby even as a huge yawn came from her. "Dear Toby, what brings you at such an unseemly hour?"

"Luna!" He bounced towards her, landing just past the guards. "I is happy to see you. I is sad. I must go, Sombra order."

Luna gave a light nod. "I see... I do wish you could stay longer, but your first duty is your own people." She reached for his shoulder. "Just as mine is to my own. Take care of them, Toby. Be their light."

Toby flashed a big grin. "Toby is bad light, but will show how to shine with other light. Toby is better at that. Watch." He began to glow with Luna's powerful light, casting silvery moonlight across the hallway.

A guard prodded him on the back. "That was you, we presume?"

Toby squeaked, caught. "I is sorry! I need talk to Best Princess!"

Luna held up a hoof. "Forgive him. I must retire, but I am not angry, not for this. Toby, continue growing and learning. You have become so much more than when first I met you. From a wild animal, to a wonderful person." She brushed away a tear Toby hadn't noticed. "This is not a goodbye. We will meet again. Besides, I should expect I will see you in the night, moon rabbit. We will have things to do."

He couldn't resist. He grabbed the sleepy princess, hauling her out of her room and into his arms for a bone-creakingly tight hug. "Toby is so happy to meet Best Princess. Will see again, yes! We protect night, protect ponies, protect Tsuki. We is good team."

Luna did not struggle to get away. She returned the hug, and they remained together for a few quiet minutes.

Hoofsteps approached. It was another guard. "Sir Toby, Lord Sombra awaits you at the front."

Author's Note

What do you mean the world can't wait while Toby gets himself some edumacation?!

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20 - Venture North
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What Follows Hugs

20 - Venture North

Sombra nodded towards Toby as he emerged from the building. "Finally. I trust you will explain this?" He looked towards Moondancer who stood at the ready.

Quick Stroke let out a little snicker. "She claims she's with you."

"She is," readily confirmed Toby. "She is teacher, will show Toby how better use magic."

"Not precisely." Moondancer broke her stiff stance and came around to Toby's side. "We are still examining the exact nature of his race's ability, but I feel we're making excellent progress. Enough to warrant my accompaniment to continue."

Sombra raised a brow at her a quiet moment before turning away. "We will speak as we move. Celestia has given us leave to make use of this country's rail network. It will bring us close to home. The line that goes to the Crystal Empire is our target."

The group of four mobilized, walking together towards the train station. Toby was smiling. "Last time, I hop all way. Is train fun?"

Moondancer saw Sombra and his companion were not rushing to answer that question, so she took it on herself. "The train is comfortable, and reasonably rapid, allowing for easy transportation."

Toby tilted his head. "Faster than Toby?"

Moondancer was uncertain of this, clearly written on her face as she glanced about the busy street they walked through. "How long did it take you to go home?"

Toby thought back to it. "Sun go up, go down, go up again. After that, I is there."

Moondancer frowned softly. "That is very fast... And you don't get tired?"

"Toby sleep when sun is down." He bobbed his head. "Then get up, keep hopping. Not believe I? Best Princess! Ask her. I take her first time."

Moondancer's jaw hung free a moment. "You went that fast with a passenger?!"

"See, you not beleive I!" Toby pouted. "Oh!" The pout turned to a smile like a light switch. "I take you, prove it. Want to ride?"

Sombra looked over his shoulder. They were just arriving at the train station. "That is an excellent idea. Go ahead, Toby, and ensure things remain in proper order and is prepared for my arrival. I expect nothing to be out of place."

Toby raised a paw in a sharp salute before he went flat, as flat as a large creature as himself could go. "We go now."

Moondancer glanced left and right. "Of course..." She took a soft breath and with a twinkle of her horn, a band appeared and looped back around her head, securing her glasses in place. With that handled, she climbed up onto Toby and hugged him tightly around the neck, knowing what came next. "Alright."

Toby sprang, bounding forward just across the top of a train. His paws slammed down on the top of the train, making the ponies inside start as he propelled himself onwards. Instead of throwing himself off the edge of the city, which Best Princess had been scared of, he followed the very tracks that the train had come along. It was far less straight, but was easy enough to trail along. It went into dark tunnels. At first he worried he would crash into a wall, but then he remembered what he had learned.

He echoed Moondancer's magic out, creating some light to see by. It became dim far away from him, but it was more than enough to keep bouncing along the tracks and fear no walls or ceilings along the way. At least until a bright light turned the corner ahead of them. Moondancer shrieked as a train followed that light, coming straight for them.

With the next touch of the ground, he bounced to the side sharply, hitting a wall, bouncing off that to the opposing wall. He came down on the roof of the train and there was barely room enough for all of them, but he had avoided being squished. They were carried right back where they came from, suddenly emerging from the darkness, back towards Canterlot.

Moondancer pointed above the tracks they were flying across on the back of the train. "If you insist, maybe we should follow it above, on the mountain?"

Toby nodded. "Good idea." He bounced right off the train and sprang high with the next striking of the ground. He landed on top of the tunnel instead of trying to follow it and tried his best to follow it from above. That job became easier when he spotted the tracks further down the mountain and turned to head towards them.

"Do you have fear?" asked Moondancer as they went. "You don't seem to."

Toby twitched a floppy ear back before it fell. "I is scared sometimes, but what I do? If just scream, pow, we flat. I have to do something."

"Very pragmatic." She slid up along his back a little. "But it's alright to scream too. I... tried not showing how I felt, for a long time... It's not healthy."

Toby heard some emotion there. He felt her squeezing him and suddenly he wanted to stop and give her all the hugs she clearly deserved and needed, but they had a mission. "Is okay. You is very brave pony, good pony. Can scream, or cry. Toby cry earlier, feel silly, but cry is normal. Scream and cry and shout and stomp!" He bounced down from the mountain to the tracks and resumed following them without a tunnel in the way. "Promise not make I angry."

She bonked him on the head lightly, cuffing him with a hoof. "I'm fine. I was speaking of your mental well-being. You're too worried about what everypony in the world but you thinks. You are important enough to matter, you were for a long time."

Toby tilted his head, tongue poking free a little as he tried to process the thought given to him. "I is Tsuki. I be best Tsuki I can be."

That hoof came down again, but it wasn't a strike. She stroked the top of his head just as he had done with Twilight. "Be the best Toby you can be. You are more than your race." She let out a little laugh. "I think I might go insane if I tried to be the absolute pinnacle of all things unicorn. I'm pretty far from that, but I make a passable Moondancer, do I not?"

Toby looked over his shoulder. "You is best Moondancer, this I sure of. Best Moondancer."

Her hooves moved in unison and turned his head forward where another train was coming, though it was some distance away. "Oh, I see. Not worry." They were close enough to the bottom of the mountain that he abandoned the track entirely and started bounding down from platform to platform, descending rapidly to the ground and racing northwards. "There, no more big scary."

"Thank Celestia," breathed out Moondancer, relaxing as they came to smooth land. "You are fast, but maybe not quite as comfortable as a locomotive."

"A what?"

"Train."

"Oh, why not say in first place?" He pondered the thought of not being as comfortable as a train. "Maybe if have seat on back?"

Moondancer's mind danced with the vision of an opulent chair with curtains on Toby's back, with some important pony riding it, bouncing around the compartment, pillows flying wildly everywhere. At least their discomfort would be hidden by those curtains, so no shame would come from it. She burst out laughing at the absurdity of the image.

Toby did not get the joke, but he wanted to. "What funny?"

Moondancer swallowed her laughter, fighting against the giggles that fought back against her. "N-nothing, just... I must recommend against that particular notion. Maybe a saddle?" She nodded firmly. "A saddle might help, with straps for hooves."

Toby mused over it as they traveled swiftly across Equestria, bearing roughly northward. He knew where 'home' was... mostly. "Have friends, Tsuki friends. Maybe one can make saddle for giving rides. I not want ponies on I to be not comfy." He came down from his latest jump and landed just in front of a cart. The cart was being pulled by a blue pony with a silver mane. The mare let out a startled shriek.

"B-back away, foul beast. The Great and Powerful Trixie knows how to defend herself!"

Moondancer looked around Toby's head. "Trixie?"

Trixie blinked at seeing a pony on Toby's back. "Moondancer?" Her eyes darted to Toby. "Oh, is he not a terrible beast?"

Toby offered a paw towards Trixie. "I is Toby, nice meetings."

She met the paw with a hoof slowly. "We are the Great and Powerful Trixie, and you are in her way."

"Oh, sorry." He stepped aside.

She nodded as if the world had been set right again and resumed pulling her cart. "Trixie knows not what you are doing, but good luck."

Toby tilted his head a little. "Going to Tsuki homeland."

Trixie paused. "What is 'Tsuki?"

Toby pointed at himself. "I is Toby. Toby the Tsuki. We go where many Tsuki."

Moondancer nodded in agreement. "I'm working on developing a new method of magic inherent to alien physiology."

Trixie blinked at Moondancer's strange words. "She does not know what you said, but what you said--" She looked at Toby directly. "--interests her. A new nation? They need to be entertained! Trixie will come and bedazzle them all and they will rain praises upon her for her magnificence." She smiled with confidence. "Where is this place?"

Toby pointed north where he had been going. "I is going there now. Near.... Crystal Empire." He had remembered that. "Is cold above, but warm in tunnels. If come, we welcome!" We was another word he had learned, but he rarely got to use it. Putting it to work made him very happy, smiling brightly at Trixie.

Trixie raised a brow, her eyes moving between Toby and his passenger. "You do not have enough room for Trixie, let alone her cart. She will have to do it the hard way, as usual. That is alright. Trixie is a tough mare, Great and Powerful. She will make her way." She was pulling her cart around right around to face north.

"I." spoke Toby with assurance.

"What?"

"When speaking of self, use I. I make same mistake long time, but nice ponies teach I." He pointed at himself each time he said I to emphasize the lesson. "'You do not have enough room for I'"

Moondancer was laughing, though why eluded Toby entirely.

Trixie, on the other paw, was glaring at Toby. She looked angry, again, he didn't know why. "Trixie will speak how she pleases, thank you. It is not a mistake on her part." She turned up her nose. "She will also make her own way. She will arrive before you even realize it, then the show can truly begin!"

Toby nodded his head. "Okay! Will tell other Tsuki to be ready for more company." He saw nothing else to discuss, so he gave a parting wave and propelled off the ground, the curious blue pony left far behind quickly.

Moondancer's laughter died as they resumed movement. "Sorry, I shouldn't have laughed like that. Trixie speaks like that, it's part of her 'thing'. She knows it isn't right, but that's just how she is. It doesn't hurt anyone, and she knows what she is doing."

"I not understand. Why not speak better if can speak better?" He wondered about that pony, Trixie, and what other strange habits she might have. Her visit was sure to be interesting, one way or the other. "We home soon." He got to use that word again! "You is good at reading, yes?"

"Very," agreed Moondancer. "Do your people have books?"

"Not exactly..." Toby frowned a little. "Big pictures, on walls. I thinking maybe you make to small books? Can make again?"

"Copy?"

"Yes! You copy! Please? Old pictures. Toby is scared they go away if not copy."

Moondancer's ears perked up. "That's a very mature outlook. Yes, we should work to preserve the culture of your people. I would be honored to transcribe them as best I can."

Toby had no idea what half the words said were, but it sounded like a 'Yes,' so he was happy.

Author's Note

Toby has a Great and Powerful meeting. Surely that won't come up later. The travel! They are off to Tsuki land!

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21 - Chilly Reception
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What Follows Hugs

21 - Chilly Reception

As they pressed ever northward, the temperature began to fall. Toby could feel his passenger cling more firmly as the wind softly sang around them. This was concerning, but not severely. Moondancer was not Best Princess, it only made sense that she wasn't as good at dealing with the cold. "You is good pony."

Moondancer reared up on his back. "What brought that on?"

"Oh, Toby is thinking." He tapped the side of his head as they sailed through the air. "Luna not mind cold much, but Luna is Best Princess. You is not princess, but you is good pony, very good pony. I get you to warm."

Moondancer slid back down and allowed a hoof to wander through his thick fur. "I did not realize how dense your pelt was. Is it not at times too warm?"

"I get hot sometimes. I drink nice water, get better." He peeked over his shoulder. "Is worth it to be with good ponies, like you."

Moondancer's face turned pink, though he wasn't sure why. "T-thank you, Toby."

"Is I job."

Bonk. She had struck him with a soft clop of a sound. "Would you do it if it wasn't your job?"

Toby landed, but did not jump again. He frowned softly. "If not job... Not sure what I doing if not helping Sombra." He tried to face Moondancer, but she was on his back and rather than look over his shoulder, he kept turning to try to face her, a fruitless task. "Maybe I still Best Princess pet?"

Moondancer adjusted her glasses as a steamy gust of air escaped her. "You were her pet?"

"Yes, is not bad time." Toby realigned himself with where he thought home was. "Before I speak. Before I think big thoughts. Only want food and hugs. I still like those." A simple smile spread on his face as he resumed his potent bounds through the snow. "Now I know other things, other than food or hugs, just as important. Protect others, learn, teach. I have many good things. So many good things."

Moondancer squeezed him around the neck, hugging him. "You are a very good Tsuki."

Toby felt his cheeks warming. He felt... good. Was that what it felt like to be told in no unclear terms that he was good? He decided he liked it. "I do best..." A thought came and he added, "I be best Toby I can."

"That's the spirit."

They went quiet, but it was a good quiet, not one of those unhappy ones. Toby stopped jumping quite as high as they drew close to where he thought they should be. He started prodding at the snow instead of bouncing, looking for the hole.

"What are you doing?"

"Tsuki home is down. I forget where, is close."

Light shined above him. He could feel magic being used. That light flew past him and swept out across the snow before sinking into it. A moment later, a circle rose up. "There," declared Moondancer with confidence.

"Pony magic," he noted, happy to not have to dig anymore. With a single powerful bounce, he landed right in the middle of the circle and crashed through it. The snow gave way to his mass and both of them plummeted into the darkness beyond. She screamed. Best Princess had been scared of that too, though she had been completely surprised at the time.

Light came quickly into view. They were in the main hall of the Tsuki. Unlike the last time, it was not completely empty. Tsuki were there, working or playing. When the snow they knocked free hit the ground, those near it scattered, letting Toby land without squishing anyone. "I is home!" he declared in a loud happy boom.

"Toby!" came the equally excited cry of a female tsuki. She was at his side in a single hop, but paused where a hug might have been given. She was looking at Moondancer, tilting her head back and forth rapidly.

Moondancer sat up slowly, still shaking from the fall. "Hello... I am Moondancer."

Another Tsuki landed nearby, a male. "Hello Moondancer. Are you Toby's? Is he yours?"

Toby squeaked, catching up with what the tsuki around him were thinking. "She is friend of I." He reached up and gently pulled her free and set her on the ground. "All meet Moondancer. She is good with magic. She teach I magic. She copy big pictures so not lost. She is good pony and helping us."

With the introduction given, the Tsuki crowded around Moondancer, giving warm welcomes. Unlike Toby, they didn't immediately move in for hugs. Instead their warm furry snouts pressed, nuzzling Moondancer from almost every direction they could squeeze in at once, all snuffling at her curiously.

The same doe from before looked around in a wide circle. "Where is Sombra? Not with you?" She suddenly grinned. "We is free?"

Toby blinked at the response. "We is free, yes. Sombra is coming. I is in charge until then."

She pouted at that. "Oh..."

"What is wrong?"

She shook her head. "He is big mean. Biggest meanest!" A few noises of agreement came from the others. "Selene hope you come back, be king. Toby better king."

Toby reared up onto his hind legs, taking a wide stance for stability. "Stop that! Sombra is not perfect. How can be, is not Best Princess, but is not bad. Sombra do good. Sombra get better."

The doe stood up, a little shorter than Toby, but still standing far taller than Moondancer, who decided backing away might be wise. "Even if true, we want Toby king! Toby is Tsuki. Toby is nice. Toby is..." She spread her furry hands wide. "All Tsuki."

Toby shook his head violently enough for his cheeks to flop about in the motion, ears wagging limply. "No no no! Toby help Sombra be better king. Toby under Sombra." He realized he was getting his grammar all fouled up in his frantic worry and took a slow breath as he fell back to all four. "I do best can for Tsuki. Is not bad. Sombra learn, get better. Will make him good king, best king!"

The doe fell forward, staring at him, eyes locked a moment. "Toby is too nice." Before he could object, she smooched him on the nose, then bounced off into the darkness. Toby slumped to his belly. Why had that kiss felt so different than the others he had received?

Moondancer had a pair of Tsuki before her, both grinning. They appeared smaller than either Toby or the doe. "Moondancer help with pictures?" asked one.

"We show!" declared the other, bouncing up and down on its legs without leaving the ground.

"This way!" finished the first, taking a powerful leap.

The second walked more slowly, watching Moondancer. "What Moondancer do with pictures?"

Moondancer reached back with her magic, undoing the clasps that kept her glasses extra secure and tucking them away. "From what Toby has informed me, they are in need of documentation, trans--"

"Moondancer talk funny," said the Tsuki with a giggle. "Why use big words?" Moondancer decided that one was male, sounded like one? He landed in front of her, looking at her directly. "Not can talk small words?"

Moondancer wrinkled her nose. "I will look at pictures, copy them, make notes about them."

The Tsuki bobbed his head. "See, is better. Now understanding."

"Are coming?!" called out the other, already far ahead.

"Is coming!" Replied the one in front of Moondancer.

They arrived, with calmly walking hooves and eager bounces, to the other Tsuki waving a paw frantically at a huge painting/carving in the wall. "See, is here! Moondancer want see, yes?"

Moondancer nodded as she pulled a notepad free, hovering in her magic. "Precisely. I'll begin work with this immed--" She paused, seeing both were looking confused. "I work now." She flashed a big smile, and it was returned. They bounced away and she let the smile fade. "Education can't get here soon enough," she sighed to herself as she looked over the great carving.

It showed a huge moon over a field of dancing Tsuki. Two of them were paw to paw, and another stood in front of them. A Tsuki marriage perhaps? Moondancer shook her head. Assuming meaning would ruin the effort. She thought a moment before the spell came to her. With a bright flash, the image was copied into her notebook. She trotted around to its side. A peek of its contours would be valuable. It seemed a waste to only have a two dimensional snapshot of a three dimensional work.

"What you doing?" came a small voice beside her.

Moondancer hopped with surprise and came down facing the smallest Tsuki she ever saw. A child? They were looking at her curiously. Their ears had not yet grown so large as to flop over. They were trained on her. They had soft white fur with black spots across their pelt. Their horns were black little nubs on their head. "Who you?"

Moonglow tilted her head a bit. The child was cute, as children often were, but she had no expertise in dealing with youth. "Oh, hello... I am Moondancer." She raised a hoof at the picture. "I'm recording this."

"What'sa 'recording'?" The little Tsuki stood up on its hind legs to be closer to eye level with her. "They right, you talk funny."

Moondancer frowned her shaggy brows at the little one, but an idea came to her. The small one had just a little more nuance in their speech, and seemed curious about her words. Should she? She was no teacher, still... "A record is writing about something. The act of making a record is recording. I am making a record." She lowered her notepad so the child could see it. "So even if the original--" She pointed up at the great stone carving. "--is hurt, we have a copy."

"Oh..." The little one took a few waddling steps forward, reaching with their hands for the book. "Let Longhop see?" Moondancer didn't resist and it pulled it free of her magic. "Is good draw. You art maker? Is good... Name Longhop!" Longhop turned away, flipping through the book and peering at the words there, both mundane and magic. "Write lots... You like writing?"

Moondancer followed after the little one. "I do, and reading. Forgive me, but are you a girl Tsuki or a boy Tsuki?"

Longhop half turned back to her. "What is difference?"

Moondancer realized the mine she had just stepped on. "Do you like writing?"

"Longhop not know how write." It tapped at the notebook. "Is words? How put word like this. Word is like this." It put the noteboook down and turned entirely to Moondancer. "Word. Word. Word. See, sound." It nodded with confidence. "No sound there." Longhop pointed at the book. "How word?"

"How to put that..." She settled on her haunches and adjusted her glasses with a hoof. "Oh!" She moved the same hoof to tap her head. "Ever think with words up here? Words only you can hear?"

"Uh huh." He bobbed his head. "I think lots things. You not hear. Is good, not all polite."

Moondancer blinked at that. "Not polite?"

"You look funny. Like Sombra. Are you mean like Sombra? What is you? Not Tsuki. What is thing on there?" They were pointing at Moondancer's glasses. "Why have picture?" The pointing moved to her rump where her cutie mark resided. "Is not polite, so Longhop not ask."

"Thank... you?" Moondancer shook her head. "When you know how words work, you hear inside words up here." She tapped her head. "Then words have sound, sound only you hear."

Longhop looked amazed, jaw hanging free a moment. "It talk with inside voice?! Is magic?"

"One of the oldest magics," easily agreed Moondancer. "And one of the best."

"Toby said you teach magic." Longhop took a cautious step forward. "You teach Longhop how write? Longhop want magic, make inside words."

Author's Note

Welcome to the land of the Tsuki. It seems they are not, as a whole, as happy with the world as Toby.

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22 - First Magic
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What Follows Hugs

22 - First Magic

Toby looked around with a mild frown. "Tsuki see Moondancer?" But they looked confused. "Look like Sombra, but smaller, less mean?" He held up a paw at about her height. "Wear funny thing on face?"

One of the female tsuki raised a paw to wave it down a tunnel. "See funny pony. She talking pups."

Toby perked an ear a moment before it fell. "Talking making pups, talking to pups?"

The female laughed at the question. "To pups. She is pony, what know making pups? Nothing." She suddenly jumped, and was gone, leaving only her trailing merry laugh behind.

With a target, Toby nimbly jumped to just before the tunnel, but there was another tsuki there, the doe that had confronted him on arrival. He bobbed his head at her. "Good see again."

She looked at him in a strange way that he couldn't place. "Toby talk funny, not funny as pony, but... Still funny."

"I not talk--"

"There." She pointed a paw at him. "What 'I'?"

"I for person talking." He thumped himself on the chest. "When talk, I is I. When you talk, I you." He pointed at her. "I learn."

"Toby learn," she agreed, sitting up on her haunches. "What 'you'?" A sudden smile spread on her face. "You is person talk to." She pointed all the more firmly at Toby. "You." She pointed at herself. "I."

Toby's smile grew at the doe's understanding. "Yes! You smart tsuki!"

Celene took a slow step towards Toby. "If smart, why do Sombra ask?"

His smile faded away. "Not want talk."

She crashed against his side. "Need talk! You not king, fine." She snorted angrily. "You talk Sombra. No more talk mean. No more be mean. Sombra king of tsuki? Act like tsuki."

Toby rolled himself back upright from the impact of their furry forms. "Toby... I try." He rose up onto his haunches and put a paw on his chest. "I talk. I make Sombra good king, best king. Sombra happy when not mean anyway."

She met his stance and stepped forward on her great hindpaws. "Make happy then. You happy?" He blinked at her. "You happy?" She repeated, her front coming into contact with his. "Happy?"

Toby considered that. He didn't often worry about how happy he was or was not. He had so many other people to try to make happy. Was he happy?

Moondancer looked over her sudden class. "Allow me to begin by saying I am very proud of you all." She waved a hoof across the assembly of a dozen eager-looking tsuki pups. "I was not even aware I was teaching a class until a few minutes ago, and you're all here and ready to learn."

A small female bounced in place. "Funny words!" The class erupted into giggles of agreement.

Moondancer took off her glasses to polish them. "I will say many funny words, but I will also teach them to you. Language is one of the first magics, and a very powerful one. It brings us together, and lets us create miracles. It allows our long dead to speak words of wisdom to us as if they were in the room, and for us to write messages to the future. There is no greater magic than this. Through words, we are all immortal." The class looked almost equally amazed and baffled.

She understood she had used a great many words they had likely never heard before. It was time to start teaching. "Alright, what was the first word I said that you didn't know?"

A boy pup bounced up and down. "Who you?" He looked to the others. "You?" They all shook their heads. No tsuki present was called 'you'."

Moondancer's smile turned wry. That was as good a place to start as any. She began going over facets of speech, the little things she barely had thought of before then. To her surprise, they were eager little learners. They wanted to know more, they just hadn't been given the chance. They were also well behaved, overall. If she gave them a mean look, they almost instantly backed off.

That was fear. Moondancer felt a tremble run down her spine as she realized it. Her class was well-behaved in part because they had a deep fear of ponies. They were ready for her to turn from teaching to exacting a suitable punishment if one of them angered her. It was great for discipline, but it made her sad to think such young things had to have that fear in their hearts.

She didn't know how to fix that, so she stuck to words. She knew words. Words were comfortable. They could express themselves. They were better at it then she ever was. She thought back on her own life, and the time, that time... that one time she had to express herself, and she failed so miserably. She shut herself away, trying to become lost in the words, to hide from the pain. Twilight's smiling face appeared in her mind. Moondancer knew she could have stopped that pain with a few of those precious words...

"Teacher?" A female pup was waving a paw instead of bouncing, as she had taught. "Are... you... okay?"

Moondancer blinked away tears she hadn't realized were forming. "O-oh, yes. Thank you. Sorry." She dipped her head at the class and cleared her throat. She couldn't change the past. She could change their futures. "I do want to say that you should all be very proud." She peeked over her shoulder, her body facing the chalkboard she had set up. "Don't let anyone, not a single person, say that you aren't all intelligent, clever, and able." She saw a few more paws raising. With a gentle laugh, she explained her compliment to the class.

With a sudden thump, a new tsuki arrived. That was a larger male, adult clearly, but watching her with the same intensity as the little ones.

Moondancer considered saying something, but if an adult wanted to learn, why should she deny the chance? She continued.

The adult had missed the start of the lesson, and whenever he had a question, he spoke without the refinements Moondancer had gone over.

"I," spoke one of the pups.

"You," added another, pointing at the adult.

They corrected him in a cheerful chorus. When he started to look upset, they crowded around and hugged the cheer back into him with heartfelt embraces and eager nuzzles. He didn't learn as quickly as they had, but he had not one, but a dozen teachers ready to bring him up to speed.

"What doing?" asked a doe, peering at the class dubiously.

The adult male turned to her in a short hop. "I--" He glanced at the others, who all nodded in rapid motions. "I am learning new words." He smiled, a big goofy expression. "You want learn?" He pointed at her to make clear who 'you' was before being asked. "Is fun. I have fun."

Moondancer's class began to grow.

"I happy," he said at last. "I happy, make new friends. See new things. Help tsuki. I very happy." Whatever faults there were in his life, he was happy to have it. "You happy?"

Selene flinched back, falling to all fours.

"Not happy?" He fell back to be even with her. "Is okay. Be honest. Toby want help."

She tilted her head. "I... know you want help." She took a cautious step forward. "Always want help. That is Toby. That is you."

"What make not happy?" Tobby advanced and gently nuzzled her round cheek. "You is good tsuki." He could feel her warming beneath his touch. "Is true!"

"What I do so good?" She reared up onto her haunches and crossed her paws, looking at him sternly.

Toby frowned with thought. "You is soft and warm. You is nice. You make I feel funny, good funny, I think... You want tsuki be happy. I want tsuki be happy. I see you with other tsuki, is nice. You come, tsuki smile."

With her blush growing worse, she flopped back to his level. "You see me?"

"I see you." Toby bobbed his head at Selene. "See and like. Why turn red? Is okay?"

Selene's blush only grew more intense even as laughter shook through her. "You is stupid tsuki." Despite her mean words, she suddenly pounced him, hugging him tightly from above even as she held his squirming form down. "Never ask doe why turn red. Is bad. Just once, I say. I turn red because scared. Scared tsuki I like like me."

Toby wriggled about, managing to turn his back to the floor so he could face his pinner. "Why tsuki like you bad? Is good tsuki like you."

She smiled lopsidedly, regarding him. "You like me?"

Toby bobbed his head without guile. "I like you. You is good tsuki. Make me not happy sometimes, but not bad way." He frowned a little, fishing for words to explain his feelings. "You make I think. Is good."

She drove all thought from him. She kissed him, pressing her lips to his with a tilted head. All sound between them faded away as they locked together for a quiet time. He didn't move, his entire body paralyzed in the moment. He didn't understand what he was feeling, or what was going on exactly, but he wanted more of it. Everything about it, from her scent to the feel of her pressed against him seemed right.

He lost all track of time until she drew back. "You is bad kisser." She didn't sound that upset. "I go. Maybe try better later." She glanced away and back at him. "Not practice other does. I see you kissing, you make me not happy." She hopped clear of him with a smooth bound. "I see later." She vanished down one of the many tunnels even as Tsuki rolled back to his feet.

He felt warm and tingly all over. Whatever they had done, kissing? It was an amazing thing. Had he learned another spell? One he couldn't use without making Selene not happy... Though she had said other does. He could kiss a buck? He tilted his head before shaking it. He didn't understand that spell yet. Maybe it would be better if he finished learning it before he rushed to cast it at other tsuki.

He was learning.

Moondancer nodded at the class, which had grown beyond easy counting. The cavern was full of curious faces. "While I'd like to keep teaching, I'm afraid I need to pause for some food and to rest." How long had it been? She couldn't be sure with the sun concealed behind untold amounts of rock.

The class erupted into noise. It seemed her dismissal had broken the magic that held them quiet, and they were all talking to one another about what they had learned. She could hear new words being passed about, usually correctly, though not always. They were eagerly using what they had learned. She put away her chalk and moved to the side.

"Moondancer!" came a familiar voice just before Toby landed beside her. "I found you. What doing?"

Moondancer waved over the slowly dispersing crowd. "I was educating your kin. They are good students, by and large. I'd like to get something to eat. Where do I do that?" What did Tsuki eat, for that matter, though she kept that thought to herself.

"I take to food." He presented his long side. "Get on." Once Moondancer was securely mounted, he started bounding through the tunnels with practice. Moondancer had no idea what route they had taken, bouncing from intersection to intersection without a pause. They all looked the same to her.

They burst free into a new cavern where many tsuki were gathered into circles around mildly raised circles of stone that served as tables.

"Is dining hall," explained Toby as he scouted around mid-hop and came down on a table that only had about six other tsuki. "Can eat." He shook himself gently, prompting her to slide free.

It was meal time.

Author's Note

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23 - Fulfillment
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What Follows Hugs

23 - Fulfillment

Moondancer looked over the table and what food was offered. Mushrooms and potatoes appeared to be the predominant ingredient, but they were cooked in various ways and in sauces mixed with other things. Things that could grow underground were popular, meaning much of it she couldn't immediately identify, but it was devoid of meat, so she figured she could at least give it a try.

With a glowing horn, she felt around for a plate, but didn't see any. "What do you put the food on?"

Toby perked a large ear briefly. "This." He gestured at the circular platform in front of himself jutting up from the table just a precious inch. "Watch." He reached forward and grabbed a handful of goopy food and slapped it down on his serving platform. He shook his furry hand quickly, shaking loose some of the bits and goop all about. "Be fast or get burned."

Moondancer blinked softly. "Why don't you use forks, or spoons?" She eyed the food, imagining countless other paws reaching into it. "This is not very sanitary."

"San-what?" Toby tilted his head a moment before he shook it. "I ask fork and spoon before, Sombra said no."

"Why?"

Toby frowned softly with thought. "He say... is dangerous. Is weapon."

Moondancer glanced between her 'plate' and the food being offered before snatching a cooked but whole potato in her magic. She set it down quickly. Unicorn magic could be hurt by heat as well as any finger. "Your people don't seem inclined towards violence. I think they could be trusted with some forks." A thought struck her. "How do they cook this?" She waved a hoof over the table as a whole.

Another tsuki, a female, suddenly leaned over the table. "I like cooking! Sombra not be mean there. Let us use things. No can touch cooking food with paws." She raised her hands and wriggles the furry digits. "I get tools, make good food!"

Toby nodded quickly. "Is true. Food making tools not allowed outside kitchen. In kitchen, allowed."

Moondancer sat up tall. "This is unreasonable." She gave her potato a gentle poke. "Does his rule only apply to tsuki?" Toby looked confused, and she smiled a little. "Did he say anything about ponies not using forks?"

Toby shook his head. "No, not say anything about that."

"Good." With a twinkle, Moondancer summoned a full dining set for herself on either side of her plate. She plucked up a fork and a knife with her magic and got to slicing into her food, cutting the potato open along its length. "Much better."

A male tsuki seated beside Moondancer leaned over with wide eyes. "How you do that!? Give one for me?"

The female from before nudged him roughly. "Is no allowed. Stop asking for pony to break rules. Not want her punished."

Moondancer got a slice of starchy goodness into her snout after some huffing to cool it down. "Not bad." She glanced to Toby. "Are you allowed to make rules, or just enforce them?"

Toby sat up tall. "When Sombra not here, I am ruler for him."

Moondancer rolled a hoof. "Great, so you don't mind if I give him a fork, do you?"

Toby blinked slowly. "But..."

Moondancer looked at the male with a gentle smile. "Do you promise to use it only for eating food and to not remove it from the dining hall?"

The male raised a paw and crossed his heart with it. "Promise. I not take fork or other things from dining hall, except food. I take food, in here." He patted his belly. "I like that."

Moondancer looked to Toby silently. He squirmed in place a moment before giving a hesitant nod. "Make food eaters, but new rule! No food eaters outside dining hall. Tsuki with food eater outside dining hall is punished. No be bad tsuki."

"No be bad tsuki," echoed the entire room suddenly. Moondancer looked to see that dozens on dozens of eyes were upon them, bearing witness to the new law being decreed.

One bounced to his paws. "I make food eater place." He quickly dug out a hole near one of the entrances with great digging motions of his big paws. "Put food eaters here. Take food eaters here. All food eaters live here when not eating."

A female landed beside him and quickly dug a new hole. "Put dirty food eaters here." She pointed. "Not put dirty food eaters there." She pointed at the first hole. "Take clean food eaters there."

Moondancer nodded towards Toby. "Your people are very eager for their own order. Has Sombra tried letting them set their own rules to an extent?"

The male that shared their table nudged against Moondancer, practically bowling her over with the friendly nudge that would barely phase another tsuki. "Make food eaters now?"

As Moondancer got about crafting multiple forks and spoons in a swirl of pale pink magic, Toby sat up to regard the many tsuki that were crowding around. While many eyes were on the magical pony that was giving them a gift, several approached Toby with smiles.

A jack tsuki bobbed his head. "You give good laws. We--" He gestured around the crowd to make sure the word was understood. "--we obey. We use food eaters here."

A tsuki doe raised a paw suddenly. "I clean."

Another female beside her looked confused. "Clean what?"

"Food eaters."

The second female snorted her spotted nose. "That silly. Tsuki clean food eaters when eat. No good tsuki leave food eater with food on it."

The first shoved the second suddenly. "Not clean! I clean!"

Toby put a paw on either doe, gently seperating them. "No fight. Good tsuki not fight tsuki. No be bad tsuki."

Both does dipped their heads low. "Not be bad tsuki," they echoed in unison before the first sat up on her haunches.

"I clean. Is good for clean."

Toby nodded. "Is good for clean. I eat in pony land. Food eaters always clean. You clean."

"I clean!" she repeated with a joyful smile.

"I help?" offered the second doe, pointing at herself.

"You help." The first hugged the second, their brief spat forgotten.

The first suddenly drew back. "No place to clean." She looked around in a panic. "Need lot water. Need soap."

Toby patted her gently. "Is okay. Tsuki who clean allowed take food eaters to clean, then take back, put in food eater place." He pointed to the hole that had been designated for clean food eaters. "Is okay."

The two does looked pleased and bounced off together, already planning their new duty.

Moondancer let out a weary sigh. Such spells were draining, drawing metal from all around to fashion into crude objects was easy enough when one did it once or twice, but each casting meant there were less trace minerals to draw from. By the time she had a small pile of cutlery, she was panting for breath. A sudden bowl of water slid in front of her, a furry paw behind it pushing it into place.

"You is good pony. Drink?" offered the jack tsuki that owned the paw.

"Drink," she readily agreed, grabbing the bowl in her magic and dipping her snout into it, slurping up the refreshing water. "Thank you," she sighed out, the heat within her fading with the needed break. When her eyes fell to where her work was, she saw it was gone. "What?"

The same tsuki that had given her a drink pointed off to where her many spoons and forks were already scattered into the hole they had dug. Other tsuki were gladly picking up the created instruments, but they didn't seem to quite grasp how to use them.

Some were juggling them around, others were poking their food with them without understanding how to properly hold or employ them.

Two tsuki, a jack and a doe, had begun to play-spar with a set of forks for swords and spoons for shields, vigorously jousting with excited cries, until the doe scored a lucky strike and the tines of the fork reminded the jack that they were not toys at all. He yelped and dropped his weapons, clutching the new wound.

Other tsuki looked over at the alarmed cry and began to clamor around, murmuring and trying to be helpful.

Toby landed among them. "What happen?"

The doe that had struck the telling blow was a short distance from the crowd, her ears as low as they could go as she whimpered out, "I hurt. I bad tsuki."

Toby nudged his way forward towards the hurt jack. "Food eaters for food. Not for play. I wrong trust tsuki be good?"

"Not be bad tsuki," rang out the crowd.

Toby nodded as he looked over the jack's injury. While painful, it hadn't been too awful. Toby nuzzled his kin gently. "You alright. No play that again. Now go." He pointed to the doe. "You both wrong. Say sorry. She say sorry. Not do again, yes?"

"Yes." He nodded to Toby with a little smile. "I dumb. Not do again." He fell to all fours and approached the miserable doe. "We dumb. Not do again? Be good tsuki."

"Not be bad tsuki," agreed the female as she perked up. "Eat with food eaters?"

"Yes." They went off together to get something to eat.

Moondancer approached Toby, glancing off towards the two chastised tsuki. "These are lessons we learn early." Toby shrank. "No no! I mean you have to teach these things right away, not when they are adults." She thought of a class full of adult tsuki learning how to properly use forks and knives. She couldn't help the smirk the image brought, but a new idea came to her.

"Tomorrow, let's show the children how to do it, and they'll show their parents. The children seem to enjoy having things to teach."

Toby perked up at that. "Not show grown tsuki?"

Moondancer put a hoof to her chest. "I think it's important that tsuki learn how to teach as much as they learn how to learn. It will be good for the young and the parents, a community building project of sorts." She nodded with growing confidence. "Besides, you tell a young of any race that they're allowed to correct their parents on something, and they won't pass up the chance."

Toby seemed to consider that a moment before he reared up on his hindlegs. "I not correct parents. Not know parents. Is bad?"

"It's unfortunate," agreed Moondancer. "But you've grown past that. You are your own tsuki, and a good one at that." She adjusted her glasses idly. "For now, I feel I've had a full and productive day. Where do I retire to?"

Toby looked at her blankly a moment before he was nudged from the side. He looked over to see Celene right beside him. "She ask where sleep, stupid." When Toby shrank, she rolled her eyes. "Is okay, you learn. I show lady pony where sleep."

Celene approached Moondancer with a smile. "Hello. I Celene. You Moondancer, yes?" Moondancer nodded stiffly. "Why worried? I good tsuki, and you friend Toby. Mean you friend Celene." She turned, offering her side. "On, like with Toby. I take to sleep."

Toby watched the two bounce away, a goofy smile on his face. Why was he smiling? It hit him. Celene just said they were friends.

Celene rapidly passed through the tunnels, occasionally waving or nudging against another tsuki along the way. She had a smoother gait, leaving Moondancer more opportunity to watch things go by instead of clutching for her life. Their home was dim, but full of happy people.

They had so much room to grow, but she wondered if they would ever get that room with the ruler they had.

Celene leaned to the side, prompting Moondancer to slide off. "Here is sleep place." She waved a paw over the small cave. "Is for you. Is for me. I keep stupid tsuki away." She gave a firm nod. "You have big work. Need good sleep."

"About that." Moondancer sat on her haunches beside a simple cot. "You called Toby stupid."

"Because is stupid." She shrugged softly. "Is true. Is good tsuki. Is stupid. Is stupid good tsuki."

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25 - Back and Forth
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25 - Back and Forth

Moondancer peered through her thick glasses at the carved sections of the wall. Her eyes traced along the damaged lines of what she could only imagine were once detailed pictures laid into the stone. She knew book repair spells, but stone was not paper. Its repair was also another thing entirely. She was not reforging words written into a medium.

She tapped her chin softly before she raised her book. With a strong glow, she began dutifully copying the art into her book from several angles as best she could. "We need someone more artistic to decipher this."

"Trouble?" came the smooth and dark tones of Quick Stroke as he rose from nothing beside Moondancer.

Moondancer hopped aside away from him, adjusting her glasses a moment. "Things are proceeding as well as they can. I will document what I find, as promised." She tapped the book floating beside her. "It will fall on others to discern it."

With a soft thump, a tsuki landed beside Moondancer. Celene pointed at the floating book. "What doing?"

Quick snarled at her. "We were speaking. Know your place."

Celene slid between Moondancer and Quick. "I protect good pony, is my place. What yours?"

Quick's eyes rolled in imperfect unison in a disquieting display. "I am the right hoof of Lord Sombra."

"Is not true." Celene huffed at him, matching his frown.

Moondancer circled around her. "What's not true? Let's keep this civil."

Celene thrust a paw at Quick. "Toby is second tsuki, not him."

Quick's frown gave way to a confident smile. "Toby is head tsuki, as you would say, but ponies are above tsuki." He put one hoof on the other to demonstrate. "Sombra is the highest pony, and I am beneath him."

Celene turned away from him. "Not waste time unsmart pony. Moondancer, is need anything?" She reached back into a small pouch that was tied around her middle and drew out a little covered bowl. "I brought food."

Moondancer's magic flowed around the bowl, lifting it gently. "Thank you. I'm fine." A thought struck her and she pointed at the wall. "Does this art mean anything to you?"

Celene turned to look at it, eyes sweeping back and forth. "Old tsuki tell stories."

Moondancer clapped her hooves together in a single loud clop. "Oral traditions! Of course! Will you share those stories with me?"

Quick raised a hoof to wave it through the air. "Yes, regale us with the tales of your people." He sank to his haunches. "This should be amusing."

Celene glanced at Quick, but her eyes were largely on Moondancer. "Share later, yes? Hear Toby call." Without waiting for reply, she bounded, gone into the darkness with only the increasingly distant sounds of paws striking the stone.

Moondancer turned to regard her fellow pony. "You should treat them with the respect you want them to have for themselves. It is in nopony's interest to--"

"--I have no interest in your pathetic mewlings." Quick held up a hoof, blocking their eyes from meeting. "You are beneath me, a mere servant."

Moondancer could feel fire building in her, but she counted silently to ten instead of screaming at the stallion. "I have work to do."

"I'm glad you realize that." He faded into darkness and was gone.

She was able to record several more pieces before she heard the quiet but specific sound of congealing shadow. "What is it?" she asked in an irate tone.

"That is hardly the manner I expected to be greeted in." It was Sombra, stepping up beside her. "They used to waste many hours on these, producing nothing."

Moondancer spun towards him. "Wait, what?!"

Sombra lifted an ear towards her. "I said, they used to waste many hour on these." He gestured at the engraved pillar she was studying. "It was a worryingly large part of their daily routine."

Moondancer crashed to her haunches. "Why did you stop them?"

"Is it not obvious?" He snorted, a plume of dark magic escaping his mouth. "They accomplished nothing. Look at how much they've managed now, letting go of such childish obsessions."

Moondancer held up a hoof at the pillar. "Did you forbid them from ever working on them?"

"Yes, of course." He sounded as if it would be madness to do anything else. "Why?"

She shook her head quickly. "Then they probably know what these mean, or have some idea, and this is part of their culture." She crossed her arms across her chest with a huff. "You should let them work on it if they want."

"I should allow them to slide back into nothing? I should think not." Sombra shook his head. "They are better now. Soon we will rival, then eclipse the pony kingdom, then the world entire." He laughed with building pride. "You can see it, the potential in them, in us?"

Moondancer raised a thick brow. "They are... wonderful people, but they are people. An hour a day to themselves to do as they please, provided it doesn't harm anyone else. This is a basic requirement."

"A waste of time." He scowled at Moondancer. "What do you know of timetables?"

"I know a few theories." She raised a hoof to tap her chin. "I've read a few books on effec--"

Sombra put a hoof on hers, lowering it. "What do you know?" he repeated firmly.

Moondancer shrank away. "I know a pony that is given some freetime will more than make up for it when they're working. They're your people, not your slaves. Let them live."

Sombra reached out just as a tsuki landed, putting a hoof on them before the jack could bounce away. "You. Are you alive?"

The jack looked baffled. "Yes?"

Moondancer rolled a hoof. "What is your hobby?"

The tsuki reared up onto his hindlegs, squatting in place. "Hobby?"

"What do you like to do that isn't your job?" pressed Moondancer, adjusting her glasses. "What are your goals?"

He pointed at Sombra. "Not make angry. Meet nice tsuki. Make more tsuki."

Sombra frowned a little. "And your goals do not... align?"

Moondancer warmed in her cheeks. "I should think not! I'm... I mean..."

The jack tsuki reached and patted Moondancer right on her head. "Not worry. Find nice jack pony soon."

Moondancer awkwardly smiled at the large male tsuki. "Thank you." Her eyes returned to Sombra. "He has a goal, but it's anemic. He wants to do the utter basic of living, and avoid pain. He should be able to aim higher than that." Moondancer suddenly clopped her hooves together as inspiration struck. "You won't strike fear into the hearts of those that spurned you."

"I won't?! Why not?" Sombra's attention was fully engaged. "Tell me."

Moondancer pointed at herself. "Freedom to explore their own interests is what can lead to unexpected innovations. Remember the doe, yesterday? She had that spell? No one showed her how to do that. She broke your rules and practiced it herself after watching Toby and I. Give them room and they'll continue to amaze you, and bring forth their results, ready to impress you, and the world."

"Mmm..." Anger simmered in him. That doe had broken his rules? Terrible. But her magic was clearly useful, and he wanted it. Punishing her would not help... "Very well... But I will be expecting results." He turned to the jack. "Spread the word. One hour before mealtime is to be spent as you please, provided no harm is done." He waved a hoof at the wall. "Carve, practice magic, do whatever you wish." His voice made it clear that practicing magic was a far better option.

"Yes!" He bounded off quickly, shouting the news as he went.

Moondancer sagged. One hour was hardly ideal, but compared to none, it was a huge difference. A little step in the right direction. "Sombra."

He glared at her. "King Sombra."

She flinched before coughing into a hoof. "Yes, King Sombra, sorry. You could use this time yourself."

"I have little need for hobbies."

She rolled a hoof. "Everyone can use a little practice, and you'll impress them, keep them loyal. Show them what you can do, and maybe they'll want to show you what they can do, and you'll both learn something from it."

"Mmm." Sombra frowned a moment before nodding at Moondancer. "Worth consideration. Continue your task." He was gone in a steak of purple and green smoke, leaving her alone.

Toby smiled at Celene. "Is good?"

"Is bad." She shook her head. "Moondancer is good, do stupid things. Sombra says so."

Tsuki tilted his head. "Sombra good?"

"Sombra bad!" She shoved against him. "Toby not listening!" She reared up and put a paw on his head between his horns, pressing him down to the ground. "Toby! Is listening?"

"Is listening," agreed Toby even as he squirmed away and reared up to be on her level. "Stop call Sombra bad. Sombra good. Sombra get better! Sombra friend. Friend help friend." He waved his paw back and forth as if pointing at someone not there and at himself. "

Celene pointed at Toby directly. "Is Toby friend?"

"Celene, Toby, friends, yes." He bobbed his head quickly, ears flopping about.

Celene came down to all fours. "Then Celene listen. Toby say Sombra be good..." She huffed. "Celene no agree, but watch."

As if on cue, excited shouting passed by a tunnel near the room they were in, announcing the hour of freetime. Toby looked pleased. "See, Sombra be better. Help Sombra be better."

Celene poked him right on the nose. "Want Toby help Celene be better."

Toby blinked at that. "How help Celene?"

She ran her paw up his cheek to his horns. "How glow? How magic? Show Celene."

Toby smiled. "Is good trick, will show." He turned for the archway. "Meet before food, practice?"

"Is date." She brushed up against his side as she bounced past, despite the fact that he was sure there was plenty of room for her to go around.

Toby watched her go and sat down on his haunches, trying to figure her out. "Why act funny?" he asked the air.

"Is Toby?" A jack tsuki peeked his head around the corner. "Is! Toby Toby!" He bounced up closer. "Show how do magic!"

Toby blinked. "Just ask that."

"Did?" The jack looked baffled. "Not remember. Say yes?"

"Yes, before food."

The jack smiled brightly and took off in a flash with a delighted cheer.

Toby realized a moment later his error and put a paw over his eyes. He had promised two tsuki to show how to do magic. Oh well! "Make class. Show all tsuki who want know." He nodded at himself and leaped out into the hallway. There was work to be done, and he wasn't getting it done in his room.

Quick emerged from the shadows beside Sombra from their raised platform where they could watch the flow of their subjects beneath them. "Dissent brews, m'lord."

Sombra quirked an ear at his assistant. "Does it?"

"It does. They do not well hide their dislike. They fear you, but not intensely enough. When they think they are free from being watched, they disobey. They speak in the hallways instead of working. They sneak food outside of scheduled times. Their sins are many. Shall I bring one for proper punishment? We can make a fine example of him, return their rightful fear."

"It has been suggested, by the visitor, to allow for--"

"--and you listen to her? She will make you soft, m'lord." He shook his head like a disappointed parent.

Sombra turned on him, hackles rising. "Things have changed."

"They have... Perhaps not all for the better." Quick sighed softly. "Do not lose your edge, m'lord. Your strength will carry you forward, not sympathy for your tools."

Sombra puffed out his chest. "Who is your king?!" he bellowed out to the tsuki below.

They fell en masse, laying themselves prostrate before their dark lord.

Sombra gestured. "Even the ponies would have taken longer. They are good subjects."

Author's Note

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26 - Might and Magic
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26 - Might and Magic

Toby took over one of the classrooms. It wasn't hard. When a class wasn't being given in it, he just hopped in and it was his to do with as he pleased. The other tsuki didn't usually argue with him, except Celene.

Celene was good at arguing with him.

He looked over the tables and the stage at the front of the room, considering what would help with the demonstration. Then it hit him. "Moondancer!"

"Yes?" The named mare was just walking in with perfect timing. "I was hoping to find you."

Toby hopped up and came down facing her. "Is good see you too. Need magic for class." He waved a paw over the room. "Will show how glow, need magic for better glowing."

"Ah." Her horn began to glow softly. "I forget, reflection is the key to your magic."

"Yes, key, unlock for other tsuki." Toby seemed pleased with the comparison. He focused on the glowing of her horn and his fur began to shine softly with the same light, absorbing and reflecting the magic in a pale pink color. "Stay for class please?"

Moondancer lifted an ear. "It's almost free time, have you heard? You should be relaxing."

Toby tilted his head. "Rule is can practice magic, we practice magic. Not want practice magic?"

Moondancer stepped closer. "Nothing wrong with practicing magic, but is this what you all want to do?"

"Is what Toby wants." He bobbed his head eagerly. "Show others how glow, is good."

Moondancer sat and regarded her large friend. "Sombra has taught you all a solid work ethic." She didn't sound completely certain that was a good thing, but she didn't argue it. "If this is what you want. I'll help."

"Thank you!" He grabbed her up and hugged her firmly. Ponies were so fun to hug.

A soft thumping of a paw on the stone made him look up to see Celene looking at him oddly. Was she angry? She looked upset in some way he couldn't identify. "Hello Celene!" he eagerly greeted, putting Moondancer down. "Moondancer help teach magic, is good. Ready to learn?"

Celene cleared the space in the room in one smooth jump. "You stupid tsuki." Her attention was more focused on Moondancer. "You not. He mine. We make clear. Mine, yes?"

Moondancer was not the sharpest social tack, but she caught on quickly enough. "I assure, our interest is purely professional, and that of friends. I... have no interest in anything beyond that." She adjusted her thick glasses nervously. "Are you ready for the class?"

Celene sat back on her haunches. "Class?" She looked to Toby. "Not teach me?"

Toby looked confused. "Yes teach. Teach magic, how glow."

Celene waved a paw at all the seats. "No need class teach me."

The same jack tsuki that had first asked poked his head into the class. "Found him! Toby here!" He was pushed into the classroom by other eager tsuki, half-filling the room with bright eyes and excited little whispers.

Toby tapped his paws together with the soft puff of padded fur. "Other tsuki want learn, will teach."

Celene showed several emotions that Toby struggled to grasp. He was fairly certain she was upset about something. "Said is date! Toby! Is impossible."

Moondancer cleared her throat into a hoof. "Celene?"

"What?" She darted her head to face Moondancer, looking all the more agitated.

"Can we... talk? Mare to doe?" She gestured away with her horn and walked towards a corner of the room.

Celene hesitated, but easily made up the distance with a bounce. "What want?"

Moondancer moved a hoof up and down. "Quietly. Look, I know what you were trying to do, but Toby is anything but subtle. If you wanted to be alone, you have to say that. Did you tell him it would be alone?"

Celene thought back to when they had set the date. "Not... say that..." She sank to the ground. "Stupid Celene."

"Not stupid," countered Moondancer even as a blush formed. She was starting to sound like them. "Stay. You'll hurt his feelings otherwise. He wants to do good, by you, by them." She glanced up at the waiting classroom. "Pay attention and try your best. It'll impress him."

Celene's expression brightened. "Think work? Okay! Celene watch and learn. She will be first to glow in class."

Toby watched the two females talk quietly, and saw Celene seem to cheer up, which made him smile. She was cuter when she was smiling. He felt warmth in his cheeks. He never worried much about how cute a female was, and there he was, casually doing it. Celene made him feel funny, but he still wanted more of it. He wondered if other tsuki got so confused about things like that. "Class, is ready learn?"

The response was a unified call of excitement, many furry bodies bouncing in place before settling down with a wave of settling floppy ears, all eyes on Toby and Moondancer. He smiled at them all. "Is good. Tsuki magic is special, not like pony magic. Moondancer know magic, show."

Moondancer dipped her head towards the class and shed light from her horn. She spied an extra bit of chalk just laying there and grabbed it in her magic, making it float about the room in a demonstration of basic unicorn magic.

"Pony magic come from horn." Toby pointed at the glowing horn. "Tsuki magic come from everything else!" He reared up just to spread his paws widely as if to encompass the world. "Not inside, outside. We ref... um..." He frowned, that word liked to escape him. "Make magic bounce!" The class seemed to grasp that concept. Bouncing was a thing they did. "Magic bump us, we bounce it back."

Things grew quiet as Toby began to glow, echoing Moondancer's glow as if he were a mirror. The patterns of the glow even changed when he turned or she moved, as if he were made of glass and were reflecting the magic. "Is magic of tsuki. Is magic of you! With practice, do more, but glow is start." He showed off a little, taking the glow and drawing it up into his hand. He bounced it from one paw to the other, playing with the mote of power before he grabbed it on the way down and it exploded across his form, glowing evenly a moment before it settled back into its reflection. "Practice."

The class did just that, eagerly trying to reflect Moondancer's glow as Toby had done.

One spot of light shone long before the others. Celene was shimmering, not just with Moondancer's glow, but with other hues that danced along her pelt. Her eyes were on Toby quite directly. "Look, is working. I work hard."

Toby clapped his paws together eagerly. "Is good! How learn so fast? Take Toby... long time get right."

Moondancer coyly smiled, but kept her thoughts to herself.

"Practice hard..." Celene stepped closer, shedding many lights off the walls with her approach. "Want Toby show how do more." She leaned in and nuzzled his ear, whispering into it, "Alone."

Toby felt a burning heat rage through his cheeks. It was a simple request, why was he feeling that way?

The class knew better than Toby, bursting into cheers and cat calls from students of either gender. They clearly knew what was happening, and were cheering it on.

"Um, alone, yes... Have finish class, yes?" He glanced up at the cheering classroom. "Is good, Celene. You good student." He reached and pat her right on the head as so many others had done to him when he did well. "Good tsuki. I is very proud." Oh, how sweet it was. He had made her blush for a change. He hadn't expected it to feel so nice, but warmth in his core echoed the warmth in her cheeks. He had done something right, he decided.

Moondancer smiled brightly at the two of them. "Celene, if you're feeling up for it, I'm sure Toby would appreciate if you could help instruct the class. Two tsuki that know how to glow can more easily demonstrate the process."

Celene shook her head a little. "She use big word, but is not wrong. Celene will help the class, help Toby." She bumped against him before bouncing up into the class to give a helping paw.

Sombra nodded at Quick Stroke. The gesture was returned and both stallions snapped into a battle stance, bodies tense and horns crackling with dark magic.

Many tsuki gawked at the two. One whispered to another. "They fight? Not happy?"

"Fight, because happy."

"How that work?"

"Shhh. Watch!"

Quick Stroke lunged forward with a sword of magic that Sombra met with a horn and turned aside just as grasping shadow claws emerged from the stone to grab at Quick, but Quick was already leaping out of the way of it. "Excellent attempt, sir."

Sombra smiled. It had been some time since he had a proper spar. "You have seen nothing, yet." Darkness rolled off of his armored form in all directions, dimming the lights.

"You shant intimidate me with a little shade, m'lord. You know where I lived." He flicked his head, a ball of green-purple magic angrily simmering just in front of it. "And I have learned a few... tricks."

A single mote? Sombra felt he could laugh, but instead focused on turning the darkness towards Quick. It would not be as easy to dodge what was already all around him. The dark itself folded into sharpened points, collapsing towards the cocky unicorn.

It did not remain a single mote. With a turn, it became two, then four, then eight. By the time Quick was facing away from him, there was a line of them, and he lashed out his hooves in a great buck, sending them flying with the angry shrieking of the damned. His moment of glory was short-lived as a needle-sharp but nigh-invisible folded bit of shadow bit into his side.

Sombra ducked beneath one and rolled past another, but there were too many, and they seemed to hunger for him specifically. With a dull grunt, he took the fourth to his chest. "An impressive trick, but it lacks punch."

Quick brushed the folded shadow away. "Neither of us wish to truly harm the other, I should think, m'lord. A cunning strike. Shall we continue?"

"We shall."

Some tsuki fled the display of shadow magic, but more joined the crowd, gaping at the fierce exchange of combat magic between the two unicorns. One tsuki watched them quite intensely, eager to show a trick he had just learned. He focused as hard as he could, and it happened.

He began to glow with the greens and purples of their magic. The glows danced and wobbled with their spells and their dodges. Each time one made a movement, the glows struggled to keep up. He was not as practiced as Toby, the glows more like rough blobs in the vague direction of the combatants, rather than precise reflections.

Quick smirked at the show. "I should wonder." He formed a fiery ball of angry shadow magic between his hooves. "Catch!" He flung it at the shining tsuki without a moment of delay.

The Tsuki was too busy focusing on his new trick, unaware of the angry magic approaching him. All of the others around him fled with strong bounces, leaving him alone to face the attack.

Sombra hesitated in his moment, watching the ball approach his helpless subject, but it was too far. He couldn't do much to prevent it but grit his teeth.

It struck the tsuki and he squealed in surprised pain, but the ball bounced off the rough patch of reflection, not harming him nearly as much as it could have.

The reflected ball struck Sombra in the shoulder in an instant, catching him by surprise.

Quick looked deeply amused by the whole thing. "Your subjects do have their uses, m'lord."

Author's Note

Lessons are learned by many today, I think. This story won the vote for bonus chapter on the patreon, so everyone gets to enjoy another chapter!

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27 - Boundaries
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What Follows Hugs

27 - Boundaries

Quick strode slowly down a darkened hallway in no particular hurry. It was some muted surprise that two tsuki stood on their hindlegs, blocking the way forward. "Move aside," he angrily barked as he approached.

"Make me," said the doe on the left.

"Make me," echoed the jack on the right.

"Make us," came a chorus as four other tsuki bounced into position behind quick.

Pressing between the four came Celene, looking to Quick with a judging look. "We challenge you."

Quick turned towards her at no great pace. "How quaint. Did Moondancer put you up to this? An intriguing coup."

Celene's nose wrinkled. "We do what we want." She thumped her chest. "We like Toby, so do as Toby says. Toby likes Sombra, we put up with him. He get better." She leveled a finger at Quick. "Toby not like you. You not getting better. We challenge you."

Quick rolled his eyes with the same languid slowness. "And what manner of challenge do you think you can best me in? Will you have me play one of your primitive games?"

Celene smiled at him. "No, we play your game. We play it, and win." She fell to all fours, body tense. "We spar. You. Me. You crush me, try best. Crush, and tsuki obey you. Is true, yes?"

The other tsuki bobbed their heads and voiced their agreement, but one jack thrust up a paw. "You not beat her!"

"At least this..." He raised a hoof towards Celene. "This, this I understand. Very well, we will battle." He brought up his other hoof as he leaned back, striking them together with a dark crackle of shadow magic. "I will crush this little rebellion as I have so many others."

Celene breathed slowly and deeply as her fur shimmered increasingly, echoing the faint magical traces in the area. "You can try."

"There will be no attempt." He brought down a hoof in a vicious swing, green and purple flames ripping along either side of the motion as he tore a hole in the fabric of the air. The void left behind swung with the force of the swing, flying at Celene with the shrieking of the damned.

Celene was perfectly still until it was almost on her, then thrust out a paw as she reared up. Her fur sizzled and she was forced back an awkward reverse-hop, but she held the magic between her paws, it angrily spitting and hissing with the desire to kill. "Thank you." She brought her paws together, smashing the magic. It was not destroyed.

The magic splashed across her as she had seen Toby do, quickly engulfing her form in purples and greens. The smell of her fur burning became more noticeable as she fell back to all fours. "Now you pay."

Some of the other tsuki murmured concerns quietly to one another, but Quick only laughed at it. "You are doing my work for me, pathetic beast." He raised his head, horn smouldering with new magic. "You'll make this too easy."

Celene gave a toothsome grin, the dark magic even running along her great chompers. "Do your worst."

His magic exploded out in all directions, snuffing the light from the area and plunging it all into inky darkness. He was about to laugh when something beat him to it.

Celene deeply chuckled, her eyes opening as two orbs, the rest of her concealed by the shadow magic that had engulfed her. "You are... easy to guess."

"Predictable, you oaf." Quick launched himself into the air, becoming little more than shadow himself. "And now we fight on my terms."

Celene did not reply. She faded from view as her eyes closed. Against the nightmarish backdrop, her crackling pelt was practically invisible. She was not there when Quick sent an angry bolt of magic through the space she had been, though he heard the grunt of some tsuki being struck with it, and he smiled.

Thus it went. Every time he saw a sign of her, he blasted, and struck something, giving rise to a harmony of pained grunts and squeaks. It was soothing, in a way, but not productive. "Enough." With grit teeth he turned to where he thought she was. "We end this, now."

"I agree." Her eyes opened, and her form came into clear relief as the shadow began to run into her. The darkness was banished, called up into her form that fizzed and burnt fiercely. "This ends. Now." She was twice as large as she had started, the extra mass entirely composed of the angry shadows. "Last words?"

Quick opened his mouth to speak, but Celene was not Toby. Celene did not wait for him to speak. Celene never intended to. She was on him in a sudden terrible lunge. Her teeth found him despite his being a shadow. Her claws raked, her mass bore him to the ground. She was a wild animal and all her pain and suffering was vented out into him with increasing violence.

The tsuki watching collectively flinched, most looking away from the scene. She got her teeth into one of his flailing legs and pulled and pulled. His screams got louder with each tug, but she was not letting go. With a final wail, she pulled it free entirely. There was no blood or gore. It was as much shadow as the rest of him, and it faded away, leaving him without it.

Celene shoved the rest of his form away, leaving him curled and shaking. "You lose. Say it." He did not say anything and she took a slow step forward. "Say it!"

"I'll not give you--" His choked words were not allowed to finish. Celene was on him, her teeth at his throat. "Will you kill me?"

"Yes!" She clenched, bearing down on a throat that a shadow should not have. "Say it! I not Toby. I kill you!"

With the clang of metal on stone, Sombra made his presence known. "Stop." He did not shout. He had no need to.

Celene released Quick and hopped away from his broken form. "Sombra. Is good see."

Sombra raised a brow at Celene before looking across at the other tsuki in the area. "Is it? Is this not a rebellion? It certainly appears to be one."

One of the jacks pointed at Quick's puddle of shadow. "He is one not want. Sombra is king."

A doe added. "Good king, get even better."

A third smiled at Sombra. "We keep Sombra."

Celene thrust a paw at Quick. "Not keep him."

Quick pulled himself together quite literally, amassing his shadow and forming flesh once more, though he seemed to still be missing one of his forelegs. "These murderous beasts have attacked your most loyal, m'lord. They need to be punished."

Sombra smiled at his former sceneshal. "I seem to recall you testing one of them earlier. Were they returning the favor?"

Quick scowled at that. "A moment of pain does not compare to being dismembered!"

Sombra waved a hoof over the crowd. "Which of these terrible beasts hurt you so severely?"

Quick pointed with his horn at Celene. "That one, that bloody Doe."

"I recognize that one..." Sombra stepped towards her. "A troublemaker... A rabble-rouser... And one that has eyes on my second in command."

Celene drew herself tall, rearing up to put her paws on her hips. "I Celene. Toby is mine, starting to know that." The other tsuki nodded with easy acknowledgement, knowing even more than Toby that he had been claimed by the doe.

"Yes, Celene... Did you do this?" He gestured to the injured pony.

"She did," hissed Quick Stroke. "Inexcusable!"

Sombra grinned, a feral display of teeth far too sharp for a pony to have normally. "Can you show others how to do that?"

Celene pricked her ears. "Am already doing that. Magic classes. Tsuki magic. Not angry?"

Sombra shook his head. "I should think not."

Quick sputtered indignantly. "B-but, m'lord!"

Celene released the shadow around herself and it fled away. She was revealed, naked. Most of her fur had been burned away, her skin was burned and charred in places. The feat she had performed had not come easily, or free. "Toby is right, you not bad king. Get better."

Other tsuki rushed forward, grabbing up Celene in a mass of concerned noises. They bore her away without being asked or asking in turn. Sombra allowed them to do so.

Quick looked away from the receding crowd. "You would forgive her so easily?"

Sombra raised a hoof and set it on Quick's shoulder. "And if you had won, would you expect me to not forgive you? You did not seem ready to deal a light blow to her."

Quick flinched. "Wait, you knew?"

"I watched the entire exchange," admitted Sombra. "It would seem my new subjects have more depth, and capability, than I had originally thought... You do not even understand it."

"I understand that Celene is dangerous." He scowled at his lord. "She is a threat, to you, and all you've built."

"You really have no idea..." Sombra looked to each spot a tsuki had been sitting in. "She did not defeat you, not alone. Each strike you fired blindly was caught by another and reflected to her. She collected them despite the obvious discomfort and pain. She returned all of your attacks back onto you in a terrific series of blows." His smile suddenly grew. "None shall dare attack me. Their efforts will be returned, with interest. All will fear displeasing me."

Quick rose as tall as he could with his missing leg. "If you heard them, then you heard the truth. They aren't yours. They belong to Toby. Sire, their loyalty is true, but is directed at another."

Sombra softly snorted. "And Toby is mine. It is a chain of command. My commands will be followed, and have been. Toby's wants align with mine, and we will see this kingdom grow mightier than all others." He turned to Quick. "Or, have you forgotten how such simple things work? Your time in the shadow appears to have softened you."

Quick scowled at the accusation. "Never have I been stronger!"

"And yet, still defeated..." Sombra turned away. "You would do well to learn from your mistakes. You are not priceless, Quick Stroke. Move with the times, or be crushed by them. If I have learned nothing else, it is that. I will not scorn my people for encouraging me onwards. They wish to see me at my best, and that is a goal that we will never reach, and so they should never stop crying for it. 'Be better', they say, always... Always be better, Quick. There is hope yet, perhaps."

He strode away, his shoes ringing against the stone in a slowly descending volume, leaving Quick to his thoughts.

Quick growled softly, sinking in place. He felt pain he had not felt in quite some time. He felt a reminder that he, too, was a mortal, and could die. He was not a god. He could be replaced. The tsuki were ready to do it.

He did not like it. He peered down at where a leg should be. She had maimed him, taken some of his strength... How was he to rise?

With an angry hiss, he faded into shadow, and was gone down the tunnel he had originally planned to travel.

Author's Note

A little short of 2k, but I felt all the needed notes had been struck. What will become of Quick Stroke? What should become of him? I look forward to your musings.

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28 - Frozen Diplomacy
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What Follows Hugs

28 - Frozen Diplomacy

Toby landed with enough momentum, he skidded, bumping into the cushioned bed, striking a paw against the stone foundation of it. He held back his cry of pain with clenched teeth, instead straightening himself out and looking over the form on the bed. "What happen?" It was, perhaps, a silly question. He had been told what happened.

Despite that, he looked to the sleeping form of Celene with building concern. "She alright?"

Moondancer shook her head. "I'm not a doctor, but she's going to need to rest. I don't think she's in trouble, besides that."

"Is that dumb dumb?" asked a sleepy female voice, Celene shifting slightly with a pained groan. "Come here, dummy."

Toby looked at her with a blank expression, confusion growing.

"Come here," sher repeated. "Toby, come."

"Oh!" He was quick to move into her reach. "Why not say name?"

Celene shook her head a mere inch, a shaking paw reaching for him. "Come, sleep, shut up."

He slid in beside her, at first on the blanket. She fixed that, snuggling up with him beneath it. "Do it for you," she whispered hoarsely.

Toby wanted to ask why, but her breathing had become smooth and even. She was asleep. He was trapped.

Moondancer put a hoof gently on his shoulder. "This is all more political than I am accustomed to, but your people have made their will quite clear."

"They have?"

"They follow you, Toby." Moondancer shook her head. "You are their ruler. They follow Sombra because you say to."

Toby looked over his shoulder, barely getting a peek at Moondancer. "What happen Celene fur? She look funny."

"She was hurt, proving that point." Moondancer sat on her haunches beside the bed. "Toby, you have to accept your responsibility."

"I accept lot responses." He canted his head a little. "What not doing?"

"I will say it." She put a hoof to her chest. "Since I have the words. You need to know you are their leader. You have to act like you are their leader. Whatever arrangement you have with Sombra, that doesn't negate this point. Either take up the mantle, or decline it, formally. Being half-in won't help a single tsuki."

"Treachery!" Shadow slipped into the room before forming into the shape of a three-legged pony. "I knew I had only to wait for this to become clear."

Toby craned his head, struggling to see the new pony, but there were only a few ponies it could have been, and he recognized the voice. "Quick? What saying? Is something wrong?"

Quick blinked softly at the covered form of Toby. "Even now you astound me with your... simpleness... She plots against Sombra! She has admitted it, plainly."

"Is not what I hear." Toby slowly turned away from Celene, not leaving her grasp as he rotated his body around in a slow roll. "Sombra smarter, I listen Sombra. Tsuki say I smarter. Tsuki listen to me. Is good. Listen more, fight less."

Quick took a slow step forward, his form unsteadily supported on his three remaining legs. "You listen to her, trust her--" His eyes were on Moondancer, glaring at her in the darkness of the bedroom. "--She has handed you the keys to a kingdom, and you will share the throne without hesitation?"

Toby wrinkled his snout. "I not best at king thing. I get better. Sombra know how king, but is not perfect. He get better. We get better." He reached out a paw and waved it about. "All get better. Tsuki not do much for too long. We fix, get better."

The room darkened further as another shape blocked the light from outside. "A noble appeal," spoke Sombra. "She is well?"

Celene grunted as if annoyed at the noise and pulled Toby closer.

Moondancer nodded towards the motion. "I think she will be fine. I've completed my catalog." With a magical pop, a book appeared hovering before her. "I made two copies. I'll take one with me for further examination by others who are more experienced in this line of work." She set the floating book down on a small end-table.

Quick raised a brow at her. "You had time during your machinations?"

Sombra waved him away. "Unlike you, some focus on getting things accomplished. Quick Stroke, I would speak with you."

"You had but request it, m'lord." He bowed as awkwardly as a pony with three legs would entail, his remaining foreleg trembling under the weight it supported alone.

"Follow." Sombra melted into shadow. The book was snatched away with a long thin extension of the gloom, then the entire mass darted out of the door. Quick was a moment behind.

Moondancer watched them go before dipping her head towards Toby. "I should go too."

"Follow?" he asked with a quizzical expression.

"Not with them," she assured gently. "I should go home. I've done what I promised, and your people are ready to climb on their own now."

"Oh..." He felt sadness build rapidly. He had grown used to Moondancer's presence. But his home was not her home. He knew that, even if he would rather it not be true. "Moondancer... you. You... are..." every word he spoke was slow, picked carefully with clear thought on his face. "are... welcome. You... will... visit? us!" He had added the last word, realizing he had forgotten it. "Please. We love you."

Moondancer's snout darkened red before she realized what sort of love was being used. "I love you all too." She pointed to the slumbering tsuki behind Toby. "She loves you a little extra. Be good to her." She turned to go, stepping for the door. "You can visit too, if you have some time between being king. The next time you negotiate a deal with Celestia, be sure to stop by. I look forward to hearing of the wonderful things you accomplish."

Toby watched Moondancer leave, his eyes growing wet. Why couldn't the people he liked just stay with him forever? He mentally answered the question quickly, because they were alive, and had dreams, and goals, and wanted to do things. The very things that made them people he loved so much were exactly why they had to go. They were people, good people.

Good people supported one another, but had to stand firm on their own. He twitched an ear at a soft noise from Celene.

She wouldn't go. Her goal was him. He was starting to understand the idea. It was... good. She would not leave him. He would not leave her. They would be together, even as the world changed around them. He quietly turned to her and returned her hug.

He'd have to teach her not to get into fights though...

Sombra gestured towards the other end of a long hall they had arrived in. There, lit in a shaft of light from above, was an ornate-looking box on a raised circular platform. "A gift, Quick. A gift, from my people. They requested that I be the one to present it, and I gladly accepted it."

Quick looked at it with a mixture of scornful doubt and expected attack. "What 'gift' could they possibly offer?" He took a step towards it.

"Are you afraid of them?" asked Sombra with a little smile, enjoying the discomfort on display. "Go on. It is given in good spirit."

"As you say..." He faded to shadow and slipped across the room quickly. As a puddle of gloom, he was not slowed for lack of a leg. He rose beside the box and reached his good hoof for it, feeling it. "Where did they even get the wood? There are no trees down here, m'lord."

"They purchased it," replied Sombra, sounding proud. "They established a trade line without prompting and exchanged goods to secure it, just for this gift."

His horn glowed and the box glowed sympathetically. It folded upwards smoothly on crystal hinges, revealing a smooth interior with a pony's leg, cast in crystal. The roof of the box slammed down as Quick fell backwards. "Is this a sick joke?!"

"Far from it." Sombra walked closer at a sedate pace, in no great hurry.

"They've made a trophy of what I've lost!" He pointed his remaining forehoof at it. "Your people are crueler than I gave them credit for!"

"That is not for them." The box opened under his magic, and the leg hovered free. "It is for you. They wish to replace what they have taken from you."

Quick glared at the hovering leg. "How could they even dream of getting it--"

"--They didn't. They sought out experts elsewhere, and bartered for its construction." He thrust the leg into Quick's chest in a rough giving. "They did it for you, despite your hatred of them. They wish to see you become better."

"That line is becoming a touch over-used, m'lord." He took hold of the leg in his magic and turned it around, looking at it. "It does look far better constructed than I would imagine they would manage. Who did make it then?"

Sombra leaned in, his smile somewhat subdued. "Just a little country of little import..." That grin expanded to cover his face. "The Crystal Empire. And it only gets better from there. Go on, try it."

"Try it?" He eyed the leg before rising up to all three and trying to put it in about the right place. Sombra's magic wrapped around it suddenly and gave it a firm shove. There was a moment of agony, and Quick hissed low and deep, but it passed. He had a new leg, one of glimmering crystal.

He leaned from one side to the other, testing it, then took a few slow steps. "It... responds."

"It took some measure of bartering, considerable wealth..." Sombra sat and brought his forehooves together. "Wealth they had. I have." He turned away from Quick Stroke. "The tsuki have announced themselves to the Crystal Empire, and would you believe the result?"

"I gather from your tone, it goes beyond the replaced limb?" He stepped up beside Sombra, his gait restored with the unnatural limb moving with his desires. "What have they done?"

"They have secured me a visit. It seems we will be playing host to another global leader, one with distant relation to one that had wronged me so long ago... One who would revile me, who worked against me. One who will simmer with fury and be able to do nothing..." He chuckled, a slow sound, savoring the revenge. "Princess Mi Amore Cadanza will come before me, lay herself humble in my demesne. She will behold my glories and properly acknolwedge my right to rule. She will do all this, all the while trembling on the inside, knowing she can do naught else."

Quick was still a moment, the room growing silent before he broke it with a laugh. "I look forward to seeing the subtle play across her face. How well will she hide her disgust?" He suddenly slapped Sombra's back. "I apologize, m'lord. I had doubts, but you have shown me in the wrong entirely. Your people have prepared a mighty and fine gift for us both! Their cleverness runs deeper than ever I would have thought. This bears all the more careful watching, yes..." He jumped forward, landing easily on his legs, new and old. "Yes... They have earned that much. I will approach them anew. I paid the price for my assumption, not again. This new world conceals dangers behind innocent smiles. I will stand beside them and learn from them."

Sombra turned for the door they had entered from. "Lead with kindness, have strength to enforce it. That is the tactic for this age."

"It seems almost obvious in hindsight, but that is the nature of things, is it not, m'lord?" He almost pronked with a building joy at his regained mobility. "We should prepare. The more extravagantly she is greeted, the more humbled she will be to think she once thought ill of us. We should be certain to demonstrate our power along the way."

"Now, I feel, you are getting the idea." He held out a hoof towards his old ally and it was met with a crystal reply, clopping together with the ring of metal on crystal. "Let us go."

Author's Note

A chapter closes, and a new one opens. Someone's coming for a visit. How will that go?

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30 - Welcome!
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What Follows Hugs

30 - Welcome!

As Cadance was directed through the tunnels, she couldn't help but notice the many smiling faces around her. The tsuki were out in force, watching their procession with a rapt and focused attention. She didn't think they were hostile. They all smiled and waved and all the words they said were nice ones, or mildly confusing ones.

Shining Armor slid in beside her. "Do you think he, you know?"

"I don't know," replied Cadance in an uncertain voice.

Their guide, Toby, came down in front of a room and gestured inside. "Here is where ponies stay." He wasn't sure why so many of them tensed at his words. "If something miss, To--I get... for you." He bobbed his head, proud of his continued work to improve his speech. "Can sleep now, or come with I. I... will... show where food is."

Cadance took the lead, stepping towards Toby on cautious hooves. "Luna spoke well of you, Toby."

Toby lit up, going red. "Is Luna good? I miss her. She is best princess." He seemed to notice what he had just said to another princess. "O-oh!" His ears perked a moment before gravity enforced its will. "You is good princess too, just she is best. See? Um, not be mad?"

Cadance lifted a hoof to one of Toby's chubby cheeks and she smiled. "I find it difficult to be upset at you, Toby." She looked back at the others over her shoulder, many equine faces looking back at her for guidance. "If you're tired, relax here." She set her hoof down and walked to the entrance of the room to have a peek. There were many mattresses laid out in rows. No bed in sight, just mattresses.

Cadance shook her head a little, confused. After all the other effort to impress them, that seemed dreadfully minimalist. "Toby, what do you sleep on?"

Toby sat up, freeing his hands to gesture wildly, trying, futility, to pantomime a cot. "Soft spot, blanket, straw. You are guest, get even softer." He suddenly bounced past Cadance, brushing against her on the way as there just wasn't enough room to avoid it with her standing in the entrance. He landed beside a mattress and raised a hindleg. He thumped it quickly and loudly, making the thing bounce around with the thumpa-thumpa-thump. "See, is soft."

It seemed to strike him suddenly. "Oh!" He flipped open a small box beside the mattress and pulled out a blanket and threw that over the mattress. "Blanket here. Other things, nice things for nice ponies."

Other ponies began to filter in, examining where they would be sleeping and resting. Some claimed their favored mattress and began to examine the box of goodies beside it. One stallion plucked up a little statue from his box. It looked like a tsuki hugging an equally happy pony. "What... is this?"

Toby clapped his furry paw-hands. "Try to make better, add tsuki art. Like? Is show how happy we are."

Shining took the statue with a glowing horn, bringing it closer to examine. "The detail's good," he easily admitted. "You work well with stone."

Toby raised his hands quickly. "No no. Tob--I is--am not art maker. I will tell her you like it, make her happy." He walk-hopped back towards the entrance. "Show where food is, yes? This way."

The procession continued, a little smaller. Some of the ponies had remained in the quarters. Once the main mass had moved past, a doe poked her head in, peering at the smaller collection of ponies. She smiled brightly and bounced in little hops towards a gem earth pony. "Hello," she said as she approached.

The gem pony looked up at the big horned rabbit and gave his best smile. "Oh, um, hello. Are you here for something official? You just missed the princess."

The doe shook her head quickly. "No, I wanted to talk to you." She pointed at him. "What is it like, being all shiny. Is it hard, or soft? Can I touch?" She reached out a pawhand, eager to get to it without permission secured properly yet. "I am soft, and warm. You show me, I show you?"

A pegasus, non-crystal, burst into laughter. "That is too good," cried the mare even as the doe looked at her with confusion. "You have no idea how amazing what you just said was."

The gem stallion rolled up onto his haunches. "Don't mind her. We may look hard, but we are not. G-go ahead, check."

She pounced him with a happy little squeak. She hugged him and petted him and held him tight. "You are right! So soft, and warm, not like you look at all." She stroked along his side with one hand as the other held him up easily. She was a strong tsuki. "I am Shadow Hopper."

The gem stallion went stiff.

"What is wrong?" She pet all the more firmly, hoping to undo whatever magic effect had paralyzed her new friend.

The pegasus took to the air easily and soared over to the two. "You triggered him," she helpfully explained. "Crystal ponies get nervous about shadows."

Shadow blinked softly. "Is name, given by dam. I can't control that."

The gem stallion nervously laughed. "O-of course not! I... I'm sorry. I'm being rude."

Shadow smiled brilliantly. "Is alright, I forgive." She set him down gently back on his mattress. "What is your name?"

"Someone has a new friend," sang out the pegasus with a grin that wouldn't quit.

Toby threw his arms wide. "Here is where we eat. You come when you are hungry, eat."

Another tsuki, a jack, nodded quickly. "Come any time. We make food all time for hungry tsuki. Good for hungry ponies too, we checked." He was wearing a little cap that had the word 'Chef' scrawled on it by a pup that had begun learning the new magic of writing.

Cadance approached one of the tables that had food set out on it. A soft sniff told her that it likely would taste just fine, if curious. They used spices she wasn't used to, perhaps plants, maybe... "What do you cook with? I mean, ingredient-wise?"

The cook hiked a thumb at himself. "We cook with love."

Toby threw a punch at the cook, who met it with his own fist, both were grinning at each other. "That is good one," complimented Toby. "Not expect it."

The cook looked quite proud of himself. "I not make first," he admitted. "Like it. We cook with potatoes, mushrooms, spices, salt, all kind of good thing." He rubbed his belly. "Now you are making me hungry!" He grabbed a carrot that had two tips and crunched into it. "Little snack. I should get back to kitchen."

Cadance nodded softly. They ate like rabbits, and that should not be surprising, or so she decided. Her ponies would not be harmed on that vegetarian diet. "Toby, tell me, what is Sombra's exact role?"

Toby looked a bit puzzled at the question. "Sombra is king."

Cadance pointed at Toby. "What are you?"

Another tsuki that had been collecting plates set them down suddenly and bounded over. "Toby is better king!" he excitedly said.

Toby blinked, confusion growing. "Toby is not king, why say that?"

Cadance looked to the new tsuki curiously. "Tell me how you see it."

The new tsuki, a jack, put a hand on his chest. "Toby understands tsuki. Toby is tsuki. We follow Toby. Toby likes Sombra, say follow Sombra, we do, because Toby said so. Is understand?"

Cadance nodded slowly. "I think I do..." She quirked a little smile. "This is a kingdom of tsuki."

"Yes!" The male bobbed his head, then bounced back over to his abandoned plate, resuming his chore.

Shining Armor shook his head slowly, watching the tsuki move around in their bouncing way. "So is he in charge or not?"

"Yes, and no," decided Cadance out loud. "He is in charge unless he does something the tsuki cannot agree with." She took a small morsel of some kind of pie in her magic and sampled it, letting its savory, if mellow, flavor roll across her tongue. She tasted a nutty, almost-almond, hint to it among the soft mass that melted as she held it in her snout. "Mmm, needs just a touch of butter."

Shining winced. "Is that... safe?"

Cadance waved his worry away. "Were you not listening, dear? The tsuki would not abide the harming of their new friends. If he planned that, it would lead to a quick revolt, and I will give him enough credit to think he knows that."

A gem pony mare slid in closer, as if seeking the protection of Cadance's form. "I know how he deals with revolts!" she hissed, shrinking a little.

Toby waved at an empty table. "Want eat? What talking about?"

Flash Sentry trotted forward towards the indicated table. "If no one else will try, I'll be the first."

Toby clapped with easy joy and bounded off, soon returning with a platter he set on the table, only to leap away to grab another, slowly filling the table with a selection of foods to choose from. Flash watched the options grow, but did not move to select any of it.

This confused Toby when he returned the fifth time. "Why not eat?" Then it hit him. "Oh! Sorry!" He surged away and came back with a plate and a fork and set it down in front of Flash. "Now is ready eat?"

Flash reached out with a wing, easily plucking up the fork as he smiled awkwardly. "I was trying to be polite, um, Toby was it? You shouldn't eat while they're still setting the table."

Toby applied his hand directly to his forehead. "Oh, yes! No, go, eat! You not make I upset, promise."

Cadance sat down beside Flash. "Thank you for your bravery. I will join you."

Shining blushed softly as he rushed to take up her other side, lest he lose the right to sit next to his wife for being a coward. "Y-yea, me too!"

The bubble had been popped. Ponies began to fill up tables, sitting around them. Many tables ended up with both tsuki and ponies, and the two species began to talk and eat together. The tension ebbed measurably as laughter echoed across the cavern.

Toby looked around the room, seeing the ponies and tsuki getting along. "Is good," he said to himself as he turned to leave, only to run into a wall of tsuki fur. "Oh!"

"Yes, oh." Celene smiled at her would-be mate, hugging him suddenly in a pounce, driving him to the ground. She had recovered well from her past injuries, her fur mostly returned, though there were a few lines here and there to remind her of the experience. "When were you going to introduce me?" she demanded.

Toby caught her gladly and hugged her in return before kicking her off. She flew in the air but twisted and came down on her paws in a fit of agility. He nodded at her. "Just showing where sleep, where eat. Nothing big yet."

She shook her head. "You is silly tsuki at time." She stalked past him. "Introduce now please."

Toby moved with her quickly, waving at her with one pawhand, his eyes on Cadance. "This is Celene, my doefriend." Cat calls and cheers erupted from a good portion of the tsuki, calling out their encouragement of the couple.

Cadance lifted her ears, looking between the two tsuki curiously. She could feel love there, naked and awkward. It flowed unevenly, one holding the emotion of passion stronger than the other, while the other returned it with the love of a brother for a sister. She quirked a brow, wondering. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Celene. What is your relation with Toby?"

Celene looked vacant a moment. "What? No relation, other than jackfriend. I doefriend." She leaned forward towards Cadance, her snout hovering over their table, nudging a poor pony out of the way in the process. "Pony have special friend with family?" She sounded curious, if slightly scandalized.

Author's Note

Misunderstandings occur. Fortunately, none of the tsuki present are likely to demand war over this social typo.

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31 - Entertaining Guests
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What Follows Hugs

31 - Entertaining Guests

The visit had officially begun. Sombra had arrived in the dining hall about half an hour later. "The tour is ready if you are, esteemed guest," he said towards Cadance and her paramour. "We have so much to show."

Cadance nodded softly back at him. "Your people are lovely and I'm certain what they have built will be just as delightful." She slid up to her hooves, prompting Shining to do the same without a word in his direction. "What did you have in mind first?"

Sombra smiled, an expression of joy and malice curiously mixed together. "Would you prefer to see them at work, or at play? I have decided to allow that first choice to you

Cadance rolled a hoof. "I feel I've already gotten a hint as to how the tsuki play and create. Let's begin with their industry."

Tsuki nearby chuckled and giggled at Cadance's phrasing, but Sombra paid it no mind. "Very well. Quick! To the smeltery."

Quick roses from Sombra's shadow, stepping towards the two royal ponies. "It will be my pleasure. Will any others be accompanying?" His replaced hoof clinked softly with each sure step forward. "We can begin immediately."

Sombra nodded even as he faded into the shadows, whisping away from the room.

Cadance waved at the room as a whole. "If any of the others would care to accompany me, now is a good time."

Toby scrambled up to his paws and bounced over to her in one great jump. Flash was less bouncy in his approach, trotting over to help guard his princess.

Shining clenched his teeth with unspoken desire for more guards than just the one, but he went with Cadance as she began to walk out with Quick. If she wasn't worried about he, it would look awkward if he made a big deal about it.

Flash took up position beside Shining. "We'll keep an eye, Sir."

Shining nodded in kind. "Thank you. Maybe we'll see some interesting things while we're at it."

Toby perked an ear back at them, though it fell quickly under its own gravity. "Tsuki learn lots, become better with stone."

Quick waved at the stone walls they walked through. "They dug all this, much of it without proper tools. This has been since addressed, and they work all the faster, building, fashioning, and learning." He peered over his shoulder at his guests. "They are voracious learners. Once given the opportunity to do so, they have been unrelenting in their quest for self-perfection."

Cadance glanced aside at Toby. "How have you been 'self-perfecting'?"

Toby paused in his bouncing for just a moment. "Um. Toby learn much. I! I learn much. Get better talking." His cheeks filled with warmth and redness. "I... do not... do... job like other tsuki. I is--am answer tsuki."

Shining bumped against the large confused tsuki. "Hey, that's a job and don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Being the person people ask questions of can be a full-time gig."

Toby brightened quickly. "Are you leader pony?"

Shining pointed to Cadance. "She is the leader pony for most, but I am just under her, so they ask me a lot of questions too."

"Oh!" Toby bobbed his head fiercely. "Princess is like Sombra. You is like me. Just under king, yes. Is not easy." He seemed comforted, finding a peer.

Quick perked an ear back at the two of them. "It is a position that requires dignity." He cleared his throat softly and lifted a crystal hoof to point ahead. "Our first stop, the foundry." They emerged from the tunnel into a much larger carved room. The heat picked up quickly from large vats of molten metal. "Once the metal has been purified, they are brought here, ready to be cast. Toby, can you explain that?"

Toby bobbed his head along. "Yes yes. Use to make each shape by paw." He reached out a paw and wriggled his fingers. "Was hard and long, then better idea. We make molds, pour metal like drink. Do not drink! Is really bad idea! Pour, make things faster." He bounced over to a rack of tools, ranging from shovels to tiny jeweler chisels. "Make many things."

"This was a gift." Quick turned to regard the ponies. "Given by the ponies of Equestria, one in particular that worked with us to expand our means of production." One of the better things she gave, he silently added. "Now that the idea has taken root, tsuki artisans are eager to make new molds and improve their craft."

Cadance nodded softly as her eyes wandered over the flickering lights of the fires that kept the heat going and the metals soft and ready to use. "Do they only make tools with them?"

"Nope!" replied Flash suddenly. He was peering into a vat with a smile. "These aren't tools at all."

Quick flinched in mild surprise even as he trotted over to see what Flash was seeing. Inside the stone container was a collection of the same metal statue. His magic wrapped around one and lifted it into view. It was two tsuki standing on two legs, side by side, their closer hands clasped in a clear display of solidarity or affection. One of the two had carefully depicted scars and he realized what it was.

It was Toby and Selene. "Toby, why are there statues of you and your paramour?"

"My what?" Toby hopped closer to have a peek at the statue, going dark as he realized they were of himself. "Other tsuki are happy I and Selene are together. Not... all sure why, but they get very happy."

Cadance smiled a kind smile, with a mother's joy, she raised a hoof to Toby's back, patting him gently. "Your friends are delighted that you have found a partner. They approve of your choice, and likely hope you two will be happy together. Tell me." She glanced around, to be sure Selene was not nearby. "What do you think of her?"

Toby reached for the statue, running his fingers over the fine details of the metal. "Selene is good tsuki, confusing, but good. She want things from me. Not understand all things, but learn. She make I--me happy." He gently set the statue beside the bin it had come from. "Is good tsuki. What is next looking?"

Quick nodded towards them all. "Well said. We're working backwards, but that is how things are laid out. The ore is dug out from the deepest tunnels, refined close to there, and come closer and closer as things become more complex." He gestured with his hoof at the great cables and red-hot bins of metal. "This would be more difficult to manage were it deep within the mining complex."

"Understandable," agreed Cadance. "It's good to see that this industrial force is used both for tools and art. Do they smith things directly?"

"Yes!" came a new voice, a doe tsuki landing just in front of Cadance, a hammer wielded in her right paw. "I is smith! I hammer all day long and make good things." She swung her hammer around, much to the concern of Shining and Flash, but the hammer never struck Cadance, however close it seemed to get at times, fanning her fur with its rushes. "You no mold everything. Sometimes, personal touch." She struck the ground with her hammer, sparks flying as the metal crushed some of the rock. "I is good at it. Want see?"

Quick gave a strained smile at the new tsuki. "We appreciate your offer, but the tour must proceed."

The new tsuki pouted, her hammer resting on the ground as she leaned on its length. "Aw, is good see. You is sure?"

Cadance smiled at the enthusiastic doe. "I would very much like to see how you work. Perhaps we can stop by later?"

"Yes!" She hefted her hammer with a great twirl, managing its momentum in the swing to end up holding it in two paws, one cradling the head, the other the handle. "You come, I show. You will like. Maybe I make something special for you, for pretty pink pony princess."

Shining cleared his throat softly. "Pardon me, miss? We didn't get your name."

"Not get name! Is my name! Can't have it." She shook her head, ears flopping about. "But can know it, because friends. I is Spark Driver, 'cause is what do, yes? Come when ready." She bounded away on two legs, taking her hammer with her.

Quick smiled his wicked little smile. "As you can see, the tsuki take pride in their work. The chance to demonstrate it to others is exciting to them. They are a people whose time has come, and they will reach for what is theirs."

Flash arced a brow, but was quiet. Shining was less reserved in his misgivings, "Peacefully, I would hope?"

Quick waved the worry away as he turned to continue down the hallway. "They are a kind people. They would certainly never visit harm on a trusted ally, and that is what we are, is it not?"

Cadance could detect the double-meaning there. Were they not allies, well, that would change things. Her expression hardened slightly as she followed along after Quick. "The tsuki do not strike me as a people eager to take up weapons, be it against allies or enemies. Have you had to protect your borders against any invading force?"

Before Quick could give a careful reply, Toby was already spouting a reply, "Is peaceful here. We not have to fight. Was only one fight." He frowned softly. "Is bad one, not like. Tsuki hurt pony friend... I not happy."

Cadance came to a sudden halt, gazing at Toby with surprise. "What happened?"

Quick stepped firmly between Toby and Cadance. "This happened." He raised his crystal leg. "I had brought it on myself. The tsuki can fight, and they reminded me of that very fact. It was my error, and this--" he slowly waved the leg, keeping attention on it. "--was a gift they gave, to show what power there is in being friends. I will not repeat that mistake."

And nor should you, Cadance heard clearly in her head. It was a threat, couched in such a way as to be an entreaty to peace. She could not answer it directly without sounding in poor form. "That does not appear to be of tsuki construction."

Quick's calculated smirk turned to a more natural smile. "It was purchased from your own people, Princess. The tsuki traded for it."

Shining Armor quickly nodded. "That was how we learned of... this." He waved a hoof at the underground city as a whole. "I didn't know the leg was going to be used by the local equivalent of..." he trailed off, suddenly unsure. "Are you noble? What is your title?"

Quick waved his good leg lightly, dismissing the motion. "I am Lord Sombra's right-hand pony, and that is all the title I need for the moment. I make his will apparent and serve as a second set of eyes, ears, and hooves. You may consider me his seneschal. And you are princess-consort?"

Shining blushed faintly at that. It wasn't wrong, really, but everyone... "They call me prince." They called him that, but he wasn't really one. His only claim to royalty was being married to Cadance.

Cadance bumped against him. "He is my very precious prince, and I'll have no one calling him any different. He has served that title with all the gravity you give to your own, seneschal. Now, what is next on the tour?"

Quick turned away from them. "Very good. Next on the itinerary, we work backwards along the production line. You have seen how they can work with refined metal, but what good is that without the refined metal? We will approach the refining equipment, where useless ore is turned into ready metals."

Flash fell in beside Toby, walking at an easy pace. "Do you ever work here?"

Toby shook his head slowly. "No. I am lead tsuki, remember? Visit, talk to tsuki and fix problems, not work here."

Author's Note

The tour continues! Political chicanery emerges like typos from the dark.

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32 - In the Depths
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What Follows Hugs

32 - In the Depths

As Quick led them down tunnels that seemed to weave ever deeper into the unyielding stone, Cadance took greater pleasure in peeking down the side passages. It was in one of them that made her stop entirely. The rest of the procession moved without her as she peered into the darkness and the wonder that lurked inside.

"Sir Stroke," She finally called out, making them aware of her absence.

Quick perked an ear before quickly looking over his shoulder, noticing only then that his retinue had shrunk by one considerable alicorn princess. A muttering that was almed at no one, barely heard from the wirey stallion. "Princess, you should stay with the others."

She pointed down the hallway that had captured her attention. "What is this room used for? Does it have a name?"

Quick strode up in an irritated trot. "There is nothing of importance along this hallway." He peered into the hallway as he reached it and saw a large room with equally massive pillars. Each side of each pillar was decorated with the art of the tsuki, the same meaningless drawings they used to do, now carved as releifs into the more permanent stone with more capable and equipped paws.

Cadance took his presence as permission and began to walk forward towards the collection. "It's..."

"Worthless," completed Quick. "We should continue."

"Breath-taking," suggested Cadance as a better description. "You can feel the passion of the artists in each of these. They couldn't have been made quickly, and so many of them... This is a project of love." She could feel lingering traces of that love, part of what pulled her so strongly in the first place. Her eyes went up and down, taking in the fine details that showed the tsuki history. "Shining?"

Shining hurried to her side. "It's really nice." He quirked a little smile. "Like a tsuki comic book."

Cadance burst into musical laughter. "Of course you would see it that way, dear husband. It is that, done in stone to last through the ages. Did they always carve their history like this?"

Toby shook his head, catching up easily with the detour. "Used to make pictures on walls. Some carve, was hard." He wriggled his fat fingers. "Can dig in stone, slow, hard. Still, worth it for some. We do what we can." He looked increasingly guilty as he spoke. "I... not make art. Art made before I get here, made after I get here, but I not make it. I not know how make art."

Cadance turned to the hurt tsuki and raised a hoof, gently rubbing one of his furry cheeks. "You work very hard to make sure the artists here could make their art, Toby. You are a part of their creation, even if your own paw never touched them." A gentle smile spread over her snout. "I feel certain they would agree with that. That is why they love you so much."

Toby's embrassment turned into a new kind that had him blushing. "Toby just do what I can." He winced softly at his slip in language. "Is good art, yes?"

Flash trotted along them until he reached what he was looking for and came to a stiff stop. "Here's where Sombra showed up." All eyes turned to see what he had found.

There was a clear depiction of Sombra in the stone, two malignant eyes descending from above. Tsuki were depicted, scared and running away. Below that, tsuki in chains, tsuki cowering, and a few tsuki laying on the ground motionless. The art was clear that it was not a good time.

Quick cleared his throat softly, but said little. He felt proud of the image. It was his lord doing what he did well, but he was certain it was not making good impressions on the guests. Still, to just hurry them away right that moment would only emphasize that they were ashamed of it, and that would not do.

Toby had no such worry. He threw himself forward, blocking the picture and pointing to the next column. "Story is not done."

Cadance's eyes lingered on the depiction of the tsuki's conquest but she did slowly turn her attention to the next. There was a good portion that seemed to hint at darkness, just tsuki eyes peering out of it, but then, light.

A shaft of light descended from above and a tsuki was bathed in it with a big goofy grin. Cadance smiled gently. "Is that you?"

Toby blushed softly even as he nodded. "Tsuki come. Toby was Tsuki then."

Cadance reached out a hoof, but held it back just before she touched the stone. "And..." She moved on to the next part, showing Toby facing Sombra, then talking to a wrinkled tsuki, then Toby before so many tsuki. "Then... you turned things around..." Her eyes looked forward. There were more historical pillars, holding the events of things, but she turned from them, back to the group. "It is obvious how much your kin look up to you."

Her smile onle deepened. "My own people have only carved one statue of who they call hero, and it isn't me."

Toby looked baffled at the very notion. "Who they call hero?" He looked among the possibles. "Prince? Flash?" He pointed at each, entirely unsure.

Cadance shook her head. "I'm not sure you ever met him, but his name is Spike. He's a dragon, a small one, a baby, in fact."

The idea of a tiny dragon in a diaper appeared in Toby's mind and he giggled almost girlishly at the idea of something like that becoming a hero worthy of a statue. "Must be good dragon, become hero so young."

"Very good," agreed Cadance. "He may have many more opportunties to do amazing things, but that's a story for another day."

Quick pointed to the entrance of the pillar room. "Shall we continue the tour? This was not on the schedule." He began to stalk forward, and his motion drew the others, leaving the artful pillars.

Flash hurried up to Quick's side. "You know, they put you in there."

Quick slowed. "They did?"

Flash nodded quickly. "Oh yeah, the whole thing. They must think it was a pretty big deal."

Quick turned tensely to Flash. "Show me."

Flash trotted back into the collection of pillars, going past the coming of Tsuki, then veering off a little, passing a few other pillars before he thrust a hoof up. There was a pony with a frown. Little jagged lines came from his mouth at the tsuki around him.

Then there he was, sorrounded by equally angry looking tsuki. Then one of darkness and magic, impressions of dark bolts and struck tsuki, but none of them fell, and the bolts echoed off of them towards one tsuki. Then that Tsuki attacked the frowning pony. Then the angry tsuki was standing over the angry pony triumphantly, and there was a leg tossed aside.

Quick scowled at the depiction of his moment of weakness. "They would record this..."

Flash gestured a hoof at the next pillar. "It continues."

Cadance winced at the image of the end of the battle. "How terrible... I see the tsuki can fight, when they wish to."

Toby put his paws over his face. He had never known the full measure of how Quick lost his leg. "Who did that?! Toby--I will punish! Is not good!" He turned to Quick. "Thought was accident! Why not tell me? Is not good!"

Cadance left Toby to look at the continuing story. She saw several tsuki sneaking from a hole. Then a scene of them bouncing towards a city of crystal. She smiled, recognizing her kingdom. "They came. That is when we met them."

Shining nodded. "And they traded." He pointed to a picture of tsuki on one side, ponies on the other. "And they got the crystal leg."

The tsuki were shown carrying the leg back in a box. The last picture was the same frowning pony as before, but he wasn't frowning. He had a new leg, and he was smiling, and there were other tsuki around him, also smiling. Cadance gestured to it. "It was a difficult time, but it seems peace was reached." She pointed at the smiling pony. "A nice touch, using actual crystal in that picture."

Quick self-conciously drew his crystal hoof back slightly. "We have reached an understanding. May we proceed?"

Cadance glanced back at the other pillars, wondering a moment. "Have they already captured my arrival?" She was polite enough to not insist on checking. She moved to follow Quick, her soft wings nudging the others to keep up with her. "Sorry for delaying you, Quick Stroke. It was a fascinating tale. There are certainly lessons to be had in it."

Quick gratefully resumed the tour path. "And which lessons do you perceive, Honored Guest?"

"A smile will net more than a frown," easily replied Cadance. "An ally is far more valuable than an enemy, and, an enemy is just an ally you have failed to make." She strode up beside Quick. "That last one is especially vital. It makes me reconsider some of my own thoughts."

Shining slid up at her free side, crowded as it was, the rough stone of the hallway rubbing at his far side. "What thoughts are those?"

Cadance smiled gently. "The King Sombra of the past was clearly not ready to have allies, only minions, and enemies. Perhaps this one has changed enough to allow this new thought to take root. With Toby so close, this feels almost certain."

Flash suddenly laughed from behind the shoulder-to-shouder procession. "Don't let the crystal ponies hear you say that, they'd already be passed out on the ground."

Toby smiled with awkward pride. "I help Sombra be best king. He get better. I get better. Is, um, good time for growing." He threw his forepaws wide before hopping to keep up. "Lot growing."

"This is true," admitted Quick. "We are a kingdom that is rapidly evolving to meet the needs of the world we live in." He swiveled an ear towards the two royals that walked side-by-side with him. "Some of my tactics are in need of... an update. I am addressing that." And he fully intended to have that under control. "Just as I train the tsuki in new ways."

Some small bit of the tension ebbed. The admission of imperfection had pushed through some sort of barrier. Steps were easy, even if Quick was not quite smiling. He gestured up ahead. "We are coming on the smeltery. Do not go too close to the equipment. If it's glowing, it is hot enough to set the unwary ablaze without warning. Most tsuki are not permitted to dwell within this area until they have been extensively trained in its safe operation."

One such tsuki, a smiling jack, was right at the entrance as they exited the tunnel into the sweltering heat of the smeltery. "Welcome! King said you were coming, so I waited." He hopped up to each person and gave them a brief but warm hug, starting with Quick, then Cadance, then Shining. "Ponies are fun to hug," he admitted without shame. "Stay fun to hug, no leave path, okay?" He pointed ahead. There was a clear path of colored stones that wove through the area, never straying too close to the still red-hot collections of metal and other dangerous-looking equipment.

Once the first three had passed the entrance, the happy tsuki got a chance to hug Flash and Toby. "Is good see!" cried Toby, returning the embrace, the two patting one another's back before backing off.

"Is good see," echoed the smelting tsuki. "Now, want see how make rock into metal, yes? Is not easy, but we get better every day. Make much good metal." He hopped past the first three, walking down the marked trail himself. "Rock not much good, just rock, not even good rock for carving. But we learn, first from pony, then we find ways to do better." He walked along with pride, showing off the fine points of how the tsuki refined their ore.

Author's Note

Sudden history lesson was sudden. I didn't plan that when I first began, but I like it. I think it fits things, and helps move things along. Written on day 1 of Everfree NW, as if a convention could stop me! (helps when I remember my keyboard, admittedly)

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33 - Quarrel
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What Follows Hugs

33 - Quarrel

"Look, you don't get it." The crystal stallion frowned at the big happy tsuki. "He's enslaved an entire kingdom!"

The tsuki bobbed his head. "Two." He held up two big fat fingers. "Yours and ours. He get better. We have Toby."

The stallion sputtered with incalculable rage. "He took over your kingdom too, and you're alright with that?"

"He get better," stated the tsuki as if that explained everything, bobbing his head.

"Being an egotistical tyrant is not something you get better from!" shouted the stallion, clopping a hoof with building irritation. "It's not just some passing head cold we have to endure."

"Sombra got better," argued the tsuki with a light nod. "Why is this bad? Why angry?"

"He is not better," stated the stallion slowly as if talking to a simpleton.

The tsuki shook his head, frowning a little. "Is better, is. Work days get shorter." He held two fingers closer together. "Allowed time do art or whatever like. I like--"

"How short is short?" demanded the stallion.

Their argument had drawn a crowd of others. Ponies and tsuki watched the two debate in a loose circle. The tension was growing between the two and the crowd seemed aware of it, drawn to the conflict.

"Down to 18 hours," reported the tsuki with such pride, smiling brightly.

The pony took a shaking step back. "Eighteen... hours?" That reverse course quickly flipped around and he approached the tsuki with a scowl. "That's barely enough time to sleep! How do you even function!"

The tsuki shrugged gently. "When tired, take nap. How is hard?"

The pony thrust a hoof at the tsuki. "You're alright with him because you're so stupid you don't know he doesn't want you to take naps while you're working."

The tsuki's smile had been worn away, replaced with a growing frown to match the angry expression the pony wore. "Maybe it is pony that is stupid! Why not sleep when tired? What next, not eat when hungry? Not drink when thirsty? Stupid pony!"

With an incensed nicker, the stallion reared up. This only prompted the tsuki to do the same, but while, for one, it was just a gesture of exasperation, for the other, it was a symbol of readiness to fight, to clash, as friends or foes, and the tsuki was not feeling friendly towards that pony.

The tsuki pounced forward, driving the pony to the ground with a distressed yelp. The pony lashed out with his hooves, thudding into the soft flesh of the rabbit-oid. His soft fur only offered mild protection to real attempts to battle and the tsuki grunted with pain at the new bruises those sharp pony hooves could inflict.

The crowd parted, giving more room even as they began to talk among themselves more animatedly. Why were they fighting? Who would win? Should they interfere, or keep watching?

With a roar of battle, the tsuki slashed with his claws. Fortunately, their claws were not retractable, like a cat, which meant they had plenty of time to be worn down as they hopped around or dug into dirt or stone. That was only a mild comfort to the pony who suddenly sported several angry lines across his face, red and bleeding lightly.

The pony lashed out in a practiced swing, catching the tsuki across the cheek in a vicious return. His hard hoof drove into the soft cheek, knocking the tsuki's face aside as the crowd winced. "Get off me!" He scrambled up to his hooves in the momentary daze his swing had created.

"What this?" With a heavy thud, a new figure landed just inside the circle of watches. The fighting tsuki immediately went limp, backing away from the pony. "You have some sense." Celene shook her head, frowning as she fixed her eyes on the pony. "What fight for?"

The pony angrily pointed his hoof at the cowering tsuki. "He just jumped at me! He started it."

The tsuki shook his head, though the action was aborted quickly, his stinging cheek throbbing with the motion. He raised a hand to cover where the hoof had hurt his poor cheek. "He call tsuki stupid, then make noise and stand. He want fight, get fight."

Celene grunted low and deep. "Pony is guest." She pointed at the tsuki. "Go." She then pointed at the pony. "Pink Princess will be told."

The pony paled. "I didn't mean to..."

The chastised tsuki suddenly smiled despite how it hurt to do that. "Afraid of angry one in charge? Is yours not good?"

He frowned deeply. "I will face her judgment, gladly."

"Good." Celene reared up and crossed her arms. "Unless want fight me, both go." She had given the symbol of being ready to clash, but neither of the two combatants rushed to accept the offer. They seperated, the tsuki bounding out of the cave entirely, while the pony went to join his peers.

Quick stepped into the tunnels, nodding lightly. "And that is how we extract valuable stone and ore in the first place. As you have seen, we are fully capable of industrialized output."

Cadance nodded as she followed along with her retinue. "I do see, very impressive. The tsuki's natural preference to live beneath the surface works to their advantage in mining efforts."

Shining strode at her side, his eyes wandering, but less often than they had before. They were going back the way they came and there were less new things to see. "They have less actual crystals, but more metal."

"Correct." Quick turned to them. "But is that not what trading is for? You have what we want, and we have what you want, and, with a--" He interrupted himself with a soft chuckle. "--dash of friendship, both problems can be mended. And without a casualty report to go with it."

Cadance gestured to two tsuki who were speaking quietly to one another that they were walking past. "They seem quite eager in their professions. Every tsuki we've met is not only proud, but excited to learn more and better ways to do what they do. I must admit, it's quite nice to see. How do you keep their spirits so high?"

Quick turned an ear to Cadance as he walked. "They are a motivated people. With Lord Sombra before them, how can they not be inspired?" He wove with them through the tunnels, working back towards the largest, the entry cave. "We have reached an understanding, and it benefits the whole of the kingdom greatly."

Flash hurried a little to get a little behind Cadance and to her right. "Your Majesty, there doesn't seem to be, you know, a lot of tsuki actually... here? Is this a holiday or something?"

Quick snorted softly, an amused smile on his snout. "Oh, but it is. Sombra declared that your presence was reason enough for celebration, and released the tsuki from their obligations."

Cadance stopped, a bewildered look on her face. "Then who were the tsuki we ran into, if they were all given the day off?"

Quick turned to her, gesturing down the caves towards the tsuki they had met. "They did as they pleased. They were there because they wanted to be, to meet you, and make sure your visit was safe and comfortable. The tsuki are a deeply caring people, with passions that burn just as bright. Like the heat that melts the ore into metal, it can be... amazing."

Cadance could hear the threat being woven into those words, but she ignored them for the time. "That was very kind of them. Please, do tell them that I appreciate them working when they had no obligation to, simply for my benefit. They owed me nothing."

Shining nodded, his cheeks warmed. "I wouldn't have pestered him with so many questions if I had known he was only there to keep us safe on his day off."

Flash laughed suddenly, drawing Shining's attention. "Sir, he looked very happy to answer those questions. I'm pretty sure he likes talking about his equipment. Would you consider it a terrible thing if a pony showed up and wanted to gasp and wonder at your finest soldiers?"

Shining's blush deepened as his hooves shuffled. "I suppose I would be... alright with that. Though if they were important ponies, that can be quite stressful."

Cadance sighed wearily. "Remember when the Equestrian Games representative was there to inspect us? That was a time..."

Flash waved a hoof in disagreement. "We're not here to judge them, and I think they know that."

Quick Stroke resumed his walk, only to find a furry tsuki blocking his view. He knew that tsuki and flinched despite himself. He buried that reaction as quickly as he could, standing all the taller and ready. "Celene."

"Quick," she replied. She pointed at Cadance. "I must report to her."

Quick stepped casually to the side, specifically measuring his steps to give no impression of fear. "Are you in the habit of reporting to foreign princesses?"

"When it about her people," replied Celene as if it should be obvious. "Cadance?"

"That's me." She smiled gently at the large female tsuki. "You are... Celene, Toby's special some-tsuki?"

Celene's impassive face erupted into a smile. "You remember me. Yes. Is good see again, but I have bad news. One of your ponies fight one of our tsuki."

Cadance's happiness faded instantly. "Were either of them hurt?"

Celene shook her head. "Both have marks, not hurt. I seperate them before do stupid things. More stupid things. You are guest, we apologize." She dipped her forebody down. "Sorry."

Cadance quickly reached out a hoof, placing it gently under Celene's chin to raise it. "You did nothing wrong. This is entirely between the two that had the fight. I don't take it as a sign of aggression on your people as a whole, and I hope the feeling is returned. If you can arrange it, can both of them be brought to me? I'd like to see this handled, gently. Most ponies and most tsuki I have seen so far have gotten along reasonably well."

Celene perked up, sitting on her haunches. "Why tsuki not like ponies? Smart, cute, and good for hugs."

Shining perked an ear at the large doe. "I'm cute?"

"Very," she easily confirmed. "Ponies shape funny, so cute! I will get them." She hopped up and came down facing away. "Find you with them."

Quick put out a hoof in front of her. She could easily have hopped over it, but she paused. "Inform Sombra of this. He is equally entitled to know of the event."

Celene bobbed her head, then was gone, darting down the tunnel at the speed only the tsuki could manage in them.

Quick gestured forward. "She will find us when she is ready. She is... capable." The others did not know she was the tsuki depicted in the carving, and he felt no need to inform them. "This will conclude our tour for today. Take some time, decompress, and we may resume tomorrow. Until then, you are welcome to relax, speak with the tsuki, or even watch their classes. During their time off, they take great pleasure in exchanging techniques and tricks among themselves."

His expression eased into a cocky smile. "In fact, I will be hosting a class on the deflection and use of shadow magic. It should prove interesting. I hope we get some new students with potential."

A jack tsuki landed beside him. "Like Celene?" he asked with a big smile. "She best magic bouncer."

Quick's expression faltered faintly, though he struggled mightily against it. "If she graces me with her presence, I will... gladly... expand her knowledge. Perhaps she can help instruct the others in how it's done. She is a tsuki, in the end, she knows what it feels like to be a tsuki."

The jack bobbed his head eagerly. "Will be there! Hope Celene be there too." He bounced away eagerly, bursting free into the main hall just moments later. They had arrived at the end of the tour.

Author's Note

That was a brief but spirited little scuffle. What will come of it?

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34 - Diplomatic Arrangements
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What Follows Hugs

34 - Diplomatic Arrangements

Cadance examined the pony in front of her. "He was really angry, wasn't he?"

The pony shrank away, perhaps in shame. "He fought like an animal."

"And you did not?" she asked, glancing aside at Shining Armor. "We will see him shortly."

Shining nodded towards his wayward soldier. "What happened, from the start?"

"Sir. We were... discussing--" His eyes darted away as he spoke. "--their ruler, Sombra."

Cadance forced a little smile. "Was he speaking well of him?"

The soldier grit his teeth. "I was... arguing about him, Sir, Ma'am."

Shining applied a hoof to his face. "Whether you were right or wrong, we're here as a friendly hoof. Getting into arguments with the people here doesn't help that."

Cadance reached to place a hoof on the soldier's shoulder. "You're a good pony, it's why we selected you for this duty. The tsuki are a remarkable people, and are finding their happiness. Whether there is because of or in spite of things remains partially to be seen."

The soldier stiffly nodded, his face pinking softly at the touch of his princess. "I'm sorry, Your Highness. I didn't mean to make things awkward for you."

Cadance drew her hoof back and turned to the other side of the cavern they were in. "Sombra is speaking to the tsuki involved, then we will bring you two together. I don't want this to sour this visit."

They could see the collection of tsuki huddled around in a circle, faint whisps of shadow magic drifting up from among them.

Sombra leveled a hoof at his wayward tsuki. "What happened?"

"Pony say bad thing." He crossed his arms, but remained hunched, lest he be taken for challenging Sombra. "Say Sombra not good king, is good king. Get better."

Sombra smiled wickedly. "Your loyalty is noted. However, fighting with them is against my desires. You will apologize. Let them think their wrong thoughts. We will prove our superiority in actions."

The tsuki perked up, his ears going upright for an instant before gravity insisted on their flopping. "See? Is good king! Yes, will say sorry. Will show how good is."

A young tsuki doe nudged him suddenly. "How good we are," she corrected with a grin, satisfied with her own show of superiority.

Quick emerged from the shadows of the huddled tsuki. "They appear to be finished with speaking with their own. Shall we join them, M'lord?"

Sombra nodded as he turned to the collection of ponies, their pink princess easily spotted among them. "Yes. The plan does not change. We will demonstrate our magnaminty and our strength through forbearance. Come." He began a slow walk, taking no time in crossing the stone towards the waiting ponies, his tsuki following behind.

Not perfectly, the accused tsuki was smiling and looking quite proud. The pony pair was looking shamed and awkward as he faced them from behind Cadance.

Cadance smiled at the incoming group. "King Sombra, I apologize for my pony's hasty actions."

Sombra raised a hoof. "It is of little concern. Our people are just getting to know one another, a few conflicts are inevitable, are they not? Let us be grateful that no telling injuries resulted from this unfortunate little spat."

He made a little forward gesture with a hoof and the tsuki stepped forward in one awkward waddle, his people made more for hops than walks. "I sorry for hurting pony, was not nice." He was still smiling, making the apology awkward at best. "Next time fight, is because pony want fight, not because angry, yes?"

The pony tilted his head with confusion. "You're not... mad then?"

The tsuki shook his head, ears flopping in the motion. "Is you mad?"

"Um... no?" He did not have the tsuki's smile, instead uncertainty ruled his features. "Sorry... for... saying bad things like that. I should have been a more polite guest."

The tsuki pounced, but delivered a hug, not claws, snuggling the stallion happily. "Is okay! You make day."

The pony drew back a little, trying to process that statement. Cadance took a swing at it, "My aunt does make the day, it's true, but I think he meant that you made his day in particular."

"Oh..." The stallion reached around and patted the side of the tsuki gently. "Glad I could... help?"

Sombra nodded softly. "I trust we can put this messy little event behind us?"

Cadance nodded in kind. "Let's. If we find disagreement, let us express it through words alone, not with violence."

The tsuki were quick to murmur approval of the idea, as were most of the ponies, save for a few that were wise enough to remain quiet rather than voice their disagreement.

Sombra approached Cadance. "It's so good to see we are of like mind in this. Long has past the... barbaric... days of showing one's fangs first."

Cadance turned to the quieter portions of her retinue. "I agree, but there are lingering effects from our actions. I am... personally pleased that you've turned this new leaf, and wish for it to continue, but you have yet to apologize to those you have wronged before."

Sombra looked to where her pink hoof directed. "Let us finish one matter at a time, hm. I am told you have had an eventful day. Please, enjoy yourself." He took measure of the quiet ponies, a confident smirk on his face. "We can... approach other concerns later. Your visit has barely begun."

As soon as he turned to depart, Toby landed beside him, facing Cadance. "Am very sorry. Ponies for hugging, not fighting."

Cadance gave an easy smile to the tsuki. "I have little doubt that you would have stopped this, had you been there, instead of guiding me around." She glanced aside at Sombra's departing form before refocusing on Toby. "Do your people fight, for fun that is?"

Toby tilted his head left and right. "Wrestle, yes. Not use claws. Claws for digging, or fighting, real fighting." He held up one of his big soft paws. "I not like use claws like that. Save for monsters."

Shining chuckled softly. "I'm not sure I want to wrestle a tsuki."

Toby's ears lifted briefly towards Shining. "Why no? Is fun! Want try?" He turned to face the stallion. "Will start easy. Is fun!"

Tsuki close enough to hear the call for a friendly wrestle began calling out their encouragements, eager to see Shining and Toby clash in good spirits. Their excitement was a spark that spread fire through all the tsuki in the room, soon all gathered around, eyes locked on the two.

Cadance raised a hoof to hide her smile. "You've stepped in it now, Shining. You don't want to disappoint Toby, do you? You know he'd sniffle the moment he was alone."

Shining did what any brave stallion in his place would do. He turned to Flash and waved a hoof at him. "I will send forth my bravest warrior. Go, Flash Sentry, show him how a pony wrestles."

Flash's ears fell in dismay. "Uh... yes, Sir..."

Toby clapped his paws eagerly, ignorant of Flash's worry. "Is good, we wrestle. First to pin wins. First to pin twice wins."

Shining perked an ear at Toby. "Best two out of three?"

"Is what say," answered Toby with a quizzical look. "Will be gentle cause first time, yes? Maybe even lose, but worth it to show friend how do."

The crowd of tsuki were quick to snatch up Flash and Toby with equal abandon, forming a wide ring of curious faces as they were deposited on either side of it. Ponies pushed in to get a view of the action, Cadance and Shining among them.

Toby reared up onto two legs and spread his paws. "Can stand?"

Flash rose onto his hind legs, looking less sure than Toby, but managing the balancing with just a little wobble. "Like this?"

"Yes, is good." Toby bobbed his head. "Oh, is good say. If see Tsuki like this--" He waved a paw at himself. "Means is time to fight. We fight, good fight, friendly fight, yes?"

"Yeah." Shining smiled awkwardly. "Nocreature gets hurt, right?" He took a step forward.

Toby matched his step, his hackles rising. "Is ready? Will be nice." The time for words was over. Toby stepped towards Flash, not jumping at him out of respect for his untrained status.

The crowd exploded in tsuki cheers even as Cadance leaned towards Shining. "Stepping towards Toby like that was the signal to start. Let's remember that."

Flash didn't want to go down too easily. He had some pride as a warrior. He feinted to the left and ducked right, trying to get in under Toby's reaching paws. Toby's grasping digits closed, barely getting a hold of the surprisingly fast pony's tail before he was barreled into.

Flash threw his weight into Toby, smashing into him with the not inconsiderable weight of the equine form. Toby's smile only grew. "Say not know how, is good." He pulled at Flash's captive tail, drawing the pony away as he bounced back. "Feel." He crouched down, pudgy fingers wriggling. "Fight."

Flash got a quirk of a smile on his own. "I am a soldier." That didn't mean he was sure he could win at wrestling. That wasn't part of the day to day drills. He reached back with one hoof, rubbing his sore bottom. "Could you, uh, not pull that? It's not really made for that."

Toby's smile broke instantly. "Oh! Is sorry! Can pull mine." Tsuki tails were much shorter and denser than pony ones, able to take a tug without complaint, unlike the rabbits they looked similar to. "Give free try." His arms went slack, offering up a free approach to Flash.

Flash considered his approach. "It's... alright, you didn't know." A mad idea came to him and he suddenly charged, ducking his head low, his forehooves almost touching the ground in a struggle to avoid galloping as his body wanted to do. He thrust his head forward and down and came up between Toby's legs, throwing himself upright. Toby squeaked with surprise as he lifted from the ground. Flash wasn't strong enough to lift him entirely, but it was enough of a rapid motion that he was thrown off-balance and wobbled dangerously.

The stallion was on him without delay, crashing into him to help him finish toppling over to the stones with a great crash of tsuki flesh. Toby laughed merrily. "Not see! Is good!" He coiled around and grabbed Flash from his prone position, hugging the stallion tightly. "Is good! Can wrestle!"

The crowd was a mix of hoof-stomps and clapping paws, cheering on the good-spirited competition.

Toby was on his feet in a sudden flash of fur, bouncing away from Flash. "Now is serious. Not lose again." He bobbed his head quickly. "Is ready?"

Even as Toby leaped across the ring at Flash, Quick seemed to form from nothing beside Cadance. "Quite the spectacle, is it not?"

Cadance jumped in surprise before seeing who it was. "Ah, Quick Stroke. Taken without malice, it seems the tsuki fighting style is very kinetic."

Another tsuki closeby joined the conversation without hesitation, "Is natural. We bump and show who is big and fast. To stand means fight. To make sit down is end of fight. Is good, right?"

Quick nodded lightly. "That is their way. Neither Sombra nor myself showed them this. Near as can be told, it is simply the way they always were." He watched Toby hug and mildly crush Flash in the ring. "It would seem Toby is more than a match for his current opponent."

Shining chuckled at that. "Flash was a brave pony for trying. Ponies do not wrestle as often, but not never. Honey, ever see the wrestling rings?"

"I've heard of them," admitted Cadance. "I've never actually visited one before. I can see the appeal, even if it isn't my personal taste."

The tsuki that had spoken up slid closer, a grin on his face. "Maybe pink princess want try? I show how wrestle good."

Shining thrust a hoof in the way. "Thanks, champ, but it's my job to show her how to wrestle."

"Shining!"

Author's Note

Shining is threatening my rating with his humor. Dang stallions.

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35 - Darkness Leashed
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35 - Darkness Leashed

Quick stood tall and proud, facing the eight tsuki brave enough to attend his class. Sure, one of them happened to be the one that had caused his leg to be replaced with a crystal replica... but it couldn't be perfect. "Celene, what is the skill level of our students?"

Celene turned to look at them instead of Quick. "Good, good, alright, good, why here?" She peered at the last of them to be counted off, a smaller tsuki, lanky and awkward looking.

The younger jack smiled brightly. "I want to know more magic," he said with more eloquence than many. "I practice every day to become better."

Celene hiked a brow. "Why not see you before if work every day?"

Quick waved it away, turning his head to those not attending, but not watching. "Princess, tsuki do not practice active magic, like unicorns. It is more akin to the magic of pegasi and earth ponies, innate, however..." He sat down lightly. "It affects active magic, and is remarkable for it."

Cadance nodded curiously, looking over the small classroom. "I look forward to seeing it. I would offer a demonstration in kind, but you are already well aware of the nature of pony magic."

"That I am," easily agreed Quick as his attention slid back to his class. "Today is about darkness. It's easy to reflect light, heat, and other 'active' energies. Darkness is harder to do safely and effectively." He held up a hoof and a swirling ball of black and green power began to form just over it, swelling as his horn glowed with the same light. "Decay, entropy, it is the breaking of things, and cannot be handled the same way."

Celene bobbed her head quickly. "Is true! Do it wrong, it will hurt." She lifted her ears briefly. "What is good of the shadow?"

Quick raised a brow. "Besides the obvious battle use, there is a place for shadow magic. Subtle and pervasive, when wielded with skill, it can get where other magics cannot. For instance..." He looked to the doe behind Celene. "Reflect."

The doe squeaked and concentrated, her fur glimmering as she began focusing on reflecting all magic from all directions, becoming a little colorful for the effort. Quick hurled his magic directly at her, through Celene. It passed through the larger doe as if she wasn't there, struck the smaller, and bounced away, mostly. The smaller doe flinched with the pain of an imperfect reflection.

Quick directed a hoof at the smaller doe. "As you can see, I could work my magic through an entire other living form without hesitation. Dark magic is not stopped as easily by barriers. Celene, did you not say that one was skilled?"

The smaller doe hopped up, shaking her head. "I not expect! Will catch next one."

"See that you do."

The younger jack waved a paw excitedly. "Will you show us how to do that?"

"I will not." He gestured up at his own horn. "You do not have that ability. You can control, manipulate, and direct, but not create. On the positive, with practice, you can become quite good at those things. Working alongside sources of magic is a required step of the process." He nodded as he spoke, looking proud of his words. "For today, that source will be me."

Cadance smiled from the side. "A magic that requires a little friendship. I certainly can't be upset to see that." Not that she hadn't seen the dark magic Quick had used, or the discomfort it had caused. She kept those opinions to herself. "Is this an ancient talent?"

The younger jack shook his head. "A very smart pony showed it to us. She left, but we're still practicing."

Quick's smug grin at the mention of a smart pony faded as soon as it was clear he was not being referred to. "You say you have practice. Display it." Magic swirled anew around his hoof, wreathing it in the dark fire. "If you can't reflect the shadow, you have no hope of molding it to your desire."

The jack barely had time to raise his paws before the dark magic struck him on his chest. His pelt shone with a dark light, the magic flowing over him and streaking past like several fine lines to impact on the wall far behind them with little effect. He was still alive and seemingly unharmed. "Give me more warning!" he hotly complained, tap-tapping a hindfoot on the stone floor.

"Do good," complimented Celene. "Very good," she said, revising her opinion of the young jack. "We learn now, yes?"

Quick stroked over his beard with a hoof. "Well, I shall revise my estimation of you. Yes, let us proceed."

Flash sat, watching two others wrestle instead of doing it himself. It was much easier to enjoy from that angle, he quietly decided.

"Like?" Toby landed beside him. "More fun to do than watch, yes?"

Flash raised a hoof, words robbed of him a moment at the timing. "I... am enjoying this." That seemed the safest answer.

"Yes, is good." He reached to pat Flash on the head. "You wrestle good. Practice, get better, yes? Maybe win next time."

Flash quirked an ear at the bunny that was petting him. "Are you saying that out of kindness?"

Toby looked baffled at the idea. "I say because is good. You good wrestle."

"But I lost?" Flash shook his head. "How good is that?"

"Is very good!" He brought his hands together in a clap, startling the wrestlers, resulting in a tumble. "Oops, um. Is good," he repeated quieter. "For first wrestle, very good. Could be better, will be better."

Flash quirked a smile at the jack tsuki. "I am a guard, not a wrestler, but you, um, collective you, should try your paws at a pony wrestling ring. I bet they'd love it."

Toby's ears perked forward before flopping back where they hung. "Want see. Next time visit ponies, see. Where? Is in Canterlot?"

Flash shook his head. "Not so much there. You know we have a few cities, right?"

Toby nodded fiercely. "Many pony cities, many ponies. Which one?"

Flash began listing off the few wrestling places he knew, keeping half an eye on the match in progress. "Will you watch, or participate?"

Toby tilted his head. "Not sure if time to join." He threw his pawhands wide. "I do many things."

"Can't argue that." He jumped back suddenly as two tsuki, the ones wrestling, slammed down in the space he had been in. "They're really into this."

Toby looked down at the two with a tilted head. "Think she wins."

The tsuki on top grinned at the one she had pinned. "Told you."

The male stuck out his tongue and both laughed as they rolled upright, already talking about what had gone well and poorly for them in the match.

Flash watched them go as he took his seat. "You really don't get upset at who you're fighting?"

Toby blinked, trying to parse that. "If real fight. Wrestling is fun fight, not real fight. Win, lose, have fun. If lose, learn, be better, maybe win next time?" A thought ticked. "Is you mad for losing?! I sorry."

"Are you mad," corrected Flash with a smile. "It's hard to be mad at you. You're too innocently positive, I think." He tapped at his chin with a hoof. "You really just wanted to show me some wrestling."

"Yes," easily agreed Toby. "Want see something else?"

"What have you got?"

Toby rose to all fours, bouncing in place mildly in readiness to move. "Tsuki love ponies. I show proof. Want see?"

Flash blinked rapidly as he started towards Toby, even if they weren't far apart to begin with. "I'd love to, but why didn't you tell Cadance or Shining about it?"

"Because we friends." He waggled a pawhand between himself and Flash. "We wrestle, have fun. Now I give gift. Is good, yes?" He hopped up and came down facing one of many exits. "This way!"

He led Flash through the tunnels, winding and weaving, left and right, up and down. Flash had lost all sense of where they were compared to where they started, forced to trust Toby had some idea of where they were going.

They emerged from the tunnels into a smallish room. In it was a grass bed. On the grass bed was a pony, a specific pony. It was Luna, cast from dark crystals to match her coloration as closely as possible. She was laying on her side, smiling at whomever was entering the area.

"Oh, wow..." Flash stepped closer, looking over the imitation of the princess. She looked regal and wise, but also kind and approachable. It felt almost like a religious icon. "You really like Princess Luna, huh?"

Toby bounced to the statue's side. "Is not done, but..." He pulled a tarp away, revealing a half-formed smaller statue of a pony seated on her haunches. It was Moon Dancer, looking pensive with a hoof at her chin. She was roughly done, still much work left to do to get in the fine details and work away the edges of the crystal she was made of. "Two ponies do much for tsuki."

He gestured at Luna. "Give me voice, give me purpose. Bring me here, to find people, to find Sombra. If not Luna, no tsuki kingdom at all. If not Luna, Toby not have name. Toby still in forest, not thinking words. Maybe Toby not... here at all..." He shook his head quickly. "But other pony came, took Toby away, to Luna. Luna did good."

Flash approached on quiet hooves, as if making noise would somehow damage the statues. "Did you make these?"

"No!" Toby held up his pawhands. "No. Toby not good for art." He shook his head quickly. "I not only tsuki love ponies. Other tsuki make these. I like them! They is good, yes?"

"Yes," agreed Flash with a hint of amazement. He wondered what Cadance would look like, rendered with such care. "Have they... made one of you?"

Toby went dark quickly, his cheeks flushing red as he shook his head. "Hope not! Toby not... I not sure I want that." He turned back to the statues. "But like statues of others. They remind I of ponies not here... I miss them." He reached out and gently ran a paw along Luna's cheek, gazing into her stone eyes. "Miss her a lot."

Flash's ears sagged a little, hearing the sorrow in Toby's voice. "You could always go visit them?"

Toby snorted, turning back to Flash. "Is easy say. Toby is busy." He gestured at Flash. "Visiting ponies, not go while here, not right. Tsuki need Toby, so I stay."

Flash raised a hoof to his chest. "Well, after this is over?"

"Something else then. Always something, yes? Will try." He nodded firmly. "Hope Luna comes here, but she is busy too, always busy. We alike, yes? Always busy." He pulled the tarp back over the unfinished Moon Dancer statue. "At least I have them, a little bit."

Flash squirmed on his hooves, feeling awkward in that moment of emotional display. "So... I hear you have a special sometsuki now?"

Toby suddenly grinned, sadness forgotten. "Yes! Celene! Not sure how I get, but I get. She is good tsuki, strong and smart." He brushed against Flash as he slipped free of the room. "Want look longer? Can find way back?"

Flash quickly hurried after Toby. "No thank you! They're lovely, but, uh, lead the way." Trying to navigate the tunnels on his own sounded like a poor idea that he would avoid for the moment.

"Is this way." Toby began bouncing along, pausing at the end of each hop to give Flash a chance to trot up to him. They returned to where the tsuki and ponies were gathered. They were putting on some kind of show, the ponies making wild explosions of magic, while the tsuki echoed them, as if they were mirrors for the color.

It seemed to amuse everyone.

Author's Note

The visit is proceeding smoothly, by and large, I say.

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36 - Fond Farewells
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36 - Fond Farewells

Cadance stood before many eyes. It was a position she had grown used to as serving as princess of the Crystal Empire. Some were ponies, but many others were rabbits, peering at her with unabashed curiosity. "Good people, you have shown us nothing but kindness since we arrived." She set a hoof at her chest. "Your art and work are both imbued with a deep and vibrant love that is awe inspiring to be around."

A subtle nod prompted her husband, Shining, to action, "Dedication!" He holored, mangling that a bit. "Your dedication is remarkable. Though you don't have a cutie mark to make your destiny clear, you take it in your own paws and make it just as much part of yourselves as any pony could claim."

Cadance gestured across the cavern to where Sombra, Quick, and Toby sat, watching them from a raised platform. "Your leaders are invested and genuine in their desire to see you grow and mature." She silently added that two of them had less-than-pure motives for wanting it. "As princess of the Crystal Empire, I welcome friendship with your people and look forward to trade, exchange of ideas, and even to see the occasional bounding visitor within my land." She smiled gently. "Perhaps some ponies will grow curious and come here as well."

The tsuki perked up at that. More cute ponies would visit them? Great paws came together in eager claps, cheers soon to follow as the crowd looked forward to the idea.

Sombra raised a hoof and the crowd quieted. "It has been a... delight to host you, Princess. We would be delighted to see you or your ponies. May your travels be, hmm, safe."

Quick folded a hoof across his front. "We trust our gift is not too troubling to transport?" A faint smirk hinted at the joy of considering how difficult moving the great statue up the hole might be.

Several of the ponies regarded the massive crystal object. One of the pegasi pulled down his glasses. "Let's do this. Strap us up." The others nodded in agreement and began throwing ropes over and under and all around the statue, attaching them to all the winged ponies they had, including their princess.

Cadance spread her wings wide. "On the count of three." She beat her wings, practicing and preparing. "One." They all began to lift, though not drawing the rope tense yet. "Two." Just before she could say the final word, they hit the end of the rope, each pulling their rope tight. "Three!" They flapped as hard as they could, slowly pulling the statue free of the grip of the earth.

With great effort and work, they slowly began to rise. The tsuki erupted into cheers, clapping their paws, slapping the ground, and tackling one another in a show if naked happiness at the victory of their new friends.

Toby clapped a little more reservedly, keeping himself upright as he brought his paws together. "That was nice visit," he spoke to the two ponies beside himself. "You happy?"

Sombra watched the princess and her servants lift ever higher into the air. "That was... agreeable. To display our wealth and power was... satisfying." He raised a hoof to his chin in a soft tapping, watching some ponies mount their rabbit mounts to bound up and away from their cavernous home.

Quick smirked victoriously. "You should have seen her expression. She was awed by the display of our magic. Our students are learning adequately as well. We will be ready if force is required."

Sombra leveled a hoof at his right-hoof stallion. "Not that we will require it, hmm. It is a sign of weakness to need the strength beneath your velvet glove. It should always be present, but to play the game of the modern era, we must avoid it, and ensure others fall to the weakness of resorting to it."

Toby's smile expanded in a brilliant display of pure joy. "Sombra!" he practically shouted, drawing the attention of other curious tsuki. "That is good! You get better!" Before Sombra could form a defense, he grabbed his supposed ruler in a fierce hug, squeezing the dread ruler of shadows tightly and snuggling against him. "Yes yes! We good, show good. Not need fight, can fight, no need fight. Is good!"

The cheering for the ponies easily turned to their leaders, the tsuki applauding for Toby's eager display.

Quick coughed softly into a hoof. "Yes, yes, this is good. But I simply must tell you what we've managed."

Sombra's horn glowed darkly as he nudged Toby back, getting a small bit of breathing space. "Yes, I would hear of this. You would wish to hear of the accomplishments of your kin, do you not?"

"Yes," excitedly agreed Toby, looking to Quick. "What do?"

"It was quite the display..." He began to tell the story of the session.

"Reflect," called Quick, hurling the force with a toss of his head.

It darted right through the first tsuki that tried to bounce it, as he was aiming for the one behind it, Celene. Celene caught it in her hands but did not immediately reflect it. It seemed to bounce from paw to paw as if it were repelled by them, smoothly going back and forth without harming her. "Deflect," she repeated imperfectly, hurling it at the young male.

He dropped down and lashed out a foot. "Reflect!" he cried as his foot smashed against it, but it never really touched, repulsed in the same fashion towards another tsuki.

The doe caught it. "No!" She swirled her paws over the dark and angry magic, seeming to sculpt it even as it rebelled against her. It lashed out around her fingers and arms, trying to get at her, but it could never make proper contact with her. Its freedom was held captive as the grinning tsuki molded and shaped it. She slammed it into the ground and it wobbled like jello, but remained intact, a little angrily glowing sandcastle.

Quick brought his hooves together in slow and meaningful claps. "Very good! Very good indeed." He glanced aside at where Cadance was watching. She looked unnerved, gazing at the feat of magical manipulation. She knew the meaning of it, and he grinned at their triumph and her discomfort. "Your manipulation is growing. If you can hold, move, and manipulate shadow magic, than you can work with any magic you wish."

The young tsuki tod bounced forward and reached for the castle. With an extended claw he poked little windows in it with a happy grin. Celene joined in a moment later, taking some of the escaping energy to fashion a few happy clouds. Another hurried to get a paw in and work in a few fluttering flags. They all giggled with childish joy, enjoying the work of art they had created together.

They were all amused at the novelty of it, but Quick knew the importance of it. If they could do such things, they could reshape magic in a way even a unicorn would struggle to do. They would never produce a single spark of their own power, but they had control over what was already there. "Class, put that away for now." They snapped to attention, forming a line in front of him, their eyes bright and eager to learn from him. Him, who had been hated and feared by them.

They didn't fear him. They loved him.

It was nice in a--

His story was interrupted with a rough tackle. Toby had jumped on him, carrying both roughly to the stone. His head did not strike the ground, instead landing against the soft pads of Toby's paws, being embraced and hugged fiercely by the great tsuki. "Is good!" he cried. "You grow. You grow and be good. So good!"

Though the crowd couldn't hear most of their words, they could hear Toby's excited calls and the celebration only intensified. Though they knew not the specific fashion in which something good had happened, they knew it had happened and heralded its arrival with thunderous applause.

Sombra smirked softly, watching Quick be the victim of Toby's hugs for a change. "So this is what it looks like from the outside..." He cleared his throat as he turned to the crowd, their eyes set on him and his co-leaders. "My people, while we say goodbye to our dear pony guests, we should look forward to our continued growth and development. The world hasn't seen the true scope of what we can do. As we unveil our mastery, to the greater world, and to ourselves, they will rush to be at our sides, as allies."

Making friends sounded like a good idea. The applause only grew in intensity.

With a thump, a tsuki joined them on that platform. Large, female, and scarred, Celene was an imposing figure. "We show pony our strength," she agreed loud enough for all to hear her. "But we also learn from pony." She waved a paw up at the departing ponies. "Pony get a day of not working if want every week." Her voice did not lower, booming as she shouted. "Pony set own hours, is not long as tsuki hours."

Some of the tsuki looked confused. Were they measuring time wrong? Was an hour not an hour? Confused murmuring spread through the crowd. A day off sounded pretty fun though. They had enjoyed the off-time they had gotten with the pony's visit.

Sombra scowled at Celene. Of all the times to bring that up... "Tsuki are a proud... noble people. they do not require as much time being lazy as a pony might."

Celene held up a finger. "But should be allowed to," she said with certainty. "Some tsuki work harder. Some tsuki work softer. All tsuki is good tsuki. No more punishment." She crossed her arms. "Unless do bad work, or no work, tsuki is good tsuki."

That much sounded sensible enough. Their loud alpha-female was speaking words that seemed to make sense. The cheers started to pick up in support of her.

Sombra's teeth clenched. His people were revolting right in front of him. He was losing control! But was he? Did he have to? He still wore the velvet glove. He had to be a modern leader. What was the correct course of action? Of course... "I would not dream of harming a good tsuki," he rolled a hoof slowly through the air. "All that I ask is that tsuki, all tsuki, take pride in themselves, and their community. All tsuki should contribute, so we can all have nice things. A bad tsuki, as you said, is one that does bad work, or no work. Those are the ones that should be punished."

Celene bobbed her head eagerly, ears flopping. "Yes! Yes! Good." She turned to her people arms going wide. "Remember today. In week, day off to do what you want!"

Shining watched the social reform happening before his eyes, smiling a little. "That's ni--" He was suddenly grabbed by a tsuki. "Wai--" He didn't get to finish his objection, screaming as he was lifted up in a great bounce. He was being carried free of the caves to join the other ponies outside.

One pony held up a hoof as a tsuki reached for him. "I want to stay."

The tsuki tilted her head confusedly. "Stay? Princess is going home. Friends go home. You not go home?"

He waved a hoof around the caves. "I want to live here, if I can? The princess said it was alright... I want to learn how you do things, and help." He smiled brightly. "Please?"

The tsuki sank with confusion. "I not mad if stay..." she looked up at the platform that held her leaders. "Want talk them." She pointed the way with a paw. "Up to them if stay or not. Sure not want carry? I take up quick, promise."

"You're very kind," he assured with a smile. "I look forward to being your neighbor."

Author's Note

Monthly update ahoy! I feel like things are wrapping up nicely, you?

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2 - A New State of Affairs
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2 - A New State of Affairs

"Sister, did you not consider--"

"I considered many things." She paced restlessly back and forth, the sun shining in through the stained windows reflecting off her dark pelt in odd patterns as she went. "He is learning."

"At what expense?" Celestia reached and gave Toby a gentle patting on the head. "Must we ask his people to be patient while one of our criminals learns his dues?"

Toby tilted his head a little. "King Sombra is good king. Sometimes gets angry, Tsuki help, remind him to be good."

Celestia perked an ear at Toby. "And you are in charge, under him?"

He nodded quickly. "Toby is leader of Tsuki Usagi. Old one said so, others listen." Toby slapped his armored chest. "Toby take job serious. Toby is also glad to see Sun Flank again." He reached and pulled Celestia closer as she let out a little sigh.

"It is good to see you as well," she said gently as she was squeezed. "Next time, please do not take my sister without consulting me. Sister, is this truly wise?"

Luna gestured at Toby. "He may seem simple, but he is dedicated to his task. He... even wishes to leave me."

"No!" Toby released Celestia just to step closer to Luna. "No. Toby never wishes that. Never in a thousand moons, but... Toby must." His ears gave a little twitch as he settled on his haunches. "You will visit Toby, yes? Other Tsuki like you too. You are best princess."

Celestia suddenly began to grin. "You must, 'Best Princess'. It wouldn't do for you to make your #1 fans sad at your absence."

Luna stuck out her tongue at her sister. "As if you lack for ponies eager to prostrate themselves at your hooves." Her eyes returned to Toby. "You are staying here for now, with me, until he arrives."

Celestia stiffened. "You invited him here?!"

"How could I not?" Luna rose to her full height. "He is the sovereign of his nation, a nation, I must add, that wishes to enter peaceful relationship with Equestria. Will we spurn him and his people." She thrust a hoof at Toby. "Will you tell a nation of him that they are unwelcome?"

Celestia shook her head slowly. "What has been done... is done. I have faith in you, sister. If you think he has turned a new leaf, then I will wait to see the writing on the other side of that page. It would be unfortunate to have to act against any people for the actions of their leader, but the safety and well-being of my little ponies comes first."

Toby tried to scratch an itch on his cheek, but his helmet was in the way and his claws kept striking the metal with a loud tinking noise every time he tried, and he was persistent.

After the fifth tolling of that bell, Luna's horn began to glow and lifted the helmet free, allowing him to relieve the itch with an ecstatic sigh of bliss. "Best Princess..."

Celestia gave a wry smile at the antics. "If Sombra has accepted Toby here as his second, there is perhaps hope for him yet. Toby, as an ambassador of your people, you are welcome within these walls so long as you walk with peace."

"Toby walks with bounces," he noted with a concerned tone. "Is that alright? Toby can try to walk with peace. He never tried that before."

Celestia rest a hoof on his armored chest. "You'll be just fine. Relax and be comfortable while we wait for your king to arrive."

Luna's smile was brilliant. "Does this mean you will see him then, and promise no reprisals?"

Celestia cocked a brow at her sister. "If his heart has been turned, I will not seek redress for ancient wrongs, but he should be aware ponies from his old empire will likely feel differently. Still, this is not that place. Let him come and talk, if he will do so civilly."

Luna clopped her forehooves joyfully. "Then he will arrive in a day or two. I'll send the signal with the coming of the night."

"Why not now?" asked Celestia with a curious tone.

Toby raised a paw high.

Luna pointed at him. "Yes, Toby?"

"I know the answer." He bobbed his head. "Signal is bright, not that bright. Not see good in day. Wait for night, dark, better see signal."

Celestia tapped her chin lightly. "I've been outsmarted by Tsuki. I'm uncertain how to feel about that. Very well, send your signal after I've put the sun to rest. Until then, Toby, do you remember your way around?" He bobbed his head. "Good, relax. You are our guest."

"Not pet?"

Luna frowned at that. "No longer. You were my pet when I thought you nothing more than an animal. You are no animal. You are a person, as rightly so as any pony and deserving of the same rights, which includes not being owned by any."

"Toby is pony?"

Luna applied a hoof to her forehead. "Toby is... Toby. And being Toby means you are more than a pet or animal. You are a person."

"Toby not understand, but Toby thinks he likes the idea." He began to shake thunderously with the sound of rattling metal as he squirmed free of his armor and was soon as naked as he was when first presented to the sisters. "Better. Toby explore."

He bound past Luna and landed before the door. He had it open quickly and hopped through it, always leaping just high enough to brush the ceiling before he came down. He was lost to sight almost instantly.

Celestia shook her head lightly. "He has changed as well. He has grown, though he is young yet. Small steps, yet so incredibly large, from his view. What have you done, sister?"

Luna returned the question with a gentle smile. "I've made something worth protecting, I feel."

Author's Note

Sombra's coming! Yay?

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24 - Return of the King
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What Follows Hugs

24 - Return of the King

Sombra pointed into the snow, the wind blowing more of the stuff past him by the moment. "This is where I rule."

Quick Stroke stood beside him, casting a doubtful look into the crevice. "A far cry from the crystal towers you once held sway over, m'lord."

Sombra dismissively waved the thought away. "Nonsense. We will inspire awe in those ingrates." He flashed a wicked smile as he circled the tunnel that led to his domain. "They will weep, knowing they will never have a ruler half as competent."

"As you say." Quick faded into shadow. "Let us see what mighty demesne you claim."

They flew into the hole, side-by-side, two forms of darkness with baleful eyes. They arrival was met with alarmed squeaks. Some tsuki fled, but others snapped to attention, giving salutes towards the incoming presences.

Sombra touched the ground, his shadowy form billowing outwards a moment as if scattered by the impact only to draw together powerfully and congeal into his proper form. "I return." He raised a hoof just to lower it. "At ease." The command spoken, the tsuki quickly flopped back to all fours. "Status report?"

One tsuki raised a paw high in the air, waving it about.

"Yes?"

"Who's that, sir?" His eyes were on the formed Quick Stroke. "Is he your brother?" The other tsuki peered curiously. However closely Moondancer had seemed to echo Sombra, she became a distant alien compared to how the two shadow ponies resembled one another.

Quick Stroke took a powerful step forward. "Citizens! I am Lord Sombra's faithful assistant, Quick Stroke. You will call me 'sir', if you wish to avoid my wrath."

Sombra inclined his head towards Quick. "As he speaks. He is no relation of mine. Where is Toby? I require a report."

One of the does dipped her head. "He help Moondancer in prop... um... good eating. Show how good eat."

Sombra blinked at the news. "Good eat? How to cultivate the land better?" The tsuki shook her head. "How better to prepare the food?" She shook her head even faster. "What is 'good eat'?"

She reared up onto her hind legs and pantomimed using a spoon or a fork, shoveling imaginary food in her open snout before snapping it shut and speaking, "That. Is good eat. Less ouchy."

Sombra's brow furrowed. "Where is this class?"

She could feel his irritation and fell back to all fours. She pointed the way. "Left from cooking place, two halls."

Sombra stepped forward, paying the doe no further mind. "We have business to tend to."

"I do wish to see what class your assistant is conducting, and the pony is with him? This is surely something that will prove entertaining, m'lord."

Sombra peeked over his shoulder at his following once-vizier. "We will see, and judge, and correct if need be. Toby is prone to fanciful ideas, but comes to heel when ordered properly."

"He has some fear of you." Quick stepped up beside Sombra. "I just don't feel it's enough. He sees you more as a big brother than a proper monarch high above him."

Sombra grunted, his immediate thought one of revulsion, but it swirled through him. Was being thought of as a big brother so distasteful? He imagined Toby looking up at him with the eyes of a tsuki pup, trying to please him and prove his worth. Perhaps, with the tsuki, being seen as a wise older sibling wasn't a bad thing... "A thought occurs to us."

"Hmm?"

"An emperor can be deposed. A monarch can be replaced." Sombra raised his head high. "A sibling remains until death."

"A curious way of approaching it." Quick Stroke shook his head. "I pray you will not be offended if I prefer to call you my lord, m'lord. You are not my brother, nor would I wish you to be. I never liked him..."

"You have one?" Sombra quirked an ear towards Quick Stroke. "I never heard mention of him."

"I did say I didn't like him." Quick cocked an ear. "I hear a pony, we draw close. Shall we approach discretely, to better see what they are doing?"

"Yes." With agreement, the two faded into darkness and slid along the walls, darting from shadow to shadow until they could easily bear witness to what Toby was up to.

He was seated at a dining hall table. Across from him was Moondancer. Arrayed in a semi-circle were rows of tsuki, staring curiously at the two.

Moondancer pointed at a fork. "What is this?" One of the tsuki raised a paw and she pointed at him with a hoof. The tsuki eagerly proclaimed its title. "Very good. Toby will demonstrate how a good tsuki uses one." Her horn glowed as she picked up a bowl full of greens and set it on the platform in front of Toby. "Proceed."

Toby nodded with all the gravity eating didn't deserve. He reached for a fork and got it into position. It was no smooth slide. He brought his other paw over to help get it just right between his stubby fingers. "There." Moondancer nodded in approval, making Toby smile brightly a moment before he returned to the serious matter of eating.

The class murmured quietly as if comparing notes on how to hold a fork, but they went quiet as Toby brought the fork down to the salad greens. They held their breath collectively, only to let out an enthusiastic cheer as the tines of the fork sank through a few layers of roughage and sank into a plump tomato-like fruit. The cheering only got louder when he lifted it all and it remained there at the end of his fork without a problem.

Toby was blushing as he brought it up to his mouth and carefully placed it onto his tongue before closing his mouth and drawing the fork out, leaving the food behind. The cheering was deafening at his accomplishment.

Moondancer clopped her hooves twice and the cheering died away instantly. "I hope you were watching half as well as you cheered him. I appreciate your enthusiasm, but this is a class, I remind. Now, split into groups of three, and practice. I want you all working with the fork I've placed at each table. Take turns and help each other."

The class broke ranks, forming instead around their own tables. They each had their own bowl of food to try eating from, though some had plates instead. Either way, not a single tsuki was eating directly off the raised platform.

Sombra rose from the ground behind Toby. "You have reversed one of my rulings."

Toby squeaked in surprise, hopping up and coming down facing Sombra. "Sombra! Is good see."

"Yes..." He looked across the many tsuki fumbling with forks. "You trust them?"

Toby looked where Sombra was looking. "They is good tsuki. They want learn. They good tsuki." He bobbed his head firmly before raising a paw. "Class. What first rule of foodeaters?"

A young tsuki waved a paw excitedly until she was called. "Foodeaters for food, not play. Make eating gooder."

Another young tsuki bumped her. "Better."

"Make eating better!" she corrected. "Is like cooking. Use right, is good. Use wrong, is bad."

Toby nodded at her. "See? They learn."

Sombra nodded firmly, jaw tensed a moment before he smiled, fangs partially displayed. "Excellent."

Quick rose up beside him. "Excellent?"

"My people grow more skilled. Should a battle become required, I will be able to trust them with weapons." He sat and watched the class with burning eyes. "They are becoming more than lumbering foals. Excellent. Toby, you are to be praised." Toby lowered his head immediately, allowing Sombra to raise a hoof to rest on it without other prompting. "You are a good tsuki, an exemplar of your species."

Moondancer cleared her throat softly. "I'm glad you approve. We have started another initiative that I am certain you will find quite appealing."

Sombra stepped towards the mare, leaving a happy Toby behind. "And what matter is this? Is this another function of education?"

Moondancer waved down to the entrance of the room. "We have those, but I'm referring to mining. Your people understood that they occasionally found flecks of metal or small unworked jewelry that they performed quite admirably with, but I have begun a class in proper mining theories. They have already begun pulling enough metal free to produce their own cutlery without my direct assistance."

Sombra's smile grew twice as large. "You have proven me wrong, and that is not a thing I say often." He sat and brought his hooves together in applause. "We will make coins of our own that the ponies will pay us for."

"To say nothing of proper armaments," noted Quick, looking over Sombra's shoulder. "Do they just dig it out, or do they have the faintest idea how to smelt the results?"

Moondancer shook her head. "One step at a time. They are eager to mine, and I'm showing them how to do it safely and how to sift out usable ore from more useless rock. I plan to begin smelting classes after we have a good supply of material to work with." She frowned softly. "This reminds..."

Sombra's joyful expression quickly tempered down to a glare. "What is the catch?"

"No catch, just that Toby isn't the only tsuki to show glimmers of magical potential."

Quick slipped around Sombra quickly. "Now you're speaking things of interest. What talent have they shown?"

Moondancer looked over the class a moment before pointing to one of the foals. "You are the teacher until time's up or I return, alright?"

"Yes ma'am!" She hopped up to the front of the class in two broad jumps and took up the stance of watching the others.

"This way." Moondancer led Sombra, Quick, and Toby through the tunnels. She had to pause at a few of the intersections, but she seemed to be getting a better idea of things. Eventually they arrived at the kitchen, where many tsuki worked busily preparing the next meal. "Night Sky?" she called.

A tsuki doe jerked her head around before abandoning what she was cooking to approach the group. "Is good see Moondancer. Is good see Toby." She dipped her head towards Sombra, and spared the time to give Quick an odd look. "What want?"

Quick sneered at her. "I presume we would not be here if you are not the tsuki who displayed magical talent?"

"Yes!" Night smiled brightly. "Have good trick. Want see? Learn from Moondancer." She pointed a paw at the mare. "Is good trick." Without waiting to be asked, she closed her eyes and she began to glow in odd patterns that ran across her furry form. "Have to find... There! Find! Bring!" Her coloration changed subtly before a gathering of light came in along her side and swept up towards a paw. She opened the paw to reveal a crude fork. "See?"

Sombra blinked at the fork. "Did you call the fork from the supplies?"

Night shook her head quickly. "Learn spell from Moondancer. I make fork. I make spoon. I make foodeaters!"

Moondancer nodded as she sat down on her haunches. "I'm fairly sure she will eventually be able to fashion other objects. She will be the first to turn ore into usable objects."

Sombra looked quite pleased. "I expected little upon my return. The status quo would have been sufficient, but you have turned that around."

Quick raised a hoof. "Not so fast. You were brought for a reason. You were to document their primitive culture, have you performed that?"

Moondancer's ears fell. "I started, but became distracted with classes and seeing to the needs of the tsuki. I couldn't deny them... They want to learn, and I can teach."

Sombra snorted with sudden irritation. "That is hardly excuse for slacking in your assigned duties. Resume your documentation." He turned away. "Besides, Toby and the others have learned enough to teach themselves without you for a time."

Author's Note

This was voted for a bonus chapter for the month by my patrons, so here we are! Sombra returns, and it isn't as bad as it could have been.

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29 - A Kindly Visit
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29 - A Kindly Visit

Cadance trudged through the snow with a curious expression. "Are we certain we're going in the right direction?"

With a twinkle of magic, Shining Armor conjured a map. "It should be just ahead, dear."

Cadance glanced sideways at him, then the small retinue of ponies with her. "And are you sure you needed to be here? One of us should be home."

Shining raised a hoof to wave just under his chin. "Sunburst was delighted to foalsit for a few days, and he's proven able at the task."

Cadance sighed gently. "We have a great many more words than just our child."

"This is an official visit." Shining gave a proper and stiff nod. "We should make our best impression, with a united front."

"You just want to see where the bunny rabbits came from." Cadance rolled her eyes, not at all fooled by Shining's argument. "Still, they aren't what bothers me."

Shining moved in closer to Cadance, walking side-by-side, touching as they pressed on. "Twilie says he's turned a new leaf, and the rabbits certainly seemed peaceful."

"Are we talking about the same pony that enslaved my people?" Cadance snorted softly. Some of their crystal guards shied back slightly, sharing unsure looks.

"Now now..." His words died off as they came across a great hole that vanished into the darkness. Little bits of snow drifted inwards once in a while, each bit lost to the gloom quickly. "Is this... it? How do they get in and out?"

One of the guards, a crystal pegasus, advanced and peered into the darkness. "It... looks exactly like the kind of place Som... He would like." He backpedaled rapidly, kicking up the snow. He was forced to take flight to avoid being swept into the darkness.

Cadance put a hoof to her chest. "Regardless of who he was or did, we've been invited to their kingdom. Aun--Princess Celestia assured that they were legitimate, and already official friends of Equestria, so it behooves us to act cordially." She heaved a soft sigh, "Aunt is a touch generous at times... Regardless, we won't be the ones to show ill intent first. Let them hurl the first stone. You are all safe. After all, Shining Armor and myself are--"

Her words were cut off with the motion of a creature bouncing up to a ledge from below. Without even a pause it leaped towards them, landing beside them in the snow, spraying the fluff in all directions as the tsuki landed among them. "Hello!" she cried. "Is good see! Is ponies from crystal land, yes? We were waiting for you."

Shining shook free the snow that had covered most of his head. "Um, hello." He smiled at the creature. The tsuki had been nothing but kind in their visit, and he felt no immediate threat from their new guest. "I'm Shining Armor. This is Princess Mi Amore Cadenza."

"Cadance is just fine," she assured the fluffy brown and white rabbit person. "What is your name?"

"Hello Shining Armor. Hello Cadance." She dipped her head down before bouncing up and coming down facing the hole. "My name is Long Drop." She pointed at the hole with a stubby finger. "Am good long jump far down. Am here to do that. Who go first?"

One of the guards took a timid step forward, snow crunching under his armored hoof. "How will you do that?"

Long shook herself softly. "Hop on. I hop down. Hop up. Do again!"

Shining raised a hoof. "I'll go first." He smiled at his dear wife. "I'm not afraid."

She snorted softly. "Go ahead, but remember that you represent us at all times."

"Affirmative." He snapped a sharp salute, then stepped up beside Long Jump, looking her over. "So... I just..."

Long shook again. "Hop on."

Shining gave it his best try, jumping and thudding into Long before sliding back to the snow.

Long twitched a floppy ear at him before reaching one of her hands at him, grabbing him in a furry paw and reaching back, placing him on her back. It only took a moment for him to shuffle into a more secure position. "We go!" She bounced right off the ledge without a pause, vanishing into the gloom.

Cadance spread her wings wide. "Those of you with wings, let's make this easier on them. We'll use what we've been given." The other pegasi spread their wings in response and they took off as one, spiraling down into the darkness.

Down below, Long Jump burst into view, a screaming pony clutching to her with all four hooves on her back. Other tsuki looked up at the spectacle, but with far more amusement than surprise. Screaming was just the natural way ponies entered their kingdom.

She hit the ground with tremendous momentum, but her powerful legs bent with the impact and practice, allowing her to slow her descent at a more reasonable rate. She bounced back up several feet and came down to a rest with a triumphant smile. "Is harder with guest, but make it. Welcome!"

"Welcome!" echoed the tsuki in the area, clapping their paws together in a riot of soft thumping.

Even as Shining slid off his ride, wobbling dangerously, other ponies came into view. Lead by Cadance, they circled downward on wide wings.

One tsuki nudged another beside him. "Told you! See, ponies can jump good."

Long surged back into the air, bouncing from ledge to ledge back up towards the others. Below, Toby sprang quickly into the area. "Is time? Is time!" He smiled brightly at the great flood of ponies he saw coming to a land. "Welcome welcome! Tsuki are all happy to see ponies." He bounced forward, but landed just before the rising shadows of Sombra and Quick.

Sombra took an imperious step forward. "We welcome you, Princess Mi Amore, ruler of the Crystal Empire. I, King Sombra of the tsuki, formally acknowledge you."

Cadance forced a stiff smile. "It's... an honor to be so greeted." Her retinue looked about as easy about the greeting. "There are others that are being ferried down by Long Jump as we speak." She dipped her head. "It's always nice to see so many smiling faces."

Quick's face split in a smile that was perhaps a few inches too wide. "We have so many reasons to smile, Your Highness. It's far past time that we made official the ties we share as such close neighbors."

Toby stepped around Sombra, standing beside him. "Is true. Tsuki like trade with ponies. We have thing pony want. Pony have thing we want. Is good, yes?"

Shining took a wavering step towards his wife. "Good, yes," he mumbled in the tsuki way, which brought immediate giggles from tsuki in the area, looking almost charmed that a pony would speak like them.

"That is good," corrected a tiny tsuki doe, looking at Shining reproachfully.

Shining blinked, his dazedness fading. "Oh, yes. Nice to meet you...?"

"Yes, it is nice to meet you," agreed the tsuki cub, missing the question entirely, but she was smiling happily.

A scream announced the next non-flying pony approaching. Cadance kept her eyes on Sombra, as did her crystal guards. "Do you have an itinerary in mind for our visit?"

"Of course." Sombra gestured to the left, at Toby. "He will start, showing you where you and those with you can set your things down and rest when you are fatigued, as well as the location of the local amenities." He set the hoof down and switched to the other, gesturing at Quick. "Quick Stroke will begin a tour after you've had a chance to decompress, going over industry and art."

Cadance twitched an ear at that. "Wouldn't he--" She pointed at Toby. "--be more suited to discussing the art of his people?"

Quick rolled his ears back and shrank his head as if wounded. "As if they were any less my people. I am their servant, and it will be a pleasure to showcase their work for you, Princess."

"But first," cut in Sombra with a wicked grin. "We have a gift for you, our new friend."

Cadance tensed visibly despite herself. "O-oh? What have you prepared for us?"

Sombra sat on his haunches and raised his forehooves, striking them together in two swift impacts. "Bring it!"

"Bring it!" echoed a tsuki, only for another to shout the same, down the tunnels. It spread through the complex before it began to come back more slowly.

"Bringing it!" came the replied echo.

"Bringing it!" agreed a different voice, just as the first has been transmitted.

Shining slid in next to his wife. "It looks much nicer from down here."

"Mmm," replied Cadance noncommittally, her eyes on the tunnel where the shouts were coming from.

With a sudden burst of confetti, a procession of tsuki emerged, bearing a float. Each one had a great rod that ran from them to their partner on the other side of the float, holding it up as they marched. Bedecked in fabric with ruffles for days and drawings of countless scenes rested an immense crystal heart. It was as if someone had taken the original and bid it to grow to three times its normal dimensions.

Cadance watched it approach with wide eyes, the jaws of some of her guards falling with the same emotion.

"A token of goodwill," spoke Sombra with great importance. "Once, I hid your crystal heart, and now I pay it back, with interest." The float lowered as the tsuki bearing it lowered and squirmed free of their rods, leaving it there in the middle of the room. "Let it stand as a gleaming symbol of a new era."

Cadance took a step forward. "That is quite... the display. It will take some doing to transport it." She glanced upwards a brief moment at the hole they had descended through, just in time for the fourth screaming pony to arrive, the last. "I accept it in the good will it is presented. While I cannot... say with certainty that all history is to be forgotten with it, it... is a welcome token of sincerity." She dipped her head towards Sombra. "However did you come to this... station?"

Toby reared up to gesture at Sombra with both forepaws. "He find tsuki. I find him. Now show where rest? Is this way." He came down facing the right way. "Not far, keep clear for you. Show where eat after."

Cadance allowed Toby to lead her away, the other ponies trickling out with her, many curious eyes glancing about when they weren't looking nervously at Sombra as if expecting him to explode at any moment.

But he didn't. He watched them go until they were all around a corner. He chuckled darkly, looking to Quick. "Every squirm."

"Every fidget," agreed Quick before throwing a crystal hoof wide. "My people! I am overjoyed at this gift you have given. I meant what I said." He rose up to all fours as high as he could. "I will perform my duties well, for all of you, and us, together."

The tsuki clapped their paws in eager acceptance. One leaned over towards another, whispering, "He nicer now, is good." The other nodded in easy agreement.

Sombra gestured in the direction their guests had gone. "See to their comfort. That is your priority until they leave or I say otherwise. Consider this a holiday of sorts. You are all on half shifts until further notice."

That got a real applause, tsuki bouncing in place with joy, excitedly babbling about what they would do with the suddenly-available time.

Quick raised a hoof. "With this extra time, perhaps some of you would care for some advanced magic practice." His horn glowed darkly with power. "For those of you who have a good grasp on your innate power, we will push the envelope and see how far we can reach, together, hm?"

A few braver tsuki half-hopped forward, volunteering, but most were bouncing away towards other things.

Sombra snorted softly. "A start, small, but a start. I look forward to hearing what you produce." He turned towards the tunnel that held Cadance. "This should be entertaining..."

Author's Note

And so we begin a new chapter. Cadance gets to visit the tsuki.

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